Communicating God's Way - Lesson 13 - With The Lost

Some choice thoughts about the Tongue:

About Abrasive Speech
Many a blunt word has a sharp edge.
Keep your words soft and sweet; you never know when you may have to eat them.

About Gossip
Gossip is like soap -- mostly lye!
A gossip is just a fool with a keen sense of rumor.

About Profanity
Profanity is a public announcement of stupidity.
Swearing is a lax man's way of trying to be emphatic.

About telling the Truth
A lie is a coward's way of getting out of trouble.
Truth is as clear as a bell, but it isn't always tolled.

About Boasting
When you sing your own praise, you always get the tune too high.
Don't brag; it isn't the whistle that pulls the train.

James 3:2, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”


Here is some traditional wisdom about speech and the tongue:

It would be better to leave people wondering why you didn't talk than why you did.
First law of public speaking: Nice guys finish fast.
When all is said and done, there's a lot more said than done.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Traditional.

If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?
Henry N. Ferguson.

Previously from Lesson 10 – “Co-Workers”

We need to expect opposition from the world. We will be opposed only if you live for Him. Our opposition will come from people in general. Our opposition will come from Satan himself.

He is currently at work in lost people. Learn how to overcome this opposition. Give a soft answer.

Please God with your life. Have faith in God. Love your enemies and help them. Pray for your enemies. Keep good company. Immerse yourself in the Word of God.


They should see your life-style as separate from the world and your behavior a testimony to others.

II Corinthians 6:14-18, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

I believe the Bible also speaks about being in the world but not of the world,
how do we find the balance?





I Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

They should view you as moderate in all things, but not so peculiar that you lose influence. This would include your dress – moderate, not weird.

Could you elaborate?





I Corinthians 9:22, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

What do you believe this verse to mean?





They should see you as being open and honest in all matters.

I believe the definition of integrity is what you do in the dark when no one is looking.

Romans 12:17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

Would others say you are honest in all matters?





They should see a living testimony of the grace of God.

Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Do they see you as blameless?





They should see you as being of “good report.”

Colossians 4:5-6, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Are you preparing yourself to give answers?





How should we view our place in the world? Our Discipleship book says we are pilgrims in a strange land.

I Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”

How do we balance this?





Our home is in heaven and our mission is to reach the lost for Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

From our Mission Conference, did the Lord speak to your heart about this?





If you do what is right, you have no reason to fear. God will honor you for doing right.

Romans 13:3-5, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”

Can you give testimony of doing right when the world was watching?





Honor those in authority, even the wicked, without partaking of their wickedness. Commit any adverse situations to God and let Him handle them.

I Peter 2:17-23, “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

When Peter wrote these words, Nero was king, perhaps the most wicked king Rome ever had.

How are you at submitting to the Lost when they are in authority?





Man is by nature fallen and sinful and must be changed individually, from the inside out, through a personal saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

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