The Importance of Conversation
I want to talk w/you this morning about a truth I discovered years ago that was very surprising…it has to do with what we say about God, about others, and ourselves, and about the circumstances we find ourselves in.
I want to talk about our CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I DON’T THINK TALK IS CHEAP, IN FACT, IT CAN BE VERY COSTLY IN OUR LIVES…
What we talk about impacts our lives…AND IMPACTS THOSE AROUND US…
OUR conversation is an important aspect of our faith…just like exercise is an important aspect of health…it’s NOT THE WHOLE SECRET TO HEALTH [exercise fanatics]…BUT IT’S IMP
SOME HAVE MADE TOO BIG A DEAL OUT OF WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT…
Some people go crazy over what people say…as though our words control the universe:
But here’s a news flash…we are not God.
And even though what you and I say is important (the Scriptures will bear that out), what we say is NOT that important…where all of faith hinges on it. God is more GRACIOUS than that!
However, that being said, I think most of us are too lax about what we say…
What we say about ourselves
About our kids
What we say about our circumstances
What we say about the people around us…
I will even go so far as to say that many of us inadvertently curse our lives more than we bless our lives…as far as our conversations go…
How many here have been hurt by words?
“Sticks and stones…” LIE…IT’S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT WORDS KILL THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
CONSIDER THIS:
Prov. 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Here is what this suggests: our homes, our marriages, our life as a single person, our friendships, our whole existence WILL NEVER BE ANY BETTER OR GREATER THAN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT THEM.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT YOUR LIFE?
ARE YOU SPEAKING LIFE OR DEATH into your human experience?
I want to give you SOME thoughts about the power behind HOW WE talk about our lives…our conversation.
1) Our conversations reveal WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN OUR HEART
WHAT we SAY IN UNGUARDED MOMENTS IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT we REALLY THINK/BELIEVE
Jesus:
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
ATKINS DIET AND KETONE STRIPS…
PEE-PEE ON A STICK…
OUR WORDS ARE THE KETONE STRIPS…TELL us WHAT’S GOING ON…
When you are unguarded:
What do you say about yourself? “I’m a loser.” I’ll never get it right…or DO YOU SAY STUFF LIKE:
I’m not alone/GOD IS WITH ME…NEVER LEAVE ME
THINGS ARE TOO FAR GONE, WHAT’S THE USE: OR
IF I COME TO JESUS…OLD THINGS PASS AWAY, EVERYTHING WILL BECOME NEW…I can do better because I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST…
WORDS REVEAL.
About your kids?
KIDS are such a cost…burden…I wish we wouldn’t have had them so soon…that was a mistake
Blessing from God…a joy…an extension into the future of the goodness of God…
About your spouse?
About your money…
About your past…
WHAT YOU SAY UNCOVERS WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON…SOMETIMES IT’S UGLY…
COLLEGE AND CURSING AT THE CHINESE RESTAURANT…
UNGUARDED WORDS REVEAL YOUR HEART…IF YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING ANYTHING THAT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF GOD’S PERSPECTIVE …YOU NEED SOME HOLODECK TIME W/THE PROMISES! [PATHETIC…BUT I’M A TREKKY—WHATEVER YOU IMAGINE CAN BE PROGRAMMED INTO THE HOLODECK TO EXP—IMAGINE THE PROMISES…PROGRAM THEM IN…EXP THEM IN PRAYER/IMAGINATION]
LISTEN…
2Pet. 1:19
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
GOD’S PRESENCE AND MY BASEMENT.
YOUR CONVERSATION IS THE BEST DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO REVEAL WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN YOUR HEART.
I DON’T GUARD WHAT I SAY AS MUCH AS I LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY AND TRY TO KEEP MY HEART IN THE PLACE WHERE IT SAYS THE RIGHT THINGS…
THE SECOND thing about our conversation is that it actually DIRECTS OUR LIVES…
Here’s a scary text:
James 3:2-6
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue [bit/rudder] is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
He is claiming that the course of our lives are impacted by words that are said…
FOR EXAMPLE…you can keep your faith encouraged by what you talk about:
1 Sam. 30:6 AMPLIFIED VERSION
David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
HOW DID HE DO THAT?
WE SEE IT IN ACTION:
Psa. 42:11
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
HE TALKED TO HIMSELF.
I DARE YOU TO TALK TO YOURSELF AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!
SPIRITUAL AMNESIA: WHO’S WHO
DNA—read from book
I DARE YOU TO TRY TALKING TO YOURSELF FROM THE SCRIPTURES…
YOU WILL STEER YOUR LIFE INTO GRACE…
YOU WILL OVERCOME YOUR FEELINGS OF
-GUILT
-SHAME
-WORTHLESSNESS
-FEAR
GOD’S WORD WILL TRANSFORM YOU.
At first the promises will seem UNDERWHELMING…BORING…SOMETIMES FAKE
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE SCRIPTURES…JESUS COMPARED THE PROMISES TO SEED!
TAKES TIME TO BE PLANTED AND GROW!
STRAWBERRYS---YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED…
LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CONVERSATION HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT TRUST IS SOMEHOW CARRIED TO GOD IN WHAT WE SAY…
2Cor. 4:13
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
IF WE BELIEVE…WE WILL SPEAK…
FAITH AND TALKING ARE INEXORABLY CONNECTED:
Mark 11:22-23
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. [HOW DO WE HAVE FAITH IN GOD?] 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Jesus is saying, don’t have conversations with God where you say one thing and then conversations with others where you say something completely different.
Don’t say, “Lord I am trusting you to give me direction for my life”
And walk out telling everyone else, “I never know what to do with my life.”
Instead say, “I never seem to know what to do with my life, but I’ve made it a prayer project and I believe God’s going to help me out.”
Don’t have a conversation with God saying, “Lord, please help my spouse and I to have more open, loving conversations…”
And then have a conversation with your mother: “I don’t think he’ll ever change…he is so closed and cold…”
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING LIKE?
ARE YOUR WORDS REFLECTING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHAT YOU’RE TRUSTING GOD TO DO…
LISTEN TO YOURSELF
TAKE STOCK
GET YOUR HEART INTO THE HOLODECK UNTIL YOU ARE TALKING RIGHT.
UNTIL YOUR HEART IS SO CHOCK FULL OF FAITH THAT YOU ARE TALKING YOUR FAITH.
HERE’S ONE MORE SCARY TEXT:
James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE LITTLE POWER, VERY LITTLE SPIRITUAL DYNAMIC GOING ON…
THIS CONVERSATIONG THING WE’RE DISCUSSING ISN’T A CURE ALL, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF IT…(EXERCISE)
BE LIKE THE PSAMIST (WE PRAY THIS EVERY WEEK)
Psa. 19:14 KING JAMES VERSION
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
I’m not suggesting you can’t say what is going on in your life…
AND I’M NOT SUGGESTING YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN!
LAMENT (COMPLAINING PRAYER) has great reception from God…The Bible guys and gals were full of lament—especially in the psalms:
Psa. 22:1-2
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
Ps. 73:13-14
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
SISTER JOSEPHE – “why don’t you treat me like a woman!”
BUT…LIKE THE BIBLE FOLK, ALWAYS REMBER THE PROMISE AFTER YOU LAMENT…remember to add what it is your are trusting God to do…
ADD GRACE TO YOUR CONVERSATION:
Col. 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
Also LAMENT JUST TO GOD, NOT OTHERS—LAMENTING TO OTHERS IS NEVER GOOD!
HERE’S WHAT I’M SAYINT TO YOU:
WHAT YOU SAY IS IMPORTANT
Words are powerful!
Words are what God used to create the earth!
PAUL SAID:
Eph. 4:29 KING JAMES VERSION
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
I’M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR CONVERSATION THIS WEEK…
PRAY FOR US: CHICAGO/S B/GR—GO TO STORES!
I want to talk w/you this morning about a truth I discovered years ago that was very surprising…it has to do with what we say about God, about others, and ourselves, and about the circumstances we find ourselves in.
I want to talk about our CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I DON’T THINK TALK IS CHEAP, IN FACT, IT CAN BE VERY COSTLY IN OUR LIVES…
What we talk about impacts our lives…AND IMPACTS THOSE AROUND US…
OUR conversation is an important aspect of our faith…just like exercise is an important aspect of health…it’s NOT THE WHOLE SECRET TO HEALTH [exercise fanatics]…BUT IT’S IMP
SOME HAVE MADE TOO BIG A DEAL OUT OF WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT…
Some people go crazy over what people say…as though our words control the universe:
But here’s a news flash…we are not God.
And even though what you and I say is important (the Scriptures will bear that out), what we say is NOT that important…where all of faith hinges on it. God is more GRACIOUS than that!
However, that being said, I think most of us are too lax about what we say…
What we say about ourselves
About our kids
What we say about our circumstances
What we say about the people around us…
I will even go so far as to say that many of us inadvertently curse our lives more than we bless our lives…as far as our conversations go…
How many here have been hurt by words?
“Sticks and stones…” LIE…IT’S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT WORDS KILL THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
CONSIDER THIS:
Prov. 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Here is what this suggests: our homes, our marriages, our life as a single person, our friendships, our whole existence WILL NEVER BE ANY BETTER OR GREATER THAN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT THEM.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT YOUR LIFE?
ARE YOU SPEAKING LIFE OR DEATH into your human experience?
I want to give you SOME thoughts about the power behind HOW WE talk about our lives…our conversation.
1) Our conversations reveal WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN OUR HEART
WHAT we SAY IN UNGUARDED MOMENTS IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT we REALLY THINK/BELIEVE
Jesus:
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
ATKINS DIET AND KETONE STRIPS…
PEE-PEE ON A STICK…
OUR WORDS ARE THE KETONE STRIPS…TELL us WHAT’S GOING ON…
When you are unguarded:
What do you say about yourself? “I’m a loser.” I’ll never get it right…or DO YOU SAY STUFF LIKE:
I’m not alone/GOD IS WITH ME…NEVER LEAVE ME
THINGS ARE TOO FAR GONE, WHAT’S THE USE: OR
IF I COME TO JESUS…OLD THINGS PASS AWAY, EVERYTHING WILL BECOME NEW…I can do better because I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST…
WORDS REVEAL.
About your kids?
KIDS are such a cost…burden…I wish we wouldn’t have had them so soon…that was a mistake
Blessing from God…a joy…an extension into the future of the goodness of God…
About your spouse?
About your money…
About your past…
WHAT YOU SAY UNCOVERS WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON…SOMETIMES IT’S UGLY…
COLLEGE AND CURSING AT THE CHINESE RESTAURANT…
UNGUARDED WORDS REVEAL YOUR HEART…IF YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING ANYTHING THAT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF GOD’S PERSPECTIVE …YOU NEED SOME HOLODECK TIME W/THE PROMISES! [PATHETIC…BUT I’M A TREKKY—WHATEVER YOU IMAGINE CAN BE PROGRAMMED INTO THE HOLODECK TO EXP—IMAGINE THE PROMISES…PROGRAM THEM IN…EXP THEM IN PRAYER/IMAGINATION]
LISTEN…
2Pet. 1:19
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
GOD’S PRESENCE AND MY BASEMENT.
YOUR CONVERSATION IS THE BEST DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO REVEAL WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN YOUR HEART.
I DON’T GUARD WHAT I SAY AS MUCH AS I LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY AND TRY TO KEEP MY HEART IN THE PLACE WHERE IT SAYS THE RIGHT THINGS…
THE SECOND thing about our conversation is that it actually DIRECTS OUR LIVES…
Here’s a scary text:
James 3:2-6
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue [bit/rudder] is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
He is claiming that the course of our lives are impacted by words that are said…
FOR EXAMPLE…you can keep your faith encouraged by what you talk about:
1 Sam. 30:6 AMPLIFIED VERSION
David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
HOW DID HE DO THAT?
WE SEE IT IN ACTION:
Psa. 42:11
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
HE TALKED TO HIMSELF.
I DARE YOU TO TALK TO YOURSELF AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!
SPIRITUAL AMNESIA: WHO’S WHO
DNA—read from book
I DARE YOU TO TRY TALKING TO YOURSELF FROM THE SCRIPTURES…
YOU WILL STEER YOUR LIFE INTO GRACE…
YOU WILL OVERCOME YOUR FEELINGS OF
-GUILT
-SHAME
-WORTHLESSNESS
-FEAR
GOD’S WORD WILL TRANSFORM YOU.
At first the promises will seem UNDERWHELMING…BORING…SOMETIMES FAKE
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE SCRIPTURES…JESUS COMPARED THE PROMISES TO SEED!
TAKES TIME TO BE PLANTED AND GROW!
STRAWBERRYS---YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED…
LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CONVERSATION HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT TRUST IS SOMEHOW CARRIED TO GOD IN WHAT WE SAY…
2Cor. 4:13
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
IF WE BELIEVE…WE WILL SPEAK…
FAITH AND TALKING ARE INEXORABLY CONNECTED:
Mark 11:22-23
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. [HOW DO WE HAVE FAITH IN GOD?] 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Jesus is saying, don’t have conversations with God where you say one thing and then conversations with others where you say something completely different.
Don’t say, “Lord I am trusting you to give me direction for my life”
And walk out telling everyone else, “I never know what to do with my life.”
Instead say, “I never seem to know what to do with my life, but I’ve made it a prayer project and I believe God’s going to help me out.”
Don’t have a conversation with God saying, “Lord, please help my spouse and I to have more open, loving conversations…”
And then have a conversation with your mother: “I don’t think he’ll ever change…he is so closed and cold…”
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING LIKE?
ARE YOUR WORDS REFLECTING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHAT YOU’RE TRUSTING GOD TO DO…
LISTEN TO YOURSELF
TAKE STOCK
GET YOUR HEART INTO THE HOLODECK UNTIL YOU ARE TALKING RIGHT.
UNTIL YOUR HEART IS SO CHOCK FULL OF FAITH THAT YOU ARE TALKING YOUR FAITH.
HERE’S ONE MORE SCARY TEXT:
James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE LITTLE POWER, VERY LITTLE SPIRITUAL DYNAMIC GOING ON…
THIS CONVERSATIONG THING WE’RE DISCUSSING ISN’T A CURE ALL, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF IT…(EXERCISE)
BE LIKE THE PSAMIST (WE PRAY THIS EVERY WEEK)
Psa. 19:14 KING JAMES VERSION
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
I’m not suggesting you can’t say what is going on in your life…
AND I’M NOT SUGGESTING YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN!
LAMENT (COMPLAINING PRAYER) has great reception from God…The Bible guys and gals were full of lament—especially in the psalms:
Psa. 22:1-2
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
Ps. 73:13-14
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
SISTER JOSEPHE – “why don’t you treat me like a woman!”
BUT…LIKE THE BIBLE FOLK, ALWAYS REMBER THE PROMISE AFTER YOU LAMENT…remember to add what it is your are trusting God to do…
ADD GRACE TO YOUR CONVERSATION:
Col. 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
Also LAMENT JUST TO GOD, NOT OTHERS—LAMENTING TO OTHERS IS NEVER GOOD!
HERE’S WHAT I’M SAYINT TO YOU:
WHAT YOU SAY IS IMPORTANT
Words are powerful!
Words are what God used to create the earth!
PAUL SAID:
Eph. 4:29 KING JAMES VERSION
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
I’M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR CONVERSATION THIS WEEK…
PRAY FOR US: CHICAGO/S B/GR—GO TO STORES!
posted by salt tv at 10:03 AM
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