ScriptureStream

Speech

The virtue of being quiet

James 1:26

Proverbs 10:8, 19; 11:13; 13:3; 17:27-28; 21:23; 23:9; 25:11-12

John 8:1-9 – Jesus was a master at saying the right thing at the right time.

Slow down

Proverbs 15:28; 18:13, 17; 29:20

Ephesians 4:29-32 – Bad attitudes adversely affect our speech. We should speak only what edifies.

James 3:8-12

Acts 19:32; 21:29 – People can get enraged without even knowing what happened or what they should be upset about!

Proverbs 6:4-5

Using speech for evil

Proverbs 10:18; 11:9; 16:27-28; 18:6-8; 20:19

Evil speech can spread so much discord.

Not all personal or negative communication about others is wrong. Motivation plays a key role. II Timothy 4:14-15; I Corinthians 1:11; Galatians 2:11-14; III John 1:9-10

Using speech for good

God’s love

There are many misconceptions about God’s love:

That He loves us so much that He would not punish us

If God really loved us, He would not allow evil in the world

I Corinthians 13:3 – The greatest of these attributes is love. It is what should underpin everything else in our lives.

I John 3:1, 11-24

I John 4:7-21 – Love is at the forefront of our relationship with God.

Galatians 2:20

Jeremiah 29:11; 31:3

John 3:13-36

John 15:9-17

Introduction

Matthew 16:19

Ephesians 4:4

Even if all these passages were not in the New Testament, it could still be shown that there is one saved relationship with God.

The beginning

Genesis 2:15; 1:26; 2:17

To have fellowship with God, Adam and Even had to obey His commands.

Genesis 4:3-8 – Cain disobeyed God, severing his relationship with God.

Noah’s time

Abraham’s time

Lot’s time

Moses’ time

Exodus 20 – God gives the ten commandments to guide His people at that time.

Numbers 13 – Spies search out the land of Canaan.

Numbers 20 – The people murmur and Moses strikes the rock. God refuses to let Moses enter the land of Canaan. Moses disobeyed and severed fellowship with God.

Romans 15:4

God, for one people, has never had but one plan by which He would bless them.

Matthew 16:19; Acts 20:28; John 14:26; 16:13; II Timothy 3:16-17

Matthew 15:8-9

Mark 16:15-16

Acts 2:36; I Peter 3:21 – This is the one way to have fellowship with God!

Acts 22

I John 1:6-7

Luke 16:22, 29

Trusting God …

About the city with foundations

Genesis 11:31-32

Acts 7:2

Genesis 12:1-9

Hebrews 11:8-10

Ur was a big, opulent city in Abraham’s day. Abraham was giving up a comfortable life to obey God.

Hebrews 11:13-16

Philippians 3:20 – Our citizenship is in heaven!

Colossians 3:2

When it’s emotional

Genesis 22:1-12 – Abraham did not delay obeying God. He arose early to travel three days to sacrifice his son.

Hebrews 11:17-19

Matthew 5:44

James 2:21-24

In old age

Genesis 12:4; 16:16; 17:1-3, 16-19, 23

Genesis 21:5-8

Genesis 23:1-2 – The death of Sarah.

Genesis 25:7-8

Conflict and anger

Slow down

Proverbs 12:16; 14:17, 29; 16:32; 19:11; 25:28

Anger can be controlled! Ephesians 4:26-27

Adrenaline is often not helpful when dealing with a conflict. We have to deliberately slow ourselves down and avoid sinning in our anger.

Love others (even enemies)

Proverbs 10:12; 24:17-18; 25:21-22

Romans 12:17-21

Love is not just accepting others’ actions regardless of whether they are sinful or not. Luke 17:3-4; I Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:32

Seek peace with others

Proverbs 15:18; 16:7; 17:14; 18:19; 20:3; 25:8-10; 26:17; 29:8-9

Sometimes Christians may get the wrong idea that more conflict means that they are serving God better. There will be conflict with people of the world as we serve God, but that does not mean that conflict itself is a good thing. II Timothy 3:12; Galatians 2:11

We have to make peace where we can without compromising God’s word. I Kings 17:17-18; Ezekiel 3:3-11; Acts 15:1-2

Be careful of association with others

Proverbs 19:19; 21:9; 25:24; 22:10, 24-25; 26:20-21; 27:3, 15-16; 29:22

The world is full of people that are cantankerous and like to stir up trouble. God’s people have better things to do than to get dragged into the mud.

There are several proverbs about a “contentious woman,” but men can be contentious, too! I Samuel 25:2-3, 10-11, 17, 25

Patience

Modern technology and convenience can promote impatience.

Christ’s patience with His friends

Christ’s patience with enemies

Saul – Matthew 28:18; Acts 7:54-60; 8:1-3; I timothy 1:12-16

Noah – I Peter 3:18-20

Conclusion

The “Servant Songs”

Isaiah 42:1-9 – See Matthew 12:15-21.

Isaiah 49:1-13 – See Acts 13:46-49.

Isaiah 50:4-11

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Apologetic value

740-700 BC – Isaiah prophesies: Isaiah 1:1

AD 980 – Masoretic Text: Oldest Old Testament copies until discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

AD 1947 – Dead Sea Scrolls discovered (dated 100s BC)

Was there more than one Isaiah? No. No evidence was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The story of Barry Leventhal, a Jew who came to faith in Jesus after being confronted with the prophecies in Isaiah.

Acts 8:34-35

Discipline

Raising kids (including those “rod” passages)

Proverbs 3:12

Proverbs 13:24

Proverbs 15:5

Proverbs 19:18

Proverbs 22:6, 16

Proverbs 23:13-14

Proverbs 29:15, 17

The word “rod” is not necessarily referring to a club or staff. As usual, context determines the meaning. Consider Psalms 23:4. Think of a switch or similar item used to give corporal punishment to children along with reproof for the ultimate purpose of guiding him/her in the right path.

Consider also Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:4-11. Discipline within the family should be done with love, not to blow off steam.

Self-discipline, self-control

Proverbs 6:6-11

Proverbs 16:32

Proverbs 17:27

Proverbs 21:17, 23

Proverbs 25:28

Proverbs 29:11

Proverbs 30:32-33

Secular research shows that self-control is more likely than talent to lead to success. More self-control leads to higher income jobs and less addiction.

Proverbs 20:7 – Self-control is one of the best things you can pass on to your children.

Allowing others to discipline and correct you

Proverbs 10:17

Proverbs 12:1

Proverbs 13:1, 18

Proverbs 15:10, 12, 31-32

Proverbs 17:10

Proverbs 19:25

Proverbs 21:11

Proverbs 29:1

Listen to discipline and wisdom!

Psalms 119:99-100

Joy

Romans 14:13-19 – Absence of joy can be a tool of the devil. If you don’t fill your life with joy, the devil will help you fill it with something else.

Romans 15:8-13

II Corinthians 7:13 – Joy is contagious!

Galatians 5:16-26 – Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit. It is a great motivator.

Philippians 1:1-5 – We must pray with joy!

Philippians 1:21-26 – Paul had “joy in the faith.” We should have joy in our salvation and in the spiritual companionship we have with our brethren.

Philippians 2:1-11 – Today we can “complete” Paul’s joy by being of the same mind in obeying God.

Colossians 1:9-14 – Joy can be a power in that it encourages us to act with zeal in serving God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Jesus’ joy was salvation for His creation.