100:00:00,840 –> 00:00:04,160Your tongue200:00:04,160 –> 00:00:08,240is like a weapon that can300:00:08,240 –> 00:00:14,040wound another person deeply. Now, if you carried around400:00:14,040 –> 00:00:18,940a weapon that you knew could wound another person deeply, you would500:00:18,940 –> 00:00:23,820carry that weapon with great caution and with great care.600:00:23,820 –> 00:00:28,219Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.700:00:28,400 –> 00:00:31,540Glad you could join us today. And Colin, that’s a powerful image, isn’t800:00:31,540 –> 00:00:35,959it? The tongue as a weapon. Yes. And a proverb says that900:00:35,959 –> 00:00:39,880death and life are in the power of the tongue.1000:00:39,880 –> 00:00:44,799I mean, that’s powerful, death really, really destructive, life very,1100:00:44,799 –> 00:00:49,820very wonderful. You know, you know, in your own experience1200:00:49,820 –> 00:00:54,099that the words of another person can either build you up, they can be1300:00:54,099 –> 00:00:58,340wonderfully encouraging, they can give you strength and confidence to do1400:00:58,340 –> 00:01:00,779something that you never thought you could do.1500:01:00,779 –> 00:01:05,059Or if words are cutting, they can be deeply wounding and deeply,1600:01:05,059 –> 00:01:09,639deeply destructive. We all know this from our own experience,1700:01:09,639 –> 00:01:12,959but here’s the application for us today as we’re looking in the1800:01:12,959 –> 00:01:18,040Scripture, how can I speak words that are going to be life giving1900:01:18,040 –> 00:01:22,459words to other people? And how can I exercise greater self2000:01:22,459 –> 00:01:25,680control? We all know what it is to say something, and then a2100:01:25,680 –> 00:01:29,440minute you’ve said it, you say, Oh, why did I say that? I didn’t2200:01:29,440 –> 00:01:34,760intend to speak in that way. We want to be able to gain control2300:01:34,760 –> 00:01:38,199over the tongue and to be able to speak life giving words2400:01:38,199 –> 00:01:41,519rather than cutting words that are going to hurt and wound2500:01:41,519 –> 00:01:45,860other people perhaps more than we ever realise. And God speaks2600:01:45,860 –> 00:01:48,919to us about all these things in the book of Proverbs, and he2700:01:48,959 –> 00:01:51,320speaks to us in the most practical of ways.2800:01:51,519 –> 00:01:55,959So join us today if you can in Proverbs chapter 15. Here is2900:01:55,959 –> 00:01:56,800Pastor Colin.3000:01:57,779 –> 00:02:06,040Let’s begin here then why do our words matter, and your words3100:02:06,040 –> 00:02:11,320matter because of the effect that they have on others.3200:02:12,240 –> 00:02:14,580Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 213300:02:14,639 –> 00:02:20,080death and life are in the power of the tongue.3400:02:21,259 –> 00:02:26,740In other words what we say the tongue will be the means by3500:02:26,740 –> 00:02:30,080which we bring the greatest help or the greatest harm to3600:02:30,080 –> 00:02:34,940other people life or death is in the power of the tongue.3700:02:36,100 –> 00:02:39,100Notice first the references to death in the power of the3800:02:39,100 –> 00:02:46,399tongue, in other words your tongue is like a weapon that3900:02:46,399 –> 00:02:49,520can wound another person deeply.4000:02:51,619 –> 00:02:55,679Now if you carried around a weapon that you knew could4100:02:55,679 –> 00:03:00,600wound another person deeply you would carry that weapon with4200:03:00,600 –> 00:03:03,220great caution and with great care.4300:03:04,380 –> 00:03:07,979Well remember you do carry such a weapon with you every day4400:03:08,000 –> 00:03:13,279and your tongue is a weapon that can bring deadly wounds.4500:03:14,039 –> 00:03:19,960In fact Proverbs 12 in verse 18 says rash words are like sword4600:03:19,960 –> 00:03:20,539thrust.4700:03:20,559 –> 00:03:25,520So again notice the analogy of the weapon that can kill rash4800:03:25,580 –> 00:03:25,919words.4900:03:25,919 –> 00:03:29,220We talk about cutting remarks and perhaps this is where it5000:03:29,220 –> 00:03:32,100comes from that the book of Proverbs says the word that’s5100:03:32,100 –> 00:03:33,600just blurted out.5200:03:33,759 –> 00:03:37,520It’s like the thrust of a sword and it can bring deep wounds5300:03:37,539 –> 00:03:40,779some of you know about this in your life someone who has said5400:03:40,779 –> 00:03:43,860something that is deeply wounded you and it stays with5500:03:43,899 –> 00:03:44,320you.5600:03:45,860 –> 00:03:47,720You’ll never amount to anything.5700:03:49,020 –> 00:03:50,419Something of this sort.5800:03:51,179 –> 00:03:56,320Death is in the power of the tongue and our Lord Jesus5900:03:56,320 –> 00:04:00,419speaks about this with great clarity in the Sermon on the6000:04:00,419 –> 00:04:00,839Mount.6100:04:01,220 –> 00:04:04,960You remember when our Lord Jesus quoted the sixth commandment6200:04:05,240 –> 00:04:07,839which is do not murder.6300:04:09,179 –> 00:04:11,259And perhaps of all the commandments that’s the one that6400:04:11,259 –> 00:04:13,899makes this thing well at least I’m not close to that.6500:04:15,259 –> 00:04:19,140But Jesus made very clear that the sixth commandment you shall6600:04:19,140 –> 00:04:22,820not murder includes death by words.6700:04:23,459 –> 00:04:26,500He said you have heard that it was said of all that you shall6800:04:26,500 –> 00:04:31,000not murder and whoever murders will be liable to judgment but6900:04:31,000 –> 00:04:38,739I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother will be7000:04:38,739 –> 00:04:44,820liable to judgment and whoever says you fool.7100:04:46,000 –> 00:04:50,500The original word that Jesus spoke was a rock it was a term7200:04:50,500 –> 00:04:56,160of belittling of insult demeaning contempt and abuse.7300:04:56,179 –> 00:04:57,700It meant you were useless.7400:04:58,660 –> 00:05:02,859Whoever speaks to another person like that Jesus says will be7500:05:02,859 –> 00:05:09,440in danger of the fires of hell.7600:05:09,440 –> 00:05:12,339Now that would certainly have got the attention of the crowd.7700:05:13,220 –> 00:05:15,880The vast majority of the crowd listening to Jesus on the7800:05:15,880 –> 00:05:18,760slopes in the sermon on the Mount oh well at least when it7900:05:18,760 –> 00:05:21,179comes to the murder commandment we’re in no place close to8000:05:21,179 –> 00:05:23,959that and when Jesus explains what it really means that it8100:05:23,980 –> 00:05:29,799includes death by words are recognizing that it comes much8200:05:29,799 –> 00:05:31,920closer to home than we may have thought.8300:05:33,239 –> 00:05:39,519Abusive speech is an offense for which a person is accountable8400:05:39,519 –> 00:05:40,480to God.8500:05:41,920 –> 00:05:46,600It is a violation of the sixth commandment that would put a8600:05:46,600 –> 00:05:52,179person Jesus says in danger of the very fires of hell.8700:05:52,619 –> 00:05:56,700Death is in the power of the tongue.8800:05:58,980 –> 00:06:06,540And then Proverbs tells us that life is also in the power of the8900:06:06,540 –> 00:06:07,100tongue.9000:06:07,940 –> 00:06:12,100And again Proverbs chapter 12 in verse 18 says that well rash9100:06:12,100 –> 00:06:17,619words are like sword thrusts the tongue of the wise brings9200:06:17,619 –> 00:06:18,179healing.9300:06:19,119 –> 00:06:22,420Here is the extraordinary thing about our words about the tongue9400:06:22,420 –> 00:06:25,640that it can not only do great harm it can also do great good.9500:06:27,619 –> 00:06:31,820Larry Crabb a name some of you may know has written a number of9600:06:31,820 –> 00:06:35,940books related to counseling and he is a very helpful book on9700:06:35,940 –> 00:06:40,880the subject of encouragement and he tells in that book of how as9800:06:40,880 –> 00:06:45,940a youngster, he developed what he calls a thoroughly annoying9900:06:46,179 –> 00:06:50,519and humiliating problem of stuttering.10000:06:51,339 –> 00:06:55,739He says that he had particular difficulties with the letters L10100:06:55,739 –> 00:07:00,279and P and since his name was Larry and he went to the10200:07:00,279 –> 00:07:05,260Plymouth school in Pennsylvania he had a real problem when he10300:07:05,260 –> 00:07:10,660was a teenager and he describes how in the church that he grew10400:07:10,799 –> 00:07:15,859up in on Sunday mornings it was their normal custom to have a10500:07:15,920 –> 00:07:19,839time of open prayer when anyone could speak out and bleed and10600:07:19,839 –> 00:07:23,799participate and there was a certain pressure that as a10700:07:23,820 –> 00:07:26,920person grew into their teens that they should be able to do10800:07:26,920 –> 00:07:32,600this and one Sunday morning Larry got his courage together10900:07:32,679 –> 00:07:37,380and lead public prayer for the very first time as a teenager.11000:07:38,880 –> 00:07:43,459And I’ll quote you what he says here he says filled less with11100:07:43,459 –> 00:07:48,679worship than with nervousness I found my theology becoming11200:07:48,679 –> 00:07:54,260confused to the point of heresy I remember thanking the father11300:07:54,420 –> 00:07:58,779for hanging on the cross and praising Christ for triumphantly11400:07:58,779 –> 00:08:05,000bringing the Spirit from the grave stuttering throughout I11500:08:05,000 –> 00:08:11,119finally thought of the word Amen and said it and sat down I11600:08:11,119 –> 00:08:16,940recall staring at the floor too embarrassed to look around and11700:08:16,940 –> 00:08:23,000solemnly vowing never again to pray or speak aloud in front of11800:08:23,880 –> 00:08:28,839a group. He then describes how at the end of the service he11900:08:28,839 –> 00:08:32,260decided to make a dart for the door and escape as quickly as he12000:08:32,260 –> 00:08:36,500could, but he didn’t get to the door fast enough. There was an12100:08:36,500 –> 00:08:40,880older Christian, a man by the name of Gim Dumbar who caught up12200:08:40,919 –> 00:08:47,000with him, put his arm around his shoulder, and then cleared his12300:08:47,000 –> 00:08:52,320throat ready to speak. Larry says I thought, Oh, here we go.12400:08:52,320 –> 00:08:54,780I’m just going to have to endure this. And then I’ll get out of12500:08:54,780 –> 00:08:59,280the car and I’m out of here. What Jim Dumbar said to him was12600:08:59,280 –> 00:09:06,760this. Larry, there’s one thing that I want you to know. Whatever12700:09:06,840 –> 00:09:13,799you decide to do for Jesus I’m with you 1000 percent and that12800:09:13,799 –> 00:09:19,700was all he said and then he walked away. Writing years12900:09:19,700 –> 00:09:23,859later as a mature adult, Larry Krabb says even as I write these13000:09:23,859 –> 00:09:28,659words, my eyes fill with tears. Those words were life words.13100:09:28,659 –> 00:09:33,539They had power. They reach deep into my being and my resolve13200:09:34,099 –> 00:09:40,099to speak in public tweeted instantly. Your words matter.13300:09:42,440 –> 00:09:48,440They can wound or they can heal. They can harm or they can help.13400:09:50,479 –> 00:09:53,380You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.13500:09:53,380 –> 00:09:56,140We have to pause the message briefly right here but we’ll be13600:09:56,140 –> 00:09:59,739back very shortly so do stay with us. Our message today is13700:09:59,780 –> 00:10:03,719called Words and it’s part of our series called Wisdom for13800:10:03,719 –> 00:10:06,880Life based on the book of Proverbs. Don’t forget if you13900:10:06,880 –> 00:10:09,719ever missed one of our messages, you can easily catch up or go14000:10:09,719 –> 00:10:12,840back and listen again online at our website14100:10:12,840 –> 00:10:17,239openthebible.org.uk or go to where you normally get your14200:10:17,239 –> 00:10:21,780podcasts and search there for Open The Bible UK and subscribe14300:10:21,780 –> 00:10:25,400if you want to receive regular updates. Back to the message now14400:10:25,700 –> 00:10:27,580is pastor Colin14500:10:27,580 –> 00:10:32,500Second, our words matter not only because of their effect on14600:10:32,500 –> 00:10:37,580other people but also because of the very profound effect14700:10:37,580 –> 00:10:42,500that your words will have on yourself. Back to Proverbs14800:10:42,500 –> 00:10:46,58018 in verse 21 and now the second half of the verse having14900:10:46,580 –> 00:10:51,179told us that death and life are in the power of the tongue.15000:10:51,179 –> 00:10:55,200Solomon tells us that those who love it will eat its15100:10:55,239 –> 00:11:01,239fruit. In other words what you see will certainly have an15200:11:03,640 –> 00:11:07,239effect for good or for ill in the lives of other people but15300:11:07,239 –> 00:11:10,159in the same way as it has an effect for good and ill in the15400:11:10,159 –> 00:11:12,520lives of other people, the words you speak will have an15500:11:12,520 –> 00:11:17,520effect for good or for ill in your own soul as well. What you15600:11:19,099 –> 00:11:22,359say comes out of you, but in a very profound sense what you15700:11:22,400 –> 00:11:26,859say goes into you as well. In fact one of the Proverbs,15800:11:26,859 –> 00:11:30,299Proverbs 18 verse 20 speaks about our words going down to15900:11:30,299 –> 00:11:35,299our own stomach. Cursing, raging. Oh yes it’ll have an16000:11:38,099 –> 00:11:41,260effect on someone else but it’ll go deep down into your own16100:11:41,260 –> 00:11:45,840soul. It’ll go down into your own stomach to quote Proverbs.16200:11:45,840 –> 00:11:51,539It’ll make your soul sick. You will in a very profound sense16300:11:51,659 –> 00:11:54,500eat your own words. We use that phrase and what Proverbs is16400:11:54,500 –> 00:11:57,580saying is we always eat our own words. They not only go into16500:11:57,580 –> 00:12:00,979the ear of another person. They go into the soul of the person16600:12:00,979 –> 00:12:05,979who speaks. What will bring help and blessing to others as you16700:12:08,299 –> 00:12:12,700speak it will bring help and blessing to you. The person who16800:12:12,700 –> 00:12:17,700blesses others is blessed. The one who curses others brings16900:12:18,580 –> 00:12:23,580that back upon themselves. Remember Jesus says with the17000:12:24,820 –> 00:12:28,679measure you use and he’s speaking particularly about our17100:12:28,679 –> 00:12:31,979words here in the Sermon on the Mount. With the measure that you17200:12:31,979 –> 00:12:36,979use it will be measured to you. So speaking destruction into the17300:12:39,340 –> 00:12:44,179lives of others will bring destruction to you. And speaking17400:12:44,219 –> 00:12:49,219life into the lives of others will be life giving to you. That17500:12:53,260 –> 00:12:57,039by the way as we were praying this morning about being17600:12:57,039 –> 00:13:02,039forgiven as we forgive others, this is just another reason why17700:13:02,659 –> 00:13:07,440it is not only right to forgive others but why it is wise to17800:13:07,440 –> 00:13:12,440forgive others. Because to hold a grudge is simply to hold a17900:13:14,479 –> 00:13:17,580grudge – it’s simply to harm yourself. It goes deep down into18000:13:17,580 –> 00:13:21,080your own soul, down into your stomach.18100:13:21,080 –> 00:13:25,3803rd, we’re looking at why our18200:13:25,380 –> 00:13:28,580words matter, and perhaps this is why there are more proverbs18300:13:28,580 –> 00:13:32,979on this subject than any other – it is so important. Because of18400:13:32,979 –> 00:13:37,580the degree to which they can help or harm other people, the18500:13:37,580 –> 00:13:41,000degree to which they have an effect in your own soul, and18600:13:41,000 –> 00:13:43,799thirdly, and very obviously, the effect that your words have18700:13:43,799 –> 00:13:47,299before Almighty God. Listen to these words of Jesus from18800:13:47,299 –> 00:13:48,799Matthew and chapter 12,18900:14:04,000 –> 00:14:07,200So let’s settle this in our minds, friends, that God will19000:14:07,200 –> 00:14:12,000hold us accountable not only for what we do, but also for19100:14:12,000 –> 00:14:17,700what we say. And that means that freedom of speech, which19200:14:17,700 –> 00:14:24,099is a wonderful blessing, is also an awesome responsibility.19300:14:25,500 –> 00:14:26,900Because our Lord says,19400:14:26,900 –> 00:14:35,000People will give an account for every careless word they speak.19500:14:36,200 –> 00:14:45,099And God knows every word that every one of us ever speaks.19600:14:48,000 –> 00:14:49,799From time to time, I have the19700:14:49,799 –> 00:14:54,799opportunity of doing an interview on the radio, and the19800:14:54,799 –> 00:14:59,000normal format for these things is that the radio station calls19900:14:59,500 –> 00:15:03,000and you pick up the phone and you have a few words with the20000:15:03,000 –> 00:15:07,099program hosts usually while some music is playing on that20100:15:07,099 –> 00:15:10,700particular station and then the host will say at some point20200:15:10,700 –> 00:15:14,000while we’ve got about 30 seconds to go and then we’ll be20300:15:14,000 –> 00:15:15,900live on the air.20400:15:16,799 –> 00:15:18,700Well on one occasion a few years ago that.20500:15:18,700 –> 00:15:21,599I will never forget I picked up the phone and the voice said20600:15:21,599 –> 00:15:25,700Hi, this is Jim or whatever his name was from such-and-such20700:15:25,900 –> 00:15:28,500radio station, how are you all fine?20800:15:28,500 –> 00:15:30,299I said, you know, it’s been a busy weekend.20900:15:30,299 –> 00:15:32,599I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you today.21000:15:32,599 –> 00:15:34,700And what are we going to talk about today?21100:15:34,700 –> 00:15:37,200And he said what he wanted to speak about and I said, oh,21200:15:37,200 –> 00:15:38,099yeah, that’s fine.21300:15:38,099 –> 00:15:41,200And I think what I’d really like to get across is you know,21400:15:41,200 –> 00:15:43,500this and that and the other.21500:15:43,500 –> 00:15:49,799And he kept going talking and I began to wonder as two,21600:15:49,799 –> 00:15:52,900three, four, five, six minutes had passed.21700:15:54,799 –> 00:15:57,299When is this interview actually going to begin?21800:15:59,299 –> 00:16:02,799And then I had an awful growing feeling in the pit of my21900:16:02,799 –> 00:16:03,599stomach.22000:16:05,900 –> 00:16:07,900It’s already started.22100:16:09,000 –> 00:16:11,700And it started the moment that I picked up the phone.22200:16:13,400 –> 00:16:15,700And here’s me rambling on thinking that I’m talking to22300:16:15,700 –> 00:16:16,299one person.22400:16:16,299 –> 00:16:18,700There are probably thousands of people who are listening to22500:16:18,700 –> 00:16:19,099this.22600:16:19,799 –> 00:16:23,900Now here’s something far more serious.22700:16:23,900 –> 00:16:28,200Every word that you and I ever say is heard by Almighty God.22800:16:30,799 –> 00:16:33,099Every word you say in private.22900:16:34,599 –> 00:16:36,299Every word you write online.23000:16:38,000 –> 00:16:42,500Every tweet to ever make every comment you ever post is known.23100:16:43,599 –> 00:16:44,599And it is weighed.23200:16:44,599 –> 00:16:57,200We are weighed by Almighty God and God holds us accountable not only for what we do but also for what we say.23300:16:57,200 –> 00:17:02,599And when you see this you will know how much you need a Savior.23400:17:03,700 –> 00:17:05,699So our words matter.23500:17:05,699 –> 00:17:09,400Our words matter because of their effects on others, the effect that they have in our23600:17:09,400 –> 00:17:13,099own soul and the effect that they have in the presence of God.23700:17:13,400 –> 00:17:18,900People will give account for every careless word they say.23800:17:18,900 –> 00:17:23,199Therefore our words really matter.23900:17:23,199 –> 00:17:25,020Now, let’s move on then to the second thing.24000:17:25,020 –> 00:17:26,020That’s the why.24100:17:26,020 –> 00:17:27,020Why does it matter?24200:17:27,020 –> 00:17:29,180And now let’s look at the what.24300:17:29,180 –> 00:17:33,939What should our words reflect?24400:17:33,939 –> 00:17:38,979And as I say there are many proverbs that are about our words and they’re scattered24500:17:39,060 –> 00:17:40,680all through the book.24600:17:40,680 –> 00:17:46,579What I’ve tried to do is simply group them together and to draw out the main themes,24700:17:46,579 –> 00:17:50,060and then for my own good, and I hope that this will be helpful to you, just to turn24800:17:50,060 –> 00:17:52,520them into prayers.24900:17:52,520 –> 00:17:58,500Things that I would ask of God in regards to my speaking and encourage you to ask of25000:17:58,500 –> 00:18:01,300God in regards to your speaking too.25100:18:01,300 –> 00:18:06,780And the first of these is, Lord, help me to speak with restraint.25200:18:06,780 –> 00:18:15,079The book of Proverbs comments again and again the virtue of speaking with restraint.25300:18:15,079 –> 00:18:24,339Chapter 15 and verse 28, the heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth25400:18:24,339 –> 00:18:28,780of the wicked pours out evil things.25500:18:28,780 –> 00:18:33,819Now notice the contrast between the righteous person and a wicked.25600:18:33,819 –> 00:18:41,459Words just pour out of the wicked, blurt it out, the first thing that comes to mind.25700:18:41,459 –> 00:18:43,040It’s all instinctive.25800:18:43,040 –> 00:18:46,160It’s all visceral.25900:18:46,160 –> 00:18:50,020But the righteous ponder.26000:18:50,020 –> 00:18:57,219There’s a thoughtfulness and thereby a restraint in regards to the words of the righteous.26100:18:58,040 –> 00:19:04,359Now of course this is radically countercultural, because self-expression is a leading idol26200:19:04,359 –> 00:19:06,319in our culture today.26300:19:06,319 –> 00:19:13,140So it’s very common to hear people say, I must say what I think!26400:19:13,140 –> 00:19:16,800I must say what I feel!26500:19:16,800 –> 00:19:20,680And you hear that just sometimes you think you want to say, really?26600:19:20,680 –> 00:19:22,099Must you?26700:19:22,099 –> 00:19:23,439Must you?26800:19:23,439 –> 00:19:24,800What would happen if you didn’t?26900:19:24,800 –> 00:19:26,839What if you just restrained yourself?27000:19:27,160 –> 00:19:29,660Wouldn’t you explode or combust?27100:19:29,660 –> 00:19:33,719What would be so terrible if you were to exercise some restraint?27200:19:33,719 –> 00:19:37,739Listen to this from Proverbs 29, verse 11,27300:19:37,739 –> 00:19:41,959A fool gives full dent to his spirit,27400:19:44,060 –> 00:19:47,239but a wise man quietly holds it back.27500:19:48,119 –> 00:19:50,160It’s a very important distinction!27600:19:50,780 –> 00:19:55,780It’s the fool, who gives full vent to his spirit,27700:19:57,160 –> 00:19:59,239just lays it all out there,27800:20:00,239 –> 00:20:05,239but the wise person knows how to exercise some restraint.27900:20:06,520 –> 00:20:08,000Now, this word, restraint,28000:20:08,000 –> 00:20:09,739recurs throughout the book of Proverbs.28100:20:09,739 –> 00:20:12,599Let me give you another couple of examples.28200:20:12,599 –> 00:20:15,119Proverbs, chapter 17, and verse 27,28300:20:15,119 –> 00:20:18,719whoever restrains his words has knowledge.28400:20:18,839 –> 00:20:23,339He who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.28500:20:23,339 –> 00:20:25,699I like that, a cool spirit.28600:20:25,699 –> 00:20:27,219Of course, what is being said there28700:20:27,219 –> 00:20:31,380is that when we get heated, our words get more and more,28800:20:31,380 –> 00:20:34,640and they become less and less clear,28900:20:34,640 –> 00:20:37,239and less and less effective.29000:20:37,239 –> 00:20:41,319And so the cool spirit reflects the person of understanding.29100:20:41,319 –> 00:20:43,560Or chapter 10 and verse 19,29200:20:43,560 –> 00:20:46,680when words are many, when they’re multiplied up,29300:20:46,680 –> 00:20:49,920heaped up, transgression is not lacking.29400:20:49,920 –> 00:20:54,920But whoever restrains his lips is prudent.29500:20:55,219 –> 00:20:58,880So here’s a way to pray about our speaking.29600:20:58,880 –> 00:21:03,880Lord, help me to think before I speak.29700:21:04,760 –> 00:21:05,579Well, that’s one of29800:21:05,579 –> 00:21:08,219the distinctive marks of a righteous person, you see.29900:21:09,219 –> 00:21:12,300Exercises restraint, ponders,30000:21:12,300 –> 00:21:14,319rather than pouring out.30100:21:15,260 –> 00:21:20,260Holds back rather than giving full vent, restraint.30200:21:22,939 –> 00:21:27,939And we all know that less is often more30300:21:30,800 –> 00:21:32,619when it comes to our words.30400:21:34,280 –> 00:21:38,699Whoever restrains his words has knowledge.30500:21:39,660 –> 00:21:44,599And whoever restrains his lips is prudent.30600:21:46,260 –> 00:21:50,319Lord, help me to speak with restraint.30700:21:50,319 –> 00:21:51,839There’s wisdom.30800:21:51,839 –> 00:21:53,280You’ve been listening to Open the Bible30900:21:53,280 –> 00:21:56,800with pastor Colin Smith and a message called Words.31000:21:56,800 –> 00:21:59,000It’s part of our series, Wisdom for Life,31100:21:59,000 –> 00:22:00,540based on the Book of Proverbs,31200:22:00,540 –> 00:22:03,160and if you’ve missed any of the series so far31300:22:03,160 –> 00:22:05,319or if you’d like to go back and listen again,31400:22:05,319 –> 00:22:08,339you can do that by coming online to our website,31500:22:08,479 –> 00:22:11,239openthebible.org.uk31600:22:11,239 –> 00:22:13,939or go to where you normally get your podcasts31700:22:13,939 –> 00:22:17,180and search for Open the Bible UK.31800:22:17,180 –> 00:22:18,800What if you could go on a hike31900:22:18,800 –> 00:22:21,719with pastor Colin through the Bible story?32000:22:21,719 –> 00:22:23,579See how it all fits together32100:22:23,579 –> 00:22:26,160and how it all points to Jesus.32200:22:26,160 –> 00:22:27,599Well, now you can,32300:22:27,599 –> 00:22:30,719with the new podcast Hike Through the Bible.32400:22:30,719 –> 00:22:32,640Yeah, and this is for everyone32500:22:32,640 –> 00:22:34,959who wants to understand the Bible better32600:22:34,959 –> 00:22:38,219and for everyone who wants to love Jesus more.32700:22:38,260 –> 00:22:39,520In each episode,32800:22:39,520 –> 00:22:42,479I’ll read a chapter from my book, Hike Through the Bible,32900:22:42,479 –> 00:22:44,780and then I’ll discuss it with some friends.33000:22:44,780 –> 00:22:47,300A new episode releases every week.33100:22:47,300 –> 00:22:50,699And so you can take this hike at a gentle pace.33200:22:50,699 –> 00:22:54,500In a year you’ll have covered the entire Bible story.33300:22:54,500 –> 00:22:57,619I really hope that you’ll join me on this journey33400:22:57,619 –> 00:23:00,099and it’s not too late to get started now.33500:23:00,099 –> 00:23:03,479Well, you can subscribe to Hike Through the Bible podcast33600:23:03,479 –> 00:23:05,260wherever you get your podcasts33700:23:05,380 –> 00:23:07,660and you can find out more information33800:23:07,660 –> 00:23:12,459on our website www.openthebible.org.uk.33900:23:12,459 –> 00:23:15,040Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.34000:23:15,040 –> 00:23:17,640We’re able to bring you Pastor Colin’s teaching34100:23:17,640 –> 00:23:20,459on the radio, internet, and podcasts34200:23:20,459 –> 00:23:23,760as a result of the generosity of listeners like you.34300:23:23,760 –> 00:23:26,339So if you already give to support our work,34400:23:26,339 –> 00:23:27,439thank you so much.34500:23:27,439 –> 00:23:29,500We do appreciate it.34600:23:29,500 –> 00:23:31,219This month, when you begin to support34700:23:31,219 –> 00:23:32,959Open the Bible for the first time,34800:23:33,020 –> 00:23:35,119we’d love to say thank you by sending you34900:23:35,119 –> 00:23:37,560a copy of Pastor Colin’s brand new book,35000:23:37,560 –> 00:23:38,739Grow in Faith.35100:23:38,739 –> 00:23:41,060This devotional book is not yet available35200:23:41,060 –> 00:23:44,000in the UK, so our offer is very exclusive.35300:23:44,959 –> 00:23:47,520Colin, who is this book for?35400:23:47,520 –> 00:23:49,579Well, it’s for everyone who wants to grow35500:23:49,579 –> 00:23:50,719in their faith, and hopefully,35600:23:50,719 –> 00:23:53,040that’s every Christian believer.35700:23:53,040 –> 00:23:54,839You know, the disciples, at one point,35800:23:54,839 –> 00:23:58,800said to Jesus, Lord, increase our faith.35900:23:58,800 –> 00:24:01,579And they’d been following Jesus for sometime36000:24:01,579 –> 00:24:03,599when they said it, they’d left everything36100:24:03,599 –> 00:24:05,099in order to follow him.36200:24:05,099 –> 00:24:07,540But they came to a place, at one point,36300:24:07,540 –> 00:24:10,020where they realised we’re going36400:24:10,020 –> 00:24:11,979to need to grow in faith.36500:24:11,979 –> 00:24:13,979And I think every Christian comes36600:24:13,979 –> 00:24:15,500to a place like that, you know,36700:24:15,500 –> 00:24:17,520I’ve been trusting Jesus for some time,36800:24:17,520 –> 00:24:19,699but now I’m facing circumstances36900:24:19,699 –> 00:24:21,880where I’m really going to have to trust him,37000:24:21,880 –> 00:24:24,599Lord, increase my faith.37100:24:24,599 –> 00:24:28,099So, this 30-day devotional book37200:24:28,180 –> 00:24:32,880is designed to help and encourage growing in faith.37300:24:32,880 –> 00:24:35,260I have loved working on this,37400:24:35,260 –> 00:24:37,739and I’m very excited about the opportunity37500:24:37,739 –> 00:24:39,199of sharing it with you.37600:24:39,199 –> 00:24:41,500Well, Pastor Colin’s book, Grow In Faith,37700:24:41,500 –> 00:24:44,219is our special offer to you this month,37800:24:44,219 –> 00:24:46,140when you support Open The Bible Financially37900:24:46,140 –> 00:24:48,380for the first time with a one-off gift38000:24:48,380 –> 00:24:50,420of £60 or more38100:24:50,420 –> 00:24:55,060or a monthly direct debit of £5 per month or more.38200:24:55,060 –> 00:24:57,900Full terms and conditions are on our website.38300:24:57,900 –> 00:25:01,060That’s at openthebible.org.uk.38400:25:01,060 –> 00:25:02,579And you can give online.38500:25:02,579 –> 00:25:05,660Please do remember to leave your full name and address38600:25:05,660 –> 00:25:07,000when you set up your payment38700:25:07,000 –> 00:25:09,880so we can send you your free gift.38800:25:09,880 –> 00:25:12,260For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,38900:25:12,260 –> 00:25:13,400I’m David Pick.39000:25:13,400 –> 00:25:15,859And I look forward to you joining us again next time39100:25:15,859 –> 00:25:17,380on Open the Bible.39200:25:17,380 –> 00:25:23,540♪39300:25:23,540 –> 00:25:26,500How can your words be blessed?39400:25:26,500 –> 00:25:29,099Find out next time on Open the Bible.