Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)
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.
After he wrote the book “The God Who Is There,” Francis Schaeffer wrote several follow-up volumes including “He Is There and He Is Not Silent,” which was written to deal with the most fundamental of all questions: How we know what we know? Schaeffer’s answer to that question is simple: The God who is both infinite and personal not only exists but he exists as a communicator. The foundational assumption of Scripture is not simply that God exists, but that he has communicated with us through the prophets and apostles, and most decisively through the personal revelation of his incarnate Son. As a personal and relational being, God is a communicator. William Barry and William Connolly write, “Our faith tells us that God communicates with us whether we know it or not…. He shares himself with us even when we do not know that he is doing so…. We are being ‘spoken to’ continuously.”
(William Barry and William Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1993), p. 33.
As a Born-Again, blood bought, justified, and sanctified, I believe that there should be unity within the body called “the Church” concerning our communications. Also our communications with “The World” (Lost persons) should be scriptural and seasoned with salt. Let us review just a few Scriptural verses that are Bible principles related to communications.
(A) EVIL SPEAKING:
Eph 4:29 (KJV) 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.
Eph 4:31 (KJV) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Titus 3:1 (KJV) Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Titus 3:2 (KJV) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
James 3:6 (KJV) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
James 4:11 (KJV) Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
1 Pet 2:1 (KJV) Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1 Pet 3:10 (KJV) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Ephesians 5:4 (KJV) “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
(B) BACKBITING:
Psa 10:15 (KJV) Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
Psa 15:3 (KJV) He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Psa 50:20 (KJV) Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
Prov 25:23 (KJV) The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Jer 9:4 (KJV) Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Rom 1:30 (KJV) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 12:20 (KJV) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
(C) VAIN TALKING CONDEMNED:
Job 11:2 (KJV) Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Job 15:3 (KJV) Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
Prov 10:19 (KJV) In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Prov 14:23 (KJV) In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Prov 29:11 (KJV) A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Eccl 5:3 (KJV) For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
Eccl 10:13 (KJV) The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Ezek 36:3 (KJV) Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:
(D) TALE BEARERS CONDEMNED:
Lev 19:16 (KJV) Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
Prov 11:13 (KJV) A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Prov 17:9 (KJV) He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Prov 18:8 (KJV) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Prov 20:19 (KJV) He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Prov 26:20 (KJV) Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
(E) TONGUE TO BE RESTRAINED:
Psa 34:13 (KJV) Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Prov 13:3 (KJV) He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Prov 21:23 (KJV) Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
James 1:26 (KJV) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
(F) EVIL WHISPERING:
Psa 41:7 (KJV) All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
Prov 16:28 (KJV) A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Prov 26:22 (KJV) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Rom 1:29 (KJV) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
(G) SLANDER:
Psa 31:13 (KJV) For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
Psa 101:5 (KJV) Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Prov 10:18 (KJV) He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Prov 11:9 (KJV) An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Jer 9:4 (KJV) Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
WISE WORDS
(A) FORCIBLE:
Job 6:25 (KJV) How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
Prov 15:23 (KJV) A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
(B) PLEASANT:
Prov 16:24 (KJV) Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
(C) APPROPRIATE:
Prov 25:11 (KJV) A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Eccl 9:17 (KJV) The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
(D) GRACIOUS:
Eccl 10:12 (KJV) The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
(E) COMFORTING:
Isa 50:4 (KJV) The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION
(A) USED IN EVERYDAY LIFE:
Deu 6:7 (KJV) And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 11:19 (KJV) And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
(B) CONCERNING THE THINGS OF GOD:
Psa 145:11 (KJV) They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
(C) SPIRITUAL SINGING:
Eph 5:19 (KJV) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
EDIFICATION
(A) BUILDING UP OF BELIEVERS:
Rom 14:9 (KJV) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Rom 15:2 (KJV) Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
1 Cor 8:1 (KJV) Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
1 Cor 14:3 (KJV) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1 Cor 14:26 (KJV) How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
2 Cor 10:8 (KJV) For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
2 Cor 12:19 (KJV) Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
WITNESSING
Your own testimony is the best witness you can share. It is not just teaching Bible truths. It is “being” a product of those truths. In other words, don’t just say it — be and do it. Allow the Holy Spirit to produce within you the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, meekness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, patience and self-control, thereby “becoming” what you are witnessing to.
GO
Mark 16:15-16 (KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
GLOW
(Matthew 5:16) KJV “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Psalm 119:105 (KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
GOSPEL
Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke 13:3 (KJV) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Romans 10:9-10, 13 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:38-39 (KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
AND LET GOD
John 10:29 (KJV) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 6:37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Acts 2:38-39 (KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
(God does the convicting converting, and cleansing. Let us do the communicating to the lost)
A THOUGHT TO PONDER:
Start your day by communicating with God.
Ask God, when you get up each morning, to forgive you of your sins, (1 John 1:9)
Ask Him to lead you to someone to whom you can witness and expect Him to do so.
Ask Him to give you spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and strength, as you read His Word, to be ready for that one whom he will send your way.
1) Portions of this lesson has been copied
2) Witnessing Scripture are not all-inclusive
Christ The Answer Prison Ministry 