Sunday, March 8, 2015 pm
WHEN SILENCE IS NOT
GOLDEN
BUT, there are times when we ought to speak up.
In fact, it could be there are times when if we fail to speak up
that we are actually sinning.
In Psalm 39:1-3, David said, “I said, “I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While
the wicked are before me.” I was mute with silence, I held my peace even
from good; And my sorrow was stirred up. My heart was hot within me;
While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:”
Jeremiah said something similar
in Jer. 20:7-9 says, “O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded;
You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily;
Everyone mocks me. For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence
and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me A reproach and
a derision daily. Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor
speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning
fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could
not.”
In
our lesson tonight I would like to notice some times when we ought speak
up. Some times when ought
not to be silent. Let us
consider that we ought not be silent when it comes to:
a.
The idea of praising God
is to life up one’s voice in adoration, or to speak highly of one.
In the New Testament the primary Greek word, αἰνέω
(aineō) word is almost exclusively directed toward God.
b.
The idea of praising God
today has been marketed by many so that people associate it with
spectacular shows and emotionally driven services.
As a result, many are hesitant to speak out in praise to God for
fear of being judged as impure in their motives.
But in scripture we find the need to praise Him.
c.
In our study of the
psalms one of the lessons we are continually reminded of is our need to
praise the LORD. Recently we
have noted that the term, “Hallelujah” is Hebrew for praise the Lord
(cf. Psalm 13). David and
other psalmist spoke openly in praise to God.
d.
The disciples of Jesus
rendered open praise in His presence – cf. Luke 19:37 we find as Jesus
prepares to enter Jerusalem the disciples began to rejoice and praise
God with a loud voice…
e.
Acts 2:47 in the infancy
of the church we find the disciples rejoiced and sharing together, “praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved.”
f.
Paul
g.
Heb. 13:15 – let us
offer to God the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips
h.
Ephesians 5:19,
Colossians 3:16 – the type of singing God commands in our worship is
where we open our mouths together in praise to Him.
Hebrews 2:12, “saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In
the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
i.
1 Peter 2:9 “But you
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light;”
j.
As we have opportunity,
let us render to Him due praise.
Let it be manifested as we worship Him and at other times.
a.
Similar to praising God,
we ought to express gratitude.
As we have noted on numerous occasions, we can never be grateful
enough for the grace of God.
He’s done so much for me!
b.
Continually in scripture
we are called upon to thank God.
1 Thess. 5:17-18 we are told to pray without ceasing, “in everything
give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
c.
Colossians 3:17, Eph.
5:20, again Heb. 13:15 speaks of giving thanks to His name
d.
Luke 17:15-17 – after
healing 10 lepers only one returns he falls down at the feet of Jesus,
giving thanks to God. You
find here gratitude and ingratitude.
We need to be like the one, even when others are not grateful.
e.
And that is true in the
society we live in as well.
We live in a time where real gratitude is lacking and it is reflected in
so many areas of life. Far
too many are selfish and egotistical.
They do not appreciate what they have or what others have
sacrificed for them.
f.
Let us lead by example
and not be silent when it comes to being grateful.
g.
Consider also sometimes
people need to hear thank-you.
a.
Romans 10:9-10 makes
confession of Jesus Christ a condition of our salvation.
We must with our mouth confess Jesus as our Lord.
We have an example of this in Acts 8:37 of the Eunuch confessing
Jesus which leads to his baptism.
b.
We often quote Matt.
10:32-33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also
confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before
men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
We sometimes quote this verse in
the steps of salvation. It
certainly applies there, but the context goes much deeper it speaks of
confessing Him throughout our lives as Christians.
c.
Sadly, not everyone is
willing to make this confession.
In scripture we find examples of those unwilling.
John 9:22-23 after the
healing of the blind man, his parents won’t answer direction questions -
“His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the
Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he
would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of
age; ask him.””
John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in
Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men
more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42–43, NKJV)
d.
BUT the truth is,
everyone WILL confess Jesus.
Philippians 2:9-10 tells us every knee will bow and every tongue will
confess. The question is
simply, WHEN? Now or after
this life when it is too late.
a.
Many such passages call
for us to defend what we believe.
b.
Paul in Philippians 1:17
spoke of being appointed (set) for the defense of the gospel.
c.
We are reminded in Jude
3 that we are to contend for the faith.
d.
1 Peter 3:15 calls for
us to give a defense for the hope that is in us.
e.
We have recently and
frequently discussed this point, so here we just want to remind
ourselves that this is a way that we need to speak up from time to time.
With souls on the line, we need to defend our God, our Lord, our
brethren, His church and His word, just to name a few things.
What impression do people get about our faith from our day to day
conversations?
a.
As uncomfortable as it
is, we have an obligation to brethren who are growing weak, indifferent
and unfaithful. We
need to warn them.
b.
1 Thess. 5:14 – among
the things we are exhorted to do is warn the unruly.
c.
Galatians 6:1 tell us “Brethren,
if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore
such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also
be tempted.”
d.
James 5:19-20 concludes
that letter with a similar statement, if a brother wanders from the
truth we are to seek to turn him back.
e.
Matthew 18:15-17, if a
brother sins (against you – KJV, NKJV), you are to go to him FIRST!
f.
One more thought is
found in 2 Thess. 3:15 where we are called upon to deal with those who
do not obey and to mark them.
Paul says, “Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him
as a brother.”
g.
With a brother’s soul
who ought to know better in jeopardy, we can’t afford to stay silent.
a.
There are some who have
no problem rebuking sinning brethren, criticizing whatever faults we
find, gossiping about others and a host of times when we OUGHT to keep
silent! But some struggle
with complimenting brethren when they do the right thing, encouraging
them when they are frustrated or when they have stumbled and are trying
to recover, being there for them as they deal with setbacks in their
lives, etc.
b.
In the same text where
Paul says to warn the unruly, (1 Thess. 5:14) he also says, “comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
c.
Acts 9:26-27 finds Paul
coming to Jerusalem and seeking to join the brethren there.
Because of his past (as a persecutor of Christians) they are
hesitant. But Barnabas, who
is called “the son of Encouragement” stands up for him (Acts 9:26-27).
d.
1 John 3:16-18,
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the
world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against
him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not
love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. My little
children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in
truth.”
How much are we willing to do for
our brethren?
e.
Will we speak up for them?
And
thus we can see, there is a time when what we need to do is speak up.
There is time when we should NOT be silent.
May we with wisdom use our tongues for good, both in what we
don’t say AND in what we DO say.
Think about it.