Speak Every Man Truth With His Neighbor
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I. Introduction: There is always a balance to maintain (Deuteronomy 5:32).
A. We know there are times to speak and times not to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7).
- It is not good to always have something to say (Proverbs 10:19 and Proverbs 15:28).
- Even when it comes to attempting to save a lost soul, there is a time to remain silent (Proverbs 9:7-8, Matthew 7:6, and Titus 3:9).
- The fact is, we need to be cautious how we speak around some people (Colossians 4:5-6).
- Having said that, we can never alter the truth (II Corinthians 2:17).
- Don’t allow righteous caution to become an erring excuse not to speak up when you should (Isaiah 62:6 and Acts 4:18-20).
II. Body: Zechariah 8:16-17 and Ephesians 4:25
A. Like the days of Jesus, we live in a time wherein how you speak may be greatly judged and even used to attack you (i.e. Mark 12:13).
- It is not a new thing to see words twisted (Psalms 56:5-6).
- People will even be dishonest in how they present things to us to try and get us to say something they can use against us (Luke 20:20-26).
- No matter how careful you are, if the world wants to trip you up and use your words against you, they’ll find a way (Matthew 26:59-61; cf. John 2:13-21).
- You cannot say or do nothing if the need to stand arises (Psalms 40:9-10 and Jude 1:3-4).
- If the lost truly desire to know the truth, we cannot be ashamed to speak it (Romans 1:14-18).
- People have killed those whom speak truth (II Chronicles 24:20-21).
- Truth speakers have faced ridicule (Jeremiah 20:8).
- The world hated Jesus because He spoke the truth (John 7:7).
- Though the world may hate you… Since speaking the truth is righteous (Proverbs 12:17), you know you have the best ally ever when you stand for and speak the truth (Psalms 11:7; 37:28).
III. Conclusion: Proverbs 12:19
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