Sunday September 18, 2022
INTRODUCTION: A word that’s been on my heart for a few weeks. Consecration!
To consecrate something or someone is to devote exclusively to a particular person or purpose. To set apart!
EXAMPLES:
Isaiah 6:5-8- “Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
Jeremiah 1:4-10- “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Acts 9:1- “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers….”
Galatians 1:15-16- “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,”
WOW, THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD!
IT WOULD SEEM THAT WHEN JESUS TRANSFORMS YOUR LIFE, YOUR HEART, HE TRANSFORMS YOUR TONGUE!
WHEN JESUS CHANGES YOUR HEART, HE CHANGES YOUR TONGUE!
A HEART THAT IS SET APART TO GOD IS A MOUTH THAT IS SET APART TO GOD!
Matthew 12:34-37- “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Proverbs 18:21-“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
It’s true, loose lips sink ships! But ships don’t sink because of the water on the outside but because of the water that get’s on the inside!
A MOUTH SET APART TO GOD IS A HEART SET APART TO GOD! THEREFORE…
- Guard Your Heart Against Toxic Words
Proverbs 4:23- “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Guard your heart against toxic words spoken to you!
Toxic words will not only come to you but if not guarded they will also flow through you!
Proverbs 12:18- “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Show me a bad marriage and I’ll show you piercing toxic words!
Am I allowing TRUTH or TRASH in my heart!
A MOUTH THAT IS SET APART TO GOD WILL…..
2. Speak Life-Giving Words to Others and About Others
Ephesians 4:29- “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Proverbs 16:24- “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Proverbs 10:21- “The words of the godly encourage many,..”
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT OTHERS BEHIND THEIR BACK?
Speak life-giving words about others to others!
What you’re saying about others to others reveals the condition of your heart!
James 4:11-12- “Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends. It’s God’s Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?”
SPEAK LIFE-GIVING WORDS TO OTHERS AND ABOUT OTHERS!
A MOUTH SET APART TO GOD WILL…..
3. Speak Life-Giving Words to Yourself and Your Circumstances
ENOUGH OF THE TOXIC SELF-TALK!
It’s affecting every other area of your life!!!
Is my self-talk truth or trash? Are the words of my mind and mouth aligning with what God has said about me?
SPEAK LIFE TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES!
Mark 11:23- “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.”
Don’t talk about your mountain, talk to your mountain!
Saul and those in the army of Israel only talked about Goliath and they were fearful. David shows up full of courage, full of God, and talks to Goliath!
CONCLUSION: My friends, that day on the battlefield, David had a choice to make. Am I going to allow this toxic atmosphere to infiltrate my life or am I going to align my heart with what God is saying and doing.
AM I GOING TO BE SET APART TO GOD IN THIS MOMENT? IS MY HEART GOING TO BE SET APART TO GOD?
WHEN MY HEART IS SET APART TO GOD MY MOUTH IS SET APART TO SAY ONLY WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO SAY.
Romans 12:1- “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
Living and holy sacrifice- a life consecrated, set apart to God. Committed to God!
Father I give my tongue to you today! What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?