Sermons
December 1st, 2022 by Pastor Solley102322AM Footsteps of Jesus #4
Sub. Jesus
Theme: Example Jesus left us to follow.
Text: 1 Pet 2:21-22
“Footsteps of Jesus” #4 1 Peter 2:21-22
Introduction
We are going to continue this morning looking at the footsteps of Jesus and the example Jesus left us to follow. – 1 Pet 2:21 To leave us an example to follow was not the primary purpose for which Jesus came into this world. Jesus said in Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. And then in Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. That the primary purpose for Jesus coming into this world. Even in that day most people missed why Jesus came into the world because Jesus had to ask who men said that He was.
I. But we have been given an example, footsteps to follow: 1 Pet 2:21 Those footsteps lead from the manger to the cross and beyond to the very place Jesus stands today and where we will join Jesus one day as well.
A. So far we have looked at these areas: Each one vital to our Christian walk.
1. Footsteps that began with spiritual training in the home from the time of His coming into this world: Mary and Joseph trained Jesus in the ways of the Lord. Prov 22:6 was practiced in their home.
2. Footsteps that led Jesus to early worship and devotion to the Father: At the age of twelve Jesus was about the Father’s work.
3. Footsteps that led to open and public declaration: Jesus proclaimed who He was and is.
4. Footsteps that led to trials and temptations: Satan attacked Jesus.
5. Footsteps that led to a filling of and leading by the Holy Spirit: Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and led of the Holy Spirit.
6. Footsteps that led to service: Jesus was and is a servant. Jesus served and still serves those who should be serving Him.
B. Many are the footsteps of Jesus that we are to follow: 1 Pet 2:21
II. This morning more of those footsteps and these ones found in our text passage: 1 Pet 2:21-22 This morning I want to look at the speech of Jesus. Notice what the Bible tells us in this passage. – 1 Pet 2:22 – That there was no guile found in the mouth of Jesus. This is a reference to the words of Jesus, to the speech of Jesus, to the things that Jesus said.
A. The word translated guile is the Greek word DOL-OS: The word meas craft and not in a good way. It means deceit or to be subtle. It means to handle something deceitfully.
1. The same Greek word is used of the Pharisees in Matt 26:4 Matt 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. It is translated subtilty in that verse.
2. The same Greek word is used to describe the heart of man in Mark 7:22 Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: It is translated deceit in that verse.
3. The Bible tells us there was no guile in the mouth of Jesus: 1 Pet 2:22 It refers to His speech, the words Jesus spoke.
B. The Bible also tells us there should be no guile in our mouths: 1 Peter 3:10 And the Bible has a great deal to say about the words that come out of our mouths. The Bible has a great deal to say about our tongue, an entire chapter devoted to the evils of our tongue.
1. The damage our words can do is stated in the book of Proverbs: Prov 25:18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. A maul smashes, a sword cuts and an arrow pierces and all three kill.
2. Our words are compared to the fires of hell in James chapter three: The tongue, our words can do a great deal of damage. Or they can do a great deal of good.
PROP: What of your words today? TS. There should be no guile found in our mouths.
Body
I. God is concerned with the words that come out of our mouths: Matt 12:36-37 Concerned to the degree that even the idle words of man are recorded and remembered. – Matt 12:36-37 – The word idle means useless, empty, lazy, inactive, unemployed. Jesus used this word in a parable about service and reward when a question was asked “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Now we find that even the idle words that a man speaks are recorded and remembered and one day will be accounted for. – Matt 12:36-37 – That brothers and sisters is how concerned God is with our speech, with the words that come out of our mouths.
A. Not everything we talk about will be of a serious nature: Even as Christians not everything we talk about is of a serious nature. We don’t always talk about the things of the Lord, about spiritual things, about the deep things of God. Our words are at times idle.
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1. Here in PA hunting stories are being shared, some old, some new: But that is not all that serious.
2. Men talk about cars, sports, and women talk about whatever women talk about: But things not all that serious.
3. But even in those conversations God is concerned about our speech: There should be no guile found in our mouths. 1 Peter 3:10
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: Even in idle speech, things that are not that serious, things that have no eternal value, we need be careful what we say, what comes out our mouths.
B. Please note this is not speaking of those who are lost, but all men: Matt 12:36 I think at times of those who are lost and how God will hold them accountable for what they say. Of those who take the name of the Lord in vain, of those who mock God, of those who call for the name of Jesus to be abolished, of those who blaspheme, of those who accuse God. God will hold the accountable.
1. But God is also going to hold me accountable for the things that I say, for the things that come out of my mouth: Matt 12:36-37 Jesus is confronting the Pharisees in this passage, answering their blasphemy, and Jesus will hold men accountable for what they say.
2. But this is addressing all men: Notice verse thirty seven. – Matt 12:37 Some justified, some condemned, all men.
3. God is concerned with what comes out of my mouth and not just from the pulpit: What I am saying this morning is recorded and will be accounted for. But that goes for yesterday and tomorrow as well, this afternoon as well as this morning, when I am in the store, in the car, in the woods, God is concerned with what comes out of my mouth and yours as well.
C. God is concerned with the words that come out of our mouths: Matt 12:36-37
II. God then tells me what my words ought to be: Col 4:6 The word alway here is like the word all, it means all the time. Not just when we are speaking of spiritual things, not just when we are speaking about the things of God, all the time. – Col 4:6 – There are three things expressed in this verse that should govern our words all if the time.
A. Grace: Col 4:6 Grace is favor. Applied to God grace is unmerited favor. Grace is acceptable. As far as our speech is concerned there should be a measure of acceptability to our words.
1. Words of grace are words that are pleasing to God: Even when a negative response is needed it needs to be with words of grace.
2. Grace will rule over other types of speech: Eph 4:29 Words of grace will build others up, not tear them down.
3. When our hearts are filled with the grace of God our speech will be as well: Matt 12:34-35
4. Jesus spoke with grace even to those who did not believe on Him: Luke 4:22
B. Seasoned with salt: Col 4:6 Salt adds flavor and that is the way it is used today. Salt is also a preservative and that was the primary purpose of salt in that day. To preserve something in salt takes time and that is the application to be first made here.
1. I should take time to think about what I am going to say: Words said in haste are often words we wish we could take back but once they have been spoken they are not forgotten by the hearer. Think before you speak.
2. Salt was also used in sacrifice: Ps 19:14 Is what I am about to say going to be acceptable to God?
3. Salt, in using to preserve, in sacrifice, and even to give flavor has to be measured out, not too much added: My voice is not the only one that needs to be heard in every coversation. Sometimes it is better to just listen.
C. A right answer ready to be given: Col 4:6 Speak wisdom and not just to hear yourself speak.
1. God’s Word brings wisdom and our speech needs to reflect that wisdom:
2. When you need wisdom ask God for it and until you receive it guard your words:
D. God then tells me what my words ought to be: Col 4:6
III. God tells us what our words ought not to be: 3 John 9-10 This man Diotrephes was being used of Satan to try and destroy that local church that was started in the home of Gaius. Please not the first of the deeds that are named. – 3 John 10 – They begin with malicious words. Satan using this man’s words to try and destroy a local work.
A. The word translated malicious has nothing good attached to its meaning: 3 John 10 Look that word up in a Greek dictionary and you will find this definition. Evil, hurtful, bad, grievous, wicked, vicious, diseased, more wicked.
1. In Matt13:19 Jesus used this word when describing Satan as the wicked one:
2. In Matt 16:4 Jesus used this word when addressing the Pharisees and calling them a wicked generation:
3. In Luke 7:21 this word is used of demons when those agents of Satan are called evil spirits:
4. In John 17:21 Jesus used this word when praying that we be kept from evil:
5. In I Cor 5:13 this word is used to describe a wicked person:
6. This word is used in 1 Thess 5:22 where we are commanded to abstain from all appearances of evil:
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7. And in 3 John 10 it is used of the words coming out of the mouth of Diotrephes, of his speech: 3 John 10 Do you think in light of this that it matters to God how we talk, the words that come out of our mouths?
B. And what of Diotrephes, what of his speech? In just two verses we find out many things about his malicious words, about things that we need to be on guard against in our own speech.
1. His words reveal a proud nature, not a Godly nature: 3 John 9 He loved to have preeminence. He had to be seen, noticed and his voice had to be heard. There would be an “I” in all that he said and did. If it wasn’t about Diotrephes it didn’t need to be. Pride is a very dangerous thing. The Bible tells us in Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
a. That man would have an opinion about everything and everyone and he had to make it known how important he was.
b. Diotrephes is the Pharisee in the temple standing so everyone could see just how important he was and just how fortunate God was to have him on His side. Pride is a very dangerous thing.
c. Pride and the need to be heard is a tool in the hands of Satan and not a trait of Godly character in man.
d. His words reveal a proud nature, not a Godly nature: 3 John 9
2. His words reveal a cowardly nature: 3 John 9-10 John is not there to defend himself. Diotrephes would talk about John when John was not around.
a. It is John’s intention to confront Diotrephes but Diotrephes would talk about John when John was not around. – 3 John 9-10
b. That is not what we are instructed to do in the Bible.
(1) I have something to say about someone I am first to go to them. Talk to them, not about them.
(2) I still have something to say I take another with me and I still talk to them, not about them.
(3) If it must go farther I still talk to them and not about them if possible.
c. Jesus talked about the Pharisees and warned His disciples about the Pharisees.
(1) But Jesus first talked to the Pharisees.
(2) He then talked to the Pharisees with multitudes present.
(3) Then Jesus warned of the Pharisees.
d. His words reveal a cowardly nature. – 3 John 9-10
3. His words reveal that he was a gossip: 3 John 9-10 Prating words are mischievous words, foolish words with little or no truth. This also the Bible speaks against. Against saying things that one has heard or thought up to destroy another.
a. Prov 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
b. This is a tattler in things that should be left unsaid. – 1 Tim 5:13
c. These are the busybodies. – 2 Thess 3:11
d. The gossip speaks of things that do not concern him or her. – 1 Peter 4:15
e. His words reveal that he was a gossip: 3 John 9-10
4. His words reveal a covetous nature: 3 John 10 He is not content. He wants what John had and instead of drawing close to the Lord, instead of serving in Spirit and in truth, he would rather try and destroy John.
a. Why not just be all he could be in the Lord and leave John alone? Because he was covetous.
b. Hebrews 13:5 was certainly not written about this man. – Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:
c. His words reveal a covetous nature: 3 John 10
5. Satan was using Diotrephes and his words to try and destroy a local church: 3 John 10
C. God tells us what our words ought not to be: 3 John 9-10
IV. God then tells us how powerful and dangerous our words can be: Prov 25:18 The speech that is not sound, the speech that is not what God wants it to be, the speech that is what God doesn’t want it to be is very dangerous.
A. All three things named in this verse are weapons of war and all three kill in different ways: Prov 25:18 A maul, sword and arrow are all weapons of war, all three kill and all three kill in different ways.
1. A maul is a club, large and heavy and was used to smash an enemy, to beat them blow after blow until they were dead: So can prating and malicious words be used to wear an individual down. Spoken again and again they just wear a person down.
2. A sword cuts deep and cuts right away: Like a maul it is used at close range but it goes right to the heart. It is designed to cut deep. So are some prating and malicious words used to cut deep and try to destroy at once.
3. An arrow is shot from a distance: The archer does not have to be so close to the enemy, he kills from a distance. This is like the prating and malicious words of the gossip which are sounded from a distance but they still kill.
4. Our words can be very dangerous because they can kill and destroy and they still hurt many years after they are said: The pain of prating and malicious words last many, many years.
5. We can never really take back prating and malicious words:
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B. We find how powerful our words can be in the book of James: James 3:1-13 This entire chapter devoted to the tongue, to the words that come out of our mouths, to our speech and how powerful our words can be.
1. Notice what our words are compared to as far as how powerful they are: James 3:3-5
a. That small bit in the mouth of the horse controls that animal. – James 3:3
b. The largest ships are governed by a small helm. – James 3:4
2. The tongue likened to a poison: James 3:8 The Bible makes it clear that it is a deadly poison. – James 3:8
C. Our tongue, our words, our speech even compared to the fires of hell: James 3:6 Nothing else is compared to hell in this way in the Bible. But our words are.
1. And this is speaking to Christians: James 3:1 , 9-10
2. Stop and consider what the Bible is saying before you speak: James 3:6-8 It should be grace coming out of our mouths and not poison. Our words can do great good or great damage depending what comes out of our mouths.
3. A great deal of trouble comes when one speaks out of turn: James 3:16
4. Study this epistle and you find a church having troubles: James 4:1-4 The Bible exposes the evil tongue in chapter three and then the results of that in chapter four.
D. God then tells us how powerful and dangerous our words can be: Prov 25:18
Conclusion
Jesus left us an example of what our speech should be like. – 1 Peter 2:21-22 – Are we following in His footsteps?
I. God is concerned with the words that come out of our mouths: Matt 12:36-37 Concerned to the degree that even the idle words of man are recorded and remembered. – Matt 12:36-37 – The word idle means useless, empty, lazy, inactive, unemployed. Jesus used this word in a parable about service and reward when a question was asked “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Now we find that even the idle words that a man speaks are recorded and remembered and one day will be accounted for. – Matt 12:36-37 – That brothers and sisters is how concerned God is with our speech, with the words that come out of our mouths.
II. God then tells me what my words ought to be: Col 4:6 The word alway here is like the word all, it means all the time. Not just when we are speaking of spiritual things, not just when we are speaking about the things of God, all the time. – Col 4:6 – There are three things expressed in this verse that should govern our words all if the time.
III. God tells us what our words ought not to be: 3 John 9-10 This man Diotrephes was being used of Satan to try and destroy that local church that was started in the home of Gaius. Please not the first of the deeds that are named. – 3 John 10 – They begin with malicious words. Satan using this man’s words to try and destroy a local work.
IV. God then tells us how powerful and dangerous our words can be: Prov 25:18 The speech that is not sound, the speech that is not what God wants it to be, the speech that is what God doesn’t want it to be is very dangerous.