Sinclair Ferguson on the power of words

Justin Taylor and DG recaps a message where Sinclair Ferguson suggested 20 resolutions regarding our words from the book of James–given Jonathan-Edwards style–that we need to make if we are to live a God-centered, biblical life.

1. I resolve to ask God for wisdom to speak out of a single-minded devotion to him. (1:5)

2. I resolve to boast only in the exultation I receive in Jesus Christ and also in the humiliation I receive for Jesus Christ. (1:9-10)

3. I resolve to set a watch over my mouth. (1:13)

4. I resolve to be constantly quick to hear and slow to speak. (1:19)

5. I resolve to learn the gospel way of speaking to both rich and poor. (2:1-4)

6. I resolve to speak in the present consciousness of my final judgment. (2:12)

7. I resolve never to stand on anyone’s face with the words I employ. (2:16)

8. I resolve never to claim as reality in my life what I do not truly experience. (3:14)

9. I resolve to resist quarrelsome words as evidence of a bad heart that needs to be mortified. (4:1)

10. I resolve never to speak decided evil against another out of a heart of antagonism. (4:11)

11. I resolve never to boast in anything but what I will accomplish. (4:13)

12. I resolve to speak as one subject to the providences of God. (4:15)

13. I resolve never to grumble. The judge is at the door. (5:9)

14. I resolve never to allow anything but total integrity in everything I say. (5:12)

15. I resolve to speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer. (5:13)

16. I resolve to sing praises to God whenever I’m cheerful. (5:14)

17. I resolve to ask for the prayers of others when I’m in need. (5:14)

18. I resolve to confess it whenever I have failed. (5:15)

19. I resolve to pray with others for one another whenever I am together with them. (5:15)

20. I resolve to speak words of restoration when I see another wander. (5:19)

You can now listen to it or download it. It was an excellent, edifying, and encouraging message.

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Proverbs on listening and speaking (pt. 1)

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.” (Proverbs 1:5-6, ESV).

” Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,” (Proverbs 1:8, ESV).

” My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;” (Proverbs 2:1-2, ESV).

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” (Proverbs 2:6, ESV).

“So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words,” (Proverbs 2:16, ESV).

” Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,” (Proverbs 4:1, ESV).

“Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.” (Proverbs 4:10, ESV).

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.” (Proverbs 4:20, ESV).

“Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.” (Proverbs 4:24, ESV).

” My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.” (Proverbs 5:1-2, ESV).

“For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,” (Proverbs 5:3, ESV).

“And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.” (Proverbs 5:7, ESV).

“I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.”” (Proverbs 5:13-14, ESV).

“if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,” (Proverbs 6:2, ESV).

“A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,” (Proverbs 6:12, ESV).

“haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,” (Proverbs 6:17, ESV).

“a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:19, ESV).

“to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.” (Proverbs 6:24, ESV).

” My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;” (Proverbs 7:1, ESV).

“to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.” (Proverbs 7:5, ESV).

“With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.” (Proverbs 7:21, ESV).

“And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.” (Proverbs 7:24, ESV).

“Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.” (Proverbs 8:6-8, ESV).

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13, ESV).

““And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.” (Proverbs 8:32, ESV).

“Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:6, ESV).

“The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” (Proverbs 10:8, ESV).

“Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” (Proverbs 10:10, ESV).

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:11, ESV).

“On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.” (Proverbs 10:13, ESV).

“The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.” (Proverbs 10:14, ESV).

“The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.” (Proverbs 10:18-21, ESV).

“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.” (Proverbs 10:31-32, ESV).

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