Text: Proverbs 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Last week we discussed “What are you excuses”. I appreciate God in your life as you let the Word dwell in you richly. Today, we shall focus on the Froward Mouth.

A froward or a forward mouth is a mouth that is not easily controlled (forward and forward are taken to mean the same thing and shall be used interchangeably in this article). Rule your speech. Guard your tongue. Mark your words. After keeping your heart with all diligence, from which come the issues of life, Solomon warned you to reject ungodly speech (Pr 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life). Beginning with the thoughts and intents of the heart, wisdom demands you govern your speech (Pr 4:24), your eyes (Pr 4:25), and your feet (Pr 4:26-27). A forward mouth is an individual that tells lies all the time and one that is always saying bad things about others. A person with a forward mouth is always cursing and is also very proud. People with froward or forward mouths are very common in the church, houses, society and are also very unpleasant to deal with. 

It is impossible to have godly and gracious speech without a pure heart, for the content of the heart supplies the mouth (Matt 12:33-35). You can tell a good heart by kind and holy words, and you can tell a bad heart by harsh or carnal words. Jesus said it; believe it. Kings love the perfect man who speaks graciously from a pure heart (Pr 22:11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend).

This proverb does not warn you to stay away from those with froward mouths and perverse lips, for that advice is given elsewhere (Pr 14:7 Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips; Pr.19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge; I Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners). It warns you to get rid of your own froward mouth and perverse lips. The context is ruling your own heart, lips, eyes, and feet (Pr 4:23-27), not avoiding others with those sins.

Solomon taught his son and told him to listen and submit to his fatherly instruction (Pr 4:20). He then exhorted him to keep his advice directly before him and firm in his resolve (Pr 4:21). And he encouraged him by saying that it would give him life and health (Pr 4:22). Then in order, he told his son to guard his heart, lips, eyes, and steps (Pr 4:23-27).

A foolish mouth will ruin your reputation (Eccl 5:3, Eccl 10:12-14). An offensive mouth will cause trouble with men (Pr 12:13, Pr 13:3, Pr 14:7, Pr 18:6-7, Pr 22:10, Pr 24:9). And then you will give account of every idle word in the Judgment (Pr 6:16-19, Matt 12:36-37, Eph 5:3-6).

 Kind and wise speech will build your reputation (Pr 15:4, Pr 18:20, Pr 24:26). Appropriate words will enhance your relationship with men (Pr 10:32, Pr 15:23, Pr 16:13, Pr 25:11). And the blessed pleases God with his constructive and helpful words (Pr 12:22, Eph 4:29, Col 4:6).

Improve your speech by cutting your words in half, if you talk more than the average person (Pr 17:27, James 1:19). You then must rule your spirit, for it can kindle a fire from hell (Pr 16:32, James 3:3-8)! And you have to avoid arguments (Pr 26:4-5, II Tim 2:23).

If you keep your heart at peace with the Lord and man, it will be difficult for you to speak harsh or painful things. If you keep your heart pure with the Lord and man, it will be difficult for you to have foolish or carnal speech. If you fill your mind with noble things, you will have precious material for conversation (Phil 4:8). May God guide your tongue. Let your mouth minister grace to the hearer.

God bless you real good.

Deacon Mike Ben

“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end” (Prov. 19:20)

Last Week, we considered “the wise and the foolish in the use of the mouth”. I am certain that the Lord has spoken to you.

Today, we shall briefly look at how to be Wise the rest of our days.

Are you wiser today than last year? Than ten years ago? These are important questions to answer. How wise will you be later in life? A godly man greatly desires to grow in wisdom. And the way to increase wisdom is easy – you need to hear the counsel of wise men and accept their teachings. You need to appreciate and apply instruction from others.

 Today is your opportunity to change your latter end. Will you be an older wise man, sought by family and others for sage advice? Or will you be an old fool, more a burden than a blessing? What you do today determines what you are tomorrow. You are not too young, and you are not too old. Consider your latter end, and receive instruction today.  Purse and ask yourself, as a dependable parent what instruction did I receive during the Family Weekend especially on Sunday service?

 The children of God were adopted by grace. But they were not adopted to squander their lives in folly. They were adopted to grow up and live as the sons of God in a crooked and perverse world (Matt 5:43-48; Rom 8:29; Eph 5:1-2; Phil 2:14-16). You can waste the grace of God, or you can use it to be great for Him (“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me”- I Cor 15:10) ; (“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain”- II Cor 6:1) ; ( ^“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen”.- II Pet 3:18).

 How much do you love the private counsel of holy and sober saints? How much do you crave the public preaching of God’s word? Noble men and women receive it with a ready mind (“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”- Acts 17:11). A eunuch, a centurion, a businesswoman, and a preacher  were all very thankful for teaching they received (Acts 8:26-40; 10:33-48; 16:14-15; 18:24-28).

 Brethren, examine yourself! Are you truly wiser than last year or ten years ago? Have you grown in graciousness, so that you have more godly friends? Are you in better financial condition by learning and applying the rules of Bible economics? Do you know Jesus Christ and His doctrine better? Are you sought out by more saints to obtain your counsel? Can people confide in you?

Examine yourself! Does your spouse rejoice at the changes in recent years? Is your employer thankful for many work improvements? Do you handle adversity better than in times past? Can you answer the words of truth to those that ask? Do your parents and children esteem you more? Are you able to give God’s answers for modern dilemmas? Is your pastor thankful for the visible progress and contribution you have made in the Church of God? Could you run for office and win? 

Life is short. What can you do? “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps 90:12). When? “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Pr 8:17). Why? “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Pr 4:7). How? “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom” (Pr 18:1).

 What do you think of preaching? Paul knew that Christians would stop enduring it (II Tim 4:3-4). Churches today prefer rock and roll music with lyrics about an effeminate hippie guru – they call it contemporary Christian music. If you want a wise latter end, then you will reject fables and demand intense preaching of God’s word (II Tim 4:1-2). God sends preachers to teach knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15). Listen to them!

 What do you do with preaching? Peter told his readers to desire the sincere milk of the word to grow by it (I Pet 2:1-3). He exhorted them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Pet 3:18). And Paul rebuked the Hebrew Christians for not developing into teachers (Heb 5:12-14). Make sure you pray, prepare, pay attention, and apply what you hear (Luke 8:4-18; Jas 1:21-25). Hear and receive teaching that you might be wise.

Finally, talk to someone about Jesus today, advertise the Holy Ghost Congress. Daddy G. O said let’s use every means to publicize the program. (Evangelism is the heart beat of God). How many people did you call and encourage to come to Church last week? God sees the effort you are making. Ask yourself this noble question, if everyone is like me how will the Church of God look like?

God bless you real good for taking out time to read this piece.

Dcn. Mike Ben

Dear Brethren,

Last week we looked at the wonders of the little Ant. I hope you learnt little lesson from it. Today, we want to look at the wise and the foolish man in the use of mouth.

“Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known” (Pro. 14:33)

Wise men and fools differ in two important ways. First, a wise man’s heart is full of understanding, but a fool is filled with folly. Second, a wise man has humility to keep his wisdom to himself, but a fool’s arrogance causes him to spew out the foolishness in his heart (Pr 13:16; 15:2,28; 29:11). Wisdom and modesty make a man great, but foolishness and pride make him an offensive loser. Examine yourself. Which are you?

Dissect the proverb carefully. An understanding man, a man with discretion, knowledge, and prudence, keeps wisdom in his heart. He is not agitated or eager to throw his opinion around when opportunities arise. He is content to be a listener. In fact, he would rather not speak unless asked or expected to do so. He is a man of few words, and you often have to work to get him to share his wisdom (Pr 10:19; 15:28; 17:27; 20:5; Eccl 9:17).

However, a fool must tell everyone what he is thinking. His greatest joy is talking, for he believes and presumes he has great insights to offer (Pr 18:2). Once he starts talking, he is difficult to stop. He keeps babbling, whether he knows the subject or not (Eccl 10:12-14 “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming who can tell someone else what will happen after them?)

Of course, a wise and understanding man will speak, and he will speak a lot in the right setting for the right purpose. He fulfills his purpose from God by being a tree of life to many (Pr 10:21; 11:30; 15:4,7). Though humble about his own natural abilities, like the prophet Agur (Pr 30:1-3), he is committed to acquiring knowledge and wisdom so he can give the certain words of truth to those who ask him (Pr 22:17-21; I Pet 3:15).

Brethren, ask yourself two questions. Do you have wisdom and understanding in your heart? Do you keep them there until serious and sober men ask your opinion for noble reasons? Your answers to these questions will indicate whether you are a good person or a despised fool. In fact, better than your answers, what would others say about you? Do others perceive you to be wise and discreet? Or foolish and talkative? Be very honest.

What can you do about your heart? This book of Proverbs offers wisdom throughout (Pr 1:1-6; 8:1-5; 9:4-6). It tells the starting point – the fear of God (Pr 1:7; 9:10). It compares wise men and fools over and over, for you to choose the former and despise the latter. Wisdom is not far away! Change your life – fill your heart with wisdom from heaven! It is the chief goal of a successful life (Pr 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding“). And it brings great rewards (Pr 4:8).

What can you do about your mouth? This book of Proverbs says much about your speech, because it is the main indicator of your heart, and it affects others the most (Pr 4:24; 10:32; 13:3; 14:7; 17:7; 18:7; 20:15; 22:11; 24:26). Solomon assumed you can learn discreet, wise, and gracious speech (Pr 15:28; 16:23; 22:17-18). Since Jesus Christ said you will be judged by your words in the Day of Judgment, it is time you applied yourself diligently to perfect your heart and your speech (Matt 12:34-37; Ps 19:14; 139:23-24).). Though a fool is ignorant and stupid, his pride and lack of discretion cause him to pour out the folly inside. He could improve his reputation just by closing his mouth (Pr 17:28)!

Finally, God expects your words to minister grace to the hearer. Consider the words you have spoken this week and access yourself, then talk to God about it. Pick up your phone, call someone and say something good to him/her and invite him/her to the family weekend that starts today in all RCCG Parishes.

God bless you real good.

Dcn. Mike Ben