A Mouth Full of Salt

Jesus was the greatest COMMUNICATOR that ever lived.  He used earthly stories to reveal heavenly principles....better known as a "parable."

Everyone loves stories.  Stories are like a window to the truth.  They let you view into another place or dimension.

His stories were packed full of relevancy.  If He was speaking to a group of farmers, He would use illustrations that pertained to agriculture. 

He knew His audience and He knew how to create a storyline that highlighted heroes, created legends and inspired His followers to excellence.

A good communicator uses three things:

1. Revelation
2. Illustration
3. Application

If you'll notice, Jesus never used Himself as the hero to any of His stories.  He made other people the hero.  Thus we read about the Good Samaritan, the Wise Virgins, the Poor Widow, etc.

Our LIFESTYLE will make us a hero in the eyes of others if our communication consists of the following:

1. Speak the truth in LOVE
   Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another."
• The opposite of truth is a lie.
• We learned a phrase in elementary school, "liar, liar pants on fire."  I never could figure out why it was just their pants that caught fire.  LOL
• The Scriptures teach that "all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8
• We must put away lying in order for TRUTH to have the right away across our tongue.
• Then there is the matter of speaking the TRUTH in LOVE.  Just because you know something to be true doesn't mean you have to BLURT it out with a hasty tone.
• Ephesians 4:15 says "but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ."
• It's not what you say...it's how you say it.
• You may have truth in your mouth like a loaded cannon - but you must delicately speak that truth so that it is laced with love.  Then it will be received better.
2. Speak through you ACTIONS
   Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let hm labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
• Remember, we also speak through our actions.
• Conversation can also be translated as lifestyle.
• James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show by good CONDUCT that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
• I've heard it said all my life that "actions speak louder than words."  This is true and a reminder to us about how we conduct ourselves everywhere we go....home, work, church, community, etc.
• A person who is truly repentent for their sins will have a humble attitude and contrition will be visible in their forward walk.
• I've been there.  My parents taught me that after you repent - you still have to make the crooked path straight by your actions from this point forward.  Even if God forgives me there are still requirements on my part to keep.  I must keep my word.  I must allow the process of restoration work in my life.  I must yield to those who keep watch for my soul.  I shouldn't try to draw attention to myself - in fact I should try to fly under the radar and limit any more waves from the ripple effect I caused.
3. Speak in PURITY
   Ephesians 4:29a "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth..."
• It boils down to guarding your life and motives.
• Matthew 7:3-5 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
• Our words should be sweet, pure and loving towards all people.
• We won't give an account for what other people say...we will give an account for what we say and how we conducted ourselves.
• Choose to speak only words of purity.  Refrain from idle chatter and gossip.  Never let it be said of you that you were involved in speaking ill of other people.  Then you'll sleep well at night and have rest for your soul.
4. Speak words that BUILD, not destroy
   Ephesians 4:29b "...but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."
• Our words are either BUILDING or DESTROYING others.
• When we speak edifying words to our children, we are encouraging them and sparring them on to do greater things.
• We can all find something good to say if we look for it.
• Our casual conversations with one another should go beyond the old flesh routine of "kicking it" on one another all the time.
• To be honest, someone who is always "kicking it" on others wrestles with the ability to carry on a healthy conversation...probably because of some hidden self-esteem issues.
• I challenge you to say something EDIFYING to the first person you see after reading this.
5. Speak what the HOLY SPIRIT is speaking
   Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
• If you remember, the Holy Spirit only speaks what the Lord says.  His actions line up with the words of our Lord.
• The same should be true of us.  Our conversation should line up with what the Holy Spirit is speaking.
• Honestly, the things people say today through facebook, etc, is enough to make angels blush and are not in alignment with the counsel of the Scriptures.
• When we determine to speak only what the Holy Spirit is speaking we will be given words to speak at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. (Matthew 10:19)
6. Speak with a RIGHT ATTITUDE
   Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."
• Paul told Titus that we are "to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." (Titus 3:2)
• Keeping the right attitude takes work especially when you're mocked, disrespected and the target of dysfunction.
• Paul said, keep a right attitude and refuse to lower your demeanor by hanging on to bitterness or anger.
• Think of Jesus - He was lied on.  They trumped up the charges against Him.  They beat Him beyond recognition - and all He had done was DO GOOD to each and everyone of them.  However, they brought Him before Pilot to be sentenced and Jesus looked into the whites of Pilot's eyes and SAID NOT A WORD.  Oh...He could have...but He didn't.
• He put all of that JUNK far from Him and rose above it.
7. Speak GRACIOUSLY
   Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgive one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
• When you've been given grace...you'll extend grace to others.
• Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve.
• Mercy is God keeping back what we do deserve.
• Pastor Hill taught me this principle well.  He told of his early days in ministry where he was real hard on certain issues until those same issues affected his own family.  Then he received a new heart regarding how to deal with others.
• Regardless of what others are saying and doing - we are responsible for what we say.  Our words should be FULL OF GRACE and FLAVORVED with SALT (salt is a preserver).
• At no time should we gouge one another with hateful words...even on our worst day.
• Our motto should be what Apostle Paul said in:
• Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."