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Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual Disciplines for Regular Guys: Silence and Speaking

We live in the noisiest time in human history

1. Outside. 2. Home. 3. Car. 4. Work. 5. Ears. 6. Phone

Ecclesiastes 3:1,7 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…

=Silence is a form of fasting 

Silence (Pouring In)

1 Kings 19:11-13 “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him…

1. Elijah – after Mount Carmel w/850 prophets Baal & Asherah
2. Jezebel puts a bounty on his head
3. Runs 100 miles into wilderness, lays down, wants to die
4. God pursues & speaks to him about how to recover & what to do next

= ? Is God speaking & few are listening? 

Silence helps you 

1. wait
2. learn
3. process a life experience

Rev. 8:1 here was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

1. enjoy God’s presence
2. journal
3. rest
4. prepare

Jesus spent 40 days in silence before public ministry

1. practice listening prayer

(Satan cannot read your mind; God does know & can speak to your mind)

Speaking (Pouring Out)

James 3:1-12 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder…How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!…For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.

• Avg woman 20k words day, man 7k
• Words – email, text, social media, phone etc.

= Proverbs is the book to read

What we communicate reveals our heart 

Matthew 12:34 “[Jesus said] out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

What we communicate will be judged 

Matthew 12:36-37 I [Jesus] tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Bible -; cursing God, blaspheming God, falsely accusing someone, perversity, rashness, harshness, wickedness, boasting, lying, flattering, bitterness, nitpicking, adulterous flirtation, busy-bodying, gossip, nagging, whining, complaining, needless quarreling, and plain old foolish stupidity in its innumerable forms.

Bible +; worship, prayer, grace, teaching, wisdom, counsel, preaching, kindness, truth, comfort, love, healing, sweetness, encouragement, mercy, hope, gentleness, conviction, faith, forgiveness, blessing

Our words build up or beat down 

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”

Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

• God – spoke world into existence by His Word
• Adam – Gen. 2:19 whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.

Adam/Man = “namer” (names & nicknames) 

CLOSE 

Silence (Pour In) then Speaking (Pour Out)

-My weekly routine

-Waterville day (silence then speak to family) 

Discussion and Prayer

1. What was your big personal takeaway from the talk?
2. Does anyone have a practical silence or solitude tip to share?
3. Who has most blessed you and built you up with their words?
4. How can we pray for you?