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第三六篇　言语

📖 研读 🎵 朗读 📊 汇集 🇬🇧 English 📋 对照
　
　　人的言语，是人生活中一个很大的部分，也是一个很要紧的部分；主耶稣对我们说，人心里所充满的，口里就说出来（太十二34）。所以人的言语乃是表明他的心，乃是表明他心里有什么东西。人的行为不容易代表人，人的言语很容易代表人。许多时候，人的行为能够给人有错误的领会，错误的看法，错误的断案。但是，人的言语很容易代表人是如何，因为人的言语很不容易约束，很不容易管住。凡人心里所藏着的，心里所充满的，口里就说出来。就是口里要欺骗，口里要说谎，也是显出心里有欺骗，心里有说谎而已。一个人话不出口的时候，我们不容易知道他的心；一个人一开口，就显露他的心。一个人不说话的时候，不知道他的灵如何；一说话，你就能够借着他的话摸着他的灵，知道他在神面前是怎样的情形。所以，我们信主之后，要从新学怎样作人，怎样说话。已往所有作人的方法，作人的情形，完全不行。今天要从新作起，连说话都得学过。你们的话要相当的小心，相当的注意。
　
　　在圣经里，有四、五个地方告诉我们当怎样说话。
　　约八44：“你们是出于你们的父魔鬼，你们父的私欲，你们偏要行，他从起初是杀人的，不守真理；因他心里没有真理，他说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。”
　　撒旦的说谎是出乎他自己，因为他本来是说谎的；不只如此，今天他是作一切说谎之人的父。在世界里，谎言是比任何东西都普遍，撒但有多少子民，撒但就有多少会说谎的人。撒但手下有多少人，就有多少人在世界替他说谎。他需要谎言来建立他的国，他需要谎言来推翻神的工作。每一个从撒但生的人都会说谎，也都作说谎的工作。人一被神拯救，－约翰一成了属乎神的人，第一个功课应当学的就是在神面前对付他自己的话。我要拒绝任何的谎言，我要拒绝任何不准确的话，我要拒绝任何加多减少的话，我要拒绝一切有意无意的谎言。－约翰一切的谎言都应该从神的儿女中除去。谎言如果还留着，在撒但那里就有一个把柄，叫他能够抓住你。
　
　　一个人若没有学习拒绝谎言，他就不知道自己多会说谎。人越肯起来学习拒绝谎言，就越发现他是多会说谎，连他的心意倾向都是要说谎。世界上的谎言是多过于我们所预料的。连我们自己的谎言，也是多过于我们所预料的。你如果没有学习拒绝谎言。你就不知道谎言有多少。当你在那里拒绝谎言的时候，你就看见谎言是何等的多。不只在世界上是何等的多，并且在你这个人身上也是何等的多。这是最可惜的事，就是在许多神的儿女之中，好像谎言是不可少的事。这是最可怜的事，谎言在神的儿女之中，竟然也有地位！主所说的话，在这里是够重的，也是够清楚地，一切说谎的人都是撒但的儿女，撒但乃是一切说谎之人的父。如果撒但的这一个种子还在神的儿女身上，这是全世界最可怜的事！所以，我们不可以在信主多少年之后，还没有起首下决心对付自己的谎言，那真是太迟了。我们要一信主，一起头，就学习说准确的话。
　
　
　　一口两舌是说谎。一个人一会儿说这样，一会儿说那样；一会儿说行，一会儿又说不行；一会儿说好，一会儿又说不好；一会儿说对，一会儿又说不对；你知道这一个人是说谎的。这不只是表明说心志不坚固，也是表明说，这个人是一个说谎的人。
　
　　我们把我们所喜欢的说出去，把我们所不喜欢的藏起来；把我们用得着的说出去，把用不着的藏起来，这就是说谎。许多时候，人在那里故意的把事情留一半不说。许多事情与别人有利的，与对方有利的，与他所不喜欢的人有利的，他自私的心把这些话留下不说。而把没有利益、有害、能伤人的拿来说，这是说谎。许多人说话不是凭着真理，也不是凭着真实，乃是凭着好恶。许多人说话不是凭着事实，乃是凭着情感。这一种的话是你所好的，你就说；这一个人是你所好的，你就说。那一种的话是你所恶的，你就那么说；那一个人是你所恶的，你就那么说。这完全是凭着好恶、情感来说话，不是凭着事实、真实来说话。请记得，这是说谎。话语不真实，已经是够厉害的罪。存心不真实，那真是够厉害，在神面前这是被定罪的。我们要看见，说话不是凭着情感，乃是凭着事实。要就不说，要就按着事情说，按着实在说。我们不能按着自己的感觉来说。如果是那样，就证明说，我们是在神面前存心说谎的人。
　
　　不只，我们还得学习克制自己的情感到一个地步，没有兴趣盼望人的情形该如何。我告诉你们说，今天有许多人话语不是代表事实如何，乃是代表他的希望如何。不是事实如何，乃是代表他要如何。许多时候，你看见人在那里说毁谤的话，说姊妹的事，说弟兄的事，不是因为事实的缘故，乃是因为他自己喜欢这样。他巴不得这一个姊妹不行，所以他就说这一位姊妹不行。他巴不得这一位弟兄跌倒，所以他就说这一位弟兄跌倒。话语是凭着自己所要的说，话语不是凭着事实如此而说。你们看见这一个基本的难处么？我能够这样说，许多时候，人所说的话，都是他心里所要的。许多时候，人所说的话，不一定都是那一件事所是的。不是那一件事如此，不过是人盼望它如此而已。
　
　　有许多的事，经过一个人传给另外一个人，为什么会改变？常常一句的话，只要传了三四个人，这一句话就完全改变了。为什么？因为每一个人都把自己的意思加进去，而不是寻求那一件事实是如何。你不寻找事实如何，你在那里把自己的意思加进去，这是谎言。
　　说话有一个基本要注意的，就是不可凭着感觉说，不可根据盼望说。人说话一不根据真理，一不根据真实，而根据盼望、希望，就是说谎。所以，我们应该学习照着事实来说，而不将自己的意见摆进去。说自己的意见的时候，要说这是我的意见。说事实的时候，要说这是事实。要把自己的意见和事实分开，不要将事实和自己的意见混在一起。你们想人是如何的，和人真是如何的，是两件事。你们至多只能说，事情是这样，但是我想是这样。
　
　　还有一种说谎也是普遍的，在教会里也很普遍，就是夸大其辞。数字不够准确，话语不够准确，喜欢用大的字眼，喜欢用厉害的字眼，喜欢说大话；请记得，这些都是说谎，因为这里面不真实。
　　你今天要试一个弟兄，一个姊妹，到底他的心在神面前如何，你只要对他说一件事，叫他去传。你马上就知道，你马上就寻出来，他的存心在神面前如何。一个敬畏神的人，学过功课的人，受神对付的人，他看见说话是一件大事，不敢随便的说，不敢随便的传，并且注意要说准确的话。一个在神面前从来没有受过对付的人，没有受过主的管教的人，你一对他说，叫他去传，他就很起劲的去传。在传的里面，你就看见他是一个轻浮、虚谎、不诚实的人；他可以把许多自己的话加进去，又把许多该说的话瞒着不说。
　　没有一个说谎的人是能作神话语的执事的。说准确的话的人才能读圣经。因为神的话是一点一画都不错的。像我们这样马虎的人，也不知道把神的话丢了多少点，多少画。
　
　　许多人的话，经过他的口马上张大，数字总是增加。我们知道上海没有一个礼拜堂的座位，能够容纳五千人。我们讲道的人，眼睛有一点训练，一看就能知道；但是，许多时候，开复兴会的时候，有人指出来说，他们的礼拜堂有一万两万的人。你们想想，就是每一个人都把脚踏在人的头上，也坐不下。但这是作工的人，作基督徒的人所说的话。这是张大其辞！这一种的张大其辞是说谎。
　　别人的错，我们把它放大。自己的错，我们把它缩小。对于别人的错，我们在那里张大其辞。对于自己的错，我们在那里尽量减少，这也是说谎。
　
　　今天我不能说，神的儿女得救之后都是诚实的人。他们如果真能够在神面前学，并且严格的学，五年之后，我们也许能够遇见诚实的人。我说这样重的话，一个人要拒绝谎言，再拒绝谎言；每一次有不准确的话的时候再拒绝，一直拒绝，也许过三年、五年之后，起首是一个诚实的人。你们不能盼望一个人马马虎虎，随随便便的对付，能够变作一个诚实的人。谎言，话语的不准确，是基督徒的通病。全世界每一个人都跟过撒但，都会说谎。有的人笨得很，也会说谎。有的人是聪明的，也会说谎。有的人是没有技巧的说谎，有的人是有技巧的说谎。这些都是说谎。你们在神面前要常常的对付，什么时候一碰着谎言，什么时候一碰着谎言的灵，你们就应当有感觉。
　　我们要看见，诚实是何等的要紧，并且诚实是何等的不自然。我们的天性就是不诚实的，一生下来就是说谎。我们喜欢凭着好恶来说话，不喜欢凭着真理来说话。一个小孩子要从人之初学起，我们神的儿女也要从头学起。不然的话，稍微不小心就说谎，稍微不小心里面的话就不够准确。
　　这一个毛病，我想是很普遍的毛病，是最黑暗的罪，也是最普通的罪。许多人以为这是很轻的事。我告诉你们，如果我们在话语上有病，有两个难处要发出：第一，教会里产生许多的死亡，叫基督徒没有法子合一的走路。第二，将来神没有法子拣选他们作话语的执事，这样的人的用处就停止。讲圣经、讲真理、讲、道演讲，或者行，但是要作神话语的执事就不行。作神话语执事的人，需要那一个人的话是诚实的。不然的话，不能用。
　　盼望我们看见，我们应当学习不说谎；不能凭着自己的心意来说，要彻底的拒绝谎言。说话不是主观的，说话乃是客观的。说话是凭着事情的，说话是凭着别人的，说话不是凭着自己的感觉。如果这样，神的儿女就有一条正直的路好走。
　
　　还有一种话不能说的就是闲话。太十二35~37：“善人从他心里所存的善，就发出善来；恶人从他心里所存的恶，就发出恶来。我又告诉你们，凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。因为要凭你的话，定你为义，也要凭你的话，定你有罪。”
　　上面三十三节主耶稣说，“你们或以为树好，果子也好；树坏，果子也坏；因为看果子，就可以知道树。”这一段圣经的上下文都是给我们看见，果子不是行为，果子乃是话语。如果是这样，我们就清楚，一个人是好的，他的话语定规是好的。一个人是恶的，他的话语定规是恶的。你只要听人的话，就知道他们是谁。有的人一天到晚就是搬弄是非，一天到晚就是说东家短、西家长。他在那里说毁谤人的话，说拆毁人的话，说批评人的话，说断定人的话。他在那里说许多污秽肮脏的事，说各种不好的事；这很明显，这一棵树是坏的。
　　今天的难处，在神的儿女中，就是不能凭着话语来审判人。许多人自己是这样的人，所以就不会审判这样的事。主告诉我们说，善的人，从他心里的善发出善来；恶的人，从他心里的恶发出恶来。心里所有的，口里就发出来。树如何，果子也如何。
　　如果有弟兄，有姊妹，一天到晚就是在那里传不好的话，传污秽的事，传批评的事，传罪恶的事；你们不要向他说，这一件事是真的或是假的，你们要告诉他说，传这样的事，就是不够清洁的。我们要知道说，神的儿女的口，话语就是他的果子。绝没有一个人心里是圣洁的，而专门在那里说污秽的事。绝没有一个人心里是爱的，而专门在那里传恨。果子如何，树也如何。
　　不是所有的事实都可说。这不是谎言不谎言的事。也许这是事实，的确是事实，但这不是我的果子。也许这是真的，但我不能说这话。不是说谎不说谎，乃是说是闲话不是闲话。话是真话，却是闲话。我刚才说过，我们说话要按着事实，但不是所有的事实都可以说，是闲话就不能说，就不必说。
　　主说，“凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。”（太十二36）我们要知道，基督徒所说的闲话，不只说一次，还要说第二次。今天糊里糊涂的说了，将来还有一次要说，要完全的背一次，句句供出来。当你第二次说的时候，要凭着你的话定你为义，也要凭着你的话定你有罪。当审判的时候，句句闲话都要供出来。所以我盼望神的儿女要学习作敬畏神的人，学习拒绝一切不准确的话，学习说准确的话。凡与我无干，与我无益，也与人无益的话，都不要说。
　　一个人在神面前有没有受过对付，只要看他的口。没有一个受过神对付的人，而口没有受对付的。说谎，说闲话，随便说话的人，在神面前没有多大用处，只有等候审判。我们从第一天起，就得学这一个功课。说污秽话的人，定规是污秽的。说败坏话的人，定规是败坏的。说什么种话的人，就定规是什么种的人。看果子就知道树，听人的话就知道人。
　　所以，我们要注意，听一个弟兄在那里如何说话，就能知道他是何种人。但是今天能够到一个地步，教会里充满了谎言，充满了闲话，而神的儿女不去定罪。这是一件希奇的事！所以要看见，没有一个人能够随便的说闲话。
　
　　彼前三9~12：“不以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福；因你们是为此蒙召，好叫你们承受福气。因为经上说，‘人若爱生命，愿享美福，须要禁止舌头不出恶言，嘴唇不说诡诈的话；也要离恶行善；寻求和睦，一心追赶。因为主的眼看顾义人，主的耳听他们的祈祷；唯有行恶的人，主向他们变脸。’”
　　有一种的话，也是基督徒不能出口的，就是恶言。什么叫作恶言呢？就是辱骂的话，咒诅的话。一个神的儿女不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。
　
　　许多人都以为说，因为人这样说，所以我可以这样说。今天人都是在那里争谁先谁后。但主乃是说，你说了没有？你说，他们都这样说，难道我不可以这样说？请记得，我们不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。不是谁先说，谁后说的问题，乃是有没有说的问题。
　　初信的弟兄，从头一天起就要学习说祝福的话，不说辱骂的话，不说咒诅的话。
　
　　人要约束自己的脾气，约束自己的怒气，才能在神面前约束自己的话。人的脾气如果不能约束，就话也不能约束，有许多的恶言就要说出去。我想，神的儿女稍微不小心，连辱骂的话，本来是很低的，也会说出去。有许多人因为不知道约束自己的脾气，就说出辱骂的话来，一面不荣耀神，一面也叫自己得不着神的祝福。
　
　　第五，我们要来看，说话该注意的点在那里。雅各书三章乃是特别关于话语的一章。我们要从第一节念起，－雅各书一直到十二节。我们要来看，神的儿女对于话语应该怎样说。
　
　　第一节：“我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅。”为什么？“因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。”许多人对于自己的话没有受约束，最容易显出来的，就是作师傅。他无论到那里都是教训人，无论到那里都有话说。在任何的情形之下，都能教训别人，叫人不花钱得着他的教训。许多人是喜欢作师傅的人，喜欢作人的参谋，坐在众人中间就是话多。你们看见么？基督徒不只不该说谎，不该说闲话，不该口出恶言，并且不该多话。不管什么话，多就不该。一多话，在神面前就不蒙祝福。
　
　　二节：“原来我们在许多事上都有过失；若有人在话语上没有过失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。”一个人对于自己的约束如何，乃是看他对于话语能不能约束。一个人有没有圣灵节制的果子，就看他的话语有没有节制。许多时候，弟兄姊妹读圣经有一个误会，以为圣灵的节制就是中庸。请记得，节制的意思就是节制，中庸之道不是我们的道。基督徒要节制自己，意思是管得了自己。
　　所以自己能约束自己，这是圣灵的果子。加拉太五章给我们看见，圣灵的果子是什么。雅各书三章是说，如果有圣灵的果子，那一个表记是在什么地方，那一个记号是在什么地方。雅各说，－雅各书一个人如果能够约束自己的全身，定规能够约束自己的话。凡是话语散漫的人，生活定规散漫；凡是话语胡说的人，行为定规胡作。话语不谨慎的人，这一个人全身也不谨慎。－雅各书一个多话的人，就是在神面前散漫的人。－雅各书一个人能不能约束自己的全身，乃是看他能不能约束他的口。盼望初信的弟兄从今天起，就在神的面前学习约束自己的话。
　　许多弟兄姊妹常盼望说，神能对付我这个人，神能怜悯我这个人。我就对你们说，神如果能够对付你的话语，神就有法子对付你这个人。许多人的话语，就是他那一个人的中心。话语就是他那一个人的背脊骨，就是他那一个人的大腿窝。神如果能把你的话对付好，神也能够把你这个人对付好。许多人，就是话语在神面前打不掉，所以他那个人也打不掉。－雅各书一个人能不能约束自己，不要看他外头装作什么情形，只要和他谈半点钟就知道了。－雅各书一谈话，人就跑出来。没有一个人露出他的马脚来，像他在说话的时候露得那么多。－雅各书一说话，自己完全出来了。只要看一个人管得住管不住话语，就知道这一个人管得住管不住自己。
　
　　三节是把嚼环拿来作比方，第四节是把舵拿来作比方。他说，舌头就像舵一样，舌头就像嚼环一样，是最小的，却能影响最大的。五节说，最小的火，能点着最大的树林。又说，“舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来；并且是从地狱里点着的。”（6）三节是嚼环。四节是舵。五节说舌头是小的，但是能够管理大的。六节给我们看见，舌头乃是一个罪恶的世界。舌头是一个独立的世界，舌头是一个罪恶的世界。今天在这里，许多人虽然蒙了救赎，蒙了神的怜悯，但是他的舌头却没有被对付。他带着这一个罪恶的世界，到处点着地狱的火。
　　在这里有一句话是厉害的：舌头能够点着生命的轮子。生命好像一个轮子在那里转，舌头像火能够点着生命的轮子，意思是能够产生许多的肉体出来。人的血气，人的肉体，人的脾气，人的怒气，都能够借着舌头把它点着起来。舌头能够把地狱的火点起来。许多事情都是神的儿女一句话点起来的，那的确是从地狱来的。所以舌头是点起来的火，也是罪恶的世界。
　　所以，要学习少说话，什么话总是越少越好。多言多语必有过失。箴言里总是劝人少说话，只有愚昧的人话多。人越愚昧越肯说，越肯多说。越在神面前有学习的人，越是稳当的人，话越少。
　
　　七节说，各种的生物都可以制伏。八节说，舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，充满了害死人的毒气。舌头是人所不能制伏的，里面充满了害死人的毒气；乃是恶到不能制伏的恶，是不止息的恶物。有的恶是能制伏的，舌头的恶是不能制伏的。你们要看见放松舌头是何等愚昧的事。一个人的舌头如果放松，他是何等的愚昧。
　
　　下面的话是相当简单。你不能用舌头赞美神，又用舌头咒诅神所造的人。你不能一面颂赞，一面咒诅。一个泉源不能出两样的水。无花果树不能生橄榄，葡萄树不能结无花果，咸水里也不能发出甜水来。是什么种的果子，就是什么种的树。是什么种的水，就是什么种的泉源。神所用的那一个人，定规发出甜的水，定规没有苦的味道。
　　今天拯救的路乃是说，神把一个新的泉源放在我的里面，神把我拯救成一棵新的树。我如果是一棵无花果树，定规不会生橄榄。我如果是一棵葡萄树，定规不会结无花果。如果神给我一个新的东西，把一个新的生命摆在我的里面，自然而然我要发出甜的水来。
　
　　我们讲到话语的问题，不只注意到说话，也要注意到听话。
　
　　我要顶直的对你们说，弟兄姊妹如果会听话，在教会里要除去许多不正当地话。在教会里所以有许多不正当地话，乃是因为有许多人要听它。有那一个需要，所以才有那些供应。人有那么多污秽的话，人有那么多批评的话，人有那么多恶毒的话，是非的话，挑拨的话，一口两舌的话，是因有许多人要求听这些话。人的心是诡诈的，人的心是弯曲的，人的心是污秽的，人要求听那些话，所以就有说那些话的人。
　　神的儿女如果知道什么种的话是可以说的，什么种的话是不可以说的，自然他们也学习认识什么种的话是可以听的，什么种的话是不可以听的。我想，有一位弟兄说过一句话很好。他说，许多人的耳朵像垃圾桶一样。有没有人把垃圾倒到你烧饭的锅里去？没有人肯这样作。许多败坏人的话，你能够坐在那里听，你能够觉得好，这明显说，你是一个垃圾桶，你自己是这么一种的人。什么种的人就听什么种的话。
　　所以我们要学习听正经的话。有什么人在那里播弄是非，说不正当地话，你不只不要受他的引诱，并且要说，我不听。这样就能停止许多的罪，也能帮助许多的弟兄。今天我们中间有一个情欲，有一个私欲，要来听这些话，因此这些话越过越多，人越说越有趣味。我们必须学习在这件事上蒙拯救。如果今天人在这里说不该说的话，你也许一声不响的走了，把那一个说话的人留在那里自己说，下一次他就没有兴趣说了，或者你在那里作见证说，我们基督徒不应该说这一种话，这样也能够拦阻他的话朝下说。你或者说再重的话：弟兄！你把我当作什么种的人？我不是垃圾桶，请你不要把这么多垃圾倒在我身上。
　　教会中许多的难处，像点着地狱的火一样，一起头就得把它弄熄；不能给它传。许多话语的错误乃是因为听话的错误。说话的人要负一大半的责任，听话的人要负一小半的责任。听话的人要在神面前拒绝听话的情欲。人有一个欲喜欢听话，人有一个欲要知道事情。你如果能够拒绝这一个欲，就能把许多从地狱里点着的火灭掉。你说，对不起，我作基督徒不能听这样的话。你把他的话根本打断了。如果你在那里听他说，你盼望多知道一点，你盼望多问一点，你在那里就不是救火，你是叫火烧得更旺。许多的闲话，许多的恶言，许多的谎话，是听话的人在那里鼓吹出来的。
　
　　诗三八13~14：“但我如聋子不听，像哑巴不开口。我如不听见的人，口中没有回话。”许多人的确需要像聋子不听。人在那里说不正当地话，你要像聋子不听。你只管说，我不听。重一点，你作见证给他听。再重一点，责备他说，弟兄！你把我当作谁？为什么把许多的话倒在我身上？或者你作见证说，我想作基督徒的人，不应该说这样的话，这样的话出于基督徒的口是不应该的事。或者你说，弟兄！你慢慢地说，我走了。你作聋子，你就必蒙福。许多时候你要学习作聋子不听，也要学习作哑巴不开口。话语是一个大试探，我们要学习胜过。
　　赛四二19说到主耶稣的时候（四十二章是完全预言到主耶稣），它说“谁比我的仆人眼瞎呢？谁比我差遣的使者耳聋呢？谁瞎眼像那和好的，谁瞎眼像耶和华的仆人呢？”你们看见，主耶稣在地上的时候，许多的话祂根本不听。
　　请记得，少听许多污秽的事，少听许多不相干的事，就少了许多事。我们自己已经够麻烦，我们自己的困难已经够大，我们自己已经够污秽，再把外面的东西加进来，我们就没有法子走前面的路。所以，初信的人从起头起，就要学习拒绝听话的试探。我们要像主耶稣一样是耳聋的。谁耳聋像我们的主呢？我们主的路是最正直的，在祂身上一点难处都没有。
　
　　初信的弟兄姊妹，要在话语上受教训。说话受教训，听话也受教训。要在话语的事情上敬畏神。我告诉你们，这是一件大事，也是专一的一步，应当好好的走过去。
　　这一件事不是很便宜的，是要花许多的工夫才能够有一个说准确话语的习惯。我不相信，人一信主就能那样简单地胜过。我自己知道，要说准确的话比什么都难，一不小心，话语就错，存心就错。比方说谎：不准确的话是说谎，存心要人误会也是说谎。话语说的不错，但是故意要人领会到别处去，也是说谎。初信的人，要从起头就注意这一件事，下工夫在这一件事上。
　　诗一四一3说，“耶和华啊！求你禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。”我们需要有这一个祷告说，求你把守我的舌头，叫我不随便说话。也许有的人要祷告说，求你把守我的耳朵，叫我不随便听话。如果是这样，教会能够免去许多的难处，并且我们能在－诗篇一条正当地路上往前走。
　　有一件事我觉得非常希奇。有许多弟兄们那样随便的说话，也有那么多人在那里听着而没有感觉。我觉得这是大毛病！明显的有大毛病！请记得，什么时候你能听不正当地话，你有毛病！听而接受，听而不拒绝，在这里有大毛病！我们要学习拒绝污秽的果子。要知道，任何的毒摆在神的儿女中间，都能够散开，把人带到不敬虔、背叛、放松的地步。求神施恩给我们，怜悯我们，叫我们从起头就学习如何说话，以致我们有一条正直的路好走！
　
　　人的言语，是人生活中一个很大的部分，也是一个很要紧的部分；主耶稣对我们说，人心里所充满的，口里就说出来（太十二34）。所以人的言语乃是表明他的心，乃是表明他心里有什么东西。人的行为不容易代表人，人的言语很容易代表人。许多时候，人的行为能够给人有错误的领会，错误的看法，错误的断案。但是，人的言语很容易代表人是如何，因为人的言语很不容易约束，很不容易管住。凡人心里所藏着的，心里所充满的，口里就说出来。就是口里要欺骗，口里要说谎，也是显出心里有欺骗，心里有说谎而已。一个人话不出口的时候，我们不容易知道他的心；一个人一开口，就显露他的心。一个人不说话的时候，不知道他的灵如何；一说话，你就能够借着他的话摸着他的灵，知道他在神面前是怎样的情形。所以，我们信主之后，要从新学怎样作人，怎样说话。已往所有作人的方法，作人的情形，完全不行。今天要从新作起，连说话都得学过。你们的话要相当的小心，相当的注意。
　
　　在圣经里，有四、五个地方告诉我们当怎样说话。
　　约八44：“你们是出于你们的父魔鬼，你们父的私欲，你们偏要行，他从起初是杀人的，不守真理；因他心里没有真理，他说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。”
　　撒旦的说谎是出乎他自己，因为他本来是说谎的；不只如此，今天他是作一切说谎之人的父。在世界里，谎言是比任何东西都普遍，撒但有多少子民，撒但就有多少会说谎的人。撒但手下有多少人，就有多少人在世界替他说谎。他需要谎言来建立他的国，他需要谎言来推翻神的工作。每一个从撒但生的人都会说谎，也都作说谎的工作。人一被神拯救，－约翰一成了属乎神的人，第一个功课应当学的就是在神面前对付他自己的话。我要拒绝任何的谎言，我要拒绝任何不准确的话，我要拒绝任何加多减少的话，我要拒绝一切有意无意的谎言。－约翰一切的谎言都应该从神的儿女中除去。谎言如果还留着，在撒但那里就有一个把柄，叫他能够抓住你。
　
　　一个人若没有学习拒绝谎言，他就不知道自己多会说谎。人越肯起来学习拒绝谎言，就越发现他是多会说谎，连他的心意倾向都是要说谎。世界上的谎言是多过于我们所预料的。连我们自己的谎言，也是多过于我们所预料的。你如果没有学习拒绝谎言。你就不知道谎言有多少。当你在那里拒绝谎言的时候，你就看见谎言是何等的多。不只在世界上是何等的多，并且在你这个人身上也是何等的多。这是最可惜的事，就是在许多神的儿女之中，好像谎言是不可少的事。这是最可怜的事，谎言在神的儿女之中，竟然也有地位！主所说的话，在这里是够重的，也是够清楚地，一切说谎的人都是撒但的儿女，撒但乃是一切说谎之人的父。如果撒但的这一个种子还在神的儿女身上，这是全世界最可怜的事！所以，我们不可以在信主多少年之后，还没有起首下决心对付自己的谎言，那真是太迟了。我们要一信主，一起头，就学习说准确的话。
　
　
　　一口两舌是说谎。一个人一会儿说这样，一会儿说那样；一会儿说行，一会儿又说不行；一会儿说好，一会儿又说不好；一会儿说对，一会儿又说不对；你知道这一个人是说谎的。这不只是表明说心志不坚固，也是表明说，这个人是一个说谎的人。
　
　　我们把我们所喜欢的说出去，把我们所不喜欢的藏起来；把我们用得着的说出去，把用不着的藏起来，这就是说谎。许多时候，人在那里故意的把事情留一半不说。许多事情与别人有利的，与对方有利的，与他所不喜欢的人有利的，他自私的心把这些话留下不说。而把没有利益、有害、能伤人的拿来说，这是说谎。许多人说话不是凭着真理，也不是凭着真实，乃是凭着好恶。许多人说话不是凭着事实，乃是凭着情感。这一种的话是你所好的，你就说；这一个人是你所好的，你就说。那一种的话是你所恶的，你就那么说；那一个人是你所恶的，你就那么说。这完全是凭着好恶、情感来说话，不是凭着事实、真实来说话。请记得，这是说谎。话语不真实，已经是够厉害的罪。存心不真实，那真是够厉害，在神面前这是被定罪的。我们要看见，说话不是凭着情感，乃是凭着事实。要就不说，要就按着事情说，按着实在说。我们不能按着自己的感觉来说。如果是那样，就证明说，我们是在神面前存心说谎的人。
　
　　不只，我们还得学习克制自己的情感到一个地步，没有兴趣盼望人的情形该如何。我告诉你们说，今天有许多人话语不是代表事实如何，乃是代表他的希望如何。不是事实如何，乃是代表他要如何。许多时候，你看见人在那里说毁谤的话，说姊妹的事，说弟兄的事，不是因为事实的缘故，乃是因为他自己喜欢这样。他巴不得这一个姊妹不行，所以他就说这一位姊妹不行。他巴不得这一位弟兄跌倒，所以他就说这一位弟兄跌倒。话语是凭着自己所要的说，话语不是凭着事实如此而说。你们看见这一个基本的难处么？我能够这样说，许多时候，人所说的话，都是他心里所要的。许多时候，人所说的话，不一定都是那一件事所是的。不是那一件事如此，不过是人盼望它如此而已。
　
　　有许多的事，经过一个人传给另外一个人，为什么会改变？常常一句的话，只要传了三四个人，这一句话就完全改变了。为什么？因为每一个人都把自己的意思加进去，而不是寻求那一件事实是如何。你不寻找事实如何，你在那里把自己的意思加进去，这是谎言。
　　说话有一个基本要注意的，就是不可凭着感觉说，不可根据盼望说。人说话一不根据真理，一不根据真实，而根据盼望、希望，就是说谎。所以，我们应该学习照着事实来说，而不将自己的意见摆进去。说自己的意见的时候，要说这是我的意见。说事实的时候，要说这是事实。要把自己的意见和事实分开，不要将事实和自己的意见混在一起。你们想人是如何的，和人真是如何的，是两件事。你们至多只能说，事情是这样，但是我想是这样。
　
　　还有一种说谎也是普遍的，在教会里也很普遍，就是夸大其辞。数字不够准确，话语不够准确，喜欢用大的字眼，喜欢用厉害的字眼，喜欢说大话；请记得，这些都是说谎，因为这里面不真实。
　　你今天要试一个弟兄，一个姊妹，到底他的心在神面前如何，你只要对他说一件事，叫他去传。你马上就知道，你马上就寻出来，他的存心在神面前如何。一个敬畏神的人，学过功课的人，受神对付的人，他看见说话是一件大事，不敢随便的说，不敢随便的传，并且注意要说准确的话。一个在神面前从来没有受过对付的人，没有受过主的管教的人，你一对他说，叫他去传，他就很起劲的去传。在传的里面，你就看见他是一个轻浮、虚谎、不诚实的人；他可以把许多自己的话加进去，又把许多该说的话瞒着不说。
　　没有一个说谎的人是能作神话语的执事的。说准确的话的人才能读圣经。因为神的话是一点一画都不错的。像我们这样马虎的人，也不知道把神的话丢了多少点，多少画。
　
　　许多人的话，经过他的口马上张大，数字总是增加。我们知道上海没有一个礼拜堂的座位，能够容纳五千人。我们讲道的人，眼睛有一点训练，一看就能知道；但是，许多时候，开复兴会的时候，有人指出来说，他们的礼拜堂有一万两万的人。你们想想，就是每一个人都把脚踏在人的头上，也坐不下。但这是作工的人，作基督徒的人所说的话。这是张大其辞！这一种的张大其辞是说谎。
　　别人的错，我们把它放大。自己的错，我们把它缩小。对于别人的错，我们在那里张大其辞。对于自己的错，我们在那里尽量减少，这也是说谎。
　
　　今天我不能说，神的儿女得救之后都是诚实的人。他们如果真能够在神面前学，并且严格的学，五年之后，我们也许能够遇见诚实的人。我说这样重的话，一个人要拒绝谎言，再拒绝谎言；每一次有不准确的话的时候再拒绝，一直拒绝，也许过三年、五年之后，起首是一个诚实的人。你们不能盼望一个人马马虎虎，随随便便的对付，能够变作一个诚实的人。谎言，话语的不准确，是基督徒的通病。全世界每一个人都跟过撒但，都会说谎。有的人笨得很，也会说谎。有的人是聪明的，也会说谎。有的人是没有技巧的说谎，有的人是有技巧的说谎。这些都是说谎。你们在神面前要常常的对付，什么时候一碰着谎言，什么时候一碰着谎言的灵，你们就应当有感觉。
　　我们要看见，诚实是何等的要紧，并且诚实是何等的不自然。我们的天性就是不诚实的，一生下来就是说谎。我们喜欢凭着好恶来说话，不喜欢凭着真理来说话。一个小孩子要从人之初学起，我们神的儿女也要从头学起。不然的话，稍微不小心就说谎，稍微不小心里面的话就不够准确。
　　这一个毛病，我想是很普遍的毛病，是最黑暗的罪，也是最普通的罪。许多人以为这是很轻的事。我告诉你们，如果我们在话语上有病，有两个难处要发出：第一，教会里产生许多的死亡，叫基督徒没有法子合一的走路。第二，将来神没有法子拣选他们作话语的执事，这样的人的用处就停止。讲圣经、讲真理、讲、道演讲，或者行，但是要作神话语的执事就不行。作神话语执事的人，需要那一个人的话是诚实的。不然的话，不能用。
　　盼望我们看见，我们应当学习不说谎；不能凭着自己的心意来说，要彻底的拒绝谎言。说话不是主观的，说话乃是客观的。说话是凭着事情的，说话是凭着别人的，说话不是凭着自己的感觉。如果这样，神的儿女就有一条正直的路好走。
　
　　还有一种话不能说的就是闲话。太十二35~37：“善人从他心里所存的善，就发出善来；恶人从他心里所存的恶，就发出恶来。我又告诉你们，凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。因为要凭你的话，定你为义，也要凭你的话，定你有罪。”
　　上面三十三节主耶稣说，“你们或以为树好，果子也好；树坏，果子也坏；因为看果子，就可以知道树。”这一段圣经的上下文都是给我们看见，果子不是行为，果子乃是话语。如果是这样，我们就清楚，一个人是好的，他的话语定规是好的。一个人是恶的，他的话语定规是恶的。你只要听人的话，就知道他们是谁。有的人一天到晚就是搬弄是非，一天到晚就是说东家短、西家长。他在那里说毁谤人的话，说拆毁人的话，说批评人的话，说断定人的话。他在那里说许多污秽肮脏的事，说各种不好的事；这很明显，这一棵树是坏的。
　　今天的难处，在神的儿女中，就是不能凭着话语来审判人。许多人自己是这样的人，所以就不会审判这样的事。主告诉我们说，善的人，从他心里的善发出善来；恶的人，从他心里的恶发出恶来。心里所有的，口里就发出来。树如何，果子也如何。
　　如果有弟兄，有姊妹，一天到晚就是在那里传不好的话，传污秽的事，传批评的事，传罪恶的事；你们不要向他说，这一件事是真的或是假的，你们要告诉他说，传这样的事，就是不够清洁的。我们要知道说，神的儿女的口，话语就是他的果子。绝没有一个人心里是圣洁的，而专门在那里说污秽的事。绝没有一个人心里是爱的，而专门在那里传恨。果子如何，树也如何。
　　不是所有的事实都可说。这不是谎言不谎言的事。也许这是事实，的确是事实，但这不是我的果子。也许这是真的，但我不能说这话。不是说谎不说谎，乃是说是闲话不是闲话。话是真话，却是闲话。我刚才说过，我们说话要按着事实，但不是所有的事实都可以说，是闲话就不能说，就不必说。
　　主说，“凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。”（太十二36）我们要知道，基督徒所说的闲话，不只说一次，还要说第二次。今天糊里糊涂的说了，将来还有一次要说，要完全的背一次，句句供出来。当你第二次说的时候，要凭着你的话定你为义，也要凭着你的话定你有罪。当审判的时候，句句闲话都要供出来。所以我盼望神的儿女要学习作敬畏神的人，学习拒绝一切不准确的话，学习说准确的话。凡与我无干，与我无益，也与人无益的话，都不要说。
　　一个人在神面前有没有受过对付，只要看他的口。没有一个受过神对付的人，而口没有受对付的。说谎，说闲话，随便说话的人，在神面前没有多大用处，只有等候审判。我们从第一天起，就得学这一个功课。说污秽话的人，定规是污秽的。说败坏话的人，定规是败坏的。说什么种话的人，就定规是什么种的人。看果子就知道树，听人的话就知道人。
　　所以，我们要注意，听一个弟兄在那里如何说话，就能知道他是何种人。但是今天能够到一个地步，教会里充满了谎言，充满了闲话，而神的儿女不去定罪。这是一件希奇的事！所以要看见，没有一个人能够随便的说闲话。
　
　　彼前三9~12：“不以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福；因你们是为此蒙召，好叫你们承受福气。因为经上说，‘人若爱生命，愿享美福，须要禁止舌头不出恶言，嘴唇不说诡诈的话；也要离恶行善；寻求和睦，一心追赶。因为主的眼看顾义人，主的耳听他们的祈祷；唯有行恶的人，主向他们变脸。’”
　　有一种的话，也是基督徒不能出口的，就是恶言。什么叫作恶言呢？就是辱骂的话，咒诅的话。一个神的儿女不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。
　
　　许多人都以为说，因为人这样说，所以我可以这样说。今天人都是在那里争谁先谁后。但主乃是说，你说了没有？你说，他们都这样说，难道我不可以这样说？请记得，我们不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。不是谁先说，谁后说的问题，乃是有没有说的问题。
　　初信的弟兄，从头一天起就要学习说祝福的话，不说辱骂的话，不说咒诅的话。
　
　　人要约束自己的脾气，约束自己的怒气，才能在神面前约束自己的话。人的脾气如果不能约束，就话也不能约束，有许多的恶言就要说出去。我想，神的儿女稍微不小心，连辱骂的话，本来是很低的，也会说出去。有许多人因为不知道约束自己的脾气，就说出辱骂的话来，一面不荣耀神，一面也叫自己得不着神的祝福。
　
　　第五，我们要来看，说话该注意的点在那里。雅各书三章乃是特别关于话语的一章。我们要从第一节念起，－雅各书一直到十二节。我们要来看，神的儿女对于话语应该怎样说。
　
　　第一节：“我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅。”为什么？“因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。”许多人对于自己的话没有受约束，最容易显出来的，就是作师傅。他无论到那里都是教训人，无论到那里都有话说。在任何的情形之下，都能教训别人，叫人不花钱得着他的教训。许多人是喜欢作师傅的人，喜欢作人的参谋，坐在众人中间就是话多。你们看见么？基督徒不只不该说谎，不该说闲话，不该口出恶言，并且不该多话。不管什么话，多就不该。一多话，在神面前就不蒙祝福。
　
　　二节：“原来我们在许多事上都有过失；若有人在话语上没有过失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。”一个人对于自己的约束如何，乃是看他对于话语能不能约束。一个人有没有圣灵节制的果子，就看他的话语有没有节制。许多时候，弟兄姊妹读圣经有一个误会，以为圣灵的节制就是中庸。请记得，节制的意思就是节制，中庸之道不是我们的道。基督徒要节制自己，意思是管得了自己。
　　所以自己能约束自己，这是圣灵的果子。加拉太五章给我们看见，圣灵的果子是什么。雅各书三章是说，如果有圣灵的果子，那一个表记是在什么地方，那一个记号是在什么地方。雅各说，－雅各书一个人如果能够约束自己的全身，定规能够约束自己的话。凡是话语散漫的人，生活定规散漫；凡是话语胡说的人，行为定规胡作。话语不谨慎的人，这一个人全身也不谨慎。－雅各书一个多话的人，就是在神面前散漫的人。－雅各书一个人能不能约束自己的全身，乃是看他能不能约束他的口。盼望初信的弟兄从今天起，就在神的面前学习约束自己的话。
　　许多弟兄姊妹常盼望说，神能对付我这个人，神能怜悯我这个人。我就对你们说，神如果能够对付你的话语，神就有法子对付你这个人。许多人的话语，就是他那一个人的中心。话语就是他那一个人的背脊骨，就是他那一个人的大腿窝。神如果能把你的话对付好，神也能够把你这个人对付好。许多人，就是话语在神面前打不掉，所以他那个人也打不掉。－雅各书一个人能不能约束自己，不要看他外头装作什么情形，只要和他谈半点钟就知道了。－雅各书一谈话，人就跑出来。没有一个人露出他的马脚来，像他在说话的时候露得那么多。－雅各书一说话，自己完全出来了。只要看一个人管得住管不住话语，就知道这一个人管得住管不住自己。
　
　　三节是把嚼环拿来作比方，第四节是把舵拿来作比方。他说，舌头就像舵一样，舌头就像嚼环一样，是最小的，却能影响最大的。五节说，最小的火，能点着最大的树林。又说，“舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来；并且是从地狱里点着的。”（6）三节是嚼环。四节是舵。五节说舌头是小的，但是能够管理大的。六节给我们看见，舌头乃是一个罪恶的世界。舌头是一个独立的世界，舌头是一个罪恶的世界。今天在这里，许多人虽然蒙了救赎，蒙了神的怜悯，但是他的舌头却没有被对付。他带着这一个罪恶的世界，到处点着地狱的火。
　　在这里有一句话是厉害的：舌头能够点着生命的轮子。生命好像一个轮子在那里转，舌头像火能够点着生命的轮子，意思是能够产生许多的肉体出来。人的血气，人的肉体，人的脾气，人的怒气，都能够借着舌头把它点着起来。舌头能够把地狱的火点起来。许多事情都是神的儿女一句话点起来的，那的确是从地狱来的。所以舌头是点起来的火，也是罪恶的世界。
　　所以，要学习少说话，什么话总是越少越好。多言多语必有过失。箴言里总是劝人少说话，只有愚昧的人话多。人越愚昧越肯说，越肯多说。越在神面前有学习的人，越是稳当的人，话越少。
　
　　七节说，各种的生物都可以制伏。八节说，舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，充满了害死人的毒气。舌头是人所不能制伏的，里面充满了害死人的毒气；乃是恶到不能制伏的恶，是不止息的恶物。有的恶是能制伏的，舌头的恶是不能制伏的。你们要看见放松舌头是何等愚昧的事。一个人的舌头如果放松，他是何等的愚昧。
　
　　下面的话是相当简单。你不能用舌头赞美神，又用舌头咒诅神所造的人。你不能一面颂赞，一面咒诅。一个泉源不能出两样的水。无花果树不能生橄榄，葡萄树不能结无花果，咸水里也不能发出甜水来。是什么种的果子，就是什么种的树。是什么种的水，就是什么种的泉源。神所用的那一个人，定规发出甜的水，定规没有苦的味道。
　　今天拯救的路乃是说，神把一个新的泉源放在我的里面，神把我拯救成一棵新的树。我如果是一棵无花果树，定规不会生橄榄。我如果是一棵葡萄树，定规不会结无花果。如果神给我一个新的东西，把一个新的生命摆在我的里面，自然而然我要发出甜的水来。
　
　　我们讲到话语的问题，不只注意到说话，也要注意到听话。
　
　　我要顶直的对你们说，弟兄姊妹如果会听话，在教会里要除去许多不正当地话。在教会里所以有许多不正当地话，乃是因为有许多人要听它。有那一个需要，所以才有那些供应。人有那么多污秽的话，人有那么多批评的话，人有那么多恶毒的话，是非的话，挑拨的话，一口两舌的话，是因有许多人要求听这些话。人的心是诡诈的，人的心是弯曲的，人的心是污秽的，人要求听那些话，所以就有说那些话的人。
　　神的儿女如果知道什么种的话是可以说的，什么种的话是不可以说的，自然他们也学习认识什么种的话是可以听的，什么种的话是不可以听的。我想，有一位弟兄说过一句话很好。他说，许多人的耳朵像垃圾桶一样。有没有人把垃圾倒到你烧饭的锅里去？没有人肯这样作。许多败坏人的话，你能够坐在那里听，你能够觉得好，这明显说，你是一个垃圾桶，你自己是这么一种的人。什么种的人就听什么种的话。
　　所以我们要学习听正经的话。有什么人在那里播弄是非，说不正当地话，你不只不要受他的引诱，并且要说，我不听。这样就能停止许多的罪，也能帮助许多的弟兄。今天我们中间有一个情欲，有一个私欲，要来听这些话，因此这些话越过越多，人越说越有趣味。我们必须学习在这件事上蒙拯救。如果今天人在这里说不该说的话，你也许一声不响的走了，把那一个说话的人留在那里自己说，下一次他就没有兴趣说了，或者你在那里作见证说，我们基督徒不应该说这一种话，这样也能够拦阻他的话朝下说。你或者说再重的话：弟兄！你把我当作什么种的人？我不是垃圾桶，请你不要把这么多垃圾倒在我身上。
　　教会中许多的难处，像点着地狱的火一样，一起头就得把它弄熄；不能给它传。许多话语的错误乃是因为听话的错误。说话的人要负一大半的责任，听话的人要负一小半的责任。听话的人要在神面前拒绝听话的情欲。人有一个欲喜欢听话，人有一个欲要知道事情。你如果能够拒绝这一个欲，就能把许多从地狱里点着的火灭掉。你说，对不起，我作基督徒不能听这样的话。你把他的话根本打断了。如果你在那里听他说，你盼望多知道一点，你盼望多问一点，你在那里就不是救火，你是叫火烧得更旺。许多的闲话，许多的恶言，许多的谎话，是听话的人在那里鼓吹出来的。
　
　　诗三八13~14：“但我如聋子不听，像哑巴不开口。我如不听见的人，口中没有回话。”许多人的确需要像聋子不听。人在那里说不正当地话，你要像聋子不听。你只管说，我不听。重一点，你作见证给他听。再重一点，责备他说，弟兄！你把我当作谁？为什么把许多的话倒在我身上？或者你作见证说，我想作基督徒的人，不应该说这样的话，这样的话出于基督徒的口是不应该的事。或者你说，弟兄！你慢慢地说，我走了。你作聋子，你就必蒙福。许多时候你要学习作聋子不听，也要学习作哑巴不开口。话语是一个大试探，我们要学习胜过。
　　赛四二19说到主耶稣的时候（四十二章是完全预言到主耶稣），它说“谁比我的仆人眼瞎呢？谁比我差遣的使者耳聋呢？谁瞎眼像那和好的，谁瞎眼像耶和华的仆人呢？”你们看见，主耶稣在地上的时候，许多的话祂根本不听。
　　请记得，少听许多污秽的事，少听许多不相干的事，就少了许多事。我们自己已经够麻烦，我们自己的困难已经够大，我们自己已经够污秽，再把外面的东西加进来，我们就没有法子走前面的路。所以，初信的人从起头起，就要学习拒绝听话的试探。我们要像主耶稣一样是耳聋的。谁耳聋像我们的主呢？我们主的路是最正直的，在祂身上一点难处都没有。
　
　　初信的弟兄姊妹，要在话语上受教训。说话受教训，听话也受教训。要在话语的事情上敬畏神。我告诉你们，这是一件大事，也是专一的一步，应当好好的走过去。
　　这一件事不是很便宜的，是要花许多的工夫才能够有一个说准确话语的习惯。我不相信，人一信主就能那样简单地胜过。我自己知道，要说准确的话比什么都难，一不小心，话语就错，存心就错。比方说谎：不准确的话是说谎，存心要人误会也是说谎。话语说的不错，但是故意要人领会到别处去，也是说谎。初信的人，要从起头就注意这一件事，下工夫在这一件事上。
　　诗一四一3说，“耶和华啊！求你禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。”我们需要有这一个祷告说，求你把守我的舌头，叫我不随便说话。也许有的人要祷告说，求你把守我的耳朵，叫我不随便听话。如果是这样，教会能够免去许多的难处，并且我们能在－诗篇一条正当地路上往前走。
　　有一件事我觉得非常希奇。有许多弟兄们那样随便的说话，也有那么多人在那里听着而没有感觉。我觉得这是大毛病！明显的有大毛病！请记得，什么时候你能听不正当地话，你有毛病！听而接受，听而不拒绝，在这里有大毛病！我们要学习拒绝污秽的果子。要知道，任何的毒摆在神的儿女中间，都能够散开，把人带到不敬虔、背叛、放松的地步。求神施恩给我们，怜悯我们，叫我们从起头就学习如何说话，以致我们有一条正直的路好走！
　
　　人的言语，是人生活中一个很大的部分，也是一个很要紧的部分；主耶稣对我们说，人心里所充满的，口里就说出来（太十二34）。所以人的言语乃是表明他的心，乃是表明他心里有什么东西。人的行为不容易代表人，人的言语很容易代表人。许多时候，人的行为能够给人有错误的领会，错误的看法，错误的断案。但是，人的言语很容易代表人是如何，因为人的言语很不容易约束，很不容易管住。凡人心里所藏着的，心里所充满的，口里就说出来。就是口里要欺骗，口里要说谎，也是显出心里有欺骗，心里有说谎而已。一个人话不出口的时候，我们不容易知道他的心；一个人一开口，就显露他的心。一个人不说话的时候，不知道他的灵如何；一说话，你就能够借着他的话摸着他的灵，知道他在神面前是怎样的情形。所以，我们信主之后，要从新学怎样作人，怎样说话。已往所有作人的方法，作人的情形，完全不行。今天要从新作起，连说话都得学过。你们的话要相当的小心，相当的注意。
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太12:34  
毒蛇之种，你们既是恶的，怎能说出善来？因为心里所充满的，口里就说出来。
马太福音一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
马太福音一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
马太福音一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
马太福音一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　在圣经里，有四、五个地方告诉我们当怎样说话。　　约翰八章四十四节：“你们是出于你们的父魔鬼，你们父的私欲，你们偏要行，他从起初是杀人的，不守真理；因他心里没有真理，他说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
约8:44  
你们是出于那父魔鬼，你们父的私欲，你们愿意行。他从起初就是杀人的，并且不站在真理中，因为在他里面没有真理。他说谎是出于他自己的私有物，因他是说谎的，也是说谎者的父。
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　　撒旦的说谎是出乎他自己，因为他本来是说谎的；不只如此，今天他是作一切说谎之人的父。在世界里，谎言是比任何东西都普遍，撒但有多少子民，撒但就有多少会说谎的人。撒但手下有多少人，就有多少人在世界替他说谎。他需要谎言来建立他的国，他需要谎言来推翻神的工作。每一个从撒但生的人都会说谎，也都作说谎的工作。人一被神拯救，一成了属乎神的人，第一个功课应当学的就是在神面前对付他自己的话。我要拒绝任何的谎言，我要拒绝任何不准确的话，我要拒绝任何加多减少的话，我要拒绝一切有意无意的谎言。一切的谎言都应该从神的儿女中除去。谎言如果还留着，在撒但那里就有一个把柄，叫他能够抓住你。
　
　　一个人若没有学习拒绝谎言，他就不知道自己多会说谎。人越肯起来学习拒绝谎言，就越发现他是多会说谎，连他的心意倾向都是要说谎。世界上的谎言是多过于我们所预料的。连我们自己的谎言，也是多过于我们所预料的。你如果没有学习拒绝谎言。你就不知道谎言有多少。当你在那里拒绝谎言的时候，你就看见谎言是何等的多。不只在世界上是何等的多，并且在你这个人身上也是何等的多。这是最可惜的事，就是在许多神的儿女之中，好像谎言是不可少的事。这是最可怜的事，谎言在神的儿女之中，竟然也有地位！主所说的话，在这里是够重的，也是够清楚地，一切说谎的人都是撒但的儿女，撒但乃是一切说谎之人的父。如果撒但的这一个种子还在神的儿女身上，这是全世界最可怜的事！所以，我们不可以在信主多少年之后，还没有起首下决心对付自己的谎言，那真是太迟了。我们要一信主，一起头，就学习说准确的话。
　
　
　　一口两舌是说谎。一个人一会儿说这样，一会儿说那样；一会儿说行，一会儿又说不行；一会儿说好，一会儿又说不好；一会儿说对，一会儿又说不对；你知道这一个人是说谎的。这不只是表明说心志不坚固，也是表明说，这个人是一个说谎的人。
　
　　我们把我们所喜欢的说出去，把我们所不喜欢的藏起来；把我们用得着的说出去，把用不着的藏起来，这就是说谎。许多时候，人在那里故意的把事情留一半不说。许多事情与别人有利的，与对方有利的，与他所不喜欢的人有利的，他自私的心把这些话留下不说。而把没有利益、有害、能伤人的拿来说，这是说谎。许多人说话不是凭着真理，也不是凭着真实，乃是凭着好恶。许多人说话不是凭着事实，乃是凭着情感。这一种的话是你所好的，你就说；这一个人是你所好的，你就说。那一种的话是你所恶的，你就那么说；那一个人是你所恶的，你就那么说。这完全是凭着好恶、情感来说话，不是凭着事实、真实来说话。请记得，这是说谎。话语不真实，已经是够厉害的罪。存心不真实，那真是够厉害，在神面前这是被定罪的。我们要看见，说话不是凭着情感，乃是凭着事实。要就不说，要就按着事情说，按着实在说。我们不能按着自己的感觉来说。如果是那样，就证明说，我们是在神面前存心说谎的人。
　
　　不只，我们还得学习克制自己的情感到一个地步，没有兴趣盼望人的情形该如何。我告诉你们说，今天有许多人话语不是代表事实如何，乃是代表他的希望如何。不是事实如何，乃是代表他要如何。许多时候，你看见人在那里说毁谤的话，说姊妹的事，说弟兄的事，不是因为事实的缘故，乃是因为他自己喜欢这样。他巴不得这一个姊妹不行，所以他就说这一位姊妹不行。他巴不得这一位弟兄跌倒，所以他就说这一位弟兄跌倒。话语是凭着自己所要的说，话语不是凭着事实如此而说。你们看见这一个基本的难处么？我能够这样说，许多时候，人所说的话，都是他心里所要的。许多时候，人所说的话，不一定都是那一件事所是的。不是那一件事如此，不过是人盼望它如此而已。
　
　　有许多的事，经过一个人传给另外一个人，为什么会改变？常常一句的话，只要传了三四个人，这一句话就完全改变了。为什么？因为每一个人都把自己的意思加进去，而不是寻求那一件事实是如何。你不寻找事实如何，你在那里把自己的意思加进去，这是谎言。　　说话有一个基本要注意的，就是不可凭着感觉说，不可根据盼望说。人说话一不根据真理，一不根据真实，而根据盼望、希望，就是说谎。所以，我们应该学习照着事实来说，而不将自己的意见摆进去。说自己的意见的时候，要说这是我的意见。说事实的时候，要说这是事实。要把自己的意见和事实分开，不要将事实和自己的意见混在一起。你们想人是如何的，和人真是如何的，是两件事。你们至多只能说，事情是这样，但是我想是这样。
　
　　还有一种说谎也是普遍的，在教会里也很普遍，就是夸大其辞。数字不够准确，话语不够准确，喜欢用大的字眼，喜欢用厉害的字眼，喜欢说大话；请记得，这些都是说谎，因为这里面不真实。　　你今天要试一个弟兄，一个姊妹，到底他的心在神面前如何，你只要对他说一件事，叫他去传。你马上就知道，你马上就寻出来，他的存心在神面前如何。一个敬畏神的人，学过功课的人，受神对付的人，他看见说话是一件大事，不敢随便的说，不敢随便的传，并且注意要说准确的话。一个在神面前从来没有受过对付的人，没有受过主的管教的人，你一对他说，叫他去传，他就很起劲的去传。在传的里面，你就看见他是一个轻浮、虚谎、不诚实的人；他可以把许多自己的话加进去，又把许多该说的话瞒着不说。　　没有一个说谎的人是能作神话语的执事的。说准确的话的人才能读圣经。因为神的话是一点一画都不错的。像我们这样马虎的人，也不知道把神的话丢了多少点，多少画。
　
　　许多人的话，经过他的口马上张大，数字总是增加。我们知道上海没有一个礼拜堂的座位，能够容纳五千人。我们讲道的人，眼睛有一点训练，一看就能知道；但是，许多时候，开复兴会的时候，有人指出来说，他们的礼拜堂有一万两万的人。你们想想，就是每一个人都把脚踏在人的头上，也坐不下。但这是作工的人，作基督徒的人所说的话。这是张大其辞！这一种的张大其辞是说谎。　　别人的错，我们把它放大。自己的错，我们把它缩小。对于别人的错，我们在那里张大其辞。对于自己的错，我们在那里尽量减少，这也是说谎。
　
　　今天我不能说，神的儿女得救之后都是诚实的人。他们如果真能够在神面前学，并且严格的学，五年之后，我们也许能够遇见诚实的人。我说这样重的话，一个人要拒绝谎言，再拒绝谎言；每一次有不准确的话的时候再拒绝，一直拒绝，也许过三年、五年之后，起首是一个诚实的人。你们不能盼望一个人马马虎虎，随随便便的对付，能够变作一个诚实的人。谎言，话语的不准确，是基督徒的通病。全世界每一个人都跟过撒但，都会说谎。有的人笨得很，也会说谎。有的人是聪明的，也会说谎。有的人是没有技巧的说谎，有的人是有技巧的说谎。这些都是说谎。你们在神面前要常常的对付，什么时候一碰着谎言，什么时候一碰着谎言的灵，你们就应当有感觉。　　我们要看见，诚实是何等的要紧，并且诚实是何等的不自然。我们的天性就是不诚实的，一生下来就是说谎。我们喜欢凭着好恶来说话，不喜欢凭着真理来说话。一个小孩子要从人之初学起，我们神的儿女也要从头学起。不然的话，稍微不小心就说谎，稍微不小心里面的话就不够准确。　　这一个毛病，我想是很普遍的毛病，是最黑暗的罪，也是最普通的罪。许多人以为这是很轻的事。我告诉你们，如果我们在话语上有病，有两个难处要发出：第一，教会里产生许多的死亡，叫基督徒没有法子合一的走路。第二，将来神没有法子拣选他们作话语的执事，这样的人的用处就停止。讲圣经、讲真理、讲、道演讲，或者行，但是要作神话语的执事就不行。作神话语执事的人，需要那一个人的话是诚实的。不然的话，不能用。　　盼望我们看见，我们应当学习不说谎；不能凭着自己的心意来说，要彻底的拒绝谎言。说话不是主观的，说话乃是客观的。说话是凭着事情的，说话是凭着别人的，说话不是凭着自己的感觉。如果这样，神的儿女就有一条正直的路好走。
　
　　还有一种话不能说的就是闲话。马太十二章三十五至三十七节：“善人从他心里所存的善，就发出善来；恶人从他心里所存的恶，就发出恶来。我又告诉你们，凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。因为要凭你的话，定你为义，也要凭你的话，定你有罪。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
太12:35  
善人从他所存的善，发出善来；恶人从他所存的恶，发出恶来。
太12:36  
我还告诉你们，人所说的每句闲话，在审判的日子，都必须供出来。
太12:37  
因为要凭你的话，称你为义；也要凭你的话，定你有罪。
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　　上面三十三节主耶稣说，“你们或以为树好，果子也好；树坏，果子也坏；因为看果子，就可以知道树。”这一段圣经的上下文都是给我们看见，果子不是行为，果子乃是话语。如果是这样，我们就清楚，一个人是好的，他的话语定规是好的。一个人是恶的，他的话语定规是恶的。你只要听人的话，就知道他们是谁。有的人一天到晚就是搬弄是非，一天到晚就是说东家短、西家长。他在那里说毁谤人的话，说拆毁人的话，说批评人的话，说断定人的话。他在那里说许多污秽肮脏的事，说各种不好的事；这很明显，这一棵树是坏的。　　今天的难处，在神的儿女中，就是不能凭着话语来审判人。许多人自己是这样的人，所以就不会审判这样的事。主告诉我们说，善的人，从他心里的善发出善来；恶的人，从他心里的恶发出恶来。心里所有的，口里就发出来。树如何，果子也如何。　　如果有弟兄，有姊妹，一天到晚就是在那里传不好的话，传污秽的事，传批评的事，传罪恶的事；你们不要向他说，这一件事是真的或是假的，你们要告诉他说，传这样的事，就是不够清洁的。我们要知道说，神的儿女的口，话语就是他的果子。绝没有一个人心里是圣洁的，而专门在那里说污秽的事。绝没有一个人心里是爱的，而专门在那里传恨。果子如何，树也如何。　　不是所有的事实都可说。这不是谎言不谎言的事。也许这是事实，的确是事实，但这不是我的果子。也许这是真的，但我不能说这话。不是说谎不说谎，乃是说是闲话不是闲话。话是真话，却是闲话。我刚才说过，我们说话要按着事实，但不是所有的事实都可以说，是闲话就不能说，就不必说。　　主说，“凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。”（太十二36）我们要知道，基督徒所说的闲话，不只说一次，还要说第二次。今天糊里糊涂的说了，将来还有一次要说，要完全的背一次，句句供出来。当你第二次说的时候，要凭着你的话定你为义，也要凭着你的话定你有罪。当审判的时候，句句闲话都要供出来。所以我盼望神的儿女要学习作敬畏神的人，学习拒绝一切不准确的话，学习说准确的话。凡与我无干，与我无益，也与人无益的话，都不要说。
--------本段经节汇集--------
太12:36  
我还告诉你们，人所说的每句闲话，在审判的日子，都必须供出来。
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　　一个人在神面前有没有受过对付，只要看他的口。没有一个受过神对付的人，而口没有受对付的。说谎，说闲话，随便说话的人，在神面前没有多大用处，只有等候审判。我们从第一天起，就得学这一个功课。说污秽话的人，定规是污秽的。说败坏话的人，定规是败坏的。说什么种话的人，就定规是什么种的人。看果子就知道树，听人的话就知道人。　　所以，我们要注意，听一个弟兄在那里如何说话，就能知道他是何种人。但是今天能够到一个地步，教会里充满了谎言，充满了闲话，而神的儿女不去定罪。这是一件希奇的事！所以要看见，没有一个人能够随便的说闲话。
　
　　彼前三章九至十二节：“不以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福；因你们是为此蒙召，好叫你们承受福气。因为经上说，‘人若爱生命，愿享美福，须要禁止舌头不出恶言，嘴唇不说诡诈的话；也要离恶行善；寻求和睦，一心追赶。因为主的眼看顾义人，主的耳听他们的祈祷；唯有行恶的人，主向他们变脸。’”
--------本段经节汇集--------
彼前3:9  
不以恶报恶，或以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福，因你们是为此蒙召，好叫你们承受福分。
彼前3:10  
因为“那想要爱生命，看见好日子的，要禁止舌头不出恶言，嘴唇不说诡诈的话；
彼前3:11  
也要离恶行善，寻求和睦，竭力追逐；
彼前3:12  
因为主的眼看顾义人，祂的耳垂听他们的祈求；惟有行恶的人，主向他们变脸。”
彼得前书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　有一种的话，也是基督徒不能出口的，就是恶言。什么叫作恶言呢？就是辱骂的话，咒诅的话。一个神的儿女不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。
　
　　许多人都以为说，因为人这样说，所以我可以这样说。今天人都是在那里争谁先谁后。但主乃是说，你说了没有？你说，他们都这样说，难道我不可以这样说？请记得，我们不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。不是谁先说，谁后说的问题，乃是有没有说的问题。　　初信的弟兄，从头一天起就要学习说祝福的话，不说辱骂的话，不说咒诅的话。
　
　　人要约束自己的脾气，约束自己的怒气，才能在神面前约束自己的话。人的脾气如果不能约束，就话也不能约束，有许多的恶言就要说出去。我想，神的儿女稍微不小心，连辱骂的话，本来是很低的，也会说出去。有许多人因为不知道约束自己的脾气，就说出辱骂的话来，一面不荣耀神，一面也叫自己得不着神的祝福。
　
　　第五，我们要来看，说话该注意的点在那里。雅各书三章乃是特别关于话语的一章。我们要从第一节念起，一直到十二节。我们要来看，神的儿女对于话语应该怎样说。
--------本段经节汇集--------
雅各书三章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　第一节：“我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅。”为什么？“因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。”许多人对于自己的话没有受约束，最容易显出来的，就是作师傅。他无论到那里都是教训人，无论到那里都有话说。在任何的情形之下，都能教训别人，叫人不花钱得着他的教训。许多人是喜欢作师傅的人，喜欢作人的参谋，坐在众人中间就是话多。你们看见么？基督徒不只不该说谎，不该说闲话，不该口出恶言，并且不该多话。不管什么话，多就不该。一多话，在神面前就不蒙祝福。
　
　　二节：“原来我们在许多事上都有过失；若有人在话语上没有过失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。”一个人对于自己的约束如何，乃是看他对于话语能不能约束。一个人有没有圣灵节制的果子，就看他的话语有没有节制。许多时候，弟兄姊妹读圣经有一个误会，以为圣灵的节制就是中庸。请记得，节制的意思就是节制，中庸之道不是我们的道。基督徒要节制自己，意思是管得了自己。　　所以自己能约束自己，这是圣灵的果子。加拉太五章给我们看见，圣灵的果子是什么。雅各书三章是说，如果有圣灵的果子，那一个表记是在什么地方，那一个记号是在什么地方。雅各说，一个人如果能够约束自己的全身，定规能够约束自己的话。凡是话语散漫的人，生活定规散漫；凡是话语胡说的人，行为定规胡作。话语不谨慎的人，这一个人全身也不谨慎。一个多话的人，就是在神面前散漫的人。一个人能不能约束自己的全身，乃是看他能不能约束他的口。盼望初信的弟兄从今天起，就在神的面前学习约束自己的话。
--------本段经节汇集--------
加拉太书五章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
雅各书三章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
------------------------
　　许多弟兄姊妹常盼望说，神能对付我这个人，神能怜悯我这个人。我就对你们说，神如果能够对付你的话语，神就有法子对付你这个人。许多人的话语，就是他那一个人的中心。话语就是他那一个人的背脊骨，就是他那一个人的大腿窝。神如果能把你的话对付好，神也能够把你这个人对付好。许多人，就是话语在神面前打不掉，所以他那个人也打不掉。一个人能不能约束自己，不要看他外头装作什么情形，只要和他谈半点钟就知道了。一谈话，人就跑出来。没有一个人露出他的马脚来，像他在说话的时候露得那么多。一说话，自己完全出来了。只要看一个人管得住管不住话语，就知道这一个人管得住管不住自己。
　
　　三节是把嚼环拿来作比方，第四节是把舵拿来作比方。他说，舌头就像舵一样，舌头就像嚼环一样，是最小的，却能影响最大的。五节说，最小的火，能点着最大的树林。又说，“舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来；并且是从地狱里点着的。”（6）三节是嚼环。四节是舵。五节说舌头是小的，但是能够管理大的。六节给我们看见，舌头乃是一个罪恶的世界。舌头是一个独立的世界，舌头是一个罪恶的世界。今天在这里，许多人虽然蒙了救赎，蒙了神的怜悯，但是他的舌头却没有被对付。他带着这一个罪恶的世界，到处点着地狱的火。　　在这里有一句话是厉害的：舌头能够点着生命的轮子。生命好像一个轮子在那里转，舌头像火能够点着生命的轮子，意思是能够产生许多的肉体出来。人的血气，人的肉体，人的脾气，人的怒气，都能够借着舌头把它点着起来。舌头能够把地狱的火点起来。许多事情都是神的儿女一句话点起来的，那的确是从地狱来的。所以舌头是点起来的火，也是罪恶的世界。　　所以，要学习少说话，什么话总是越少越好。多言多语必有过失。箴言里总是劝人少说话，只有愚昧的人话多。人越愚昧越肯说，越肯多说。越在神面前有学习的人，越是稳当的人，话越少。
　
　　七节说，各种的生物都可以制伏。八节说，舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，充满了害死人的毒气。舌头是人所不能制伏的，里面充满了害死人的毒气；乃是恶到不能制伏的恶，是不止息的恶物。有的恶是能制伏的，舌头的恶是不能制伏的。你们要看见放松舌头是何等愚昧的事。一个人的舌头如果放松，他是何等的愚昧。
　
　　下面的话是相当简单。你不能用舌头赞美神，又用舌头咒诅神所造的人。你不能一面颂赞，一面咒诅。一个泉源不能出两样的水。无花果树不能生橄榄，葡萄树不能结无花果，咸水里也不能发出甜水来。是什么种的果子，就是什么种的树。是什么种的水，就是什么种的泉源。神所用的那一个人，定规发出甜的水，定规没有苦的味道。　　今天拯救的路乃是说，神把一个新的泉源放在我的里面，神把我拯救成一棵新的树。我如果是一棵无花果树，定规不会生橄榄。我如果是一棵葡萄树，定规不会结无花果。如果神给我一个新的东西，把一个新的生命摆在我的里面，自然而然我要发出甜的水来。
　
　　我们讲到话语的问题，不只注意到说话，也要注意到听话。
　
　　我要顶直的对你们说，弟兄姊妹如果会听话，在教会里要除去许多不正当地话。在教会里所以有许多不正当地话，乃是因为有许多人要听它。有那一个需要，所以才有那些供应。人有那么多污秽的话，人有那么多批评的话，人有那么多恶毒的话，是非的话，挑拨的话，一口两舌的话，是因有许多人要求听这些话。人的心是诡诈的，人的心是弯曲的，人的心是污秽的，人要求听那些话，所以就有说那些话的人。　　神的儿女如果知道什么种的话是可以说的，什么种的话是不可以说的，自然他们也学习认识什么种的话是可以听的，什么种的话是不可以听的。我想，有一位弟兄说过一句话很好。他说，许多人的耳朵像垃圾桶一样。有没有人把垃圾倒到你烧饭的锅里去？没有人肯这样作。许多败坏人的话，你能够坐在那里听，你能够觉得好，这明显说，你是一个垃圾桶，你自己是这么一种的人。什么种的人就听什么种的话。　　所以我们要学习听正经的话。有什么人在那里播弄是非，说不正当地话，你不只不要受他的引诱，并且要说，我不听。这样就能停止许多的罪，也能帮助许多的弟兄。今天我们中间有一个情欲，有一个私欲，要来听这些话，因此这些话越过越多，人越说越有趣味。我们必须学习在这件事上蒙拯救。如果今天人在这里说不该说的话，你也许一声不响的走了，把那一个说话的人留在那里自己说，下一次他就没有兴趣说了，或者你在那里作见证说，我们基督徒不应该说这一种话，这样也能够拦阻他的话朝下说。你或者说再重的话：弟兄！你把我当作什么种的人？我不是垃圾桶，请你不要把这么多垃圾倒在我身上。　　教会中许多的难处，像点着地狱的火一样，一起头就得把它弄熄；不能给它传。许多话语的错误乃是因为听话的错误。说话的人要负一大半的责任，听话的人要负一小半的责任。听话的人要在神面前拒绝听话的情欲。人有一个欲喜欢听话，人有一个欲要知道事情。你如果能够拒绝这一个欲，就能把许多从地狱里点着的火灭掉。你说，对不起，我作基督徒不能听这样的话。你把他的话根本打断了。如果你在那里听他说，你盼望多知道一点，你盼望多问一点，你在那里就不是救火，你是叫火烧得更旺。许多的闲话，许多的恶言，许多的谎话，是听话的人在那里鼓吹出来的。
　
　　诗篇三十八篇十三至十四节：“但我如聋子不听，像哑巴不开口。我如不听见的人，口中没有回话。”许多人的确需要像聋子不听。人在那里说不正当地话，你要像聋子不听。你只管说，我不听。重一点，你作见证给他听。再重一点，责备他说，弟兄！你把我当作谁？为什么把许多的话倒在我身上？或者你作见证说，我想作基督徒的人，不应该说这样的话，这样的话出于基督徒的口是不应该的事。或者你说，弟兄！你慢慢地说，我走了。你作聋子，你就必蒙福。许多时候你要学习作聋子不听，也要学习作哑巴不开口。话语是一个大试探，我们要学习胜过。
--------本段经节汇集--------
诗38:13  
但我如聋子不能听，像哑巴不能开口。
诗38:14  
我如不听见的人，口中没有辩驳。
------------------------
　　以赛亚四十二章十九节说到主耶稣的时候（四十二章是完全预言到主耶稣），它说“谁比我的仆人眼瞎呢？谁比我差遣的使者耳聋呢？谁瞎眼像那和好的，谁瞎眼像耶和华的仆人呢？”你们看见，主耶稣在地上的时候，许多的话祂根本不听。
--------本段经节汇集--------
赛42:19  
除了我的仆人，有谁眼瞎呢？谁耳聋像我差遣的使者呢？谁眼瞎像那与我和好的，谁眼瞎像耶和华的仆人呢？
以赛亚书四十二章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　请记得，少听许多污秽的事，少听许多不相干的事，就少了许多事。我们自己已经够麻烦，我们自己的困难已经够大，我们自己已经够污秽，再把外面的东西加进来，我们就没有法子走前面的路。所以，初信的人从起头起，就要学习拒绝听话的试探。我们要像主耶稣一样是耳聋的。谁耳聋像我们的主呢？我们主的路是最正直的，在祂身上一点难处都没有。
　
　　初信的弟兄姊妹，要在话语上受教训。说话受教训，听话也受教训。要在话语的事情上敬畏神。我告诉你们，这是一件大事，也是专一的一步，应当好好的走过去。　　这一件事不是很便宜的，是要花许多的工夫才能够有一个说准确话语的习惯。我不相信，人一信主就能那样简单地胜过。我自己知道，要说准确的话比什么都难，一不小心，话语就错，存心就错。比方说谎：不准确的话是说谎，存心要人误会也是说谎。话语说的不错，但是故意要人领会到别处去，也是说谎。初信的人，要从起头就注意这一件事，下工夫在这一件事上。　　诗篇一百四十一篇三节说，“耶和华啊！求你禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。”我们需要有这一个祷告说，求你把守我的舌头，叫我不随便说话。也许有的人要祷告说，求你把守我的耳朵，叫我不随便听话。如果是这样，教会能够免去许多的难处，并且我们能在一条正当地路上往前走。
--------本段经节汇集--------
诗141:3  
耶和华啊，求你在我的口边设立守卫；求你把守我嘴唇的门户。
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　　有一件事我觉得非常希奇。有许多弟兄们那样随便的说话，也有那么多人在那里听着而没有感觉。我觉得这是大毛病！明显的有大毛病！请记得，什么时候你能听不正当地话，你有毛病！听而接受，听而不拒绝，在这里有大毛病！我们要学习拒绝污秽的果子。要知道，任何的毒摆在神的儿女中间，都能够散开，把人带到不敬虔、背叛、放松的地步。求神施恩给我们，怜悯我们，叫我们从起头就学习如何说话，以致我们有一条正直的路好走！
　
Ⅰ
　
WORDS REVEALING A PERSON’S HEART
　Speaking occupies a great part of a person’s life. It is, in fact, a very crucial part of his life. The Lord Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). A person’s words express his heart; they reveal the things in his heart. It is not easy to know a man through his conduct, but it is very easy to know a man through his words. A person’s conduct may often give others the wrong impression, view, and judgment of him, but it is very easy to know a person through his words because no one can easily restrain or control his own words. Out of the depth of a man’s heart the mouth speaks. A man speaks from the fullness of his heart. If a man lies and deceives with his mouth, it means that lies and deceits rest in his heart. When a person does not open his mouth, it is difficult to know his heart. Once he speaks, his heart is exposed. When a person is silent, no one can know his spirit. Once he speaks, others can touch his spirit through his words. His condition before God will be exposed. After we believe in the Lord, we must undergo a fundamental training in the way we live and speak. Our past ways and walk must be completely laid aside. From the day we believe, we have to start everything anew, even the way we speak. We must take care of and pay attention to the way we speak.
　
Ⅱ
　
DEALING WITH LIES
　There are four or five portions in the Word that tell us how to speak.
　 John 8:44 says, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks it out of his own possessions; for he is a liar and the father of it.”
　When Satan speaks a lie, he speaks out of his own possessions. He is a liar. Moreover, he is the father of liars. This world contains more lies than anything else on earth. Satan has as many liars as those who are called his. He has as many people lying for him as the number of subjects under his hand. He needs lies to establish his kingdom, and he needs lies to overturn God’s work. Everyone who is born of Satan can lie and is engaged in the work of lying. Once a person is saved and becomes God’s child, the first lesson he needs to learn is to deal with his words before God. We should reject all lies. We also should reject inaccurate, exaggerated, or distorted words. We should reject all conscious or unconscious lies. God’s children must rid themselves of all lies. As long as some lies remain, Satan will have the ground to attack us.
　
A
　
Lies Being Common
　A person never knows how well he lies until he tries to reject lies. The more he tries to reject lies, the more he will find out how well he lies. Even the inclination of his heart is toward lies. There are more lies in this world than we can imagine. There are also more lies in us than we can imagine. We will not know how much we lie until we try to reject lies. When we try to reject them, we will find out how many there are. There are too many lies in the world, and there are too many lies in us. It is sad that lies seem to be unavoidable even among God’s children. It is sad that lies occupy such a place among us. The Lord’s Word is both serious and clear. Everyone who lies is a child of Satan, and Satan is the father of all liars. The most unfortunate thing in the whole world is for the satanic seed of lying to remain in the hearts of God’s children. We cannot remain believers for years yet remain indifferent toward our lies. It will be too late if we wait for many years to deal with them. We have to learn to speak accurately as soon as we believe in the Lord.
　
B
　
What Lies Are
　
１
　
Double-tongued
　To be double-tongued is to lie. A person is lying when he first says one thing and then turns around and says something else, when he first says yes and then no, when he first says that something is good and then says that it is bad, or when he first agrees that something is right and then says that it is wrong. This is not just a matter of a wavering mind but a matter of lying.
　
２
　
Speaking according to What One Likes or Dislikes
　We tell others what we like and keep silent about what we do not like. We speak about what is profitable to us and keep silent about things that are not profitable to us. This is also a kind of lying. Many people purposely withhold half of a story. They withhold the things that are profitable to others, especially things that are profitable to their enemies, and remain silent about them. Instead, they talk about things that hurt, damage, or bring loss to others. This is lying. Many people do not speak according to truth and reality, but according to their own likes and dislikes. Many words are not based on facts but on sentiments. Such people speak certain things because they like to speak them, or they speak about certain persons because they like them. They change their tone when the conversation turns to people or things they do not like. This kind of speaking is totally according to one’s likes and dislikes. It is speaking according to one’s emotion, not according to truth and reality. Please keep in mind that this is lying. Inaccurate words are a serious sin. Willful deception is even more serious, and it is a greater sin before God. We must not speak according to our emotion but according to facts. Either we must not speak at all, or we must speak according to facts and the truth. We cannot speak according to our feeling. If we do, we are lying willfully before God.
　
３
　
Speaking according to One’s Hopes
　Furthermore, we must learn to put away our own feelings; we should not have any expectations of others. Many words today represent hopes rather than facts. They do not convey facts; they only convey a man’s hopes. A person often reviles a sister or a brother according to his sentiment rather than according to fact. He only hopes that a sister is as bad as he thinks, yet he speaks as if the sister is indeed that bad. Or he only hopes that a brother will fall, yet he speaks as if the brother has fallen already. He speaks according to what he wishes would happen, not according to what has actually happened. Do you see the fundamental problem here? Often a person speaks according to what he expects in his heart. His words do not convey what has actually happened. Rather than speaking of the actual situation, he speaks of what he expects the situation to be.
　
４
　
Adding One’s Own Thoughts
　Why is it that many words are altered when they pass from one mouth to another? A statement often is changed completely after passing through three or four mouths. Why? This is because each person adds his own thoughts instead of finding out the facts. No one tries to find out the facts, yet everyone tries to add his own thoughts. This is lying.
　There is one basic principle of speaking: One must not speak according to his feeling or hope. A person is lying when he is not speaking according to truth and reality but according to expectation and hope. We should learn to speak according to facts and not express any opinion of our own. If we are giving our opinion, we need to make it clear that this is our opinion. When we are speaking a fact, we need to state that this is a fact. We must separate our opinions from facts. We should not mix facts with our opinions. What we think a person is and what a person actually is are two different things. At the most we can say that the fact indicates one thing but we have a different thought concerning the matter.
　
５
　
Exaggeration
　There is another type of lie which is very prevalent in the church—exaggeration. Please bear in mind that inaccurate numbers and inaccurate words, as well as the love of big words, strong words, or exaggerated words, are different forms of lies because there is falsehood in all of them.
　Today if you want to know where a saint’s heart is before the Lord, all you have to do is tell him something and ask him to tell others about it. You will immediately know where his heart is before the Lord. A person who fears God, who has learned the proper lessons, and who has been dealt with by God will consider speaking a great thing. He will not dare to speak carelessly or spread words carelessly. He will pay attention to accurate words. When you commit a word to a person who has not been dealt with or disciplined by the Lord, he will spread the word zealously. In his spreading you will find that he is a frivolous, deceitful, and dishonest person. He can add many words of his own and withhold words that should be spoken.
　
６
　
Inflated Numbers
　When many people speak, inflated numbers are quoted. No church in Shanghai has a sitting capacity of five thousand. Any preacher with some training will know the capacity of a hall with just one look. However, many reports about revival meetings have described the attendance at ten or even twenty thousand people. Even if every person stood on the head of another, there would still not be enough room for everyone. Yet these are words from Christian workers. This is exaggeration! This kind of exaggeration is lying. We magnify others’ mistakes and minimize our own. We exaggerate others’ errors and try the best to reduce our own. This is lying as well.
　
C
　
Conscientiously Learning to Be an Honest Person
　Today I cannot say that all of God’s children become honest after they are saved. If they set their minds before the Lord to learn these lessons for five years, perhaps they will be an honest person by the end of the five years. Allow me to say a strong word: A person must continually reject all kinds of lies. Whenever you find yourself speaking something inaccurately, you have to repudiate it relentlessly. If you practice this, perhaps you will become an honest person after three or five years. You cannot expect a person who is careless and capricious about his speaking to become an honest person overnight. Lies and inaccuracies are common maladies among Christians. Everyone in this world follows Satan and everyone lies. Some people are slow, while others are smart, but everyone lies. Some lie without skill while others lie with skill, but everyone lies. We need to deal with the Lord constantly so that we are warned as soon as we lie or touch the spirit of lying.
　How important it is to be honest, yet how unnatural it is to be honest! Our very nature is dishonest, and from the time we were born, we have lied. We like to speak according to our preference, but not according to truth. A child must learn to do things step by step from the very beginning of his human life. As God’s children, we also need to learn our lessons from the very beginning. If we become careless, we will lie and speak inaccurate words.
　The problem of lying is a very common one. It is the darkest sin and the most common sin. Many people regard this as a light matter. If we have a problem with our speaking, two things will happen: First, the church will find itself filled with death, and Christians will find it impossible to walk in oneness. Second, God cannot make us ministers of His word, and our usefulness will stop. We can still speak a little on the Bible, on truth, and on doctrine, and we can still give a speech, but we will not be able to serve as ministers of God’s word. In order to be a minister of God’s word, one must be honest in his speaking. If he is not honest, God cannot use him.
　May we all see the need to reject lies. We should not speak according to our own desire. We should reject all lies completely. We should not speak in a subjective way, but in an objective way. We should speak according to facts, according to what we hear, and not according to how we feel. If God’s children practice this, a straight path will await them.
　
Ⅲ
　
NO IDLE WORDS
　Another type of words which should never come out of our mouth is idle words. Matthew 12:35-37 says, “The good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things. And I say to you that every idle word which men shall speak, they will render an account concerning it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”
　Before the Lord Jesus said this, He said, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for by the fruit the tree is known” (v. 33). According to the context, the fruit does not refer to one’s conduct, but to one’s word. This means that a person’s words are good if that person is good, and a person’s words are evil if that person is evil. We know a person by the words he speaks. There are some who gossip day and night. They tell tales all the time about others and are full of slander, railing, criticism, and judgment. Their mouths are filled with all kinds of filthy, dirty, and evil things. It is obvious that they are corrupt trees.
　The problem among God’s children today is that they cannot judge others by the words they speak. They cannot judge, because they are the same. The Lord tells us that the good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things. The mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. By its fruit the tree is known.
　If a brother spreads evil, critical, or sinful things all the time, we do not need to determine whether his words are true. We can tell him that his act of spreading such things is itself an unclean matter. We must realize that the words of God’s children are the fruit of their mouth. No one whose heart is holy will speak filthy things. No one whose heart is filled with love will speak hatred. By its fruit the tree is known.
　This does not mean that we can speak anything as long as it is true and factual. Sometimes it is not a matter of whether or not something is a fact. Something may be a fact, a definite fact, yet it should not be a fruit of our mouth. It may be true, but we should not utter it. This is not a matter of truth, but a matter of idle words. The word may be true, but it is an idle word. I have just said that our speaking must be according to facts. However, not all facts need to be spoken. We cannot and we need not speak idle words.
　The Lord said, “And I say to you that every idle word which men shall speak, they will render an account concerning it in the day of judgment” (v. 36). Idle words from a Christian’s mouth will not be spoken once but twice. Whatever is spoken carelessly today will be repeated again in the future. It will be repeated in full, sentence by sentence. When it is repeated the second time, we will be justified or condemned based on it. We will have to render an account on the judgment day for every idle word we have spoken. I hope that God’s children will learn to fear Him. We should learn to reject every inaccurate word and to speak accurately. We should never speak about things that do not concern us, and we should not say anything that reaps no benefit to others or to ourselves.
　One can tell how much a person has been dealt with by the Lord by the words out of his mouth. No one who has been disciplined by God has an undisciplined mouth. A person who lies or who speaks idle and careless words is of little use to God; he is good only for the day of judgment. We have to learn this lesson from the beginning. Those who speak defiled words are defiled persons. Those who speak corrupted words are corrupted in themselves. The kind of words we speak reveals the kind of persons we are. By its fruit a tree is known. By our words we are known.
　It is important that we pay attention to this matter. We know a brother by the way he speaks. Today the church is filled with lies and idle words. How strange it is that few children of God ever condemn them! No one among us has the right to speak any idle words.
　
Ⅳ
　
NO EVIL WORDS
　First Peter 3:9-12 says, “Not rendering evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing one another, because you were called to this, that you might inherit blessing. For ‘he who desires to love life and see good days, let him cause his tongue to cease from evil and his lips to speak no guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it; for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears incline to their petition; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’”
　Another kind of words which should never come out of a Christian’s mouth is evil words. What are evil words? Evil words are words of reviling, words of cursing. A child of God cannot render evil for evil or reviling for reviling.
　
A
　
Learning to Speak Words of Blessing
　Many people think that they have the right to speak a certain way because others have spoken the same way. Today the world argues about who said what first, but the Lord is concerned about whether or not one has spoken at all. We may ask, “Since others have already said this, can I not say it as well?”, but please bear in mind that we cannot render evil for evil or reviling for reviling. It is not a matter of who spoke first, but a matter of whether or not you spoke at all.
　A new believer must learn to speak words of blessing from the very beginning. Do not allow reviling or cursing to come out of your mouth.
　
B
　
Controlling One’s Temper
　Furthermore, a person must control his temper. He must control his temper before he can control his words before God. A person’s words are not controlled if his temper is not controlled. Many evil words come out of a person’s mouth because his temper is not controlled. If God’s children are not exercised, reviling and filthy words will come out of their mouths. Many people do not know how to control their temper, and their mouths are full of reviling words. On the one hand, these words do not glorify God. On the other hand, they deprive a person of any blessing from God.
　
Ⅴ
　
BEING RESTRICTED IN WORDS
　Now we come to the fifth point. We need to know what we should pay attention to in our speaking. James 3 specifically deals with our words. Let us read verses 1 through 12. We need to find out how God’s children should speak.
　
A
　
Not Becoming Many Teachers
　Verse 1 says, “Do not become many teachers, my brothers.” Why? “Knowing that we will receive greater judgment.” The most outstanding characteristic of those who are undisciplined in their words is their desire to be teachers. Wherever they go, they like to teach. Wherever they are, they have something to say. They want to be teachers of others under any circumstance. They can give their lectures free of charge. Many people like to be teachers and counselors. When they are among others, they always have a great deal to say. Do you see the problem here? A Christian must not only stop lying, gossiping, and speaking evil words. He should not even be wordy at all. No matter what kind of words he speaks, he is wrong as long as he speaks too much. As soon as a man speaks too much, he loses all of his blessing before the Lord.
　
B
　
The Mark of Self-control Being Seen in One’s Words
　Verse 2 says, “For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” Whether or not a person can bridle himself depends on whether he can bridle his words. Whether or not a person has self-control—a fruit of the Spirit—depends on whether he can bridle his words. Many brothers and sisters misunderstand the Bible. They think that self-control is moderation. Please keep in mind that self-control is self-control. The teaching of moderation has nothing to do with us. Christians should exercise self-control, which means that they should control themselves.
　Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5 shows us what the fruit of the Spirit is, while James tells us what the mark of the fruit of the Spirit is. James says a person who is able to bridle his whole body is surely able to bridle his words. Those who are loose in their words are loose in their living. Those who speak foolishly conduct themselves foolishly. A person who is indiscreet with words is surely indiscreet in everything he does. A person who has many words is bound to be a careless person before God. Whether or not a person can bridle his whole body depends on whether he can bridle his mouth. I hope that from now on all the new believers will learn to bridle their words before God.
　Many brothers and sisters pray for God to deal with them and to grant them mercy. I will say a word to them: If God can deal with your speaking, He can deal with you. There are many people whose speaking constitutes the very life of their being. Their speaking represents their strength, the very hollow of their thigh. If God can deal with their speaking, He can deal with their whole being. Many people have not been defeated by God in their speaking. As a result, their very being has not been defeated by God. If a man has no self-control over himself, he may act in certain ways. But once others talk to him for half an hour, they realize the kind of person he is. As soon as a man opens his mouth, his very being is exposed. Nothing exposes a person more than his words. As soon as a man speaks, his very being is fully exposed. If you want to see whether a man can control himself, simply ask if he can control his speaking.
　
C
　
The Smallest Affecting the Greatest
　Verse 3 takes a bridle for an illustration, while verse 4 takes a rudder for an illustration. The tongue is like a bridle. It is also like a rudder. It is the smallest thing, yet it can exert the greatest influence. Verse 5 says the smallest fire can ignite a great forest. Verse 6 says, “And the tongue is a fire; the very world of unrighteousness, the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life and is set on fire by Gehenna.” Verse 3 speaks of a bridle. Verse 4 speaks of a rudder. Verse 5 says that the tongue is a little member that boasts great things. Verse 6 shows us that the tongue is a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is a world of its own, a world of unrighteousness. Many people are redeemed; they have experienced God’s mercy, yet their tongues have never been bridled. Everywhere they go, they ignite the fire of Gehenna with this world of unrighteousness.
　This is a strong word: The tongue can set on fire the wheel of nature (v. 6, ASV). Life is like a wheel; it is turning all the time. The tongue is like a fire that can set the wheel of life on fire. This means that it can stir up all kinds of fleshly activities. Man’s wrath, flesh, temper, and anger can all be ignited by the tongue. The tongue can ignite the fire of Gehenna. Many troubles flare up through words by God’s children. That is truly something from Gehenna. The tongue is an igniting fire and is a world of unrighteousness.
　We must learn to diminish our words. The less words we speak, the better we are. There is transgression in the multitude of words. Proverbs advises us to have few words. Only fools are profuse in words. The more foolish a person is, the more words he has. The more lessons a person has learned before God, the more steadfast he is and the fewer words he has.
　
D
　
The Tongue Being a Restless Evil
　 James 3:7 says that every living thing can be tamed, while verse 8 says that no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. The tongue cannot be tamed by man. It is full of deadly poison. It is an untamed evil, “a restless evil.” There are evils that can be tamed, but the evil of the tongue cannot be tamed. How foolish it is to loosen one’s tongue! If a man relaxes his tongue, he is a very foolish man indeed.
　
E
　
A Spring Cannot Gush Out Two Types of Water
　What follows is clear and obvious. One cannot bless God with his tongue and use the same tongue to curse the man created by God. He cannot bless on the one hand and curse on the other hand. A spring cannot gush out two types of water. A fig tree cannot produce olives, nor can a vine produce figs. Salt water cannot produce sweet water. The fruit reveals the tree. The water reveals the spring. A person whom God uses surely produces sweet water; there should not be any bitter taste to his words.
　God’s way of salvation today is to install a new spring and a new tree in us. If I am a fig tree, I will surely not produce olives. If I am a vine, I will surely not produce figs. If God gives me something new, if He places a new life in me, surely I will produce sweet water.
　
Ⅵ
　
PAYING ATTENTION TO LISTENING
　In addressing the matter of speaking, we must not neglect the matter of listening.
　
A
　
Resisting an Itching Ear
　Let me speak a frank word to all of you. Many improper words in the church would disappear if all the brothers and sisters learned the lesson of listening. The church has so many improper words because there are many brothers and sisters who want to listen to them. There is the demand; therefore, there is the supply. There are so many defiling words, criticisms, evil speakings, slanders, double-tongued speakings, because many people want to hear them. Man’s heart is deceitful, wicked, and defiled. Because the heart wants to hear these words, someone is always ready to speak them.
　If God’s children know the kinds of words they can and cannot speak, they will know the kinds of words they can and cannot hear. One brother put it aptly when he said, “Many people’s ears are like trash cans.” Does anyone ever dump trash into a rice pot? No one would do such a thing. If you accept all kinds of lecherous words and do not consider them harmful, clearly you are a trash can; that is the kind of person you are. Only a certain kind of person will listen to certain kinds of words.
　We must learn to listen to healthy words. We should not be led away by those who spread rumors and improper words. We must say, “I do not want to listen to these things.” Many sins will cease and many brothers will be edified if you do this. There is a lust among us for unhealthy words. This is why these words multiply. People find these words tasteful. We must be delivered from these things. If a person is saying something improper to you, perhaps you should walk away quietly and leave the speaker to himself. This will kill his interest in you the next time. Alternatively, we also can testify to him saying, “As Christians we should not speak such words.” This will stop any further speaking. We may even say something stronger, such as, “Brother! What do you think I am? I am not a trash can. Please do not dump all this trash on me.”
　Many problems in the church are like Gehenna fire; they need to be quenched as soon as they catch fire. We must not allow them to spread. Many troubles related to words are actually troubles related to listening. The speaker, of course, bears a greater part of the responsibility. But the listener also bears a small part of the responsibility. The listener must learn before God to reject this lust for words. Man has a lust for words; he has a lust to know everything. If we can reject this lust, we will quench much fire from Gehenna. We should say, “I am sorry. I am a Christian, and I cannot take such words.” We will cut short the words of others. If we keep on listening, hoping to learn a little more and to probe a little more, we are fanning the flame, not extinguishing it. Many idle, evil, and deceptive words are prompted by the interest of the listeners.
　
B
　
“Like a Deaf Man”
　Psalm 38:13-14 says, “But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; / And I am like a dumb man, who does not open his mouth. / Indeed I am like a man who does not hear / And in whose mouth there are no reproofs.” Many people indeed need to be as a deaf man who does not hear. When others speak unbecoming things, you should act like a deaf man who does not hear anything. You should simply say, “I cannot hear.” If you want to be a little stronger, you can testify something to him. If you want to be stronger still, you can rebuke him, saying, “Brother! What do you think I am? Why do you dump so many words on me?” You can also give a word of testimony: “I think a Christian should not say such things. Such words should not come out of a Christian’s mouth.” You may also say, “Brother! Wait a minute before you continue to speak. I am leaving.” If you are a deaf man, you will be blessed. Many times you have to act like a deaf man who does not hear anything. You must also learn to be like the dumb who cannot speak anything. Words are a great temptation, and you must learn to overcome them.
　In Isaiah 42, which is altogether a prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus, verse 19 says, “Who is blind except My servant, / And as deaf as My messenger, whom I will send? / Who is as blind as the one at peace with Me, / And as blind as the servant of Jehovah?” When the Lord was on the earth, there were many words He would not listen to.
　Please remember that the less filth and gossip we hear, the less trouble we will have. We have enough troubles, problems, and filth within ourselves already. If we add more to them, we will not be able to go on at all. A new believer must learn from the beginning to reject the temptation of listening. We must be deaf like the Lord Jesus was. Who is deaf like our Lord? The way of our Lord is most upright. This is why He is not bound by anything.
　
C
　
Making a Conscious Effort to Learn
　New believers must be taught in the matter of speaking. They must be taught the way to speak, and they also must be taught the way to listen. They must learn to fear God in the matter of speaking. This is a great matter, and it is a definite threshold which one has to cross definitely.
　This lesson does not come without a price. We need to spend much time to develop the habit of speaking accurately. I do not believe a new believer in the Lord can overcome in this matter in a short time. I have found out that accurate words are more difficult to come by than many other things. If we allow a little carelessness to come in, we will find mistakes in our words and motives. Lying is one example of this. Speaking inaccurate words is a form of lying, and so is any attempt to mislead others. Sometimes a person may say the right thing with the intention of misleading others. This is lying as well. A new believer must pay attention to this matter and must exercise considerable effort to deal with it from the very beginning.
　Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; / Keep the door of my lips.” We need to have such a prayer. We need to say, “Set a watch over my tongue so that I will not speak rashly.” Perhaps some will need to pray, “Set a watch over my ears so that I will not listen carelessly.” If we do this, the church will be spared many troubles and we will advance in a proper way.
　One thing surprises me greatly. Many brothers are bold to speak carelessly, and many people listen to them with no sense of fear at all. This is a great sickness among us! Clearly this is a grave malady! Whenever we lend our ears to improper words, we are sick! It is a serious sickness for anyone to accept words without reservation or discretion! We must learn to reject filthy fruit. Any kind of poison will spread among God’s children and will bring in ungodliness, rebellion, and looseness. May God be gracious to us and have mercy on us so that we would learn to speak in a proper way from the very beginning. May we learn to run the straight race before us!
 
　　人的言语，是人生活中一个很大的部分，也是一个很要紧的部分；主耶稣对我们说，人心里所充满的，口里就说出来（太十二34）。所以人的言语乃是表明他的心，乃是表明他心里有什么东西。人的行为不容易代表人，人的言语很容易代表人。许多时候，人的行为能够给人有错误的领会，错误的看法，错误的断案。但是，人的言语很容易代表人是如何，因为人的言语很不容易约束，很不容易管住。凡人心里所藏着的，心里所充满的，口里就说出来。就是口里要欺骗，口里要说谎，也是显出心里有欺骗，心里有说谎而已。一个人话不出口的时候，我们不容易知道他的心；一个人一开口，就显露他的心。一个人不说话的时候，不知道他的灵如何；一说话，你就能够借着他的话摸着他的灵，知道他在神面前是怎样的情形。所以，我们信主之后，要从新学怎样作人，怎样说话。已往所有作人的方法，作人的情形，完全不行。今天要从新作起，连说话都得学过。你们的话要相当的小心，相当的注意。
 
　Speaking occupies a great part of a person’s life. It is, in fact, a very crucial part of his life. The Lord Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). A person’s words express his heart; they reveal the things in his heart. It is not easy to know a man through his conduct, but it is very easy to know a man through his words. A person’s conduct may often give others the wrong impression, view, and judgment of him, but it is very easy to know a person through his words because no one can easily restrain or control his own words. Out of the depth of a man’s heart the mouth speaks. A man speaks from the fullness of his heart. If a man lies and deceives with his mouth, it means that lies and deceits rest in his heart. When a person does not open his mouth, it is difficult to know his heart. Once he speaks, his heart is exposed. When a person is silent, no one can know his spirit. Once he speaks, others can touch his spirit through his words. His condition before God will be exposed. After we believe in the Lord, we must undergo a fundamental training in the way we live and speak. Our past ways and walk must be completely laid aside. From the day we believe, we have to start everything anew, even the way we speak. We must take care of and pay attention to the way we speak.
　　在圣经里，有四、五个地方告诉我们当怎样说话。

　　约翰八章四十四节：“你们是出于你们的父魔鬼，你们父的私欲，你们偏要行，他从起初是杀人的，不守真理；因他心里没有真理，他说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。”

　　撒旦的说谎是出乎他自己，因为他本来是说谎的；不只如此，今天他是作一切说谎之人的父。在世界里，谎言是比任何东西都普遍，撒但有多少子民，撒但就有多少会说谎的人。撒但手下有多少人，就有多少人在世界替他说谎。他需要谎言来建立他的国，他需要谎言来推翻神的工作。每一个从撒但生的人都会说谎，也都作说谎的工作。人一被神拯救，一成了属乎神的人，第一个功课应当学的就是在神面前对付他自己的话。我要拒绝任何的谎言，我要拒绝任何不准确的话，我要拒绝任何加多减少的话，我要拒绝一切有意无意的谎言。一切的谎言都应该从神的儿女中除去。谎言如果还留着，在撒但那里就有一个把柄，叫他能够抓住你。
 
　There are four or five portions in the Word that tell us how to speak.

　 John 8:44 says, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks it out of his own possessions; for he is a liar and the father of it.”

　When Satan speaks a lie, he speaks out of his own possessions. He is a liar. Moreover, he is the father of liars. This world contains more lies than anything else on earth. Satan has as many liars as those who are called his. He has as many people lying for him as the number of subjects under his hand. He needs lies to establish his kingdom, and he needs lies to overturn God’s work. Everyone who is born of Satan can lie and is engaged in the work of lying. Once a person is saved and becomes God’s child, the first lesson he needs to learn is to deal with his words before God. We should reject all lies. We also should reject inaccurate, exaggerated, or distorted words. We should reject all conscious or unconscious lies. God’s children must rid themselves of all lies. As long as some lies remain, Satan will have the ground to attack us.
　　一个人若没有学习拒绝谎言，他就不知道自己多会说谎。人越肯起来学习拒绝谎言，就越发现他是多会说谎，连他的心意倾向都是要说谎。世界上的谎言是多过于我们所预料的。连我们自己的谎言，也是多过于我们所预料的。你如果没有学习拒绝谎言。你就不知道谎言有多少。当你在那里拒绝谎言的时候，你就看见谎言是何等的多。不只在世界上是何等的多，并且在你这个人身上也是何等的多。这是最可惜的事，就是在许多神的儿女之中，好像谎言是不可少的事。这是最可怜的事，谎言在神的儿女之中，竟然也有地位！主所说的话，在这里是够重的，也是够清楚地，一切说谎的人都是撒但的儿女，撒但乃是一切说谎之人的父。如果撒但的这一个种子还在神的儿女身上，这是全世界最可怜的事！所以，我们不可以在信主多少年之后，还没有起首下决心对付自己的谎言，那真是太迟了。我们要一信主，一起头，就学习说准确的话。
 
　A person never knows how well he lies until he tries to reject lies. The more he tries to reject lies, the more he will find out how well he lies. Even the inclination of his heart is toward lies. There are more lies in this world than we can imagine. There are also more lies in us than we can imagine. We will not know how much we lie until we try to reject lies. When we try to reject them, we will find out how many there are. There are too many lies in the world, and there are too many lies in us. It is sad that lies seem to be unavoidable even among God’s children. It is sad that lies occupy such a place among us. The Lord’s Word is both serious and clear. Everyone who lies is a child of Satan, and Satan is the father of all liars. The most unfortunate thing in the whole world is for the satanic seed of lying to remain in the hearts of God’s children. We cannot remain believers for years yet remain indifferent toward our lies. It will be too late if we wait for many years to deal with them. We have to learn to speak accurately as soon as we believe in the Lord.
　　一口两舌是说谎。一个人一会儿说这样，一会儿说那样；一会儿说行，一会儿又说不行；一会儿说好，一会儿又说不好；一会儿说对，一会儿又说不对；你知道这一个人是说谎的。这不只是表明说心志不坚固，也是表明说，这个人是一个说谎的人。
 
　To be double-tongued is to lie. A person is lying when he first says one thing and then turns around and says something else, when he first says yes and then no, when he first says that something is good and then says that it is bad, or when he first agrees that something is right and then says that it is wrong. This is not just a matter of a wavering mind but a matter of lying.
　　我们把我们所喜欢的说出去，把我们所不喜欢的藏起来；把我们用得着的说出去，把用不着的藏起来，这就是说谎。许多时候，人在那里故意的把事情留一半不说。许多事情与别人有利的，与对方有利的，与他所不喜欢的人有利的，他自私的心把这些话留下不说。而把没有利益、有害、能伤人的拿来说，这是说谎。许多人说话不是凭着真理，也不是凭着真实，乃是凭着好恶。许多人说话不是凭着事实，乃是凭着情感。这一种的话是你所好的，你就说；这一个人是你所好的，你就说。那一种的话是你所恶的，你就那么说；那一个人是你所恶的，你就那么说。这完全是凭着好恶、情感来说话，不是凭着事实、真实来说话。请记得，这是说谎。话语不真实，已经是够厉害的罪。存心不真实，那真是够厉害，在神面前这是被定罪的。我们要看见，说话不是凭着情感，乃是凭着事实。要就不说，要就按着事情说，按着实在说。我们不能按着自己的感觉来说。如果是那样，就证明说，我们是在神面前存心说谎的人。
 
　We tell others what we like and keep silent about what we do not like. We speak about what is profitable to us and keep silent about things that are not profitable to us. This is also a kind of lying. Many people purposely withhold half of a story. They withhold the things that are profitable to others, especially things that are profitable to their enemies, and remain silent about them. Instead, they talk about things that hurt, damage, or bring loss to others. This is lying. Many people do not speak according to truth and reality, but according to their own likes and dislikes. Many words are not based on facts but on sentiments. Such people speak certain things because they like to speak them, or they speak about certain persons because they like them. They change their tone when the conversation turns to people or things they do not like. This kind of speaking is totally according to one’s likes and dislikes. It is speaking according to one’s emotion, not according to truth and reality. Please keep in mind that this is lying. Inaccurate words are a serious sin. Willful deception is even more serious, and it is a greater sin before God. We must not speak according to our emotion but according to facts. Either we must not speak at all, or we must speak according to facts and the truth. We cannot speak according to our feeling. If we do, we are lying willfully before God.
　　不只，我们还得学习克制自己的情感到一个地步，没有兴趣盼望人的情形该如何。我告诉你们说，今天有许多人话语不是代表事实如何，乃是代表他的希望如何。不是事实如何，乃是代表他要如何。许多时候，你看见人在那里说毁谤的话，说姊妹的事，说弟兄的事，不是因为事实的缘故，乃是因为他自己喜欢这样。他巴不得这一个姊妹不行，所以他就说这一位姊妹不行。他巴不得这一位弟兄跌倒，所以他就说这一位弟兄跌倒。话语是凭着自己所要的说，话语不是凭着事实如此而说。你们看见这一个基本的难处么？我能够这样说，许多时候，人所说的话，都是他心里所要的。许多时候，人所说的话，不一定都是那一件事所是的。不是那一件事如此，不过是人盼望它如此而已。
 
　Furthermore, we must learn to put away our own feelings; we should not have any expectations of others. Many words today represent hopes rather than facts. They do not convey facts; they only convey a man’s hopes. A person often reviles a sister or a brother according to his sentiment rather than according to fact. He only hopes that a sister is as bad as he thinks, yet he speaks as if the sister is indeed that bad. Or he only hopes that a brother will fall, yet he speaks as if the brother has fallen already. He speaks according to what he wishes would happen, not according to what has actually happened. Do you see the fundamental problem here? Often a person speaks according to what he expects in his heart. His words do not convey what has actually happened. Rather than speaking of the actual situation, he speaks of what he expects the situation to be.
　　有许多的事，经过一个人传给另外一个人，为什么会改变？常常一句的话，只要传了三四个人，这一句话就完全改变了。为什么？因为每一个人都把自己的意思加进去，而不是寻求那一件事实是如何。你不寻找事实如何，你在那里把自己的意思加进去，这是谎言。

　　说话有一个基本要注意的，就是不可凭着感觉说，不可根据盼望说。人说话一不根据真理，一不根据真实，而根据盼望、希望，就是说谎。所以，我们应该学习照着事实来说，而不将自己的意见摆进去。说自己的意见的时候，要说这是我的意见。说事实的时候，要说这是事实。要把自己的意见和事实分开，不要将事实和自己的意见混在一起。你们想人是如何的，和人真是如何的，是两件事。你们至多只能说，事情是这样，但是我想是这样。
 
　Why is it that many words are altered when they pass from one mouth to another? A statement often is changed completely after passing through three or four mouths. Why? This is because each person adds his own thoughts instead of finding out the facts. No one tries to find out the facts, yet everyone tries to add his own thoughts. This is lying.

　There is one basic principle of speaking: One must not speak according to his feeling or hope. A person is lying when he is not speaking according to truth and reality but according to expectation and hope. We should learn to speak according to facts and not express any opinion of our own. If we are giving our opinion, we need to make it clear that this is our opinion. When we are speaking a fact, we need to state that this is a fact. We must separate our opinions from facts. We should not mix facts with our opinions. What we think a person is and what a person actually is are two different things. At the most we can say that the fact indicates one thing but we have a different thought concerning the matter.
　　还有一种说谎也是普遍的，在教会里也很普遍，就是夸大其辞。数字不够准确，话语不够准确，喜欢用大的字眼，喜欢用厉害的字眼，喜欢说大话；请记得，这些都是说谎，因为这里面不真实。

　　你今天要试一个弟兄，一个姊妹，到底他的心在神面前如何，你只要对他说一件事，叫他去传。你马上就知道，你马上就寻出来，他的存心在神面前如何。一个敬畏神的人，学过功课的人，受神对付的人，他看见说话是一件大事，不敢随便的说，不敢随便的传，并且注意要说准确的话。一个在神面前从来没有受过对付的人，没有受过主的管教的人，你一对他说，叫他去传，他就很起劲的去传。在传的里面，你就看见他是一个轻浮、虚谎、不诚实的人；他可以把许多自己的话加进去，又把许多该说的话瞒着不说。

　　没有一个说谎的人是能作神话语的执事的。说准确的话的人才能读圣经。因为神的话是一点一画都不错的。像我们这样马虎的人，也不知道把神的话丢了多少点，多少画。
 
　There is another type of lie which is very prevalent in the church—exaggeration. Please bear in mind that inaccurate numbers and inaccurate words, as well as the love of big words, strong words, or exaggerated words, are different forms of lies because there is falsehood in all of them.

　Today if you want to know where a saint’s heart is before the Lord, all you have to do is tell him something and ask him to tell others about it. You will immediately know where his heart is before the Lord. A person who fears God, who has learned the proper lessons, and who has been dealt with by God will consider speaking a great thing. He will not dare to speak carelessly or spread words carelessly. He will pay attention to accurate words. When you commit a word to a person who has not been dealt with or disciplined by the Lord, he will spread the word zealously. In his spreading you will find that he is a frivolous, deceitful, and dishonest person. He can add many words of his own and withhold words that should be spoken.
　　许多人的话，经过他的口马上张大，数字总是增加。我们知道上海没有一个礼拜堂的座位，能够容纳五千人。我们讲道的人，眼睛有一点训练，一看就能知道；但是，许多时候，开复兴会的时候，有人指出来说，他们的礼拜堂有一万两万的人。你们想想，就是每一个人都把脚踏在人的头上，也坐不下。但这是作工的人，作基督徒的人所说的话。这是张大其辞！这一种的张大其辞是说谎。

　　别人的错，我们把它放大。自己的错，我们把它缩小。对于别人的错，我们在那里张大其辞。对于自己的错，我们在那里尽量减少，这也是说谎。
 
　When many people speak, inflated numbers are quoted. No church in Shanghai has a sitting capacity of five thousand. Any preacher with some training will know the capacity of a hall with just one look. However, many reports about revival meetings have described the attendance at ten or even twenty thousand people. Even if every person stood on the head of another, there would still not be enough room for everyone. Yet these are words from Christian workers. This is exaggeration! This kind of exaggeration is lying. We magnify others’ mistakes and minimize our own. We exaggerate others’ errors and try the best to reduce our own. This is lying as well.
　　今天我不能说，神的儿女得救之后都是诚实的人。他们如果真能够在神面前学，并且严格的学，五年之后，我们也许能够遇见诚实的人。我说这样重的话，一个人要拒绝谎言，再拒绝谎言；每一次有不准确的话的时候再拒绝，一直拒绝，也许过三年、五年之后，起首是一个诚实的人。你们不能盼望一个人马马虎虎，随随便便的对付，能够变作一个诚实的人。谎言，话语的不准确，是基督徒的通病。全世界每一个人都跟过撒但，都会说谎。有的人笨得很，也会说谎。有的人是聪明的，也会说谎。有的人是没有技巧的说谎，有的人是有技巧的说谎。这些都是说谎。你们在神面前要常常的对付，什么时候一碰着谎言，什么时候一碰着谎言的灵，你们就应当有感觉。

　　我们要看见，诚实是何等的要紧，并且诚实是何等的不自然。我们的天性就是不诚实的，一生下来就是说谎。我们喜欢凭着好恶来说话，不喜欢凭着真理来说话。一个小孩子要从人之初学起，我们神的儿女也要从头学起。不然的话，稍微不小心就说谎，稍微不小心里面的话就不够准确。

　　这一个毛病，我想是很普遍的毛病，是最黑暗的罪，也是最普通的罪。许多人以为这是很轻的事。我告诉你们，如果我们在话语上有病，有两个难处要发出：第一，教会里产生许多的死亡，叫基督徒没有法子合一的走路。第二，将来神没有法子拣选他们作话语的执事，这样的人的用处就停止。讲圣经、讲真理、讲、道演讲，或者行，但是要作神话语的执事就不行。作神话语执事的人，需要那一个人的话是诚实的。不然的话，不能用。

　　盼望我们看见，我们应当学习不说谎；不能凭着自己的心意来说，要彻底的拒绝谎言。说话不是主观的，说话乃是客观的。说话是凭着事情的，说话是凭着别人的，说话不是凭着自己的感觉。如果这样，神的儿女就有一条正直的路好走。
 
　Today I cannot say that all of God’s children become honest after they are saved. If they set their minds before the Lord to learn these lessons for five years, perhaps they will be an honest person by the end of the five years. Allow me to say a strong word: A person must continually reject all kinds of lies. Whenever you find yourself speaking something inaccurately, you have to repudiate it relentlessly. If you practice this, perhaps you will become an honest person after three or five years. You cannot expect a person who is careless and capricious about his speaking to become an honest person overnight. Lies and inaccuracies are common maladies among Christians. Everyone in this world follows Satan and everyone lies. Some people are slow, while others are smart, but everyone lies. Some lie without skill while others lie with skill, but everyone lies. We need to deal with the Lord constantly so that we are warned as soon as we lie or touch the spirit of lying.

　How important it is to be honest, yet how unnatural it is to be honest! Our very nature is dishonest, and from the time we were born, we have lied. We like to speak according to our preference, but not according to truth. A child must learn to do things step by step from the very beginning of his human life. As God’s children, we also need to learn our lessons from the very beginning. If we become careless, we will lie and speak inaccurate words.

　The problem of lying is a very common one. It is the darkest sin and the most common sin. Many people regard this as a light matter. If we have a problem with our speaking, two things will happen: First, the church will find itself filled with death, and Christians will find it impossible to walk in oneness. Second, God cannot make us ministers of His word, and our usefulness will stop. We can still speak a little on the Bible, on truth, and on doctrine, and we can still give a speech, but we will not be able to serve as ministers of God’s word. In order to be a minister of God’s word, one must be honest in his speaking. If he is not honest, God cannot use him.

　May we all see the need to reject lies. We should not speak according to our own desire. We should reject all lies completely. We should not speak in a subjective way, but in an objective way. We should speak according to facts, according to what we hear, and not according to how we feel. If God’s children practice this, a straight path will await them.
　　还有一种话不能说的就是闲话。马太十二章三十五至三十七节：“善人从他心里所存的善，就发出善来；恶人从他心里所存的恶，就发出恶来。我又告诉你们，凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。因为要凭你的话，定你为义，也要凭你的话，定你有罪。”

　　上面三十三节主耶稣说，“你们或以为树好，果子也好；树坏，果子也坏；因为看果子，就可以知道树。”这一段圣经的上下文都是给我们看见，果子不是行为，果子乃是话语。如果是这样，我们就清楚，一个人是好的，他的话语定规是好的。一个人是恶的，他的话语定规是恶的。你只要听人的话，就知道他们是谁。有的人一天到晚就是搬弄是非，一天到晚就是说东家短、西家长。他在那里说毁谤人的话，说拆毁人的话，说批评人的话，说断定人的话。他在那里说许多污秽肮脏的事，说各种不好的事；这很明显，这一棵树是坏的。

　　今天的难处，在神的儿女中，就是不能凭着话语来审判人。许多人自己是这样的人，所以就不会审判这样的事。主告诉我们说，善的人，从他心里的善发出善来；恶的人，从他心里的恶发出恶来。心里所有的，口里就发出来。树如何，果子也如何。

　　如果有弟兄，有姊妹，一天到晚就是在那里传不好的话，传污秽的事，传批评的事，传罪恶的事；你们不要向他说，这一件事是真的或是假的，你们要告诉他说，传这样的事，就是不够清洁的。我们要知道说，神的儿女的口，话语就是他的果子。绝没有一个人心里是圣洁的，而专门在那里说污秽的事。绝没有一个人心里是爱的，而专门在那里传恨。果子如何，树也如何。

　　不是所有的事实都可说。这不是谎言不谎言的事。也许这是事实，的确是事实，但这不是我的果子。也许这是真的，但我不能说这话。不是说谎不说谎，乃是说是闲话不是闲话。话是真话，却是闲话。我刚才说过，我们说话要按着事实，但不是所有的事实都可以说，是闲话就不能说，就不必说。

　　主说，“凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来。”（太十二36）我们要知道，基督徒所说的闲话，不只说一次，还要说第二次。今天糊里糊涂的说了，将来还有一次要说，要完全的背一次，句句供出来。当你第二次说的时候，要凭着你的话定你为义，也要凭着你的话定你有罪。当审判的时候，句句闲话都要供出来。所以我盼望神的儿女要学习作敬畏神的人，学习拒绝一切不准确的话，学习说准确的话。凡与我无干，与我无益，也与人无益的话，都不要说。

　　一个人在神面前有没有受过对付，只要看他的口。没有一个受过神对付的人，而口没有受对付的。说谎，说闲话，随便说话的人，在神面前没有多大用处，只有等候审判。我们从第一天起，就得学这一个功课。说污秽话的人，定规是污秽的。说败坏话的人，定规是败坏的。说什么种话的人，就定规是什么种的人。看果子就知道树，听人的话就知道人。

　　所以，我们要注意，听一个弟兄在那里如何说话，就能知道他是何种人。但是今天能够到一个地步，教会里充满了谎言，充满了闲话，而神的儿女不去定罪。这是一件希奇的事！所以要看见，没有一个人能够随便的说闲话。
 
　Another type of words which should never come out of our mouth is idle words. Matthew 12:35-37 says, “The good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things. And I say to you that every idle word which men shall speak, they will render an account concerning it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”

　Before the Lord Jesus said this, He said, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for by the fruit the tree is known” (v. 33). According to the context, the fruit does not refer to one’s conduct, but to one’s word. This means that a person’s words are good if that person is good, and a person’s words are evil if that person is evil. We know a person by the words he speaks. There are some who gossip day and night. They tell tales all the time about others and are full of slander, railing, criticism, and judgment. Their mouths are filled with all kinds of filthy, dirty, and evil things. It is obvious that they are corrupt trees.

　The problem among God’s children today is that they cannot judge others by the words they speak. They cannot judge, because they are the same. The Lord tells us that the good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things. The mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. By its fruit the tree is known.

　If a brother spreads evil, critical, or sinful things all the time, we do not need to determine whether his words are true. We can tell him that his act of spreading such things is itself an unclean matter. We must realize that the words of God’s children are the fruit of their mouth. No one whose heart is holy will speak filthy things. No one whose heart is filled with love will speak hatred. By its fruit the tree is known.

　This does not mean that we can speak anything as long as it is true and factual. Sometimes it is not a matter of whether or not something is a fact. Something may be a fact, a definite fact, yet it should not be a fruit of our mouth. It may be true, but we should not utter it. This is not a matter of truth, but a matter of idle words. The word may be true, but it is an idle word. I have just said that our speaking must be according to facts. However, not all facts need to be spoken. We cannot and we need not speak idle words.

　The Lord said, “And I say to you that every idle word which men shall speak, they will render an account concerning it in the day of judgment” (v. 36). Idle words from a Christian’s mouth will not be spoken once but twice. Whatever is spoken carelessly today will be repeated again in the future. It will be repeated in full, sentence by sentence. When it is repeated the second time, we will be justified or condemned based on it. We will have to render an account on the judgment day for every idle word we have spoken. I hope that God’s children will learn to fear Him. We should learn to reject every inaccurate word and to speak accurately. We should never speak about things that do not concern us, and we should not say anything that reaps no benefit to others or to ourselves.

　One can tell how much a person has been dealt with by the Lord by the words out of his mouth. No one who has been disciplined by God has an undisciplined mouth. A person who lies or who speaks idle and careless words is of little use to God; he is good only for the day of judgment. We have to learn this lesson from the beginning. Those who speak defiled words are defiled persons. Those who speak corrupted words are corrupted in themselves. The kind of words we speak reveals the kind of persons we are. By its fruit a tree is known. By our words we are known.

　It is important that we pay attention to this matter. We know a brother by the way he speaks. Today the church is filled with lies and idle words. How strange it is that few children of God ever condemn them! No one among us has the right to speak any idle words.
　　彼前三章九至十二节：“不以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福；因你们是为此蒙召，好叫你们承受福气。因为经上说，‘人若爱生命，愿享美福，须要禁止舌头不出恶言，嘴唇不说诡诈的话；也要离恶行善；寻求和睦，一心追赶。因为主的眼看顾义人，主的耳听他们的祈祷；唯有行恶的人，主向他们变脸。’”

　　有一种的话，也是基督徒不能出口的，就是恶言。什么叫作恶言呢？就是辱骂的话，咒诅的话。一个神的儿女不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。
 
　First Peter 3:9-12 says, “Not rendering evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing one another, because you were called to this, that you might inherit blessing. For ‘he who desires to love life and see good days, let him cause his tongue to cease from evil and his lips to speak no guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it; for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears incline to their petition; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’”

　Another kind of words which should never come out of a Christian’s mouth is evil words. What are evil words? Evil words are words of reviling, words of cursing. A child of God cannot render evil for evil or reviling for reviling.
　　许多人都以为说，因为人这样说，所以我可以这样说。今天人都是在那里争谁先谁后。但主乃是说，你说了没有？你说，他们都这样说，难道我不可以这样说？请记得，我们不能以恶报恶，以辱骂还辱骂。不是谁先说，谁后说的问题，乃是有没有说的问题。

　　初信的弟兄，从头一天起就要学习说祝福的话，不说辱骂的话，不说咒诅的话。
 
　Many people think that they have the right to speak a certain way because others have spoken the same way. Today the world argues about who said what first, but the Lord is concerned about whether or not one has spoken at all. We may ask, “Since others have already said this, can I not say it as well?”, but please bear in mind that we cannot render evil for evil or reviling for reviling. It is not a matter of who spoke first, but a matter of whether or not you spoke at all.

　A new believer must learn to speak words of blessing from the very beginning. Do not allow reviling or cursing to come out of your mouth.
　　人要约束自己的脾气，约束自己的怒气，才能在神面前约束自己的话。人的脾气如果不能约束，就话也不能约束，有许多的恶言就要说出去。我想，神的儿女稍微不小心，连辱骂的话，本来是很低的，也会说出去。有许多人因为不知道约束自己的脾气，就说出辱骂的话来，一面不荣耀神，一面也叫自己得不着神的祝福。
 
　Furthermore, a person must control his temper. He must control his temper before he can control his words before God. A person’s words are not controlled if his temper is not controlled. Many evil words come out of a person’s mouth because his temper is not controlled. If God’s children are not exercised, reviling and filthy words will come out of their mouths. Many people do not know how to control their temper, and their mouths are full of reviling words. On the one hand, these words do not glorify God. On the other hand, they deprive a person of any blessing from God.
　　第五，我们要来看，说话该注意的点在那里。雅各书三章乃是特别关于话语的一章。我们要从第一节念起，一直到十二节。我们要来看，神的儿女对于话语应该怎样说。
 
　Now we come to the fifth point. We need to know what we should pay attention to in our speaking. James 3 specifically deals with our words. Let us read verses 1 through 12. We need to find out how God’s children should speak.
　　第一节：“我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅。”为什么？“因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。”许多人对于自己的话没有受约束，最容易显出来的，就是作师傅。他无论到那里都是教训人，无论到那里都有话说。在任何的情形之下，都能教训别人，叫人不花钱得着他的教训。许多人是喜欢作师傅的人，喜欢作人的参谋，坐在众人中间就是话多。你们看见么？基督徒不只不该说谎，不该说闲话，不该口出恶言，并且不该多话。不管什么话，多就不该。一多话，在神面前就不蒙祝福。
 
　Verse 1 says, “Do not become many teachers, my brothers.” Why? “Knowing that we will receive greater judgment.” The most outstanding characteristic of those who are undisciplined in their words is their desire to be teachers. Wherever they go, they like to teach. Wherever they are, they have something to say. They want to be teachers of others under any circumstance. They can give their lectures free of charge. Many people like to be teachers and counselors. When they are among others, they always have a great deal to say. Do you see the problem here? A Christian must not only stop lying, gossiping, and speaking evil words. He should not even be wordy at all. No matter what kind of words he speaks, he is wrong as long as he speaks too much. As soon as a man speaks too much, he loses all of his blessing before the Lord.
　　二节：“原来我们在许多事上都有过失；若有人在话语上没有过失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。”一个人对于自己的约束如何，乃是看他对于话语能不能约束。一个人有没有圣灵节制的果子，就看他的话语有没有节制。许多时候，弟兄姊妹读圣经有一个误会，以为圣灵的节制就是中庸。请记得，节制的意思就是节制，中庸之道不是我们的道。基督徒要节制自己，意思是管得了自己。

　　所以自己能约束自己，这是圣灵的果子。加拉太五章给我们看见，圣灵的果子是什么。雅各书三章是说，如果有圣灵的果子，那一个表记是在什么地方，那一个记号是在什么地方。雅各说，一个人如果能够约束自己的全身，定规能够约束自己的话。凡是话语散漫的人，生活定规散漫；凡是话语胡说的人，行为定规胡作。话语不谨慎的人，这一个人全身也不谨慎。一个多话的人，就是在神面前散漫的人。一个人能不能约束自己的全身，乃是看他能不能约束他的口。盼望初信的弟兄从今天起，就在神的面前学习约束自己的话。

　　许多弟兄姊妹常盼望说，神能对付我这个人，神能怜悯我这个人。我就对你们说，神如果能够对付你的话语，神就有法子对付你这个人。许多人的话语，就是他那一个人的中心。话语就是他那一个人的背脊骨，就是他那一个人的大腿窝。神如果能把你的话对付好，神也能够把你这个人对付好。许多人，就是话语在神面前打不掉，所以他那个人也打不掉。一个人能不能约束自己，不要看他外头装作什么情形，只要和他谈半点钟就知道了。一谈话，人就跑出来。没有一个人露出他的马脚来，像他在说话的时候露得那么多。一说话，自己完全出来了。只要看一个人管得住管不住话语，就知道这一个人管得住管不住自己。
 
　Verse 2 says, “For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” Whether or not a person can bridle himself depends on whether he can bridle his words. Whether or not a person has self-control—a fruit of the Spirit—depends on whether he can bridle his words. Many brothers and sisters misunderstand the Bible. They think that self-control is moderation. Please keep in mind that self-control is self-control. The teaching of moderation has nothing to do with us. Christians should exercise self-control, which means that they should control themselves.

　Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5 shows us what the fruit of the Spirit is, while James tells us what the mark of the fruit of the Spirit is. James says a person who is able to bridle his whole body is surely able to bridle his words. Those who are loose in their words are loose in their living. Those who speak foolishly conduct themselves foolishly. A person who is indiscreet with words is surely indiscreet in everything he does. A person who has many words is bound to be a careless person before God. Whether or not a person can bridle his whole body depends on whether he can bridle his mouth. I hope that from now on all the new believers will learn to bridle their words before God.

　Many brothers and sisters pray for God to deal with them and to grant them mercy. I will say a word to them: If God can deal with your speaking, He can deal with you. There are many people whose speaking constitutes the very life of their being. Their speaking represents their strength, the very hollow of their thigh. If God can deal with their speaking, He can deal with their whole being. Many people have not been defeated by God in their speaking. As a result, their very being has not been defeated by God. If a man has no self-control over himself, he may act in certain ways. But once others talk to him for half an hour, they realize the kind of person he is. As soon as a man opens his mouth, his very being is exposed. Nothing exposes a person more than his words. As soon as a man speaks, his very being is fully exposed. If you want to see whether a man can control himself, simply ask if he can control his speaking.
　　三节是把嚼环拿来作比方，第四节是把舵拿来作比方。他说，舌头就像舵一样，舌头就像嚼环一样，是最小的，却能影响最大的。五节说，最小的火，能点着最大的树林。又说，“舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来；并且是从地狱里点着的。”（6）三节是嚼环。四节是舵。五节说舌头是小的，但是能够管理大的。六节给我们看见，舌头乃是一个罪恶的世界。舌头是一个独立的世界，舌头是一个罪恶的世界。今天在这里，许多人虽然蒙了救赎，蒙了神的怜悯，但是他的舌头却没有被对付。他带着这一个罪恶的世界，到处点着地狱的火。

　　在这里有一句话是厉害的：舌头能够点着生命的轮子。生命好像一个轮子在那里转，舌头像火能够点着生命的轮子，意思是能够产生许多的肉体出来。人的血气，人的肉体，人的脾气，人的怒气，都能够借着舌头把它点着起来。舌头能够把地狱的火点起来。许多事情都是神的儿女一句话点起来的，那的确是从地狱来的。所以舌头是点起来的火，也是罪恶的世界。

　　所以，要学习少说话，什么话总是越少越好。多言多语必有过失。箴言里总是劝人少说话，只有愚昧的人话多。人越愚昧越肯说，越肯多说。越在神面前有学习的人，越是稳当的人，话越少。
 
　Verse 3 takes a bridle for an illustration, while verse 4 takes a rudder for an illustration. The tongue is like a bridle. It is also like a rudder. It is the smallest thing, yet it can exert the greatest influence. Verse 5 says the smallest fire can ignite a great forest. Verse 6 says, “And the tongue is a fire; the very world of unrighteousness, the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life and is set on fire by Gehenna.” Verse 3 speaks of a bridle. Verse 4 speaks of a rudder. Verse 5 says that the tongue is a little member that boasts great things. Verse 6 shows us that the tongue is a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is a world of its own, a world of unrighteousness. Many people are redeemed; they have experienced God’s mercy, yet their tongues have never been bridled. Everywhere they go, they ignite the fire of Gehenna with this world of unrighteousness.

　This is a strong word: The tongue can set on fire the wheel of nature (v. 6, ASV). Life is like a wheel; it is turning all the time. The tongue is like a fire that can set the wheel of life on fire. This means that it can stir up all kinds of fleshly activities. Man’s wrath, flesh, temper, and anger can all be ignited by the tongue. The tongue can ignite the fire of Gehenna. Many troubles flare up through words by God’s children. That is truly something from Gehenna. The tongue is an igniting fire and is a world of unrighteousness.

　We must learn to diminish our words. The less words we speak, the better we are. There is transgression in the multitude of words. Proverbs advises us to have few words. Only fools are profuse in words. The more foolish a person is, the more words he has. The more lessons a person has learned before God, the more steadfast he is and the fewer words he has.
　　七节说，各种的生物都可以制伏。八节说，舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，充满了害死人的毒气。舌头是人所不能制伏的，里面充满了害死人的毒气；乃是恶到不能制伏的恶，是不止息的恶物。有的恶是能制伏的，舌头的恶是不能制伏的。你们要看见放松舌头是何等愚昧的事。一个人的舌头如果放松，他是何等的愚昧。
 
　 James 3:7 says that every living thing can be tamed, while verse 8 says that no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. The tongue cannot be tamed by man. It is full of deadly poison. It is an untamed evil, “a restless evil.” There are evils that can be tamed, but the evil of the tongue cannot be tamed. How foolish it is to loosen one’s tongue! If a man relaxes his tongue, he is a very foolish man indeed.
　　下面的话是相当简单。你不能用舌头赞美神，又用舌头咒诅神所造的人。你不能一面颂赞，一面咒诅。一个泉源不能出两样的水。无花果树不能生橄榄，葡萄树不能结无花果，咸水里也不能发出甜水来。是什么种的果子，就是什么种的树。是什么种的水，就是什么种的泉源。神所用的那一个人，定规发出甜的水，定规没有苦的味道。

　　今天拯救的路乃是说，神把一个新的泉源放在我的里面，神把我拯救成一棵新的树。我如果是一棵无花果树，定规不会生橄榄。我如果是一棵葡萄树，定规不会结无花果。如果神给我一个新的东西，把一个新的生命摆在我的里面，自然而然我要发出甜的水来。
 
　What follows is clear and obvious. One cannot bless God with his tongue and use the same tongue to curse the man created by God. He cannot bless on the one hand and curse on the other hand. A spring cannot gush out two types of water. A fig tree cannot produce olives, nor can a vine produce figs. Salt water cannot produce sweet water. The fruit reveals the tree. The water reveals the spring. A person whom God uses surely produces sweet water; there should not be any bitter taste to his words.

　God’s way of salvation today is to install a new spring and a new tree in us. If I am a fig tree, I will surely not produce olives. If I am a vine, I will surely not produce figs. If God gives me something new, if He places a new life in me, surely I will produce sweet water.
　　我们讲到话语的问题，不只注意到说话，也要注意到听话。
 
　In addressing the matter of speaking, we must not neglect the matter of listening.
　　我要顶直的对你们说，弟兄姊妹如果会听话，在教会里要除去许多不正当地话。在教会里所以有许多不正当地话，乃是因为有许多人要听它。有那一个需要，所以才有那些供应。人有那么多污秽的话，人有那么多批评的话，人有那么多恶毒的话，是非的话，挑拨的话，一口两舌的话，是因有许多人要求听这些话。人的心是诡诈的，人的心是弯曲的，人的心是污秽的，人要求听那些话，所以就有说那些话的人。

　　神的儿女如果知道什么种的话是可以说的，什么种的话是不可以说的，自然他们也学习认识什么种的话是可以听的，什么种的话是不可以听的。我想，有一位弟兄说过一句话很好。他说，许多人的耳朵像垃圾桶一样。有没有人把垃圾倒到你烧饭的锅里去？没有人肯这样作。许多败坏人的话，你能够坐在那里听，你能够觉得好，这明显说，你是一个垃圾桶，你自己是这么一种的人。什么种的人就听什么种的话。

　　所以我们要学习听正经的话。有什么人在那里播弄是非，说不正当地话，你不只不要受他的引诱，并且要说，我不听。这样就能停止许多的罪，也能帮助许多的弟兄。今天我们中间有一个情欲，有一个私欲，要来听这些话，因此这些话越过越多，人越说越有趣味。我们必须学习在这件事上蒙拯救。如果今天人在这里说不该说的话，你也许一声不响的走了，把那一个说话的人留在那里自己说，下一次他就没有兴趣说了，或者你在那里作见证说，我们基督徒不应该说这一种话，这样也能够拦阻他的话朝下说。你或者说再重的话：弟兄！你把我当作什么种的人？我不是垃圾桶，请你不要把这么多垃圾倒在我身上。

　　教会中许多的难处，像点着地狱的火一样，一起头就得把它弄熄；不能给它传。许多话语的错误乃是因为听话的错误。说话的人要负一大半的责任，听话的人要负一小半的责任。听话的人要在神面前拒绝听话的情欲。人有一个欲喜欢听话，人有一个欲要知道事情。你如果能够拒绝这一个欲，就能把许多从地狱里点着的火灭掉。你说，对不起，我作基督徒不能听这样的话。你把他的话根本打断了。如果你在那里听他说，你盼望多知道一点，你盼望多问一点，你在那里就不是救火，你是叫火烧得更旺。许多的闲话，许多的恶言，许多的谎话，是听话的人在那里鼓吹出来的。
 
　Let me speak a frank word to all of you. Many improper words in the church would disappear if all the brothers and sisters learned the lesson of listening. The church has so many improper words because there are many brothers and sisters who want to listen to them. There is the demand; therefore, there is the supply. There are so many defiling words, criticisms, evil speakings, slanders, double-tongued speakings, because many people want to hear them. Man’s heart is deceitful, wicked, and defiled. Because the heart wants to hear these words, someone is always ready to speak them.

　If God’s children know the kinds of words they can and cannot speak, they will know the kinds of words they can and cannot hear. One brother put it aptly when he said, “Many people’s ears are like trash cans.” Does anyone ever dump trash into a rice pot? No one would do such a thing. If you accept all kinds of lecherous words and do not consider them harmful, clearly you are a trash can; that is the kind of person you are. Only a certain kind of person will listen to certain kinds of words.

　We must learn to listen to healthy words. We should not be led away by those who spread rumors and improper words. We must say, “I do not want to listen to these things.” Many sins will cease and many brothers will be edified if you do this. There is a lust among us for unhealthy words. This is why these words multiply. People find these words tasteful. We must be delivered from these things. If a person is saying something improper to you, perhaps you should walk away quietly and leave the speaker to himself. This will kill his interest in you the next time. Alternatively, we also can testify to him saying, “As Christians we should not speak such words.” This will stop any further speaking. We may even say something stronger, such as, “Brother! What do you think I am? I am not a trash can. Please do not dump all this trash on me.”

　Many problems in the church are like Gehenna fire; they need to be quenched as soon as they catch fire. We must not allow them to spread. Many troubles related to words are actually troubles related to listening. The speaker, of course, bears a greater part of the responsibility. But the listener also bears a small part of the responsibility. The listener must learn before God to reject this lust for words. Man has a lust for words; he has a lust to know everything. If we can reject this lust, we will quench much fire from Gehenna. We should say, “I am sorry. I am a Christian, and I cannot take such words.” We will cut short the words of others. If we keep on listening, hoping to learn a little more and to probe a little more, we are fanning the flame, not extinguishing it. Many idle, evil, and deceptive words are prompted by the interest of the listeners.
　　诗篇三十八篇十三至十四节：“但我如聋子不听，像哑巴不开口。我如不听见的人，口中没有回话。”许多人的确需要像聋子不听。人在那里说不正当地话，你要像聋子不听。你只管说，我不听。重一点，你作见证给他听。再重一点，责备他说，弟兄！你把我当作谁？为什么把许多的话倒在我身上？或者你作见证说，我想作基督徒的人，不应该说这样的话，这样的话出于基督徒的口是不应该的事。或者你说，弟兄！你慢慢地说，我走了。你作聋子，你就必蒙福。许多时候你要学习作聋子不听，也要学习作哑巴不开口。话语是一个大试探，我们要学习胜过。

　　以赛亚四十二章十九节说到主耶稣的时候（四十二章是完全预言到主耶稣），它说“谁比我的仆人眼瞎呢？谁比我差遣的使者耳聋呢？谁瞎眼像那和好的，谁瞎眼像耶和华的仆人呢？”你们看见，主耶稣在地上的时候，许多的话祂根本不听。

　　请记得，少听许多污秽的事，少听许多不相干的事，就少了许多事。我们自己已经够麻烦，我们自己的困难已经够大，我们自己已经够污秽，再把外面的东西加进来，我们就没有法子走前面的路。所以，初信的人从起头起，就要学习拒绝听话的试探。我们要像主耶稣一样是耳聋的。谁耳聋像我们的主呢？我们主的路是最正直的，在祂身上一点难处都没有。
 
　Psalm 38:13-14 says, “But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; / And I am like a dumb man, who does not open his mouth. / Indeed I am like a man who does not hear / And in whose mouth there are no reproofs.” Many people indeed need to be as a deaf man who does not hear. When others speak unbecoming things, you should act like a deaf man who does not hear anything. You should simply say, “I cannot hear.” If you want to be a little stronger, you can testify something to him. If you want to be stronger still, you can rebuke him, saying, “Brother! What do you think I am? Why do you dump so many words on me?” You can also give a word of testimony: “I think a Christian should not say such things. Such words should not come out of a Christian’s mouth.” You may also say, “Brother! Wait a minute before you continue to speak. I am leaving.” If you are a deaf man, you will be blessed. Many times you have to act like a deaf man who does not hear anything. You must also learn to be like the dumb who cannot speak anything. Words are a great temptation, and you must learn to overcome them.

　In Isaiah 42, which is altogether a prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus, verse 19 says, “Who is blind except My servant, / And as deaf as My messenger, whom I will send? / Who is as blind as the one at peace with Me, / And as blind as the servant of Jehovah?” When the Lord was on the earth, there were many words He would not listen to.

　Please remember that the less filth and gossip we hear, the less trouble we will have. We have enough troubles, problems, and filth within ourselves already. If we add more to them, we will not be able to go on at all. A new believer must learn from the beginning to reject the temptation of listening. We must be deaf like the Lord Jesus was. Who is deaf like our Lord? The way of our Lord is most upright. This is why He is not bound by anything.
　　初信的弟兄姊妹，要在话语上受教训。说话受教训，听话也受教训。要在话语的事情上敬畏神。我告诉你们，这是一件大事，也是专一的一步，应当好好的走过去。

　　这一件事不是很便宜的，是要花许多的工夫才能够有一个说准确话语的习惯。我不相信，人一信主就能那样简单地胜过。我自己知道，要说准确的话比什么都难，一不小心，话语就错，存心就错。比方说谎：不准确的话是说谎，存心要人误会也是说谎。话语说的不错，但是故意要人领会到别处去，也是说谎。初信的人，要从起头就注意这一件事，下工夫在这一件事上。

　　诗篇一百四十一篇三节说，“耶和华啊！求你禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。”我们需要有这一个祷告说，求你把守我的舌头，叫我不随便说话。也许有的人要祷告说，求你把守我的耳朵，叫我不随便听话。如果是这样，教会能够免去许多的难处，并且我们能在一条正当地路上往前走。

　　有一件事我觉得非常希奇。有许多弟兄们那样随便的说话，也有那么多人在那里听着而没有感觉。我觉得这是大毛病！明显的有大毛病！请记得，什么时候你能听不正当地话，你有毛病！听而接受，听而不拒绝，在这里有大毛病！我们要学习拒绝污秽的果子。要知道，任何的毒摆在神的儿女中间，都能够散开，把人带到不敬虔、背叛、放松的地步。求神施恩给我们，怜悯我们，叫我们从起头就学习如何说话，以致我们有一条正直的路好走！
 
　New believers must be taught in the matter of speaking. They must be taught the way to speak, and they also must be taught the way to listen. They must learn to fear God in the matter of speaking. This is a great matter, and it is a definite threshold which one has to cross definitely.

　This lesson does not come without a price. We need to spend much time to develop the habit of speaking accurately. I do not believe a new believer in the Lord can overcome in this matter in a short time. I have found out that accurate words are more difficult to come by than many other things. If we allow a little carelessness to come in, we will find mistakes in our words and motives. Lying is one example of this. Speaking inaccurate words is a form of lying, and so is any attempt to mislead others. Sometimes a person may say the right thing with the intention of misleading others. This is lying as well. A new believer must pay attention to this matter and must exercise considerable effort to deal with it from the very beginning.

　Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; / Keep the door of my lips.” We need to have such a prayer. We need to say, “Set a watch over my tongue so that I will not speak rashly.” Perhaps some will need to pray, “Set a watch over my ears so that I will not listen carelessly.” If we do this, the church will be spared many troubles and we will advance in a proper way.

　One thing surprises me greatly. Many brothers are bold to speak carelessly, and many people listen to them with no sense of fear at all. This is a great sickness among us! Clearly this is a grave malady! Whenever we lend our ears to improper words, we are sick! It is a serious sickness for anyone to accept words without reservation or discretion! We must learn to reject filthy fruit. Any kind of poison will spread among God’s children and will bring in ungodliness, rebellion, and looseness. May God be gracious to us and have mercy on us so that we would learn to speak in a proper way from the very beginning. May we learn to run the straight race before us!

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