YOUR SPEECH BETRAYS YOU!

YOUR SPEECH BETRAYS YOU!

Matt 26:71-74

71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth [betrays] thee.

74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

           Social networking such as Facebook and twitter were unheard of and unmentioned in Scripture but there is a truth revealed in our text. Our speech, our associations and our mannerisms betray us. Peter warmed his hands at a common fire while his Lord was being tried and condemned. He thought he would not be recognized and the casual conversation, he thought, surely would not blow his cover. He was wrong! He had a distinctive accent that pinpointed his association with the Galilean.

           In like manner, our speech betrays us to the church and to the world. If we have been associating with the world we will bring that “accent” into the church. Conversely, if we have our associations with God’s people we will be clumsy in the ways of the world. The Bible calls this carnality and worldliness.

Rom 8:5-7

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

1 Cor 3:3

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1 John 4:4-6

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

           Do you have a worldly accent? Do your speech and your mannerisms betray that you are more familiar in worldly surroundings than in church? Have you been away from church for a while? Your speech betrays you.

Dear Lord, let me develop a Christian accent by choosing to associate with your followers. AMEN