Truth & Plainness of Speech
II CORINTHIANS 3:12
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
great- much; often; plenteous
plainness- outspokenness; bluntness; frankness; not to “beat around
the bush”; “To tell all”
II CORINTHIANS 2:14
Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
I CORINTHIANS 2:4
And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
I CORINTHIANS 2:5
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
enticing- persuasive; convince; pacify; conciliate
demonstaration- making manifest; showing forth; a proof by the Spirit
and power of God, operating in me, and stirring in the minds of the
hearers, thus persuading them
JOHN 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Truth- “not to conceal or hide anything”;
JOHN 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Paul says that we are not to “beat around the bush”. We are to speak so plainly that the meaning of what we are saying should not be misunderstood.
We are not to speak with hints, insinuation, or indirect remarks. The issues being spoken are of that which is eternal. There should never be in our hearts the motive to be seeking to pacify or persuade men.
GALATIANS 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
We are to be blunt and to the point. “Plainness of speech” is often offensive to unrepentant sinners and carnal Christians. Stephen, the first martyr of the church, was killed for his “plain words” (Acts 7:51-60). Paul says that “plain speech” results in persecution and affliction:
II TIMOTHY 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
I THESSALONIANS 1:6
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
The Pharisees hated the words of Christ and sought to kill him, time and time again, because of his “plainness of speech”.
MARK 12:13
And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in [his] words.
LUKE 11:54
Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
LUKE 20:20
And they watched [him], and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
JOHN 5:16
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Few men will say truth plain enough to be persecuted for it. When we preach truth, we are to uncover all the facts and expose darkness in any form and its workings. The bible defines a lie in this manner: to tell part of the truth while “covering up” the most crucial issues. When we preach just enough truth to “pacify” the congregation and we intentionally leave out the part that cuts to the heart and convicts for sin or if we refuse to address particular doctrines of the scripture (avoiding them), then we lie!
Example: “I have been guilty- God give me the strength never to do it
again. It is not necessarily the words that come out of the mouth that lie,
but, more often the words that are hidden and concealed that do the evil
deed. Jeremiah refers to it as this:
JEREMIAH 23:30
Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. “stealing the words of God”
Enticing words are called “guile”. We are to lay aside all guile:
I PETER 2:1
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…. Paul referred to this “deception” as “good words and fair speeches”
ROMANS 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
ROMANS 16:18
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
We are never to be “tactful” with the word of God. This word tact has a meaning to be “a regular arrangement” or “fixed sucession” in the which means again considering all that has been said to prepare before time what we shall say to someone or a group of people with the intent to “fleece” them for monetary gain or not to “offend” them in hopes that the “numbers” will not decrease. Many are speaking from their hearts with no anointing or guidance from the Holy Ghost! God said that his word will accomplish what he has spoken: ISAIAH 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
JEREMIAH 4:28
For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken [it], I have purposed [it], and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
The word “spoken” means an orderly arrangement by declaration.
ISAIAH 58:1
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Gods word is his tact! (fixed ordered arrangement)
HEBREWS 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
We are to speak his word as plain as we can .
REVELATION 22:18
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
REVELATION 22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
Isaiah said that rebellious men do not want truth, but they love to be deceived. They say “Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth (flattering) things, prophesy deceits (don’t tell us the truth, deceive us, make us feel good).
ISAIAH 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
ISAIAH 30:11
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
Men who are plain spoken are looked upon as bitter, angry, or fanatical. Paul spoke with great plainness of speech to King Agrippa and was accused of being “looney”. Festus said:
ACTS 26:24
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
What he said was that Paul has read to much Bible and it has made you crazy! At the end of time (now), evil men will become more intelligent, yet they will be unable to understand truth.
II TIMOTHY 3:7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
DANIEL 12:4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
If we preach with words not easily understood, we make the cross of Christ of none effect.
I CORINTHIANS 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
I CORINTHIANS 14:9
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air…….. Enticements and persuasive words are lies. They cover up “plainness of speech”.
Shane Mcknight
Lafayette, Tennessee 37083
Teacher
