Speaking with Wisdom
Good day to you all. In the blink of an eye, we have arrived at Proverbs Chapter 15. I wonder if you have seen a church more diligent in reading and studying the Bible than ours? We read the Bible with great zeal! On our website, the content for Bible study is abundant. Some years ago, a dear friend of mine listened to everything on our website. He then contacted me, asking if I still remembered him. I replied, Of course, I remember. I recognized your voice immediately.
He was delighted that I had not forgotten him. Speaking in such a way is crucial; my words brought him benefit. I proceeded to explain to him some basic concepts of Chinese Mingding Destiny. Every time I began, he would say he already knew it. Communicating with brothers and sisters like him is straightforward. He had heard everything I said before, which is excellent! Later, after several years, he told me that he used to be able to finish listening to the recordings on our website, but now he could not.
Why? There is simply too much content on our website. And everything on our website is what I have spoken. What have I spoken? I have spoken words that edify. These words are not my invention but come from the Bible. If you follow me and complete the study of Proverbs, you will surely become wiser. Why? Because Proverbs is about learning knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom, and avoiding foolish, arrogant things.
Whether a person lives well or poorly is closely related to these things. One knows if a person has knowledge as soon as they open their mouth. Even if a girl is beautiful, if she speaks crassly and reveals ignorance, whoever marries her will be troubled. Therefore, the theme of Proverbs 15 is: learning to speak is a form of wisdom. If your words only elicit annoyance, then you are in trouble! Speaking with my mother is interesting; I speak pleasantly. My relationship with my parents has always been good; good relationships are cultivated through speaking. It is crucial to know how to speak to benefit others, how to talk so that you are blessing and not cursing. If a person is taciturn and speaks only to cause trouble and spoil relationships with everyone, what can be done? Learning to speak is a form of wisdom. Good speech fosters good relationships.
Once, I went to dinner with my mother. She asked, How much will this cost? How should one answer such a question? She is my mother; I must elevate the relationship. If I replied, You old woman, always spending my money, that would be disastrous. So, I told my mother, You are my mother; if I don't spend my money on you, who else would I spend it on? My mother amusingly replied, Yes, if I don't spend your money, who else will? Anyway, you can't spend all your money!
We walked arm in arm, talking non-stop. We may be poor, but we have a good time. I would not chide her, With your level, you still want to have money? Because she is my mother, I would not say such a thing. During the years I was studying and working far from home, every time I returned, no matter when, my mother would buy two bottles of beer and two sausages from the corner store, and fry an egg. We would drink and talk, cup by cup, word by word. Our relationship was excellent! I believe my mother is blessed to have me as a son, with money to spend on her, her illnesses healed with my prayers, and demons driven out when she is afflicted. We have an incredibly close relationship! In conclusion, speaking well is extremely important!
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(Proverbs 15:1-2)
Wisdom and foolishness are closely linked to how one speaks. You must learn to speak well and answer questions thoughtfully.
The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(Proverbs 15:3)
Here, keeping watch refers to observing the words spoken by people. Whatever you say, God records it. You want to know how you are going to confront God when you say all the wrong things. If we were to compile everything we say daily, many of the things we think we say rationally would appear foolish to others. This refers not only to parents and children but also to daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law, sons-in-law and fathers-in-law. People enjoy gossiping, unwilling to rest without causing trouble; this is foolishness.
As you see me teach Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, you begin to follow me by learning to speak well. No matter what issue comes to me, my words make things easier to resolve. Never argue immediately or speak with a fiery tone. A small matter can be exacerbated by your words; this is not knowing how to speak.
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(Proverbs 15:4)
I can cite many examples. A few years ago, one of us, Mr. Dan Shi, spoke in this tone: Although you treat me unfairly, I won't hold it against you; although you are terrible, I have seen through you... What reaction do you think others have? Everyone would be annoyed. Isn't it better to speak kindly? Don't be a person who is disliked, whose words are immediately off-putting. Starting every sentence with although, but, if, since is irritating.
For example: Although my mother isn't great, she still loves me. Speaking to your mother like this is very annoying, and the mother-son relationship cannot be good.
A fool spurns a parent's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(Proverbs 15:5)
Some children, as they grow older, question whether they are even biologically related when their parents discipline them, turning the relationship between immediate parents and children into one resembling step-parenthood. Yet, those who are genuinely step-parents can cultivate a relationship like that of biological parents; it all depends on your mouth! Don't you know you cannot say such foolish things to your parents? You were not born knowing how to use the toilet or earn money; your parents raised you with great effort. Children have no right to discern good and evil from their parents.
I knew from a young age that I was not qualified, so when my father hit me, I knew it was for my own good; if I wasn't disciplined for three days, I would cause trouble. If children are not disciplined, won't they become unruly? When my father saw that I was so understanding, he stopped hitting me. Therefore, the words you speak are powerful! Those who treat their biological parents like step-parents eventually become beasts themselves. In ministry, I dislike those who discern good and evil from their own parents the most. Every time I minister to such a person, I must take a deep breath to calm myself, then find a way to make them listen. Otherwise, if I have discerning of good and evil in my heart, they will not listen to what I say, and I would be wasting my efforts. So remember:
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. A fool spurns a parent's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(Proverbs 15:4-5)
Parents should also not be overly sensitive, their hearts shattering into a million pieces after hearing a few words from their children, immediately collapsing. For example, if a child changes Although my mother isn't great, doesn't have much knowledge, but she is my mother to My mother loves me very much, wouldn't the problem become simple? Otherwise, how sad would the mother feel? It's good if one person knows how to speak. For example, if the mother can say, Son, I know I need to improve as a mother, can't the child be turned around? The problem is immediately resolved. But if the mother doesn't know how to speak either, only saying, What do you mean? Say that again? Say that again? Then it's over. One can tell that the son's speech is learned from the mother.
Clean the Mind to Learn to Speak
The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.(Proverbs 15:6)
Don't be foolish; those who know how to speak will not lack money. Let's see, is there any profession that relies on speaking that earns little? Those who earn money by speaking earn a lot.
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.(Proverbs 15:6-7)
You will find that in the world, those who earn money through speaking mostly do not lack money! In the Bible, it is the same for those who know how to speak, so we must have substance in our speech!
The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayer of the upright.(Proverbs 15:6-8)
A Christian's prayer must please God! If you pray, God! Our pastor is quite poor lately, so I am offering this donation, hoping to solve his poverty, God will answer, What is wrong with your mind? Stop! Don't be annoying. I don't want your little donation! Do you think I am poor? Do I need your little donation to solve my problems? We must know that God detests such an attitude of sacrifice. If people bring offerings with such a heart, God does not want it, and neither do I! I am not here to fleece the flock. Your donation is for your blessing; if you don't donate, you won't be blessed. What does it matter to me? I am very saddened by the ignorance of many who misunderstand that I care whether they donate or not. It's hard not to be cursed!
So, we must pray like the upright, pleasing God. They would say, God! I come before you, and all I have received is grace; I should offer all that I have. God! Have mercy on me! Accept my offering! Isn't such a prayer a simple thing? Do people think God is lacking when they come before God to offer? Don't say that God doesn't look upon your things because even the richest things are not worthy. Do you think the money you offer is so great?
Therefore, prayers must be like those of the upright who know how to speak, pleasing God! Some people are very foolish, encountering a little difficulty and saying to God, God! Why is my life after believing in you worse than before? Take me back to heaven soon. Isn't speaking to God like this offensive to God? Living your life like this, why should God take you back to heaven? People are full of nonsense when they don't know how to speak, changing their faces at the slightest suffering.
The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits anyone who abandons the right path; the one who hates correction will die.(Proverbs 15:9-10)
If you are blamed, you hate others. I really don't know how to teach such people. People think the right way in their hearts, then they will speak well. If people think the right way in their hearts, the path they walk is straight. If people think crookedly in their hearts, their speech is crooked, and the path they walk is crooked. It is evident that the path people walk is their own choice. If people think with God's logic in their hearts, they please God; if it is the logic of the world, it provokes God's anger.
Therefore, it is truly a tragedy if Christians do not know the knowledge of God! Those who do not know God's knowledge often feel their words are good, such as: Although God treats me this way, I still believe in him; although God does not heal me, I still trust in him. Speaking as if God has let you down is just crazy.
Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord — how much more do human hearts!(Proverbs 15:11)
What people think in their hearts is transparent before God, not only before God but also in the entire spiritual realm. Once, when I was casting out demons, I asked the person being ministered to repeat what I said: In the name of Jesus Christ, I command the spirit of stubbornness to leave! As a result, when the spirit of stubbornness in him heard what I said, it knew that this sentence could not come out of his mouth. So, he tried very hard to say it but could not squeeze out the whole sentence.
I felt strange in my heart. He could not say this sentence, but he could say In Jesus' name, praise the Lord! very fluently. So, during the ministration, I deliberately thought of one thing while saying another, but he still got stuck at the key point. I thought to myself: This thing is quite demonic. How is what I am thinking transparent in the spiritual realm? The demon in him clearly knew what I was thinking.
From this experience, I learned that what people think in their hearts is not unknown to others or to God; in fact, God knows and demons are aware. No wonder Proverbs says that death and destruction lie open before the Lord—how much more do human hearts!
Learn to Listen to Learn to Speak
Mockers resent all correction; they will not consult the wise.(Proverbs 15:12)
How do people fall into hell as they go along as with Chinese Mingding Destiny? Mockers cannot be spoken to or listened to because what they have inside is the opinion that they are excellent, that they are right. Before honor comes humility. People must never be self-righteous. It is best to always think that you have not done things right and need to correct them gradually. God sits on His throne to see if there are any who seek Him, if there is any who understands.
Some people often tell their pastors, You haven't experienced as much as I have; you don't understand my situation. What nonsense is this? She has been delivered from the hands of demons time and again. How many more times must she experience this before she can change the logic system in her heart?
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. (Proverbs 15:13-14)
The human heart must seek knowledge, allowing the knowledge of the Lord to fill our hearts as the waters cover the sea. Then, we will surely know how to speak. If we open our mouths and speak the words of Jesus Christ, people will certainly not have a bad life, but a very good one! The problem with not doing well lies in a lack of knowledge. Therefore, we are determined to transform everyone into people with the knowledge of God. With knowledge inside, our speech will be full of wisdom.
To be able to speak is to be able to speak the words of God. We must know for certain that the words of Jesus are spirit and life, but the words of the devil are also spirit, but corrupting. If someone opens their mouth and speaks demonic words, then they are certainly corrupted. Do not pursue things that sound impressive but are actually corrupt. To speak such words is foolish, and we must change.
All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)
Affliction is self-inflicted because of a lack of knowledge. Those without knowledge will certainly be sorrowful.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. (Proverbs 15:16-19)
We must have the knowledge to understand money and see through it. If we put the Lord God and money on a scale, which do you think weighs more? Surely, more people would think money is heavier. Many also think that eating delicious food is very important. In fact, eating delicious food is not as important as eating lightly, and being able to love one another is even more important.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. (Proverbs 15:20)
Many people are unreasonable at home and still think they are good. If they carefully write down every word they say and review them one by one, they will find that they are full of foolishness. If they can learn to speak and remove this foolishness, they will receive much grace in their lives because they have knowledge inside.
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. (Proverbs 15:21)
A man finds joy in an apt reply, and how good is a timely word! (Proverbs 15:23)
When I was young, I worked in a company. The boss at the time said something that impressed me deeply: Those who can speak are smart, but smart people don't necessarily know how to speak. As soon as I heard this, I resolved to learn how to speak. When people have knowledge and strategy, they can cooperate with others, discussing and complementing each other's shortcomings. How wonderful is that?
The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may avoid going down to Sheol. (Proverbs 15:24)
The path mentioned here is speaking. The Chinese concept of 道 (Dao) is very profound. You cannot speak the Dao with eyes or a nose; you can only speak the Dao with your mouth.
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. (Proverbs 15:26)
If the words coming from a person's mouth are pure, that's excellent. Learning to speak by trusting in God is really excellent, so we must train everyone to speak.
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. (Proverbs 15:28)
What is thought in the mind is what is spoken. Our brothers and sisters must carefully consider whether the words you speak are thought through or just spoken carelessly. If you speak carelessly, the words will be sour and unpleasant. How can that be good? No one likes to hear that. Why can't we speak properly?
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29)
The righteous are not those who behave well; those who trust in God are called righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. (Proverbs 15:30)
I once ministered to a brother who was going blind. I said, Brother, do you know that everyone who is blind gets healed when I pray for them? Actually, that wasn't true. But I spoke good news, and he was very confident when he heard it. I said, You are blessed to have met me. It is a wonderful arrangement of God that you met me. At that time, I had never prayed for anyone with eye problems before; he was the first. But I made a declaration of faith. I saw that his eyes were going blind, and I felt hopeless in my heart. So, the most important thing was to rebuild his faith. As a result, his eyes really got better after prayer! Also, to those who have cancer, I tell them it's a small matter. I say, Our church has all kinds of illnesses, and everyone gets healed. I have great faith! Such people with faith are righteous in God's eyes.
I often share testimonies, one story after another. People with brain cancer and bad spines have all been healed. As a result, what happens? Good news refreshes the bones! If I have knowledge of God inside, I will pass it on, making people have faith in God. Do you think they will not be refreshed? They will definitely be refreshed. A few days ago, a sister called me. She used to have many cancer cells in her body and was very tired and exhausted, often falling asleep while working. I asked her how she was doing recently. She said she was completely healed. I asked how she got healed. She said, Listening to your sermons, you always emphasize seeing through everything. Now I see through everything, and my body is so good. Everyone often feels happy after listening to my words. Some people even say, Teacher, I discovered something: I feel clear-headed when I talk to you! I said, That's right!
Cultivate a Good Habit of Humility
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:30-33)
Everyone should cultivate a habit of humility. For example, when interacting with parents, often say, Mom and Dad, although I have failed your expectations, I will work hard. Please help me. How good does that sound? There is also an evangelical brother who has had headaches since the second year of junior high school. He has had headaches for so many years, but the church just doesn't address his headache problem. What is this doing? This is not being humble! Thinking that not being healed is normal is nonsense!
If I were the pastor of their church, I would think that we didn't do this right. As a result, he couldn't stand the headaches anymore and came to me. People in his church say headaches are normal. How can that be? Coming among us, he got better after listening to my sermons for a long time. How difficult can it be to heal a small headache? No one cared about him having headaches for so many years since the second year of junior high school. So many pastors are there, but they all expect him to work and don't care about his headaches.
Never think that it is right for people to have headaches. How can that be? Do you think it's right to have headaches or cancer? Do you like it? Is God such a God? Is cancer God's blessing to you? Those who say these things are self-righteous to the extreme! If you are a preacher and become self-righteous, you are really asking for trouble! We all have to be humble, knowing that we have not done many things right, and then correct them one by one.
If an airplane cannot fly after being built, and you think it's just supposed to be like that, what nonsense is that? I often wonder why there are so many people like this. I know a sister in Germany whose mother is among us. I often lead her mother in prayer, so her mother's cancer got better. One day, she returned to China and saw her mother praying with me. She asked me if I could lead her in prayer. I said, What's your problem? She said, I have headaches; I've had headaches since I was a child, and they've been hurting for over twenty years. I said, This is easy! Then, I led her in prayer, and she was healed immediately.
Then, she said, Teacher, can I ask you a question? I said, Ask away. She said, Why is it that so many famous and anointed pastors can't heal me when they pray for me? I said, This is easy to explain because after he prays for you, whether you get better or not, he pats his butt and leaves. What does it have to do with him? No one cares! But once you find me, this matter is on my shoulders. If I can't handle it, it's on Jesus' shoulders. This is my style of ministry! All the people I train are like this.
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:31-33)
I have found that people's illnesses are closely related to their wickedness. If someone comes to me with cancer, can I say nice things to them? I have to tell them the word of God!
If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and long. (Deuteronomy 28:58-59)
What is cancer if not a curse? I won't say nice things; I will directly tell them it's a curse. But some people deny that it's a curse and say that I am cursing them. You are already living in a curse; are you still afraid of me saying it? That's how I do it! If you listen to the reproof, you can gain wisdom! You have to be able to listen before you can speak! I don't tell lies, and I don't talk nonsense. I won't tell you that this is a blessing in disguise from God.
If I tell you that, it would be troublesome if God gave me such a blessing. I dare not say that! But many pastors say these words too often, so they get these terminal illnesses. Isn't that eating something you can't handle? If you can listen to God's words and also listen to people's words, and you can talk to God and also talk to people, then that's good. If someone is doing something for our good, why do we get angry with them? Don't be so silly.
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. (Proverbs 15:26)
Speaking according to the word of God is called gracious words, because the word of God is spirit and life. I want to bring life to people; I want to preach the word of God according to the image of God and the word of God. So, brothers and sisters, do you know? Never talk nonsense! Beware lest God gives you such a blessing. Learning to speak starts with listening. If you often listen to me, it will definitely be better than not listening. In Northeastern dialect, my sermons are excellent! In Beijing slang, they are 盖了帽儿了! (the best!)
In fact, no words can express it anymore. No matter what, God wants us to have life, God wants us to prosper, God wants us to know how to speak, God wants us to speak edifying words, God wants us to pass on His words, God wants us to give life to people, to bring blessings to people.
Conclusion
People must learn to speak; this must enter your mind! Wise people must learn to speak! You have to be able to speak when you go for interviews, find jobs, and do sales, right? What doesn't require speaking? You're not a mute. As long as you are determined to learn to speak, you can definitely learn! I give everyone confidence: there is nothing wrong with your brain hardware, and there is no problem with your IQ! You just need to put the word of God in!
It's like buying a mobile phone; the software you install must be good, otherwise the phone will overheat and burn your ear after making a few calls, like a microwave oven. We need to put the word of God, the software of God, inside us, so how can you not know how to speak?
May God bless everyone!
Reflection Questions
Why is learning to speak a kind of wisdom?
Is speaking the truth the same as knowing how to speak? What do you think about this?
Why do some people feel uncomfortable when they hear others speak?
What must a person do to learn to speak? (A, B, C, D, E)
- A Have wisdom
- B Clean the mind and put the word of God in
- C Know how to listen to people
- D Know how to listen to God
- E Cultivate a habit of humility