This transcript was generated by whisper.ai.

(upbeat music) - Welcome back to our third week of looking through the book of
Psalms, day two. We're going to be looking at Psalm 12 today, which I call the Who
Are You Listening To Psalm. Listen to how it begins, Psalm 12, verses one to
four.

Help, Lord, for the godly are no more. The faithful have vanished from among
men. Everyone lies to his neighbor.

Their flattering lips speak with deception. May the Lord cut off all flattering
lips and every boastful tongue that says we will triumph with our tongues. We
own our lips.

Who is our master? These are verses that remind us that we're surrounded by
lies. Everyone lies to his neighbor.

But the question for you and I as we read these verses is who are you listening
to? Are you listening to the lies that we're surrounded by? These are verses
that remind us that we're surrounded by flattery.

The question for you and I is are you listening to the flattery? We're
surrounded by pride, every boastful tongue. Are you listening to the pride?

We're surrounded, verse four reminds us, we're surrounded by those who think
that they can control the world with their words. Control your world with their
words. Control you with their words.

We will triumph with our tongues. We own our lips. Who is our master?

Just think of how ridiculous that is. God made their mouth and they think that
they can control the one who made their mouth with the words that come out of
that mouth. Absolutely ridiculous.

That's like a two year old thinking they can control you by just pushing on you
with their little finger because one time you fell over, pretended to fall over
when that happened and they think that they're stronger than you now. That's how
ridiculous, it's even more ridiculous. But they think that.

And because of that we're surrounded by lies and flattery and boasting and pride
because for a time people can use those kind of words and seem to get some kind
of control in their life. But it's only for a very brief time. It's going to fall
apart in the end.

So who are you listening to? Those who seem to be getting something done with
words that are never going to last? Or, then comes verse eight in this psalm about
words.

This beautiful verse eight. Verse eight says, and the words of the Lord are
flawless. Like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

We are absolutely surrounded by words that would destroy us. But we're also
given the gift of God's words which can save us and which can build us into the
people that God intends for us to be. Even our best words, this is a psalm about
the evil words that we use, but even our best words are imperfect.

But God's words, every one of them is perfect. Like refined silver, refined
again and again and again and again. And so every day, I have a choice.

You have a choice. Who am I going to listen to? Who are you going to listen to today?

Are you listening to the cable news networks and click bait headlines that tell
you to be angry at everyone? Instead, listen to the flawless and refined words
of the Lord. John 14, 27, peace I leave with you.

My peace I give to you, Jesus said. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Who are you going to listen to? Are you listening to the circumstances that tell
you to worry about everything? Instead, listen to the flawless and refined words
of the Lord.

Psalm four, six, do not be anxious about anything. But in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Who are you going to
listen to?

Are you listening to the lie that it's all about you? Instead, today, listen to
the flawless and refined words of the Lord. Philippians two, three, do nothing
out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better
than yourselves.

Are you listening to the people around you who feel they have to put you down
because of their own insecurity? Instead, listen today to the flawless and
refined words of the Lord. Romans eight, 31, if God is for us, who can be
against us?

He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not
also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans eight, one, there is
therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Let's take a
minute to pray together.

And Father, as we pray, we turn our ear to you. We want to listen to you today.
We're aware of how often we listen to those other voices around us, those that
are lying, those that are hurtful.

But Lord, even though we hear their words and they impact us, we choose today to
listen to you, to let your words go to the depth of our hearts, to let your
words impact the way that we live. We don't want to live with bitterness because
somebody's spoken bitter words to us. We don't want to live with unforgiveness
because someone's spoken unforgiveness to us or with anger because there are
angry words around us.

We don't want to lie because other people are lying. We want to be like you,
God. And to be like you, we have to listen to you.

So we listen to what you've said to us today and we pray that you'd help us to
listen to you throughout this day today. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. Well,
tomorrow we're going to look at Psalm 13, a psalm that answers one of the most
common cries of our heart.