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  OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART
  by David Wilkerson
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of examining our hearts
and rooting out evil in order to tame our tongues and speak good things.

Topics: "Heart Condition", "Taming the Tongue"
Scripture References: Psalm 19:14, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 12:34-35, Matthew 15:18-19, Luke 6:45, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, James 3:10-12

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DESCRIPTION
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David Wilkerson emphasizes that the true source of our words lies in our
hearts, highlighting that careless speech reflects an unclean heart. He
urges believers to take seriously Jesus' teaching on taming the tongue,
recognizing that gossip and harsh words indicate deeper heart issues.
Wilkerson challenges us to examine our hearts for unresolved bitterness,
jealousy, or pride that may lead to harmful speech. He reminds us that
God desires to cleanse our hearts and remove the hidden poison that
affects our words and actions. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deep
introspection and a plea for God's healing touch in our lives.

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CONTENT
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Whenever I said something naughty as a child, my mother washed out my
mouth with soap. But it was not my mouth that needed cleansing, it was
my heart! You see, your tongue speaks only what is in your heart. Those
are the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ and He says that loose,
careless, evil talk can come only from an unclean heart.

As believers, we have not taken seriously what our Lord said about
taming our tongues. He has made it a heart issue! Not only does my
careless tongue discount all my spirituality, it also makes me face the
fact that my heart is unclean.

If I gossip, tell dirty jokes, run down other people, raise my voice and
scream at my family, I must ask myself: "What unclean, filthy stuff is
still stored up in me that I could speak this way?"

I must examine my heart and ask, "Where does this come from? There must
be something I have not dealt with or I wouldn't be saying such things.
Why do I go on gossiping? Why do I utter such mean, careless words? What
unsanctified strongholds still hold my heart?"

Jesus gives this matter serious weight: "How can you, being evil, speak
good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A
good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things,
and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things"
(Matthew 12:34-35). Jesus is saying, "If you are careless with your
tongue--quarreling, complaining, murmuring, tattling--you have a serious
heart problem! Your heart is not right with God, and it goes very deep.
There is an evil treasure stored up in you, just as a snake has bags of
poison stored behind his jaw. If deadly poison is coming out of you, it
is because the bag has not been drained!"

Whenever I allow something unclean to come out of my lips, I must stop
and say to the Lord, "Master, there must still be a root of jealousy,
envy or lust in my heart. Dig deep into my heart and pluck out the roots
of bitterness, pride or whatever it is!" God wants to get at that evil
in your heart, that bag of poison hidden inside of you! He wants to root
it out and heal you completely.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/david-wilkerson/out-of-the-abundance-of-the-heart/
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