Quietening the tongue

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE.

THE POISON OF THE TONGUE.

THE PROBLEM OF THE TONGUE.

THE PRODUCE (FRUIT) OF THE TONGUE.

FROM THE FRUIT OF THE TONGUE, WE SAW THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE TONGUE IS THE HEART.

THE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE HEART.

(RECAP) MINDING YOUR P’S AND Q’S.

QUIETENING THE TONGUE.

QUICKENING THE TONGUE.

MINDING YOUR P’S AND Q’S.

COMING UP.

OBSCENITY

COARSE JOKING,

CURSING

CRITICISM

JUDGING

GOSSIP/SLANDER

FLATTERY

LYING

Ephesians 4:29. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 5:4. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Our speech (FRUIT) reveals what’s in our heart.

Matthew 12:34.

The mouth is the overflow of the heart.

What flows from your heart?

IF THE ANSWER IS BAD THINGS, THEN THE REMEDY IS TO BE BORN-AGAIN.

DO YOU HAVE A PURIFIED HEART?

2 Corinthians 2:5.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

HOW DO YOU TEST & EXAMINE YOURSELF? ….

FIRSTLY, WE NEED A NEW HEART (ARE YOU BORN AGAIN?)

(THE NEW COVENANT PROMISE) Ezekial 36:26. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.

HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THE TRANSFORMATION OF SPTITUAL REBIRTH? YOU NEED A NEW WINESKIN FOR NEW WINE

GOD GIVES US A NEW HEART WHEN WE ARE SAVED (ARE YOU BORN-AGAIN?)

Psalm 51:10-12. Create in me a pure heart, O God.     

IF YOU HAVE FALLEN AWAY, HAVE YOU REPENTED?

PURIFIES US

PROTECTS US

PREPARES US

THE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE HEART.

Proverbs 4:23-25. Above all else, guard your heart,  for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

OUR TRANSFORMED PURIFIED HEART MUST BE PROTECTED. .

GOD’S WORD. FELLOWSHIP. (ACCOUNTABILITY)

RUNNING FROM SIN.

PRAYER.

WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN, OUR TONGUE PROBLEM DOES NOT JUST DISAPPEAR.

WE STILL HAVE A SINFUL NATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN CHECK, (THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL ASSIST US AS WE PLAY OUR PART BUT WILL NOT STOP OR MOVE OUR TONGUE. WE HAVE A ROLE).

2 Peter 1:5-15. (THE HOLY SPIRIT) is not going to drop God’s word into your heart, you have to open (THE BIBLE) and read it. Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-15.(cont.) So, I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.  I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,  because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.  And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

We are not surfing some big wave of grace into heaven, there is a battle that has been won and there is a battle to be won and we are told to put off certain things, (to put them to death) and we're told to put on certain things (to arm ourselves with the armour of God and the mind of Christ).

HAVE YOU MADE EVERY EFFORT? To add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

IF NOT KEEP A REIGN ON YOUR TONGUE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MUZZLE YOUR MOUTH, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS’NT GOING TO SHUT IT FOR YOU.

GAVIN USED THIS FOLLOWING ILLUSTRATION IN HIS MINISTRY.

THINK before speaking:

T - Is it True?

H - Is it Helpful?

I - Is it Inspiring?

N - Is it Necessary?

K - Is it Kind?

BE SLOW TO SPEAK.

MAKE SURE IT IS CONNECTED BEFORE YOU SPEAK

James 1:26.   Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

Proverbs 10:19.(CEB)

With lots of words comes wrongdoing, but the wise restrain their lips.

Don’t be quick to have your say.

James 1:19. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Be slow to speak.

Mark Lowry said that sometimes even he doesn’t agree with what he is saying (because he is too quick to speak and have his say).

He said that he does not know much about politics, but it’s never stopped him from having an opinion.

The Lord has convicted me in this area, as all too often, I am looking for a smart Alec reply or a pun, that I miss the chance to speak a blessing (there is a place for humour, but you can’t argue with the conviction of the holy spirit).

TESTIMONY

Proverbs 26:19. Like a maniac shooting  flaming arrows of death  is one who deceives their neighbour and says, I was only joking.

Job 2:11-13. Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.  And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.  So, they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

QUIETEN THE TONGUE.

WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS IN AREAS WHERE WE OURSELVES HAVE BEEN COMFORTED.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

When someone is hurting, just show them that you care, even a small practical gesture like a meal can convey that, don’t see it as an opportunity to have a theological debate on suffering, or to tell them that you have had an even worse time yourself, just show up with a listening ear like job’s friends did initially, before they made the mistake of opening their mouths.

QUIETENING THE TONGUE.

Don’t talk too much and avoid a person who talks too much.

Proverbs 10:19. When words are many, sin is not absent.

Proverbs 20:19. Avoid a man who talks too much.

Proverbs 17:25.

Even a fool, when he keeps

silent, is counted wise. When he

shuts his lips, he is thought to

be discerning.

Matthew 18:15.

If your brother sins against you go show him his fault just between the two of you…if he will not listen take one or two others along….if he refuses to listen to them tell it to the church.

Ephesians 5:11.

Have nothing to do with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. People don’t need to know what a bad sinner you were.

Be slow to speak is not only a case of thinking before you speak but being reluctant to speak. Speak as those who will be judged. (be merciful)

James 2:2-13. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful…….

BE RELUCTANT TO SPEAK.

James 2:12-16.

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or food, If one of you says to them. Go in peace keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Avoid the hypocrisy of speaking a word of blessing without doing anything to be a blessing.

BE RELUCTANT TO SPEAK.

1

DOES IT ENCOURAGE?

2

DOES IT ELEVATE?

3

DOES IT EDIFY?

I have been convicted about how all too often I think of some pun or smart Alec joke, and I am trusting the Lord to help me to think before I open my mouth.

A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.

Hebrews 3:13.

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 10:24.

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

1 Corinthians 14:1-5.

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.  For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.  But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

1 Peter 3:9. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessing.

1 Corinthians 4:13. When we are slandered, we answer kindly.

Titus 2:9. Teach slaves not to speak back to their masters.

1 Peter 2:22. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

JESUS REMAINED SILENT WHEN HE WAS ACCUSED YET WHEN THE WOMAN TAKEN IN THE ACT OF ADULTERY WAS BROUGHT BEFORE HIM AND ACCUSED, HE SAID

John 8:7. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

John 8:28.

I do nothing on my own, but speak just what the Father has taught me.

Isaiah 53:7.

He was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth…as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he did not open his mouth.

Matthew 26:62-64.

Then the High Priest stood up and said to Jesus, are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent.

Luke 23:8,9.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a

long time he had been wanting to see him.

From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.

He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.

Matthew 27:11-14.

And while he was being accused by the Chief Priests and Elders, he didn't answer.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” But He didn’t answer him even on one charge, so the Governor was greatly amazed.

JESUS BEFORE CHIEF PRIESTS, ELDERS AND PILATE.

As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."—Isaiah 53:7.

OUR LORD Jesus so took our place that we are in this chapter compared to sheep: "all we like sheep have gone astray," and he is compared to a sheep also,—"As a sheep before her shearers is dumb." It is wonderful how complete was the interchange of positions between Christ and his people, so that he became what they were in order that they might become what he is. We can well understand how we should be the sheep and he the shepherd; but to liken the Son of the Highest to a sheep would have been unpardonable presumption had not his own Spirit employed the condescending figure. Though the emblem is very gracious, its use in this place is by no means singular, for our Lord, had been long before Isaiah's day typified by the lamb of the Passover. Since then, he has been proclaimed as "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world;" and indeed even in his glory he is the Lamb in the midst of the throne.          

The Spurgeon archive.

      I. In opening up this divine emblem I would invite you to consider, first, OUR SAVIOUR'S PATIENCE, set forth under the figure of a sheep dumb before her shearers. Our Lord was brought to the shearers that he might be shorn of his comfort, and of his honour, shorn even of his good name, and shorn at last of life itself; but when under the shearers he was as silent as a sheep. How patient he was before Pilate, and Herod, and Caiaphas, and on the cross. You have no record of his uttering any exclamation of impatience at the pain and shame which he received at the hands of these wicked men. You hear not one bitter word. Pilate cries, "Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee"; and Herod is woefully disappointed, for he expected to see some miracle wrought by him. All that our Lord does say is in submissive tones, like the bleating of a sheep, though infinitely more full of meaning. He utters sentences like these,—"For this purpose was I born, and came into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth," and "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Otherwise, he is all patience and silence.    

The Spurgeon archive.

Remember, first, that our Lord was dumb and opened not his mouth against his adversaries, and did not accuse one of them of cruelty or injustice. They slandered him, but he replied not; false witnesses arose, but he answered them not. One would have thought he must have spoken when they spat in his face. Might he not have said, "Friend, why doest thou this? For which of all my works dost thou insult me?" But the time for such expostulations was over. When they smote him on the face with the palms of their hands, it would not have been wonderful if he had said, "Wherefore do you smite me so?" But no; he is as though he heard not their reviling's. He brings no accusation to his Father. He needed only to have lifted his eye to heaven and legions of angels would have chased away the ribald soldiery; one flash of a seraph's wing and Herod had been eaten by worms, and Pilate had died the death he well deserved as an unjust judge. The hill of the cross might have become a volcano's mouth to swallow up the whole multitude who stood there jesting and jeering at him: but no, there was no display of power, or rather there was so great a display of power over himself that he restrained Omnipotence itself with a strength which never can be measured.    

The Spurgeon archive.

  Again, as he did not utter a word against his adversaries, so he did not say a word against any one of us. You remember how Zipporah said to Moses, "Surely a bloody husband art thou to me," as she saw her child bleeding; and surely Jesus might have said to his church, "Thou art a costly spouse to me, to bring me all this shame and blood shedding." But he giveth liberally, he opened the very fountain of his heart, and he upbraided not. He had reckoned on the uttermost expenditure, and therefore he endured the cross, despising the shame.

The Spurgeon archive.

       No doubt he looked across the ages; for that eye of his was not dim, even when bloodshot on the tree: he must have foreseen your indifference and mine, our coldness of heart, and base unfaithfulness, and he might have left on record some such words as these: "I am suffering for those who are utterly unworthy of my regard; their love will be a miserable return for mine. Though I give my whole heart for them, how lukewarm is their love to me! I am sick of them, I am weary of them, and it is woe to me that I should be laying down my heart's blood for such a worthless race as these my people are." But there is not a hint of such a feeling. No. "Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end," and he did not utter a syllable that looked like murmuring at his suffering on their behalf, or regretting that he had commenced the work.

The Spurgeon archive.

       And again, as there was not a word against his adversaries, nor a word against you nor me, so there was not a word against his Father, nor a syllable of repining at the severity of the chastisement laid upon him for our sakes. You and I have murmured when under a comparatively light grief, thinking ourselves hard done by. We have dared to cry out against God, "My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; not for any injustice in mine hands: also, my prayer is pure." But not so the Saviour; in his mouth were no complaints. It is quite impossible for us to conceive how the Father pressed and bruised him yet was there no repining. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" is an exclamation of astonished grief, but it is not the voice of complaint. It shows manhood in weakness, but not manhood in revolt.

The Spurgeon archive.

Philippians 2:14-15.

Do everything without complaining or murmuring, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation…..

James 5:9.

Don’t grumble against each other brothers or you will be judged, the judge is standing at the door.

1 Corinthians 10:9-11.

…..and do not grumble as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel.

ON OUR RECENT TRIP TO NORTHWEST PROVINCE, I WAS REMINDED OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE FAR HEAVIER BURDENS TO CARRY, THAN WHAT WE HAVE.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-5.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

WE HAVE ALREADY COVERED THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF POSITIVE CONFESSION.

Lamentations :3:37.

Nobody can speak and have it happen, unless the Lord commands it. Both bad and good things come by the command of the Most High God.

DON’T TRIVIALIZE HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD.

James 4:13-15

Now listen you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say. If it is the Lords, will we will live and do this or that.

(SOME MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THAT THIS KIND OF BOASTING IS POSITIVE CONFESSION AND IS BIBLICAL)

Matthew 5:34-37.

Do not swear an oath at all... simply let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and ‘no’ ‘no’. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Matthew 18:16-20. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

If he refuses to listen to them tell it to the church and if he refuses to listen even to the church treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (has to do with Church discipline)

I tell you the truth whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Revised version-shall have.. Declaring allowed and forbidden)

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for it will be done for you by my father in heaven.

For where two or three come together in my name there I am with them. ( Discipline carried out with the Lord’s authority)

This has nothing to do with someone agreeing with you for a new car etc. The only one who needs to agree with you on that when you pray is the Lord.

2 Peter 2:10-12.

..Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.

Jude 8-10.

In the same way these dreamers pollute

their own bodies, reject authority and

slander celestial beings. But even the

archangel Michael, when he was

disputing with the devil about the body

of Moses, did not dare bring a slanderous

accusation against him, but said,

“The Lord rebuke you.” Yet these men

speak abusively against whatever they do not understand.

Isaiah 1:11-15.

The multitude of your sacrifices what are they to me? says the Lord. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?  Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals  I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.

Amos 5:21-23.

I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. I am not listening.

I HAVE BEEN TO MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS WHERE IT HAS BEEN NOISE AND NOT WORSHIP.

SO, FOLKS LET US GO INTO THIS NEW WEEK AND

START MINDING OUR P’S AND Q’S

As our lord and master, our saviour and promised bridegroom was dumb before the shearers, let us too as sheep be silent and still as he allows us to be shorn of our comforts. he was stripped naked so that we could be clothed in his righteousness.

Like Charles Spurgeon we can wonder,

how could he love so madly those who love so mildly.

AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB.

Hebrews 4:15. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. SOMETIMES WE ARE CALLED ON TO YIELD TO THE SHEARS AND TO BE SRIPPED OF OUR COMFORTS AND YET IT IS NOT WITH His quietness, like Job we start complaining and squealing instead of yielding to the shears, the wool that protects the sheep in the winter ,will be a hinderance in the summer heat, so He allows the shearing for our benefit and calls on us to offer up the comfort of our wool so that others may be comforted.

AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB.

My squeals may have been unexpressed, but the lord has heard the groaning of my heart as my wife has heard at time, especially these last couple of weeks.

I don’t believe that it was accidental that immediately after ministering on the topic of suffering that I had to be tested the way that I have been these last couple of years,

But although I haven't faced anything like Job had to, I have been able to benefit from his testimony as he finally said after all his complaints

AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB.

Job 42:1-12. Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge? Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me. My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.

AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB.

Job 42:1-12. (cont.)

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Tasmanite, I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.  So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. 

AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB.

Job 42:1-12. (cont.) You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.  All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house.

AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB.

Job 42:1-12. (cont.) They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. 

PSALM46:10.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

I WILL BE STILL AND KNOW YOU ARE GOD.

I WAS BLESSED A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO WHEN I WATCHED A VIDEO WITH A YOUNG MAN WITH DEFORMED HANDS PLAYING THIS SONG.

GOD CAN USE BROKEN VESSELS TO BRING HIM GLORY…..

GAVIN’S SONG”MAKE MY LIFE TO BE AN OFFERING OF PRAISE TO YPOUR NAME”

CHORUS “LORD MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF WORHIP”

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as carolling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow. A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.