A Time to Speak – 2.27.08

Ecclesiastes 3 says, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…a time to keep silence, and A TIME TO SPEAK.

Last time we considered the fact that a Christian ought to be able to keep his mouth shut, namely at those times when his tongue would shoot out deadly poison. On the other hand, what we'd like to focus on today is the fact that there are time when we ought not hold back, namely at those times when our words can be a well of life. Let's take a look at 4 such opportunities we ought not let pass us by.

1. PREACH

Psalm 40:9 says, I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O, LORD, thou knowest.

Why don't we make it our purpose and prayer to never miss an opportunity to declare the saving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! May the Lord fill our hearts with boldness and resolve to make known HIS saving power!

• Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Psalm 107:2).
  
• I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians: both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth (Romans 1:14-16).
  
• [Pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).
  

2. REBUKE

Proverbs 27:5 says, Open rebuke is better than secret love. And 28:23, He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

There are times when I am wrong and in need of correction. There are times when you are wrong in need of correction. This is one of the main reasons God has placed us in the body of Christ together. Let us not be afraid to (lovingly) take a friend aside and point out some sin or error in his/her life. We'll all need it at some point or another. A true friend knows that it'd be better to risk the anger or resentment of that friend who needs to be rebuked than to allow that friend to continue down a path that leads to destruction. Are you more concerned with your friend or with yourself?

• Iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17).
  

3. DEFEND

Proverbs 31:9 says, Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

We're so quick to jump to our own defense and many times hesitant to speak in the defense of another. Too often we give ear to gossip that either we know can't be true or have no way of knowing if it is true. Instead, let's make it a point to turn a deaf ear to the gossiping tongue and speak up on one another's behalf.

4. ENCOURAGE

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Let's determine in our hearts not to miss a chance to speak an encouraging word to a brother or sister. The Holy Spirit instructs us to seek to excel to the edifying of the church (1 Corinthians 14:12). May we each look for ways in which we can build up the body of Christ. Many times it's as easy as talking to a brother or sister about how God has blessed, or provided a need, or given you strength, or an answered prayer, or showed you something in your Bible reading.

• Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin (James 4:17).

Vain Religion – 2.25.08

James 1:26 says, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Ouch! Did you see what God just said? An individual can go to church, read the Bible, go out on evangelism, be separated from the world, have the right standards, the right music, the right friends, etc. (all of which is GOOD!), and yet, if that individual is unable to bridle his tongue, the "religion" he has is empty.

The lady with a skirt to the floor and a tongue twice as long is only kidding herself when she thinks about how "holy" she is. God said the guy who "really knows the Bible" but has a tongue as sharp as a butcher knife may think he's "spiritual," but he's really good for nothing (1 Corinthians 13).

Temperance is a necessary virtue in the Christian life (Galatians 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6). We need to cultivate the ability to deny the desires of the flesh and subject the temporal body to the regenerated spirit (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). And according to the Bible, one of the highest marks of "spirituality" or "true religion" is this ability to bridle the tongue.

Brother, sister, there are times we need to learn to shut up! There are times when we'd be much better off not speaking a word. We may think it will kill us to keep our mouths shut (Job said, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost), but to my knowledge nobody has ever died of "holding their peace."

Take a look at these Bible passages:

• Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred (Job 6:24).
  
• Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (Psalm 34:13).
  
• I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle (Psalm 39:1).
  
• Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).
  
• In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise (Proverbs 10:19).
  
• He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction (Proverbs 13:3).
  
• Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding (Proverbs 17:28).
  
• Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23).
  
• For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile (1 Peter 3:10).
  

Be careful little mouth what you say. Is your religion vain or is it pure? Can you bridle the tongue? May the power of the Holy Spirit make us able.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26)

Open Mouth, Insert Foot – 2.19.08

Is there anybody else who has had to do this often enough that you've developed a taste for your own toe jam? Or is there anybody who talked back often enough to develop a taste for bar soap (never got used to the liquid variety)? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Anyway, we've all heard it said that we should THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK. Simple advice. Practical wisdom. Great idea! Wouldn't we all get in much less trouble if we actually did this from time to time? How often would a moment of thought have prevented some idiotic comment from being uttered, sparing a great deal of hurt to someone else and/or a great deal of embarrassment to ourselves.

Now, even though "think before you speak" is not a phrase that can be found in the word of God, the principle is definitely there. Considering that death and life are in the power of the tongue, we must be diligent to take careful thought before we open our mouths and speak.

• James 1:19…Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
  
• Proverbs 15:28…The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
  
• Ecclesiastes 5:2…Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
  

In reference to Moses, Psalm 106:33 says, Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips… Have you ever been provoked in spirit and spoken unadvisedly? Have you ever been overcome by your emotions and ended up saying something you wish you could've taken back? Many times the reason we end up inserting a foot into our open mouth is that we speak in "the heat of the moment."

David said in Psalm 39:3, My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue. The context of this statement is David's desire not to sin with his tongue (verse 1). Notice that his heart was hot. Notice there was a fire burning inside. Maybe it's anger, maybe it's depression, maybe it's sorrow, maybe it's joy, maybe it's "love," but whatever it is that has our emotions worked up, we need to be careful about what we say because being overcome by our emotions is no excuse to SIN with the tongue.

Don't speak unadvisedly. Take advise with yourself. It'd be better to talk to yourself and decide not to say something sinful or hurtful than to blab whatever comes to mind and have to suffer the consequences. When you're mad, when you're sad, when you're glad, muse before you open your mouth. Give thought to what you say.

Think before you speak.

Well of Life – 2.15.08

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)

What a difference between a member that is yielded to unrighteousness and one that is yielded to the Lord! If we go one direction, we can destroy, smite, and slay one another with the fire, sword, bow, arrow, and poison that is our tongue. And yet that same tongue has the power to bring life from death, peace from turmoil, and hope from despair.

Let's take a look at what the Bible says about the good we can do with the words that we speak:

• Psalm 17:4…By the words of thy lips I have kept me back from the paths of the destroyer
• Proverbs 10:11…The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life
• Proverbs 12:6…The mouth of the upright shall deliver them
• Proverbs 15:4…A wholesome tongue is a tree of life
• Proverbs 15:23…A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, ho good is it!
• Proverbs 16:21…The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning
• Proverbs 20:15…The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel
• Proverbs 25:11…A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver
• Ephesians 4:29…[Good] communication, to the use of edifying, minister grace to the hearers
• Ephesians 4:15…Speaking the truth in love, grow up into him in all things
  

We can use the power of the tongue to lead a lost person to the Way of eternal life, to deliver a brother or sister from error and destruction, to instruct a fellow believer, to build each other up, to minister grace, to bring joy…Inside your mouth today is a well of life (speaking of refreshment), a tree of life (speaking of nourishment), a precious jewel, and a golden apple (speaking of priceless value).

But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:13)

Deadly Poison – 2.12.08

In preparing for this next series of devotions yesterday afternoon, I was surprised to learn how much the Bible has to say about the tongue. I checked just about every biblical reference to tongue(s), lip(s), and mouth(s). In all, these 3 terms are used 699 times in the Bible…which says to me that there is much God would have us to learn about this matter.

Our first couple of lessons will be centered around the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

I am certain that many times we do not realize the tremendous impact that what we say can and does have upon those around us. The Bible says that the choices we make regarding the words we speak are a matter of life and death. We can use the power of the tongue in 1 of 2 ways: death or life, cursing or blessing, damage or benefit.

Let's take a look at what the Bible says about the tongue's ability to wreak absolute havoc. THE passage on this would have to be James 3:5-8. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beats, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poision.

Consider a few others:

• Job 5:21...the scourge of the tongue
• Psalm 52:2...tongue like a sharp razor
• Psalm 55:21...his words were drawn swords
• Psalm 57:4...their tongue a sharp sword
• Psalm 59:7...swords are in their lips
• Psalm 64:3...whet their tongue like a sword, bend their bows to shoot out arrows
• Psalm 140:3...sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips
• Proverbs 12:18...like the piercings of a sword
• Proverbs 16:27...in his lips there is as a burning fire
• Isaiah 30:27...a devouring fire
• Isaiah 49:2...my mouth like a sharp sword
• Jeremiah 9:3...bend their tongue like a bow
• Jeremiah 9:8...their tongue is as an arrow shot out
• Romans 3:13...poison of asps is under their lips
  

God compares our tongues to fire, swords, bows, arrows, and poison…having the ability to smite (Jeremiah 18:18), destroy (Proverbs 11:9), and slay (Hosea 6:5) one another. Remember that the next time you get ready to speak some insult or criticism or rumor or lie or evil report or deceit or crude remark. Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Follow Hard – 2.8.08

Well, we've wrapped up our study on the biblical doctrine of "the law," and next week we'll start taking a look at what the Bible says about the tongue. Thanks to Noelle O'Brien for the suggestion…I trust it'll be a blessing to all of us.

Today I'd like to give you something I got out of my Bible reading this past week. Psalm 63:8 says, My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

When reading through the 63rd Psalm Thursday afternoon, my mind immediately went to the passage I claim as my life verse, Philippians 3:14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul said he PRESSED. David said he FOLLOWED HARD. And there is a certain aspect of effort, of struggle, of exertion, of perseverance, of disciple, of self denial, of flat out hard work inherent in the process of Christian growth, in the process of conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. The very word follow implies the idea that the object we're after is not stationary. I can run toward a telephone pole, but I wouldn't follow it…because it's not going anywhere. The point is that if we're not moving forward in the Christian life, we're losing ground. It's as if the object we seek to apprehend (Philippians 3) is in constant motion. And so we can never quit pressing. Daily we must renew our minds, renew our hearts, renew our resolve, forget what's behind, and reach forth to what's before. Strive, press, march, follow hard after God!

In light of all that, what a blessing that in the midst of such perseverance and steadfast pursuit of quite a lofty goal, we are upheld by the right hand of God (Psalm 63:8). While there is a certain aspect of working hard to grow in Christ, what a blessed truth that the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20)! What a blessing that God works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13)! Praise the Lord that He which hath begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)!

So while God requires that we put forth some effort, He knows that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), and so He supplies us with the power of His Holy Spirit to lead us, to guide us, to teach us, to empower us, to enable us, to make us perfect in every good work to do His will, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:21).

To Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen!

Wrapping Up – 2.5.08

Before wrapping up this study on the right and proper use of the law, let's summarize what we've learned to this point.

• By definition, the law is that body of commandments which constitute an amendment to the covenant God made to Abraham given for the purpose of governing the life of the Israelite nation in the land of promise.
• The NT says that the law is a good thing because it points to Jesus Christ by (1) convincing man of his guilt and need of a Savior, and (2) by way of typology (Passover lamb, Day of Atonement, cleansing of the leper, etc.)
• God never intended for any man to be saved by keeping the law…because He wants all men to be saved, and no man can do it.
• However, the NT Christian is subject to certain commandments from God (including the 10 given on Mt. Sinai) and is enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry them out.
• The most powerful motivation for adherence to God's commandments is love – love for God and love for others.
  

In concluding this study, I would like to answer a question that you may or may not be asking.

Based on the above facts, we have stated that the law is a necessary and effective tool in witnessing. However, we have also taken note that the law was only given to the Hebrew people. The question is this: how and why am I to use the law in witnessing to a Gentile, when technically that man is not subject to the law?

I believe the answer is given in Romans 2:11-16:

For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

According to Romans 1 and 2, every man is given a basic understanding not only of the existence of God, but of our accountability to Him. God puts in every man's conscience a basic understanding that there is right and there is wrong. If you'll read verses 1-3 of Romans 2, you'll find that this truth is proven by the fact that a man can recognize when another man has done him wrong.

Though God has only given "the law" to a select group of people, He has written some form of "the law" in the heart of every living and breathing human being. All men must be convinced that they are guilty before God (Romans 3:19). The law is the tool that God has given us to that end. For there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22-23).

Hope this all makes sense. Hope something we've studied has been a blessing. Pray we'll not only learn this truth, but put it into practice.