THE TONGUE To even begin to walk in the spirit, in love, in power, I must learn to controll my nasty speaking tongue. How do I use it to respond to others? Do I bless or curse or speak idle conversation? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt 12:34). Really all that Jesus was saying is, what is in your heart comes out of your mouth. Have you ever been engaged in a conversation and said some little some- thing that eventually came back to your memory and you couldn't believe it was yourself that said that distastful statement? I hope so, because that would mean that maybe I'm not in this alone. Maybe you could understand what I go through and will pray for me to controll my mouth. Then again, this is not the end of the line. It is just the begining. If we are catching ourselves bringing junk out of our hearts then it is a great place to start crucifying stuff (secret sins still hidden in us). Lets look at what the Spirit -who dwells within us- thinks about this matter of what you and I speak, weather by accident or not. 1) Ephesians 4:29 ,"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up accord- ing to their needs, that it may benifit those who list- en." (NIV) 2) John 6:63 , "The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." ============================================================================ Know these four things; (a)The power of life and death are in the tongue (b)Speak only words that are prompted by the spirit. (c)If you can bridle the tongue you can bridle the whole body. (d)Our words should spark faith in other lives as well as our own. Here is a look at a few scriptures concerning the conciquences of how we use our tongues. Prov 8:6-8 ; A righteous persons speech. " 10:11 ; A righteous mouth is a well of life. " 10:20 ; A righteous mouth is like choice silver. " 10:31 ; A righteous mouth brings wisdom. " 10:32 ; A righteous mouth knows what is acceptable " 11:13 ; Does not gossip or repeat it. " 15:28 ; Studies how to answer. " 31:26 ; The tongue governs the law of kindness. Ps 17:3 ; We must purpose not to transgress. " 19:14 ; Wherever we are normallyin our spiritual position is 'where we are' in the Spirit. " 34:1 ; We must praise God continually, and we are believing and doing something all the time: This means that our faith is continu- ally in motion all the time, weather for the spirit or for the flesh. But by judging our own words we can get a pretty good idea of where we are at. Ps 37:30 ; The righteous speaks wisdom. " 71:8 ; Give praise all day long. " 89:1 ; Is always in tune to how good God is and has been. " 103:5 ; Speak of goodness and be more alive, have new youth and joy. " 149:6 ; Act out, work on, and do the word of God. Mal 2:8 ; To sum it up. Rom 15:5-6 ; Be in one mind and one mouth with our brothers. James 3:1-12 ;You cannot have blessing and cursing out of the same mouth. This would be doulble minded (see James ch. 1). ============================================================================ ============================================================================ I know this has not been an outline easy to follow. But I am in the hope that you will take these scriptures and look them up for yourself. Begin to ask God to lead you in this area of bridling the tongue. It won't be real pleasant or easy, but it will have its rewards which far outway the work. Also, as usual, please pray for me. That I will be able to tame my mouth and give glory to God. THE TONGUE To even begin to walk in the spirit, in love, in power, I must learn to controll my nasty speaking tongue. How do I use it to respond to others? Do I bless or curse or speak idle conversation? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt 12:34). Really all that Jesus was saying is, what is in your heart comes out of your mouth. Have you ever been engaged in a conversation and said some little some- thing that eventually came back to your memory and you couldn't believe it was yourself that said that distastful statement? I hope so, because that would mean that maybe I'm not in this alone. Maybe you could understand what I go through and will pray for me to controll my mouth. Then again, this is not the end of the line. It is just the begining. If we are catching ourselves bringing junk out of our hearts then it is a great place to start crucifying stuff (secret sins still hidden in us). Lets look at what the Spirit -who dwells within us- thinks about this matter of what you and I speak, weather by accident or not. 1) Ephesians 4:29 ,"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up accord- ing to their needs, that it may benifit those who list- en." (NIV) 2) John 6:63 , "The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." ============================================================================ Know these four things; (a)The power of life and death are in the tongue (b)Speak only words that are prompted by the spirit. (c)If you can bridle the tongue you can bridle the whole body. (d)Our words should spark faith in other lives as well as our own. Here is a look at a few scriptures concerning the conciquences of how we use our tongues. Prov 8:6-8 ; A righteous persons speech. " 10:11 ; A righteous mouth is a well of life. " 10:20 ; A righteous mouth is like choice silver. " 10:31 ; A righteous mouth brings wisdom. " 10:32 ; A righteous mouth knows what is acceptable " 11:13 ; Does not gossip or repeat it. " 15:28 ; Studies how to answer. " 31:26 ; The tongue governs the law of kindness. Ps 17:3 ; We must purpose not to transgress. " 19:14 ; Wherever we are normallyin our spiritual position is 'where we are' in the Spirit. " 34:1 ; We must praise God continually, and we are believing and doing something all the time: This means that our faith is continu- ally in motion all the time, weather for the spirit or for the flesh. But by judging our own words we can get a pretty good idea of where we are at. Ps 37:30 ; The righteous speaks wisdom. " 71:8 ; Give praise all day long. " 89:1 ; Is always in tune to how good God is and has been. " 103:5 ; Speak of goodness and be more alive, have new youth and joy. " 149:6 ; Act out, work on, and do the word of God. Mal 2:8 ; To sum it up. Rom 15:5-6 ; Be in one mind and one mouth with our brothers. James 3:1-12 ;You cannot have blessing and cursing out of the same mouth. This would be doulble minded (see James ch. 1). ============================================================================ ============================================================================ I know this has not been an outline easy to follow. But I am in the hope that you will take these scriptures and look them up for yourself. Begin to ask God to lead you in this area of bridling the tongue. It won't be real pleasant or easy, but it will have its rewards which far outway the work. Also, as usual, please pray for me. That I will be able to tame my mouth and give glory to God.