Meekness of Wisdom, James 3:13-18

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

James 1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind

Wisdom, the thing Solomon asked for above all.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Who is wise among you?

Those with gray hair? Success? Education? The most letters after their name?

None of those things give wisdom.

James was leader of the Jerusalem Church.

A leader of leaders, among leaders. Jerusalem was full of high nosed, fancy robed, Pharisees and Sadducees... and look at mes.

I’m soooo wise.

Why are you so wise?

Well, I’m a Pharisee, can’t you see? I have degrees, in theology. I can quote the Torah front to back... and back to front.  

Nonsense! Says the Sadducees. Don’t listen to foolish Pharisees. Listen to sage Sadducees, we are truly the wise ones, with the wealth and position and power to prove it. We’re the ones who really fund and run what happens with the temple. Roman soldiers, under our thumb, politicians, in our pocket. (Think Deep State).

That is the environment in which James asked the disciples of Christ to discern who was wise and understanding among them.

They could’ve confused popular, politically correct, earthly wisdom with wisdom from above.

They should’ve been able to tell the difference, but if we sit in an environment too long, we become desensitized. The prodigal son could no longer tell that he smell like a pig. If we sit too long with sin, we no longer see or smell its stench.

Assassin’s bullets fly in a society desensitized to sin.

Who is wise and understanding among you...

Did you know that back in the day, the phrase “wise and understanding” may have been a reference to teachers.

Remember, James started this chapter saying, “Let there be not many teachers among you...” James 3:1.

So, when he asked who is wise and understanding among you? They might’ve heard, who is able to teach among you.

Perhaps, thinking he was offering a teaching position. Many hands may have shot up. “Pick me! Pick me!”

“Okay, wise guys, if you’re wise and understanding, show it...

No prob. You want me to quote the Law of Moses?

No. Nothing like that.

Okay. How about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?

Impressive, but no.

The Beatitudes?

Nope.

Oh, I know, Ol’ Camel Knees, prayer warrior, you want to hear the Lord’s Prayer recited and explained. Right? That’ll certainly show my wisdom.

That’d be nice, but no.

Well then, what?

Show by good conduct with works done in the meekness of wisdom.

Okay. Fine. Umm, what does that mean exactly?

Do the dishes.

Huh?

Wait on tables. Feed the widows. Help the needy. Oh, and do it discreetly, humbly, in the meekness of wisdom, to not bring shame on them or glory to you.

Show your faith by works and your wisdom by shoe leather.

That doesn’t sound like a wise and understanding teacher—it sounds more like a, a, a servant.

Exactly.

Jesus tells us, the greatest among you must be servant of all. The servant is not above his Master. He came not to be served but to serve. Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 10:45, John 13:1-17.

That’s exactly how ministry training began for me. Serving.

Many start that way.

All should.

Not only start that way but stay that way, all the way to the end.

Before my first preaching position as a youth pastor (no pay by the way) I was a janitor.

No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing. Most didn’t even notice I was doing it. Jesus knew and let me know.

How?

Early one Sunday morning long before the service, I was vacuuming floors, straightening chairs, praying for the preacher and the people like usual. But on that particular morning I just so happened to pray specifically for His Presence to saturate the atmosphere.

I finished up, locked up, went home to get cleaned up and return for Church.

Kit Johnson, our praise and worship leader, started the service. I’ll never forget how his face lit up when he told how that very morning when he unlocked the door and stepped inside, boom, he felt the Lord’s Presence already there saturating the atmosphere.

Only me and Jesus knew about that prayer. Perhaps, in that moment, He smiled. I sure did.

He wants you to know, He sees you, and what you do for Him does not go unnoticed. Well done.

Okay, so James says if you’re wise and understanding don’t talk about it, show it by works saturated in the meekness of wisdom.

Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, through James, prepared us to understand the meaning of the meekness of wisdom, when he said: “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.” James 3:3.

He was talking about taming the tongue, while painting a picture of Biblical meekness.

Meekness: Strength under control.

Meekness: one of the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:23.

Meekness of Wisdom: 

Controlled Strength of Wisdom.

Horse & Owl by Sevenroses

Examples of the meekness of wisdom, Acts 6-8, Stephen and Philip.

Stephen got stoned. Philip became Billy Graham.

The early Church was growing fast. Lots of needs. Folks to feed, spiritually and physically.

There’s only so much time in a day, they needed help, so they choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to handle the ministry of feeding the needy. Acts 6:3-4.

Stephen and Philip are the first two on the list.

They were wise and understanding, willing and able, to show by good conduct their works in the meekness of wisdom.

So, they got busy. Waiting tables. Feeding widows. Helping the needy. Oh, and doing it discreetly, humbly, in the meekness of wisdom.

No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing. Most didn’t even notice they were doing it. Jesus knew and let them know.

Stephen was more than a waiter, full of faith and power and the Lord worked through him mightily.

But whenever God is on the move the serpent rattles.

Some with earthly wisdom tried to debate Stephen, but they were unable to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. Acts 6:10.

They were as successful as those who tried to debate Charlie Kirk.

So, they did what they did to Charlie. What the devil’s folks do, lie, cheat, steal, kill, destroy...

They falsely accused Stephen, stirred up the mob against him, compelled corrupt leaders to arrest him. Acts 6:9-14.

When Stephen stood before the crooked council, they looked and saw his face lit up as the face of an angel. Acts 6:15.

Then, Stephen delivered the longest sermon in all of Acts, the HIStory of Israel from Abraham to killing Jesus.

Then, when he was done, he looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus giving him a standing ovation, letting him know, I see you, Stephen, all you’ve done for Me has not gone unnoticed, well done.

Then, Stephen said, “Look I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

The mob couldn’t take it. They dragged him out of the city for stoning.

While the stones were pummeling, Stephen was praying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then, with Strength under control, that must’ve made the stoners shutter, he knelt and said with a loud voice for all stone throwers to hear, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”

In that meekness of wisdom, he laid down and fell asleep. Acts 7:60.

The spotlight shifts to Philip.

After that great persecution broke out against the Church and they were scattered.  

Scattered, not silenced. They went everywhere preaching the Word.

In the meekness of wisdom, Philip went where most Jews avoid. The despised Samaritans in the village of Samaria. Acts 8:5.

Jesus didn’t despise them and as Philip preached to them, the Lord confirmed His Word through him, with healings and miracles, and deliverances from demons.

Peter and John showed up and the Holy Spirit too, saturating the city with the joy of the Lord.

It was awesome.

But then, the Lord told Philip to get up and go. Leave the joy filled revival and take the lonely dusty desert road toward Gaza.

Philip heard the still small voice of the Lord over the call of the congregation and in the meekness of wisdom, he got up and went.

And lo and behold there just so happened to be on the road in a chariot an Ethiopian of great authority.

The Lord said, “Go near the chariot.”

So, he went.

The man just happened to be reading Scripture.

“Do you understand what you’re reading?”

“How can I unless someone explain it.”

He invited Philip into the chariot.

The place he just happened to be reading was the most awesome, powerful picture of the meekness of wisdom—the Controlled Strength of Wisdom.  

Isaiah 53:7-8
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”

From that Scripture Philip preached Jesus.

Then, they just happened to be passing by water and the Ethiopian asked, “What hinders me from being baptized?” Acts 8:36.

“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!”

So, Philip baptized him.

No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing. Most didn’t even notice he was doing it. Jesus knew and let him know.

As Philip raised up the man from the water, the Lord caught up Philip, transporting him some 25 miles away. Acts 8:39.

The Ethiopian went his way praising the Lord. That Seed planted in the middle of nowhere, was perhaps the Seed that birthed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the continent of Africa.

Philip went on his way preaching from city to city, like Billy Graham, the evangelist. Acts 8:40, 21:8.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, in the faith just deposited in our souls from hearing Your Word, we ask for Your wisdom. That we may be wise and understanding among all those You’ve given us, so in the meekness of wisdom we lead many to You.

Thank You.

We trust and love You, forever.

Amen.

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Soul Hunters Beware! Ezekiel 13:17-23

“Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them,  ¹⁸ and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? ¹⁹ And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”

²⁰ ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. ²¹ I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

²² “Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. ²³ Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

Set your face against, prophesy against, your people.

Ouch.

Stand against. Speak against. Your own people, family, friends.

As mentioned at the start of this chapter, God doesn’t agree with everybody. He’s not a big teddy bear saying, I’m okay, you’re okay, let’s just hug and coexist.

Jesus says it like this:

Matthew 10:34-36
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

 

We must make sure the Sword that divides, is the Word of God.

Nothing else is worth dividing over.

We must stand with God, with His Word, no matter what our people, our family, our friends, say.  

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We must rightly divide that which rightly divides.

To split the Church over things like, the timing of the rapture, a particular Bible translation, the name on the door, the color of the carpet... is stupid, childish, devilish.

But regarding things like:

ü The One and only, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Perfectly Holy Triune God of the Word,

ü The immutable, inerrant Word of God;

ü The fundamental principles of the Sanctity of Life,

ü Biblical definition of marriage,

ü The Gift of Salvation,

Of those things, and more, there can be no compromise.

Those are hills to die on.

When we stand with the Word of God, we will inevitably stand against, ways of the world... which may look a lot like our own people, family, friends.

Which will put us in positions to have hard, loving, Truth telling, conversations.

If preceded by prayer, seeded with love, grounded in the Word, those conversations will bring restoration and healing.

However, it’s up to them, to receive the restoration and healing.

Their response is not your responsibility.

God offers salvation, restoration and healing to all... few receive it.

No matter what, God is good.

All the time.

God always speaks the Truth in Love. 

Even when it hurts.

As children of God, we must aspire to do the same.

Plant the Seed.

Trust His Word.

Leave the results to Him.

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Just as Ezekiel was told to prophesy against the false prophets, he was also told to prophesy against the false prophetesses, who prophesy out of their own heart.

Rather than God as their Guide, they were saying and doing whatever was right in their own eyes, following their own fleshly desires.

Which was nothing new. Way back before they ever had an earthly king, they rejected their Heavenly King, and did whatever was right in their own eyes. Deuteronomy 12:8, Judges 17:6, 21:25.

Proverbs 14:12
 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

In a sense, the same spirit drives the “No Kings” rallies.

They say they march against tyranny, which appears to be right.

Those prophesying out of their own hearts, in Ezekiel’s day,

Those protesting out of their own hearts, in our day.

They don’t know what spirit they are of, don’t know whose side they are on.

In Jesus’ day, some so blinded by hate, stood against, whatever He stood for...

Until they found themselves, standing against God, calling for His crucifixion.

Today, because of hate, many find themselves standing against fundamental Truths of God.  

God told Ezekiel to tell them:

Woe to you who hunt the souls of My people, who profane My name.

And for what?

A measly handful of grain, a little bread! (verses 18-19).

For a few fraudulent dollars, a few years in power, for THAT you protect murderers and rapists and child molesters? Gavin Newsom, Tim Walz, Jacob Frey...

For a few votes you willingly slaughter millions of innocent precious babies while still in the womb!

THAT SAME SENTIMENT FROM EZEKIEL’S DAY ECHOES SAYING WOE TO YOU WICKED PENNSYLVANIA COMMONWEALTH FOR PLAYING GOD THIS WEEK CLAIMING ABORTION IS A CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHT TO BE FUNDED BY MEDICAID.

WOE TO THOSE WHO FILED THIS MURDEROUS LAWSUIT ALLEGHENY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (reproductive health? More like, death). AND DEMONIZED PLANNED PARENTHOOD (more like murderhood). Your very names are vile demonic deceptions.

ESPECIALLY WOE TO WICKED CORRUPT MINDED JUDGE MATTHEW S WOLF (APPROPRIATE NAME FOR THIS WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING).

 He wrote:

“Those choices are the people’s, not the government’s... (As if slaughtering the innocent is a choice).

We agree with the (abortion) providers that recognizing this fundamental right, as the plurality did, is necessary to restrict state government to its proper sphere, thus protecting our liberty.”

RESTRICTING GOVERNMENT TO YOUR OWN SPHERE??? WHAT HYPOCRISY! YOU JUST STEPPED OUTSIDE YOUR SPHERE LIKE LUCIFER RAISING YOUR THRONE ABOVE THE MOST HIGH.

YOU SNAKE.

PROTECTIONG LIBERTY FOR WHAT? LIBERTY TO SLAUGHTER THE INNOCENT???  WHAT A DARK PERVERSION OF TRUTH!

WHAT ABOUT THE LIFE LIBERTY AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS YOU JUST STOLE KILLED AND DESTROYED!!!

THE BLOOD OF COUNTLESS INNOCENT BABIES IS ON YOUR HEAD YOU BROOD OF VIPERS. LIKE LUCIFER YOU SHALL BE THROWN DOWN TO THE PIT!!!

...UNLESS YOU REPENT AND TURN FROM YOUR WRETCHED WICKED WAYS.

They claim godliness while promoting and living in wickedness.

They claim to be on their way to heaven. Not according to the Word of God, but according to their own heart, their own mind, whatever is right in their own eyes.

But it doesn’t work like that.

This is not a Frank SINatra song.

It’s HIStory and He says it like this:

John 14:6
I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life, no man comes to the Father but by Me.

There is only One Way, for individuals and nations.

Proverbs 14:34
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (NLT).

Making the nation great again wasn’t invented by republicans, but by God.

The Only Way to MAGA (make America great again) is to MAGA (make America Godly again).

Woe to those attempting to tear down America’s Godly foundation.

Woe to you who wish there would’ve been bloodshed at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

You know who you are.

The Lord rebukes you and commands you to repent, today, or enter an eternity of tormenting regret.

Soul hunters beware!

¹⁸ ...Woe to the women who sew magic charms to hunt souls!

²⁰ Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls like birds

Magic charms (pillows KJV): (Hebrew:Keseth): a cushioned band, used only in Ez. 13:18, 20.

The word comes from, the Hebrew word, Kasah, meaning to cover, conceal, hide, clothe; to plump, fill up hollows, (like a cushion or pillow). Which is found in Genesis 7:19: the waters of the flood covered (kasah) the mountains. Also in Genesis 9:23: Noah’s sons covered (kasah)) the nakedness of their father.

Archaeological discoveries reveal an assortment of charms (amulets), wristbands, and soft cushions used in incantations and healing rites, of spiritist, soothsayers, mediums, and the like.  

Texts from Mesopotamia describe cloth bands inscribed with spells, wrapped around limbs allegedly to bind spiritual forces.  

The Lord, through Ezekiel, rebuked the women who sewed and secured these charms to the arms and heads of souls they ensnared in their web of deception.

Even though they did the same things, these women were worse than the witches.

Why?

Because they pretend to be speak for the Lord. They desecrate His name. They’re wolves in sheep’s clothing, seducing weak, naïve, souls.

Their demons still speak, you’ve heard them saying things like:

Do you need protection? Provision? Peace? Healing? Just send your seed for your need today, and we’ll rush our healing cloth, our anointed anointing oil, our blessed miracle seed straight to your door. Hurry, get your miracle today. While supplies last.

So, according to them, they have God on contract to do a miracle for folks who send them money. No matter the condition of the sender’s heart or the reason for the need. Just send money and we’ll send God.

GOD IS NOT MOCKED AND CANNOT BE PUT IN A BOX.

THE LORD REBUKES YOUR LYING PROPHECY

HE IS NOT YOUR DANCING MONKEY

REPENT!

Beware to you who say, “I have a Word from the Lord for you.” Tread softly, humbly, fearfully, lest you speak from your own heart. Lest you find yourself doing whatever is right in your own eyes.

Worse yet, you false prophets and prophetesses that preach a charmed, cushiony, pillow gospel of hyper grace, without repentance or holiness, or the fear of God, or the fires of hell. Against nothing, for everything. You say everybody goes to heaven, there is no hell, I’m okay, you’re okay, sins okay, let’s just eat, drink and be merry in our sins. Jesus forgives.

BLASPHEMY!

You have birthed a Wordless, faithless, toothless, spineless, shadow of what is supposed to be God’s mighty Power filled, Ekklesia, His glorious Church without spot or wrinkle, standing tall and prevailing strong against the gates of hell and the wiles of the devil.

Thus says the Lord to you...

²⁰ ...“Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go free. ²¹ I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hand.

 THEN YOU SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.

But will I know you?

Will you hear the words, “Well done, enter in...”

Or, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”

 

Do that. 

Pray this: 

Have Thine own way Lord.

You are the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Fill me with Thy Spirit till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me.

Amen.

 

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

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The Power of the Tongue, James 3:1-12

From works to words.

James just told us about the power of works (faith without works is dead, James 2:14-26).

Now he talks about the power of words.

We all hold a powerful tool. A mighty weapon. With it we can bring health or hurt. Delight or destruction. Life or death.

The power of our tongue.  

Words are powerful. There’s much more depth and power to the noise that flows (sometimes spews) from our mouths.

James half-brother to, the Word became flesh (Jesus), writes the most detailed description of the power of the word.

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 

Those who use words to influence others are held to greater accountability. So, there should be no dishonest politicians. Or, critical race theory, agenda driven, teachers, or professors.

Our once prestigious colleges were created to study the foundational Biblical Truths of the Word of God that founded our nation.

Dear Church, don’t be discouraged, but take courage, consider the Truth about how far we have fallen and pray for justice and demand stricter judgement and accountability on all pastors and teachers and leaders, and selves.

² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

One’s character can be determined by how well they bridle this little powerful thing called the tongue.

³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 

Before blabbering it, put a bit in it.

⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.  ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things...

Like when my dad was in the navy. His job was to repeat the captain’s orders over the intercom system.

Once as they were coming into a port the captain gave an order regarding the speed of the ship. It was wrong, it was too fast, dad knew it, so he corrected the order, and they docked at the pier with no problem.

Until the captain came unglued and reprimanded dad, telling him to never change a word of his command.

So, the next time they were headed into port, the captain gave his command, it was wrong, again, only this time dad repeated exactly what the captain said.

The big ship crashed into the pier causing all kinds of destruction.

Words are powerful.  

⁵...See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Words are powerful.

Words start and stop wars.

And fights at school.

A couple days ago one of our grandkids got in trouble, over words.

You know how it goes. Somebody says something. It escalates. The next thing you know, the principal is on the phone with the mom and dad.

When the young man got home, mom and dad used works and words. The rest of the afternoon, dad and lad, worked it out (extra chores) and talked it out.

Yesterday, at our Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) meeting, our guest speaker was Vikki Brown, the local librarian. Her entire career revolves around the power of words.    

It seems Divinely timed that this week we land on this powerful passage about the power of words, while also this week, the most powerful nation is reading the most powerful Word ever written from cover to cover. President Trump read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22. Which includes the most powerful words ever written to a nation:

Words are powerful.

By words the world was made. God said, “Let there be...” and there was.

Psalm 33:6
By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Words are powerful.

Don’t swing words around flippantly, irresponsibly, but handle like a loaded gun, respectfully, thoughtfully, cautiously.

Don’t pull the trigger without considering the trajectory.

The words said in jest, or in gossip, may wound and maim many beyond the immediate intended target.

Words are powerful.

 

God’s Word calls Jesus, the Word.

John 1:1-3, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made... ¹⁴ and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...

The word, “word”, has much greater depth than just noise that flows, sometimes spews, from the mouths of humans.

Words are powerful.

The Word (Jesus) is All Powerful.

The reason we know these things is because God wants us to.

Because He loves us, He had scribes document His Word meticulously, every jot, every tittle.

And He miraculously, kept His written Word alive, for us to read.

And continues to add to the mountain of archeologically, geographically, medically, prophetically, undeniably, documentable, proofs, as to the authenticity and accuracy and power of His living, life giving, Word. HIStory told in advance.

Psalm 119:89
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Matthew 24:35, Luke 21:33, Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the LORD endures forever.

Hebrews 4:12
For the Word (logos-written word) of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We read the Word, but deeper still is that the Word reads us. Discerns the thoughts and intents, the motives, of our heart.

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word (rhema-spoken word) of God (Christos).

In Matthew 4:1-11 we witness the Word (Jesus), skillfully wielding the two-edged sword of the Spirit with logos and rhema (written and spoken) words.

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to a foolish test.

GET BEHIND ME YOU SLIMY SNAKE. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve!

Matthew 4:1-11.

Jesus defeated the devil’s temptations by speaking (rhema) the Word (logos).

Words are powerful.

The Word (Jesus) is All Powerful.

The Word, (logos and rhema), is our most powerful weapon.

 Our words are powerful—IF—they align with God’s.

Did you know that folks speak an average of five million words per year.

Divide that by 80,000, (the average word count of a book) and you speak enough words each year to fill over 60 full size books.

What kind of books are you writing?

What are people reading when they’re hearing your words?

The Lord, the Author and Finisher, is listening.

Are your words worth remembering?

Are they book worthy?

Malachi 3:16
Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.

You may never write a book on earth but in heaven there may be a library full written in your name.

Pause and think about the words you’ve been speaking.

Okay, now imagine you’re standing before the Lord and He’s playing a recording of your words.

Do your words justify or condemn your presence in heaven?

Jesus says it like this:  

Matthew 12:35-37
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. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Your words are powerful.

Are they bringing healing or hurting?

 

Proverbs 12:18
There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

 

Your words are powerful.

Are they bringing life or death?

 

Proverbs 15:4
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

We all hold a powerful tool.

A mighty weapon.

With it we can bring health or hurt. Delight or destruction. Life or death.

The power of our tongue.

What should we do if we’re starting more fires than quenching?

What if we’re spewing more salt water than fresh? 

The answer is always, the Word.

Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks

Whatever is in the well, comes out in the water.

Psalm 119:11
Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Lord help us fall in love with Your Word.

Psalm 119:105
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

A lamp to my feet, illuminates one step at a time.  

It’s a process, a journey.

Not a one night stand. Not a quick fix.

It’s Seed planting and harvest.

That means there will be sunshine and rain. Cold and heat.

But His Word will not return void. It will prosper.

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Know that.

Pray this:

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.