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.
Prayer Requests:
Call or text: 612-554-2522
Email: pray4measap@aol.com
Facebook: Church at WPV
Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling
Watch online:
Facebook: Power of the Tongue, James
3:1-12
You Tube: Power of the Tongue,
James 3:1-12
This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you
to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
No comments:
Post a Comment