April 28, 2006
FD/MM/FM March 2006
[ ] "If It's Not the Word, Forget It," ML #1388:4-7,13,17‚ DB1
[ ] "God's Chess Game," ML #1951:54-56,74,78,96, Vol.16
[ ] "Submit Yourself To God," ML #2224:10–13,19-21‚30-36, Vol.17
[ ] "Issues, Part 17," ML #3480:15-18,20-21,70, GN 1092
[ ] "Shooting Straight, Part 8," ML #3512:31-33,132-139,141-143,146–151‚ GN 1100
[ ] FJWL 2, #370
[ ] "The Power of the Tongue‚" 1,3,5, Word Basics
[ ] "Freedom," 2,3,7,9‚14, Word Topics
4. (Dad:) I HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM AT THE CLUB ONCE UPON A TIME: Some guys came in and wanted to stand up and have their say. We invited people to testify, to talk about the Lord, to give testimonies, examples of witnessing, etc., and they seemed to think it was a sort of a "Free Speech Society" and this guy got up and started spoutin' off devilish doctrines!
5. I SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE! THIS IS A CLUB FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! We preach Christ here and the truth and the Bible and we don't believe what you're talking about and we don't like to hear it here!" "Oh, you don't allow free speech, huh? This is no democracy here!" I said, "No! This is a dictatorship by God and the truth of God's Word and we don't like to hear the Devil spout off his lies here!"
6. I SAID, "THIS IS OUR PLACE! THIS IS GOD'S CLUB and it's no place for you to come spoutin' off the Devil's lies to our captive audience!" He got up and started ravin' away again and I said, "If you don't shut up I'm going to have you taken out!" "Oh, so it's a dictatorship and no democracy and you don't allow freedom of speech!" I said‚ "No, we don't!—Carry him out!" And two of our strong-arms just picked him up and carried him right out!
7. IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO PREACH THE WORD, THEN WE MIGHT AS WELL FORGET IT! I don't think anything is worth anything at all unless it's God's Word that He has given!—That's what's powerful!
13. I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE VENT TO THE DEVIL'S LIES! I do not believe in giving any place to the Evil One! (Eph.4:27) I dwell on the positive, not the negative!
17. We're here to preach the Word and the truth, and if it's not the Word and not the truth, we don't want it!—Period!
54. (Dad:) I'm just a little pen or an instrument in His hand, that's all. I just move whichever way He moves me like a person on a chess board. Chess pieces have no will of their own, God has even given us a will, but the only thing we have to do and continue to have to do is to yield that will to Him, simply to choose to do it by obeying.
55. SO WHEN THE GOD OF THE CHESS BOARD PICKS UP A CHESS PIECE AND MOVES IT TO A NEW SQUARE, the chess piece doesn't argue about it, it doesn't protest, it doesn't try to keep the Chess Player from doing it! It doesn't say, "No, I don't want to go to that space, I'd like to stay here. No‚ I want to go over to that space over there! No, I'm a knight and don't want to hop this piece‚ I want to hop that piece over there!"
56. THE PIECES DON'T ARGUE WITH THEIR MAKER AND CREATOR OR THEIR PLAYER, THEY JUST YIELD AND GO WHERE HE PUTS THEM, WHERE HE SENDS THEM. Isn't that right?
74. THE ONLY DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE IS TO BE YIELDED! Now you can choose not to be yielded. You're a free moral agent, it's a free country, and despite what our enemies say, we're a free society, it's a free Family. You don't have to stay here, you can get up and walk out that front door any time you want to! … Nobody's keeping you from it, nobody's going to forcibly hold you here or handcuff you, chain you, tie you. It's your choice to be here, and if you choose to go, physically, politically and legally you can walk out and go!—Why don't you? You have chosen to stay here, because you have chosen to serve the Lord, you have chosen even to be put in the place that we have put you in, because we think that's where God wants you and you've accepted that as God's will. That's all you have to do.
78. The only decision you have to make and the only choice you need to make is to choose to do God's will and to be yielded in the hand of the great Player of this tremendous Game! Simply yield to His moves and let Him do the thinking and the choosing.
96. You just have to be yielded! Just decide to obey, that's all! Amen?
10. (Dad:) TO REALLY FIND THE WILL OF GOD IN OUR LIVES‚ WE HAVE TO BE TOTALLY YIELDED TO THE LORD! Jesus gave us the best example of yieldedness when He knelt down in the Garden of Gethsemane and, knowing that He would soon face a horrible and cruel death on the cross, prayed, "Not My will, but Thine be done!" (Mat.26:39) Unless we are yielded to the Lord and willing to lay down our lives for Him, we cannot even find what His will is. Submission is the first step. And if we are unwilling to take that step of submitting ourselves to Him‚ we won't be able to go on to any other steps, and will never accomplish what God wants us to!
11. GOD'S WORD SAYS‚ "I BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this World, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove"—or know—"what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:1,2) So the first requirement in finding God's will is having no will of your own!—Utter surrender‚ utter yieldedness to God of your mind, of your body, of your own will!—Then you'll know! As someone has said, "The major part of knowing the will of God is to be prepared to do it before you even know what it is!"
12. IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, IF YOU'RE SAVED AND HAVE JESUS IN YOUR HEART, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU REALIZE AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN! Jesus bought and paid for you and your salvation with His Own blood, and you can't just do as you please! (1Pet.1:18,19) You don't just belong to yourself, you belong to the Lord and to God's work and to the Family! "Know ye not that ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price! Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit‚ which are God's!" (1Cor.6:19,20)
13. IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THE BIBLE, THAT JESUS BLED AND DIED ON THE CROSS TO SAVE YOU FROM HELL AND TO GIVE YOU ETERNAL HEAVENLY LIFE, you should be willing to do anything for Him!—Go through anything for Him just in plain thanks for your salvation! Amen? Your life belongs to Jesus! He bought and paid for you, so how can you not give Him your all and surrender your will to His?
19. THE LORD KNOWS THAT THE MORE YIELDED AND OBEDIENT WE ARE TO HIM, THE MORE HE CAN THEN USE US‚ and the happier we will be and the greater blessing we'll be to others! ... But until we surrender our own will and fully submit to Him and His will, He'll never be able to use us as much as He'd like to.
20. SO SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE ARE PROBABLY THE MAIN THINGS THE LORD IS TRYING TO TEACH US MOST IN OUR LIVES.—This is what He's trying to get us to do all our lives long, to submit to His will and to be obedient to Him, which are practically one and the same thing!—You can't very well be yielded to the Lord unless you're obedient, nor can you be obedient unless you're yielded!—It takes both!
21. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF OUR WHOLE EXISTENCE IN THIS LIFE IS LIKE A SCHOOLING to teach us what we need to know about the Lord and salvation and about service, submission and obedience to Him and keeping His loving rules and His Law of Love.—And the first and most important thing the Lord is trying to teach us is submission in spirit‚ to have a submitted and willing heart, yielded and receiving instead of resentful, willful and rebellious!
30. DESPITE ALL OF OUR FAULTS, WEAKNESSES AND INABILITIES, THERE REALLY IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH US if we will simply turn our lives completely over to Him and be willing to let Him make us what He wants us to be! Of course, that is a very big "if," because we each have our own free will, and we can choose to either yield to Him and "seek first the Kingdom of God" (Mat.6:33), or we can seek first our own desires and our own plans and our own ways. The choice is ours—and whether or not we have His full blessing and His help will depend on whether or not we are willing to give Him first place in our lives.
31. BUT THE TROUBLE WITH MOST CHRISTIANS TODAY IS THAT THEY SEEM TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING GOD ACCEPT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO than they are about accepting what God wants them to do! They're trying to put their program across to God, to get Him to sign His name, His approval, to their plans. But the real test of yieldedness is: Are you willing, not to present your program to God for His signature?—Not even to be presented with God's program for your signature?—But are you willing to sign a blank sheet of paper and let God fill it in without your even knowing what His program is going to be?
32. IF YOU'RE WILLING TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE—not what you are, but what God wants you to be—then He can mightily use you! God knows you can't make it yourself.—You just have to turn your life, your mind, your heart, your everything over to the Lord and let Him make it for you! When you finally get to the point where you just surrender to Him and give up and let go and let God, then God has a chance to step in and do it!—And He will! Just give Him a chance!
33. WHEN WE'VE YIELDED AND SUBMITTED OUR ALL TO THE LORD, THEN WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.—Our entire lives are in His Hands, under His loving care, and the Enemy has nothing that He can get ahold of or lay claim to. In fact, to really overcome the Enemy, submission is exactly what the Lord requires. He says, "Submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you!" (Jam.4:7)
34. BUT AS LONG AS THERE'S ONE LITTLE DARK UNYIELDED CORNER OF YOUR LIFE that you're not willing to yield to the Lord, if there's one little part that you refuse to surrender‚ the Enemy can bother you in that one little thing, plague you with that one little thing. This is why God's Word says, "Neither give place to the Devil!" (Eph.4:27)
35. I'M REMINDED OF THE STORY OF HUDDERSFIELD: A rich landlord desired to buy an entire village, and finally he bought every piece of land in the area.—That is, all except one little plot! For there was one stubborn farmer who refused to sell his tiny piece of land‚ and nothing would change his mind! The wealthy land owner even offered the farmer much more money than his little piece of property was actually worth, but the old farmer, fond of his land, absolutely refused to sell! The landlord finally gave up‚ but encouraged himself by saying, "What difference does just one little plot of land make?—I've bought everything else, so Huddersfield is mine!—It belongs to me!" But the stubborn old farmer overheard him and reminded him, "Oh no it doesn't! We own Huddersfield!—It belongs to you and me!"
36. DON'T LET THE DEVIL BE ABLE TO SAY THAT OF YOU TO GOD!: "Aha! Look‚ God! He's yielded everything except this one little thing! So even though he belongs mostly to Thee, a little bit still belongs to me!" To "overcome the wicked one," and to have the "peace of God which passes all understanding‚" you must commit your all to the Lord. Then, when your will is in perfect harmony with God's will, you are safe under the shadow of His wings‚ and He will bless you with His perfect peace and Heavenly rest! (1Jn.2:14; Phil.4:7; Psa.91)
15. (Jesus: ) The life of faith is a life of constant tests, of constant stretching, of giving and sacrificing. Not everyone is called to that life. For some people it's just too much, it's too difficult. Really what this young man is doing is taking the easy way out. He got tired of the fighting, of the spiritual warfare, of the sacrifice and submission that it takes to be a disciple. He wanted to "be himself," and he did. But what is that doing for anyone else? How is that helping to make others happier, to change the world, or to bring people to Heaven?
16. See, what really matters isn't merely this world and this life. This life and what you do with it is very significant and deeply meaningful, make no mistake. But it isn't the be-all and end-all either. It's a proving ground, a testing ground, and the "real" life, as it were, is the one that awaits you on the other side of the veil. The things that you do that count are those that are investments toward eternity and the spiritual realm. Making a nice little life for yourself here and now that you're all happy with simply isn't what it's all about. Those who choose to do that are going to have a sad awakening on the other side.
17. Maybe here they end up doing "just what they want" and feeling great about themselves and making just the life they wanted for themselves. And maybe they are happy and "free" while enjoying it—or at least they think so. But they're missing out on the big picture. They're not seeing the forest for the trees. They're not willing to "esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, having respect for the recompense of the reward." They'd rather enjoy the "pleasures of sin for a season," so to speak (Heb.11:25‚26). That's what it comes down to in simple terms, back to the basics.
18. There's nothing inherently wrong or evil about wanting to be yourself, wanting to have an open mind, wanting to learn and discover things about yourself and even the ideologies of others. The problem, though, is that you can't serve two masters (Mat.6:24). In this case it's a question of: Do you want to serve Me? Or do you want to serve yourself? What matters to you more? What is your priority? While there's nothing wrong with being yourself and the way I made you‚ you must also realize that the carnal mind will always be at war against the spiritual (Rom.8:7). And so you must decide which kind of "open-mindedness" you're going to pursue—the spiritual, by believing, trusting, treasuring and obeying My Word and where it takes you; or the way of the natural mind, which is analytical and accepts only that which you can see and feel and make sense of from your own small perspective (1Cor.2:14).
20. My way is both the way of sacrifice and death to self‚ but also the way of the greatest reward and joy—not necessarily the greatest comfort or ease, but there's simply nothing that can be compared with the joy of knowing that you have the truth, that you are living for a cause that is right, and that you are giving of yourself toward eternal values and treasures.
21. The rewards of serving yourself and going your own way might be apparent and perhaps show their "fruit" more quickly in the here and now, but the rewards of serving Me and going My way are eternal! (End of message.)
70. (Jesus:) Serving Me is all about submitting to Me. "Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" doesn't exactly allow for free thinking, and it isn't supposed to (2Cor.10:5). Remember, free thinking is all about rejecting the sovereignty of God in favor of exalting man in God's place. After all, if man is good enough, he doesn't need God. But the fact is, man does need God. I've designed it that way. You need Me! Without Me you wouldn't have air to breathe or earth to walk on, or food to eat or water to drink. So denying man's dependence on God is the greatest rebellion.
31. (Jesus: ) The standard for My children today is as it's been for centuries: You are to be in the world but not of the world. You are to come out from among them and to touch not the unclean thing. You are to present your body a living sacrifice so that you can prove (know and be a testimony of) what is that good and acceptable will of God (Jn.15:19; 2Cor.6:17; Rom.12:1-2). My standard and will for My children as far as your relationship with the world has not changed, I still wish for My children to remain cleansed, pure, and separate from the world and the Evil One's influence.
32. Knowing this, I also say that I set before each one of you many choices. This is the day of accountability, and I watch to see what choices you make. I allow certain circumstances as tests, to not only strengthen you, but also to see what you're made of‚ how far you're willing to go for Me. I could just lay down the law and say, "You can do this, but you can't do that," but that would defeat a very important part of My plan at this time.
33. These days are to strengthen you, My soldiers, and part of that strengthening will come through the freewill offerings that you give to Me.—Not because you're forced, not because you're going to lose your FD status if you don't comply, but because you love Me more than this world, and you of your own accord wish to stay clean, strengthened, and uninfluenced by the perverse doctrines and ways of the world.
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132. (Jesus:) There is more to the life of a disciple than all the promises of "greater-works-than–these-shall–ye-do" that I gave to My earlier disciples. And that "something more" comes in the form of daily sacrifice for Me. It comes in the form of taking up your cross daily and following after Me. It comes in the form of dying to yourself daily, giving up your expectations and desires in order to put My work‚ My Family‚ and My ministries before your own.
133. Sacrifice is a difficult thing to master. It's tough. It's not easy to give Me your desires in order to put My wishes before your own. I know you know this. I've been watching you and I have seen what you have given up in order to become the men and women that I need you to be. I have seen how you have surrendered your will so that the job on Earth can be accomplished. I am so proud of each one of you for the sacrifice you have made!
134. My loves, you are doing so much for Me, but you will go on to accomplish and do even more for Me in your life as a disciple, witnesser, childcare worker‚ cook, home caretaker, follow-up'er, board member‚ musician‚ dancer, computer technician, writer, etc. But to do more and to accomplish more, you will need to see and realize that you will not be able to do all I have in store for you to do by just sacrificing here and there, or by just making one big sacrifice which you hope will be enough to last you until the End. No, My loves. If you truly want to accomplish great things for Me, if you want to take your personal life as a disciple somewhere for Me, then you need to realize that I will require more and more sacrifice of you.
135. For you are bought with a price‚ therefore glorify Me in your bodies and in your spirits‚ which are Mine. As My own bought and paid-for servants, I ask that you do something for Me. I ask that you take up the cross that I give each of you to bear—and each person has their own cross—and bear it daily.
136. To get the results that you want and what you are looking for, you will need to give something for it. I gave My life for it. Now I ask what you will give. I see you have given Me your life—some in full and some in part—and I am so thankful for this. This is already so wonderful, but to truly be a great man or woman for Me, I ask you to look at your life of service for Me and see that I will be asking more of you. I will be requiring more of your time, more of your skills, more of your service, more of your love, more dedication‚ more commitment, more humility—just about more of everything! And what does it mean when someone asks more of you? It means more sacrifice, right?
137. My loves, I know each of you longs to know the secret to pleasing Me and to becoming someone who lights up this world. It hasn't always been your number-one desire, but through this renewal and through the things I am taking each of you through‚ you are changing and you find yourselves desiring this.
138. Well, the secret comes one step at a time. It comes from waking up each morning and asking Me, "What do You want from me today, dear Love?" But don't stop there! As you go through your day, I will show you. There will be steps to take and things to do that you might not have been required to do before. There might be a new responsibility to take on that day that wasn't asked of you before. And all these things will require more from you. It will take more time, more energy, more motivation‚ more dedication, and even more sacrifice.
139. Some of you may hear the word "sacrifice" and be thinking, "Oh no‚ what more does the Lord want from me now? I've already given all that I can give. Isn't He happy with the decisions I've made and the sacrifices I have made so far?" Oh yes, My loves, more than happy, I am overjoyed! I don't want you to be getting fearful or shut yourself off to this word altogether, as some of you may be tempted to do. I want to show you today the beauty of the word "sacrifice." I want to show you what it means for you. I want you to take a bite of this word and see how good it tastes. I want you to put on My glasses of faith and then take a good look at the word and see what lies behind it.
141. If you were able to see what I have in store for each sacrifice you have made, you would be willing to make every single one. But you won't be able to see your reward in full until your service for Me on Earth is over, so I say to you what I said to My disciples when I was on Earth, "Blessed are those who having not seen have believed. Great is their faith!"
142. After all, this life is a life of faith. It helps to maintain a heavenly perspective on Earth, even though it is difficult to do. By calling on the keys of heavenly vision, heavenly thought power‚ and full possession, you will receive a greater dose of My mind. You will be able to say as David Livingstone said, "I have never made a sacrifice!" You will know that it doesn't matter what you are asked to do here for Me, because what I have to give you in return is far greater than any sacrifice you have made or could ever make for Me.
143. You will be like Abraham, who believed, not having seen the promise, but he was willing to give up his homeland to search for a better one. Paul was willing to go through tough circumstances. Talk about sacrifice! He sacrificed even his flesh for Me, but he says he would do it all over again and more joyously than before, now that he has seen what I have in return for those who give their life completely to Me.
146. If I am going to be asking that you stretch yourself in ways that you haven't before, then you should know that with each request I ask, I have something special to give back to you. I may ask you to do something that is very difficult for you to do, but I will never ask something of you without giving you something in return that is worth more or of greater value. If you truly value your lives, then you will find that giving your life completely to Me and to My service is the best investment you could ever make. And when you look at it that way, you will find yourself asking‚ "What's the big deal anyway? Sure‚ I can do this for my Husband. He's given so much to me, it's not too much for Him to ask that I give everything of mine in return." As you continue to invest your life, sacrificing what you have in order to further My work, you will find that you have gained riches above what you could ever imagine or ask for.
147. The immediate return gift I give to My brides who give all and count it worthwhile to live in sacrifice to Me are gifts of happiness, love‚ satisfaction, fulfillment, and peace. They are brides who find a contentment that is hard to explain. They start doing things "just because." It's just because they love Me, just because they love others, just because they know that there is much more to come.
148. Open your arms wide, My brides, and receive this life of sacrifice that I have for you. Revel in the beauty of being able to give of yourself even until it hurts, but then seeing that you reap great rewards in return. Dance in the light of My anointing for you. If you will only ask, I will give you a desire and passion to live the life of sacrifice. I will give you the gift of sacrifice. It's a humble name, but it's really one of the best gifts I can give you, along with My gifts of salvation, humility, servitude, grace, patience, and happiness. They appear to be lowly gifts at times, but open your eyes in the spirit and see their true value.
149. Thank you for becoming proud of your heritage. Thank you for being willing to show the world how far you are willing to go for Me. I want you to turn others on to living this life. Although this life is not a glamorous one, you will live to see the day when there will be those who will be reaching for it as if it were a rare and precious treasure. They will want that crown. It may seem like a sacrifice to die for something you cannot see‚ but that is how far I will expect you to go for Me. Don't be like the man who ran away from his crown, but "hold that fast which thou hast."
150. Say along with David Livingstone, "I have never made a sacrifice!" Count it joy when you are asked to sacrifice‚ knowing that you are standing right in line to receive your just reward. I even say that you should look for sacrifice. If you don't feel you are sacrificing, ask yourself, "What is the Lord asking me to sacrifice? Which areas of my life is He expecting me to give more of?" I will show you. I will tell you.—Because I don't want you to miss out on the blessing I have to give you in return. I love you so much! Not only did I die so that you might live, not only did I take the sins of the world, but I love you so much that for each sacrifice you make for Me—whether small or big—I love to repay.
151. So what do you say? Are you interested in this investment? Are you willing to put all your time, resources, strength‚ effort, talents, and your very life into this investment? The more you give, the more you will receive. That's the name of the game. It's worth it! I will give you the grace you need. The anointing I am making available to you will help you to grab ahold of the days that are ahead of you and walk in full faith, knowing that I will bring you through. (End of message.)
Your commission is to be an example to all, young and old‚ great and small, of loving the Lord, loving each other‚ and loving the lost.
Your commission is to be an example of understanding, sympathy, compassion and tenderheartedness.
Your commission is to lift up the Words of David, to rally the troops to believe and have faith.
Your commission is to raise a standard against the attacks of the Enemy, to strengthen those who are weakening, to save those who are almost lost.
Your commission is to be an example of the uniting of the generations, working hand in hand in love and unity and mutual respect with the older generation.
Your commission is to seek the Lord and hear from Him fresh each day; to make prayerful, Spirit-led decisions; to not lean to your own understanding, but to constantly, every day and in every way, seek the Lord.
Your commission is to live the Law of Love and to give of yourselves and your loved ones to those who are in need.
Your commission is to stand strong in the face of the Enemy and his lies, and to raise a standard against him by turning to the Word and the truth for your strength.
Your commission is to put aside your personal preferences and desires in order to commit yourselves to fight to overcome your personal weaknesses, and do all that is within your power to be a good sample to the brethren.
Your commission is to kneel in humility before the Lord your God and to admit at every possible opportunity that it's only Jesus.
Your commission is to stand strong and tall and faithfully lead the troops in the battles which are to come, knowing that you can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you.
Your commission is to remain loyal to the king and queen and the Words of David, and to remember that your lives are not your own, but they are bought with a price. Now you belong to the Lord and your Family. (ML #3095)
1. The power of positive speech:
A. Loving, wholesome speech has a great effect:
2Chr.10:7If thou be kind unto this people...and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants forever
Pro.15:1aA soft answer turneth away wrath
Pro.15:23A word spoken in due season‚ how good is it
Pro.25:15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone
B. Wise speech is health and life:
Pro.10:11aThe mouth of the righteous man is a well of life
Pro.12:18bThe tongue of the wise is health
Pro.15:4aA wholesome tongue is a tree of life
Pro.16:24Pleasant words are...sweet to the soul, and health
C. Other points on wholesome speech:
Pro.8:6The opening of my lips shall be right things
Pro.14:3bThe lips of the wise shall preserve them
Pro.31:26bIn her tongue is the law of kindness
Eccl.10:12aThe words of a wise man's mouth are gracious
Jam.3:2If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect (complete, mature) man
(See also Psa.37:30; Pro.10:31; 15:7; 24:26; Mal.2:6,7.)
D. Speaking the right things at the right time:
Pro.10:32aThe lips of the righteous know what is acceptable
Pro.25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver
Eccl.8:5bA wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment
E. Speaking encouraging words to strengthen others:
Gen.50:21bAnd he comforted them‚ and spake kindly unto them
Deut.3:28aEncourage him, and strengthen him
Job 4:4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees
Job 16:5I would strengthen you with my mouth
Isa.35:3,4Strengthen the weak hands...say to them, Be strong
Isa.50:4Speak a word in season to him that is weary
F. Speaking and talking about the Lord's Word:
Deut.6:6,7Thou shalt talk of (the Word) when thou sittest...when thou walkest...when thou liest down...and risest up
Psa.119:172My tongue shall talk of Thy Word
Jn.6:63The Words I speak unto you, they are spirit, and...life
Eph.5:19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and...songs
1Pet.4:11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God
G. Sharing testimonies about the great things God has done:
Psa.9:11Sing praises...declare among the people His doings
Psa.35:28My tongue shall talk of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long
Psa.66:16I will declare what He hath done for my soul
Psa.145:1–7,I will speak of...Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works
10,12‚21...make known to men His mighty acts
Acts 12:17He...declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison
(See also Psa.37:30; 40:9,10; 71:17; Isa.12:4.)
H. Have a sense of humor and be able to laugh:
Pro.17:22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (See also Pro.15:13,15)
Psa.126:2Then was our mouth filled with laughter (See Job 8:21)
(See also Gen.21:6; Eccl.3:4; 10:19a.)
3. The damage an uncontrolled tongue will do:
A. An uncontrolled tongue will defile you and others:
Mat.15:11That which cometh out of the mouth...defileth a man
Mat.15:18Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile a man
Jam.3:6The tongue is...a world of iniquity...it defileth the whole body
B. A talebearing (gossiping) tongue is a fire:
Jam.3:5‚6The tongue is a fire...it setteth on fire...and is set on fire of hell
Pro.16:27Ungodly man...in his lips there is as a burning fire
C. A slanderous, wicked tongue is deadly poison:
Jam.3:8The tongue...is...full of deadly poison
Psa.140:3Adders' poison is under their lips
Eccl.10:11The serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better
Rom.3:13bThe poison of asps is under their lips
D. A vainbabbling tongue destroys like cancer:
2Tim.2:16,17Profane and vain babblings...their word will eat as doth a canker (cancer)
E. A sharp, malicious tongue can inflict deep wounds:
Pro.12:18aThere is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword
Pro.25:18Man that beareth false witness...is a maul, and a sword
Pro.26:22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts (deep)
F. A malicious tongue destroys and kills:
Pro.11:9aAn hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor
Pro.18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue
Pro.26:28A flattering mouth worketh ruin
G. It destroys love and friendship:
Pro.16:28bA whisperer (gossiper) separateth chief friends
Acts 14:2Made their minds evil affected against the brethren
5. Controlling your tongue:
A. Refrain from corrupt communication:
Pro.4:24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips
Eph.4:29aLet no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth
Eph.5:4Neither filthiness (obscenity), nor foolish talking‚ nor jesting, but rather giving of thanks
Col.3:8Put...filthy communication out of your mouth
1Tim.6:20aAvoiding profane and vain babblings
B. Speak edifying things, not corrupt:
Eph.4:29No corrupt communication....but that which is...edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers
Col.4:6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt
Tit.2:8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned
Pro.8:8,9All the words of My mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them
(See also Rom.15:2)
C. You can't control your own tongue by yourself:
Jam.3:8The tongue can no man tame
D. Only God can, so yield to Him:
Psa.45:1bMy tongue is the pen of a ready writer [the Lord]
Pro.16:1The preparations of the heart of man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord
Isa.50:4The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned‚ that I...know how to speak [an encouraging] word
Lk.12:12The Holy Ghost shall teach you...what ye ought to say
1Pet.4:11aIf any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God
E. Read and obey God's Word, and let it change you:
Psa.119:9(How) shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed...to Thy Word
Jn.15:3Now ye are clean through the Word
Eph.5:26That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word
1Pet.1:22aYe have purified your souls in obeying the truth
(See also Pro.6:20-23; Heb.10:22.)
2. True freedom comes from reading, believing, obeying and preaching God's Word.
* Psalm 119:32,45,46 I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge [free] my heart. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts. 46 I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
* John 8:31,32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
* John 6:63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the Words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit‚ and they are Life.
* 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter [of the law], but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.
* James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. [See also 2:12.]
3. False freedom is the Devil's trap to bring us into bondage.
* Genesis 3:1-6 [Although God had given Adam and Eve nearly unlimited freedom in the Garden, the Devil tempted Eve to go beyond God's limits by making Eve feel she was being overly restricted. The outcome was disastrous:] Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden‚ God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof‚ then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat‚ and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. [They then realized they had sinned, and tried to hide from God. Because of their disobedience, they were driven from the true freedom of the Garden into the bondage of working by the sweat of their brow.]
* 2 Peter 2:19 [Worldly people use the allurement of so–called "liberty" to draw people into the trap of service to themselves and the world system.] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
* Romans 6:20-22 [The Devil's freedom brings bondage to sin and death.] For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
* Hebrews 11:24-26 [Moses resisted the temptation of worldly freedom, knowing that an infinitely greater freedom awaited him in Heaven:] By faith Moses‚ when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
7. Although all things are lawful unto us in Christ‚ we must have faith for our actions.
* Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth [believes or thinks] any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
* Romans 14:22,23 Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
* Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
* 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
9. Although all things may be lawful unto us, all things are not expedient [helpful‚ beneficial, profitable, wholesome].
* Romans 6:15 [Just because we have liberty, it is not license to do wrong.] What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
* 1 Corinthians 6:12 [Freedom can be good, but we must not be controlled by the pursuit of it.] All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
* 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify [instruct‚ strengthen, uplift] not.
14. The Lord has set us free, yet we choose to become love slaves for Jesus.
* Psalm 116:16 O Lord, truly I am Thy servant, ... Thou hast loosed my bonds.
* Romans 6:16–18 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
* Romans 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice‚ holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
* 2 Corinthians 5:15 And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.
Copyright © 2006 by The Family International