THE TONGUE 4

HAVE YOU ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, YET?

IF NOT, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO TOMORROW.
Romans 10:9. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved!"

JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED FOR YOU

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Woman of Praise
by K. Michael








 The Tongue
Lesson 4

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

Psalm 112:1.  "Praise ye the Lord.  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 

Psalm 128:1. "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.

Proverbs 14:2.  "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him."

According to these three Bible verses, to fear the Lord is to delight in God's commandments, to walk in God's ways, and to walk uprightly before God. 

Why we must learn to bridle our tongues
In the previous lessons, we learned that we need to manage our tongues for the following reasons:
1.  It is a charge of God.  Proverbs 8:13.  "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."

2.  It qualifies us to be mature Christians. James 3:2b.  "If anyone offend (stumble) not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."

3.  We receive the ability to control the entire body when we master restraining our tongues.  (James 3.2b).

The Destructive Power of the Tongue
The fourth reason we must learn to bridle our tongues is because of its destructive nature.  The tongue, if left untamed, like a hurricane, can cause enormous devastation in our marriages, relationship with others, ministries, and so on,  leaving many reeling, injured, and dying in its wake. 

Here is James' version of the destructive nature of the tongue again:
James 3:5-6.  "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.  Behold, how great a matter (forest) 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 it is set on fire of hell."

He continues in verses 8-9, "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God."

Here are a few Bible characters who were destroyed by their tongues.

Shemei's Cursing

In the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 16, verses 5-8, it is recorded that a man called Shemei from the house of Saul cursed David, threw stones at him, called him names, and rejoiced over the distress he was facing with his son, Absalom, who was trying to take the kingdom from him.

Later on, in 1 Kings, chapter 2, verses 8-9, David warned his son, Solomon, not to spare Shemei's life; but to deal wisely with him, because he (David) had promised him (Shemei), he would not punish him for cursing him.  So Solomon, in all his wisdom, confined Shemei to a certain geographic location; and told him that the day he found himself out of that boundary, he would kill him.

Well, 3 years later, Shemei found himself where he was not allowed; and was killed by King Solomon in 1 Kings, chapter 2, verses 36-46.  Shemei's cursing to the king had brought judgment upon his head; even though, it was more that 3 years before it came.  

Nabal's Railing

1 Samuel 25:2-38

In this scene, David sent his servants to ask for help from a wealthy man by the name of Nabal, whom the Bible describes as churlish (harsh) and evil in his doings.  David instructed his servants to greet him with words of peace, and to let him know that they had been with his shearers, and did not hurt them nor steal from them during that time. 

The servants relayed the message exactly as they were told; but Nabal railed on them, treated them badly, and spoke harshly about God's anointed.  Be careful how you are talking about God's anointed--that's you and I.  Be careful how you speak about your brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Be careful how you talk about anyone at all. 

The Bible says in 10 days, God judged Nabal and he died (verse 38).  I pray this will never be your portion in Jesus' Name!

Ananias and Sapphira's Lie

In the book of Acts, chapter 5, verses 1-11, Ananias and Sapphira agreed to tell a lie to the Apostle Peter concerning a piece of land they had sold--they had only declared a portion of the earnings and kept the rest for themselves.  This lie, which the Apostle Peter describes as a tempting of the Spirit of God (verse 9), led to their physical death and caused great fear to fall upon many people. 

Beloved, there are some sins that you will commit with your lips that will lead to your physical death, as in the case of Shemei, Nabal, and Ananias and Sapphira.  Let's not tempt the Spirit of God; but hear what the Spirit of God is saying to us, and do what He is expecting of us.  Respect the man and woman of God placed in authority over you.  Respect God's anointed, and more than that, respect the Spirit of God; and don't let your pride destroy you. Who carries the Spirit of God?  The people of God. 

David was nobody, when Nabal reviled him, but he was anointed; and God judged Nabal and found him guilty.  I pray that you will not be found guilty for the use of your tongue.   May God always bless you and teach you out of His word! 

Provebs 21:23.  "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles." 

Posted January 1, 2010.

This is a monthly posting.

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Great people must face great challenges.

K. Bamkefa


Joshua 17:18

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No Response
by K. Bamkefa

 Like an alarm clock, each morning my toddler wakes me up at about 6:00 a.m. to make her breakfast.  So this particular morning, while I was in the kitchen preparing her meal, Mosi, her elder sister, glided into the kitchen and stood behind me.  Sensing another presence in the room, I turned around.  There she was, her face a blend of anger and melancholy; her eyes glaring and about to crest with tears.  Her expression was puzzling, as if she were about to scold me for something she had told me not to do. 

Confused, I paused for a moment wondering what could have possibly transpired, as I looked down at her.  She had just awakened.  Maybe she had a bad dream.  Then I broke the silence when I said, "What's the matter, Mosi?"  She did not respond.  So I continued fixing breakfast for the smaller child.  I completed it.  I picked it up.  I walked toward the table, sat down and began to feed the baby; then I noticed Mosi had moved to my left side with her head now dropped.

She no longer had the bewildering expression on her face, and I could tell that her spirit had calmed down considerably, like a troubled soul who received a fitting word, but that she still needed something.  So, I pondered for a moment, then I switched the baby to my right hand, stretched out my left arm, wrapped it around her like a blanket, and gave her a kiss.  Her mood changed instantly, and her spirit came alive! and even though she said nothing, I knew this was exactly what she wanted. 

In the same way, we, like little children, are sometimes unable to express our feelings; but thanks be to God!  He knows exactly what we are desiring. 

          Psalm 139:4.  "For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether."

Happy New Year!

Posted January 1, 2010

This is a monthly posting

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His Banqueting Table

1 Kings 9-11

"And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.  And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.  Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee.  I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant."

Posted January 1, 2010

This is a weekly posting.

Colossians 2:10-12

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality (rule and authority) and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

Posted January 08, 2010

 Colossians 2:13-15

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

Posted January 15, 2010  

Colossians 3:1-5

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

Posted January 23, 2010