BRINGING PLEASURE TO GOD IN WORSHIP!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 12, 2020.

SUBJECT : BRINGING PLEASURE TO GOD IN WORSHIP!

Memory verse: "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.”  (Psalm 147 vs 11.)

READ: Matthew 4 vs 8 - 10:

4:8: Again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 

4:9: And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

4:10: Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.

INTIMATION:

God created you for His pleasure, therefore, you should bring pleasure to Him. God takes pleasure in your recognition of who He is. He lays great emphasis on who He is. The statement, "I am the Lord," is made over 350 times by the Lord in ‘Old Testament’ alone. Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. Worshipping God is one of your life's purposes. He takes pleasure in it. Worship is paying great honor to; to love and admire very greatly. Worship is the appropriate response to God's self-revelation. You worship because you know the worth of what you worship. You worship God because you know who He is. When you catch the revelation of God and His worth, the appropriate response is to reverence Him in worship. 

God desires your worship in spirit and in truth (John 4 vs 23). True worshippers worship God in spirit. "God is Spirit" means He is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere and He can be worshipped anywhere, at any time. It is not where you worship that counts, but how you worship. Is your worship genuine and true? Whatever you do anytime, anywhere, and anyhow that gives God pleasure is an act of worship. God desires our reverence and trust. Have you ever imagined who God is? Have you ever sat down to appreciate nature, and all the natural things you see around you? How did they come into being? Take a little time and do this, starting with imagining how you were made. It is in so doing, you catch the self-revelation of who created all these things, and worship Him. 

Even the devil knows the essence of worship, and wants to be worshipped. He took Jesus to an 'exceedingly high mountain,' God's creation, and showed Him "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory," again God' creation. He requested that Jesus should worship him for all these, which, of course, are not created by him. Jesus answered him well, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." God created us to worship Him, and only Him we shall serve. The devil, the greatest enemy of God, wanted that which is due to God alone. He offered the whole world to Jesus in exchange of worshipping him. You can now realize the value of worship—worth more than the whole world.

The understanding of "worship" defers among religious backgrounds. Some think that praises during church services with singing constitute worship, some think that praying, and listening to a sermon as worship. Some think of ceremonies, candles, and communion as worship. Others think of healing, miracles, and ecstatic experiences as worship. Worship include these elements, but worship is far more than these expressions. Worship is a lifestyle. It is not a part of your life; it is your life. Worship is not just communion, with God, or church services. It is your whole life given for service to God, and His pleasure. 

The psalmist, in Psalm 105 vs 4 says, "Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore." And, "From the rising of the sun to it's going down the Lord's name is to be praised." (Psalm 113 vs 3.) God is worshipped continually, therefore, praise God in worship at all times—at work, at home, in battle, in jail, and even in bed! Praise should be the first activity when you open your eyes in the morning and the last activity before you close them at night. Ensuring that you worship Him continually knowing it is the first purpose of your creation.

Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God. The Bible, in First Corinthians 10 vs 31, says "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." How is it possible to do everything to the glory of God? By allowing God's love to permeate our motives so that all we do will be to His glory. By doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by carrying on a continual conversation with Him while we do it. You can keep as a guiding principle the question to self, "Is this action glorifying God?" Or "How can I honor God through this action?"

The Bible, in Colossians 3 vs 23 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men." This is the secret to a lifestyle of worship—doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus. Since creation, God has given us work to do. If we could regard our work as an act of worship or service to God, such an attitude should be regarded as the cost of discipleship. The apostle Paul noted this in Romans 12 vs 1 when he said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." We should daily lay aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at His disposal and trusting Him to guide us. 

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire is for an intimate relationship with You. Endue me with Your excellent spirit that I may worship You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD CREATED YOU FOR HIS PLEASURE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MAY 11, 2020.

SUBJECT : GOD CREATED YOU FOR HIS PLEASURE!

Memory verse: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4 vs 11.)

READ: Ephesians 1 vs 5 - 6 says:

1:5; Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the pleasure of His will, 

1:6: to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

INTIMATION:

God created you for His pleasure. It pleased Him when He made you in His image and after His likeness. All creatures in heaven and earth will worship and honor God because He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Our God is a God of pleasure, and you were planned for His pleasure. The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth. He planned it all because He does His pleasure (Isaiah 46 vs 10). God created you for a reason; for His purpose, His delight, His glory, and for His benefits.

Living for God's pleasure, and bringing joy to Him, is the first purpose of your life. All the things the God did, and does is perfect, therefore creating you for His pleasure is perfect, and when you fully understand this truth, you will never feel insignificant, as you now know your worth. He created you to be like Himself, because of your  importance to Him. And if you are that important to God, and He considers you valuable enough to share eternity with Him, then what greater significance could you have? You are a child of God, and you bring pleasure to God like nothing else He has ever created.

It is clear to you that God delights in you and takes pleasure in you. He wants you to reciprocate His good gesture by also delighting in Him. The psalmist in Psalm 37 vs 4 says, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

We are called to delight ourselves in the Lord and to commit everything we have and do (our "way") to Him. But how do we do this? To delight in someone means experience great pleasure and joy in his or her presence. This happens only when we know Him better. Knowledge of God's great love for us will indeed give us delight.

To commit ourselves to the Lord means entrusting everything—our lives, families, jobs, possessions and so on—to His control and guidance. To commit ourselves to the Lord means trust in Him, believing that He can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be willing to wait for Him to work out what is best for us. When you delight yourself in the Lord, you rest assured that the desires of heart will be granted to you. 

In the passage we read today, the word "predestined" means marked out beforehand. It was God's will that you are His child, made in His own image and after His likeness, and it is pleasurable to Him. Therefore, He also gave you the gift of enjoying pleasure, and this is one of the greatest gifts He has given you, hence He wired you with five senses and emotions so you can experience it. He wants you to enjoy life, not just endure it. "The Lord takes pleasure in His people" (Psalm 149 vs 4). It is for His pleasure in us He did all He did through Jesus Christ for us. 

God wants His attribute expressed in us, hence His creating us in His image, and after His likeness.  God has emotions, too. He feels things deeply. The Bible tells us that God grieves (Genesis 6 vs 6), gets jealous (Exodus 20 vs 5), and angry (Judges 2 vs 20), and feels compassion, pity (Psalm 103 vs 13), sorrow, and sympathy (Deuteronomy 32 vs 36) as well as happiness (Ezekiel 5 vs 13), gladness, (First Chronicles 16 vs 27), and satisfaction. God loves (First John 4 vs 16), delights (Psalm 18 vs 19), gets pleasure (Psalm 35 vs 27), rejoices (Psalm 104 vs 31), enjoys, and even laughs! (Psalm 2 vs 4.)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the privilege of sonship, and Your exceeding love for me, give me the grace to lead a life that will give You pleasure at all times, in the mighty Name of Jesus I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

TWO PARTS OF THINKING LIKE CHRIST!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MAY 10, 2020.

SUBJECT : TWO PARTS OF THINKING LIKE CHRIST!

Memory verse: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2 vs 5.)

READ: Romans 8 vs 5 - 9:

8:5: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8:8: So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
8:9:  But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

INTIMATION:

There are two parts in thinking like Jesus did. The first half of this mental shift is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centered and self-seeking. The Bible, in First Corinthians 14 vs 20, says, "Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature." Unfortunately, many people never grow beyond that kind of thinking. The Scripture says that selfish thinking is the source of sinful behavior. Those live according to the flesh, and their minds are dominated by things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. 

The apostle Paul divides people into two categories; those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful natures, and those who follow after the Holy Spirit. All of us would have been in the first category if Jesus hadn't offered us a way out. Once we have said yes to Jesus, we will continue following Him, because His way brings life and peace. Daily we must consciously choose to focus our lives on God. The Scripture gives us God's guidelines, and we should discover them and follow it. I advise, as a guide, to ask yourself this question when faced with a perplexing situation; "What would Jesus want me do?" When the Holy Spirit points out what is right, do it eagerly.

The second half of thinking like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself. Jesus is God, all things were made through Him. Without Him there is nothing made that was made. (John 1 vs 3.) All His works, and His walk on earth were for our benefits, not His. This is because of the love Him and the Father have for us, and it is for this love that He is given to us, "For God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son." (John 3 vs 16.) Everything about Jesus demonstrates unselfishness and love. Maturity therefore, is when we start thinking like Jesus, when become unselfish, loving, and ready to put self last.

Now, look at what the apostle Paul said in his great chapter on love; First Corinthians 13 vs 11, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." It was in his maturity, he became a man, that he understood properly, and wrote the great message on love.

Today many assume that spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of biblical information and doctrine you know. While knowledge is one measurement of maturity, it isn't the whole story. The Christian life is far more than creeds and convictions; it includes conduct and character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds, and our beliefs must be backed up with Christlike behavior. Christianity is more than a religion or a philosophy, it is more of a relationship and lifestyle. The core of that lifestyle is thinking of others, as Jesus did, instead of ourselves. 

The Bible, in Romans 15 vs 2 - 3, says, "Let each one of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." The Scripture tells us to please our "neighbor for his good." It means will only do those things to our neighbors that will be good for them, and not that do whatever they want. If we merely set out to please our neighbors, we will be people-pleasers. But we are to set aside willfulness and self-pleasing actions for the sake of building others up for good. 

Thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best evidence of spiritual growth. This kind of thinking of unnatural, counter-cultural, rare, and difficult. Fortunately we have help as detailed in First Corinthians 2 vs 12, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."

Prayer: Abba Father, let that mind which was in Christ be in me, that I may lead an unselfish life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MAY 9, 2020.

SUBJECT : CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Memory verse: "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life." (Proverbs 4 vs 23.)

READ: Luke Luke 6 vs 43 - 45:

6:43: For a good tree does not bear bad fruit; nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

6:44: For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from of a bramble bush.

6:45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good: and evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

INTIMATION:

To change your life, you must change the way you think. Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude. God revealed this thousands of years before psychologists understood it.

Our speech and actions reveal our true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations. The good impressions we try to make cannot last if we are being deceptive. What is in your heart will come out in your speech and behavior, and thus showcases your underlying beliefs, attitude and motivation. We should guard our hearts above all else, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will help us be on the right path. 

Your life cannot be changed by willpower, it can only be changed by your thought process, and the help of the Spirit of God. We have seen people make new year's resolutions that are forgotten in a few days. This is a clear indication that your willpower, and best intentions are not enough. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God desires to make in our lives. I have seen people say, "I'll force myself to eat less, exercise more, quit being disorganized and late." Yes, willpower can produce short-term changes, but it creates constant internal stress because you haven't dealt with the root cause—your thinking. The change doesn't feel natural, so eventually you give up, and revert to your old patterns. 

The better and easier way to change your life is to change the way you think, and this is your very first step in spiritual growth. Change always starts first in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act. The apostle Paul, in Romans 12 vs 2, says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Let God, through His Spirit, transform you into a new person by changing, with your cooperation, the way you think. There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes (Ephesians 4 vs 23).

To be like Christ you must develop the mind of Christ. The New Testament calls this mental shift repentance, which in Greek literally means "to change your mind." You repent whenever you change the way you think by adopting how God thinks; about yourself, sin, God, other people, life, your future, and everything else. You take on Christ's outlook and perspective. 

The apostle Paul divides people into two categories; those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful natures, and those who follow after the Holy Spirit. All of us would have been in the first category if Jesus hadn't offered us a way out. Once we have said yes to Jesus, we will continue following Him, because His way brings life and peace. Daily we must consciously choose to focus our lives on God. The Scripture gives us God's guidelines, and we should discover them and follow it. I advise, as a guide, to ask yourself this question when faced with a perplexing situation; "What would Jesus want me do?" When the Holy Spirit points out what is right, do it eagerly.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit. Let the spirit of Christ dwell in me richly that I may renew my mind and think like Him in all I do, in the mighty Name of Jesus I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

TRUSTING GOD WITH YOUR MONEY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2020.

SUBJECT : TRUSTING GOD WITH YOUR MONEY!

Memory verse: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16 vs 10.)

READ: Luke 16 vs 11 - 13:

16:11: Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 

16:12: And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? 

16:13: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

INTIMATION:

Jesus said that trusting God in the area of your money (mammon) is the least area of trust. He called money "that which is least" (Luke 16 vs 10). What an incredible statement! It is completely contrary to the way most believers think. Our integrity often meets its match in money matters. If you can’t trust God in that which is least, how can you trust Him in that which higher. You can't do greater things without doing the lesser things first. If you can't lift five pounds weight, then you certainly shouldn't go out and try to lift a hundred pounds weight. You have to start with what is least and work your way up. If you can't walk ten paces, then you can't climb a mountain. Jesus' teaching clearly shows that trusting God with your money is the list use of your faith. If you can't do that which is least, how then can you trust Him for the greater things. 

Money has the power to take God's place in your life, hence Jesus called it “unrighteous mammon.” Most people cling to their money and possessions for fear of losing them and not getting another. Clinging to your money out of fear that God won't provide for you, and then trying to say you are believing God for other things, like healing or restoration, is like saying, "I can't jump three feet, but I will compete in long jump in Olympics. It doesn't work that way. If you aren't trusting God in your money (that which is least), then you are deceiving yourself thinking you can trust Him with your eternal salvation or anything else. That is profound!

Though everything has been provided for us in the Scriptures, but you can't have them because probably you won't trust God for big things until you can trust Him for little things as mammon first. Trusting God with your money is much more important than it has been given credit. Many people are trying to bypass this issue and move on to bigger things, but it won't work. Just like other areas of life, you have to start at the beginning and work your way up. 

Remember, Jesus said that you can't serve two masters (Luke 16 vs 13.) You can't trust yourself when it comes to money and then trust God with everything else. It isn't effective to compartmentalize your faith so that you are trying to trust God in one area, but not in others. If you are going to trust God, then trust Him all the way. The same God who promised eternal life when you confess Jesus as your Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10 vs 9), also said to give and it would be given back to you. (Luke 6 vs 38.)

Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But if you are not trustworthy with your money that is equated to that which is the least, you will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's kingdom that starts with the gift of salvation. If your integrity slips off you in small matters as money, it will eventually fail you in crucial decisions either. God calls us to be honest even in small details we could easily rationalize away. Such small details God has equated with money. 

If you aren't seeing greater things come to pass in your life, the reason may very well be that you aren't trusting God with "that which is least." Believing for your family to be restored, for healing to manifest in your body, are all infinitely greater than believing for finances. If you haven't started trusting God with your finances yet, how can you go beyond that and trust Him to heal your body? How can you trust God to give you eternal life, but not trust Him to provide for your physical needs? Not trusting God with your money, in my considered opinion, is a demonstration of your love of money. The apostle Paul’s warning on the love of money, in First Timothy 6 vs 10, is as clear as the day, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Be wise!

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit complete trust in, and obedience to You in all things, even in that which is least—money—that I will be fit for Your heavenly riches, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE STRUGGLE WITH THE DEFEATED FOE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 7, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE STRUGGLE WITH THE DEFEATED FOE!

Memory verse:  "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public show of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2 vs 15.) 

READ: Colossians 2 vs 10 - 15:

2:10: And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power:
2:11: In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 
2:12: buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
2:13: And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 
2:14: having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 

2:15: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public show of them, triumphing over them in it.

INTIMATION:

The Christian’s struggle is not against the physical things of this world (John 18 vs 36 - 38). His struggle is a spiritual battle against the deceptive devices of Satan who seeks to change the moral values of those who are willing to live according to their own desires as opposed to the will of God. Satan is very busy tempting us, inviting us to give in to his kind of life, and give up on God’s kind of life. He can imitate parts of God’s work to deceive people. After getting Eve to sin, he’s been busy getting people to sin, making them doubt God’s goodness, implying that God is strict, selfish, and difficult. Just as he did to Eve, he makes people forget about all the countless blessings and promises God has given them, and instead, focus on what God has restricted or forbidden.

The source of all evil that is seen in the world is Satan and his demonic forces that are at work in order to destroy the work of God through Jesus. Through deception, Satan has instigated those institutions and governments that control society to lead people against the truth of God. He works through the false religions and mystical beliefs of those who do not know God or desire to know the truth of God. The saints must be aware that Satan is alive and working in a deceived world of secular enticements and religious misdirection. 

Though, the battle with Satan is a difficult, ongoing struggle. Victory over sin and temptation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our efforts. The critical blow to Satan came when the Lamb, Jesus Christ, shed His blood for our sins. The victory is won by sacrifice—Christ’s death in our place to pay the penalty for our sin, and the sacrifices we make because of our faith in Him. As we face the battle with Satan, we should not fear it or try to escape from it, but we should loyally serve Christ, who alone brings victory (See Romans 8 vs 34 - 39).

The word “disarmed” is from a military word that referred to the stripping off of the enemies armor after his defeat in battle. Through the cross, Jesus stripped Satan of his power to reign through sin and death. He freed those who come to God’s grace by their faith. What men could not do by their own through performance of the law that brought sin and death, God accomplished through the gospel of grace. He reached forth with grace in order to save those who responded to Him through obedient faith. By the work of Jesus on the cross, Satan has thus been stripped of his power over the souls of men. 

What the world saw as the public humiliation of a Jew on a cross outside Jerusalem was actually the humiliation of Satan in the spiritual realm. Satan now has no power over those who determine to walk in the light. We have war with a defeated enemy. Everything that Jesus did is accredited to us. He didn't conquer Satan for Himself. He didn't put sin away for Himself. He didn't suffer the judgement that would have fallen upon the sinners for Himself. But He suffered it on our behalf, and we have entered into His victory, it is accredited to us. The defeated enemy rules us by subterfuge, by bluff, by deception. He put diseases upon us and hold us in bondage through our ignorance of what we are in Christ and what inheritance in Him.

The Christian’s strength is maintained if he or she remains in fellowship with the Lord who is the source of power against Satan. This imperative command places the responsibility for being strong on the shoulders of the Christian. The Holy Spirit does not assume responsibility for keeping the Christian strong. The responsibility for faithfulness is with free-moral saints who must maintain the spiritual armor of the Lord by which strength is maintained against the wiles of Satan. The individual who will be held accountable for himself must spiritually clothe himself with those things that have already been revealed. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for all You wrought for us in redemption in Christ. Give me grace to lay claim, and exercise my rights in Christ, that the accuser of brethren will be far away from me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE CAUTIOUS WHEN YOU SPEAK!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2020.

SUBJECT: BE CAUTIOUS WHEN YOU SPEAK!

Memory verse: "You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth.” (Proverbs 6 vs 2.)

READ: James 3 vs 2, 5, 8 - 12:

3:2: 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.

3:5: Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

3:8: But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

3:9: With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God?

3:10: Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be so.

3:11: Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 

3:12: Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

INTIMATION:

Our words are integral part of ourselves; they are ourselves. You create a mental condition with your words. Your words, coming from your heart, goes out into the air to thrill and throb in the hearts of those that listen. If your words are full of love and peace and fidelity, they are born out of your heart life. Life is largely made of words. We declare war with words. Divorces and defeats are made up of words. Children become what words make them.

What you say and what you don’t say are both important. To use proper speech you must not only say the right words at the right time but also not say what you shouldn’t. Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire; you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.

The mouth can be used either as a weapon or a tool, hurting relationships or building them up. Sadly, it is often easier to destroy than to build, and most people have received more destructive comments than those that build up. Every person you meet today is either a demolition site or a construction opportunity. Your words will make a difference. Will they be weapons for destruction or tools for construction? Our contradictory speech often puzzles us. At times our words are right and pleasing to God, but at other times they are violent and destructive. You might be imprisoned with your own words. You talked failure and failure held you in bondage. You said that you did not have faith, and doubt arose like a giant and bound you. You said that you could not, and the moment that you said it you were whipped.

Few of us realize that our words dominate us. A young man said, "I was never whipped until I confess I was whipped." Another said, "The moment I began to make a bold, confident confession, a new courage that I had never known took possession of me." Another young woman said, "My lips have been a constant curse. I have never been able to get the mastery of my lips." 

A woman said the other day, "I always speak my mind." She has few friends. Only pity causes people to go see her. Her lips have been her curse. It isn't so bad speaking your mind if you have the mind of Christ, but as long as you have a mind dominated by the devil, few people care to hear your mind. When our speech is motivated by Satan, it is full of bitter envy, selfish ambition, earthly concerns and desires, unspiritual thoughts and ideas, confusion, and evil. But when our speech is motivated by God and His wisdom, it is full of mercy, love for others, peace, consideration for others, submission, sincerity, impartiality, and righteousness.

Learn to use words so they will work for you and be your servants. Learn that your lips make you a millionaire or a pauper; wanted or despised; a victor or a captive. Cultivate the habit of thinking big things, and then learn to use words that will react upon your own spirit and make you a conqueror. Your faith will never register above the words of your lips. Thoughts may come and persist in staying, but you refuse to put them into words and they die unborn.

Learn from our Messiah, His confessions proved to be realities. Jesus confessed that He is the Light of the World. He is it. The rejection of Him has plunged the world into a new darkness. He said He was the bread from heaven, and it is true. The people who feeds upon His Words never suffer want. His Words were filled with Himself, as we act on them, they fill us with Christ. We were made in God’s image, but the tongue gives us a picture of our basic sinful nature. God works to change us from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit purifies a heart, He gives self-control so that the person will speak words that please God. The believer's words should be born of love and filled with love. Our words should never bruise or hurt, but should bless and heal. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I know the creative power of words, for the world was created by spoken words, and by my words I will be justified, and by my words I will be condemned. Bridle my tongue, O Most High, endue me with spirit of self-control that I may speak words abundant in love, trust, and confidence in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!