"The Seeds We Sow
Good morning friends and family and welcome to the J and L Ministries room here on Paltalk. I thank God for the opportunity to share messages through the internet with people from all over the world. I also thank Him for the awesome fellowship we can have after these messages are delivered. Today we're going to go in a different direction than we have been. Again, I think this will be a series, but a much needed word that we all must get. Are you glad to be saved? For those who are truly born again, there's nothing better than to live a Christian life. Glory to God! A true, born again Christian believer has joy. Even through the trials and temptations, you still have joy in your heart. A true follower of Christ is blessed and they are a blessing to others. Glory to God! Church are you listening? So praise God. Is everyone excited to hear from the word of God? Today’s message is “The Seeds We Sow." Now I know when some hear the word sowing they get antsy because they think the message is going to be on tithing. "Brother Jim is going to teach on tithing, why did I come this morning? He hardly ever brings up money issues." Even though I think it's very important that we tithe and that our tithes and offerings also need to be sown into good ground, and I will do a message on that when I feel led to, but this isn’t a message on God’s money. No my friends, this message has to do with a different type of sowing, and through this message we'll look at how we spend our time…what we say and what we do, what our reaction is to people when they wrong us. Here's one that some don’t like me to discuss, but it's important... sharing our faith with others. This topic about sharing the good news of Jesus with non-believers seems to be the least thing on many people’s agenda, yet Jesus our Savior told us to share the Gospel with the world. Amen? I love to talk about my faith. I love sharing the love of Christ with others. I get all teary eyed hearing testimony of how God worked in people's lives. To hear how people were delivered from things that you know that you know only God could have done. These are a few of the things we'll look at today. Is everyone excited? I said is everyone excited to hear from the Word of God this morning? Praise the Lord. God is so good. God's love never fails. His word never fails. His perfect will is always perfect for you and me. Amen? Prayer. I've shared before that Leanna and I have either the dramatized version of the King James Bible or sermons from different preachers playing each night when we go to bed. They play all night either on a CD or on an MP3. I've encouraged many to do the same. Recently we listened to a series that we haven’t heard for a bit and we both wanted to refresh our minds. Some of you may have heard it, maybe even read some of this man’s books. The series is called The Power of Blessing by Kerry Kirkwood. If you could turn in your Bibles to 1st Peter 3:8-10. Brothers and sisters in Christ, Leanna will be posting the scriptures as we go through today's message, but please friends, mark these verses down and study them for yourselves. For those who have Bibles of your own with you, follow along. Let your eyes see these words for yourself. It shows respect to the Lord and I believe that it gets into you better and feeds the spirit within you. That, and also to make sure I'm teaching you right. Lately I have those who say some really twisted stuff and they claim it comes from the Bible, and something you and I both need to start doing is when these things happen to ask, "Where's the scripture?" I know that there will be a time very soon that what I'll be sharing in another teaching, I'll have scriptures to prove the message and when the doubt comes, I'll have to ask those who attack to show me scriptures to show me otherwise. Amen someone? There's power in these words when we truly grasp the meaning and act on it. I mentioned last week, or maybe the week before, but when Leanna and I are asked from anyone how we are, we say we're blessed. Many times I'll say "I'm blessed and highly favored." Praise the Lord. There's power in those words. I did a message a while back on the importance of what we say or don’t say. We discussed the power of our words. Friends, we need to get this. 1 Peter 3:8-10 KJV Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: James 3:8-10 KJV 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. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Church, when we speak blessings out, we're declaring a prophetic message. Kerry, in this message, says when we speak blessings over someone we're saying, “May the Lord Grant you all of His intentions that He has purposed for you.” Is this awesome or what? This little phrase has all this inside when we speak it out. I bless you means I declare over you that God’s full intention that He has for your life would come into fullness. Amen? I would really urge everyone to get this CD set or the book. If you'd like to read the first chapter, here's a link. Enjoy. http://files.destinyimage.com/PowerofBlessing_freechap.pdf We started by reading these verses on the power of our tongue. We see that we can sow good seed or rotten seed. I wonder how many listening to this or who may reading or watching this video later have had good or bad seed sown into their lives? "Brother Jim, you act like words are a vegetable." I hope by the time we're done with this message, those who doubt will have a new perspective on the words they use towards others and the words we use about ourselves. How many times have we been to a store and we see a parent speaking ill words towards a child? Here in Maine it's a common occurrence. Why? I think a lot has to do with Maine’s poor economy. Maine is the second poorest state in America, and the county we live in is the poorest county within the state of Maine. I think maybe because to survive here, many have to work multiple jobs. Winters can be harsh and expensive to heat our homes during the winter. Many of the old-timers didn’t have a great education. Whatever the case, I see verbal abuse often. I'm not saying that we shouldn’t correct our children and grandchildren, but we need to be careful of the words we use. If everyone can turn to the book of James. I want to focus on verses in chapter 3 and starting with verse 1. Many of you know that I use this verse often. James 3:1 KJV My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. James 3:1 ASV Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. Who wants to lead this service today now? Teaching was a highly valued and respected profession in Jewish culture, and many Jews who embraced Christianity wanted to become teachers. I've shared in many messages that when Leanna and I knew it was time for us to leave a church that we helped start and we prayed where God would have us go to church, and after 2 months of hearing, “Right here and let Me guide you,” we finally did. This is one of the verses that kept going through my mind. James warned that although it's good to aspire to teach, the teacher’s responsibility is great because their words and examples affect others' spiritual lives. If you're in a teaching or leadership role, how are you affecting those you lead? I hope I'm doing okay in this area. My greatest passion in life is to sow seeds into the lives of those who are lost, not knowing Christ as their Savior and to teach those who have heard a watered down message for so long that might keep them from being a King’s kid. Amen? I've found especially in the last couple months that there are those who are so caught up on tradition. Everything has to be as what they learned in the church that they attended for the past few decades. Didn't Jesus rebuke those religious leaders for their persistence of keeping traditions? People get all caught up on what type of music should be played. Should we shake hands and greet one another before the service starts? This very thing causes division within a church. Do the men need to wear a 3 piece suit? Women have to wear a dresses to their ankles and they have to have uncut hair and their hair needs to be in a bun and if not, they're not welcomed into a church. "Look at that couple, they're wearing jeans. What a disgrace." Oh my friends, if this is you, get over yourselves. James 3:2-3 KJV For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. In the past few months I've had many tests. I've been in several situations where I almost let the flesh get the best of me. I've been in many positions where I really needed to bite my tongue and do that counting to 10 thing. Walking away, knowing that Satan was defeated, I did much praising to Jesus. Friends, what we say and what we don’t say are both important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but it's also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn’t. And just to go a bit further with this, what we type is the same as speaking these things out of our mouths. In the past 5 to 10 years, it seems that instead of using the little member that dangles under our nose to communicate, we tickle our keys on our computers or type on our cell phones. Those same words, spoken out-loud or typed, can either curse or bless others. When we look at these two verses in James, it speaks volumes, or should. A few examples of an untamed tongue, (ready for this?) include gossiping (many don’t realize this), putting others down (oops, did that talk to someone?), bragging (that's something that I've had to really work on at different times in my life), manipulating, false teachings, exaggerating (again, me), complaining (at times), flattering and lying. Before you speak, ask , “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” How many did these two verses speak to? James 3:4 KJV Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. In Gill’s Commentary, he says this. "A small helm," as the apostle here does, and accounts for it how large ships should be moved and steered by it. And so, though the tongue is to the rest of the body as a small helm to a large ship, yet like that, it has great influence over the whole body, to check it when it's carrying away with the force of its appetites and passions; and so churches, societies, and bodies of Christians, which are large and numerous, and are like ships upon the ocean, tossed to and fro with tempests, driven by Satan's temptations and the world's persecution, and ready to be carried away with the wind of false doctrine, yet are influenced and directed aright by those who are at the helm, the faithful ministers of the word, who say to them, "This is the way, walk in it." Friends, this is speaking about us right now. We're in that age. James wrote this verse about 45 AD. And John Gill, who was a great theologian and pastor was born November 23, 1697 and died October 14, 1771. We see these things still being a problem in 2015. James 3:6 KJV 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. James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire. Catch and understand this friends. The tongue’s wickedness has its source in hell itself. We just read that the uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and put them against one another. How many have seen this happen within the past 6 months? Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they're spoken. 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 and you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do. Couples, do we hear this? Moms and dads, grandparents? Business men and women, did we hear this? Friends at school, did you hear this? Words can scar. Oh…church groups, praise and worship leaders, you were being spoken to also. No one is exempt here. It happens, but it shouldn’t. And then what does James say? James 3:8 KJV But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. What kinds of seeds does the tongue sow? No cunning, persuasion, or influence has ever been able to silence it. Nothing but the grace of God, excision (cutting it out), or death, can bring it under subjection. Someone might be thinking, "If no human being can control the tongue, why bother trying?" Even if we may not achieve perfect control of our tongues, we can still learn enough control to reduce the damage our words can do. It's better to fight a fire than go around setting new ones. Church, one thing we need to remember is that we're not fighting the tongue’s fire in our own strength. The Holy Spirit will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say so that when we're offended, the Spirit will remind us of God’s love, and we won’t react in a hateful manner. When we're criticized, the Spirit will heal the hurt, and we won't lash out. Am I speaking to someone? My hand is raised. Let's look at a few more verses in James chapter 3. James 3:9-12 KJV Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. What should come out of our mouths? Blessings and cursing? Blessings is speaking good, encouraging words to uplift others. To bless has the power to cause success, to multiply and to prosper. What about cursing? Many think this has to do with 4 letter words that we know better than to say. No my friends, it goes much deeper than that. Cursing is the opposite of blessing. Instead of speaking increase, when you speak curses, you speak decrease. Instead of speaking success, you're speaking failure. Are we getting this brethren? Instead of speaking health, you're speaking sickness. And what did James say about cursing? "These things should not be." At times our words are right and pleasing to God. Some of us have memorized verses that please God, but then at other times our words are violent and destructive to others. Which of these two speech patterns reflects our true identity? The tongue gives us a picture of our basic human sin. God works to change us from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit purifies a heart, he gives us self-control so that the person will speak words that please God. We also should be speaking words that are kind to others, uplifting and edifying to others. In the series I mentioned, The Power of Blessing, you'll find some of these keys. Friends, as I've been preparing this message, I think we'll call this an introduction of this series "The Seeds We Sow. " There are so many things that I believe God wants us to look at, and in a week or two, I don't think we can even scratch the surface. Church, in closing, what you and I need to understand from today's message, and we will look more into this as we go, is we need to be careful of the things we speak. We're to speak blessing and...... blessing. Amen, friends? Should we speak cursing? So another words, we don't speak failure. We don't talk death. We don't talk doubt. We don't talk worry. Are you seeing this church? We don't talk fear. Church, we're all going to have what many call off-days. You know those days that it seems like the whole world comes against you? Days that distractions come and come? Days when everything you touch seems to break, or go wrong? What do we do about it? We can speak blessings, or we can curse. What will you do from this day on? Let's for a moment hear some of the things that people say that might be curses. "I'm so tired of being sick and tired." "Errr, that blankity-blank-blank." I heard a pastor a while back who kept using this phrase and I'll be using it a lot throughout this series, because it fits. For those who I fellowship with on other sites, you're going to hear this. "If you say so." "Oh, my head aches so bad I just want to die." "If you say so." "Every time I get ahead, something else breaks and has to be replaced." "If you say so." "Every time I get something paid off, something else come up." "If you say so." If you say so, it will be so. "I just feel like I'm in bondage all the time." "If you say so." My dear friends, I know there are ones that don't like what I am saying right now. There are ones who may be listening right now that this irritates you and the reason why it irritates you is because you don't get it. You're not refraining from cursing. You and I have to realize that this isn't about irritating, it's about being free. This is about realizing one of the most powerful things that God has put at our disposal. Glory to God! Friends, when you want to see your life change....Church get this. If you get anything today in your heart today, get this. If you want to see a life change, watch what comes out of your mouth. When you change from cursings to blessings you'll see your life change. Friends, this is not my words. As we continue in this series, I'll show you scripture after scripture after scripture. Praise God! Brothers and sisters, you may be feeling some things, you may be hearing some things. You might be right in the middle of things that aren't good. Oh church understand this. Don't speak those negative words. This is where spiritual discipline comes in. Yes, I have to be reminded too. Friends, as we look into this more next week I'm going to show you proof of what I'm referring to. Satan hates everything about you. Satan is the tempter and we learn from God's Word that he's the god (little g) of this world. Satan is about death and darkness. Now is anyone getting a revelation of where that negative speech comes from? He wants you to speak negative. Satan wants you to speak of things against your good health and your life, because when he gets you to do that, it allows him in. Satan comes so subtly. Just like the snake that he is. He can make things sound so good, so inviting, but there's always a catch. Something's always twisted and perverted, because the truth isn't in him. Church, I choose life. What about you? I choose speaking blessings over others and myself. What about you? Praise be to Jesus. We only started looking into the seeds we sow, and that was only in our speech. For parents hearing or reading this, children pick up on what we say and do. Oh, do I know this from our grandson Ashton. I've mentioned this before, but it's so worth saying again, as a parent or grandparent may pick up on this. Leanna and I took care of Ashton our 10 year old grandson most of his infant life because of his parent’s jobs, then separation, to divorce. Ashton had many health issues, his mom was dealing with cancer and they lived about 3 hours away, so it was easier for Leanna and I to have him live with us for the first few months of his life . We made a commitment to God saying that we'd bring him up as Godly as we could. He's heard God’s Word. He praises and worships God with us. He's memorized parts of the Bible. He asks questions about Jesus often. Even when he was 8 years old he witnessed as best as an 8 year old can to his friends. Is it important that we sow good seed into our youngster’s lives? Absolutely! If this had been going on in the majority of the families here in the US for the last couple of decades, we wouldn’t be hearing about all the violence, sexual crimes and all the things that are an abomination to God at the alarming rate that we hear of now. One thing I want to say today, and I hope everyone hearing this or reading this will think about all week long… sow the seed of love to everyone you meet. Thank you so much for allowing J and L Ministries into your homes. Please, share these teachings with family and friends. Let's do all we can to educate and remind others of the things of our Savior. Let me leave you each with this verse. Proverbs 4:22 KJV For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. We love you and look forward to sharing with you next time. May the Lord bless you.
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