What does the Bible say about that little member that dangles underneath our nose? Greetings to all of you this beautiful Sunday September 6, 2015. Leanna and I want to thank each of you who has joined us here in the J and L Ministries room on the Paltalk platform and also for those who'll be watching this on U-tube, or both Leanna's and my Cross Roads Fellowships sites, Mylook Online, A Far From Normal Faith Ministry, or Lokey Sisters and Google+. And then there are those who may be watching on Twitter or Facebook where friends have been posting there. All the Glory to God. About 5 years ago, Leanna and I offered a Bible study, studying from the book of James, on the power of our tongues. I think it's important that we be reminded from God’s perspective on this, because He knows all and He knows us, being our Creator. He also knows how our tongue can get us into a heap of trouble. All week long this topic seems to be what I have felt the Lord has put on my mind, along with another topic that will fit perfectly within this series that a couple people have brought up. Again, glory to God. So first, I would ask those who have a Bible in reach to grasp on to it. Do we all agree that the Bible is true? Every word of it is true? We all agree that the entire Bible was inspired from God? Praise the Lord! We're going to be searching throughout the Bible for God’s truth, so if you're taking notes, please have your paper and pen handy, as I'll be referring to many scriptures and we have a short time today to go through them. I want to look first at Proverbs 18: 21. This verse I hear used often, but I wonder if most heed the meaning. We're supposed to be hearers of the Word of God and then be doers. Yet that little member that dangles underneath our noses often wags. Proverbs 18: 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. What a powerful verse. We can speak death unto someone. We can speak death unto ourselves. You may say, "Brother Jim, how can I do that?" My friend, many do it on a daily basis. Example: My head aches so bad I want to die. Hmmm!!! I hurt so bad, it’s just killing me. Really? Then, there are the words that we can speak to or about others that can leave a scar that lasts for life. I'm sure each of you can relate to that in some point in your life. These things should not be. Now, did we catch the last part of that verse? "And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Think about the words that you've spoken about a supposed friend, maybe your wife or husband, or a child. Maybe a classmate, or co-worker. Are you speaking negative words that might come back to you? Hopefully each one listening is speaking positive words. Words that uplift and edify those people, and that's what I want to have come back to me. Amen everyone? Let’s go to Matthew chapter 15. Matthew 15:10-12 KJV And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: (11) Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. (12) Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? A Christian life, brothers and sisters, is to be Christ-like, and the things I hear many professing Christians saying is not being Christ-like. Let's go down a few verses to verse 18. Jesus is speaking here. Matthew 15: 18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Let’s see what else the Bible says about our hearts by turning to Jeremiah 17:9. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? So my friends, if our hearts are not right, we shouldn't say a thing. You know how when we get frustrated or angry we're apt to say things that we shouldn’t or don’t mean. Has anyone been there? Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. I know Leanna, I'm keeping you busy, but these are all things we need to read, understand and then make it part of our lives. Psalms 57:4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. One thing that really bothers me, and I'm sure you've heard it - parents who speak ill words over their children like, “You won’t amount to nothing. Why are you so stupid? You're so dumb." This doesn’t just hurt at the time it's being spoken. It can leave a scar on that child’s life forever. It also can be spoken into existence. Ephesians 4:29 KJV. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Okay, so we're to say good things to one another. What kind of words should we speak? That which edifies and words that may minister grace unto the hearers. Proverbs 16:24 KJV. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Here's what Jesus said at the Mount, and brethren, we need to listen up and heed these words. Matthew 12:36-37 KJV. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. The amplified version says this: 36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced. Are we seeing the dangers of speaking negatives towards others or ourselves? What stirred me up to discuss what we speak was we had a sermon playing one night, as we always do when we go to bed, and I heard a few scriptures that kept going through my mind. You know how a song comes on and you can’t get it out of your head? Sometimes it stays for days? Have any of you been there? Well, I woke up and there were parts of scriptures that I woke up with very early in the morning. So when I came downstairs I looked them up on E-sword. They didn’t seem to go with anything that I was going through, but figured that someone needed to hear them. These are powerful and very important scriptures that I want us to listen to and repeat. Amen? Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: LET THE WEAK SAY, I AM STRONG. Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Ephesians 6:10 KJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Later that morning I got a letter from a woman from Cross Roads Fellowship that I know battles from depression and she was tired of stuff and said she felt like ending everything like a friend of hers did a few months back. See how God works? Hallelujah!!! I replied to her and gave her the scriptures and told her to pin them up all over her house as a reminder and to speak them out. You see, I believe that the Bible is true. I believe there's much power in God’s Word, and when we speak scriptures out, we're speaking God’s words. Hebrews 4:12 KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God is our light and strength by whom and in whom He lives. Praise God! We should therefore let the heart be fixed in Him and the mind stayed upon Him, waiting His deliverance in all circumstances. Please turn to Proverbs 4 and verse 20. Here's a passage that those who've been joining us have heard me say often, but I feel we should be reminded of often. Praise the Lord. Proverbs 4:20-23 ASV My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. (23) Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. My friends, when we get into the Bible and meditate on these Words, they should be a reminder to us. I've often said to post scriptures up around places that you can read them and speak them out as a reminder. In a video just recently, I heard brother Jeff from a far from normal faith ministry mention something similar. Let’s all say this verse together. Psalms 18:32 KJV It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Again!!! GNB He is the God who makes me strong, who makes my pathway safe. Let’s say it again. He makes me strong. Do we hear our friends saying this? This is where we need to start changing what we speak. Leanna and I were blessed to have pastors who taught us when someone asks how you are, don’t start in with “Well you know, I’m tired and I’m broke and I.... No, no and no. Say, "I am blessed." When you're a child of God, you are blessed. Speak it out. Leanna and I always say we're blessed when someone asks how we are, even when we don’t feel it. We are blessed, and if you want to go even further, say you're blessed and highly favored from God above. We know we're blessed. We know that God's taking care of all our needs. We know that He's guiding us in the things we do for His Kingdom. Praise God. Mischelle, if you can type what you often say. Let’s say it again. I am strong in the Lord. He fills me with strength. Remember, there's life and death in the power of the tongue. He makes my path safe. Glory to God!!!! Psalms 27:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Let’s say it again. Let the weak say I am strong!! You're not saying your words, you are saying God’s Words. Do we believe there's power in these words? Psalms 19:14 KJV Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Say this, My God makes me strong!!! Satan wants you to say you're weak. He, little “h” wants you to speak ill of yourself. The Lord is the strength of my life. Again. I am strong. God is the strength of my mind, my body, my emotions. The Lord is the strength of my life. Friends, we need to get this and put our faith in this. Psalms 29:11 KJV The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. Let’s go to Psalms 71. I love this book. So many verses we can use, but let’s look at Psalms 71:16 KJV. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Say it with me, I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. Glory to God. Remember, this is what we're told in the Bible. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. Remember when the enemy comes and says you're too tired to go to church, or to go to work, or whatever. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. Psalms 84:7 KJV They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. They go from strength to strength. Let us all say this........ I’m going from strength to strength. I will go in the strength of the Lord God. God is my safe place. In God I will find my strength. Philippians 4:13 KJV I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. I am strong in the Lord. I am strong in the power of His might. Brothers and sisters, we went through many scriptures, yet I would highly suggest copying them down and posting them in places where you'll see them often. When you see them, keep speaking them out. Not just once or twice, but over and over. These are scriptures we should all be saying when we feel discouraged. When we feel like giving up. When we feel like we just can't go on anymore. In closing, let's turn to Matthew 7:7-8 . Matthew 7:7-8 KJV Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Let’s remember to speak good things. Let us remember to speak words that were inspired from God over situations. Let us not talk down other people. It's easier to not say anything if we remember that we're going to be held accountable for the things we say. I pray that these scriptures spoke to someone today. Our words are more important than most even know. As we read, we're responsible for every idle word we've spoken. It's so easy to let our flesh take over, but I honestly believe, when we're filled up with God's Word each day, it doesn't leave room for the negativity to come in. Praise God. Friends, in closing, we'll probably be a couple, maybe 3 weeks on this series, as the Lord leads. I know that there's one area that concerns our little member the tongue that I feel very much led to speak on and as I said, I'll probably add it to the next couple of messages. We thank each of you for being with us this morning and we do hope that you'll not just let these verses in one ear and out the other, but chew on them today. Write them down, maybe underline them in your Bible. Get them in your heart, but above all, act upon them. For those who want to hear this video, I won't have it up today, as I have to leave immediately after I close this room, but hopefully tomorrow it will be posted on J and L Ministries u-tube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcZK5TvqtrxZnf91hgSfw_g Friends, thank you again for being part of this sermon message today, we love you and Leanna and I hope your week is filled with joy as you seek God's will for your life.
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