Answers - March 29, 2012

"Prayerline" - March 26, 2012

"Prayerline" - March 19, 2012

Answers - March 22, 2012

"The Tongue"

March 22, 2012

“The Tongue”

Blessings Folk!!

The Word of the Most High God has much to say about the tongue, especially related to what we speak.

Read the following portions of the Word, allow the Lord to apply to your own life…

James 3

1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,
2 for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.
 3 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal.
4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
 7 Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man,
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it.
10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way.
11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

Proverbs 18

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.






Even Believers are susceptible to the evil of the tongue.
Little words spoken in jest…
Snide comments, often in the form of humor…
Sly jabs accompanied by a smile…

All destroy trust, love, compassion, passion.

Why not give thanks?

Ephesians 5

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
 4 Neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.


Does your tongue speak blessing or does it speak curse?

Do you live filled with joy, or is their an undercurrent of complaint?

Do you manifest a constant complaining spirit?

Do you speak with jabs, innuendo, belittling, snarkiness?

Oh, I know.

Often we say “I’m just kidding”…”it is just jest”.

Believers are not to speak such.

So, let us determine to…

  • quit complaining - complaint is simply ingratitude toward God
  • quit belittling
  • repent over past words...words spoken long ago impact now… I know of marriages where communication is near non-existent because of words spoken decades before...
  • allow the Lord to guard our tongues and our hearts.
  • forgive and press on.

James 1

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

Proverbs 21

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.

Psalm 34

12 (
A)Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may (
B)see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

"Know the Word"

March 19, 2012

“Know the Word”

Blessings Folk!

The Lord is very clear.

We are to…
  • abide in Him, John 15
  • seek His Kingdom first, Matthew 6
  • know His Word...many places

Read and give heed.

2 Timothy 2

 14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”


So, we are reminded and charged.

We are not to wrangle about words...only leads to the ruin of hearers.

We are to be diligent to present ourselves approved to God.
Related to what?

Accurately handling the word of truth.

We can not accurately handle the word of truth if we do not know the word of truth.

One would think that is a basic principle, yet most professing believers do not seek to know the Word.

We have been so blessed.

We have the Word manifest…

  • in written form...the Word of the Most High God
  • in the Presence of the Holy Spirit in each true believer
  • in His Body, the True Church, the organism of the Lord Himself.

John 1

 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God…

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.


Yet, we turn our back on the Word.

Today, consider imparting more of the Word into your spirit.

You might do so by reading…
http://www.biblegateway.com

You might do so by listening…
http://www.thestreamingbible.com/

Give heed to the gathering together of yourself, especially for worship and the Word.

The days are growing in darkness.
We are in the last moments of the last days.

Will you be a vessel of the Most High?

Then, know the Word.

Some housekeeping…

We are beginning a new study this week in our local classes...using another study format from Precept ministries - a “no-homework” format. Come. Everything is done in class. We are doing a 6-week study on “Spiritual Warfare.” ( http://store.precept.org/p-1447-spiritual-warfare-overcoming-the-enemybr-40-minute-study.aspx )

Mondays - 5:30 p.m. or
Tuesdays - 9:00 a.m.
Both at Jubilee @ Victory Park.
(email for directions)

Also, I’m leading the same “Spiritual Warfare” course online. The class is nearly full, so signup soon if you desire to participate online. It will meet on Tuesdays at noon, CDT, beginning April 3. There are already folk enrolled from NC, SC, KY, AZ, HI, KS, TX, CA, CO and Ukraine! As of this moment there are only 5 slots remaining…

Contact me by email for information related to the online class.
I’ll forward the process.
If you can send an email, you can do this.
You can use computer or smart phone.
This online format is new to Precept...view it as a “private beta”...a select few folk are being invited. Count your blessings! Happy
Press on.
Let us be diligent…

Blessings!


March 12, 2012

Prayerline - March 5, 2012

Prayerline - February 27, 2012

Prayerline - February 13, 2012

Answers - March 15, 2012

Answers - March 8, 2012

Matthew Part 1 - Lesson 7, Video 4