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Do You Love Life?

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1 Peter 3:10 For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile;
Guile is another way of saying treachery or deceit. In other words our spoken words are not full of truth but deceit.
I would say this; any words that are not uplifting, any words that are not edifying to the hearer, any words that are contrary to God’s words are deceitful. I would also say that days that are full of grief and sorrow, sickness and disease, broken relationships and destroyed families are not good days are they? Do you want to see good days? Do you love life?
Jesus said in John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
I would like to ask this question, if our words are not speaking life then what are they speaking? The opposite of life is always death. They never co-mingle. Life and death have nothing in common!
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Is this just an inconsequential saying that we can ignore, or is there really death and life in our words as the Scripture is saying?
Peter said that in order to see good days we had to keep our tongue under control and not speak deceit. I usually concentrate on the positive side of our words however there is a negative side as well that the Word of God talks about, so it needs to be addressed. It is easy when everything is going good to give God praise and say the right things, however when the trials of life come our way it is also just as easy to start complaining or speaking negative. I have learned to give God praise in the rough times as well as the good times. Recently this message was quickened in my spirit. A gentle reminder to keep my tongue.
These gentle reminders from the Holy Spirit will save us much grief if we will just pay attention to them.
How often do we just say what ever is on our mind? You might say well, I’m really not hurting any one. Really, you could be hurting yourself, your family, and loved ones with the very words you speak. Words have power to hurt as well as heal. I don’t know who originally said sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me, but I know they did not know the horrible hurt that can be inflicted by them.
Please consider this and start to take stock of your words, and realize that you are sowing seeds that most assuredly will germinate and grow. This is a very sobering thing to consider.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
I have seen so many Christians who are unconcerned about their words and never consider the real importance of idle talk or negative words. God’s Word has much to say about this and God has put a premium on words so we should learn to do so as well.
Psalms 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
It goes on to say in vs. 5 that this person shall never be moved. I believe people are so careless about their words that they can not really have faith in their own words. I have seen this over and over and have even been there myself. How can you speak the word of God with Boldness and expect it to come to pass if you can not even honor your own words that you speak? The answer to that is that you can't. How can you have faith in God who you have never seen if you are full of lying and deceit, you won’t and can't.
People often blame God for their failures and get frustrated and will not admit that it could be them and not God who is to blame. We can not grow up if we will not acknowledge the truth, and if we don’t acknowledge the truth we can never be truly free in Christ.
There can never be good from evil speaking, none! I think every ones mother probably said this at one time or another, if you can’t say something good about someone don’t say anything at all.
Maybe our mothers didn’t know it, but this is a Scriptural principle in God’s Word.
Refrain your tongue from evil. They were saying nearly the same thing that James was saying, even if they didn’t realize it.
James said this … James 3:2-10 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. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
He goes on to say; Thus no spring can yield both salt water and fresh. What is he really saying here? He is saying that what you speak is what is coming up out of you, and what is coming up out of you is either salty or fresh. Whose fault is that? Jesus said a very similar thing… Matthew 12:34 "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. We need to check up on what is in our heart. We after all, we are the ones who program these earthly computers.
Speaking correct words is one of the first lessons the Lord taught me as a young Christian.
It has also been a recurring theme in my teaching. This is something the Lord has reminded me of at several important times in my life.
Many Christians mess up the plan and purpose of God for their lives and the lives of their families as well with their negative attitude and words. God’s plan for us can be thwarted if we will not side with Him and begin to speak the things He has already told us to speak in His Word. I have been in this situation myself and received a wake up call from the Lord concerning my children some years ago. Being a parent is not always the easiest thing in the world, however we are given instructions on how to raise them. We have a responsibility in this. I was saying things to my children that was preventing God from acting in their lives. The things I was saying were said as a concerned parent trying to help, yet they were not the things God wanted me to say. I would say things like you are messing up your life with this kind of behavior, and if you don’t stop this you will never amount to anything. Although in the natural these things were true, it was not what God wanted from me. One day during a time of study the Lord spoke to me and told me to hush the things I was saying. The truth was I knew better, yet even if we know better it is easy sometimes especially with something that is as close and as personal as your own children to forget the things you know. After this I repented before the Lord and began to see and speak the correct things by faith. I know by experience how hard this can be, but I also know beyond a shadow of a doubt how faithful God is. He gives us the grace to succeed.
God is faithful and always honors His Word. Not sometimes, ALWAYS. I can say as a testimony to all that will listen. He is no respecter of persons. What He did for me he will do for you. Glory to His Name.
Here are a few Scriptures to consider. There are many more through out the Word of God.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;
22. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
I would like to ask this question. Are you speaking death filled words or life filled words? God has given us this choice and even told us what to choose. Choose life.
This not only affects us, but the future of our families as well. I’m so glad I chose life, and want to encourage you to do the same. It is our decision to make, choose life.
 
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Thank you so much. This is an excellent study. I will be coming back to it again and again. Wonderful! We all as christians need to remember this and do this and obey God with our tongues.
 
Member
mejbaker, every time I read one of your threads, the peace and strength of the Lord brings a hush to my mind and spirit. Oh, the elegance and kindness of so gentle a humbling! There is nothing more effective for learning than to hear from someone who first applies the Word to himself and can transparently convey the color and life of the experience to benefit others. I believe your seeking of self-awareness and absence of guile is a consummate presence to encourage growth in Christ. The Spirit, time, and work of love that is behind your words becomes manifest for my incentive to depart from pettiness and barriers that are my own making. I pray that your God-given teaching will remain with me such that whatever I speak shall be with the integrity with which your reverence for the true person of Jesus shines.
 
Member
Amen brother, amen! I just echo the responses thus far, this thread is full of the fruit of the Spirit.

The Lord too has drawn me to James and when he writes- the blessing and curse come from the same mouth, and asks does any water supply yield salt water and fresh water from the same pipe? it just gets me. There are areas where salt water and fresh water both get dumped - not from the same source, as sure as the Word is true. I just pray for no estuaries in the body of Christ. So thank you for your pure spirited, fresh thread.
:)
fww
 
Member
An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
but a righteous man escapes trouble.

From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things
as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. Proverbs 12:13-14

Such a good word! Thank you for sharing this with us, mejbaker...it's so good to be reminded that our words have power.
 
Member
Very good post mejbaker, I think most christians would agree. I also think that most christians try to comply. I think the biggest problem is discerning what is truely edifying. Flattery is edifying to the flesh, but the truth spoken in love is edifying to the spirit.

Ephesians 4:25-32
25*So put away all falsehood and “tell your neighbor the truth”* because we belong to each other. 26*And “don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.”* Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27*for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.
28*If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. 29*Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30*And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31*Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32*Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

We should encourage each other to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and to crucify the flesh. If our words make the flesh feel good about itself then those words are not good but evil. Today there are more words spoken that have the appearance of good but in light of God's purpose in and for us, they are really evil. A good example of this is when we honor men and women for the work that God is doing in them.

Ephesians 3:20
20*Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21*unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
 
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jiggyfly said:
I think the biggest problem is decerning what is truely edifying. Flattery is edifying to the flesh, but the truth spoken in love is edifying to the spirit.

Ephesians 4:25-32
25*So put away all falsehood and “tell your neighbor the truth”* because we belong to each other.

We should encourage each other to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and to crucify the flesh. If our words make the flesh feel good about itself then those words are not good but evil. Today there are more words spoken that have the appearance of good but in light of God's purpose in and for us, they are really evil. A good example of this is when we honor men and women for the work that God is doing in them.


PRAISE GOD! So true...so true! I just had to put some of your quote in bold type because it's just so true! Praise the Lord for revelation regarding these things! AMEN!
 
Member
I appreciate your encouraging words. It is always a blessing to me when some one else gets blessed. I would however strive to keep the focus on the one who is worthy of all praise, God and God alone!
 
Member
Hi all,

I agree with you Jiggyfly, it is important to edify and not flatter, but that seems to be only one of many taming of tongue issues.

I see a tough battle when Christians run themselves down. Perhaps most Christians don't try to run each other down and strive not to complain; however, there is the snare of gossip, (which can elusively pop up in prayer circles). It's just that - one of the most grievous things I have dealt with is Christians that believe the enemy's lie that they are not free and not of value to God.



And yes, amen mejbaker- all glory to the Father inspiring you by the Spirit!

:)
fww
 
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Member
mejbaker said:
1 Peter 3:10 For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile;
Guile is another way of saying treachery or deceit. In other words our spoken words are not full of truth but deceit.
I would say this; any words that are not uplifting, any words that are not edifying to the hearer, any words that are contrary to God’s words are deceitful. I would also say that days that are full of grief and sorrow, sickness and disease, broken relationships and destroyed families are not good days are they? Do you want to see good days? Do you love life?
Jesus said in John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
I would like to ask this question, if our words are not speaking life then what are they speaking? The opposite of life is always death. They never co-mingle. Life and death have nothing in common!
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

-----------------------

Proverbs 12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;
22. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

------------------------
__________________

I appreciate your encouraging words. It is always a blessing to me when some one else gets blessed. I would however strive to keep the focus on the one who is worthy of all praise, God and God alone!

mejbaker, I believe you received my compliment with the grace with which it was intended to give glory to God. Yet it takes an act of will to surrender one's self to God so as to be used as a vessel for others to see Christ Jesus, and such self-abnegation is apparent from you. I want to express that the clear work of the Holy Spirit in you enables His work in me. I need not doubt that it is the voice of the Lord speaking through a faithful son.

We need examples amongst men for faith, hope, love, and works of faith. We need those who reflect Him, those in whose words there is not a hint of manipulation or criticism, only impartiality for all to partake of one personally learning Christ. Often it may be easier for the teacher to impart growth than to grow. Thus, I have taken the opportunity of this thread on edifying words to convey that each time you have worked out a teaching from your experience to a thread on these forums, I have been enriched and encouraged...in EVERY CASE. I rejoice in having your example of a follower of our LORD who is as edifying to the body as he suggests others should be.

Surely, nothing should take from our gladness in being able to praise GOD for ministers and brethren whose growth from time with God consistently imparts life to His children. Mejbaker, sir, you are such a teacher who gives spiritual encouragement, and thank you for each of your contributions to Talk Jesus and so to the kingdom of GOD.

God mightily bless you and your family!

"The LORD you God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)
 
Member
The secret to living the real "Good Life" that God makes available to us is to allow Him to strip away all our dependence on the things of this world. I just began reading "In Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. What a powerful and challenging book! He makes the point all the things we enjoy in the world are gifts from God, but His gifts have replaced Him on the throne of our lives.We worship the gifts instead of the Great Giver of Gifts.

This book is challenging me to inventory my life and find out what things in it are more important than God. I hate to admit it, but I've already discovered something that I thought was good (and is good in its proper context) but has become an idol in my life.

I am praying for the willingness to be stripped bare of all things that get in the way of my relationship with God because I love Him and I need His power working in my life full bore to experience the "Good Life" with Him.


SLE
 
Member
mejbaker said:
James said this … James 3:2-10 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. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
He goes on to say; Thus no spring can yield both salt water and fresh. What is he really saying here? He is saying that what you speak is what is coming up out of you, and what is coming up out of you is either salty or fresh. Whose fault is that? Jesus said a very similar thing… Matthew 12:34 "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. We need to check up on what is in our heart. We after all, we are the ones who program these earthly computers.

Many scriptures throughout the Word of God show with what high regard our Lord places exemplary speech and the ability to be sparing of words, rather than speak in haste. As followers of Christ, it is of moment that our speech mirror the grace of God from His life in our hearts.

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)

Please, brethren, let us get back to the invaluable, transparently presented topic of this thread.
 
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