ol. H-0001 No. H-0004 October, 1996

TALK'S CHEAP

The Tongue

"...For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh." James 3:2-12

Attitude

What part does attitude play in the use of our tongue? Are we acknowledged in the force that seems to rule? (That is not the wrong word.)

We are taught from an early age that we should be friendly and participate in conversation.  We are told that if we remain quiet we are being "rude".  Is there a balance we should seek where our tongue is concerned? What are the guidelines for speaking? Are there any guidelines? Our attitude plays a vital part in all of our decisions. Whether we choose to speak anger, hurt, compassion, rebuke, whatever we speak out is based on the activity of our attitude at the time.  If our attitude is to hurt someone, that is the action we will perpetrate upon others. If our attitude is to be "seen" as good, then our attitude will be one of pious manipulation. If our attitude toward God is one of "getting by", then we will say and do whatever we think will "get us by". If, however, we have the attitude to please our Father, then, and only then, will we have the correct attitude of our life!

What do you think was the driving force behind Jesus' obedience unto death? Was it His Love for us?  Sure, that was present. But was it the driving force? Was it His Obedience? Of course, that played a part, but was it His DRIVING FORCE that kept Him upon His Cross? (Your cross?) His LOVE for His Father was the only sustaining attitude that could have kept Him upon His Cross. That does not diminish the Love for us. It does not weaken the importance of Obedience. It does exhibit the Life driving Power of the Love of the Son for His Father. His attitude was such that it enabled Him to die. Nothing could have deterred Jesus from completing His Obedience to His Father. There was no other attitude strong enough, save Love Alone.

When we possess the attitude of Christ, we will, with the enabling power of God's Holy Spirit, be able to keep our tongue in check. Until then, we will but have repeated failure.

Our heart must be touched by His Presence
before our tongue can be silenced in obedience.

The Role Of The Tongue

Defining the role of the tongue is a large task. However, it is a task which we must undertake in order to place the importance of the tongue. And yet, is it a large task? Most of us are keenly aware of the damage the tongue can do. Most of us are guilty of using our tongues to deliberately inflict emotional pain on others. Did we know we were wrong? Of course we did!

So then, what is the role of the tongue?  The role of the tongue is the same as our role for everything else.  We are to turn our tongues over to the Holy Spirit.  When we do this, we will see that the role of the tongue is one of love, compassion, edification and healing.  When our attitude is correct, our behavior will follow after it.

From The Bridegroom

How many times in Scripture God has spoken to man and urged him to turn back toward his God: the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God has spoken, telling of His Great Love and Concern. He is certainly showing us that the time is near and nearer still for His Return. He has said that trouble is coming our way. (John 16)  And still, we move away from Him...our only Protection! He has told us to STAND firm and He will cause our enemies to flee. "For our stuggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  There, take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:12, 13 [editor's highlighting])

"STAND FIRM!"  Have you ever had the Holy Spirit instruct you to "stand firm"? We have! We should have battened down the hatches! It got really rough!  Stand firm...it is more important than we could ever possible imagine! If the Creator of the Universe tells us to "stand firm", He must know there is a reason to tell us that, and we should be vigilant in our obedience thereto.

God's Chosen People

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.  May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.  For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, 'May peace be within you.'  For the sake of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good."  Psalm 122:6-9

"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning." Isaiah 62:1

Have you ever heard a preacher or teacher say, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem may they prosper who love you."?  Interesting that they stop with the "prosper" part!  Many times the Scriptures are used to further the beliefs of a person and/or their lifestyle!

The "prosper" that is considered in such usage is one of monetary and material gain. Consider that David may have meant something much deeper than that.

Prosper, in this passage, means to be tranquil, i.e. secure and successful, happy, be in safety.**

There is more peace and tranquility awaiting us than we can possibly imagine. To be honored to intercede for someone is a privilege we take far too lightly.  It is an honor, yes, but it is also a responsibility.

Continue in the verse: "...for the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, 'May peace be within you.'"  Peace within you... What could he have meant when he wrote that? If peace could be bottled and sold, the inventor would own the world! Peace is needful in the hearts of men as well as in the streets and countries of this Earth.

These are our brothers and friends. Can we do less than pray that they will have peace in the land? But let us also pray that they will have Peace within their hearts.

On a recent trip to Jerusalem, we met an Israeli gentleman in his mid thirties. He approached us and asked us to tell him about Yeshua. (Jesus is His gentile-ized Name!) What an awesomely wonderful privilege! We were overwhelmed!

Sadly, this gentleman told us about how he is just waiting for someone to blow him up one day!

That is what he does every day...wait to be blown up! Can you imagine living like that day after day after day after day...? Of course, we cannot! Only if you have lived like that can you understand the stress, the doubts, the fears...  It was an honor to be asked by him if we would pray with him. This was an Orthodox Jew and he approached us!

These are our brothers and sisters. We must pray for them...for our sakes as well as theirs! "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them (his fellow Jews) is for their salvation." (Romans 10:1)  Dare we pray any less for our Jewish brothers? Dare we?

Look At Current Events

P r a y !

Please be in continuing prayer for our country and for the world. Humanity is on a collision course with annihilation. Life, as we know it, is being prostituted at great speed!


AMERICA IS A NATION IN CRISIS!


Sadly, it doesn't even realize it! Pray for God's Will to be accomplished and His Truth to be given to all.

Pray that our apathy will cease and we will realize the personal cost that will be paid by a humanity without God. Eternal hell is the ultimate high price to be paid by a life without God.  We have sat back far too long and not spoken up in the Truth of God's Word. We've spoken up against abortion. We've spoken up against fraudulent government. (When it did not serve our purposes.) We've spoken up in areas of "social conscience". We've spoken up in times of elections. (When it seemed the "politically correct" thing to do.) We've spoken up against the homosexuals. Isn't it time we speak up in the Truth of God's Word? Why does that question even need to be asked?

What is the Truth of God's Word? The Truth of God's Word is Jesus. The Truth of Conscience is Jesus. The Truth of all there is, is very simply, Jesus.

Until the cause and effect issue is settled within God's House, society will not change. We "religious Christians" have come to judge what can be seen, heard, smelled, tasted or touched!  Until we attack the cause of the problem, the effect will continue. The enemy is NOT the lost soul we so judgementally condemn. The enemy is Satan. We are attacking the wrong "enemy"!
We were to be the light in the darkness.  Instead, we have assumed the position of judge and jury...and often, executioner, whether in the flesh or in our hearts.

Jesus died for the abortion doctor. Jesus died for the homosexual. Jesus died for the lying schemer. Jesus died for the woman who abandoned her family. Jesus died for the one with no conscience. Jesus died for the wealthy. Jesus died for the poor.  Jesus died for YOU. And there is NO difference. The Love is the same. The price He paid is the same. The offer of redemption is the same. JESUS is the same!

The double standard exists in us...not in our Risen Lord. Let us remember the power of the tongue. Let us remember that the death of our Lord was equally for all whom we oppose, as it was and is for us...for you...for me. If we cannot speak the Love of the One Who died for ALL mankind, then maybe we should stop speaking. Until we can speak something...or Someone, Worthwhile, let us keep our tongues... silent!

Bottom Line

I wonder what you would say is the bottom line of this newsletter! May our hearts engage Him more, and engage ourselves less. Of our Bridegroom, John the Baptist said, "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) John's heart...and mouth...were in the correct Spirit.  For us the bottom line is:   

'Disengage mouth, 

'Engage Spirit!

Choice

Do you ever have times when you get tired of having to make choices? Don't let this be one of those times. We have no words that can persuade you to choose Jesus Christ.  But His Word does! It tells of His Wonderful Love. It tells of His Sacrifice on the cross.  It tells of His Great Desire for YOU!  He was sent of God to save YOU! He died for YOU!  And He rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven...for YOU! He sent His Holy Spirit to help YOU here and now! Won't you choose Him; admit YOU need a Savior; admit YOU are seeking a love that will never leave you alone.

JESUS IS THAT LOVE !

Reach out to Him, He is reaching out to YOU. Just call on Him Name and He will be with YOU forever.

In Jesus' Name, be blessed!

Baruch Ha ba B'Shem Adonai!

Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord!

​