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Our Confessions Remember the old saying, "You can tell a lot about people by their garbage?" Well, we can tell a lot about people by what they confess. People who complain are stereotyped as complainers. People who gossip are stereotyped as backstabbers. People who give good reports are stereotyped as "nice people." All the stereotypes are results of the people's confessions. What people confess is a product of what is stirring in the heart. Let us see what James has to say about the tongue... James 3 (KJV) "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 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. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 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. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 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. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." It is time for the Body of Christ to clean up their conversation. Some are doing more harm than good. The tongue is very powerful and should be used in either of two ways only: One, by edifying one another; or two, by tearing down strongholds in spiritual warfare. If we are speaking in other ways than this, our conversation is doing nothing for God's Kingdom. These words will fall away and thus are wasted. Some in the body of Christ are stumbling because of what conversation they are having with their brothers. It is time to wash our mouth and put on the Mind of Christ and make our conversation presentable before the King of Kings. Eph 4:20-32 (KJV) "But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. ... 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. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Everything that comes to us in this life is from what we say. We communicate to others to get what we want or don't want. Without communication we would be as other animals, just striving to survive. The important thing we must learn is to display ourselves separate from the world in all manners, even conversation. - Chad Ross
March 1996 Newsletter | Battle-Ready Mind | Pastor's Journal March 1995 Our Confessions | Preparing and Prepared part 3 of 4 Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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