The Tounge

Proverbs 18:20-21 NKJV

 

There is a saying, heard most often on the playgrounds of the world, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me!” However, according to the Bible, words are extremely powerful. They are powerful when they are positive and powerful when they are negative. Words have power to replay over and over in our minds. All of us are more strongly influenced by words than any other force.

Why do coaches give pep talks to their athletes before the competition? Because it works! They pump them up with words of encouragement. “Go on! You can do it! You can win! You are the best! You’re a winner!” Those words ring in the athlete’s ears. “I can do it! I will do better than before! I will reach up higher and push myself further! I will do the best that I have ever done! Coach believes in me! I believe in me! I can win!”

 

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.  Proverbs 18:7-8 KJV

 

By the same token, negative destructive words can deeply wound us and bring defeat and heartache. There are people with great potential, who never fulfill that potential because someone told them that they were worthless and useless. These words continue to influence them for years after they were verbalized. They want to achieve more, they want to be successful, but fear and insecurity hold them in bondage. Only the love of God can change them. Only the precious Holy Spirit can go deep on the inside and begin to heal the scars and bring value to that person’s life.

 

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:37-38 NIV

 

Our OWN MOUTH brings either life and blessing or death and destruction to our OWN LIFE. Whatever we allow to come out of our mouth, whether good or bad, is what we will have to live with. We bring judgment upon ourselves according to the standards we set with our own mouths. The measure we use will be measured back to us. We EAT the FRUIT of our OWN LIPS. The Bible says that we have to be satisfied with the fruit of our mouths. We cannot blame God or anyone else for our harvest

 

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:33-37 NIV

 

You set the standard of your own judgment, so that when you finally stand before the Lord your own words will either acquit you or condemn you. God looks on your HEART. The words that flow out of your mouth, spring forth from your heart. Your heart is the source and your mouth is the fountain that pours forth either blessing or cursing.

 

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Proverbs 4:23-24 NIV

 

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 NIV

 

In order to lead a blessed, peaceful and successful life, you need to do two things: guard your heart (get an attitude adjustment) and put a guard on your lips (watch your mouth)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Holy Spirit our teacher 

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

John 16:12-15 NIV

The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth.” God’s Word is true and sure. He never changes and His Word never changes. He cannot lie or deceive. What He speaks comes to pass. All His paths are straight paths. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are in one accord. They speak the same things and they do the same things. They never contradict each other — they uplift and confirm each other. Jesus spoke the Father’s words and did the Father’s will and so does the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies Jesus. He reveals the character and nature of God to us and He confirms every word that Jesus spoke to us. When we act on God’s word and do what Jesus said to do, then the Holy Spirit acts to confirm the Word with signs and wonders following (Mark 16:20).

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit– just as it has taught you, remain in him.  I John 2:20 & 27 NIV

The anointing of the Holy Spirit on us and in us teaches us all of the truth that is revealed in God’s Word. One definition of the anointing is that it is the presence and power of God manifested. The anointing is the tangible presence of God. These scriptures do not mean that no one can teach us anything and that we do not need pastors or teachers or other Christians to instruct us. It means that as we receive God’s Word — whether by reading it ourselves or by hearing it preached by others — the Holy Spirit will give us revelation of what it means to our lives. He will speak to us personally and show us the things that apply directly to us. Everything that the Holy Spirit reveals to us and teaches us will cause us to move closer to God and to become more like Him.

God’s word and His will are not hidden from us – they are revealed in His written word. We cannot understand the things of God -– no matter who tries to teach us — unless the Spirit of God opens the eyes of our understanding. Without the help of the Spirit, it is as if we have a veil over our eyes and we walk in darkness (1 John 2:11). The more of the Spirit we have, the more of God we come to know and understand. The natural mind does not understand the things of the Spirit. When we are born-again, we understand more of Him. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we understand even more. The more we submit ourselves to God and the more we allow Him to work in our lives, the more we come to know Him. We are made in the image of God. He wants us to think like Him, talk like Him and act like Him!

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NKJ

 

 

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   Romans 10:8-17 NKJ 

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Doubt and unbelief come from listening to the world’s opinions and ideas and the devil’s lies. Faith means simply ”believing that God will do what He says He will do”. Your faith in God is built on what you know about Him and His plan for you and His will for your life. There is only one place you can go to find what you need to know about God and that is His Word.   Shortly before you were born again, you heard the Word of God and faith rose in your heart. You acted on your faith, believing in your heart that God’s Word was true – that Jesus died for you and that God raised Him from the dead and so you confessed with your mouth that He is your Savior and your Lord and you were transformed. Faith for healing and the blessing of God comes to you the same way – you hear the Word. Your faith is what makes the promise of God as reality in your life. Jesus made this statement regularly, “YOUR faith has made you whole!” At other times He rebuked people for their doubt and unbelief. YOU are the one who chooses to walk either in faith or in doubt.  

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them– the children of Israel. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.  Joshua 1:1-3 NKJ “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:8-9 NKJ 

 God told Joshua to take the children of Israel across the Jordan because He had given them all the land of Canaan. He told Joshua that He would be with them and would cause them to be victorious over their enemies. Joshua had never fought a battle, never mind led anyone else into battle. He had to use his faith and trust that what God said would be, would be. God gave him some sound advice to build up his faith and give him wisdom. God told Joshua to take the Book of the Law and read it and study it and meditate on it. He needed to get it from his head into his heart. You will never move God’s Word from your head to your heart, unless you meditate on it constantly. It must become part of you so that you see it as your ultimate reality and you believe every word and your faith is established in and on God.  The Hebrew word “meditate” also means to murmur; to ponder; to imagine; to mutter; to roar; to speak; to study; to talk; and to utter. If you want the Word of God to build your faith, you must take time to not only study it, but to speak it out loud to yourself all day. Even if you just take one scripture and mutter it to yourself over and over – the Holy Spirit will cause it to become revelation to you and it will drop down from just being head knowledge into a heart understanding. Knowledge without understanding is not very effective. Faith comes from your heart so you must put God’s Word deep down into your heart.  People want God to just pour faith into them without any effort on their part. Some people wait many years for this to happen, but it never does. God is not going to just douse you in faith. You have to make a decision to fill yourself up with God’s Word and when you do, doubt will never bother you again. You will be saturated in God’s Word and infused with faith in God. So then faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God! 

1 Corinthians 2:4-5  (NKJ)

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.One day, I was reading a Bible commentary written by a theologian who had decided to explain away every passage of scripture that contained any reference to the anointing or the supernatural power of God.  He said that it was asinine to think that in this day and age the anointing can actually be transferred by the laying on of hands.He had chosen to overlook the supernatural aspect of God’s Word.  He said that the supernatural occurred by the laying on of hands under the Old Covenant, but under the New Covenant it was merely symbolic.  He was confused. The Old Covenant is symbolic (types and shadows), while the New Covenant is the substance.  The Old Covenant made promises, but the New Covenant delivers them! The laying on of hands for impartation is New Testament.  It is one of the basic doctrines of Christ (Hebrews 6:1-6).

 

In many church circles they deny the power of God its rightful place.  Why?  Because they deny that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Apostle Paul moves now like He did in Bible days.  Many also believe what is called the “passed away” theology – that everything in the Gospels and the book of Acts passed away with the last Apostles.  I DON’T BELIEVE THAT – NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL.

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8).

It is no wonder that many people, especially our youngsters, are turning to rock, heavy metal music, grunge music, drugs, alcohol, free sex, and alternate lifestyles.  The yuppie generation is turning to the cults, the psychics and the New Age movement.  This happens because they have a hunger in their hearts for the supernatural.  They want something that is real.  The Church is not meeting or fulfilling the need of the heart of man for the touch of God.

The church has become a referral system.  Alcohol and drug addicts are sent first to other places for rehabilitation, instead of being set free by the power of the Holy Ghost.  God is so awesome and so powerful that if the world could see Him as He really is – they would be changed!

One of the things I have a hard time understanding is that people would want to have a church meeting without God and without His presence.  Is it because, maybe they are afraid that if God manifested His presence then He might offend someone?  Or is it because they might have to change?  Why is it that some people pray for revival, but they don’t welcome or accept it when it comes?  Is it because it is not packaged the way they want it packaged?

They want something that is dignified and something that is acceptable to man.  However the move of God must not become acceptable to man, but man must become acceptable to the move of God.  If you are going to have a church meeting involving Almighty God then something is going to happen.  It is impossible for God’s presence to be made manifest and then nothing happens.

Don’t tell me that the anointing of the Lord was present in a meeting, but nothing happened!  You might have a large church, thousands of people, a beautiful robed choir, beautiful chandeliers, clarinet solos, celebrity speakers, and a large television ministry, but without the anointing and the touch of God – you have nothing at all.

Foundational Scripture: Romans 5:12-19

 

V12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all that all have sinned.

V13 (For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

V14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

V15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift.  For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

V16  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

V17  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

V18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

V19  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. As born-again believers, it is very important that we understand exactly what transpired at

Calvary’s Cross.  Jesus was paying the price for the sins of the world.  He was the second Adam and He came to get back what the first Adam lost.  When Adam sinned and committed high treason, he bowed his knee to the devil and death reigned.  For this reason Jesus had to pay the price, being obedient to die on the cross.  Even as by Adam’s disobedience death reigned, so by Jesus’ obedience, life came.  He didn’t do it for Himself, but for us.  He went to the cross as 100% Man and 100% God.

 Phillipians 2:5-8V5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

V6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

V7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

V8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  He was despised for us – He bore our grief – He carried our sorrows – He was wounded for ourtransgressions.  He was bruised for our iniquities – He was chastised in order to obtain peace for us – Hebore stripes so that we could be healed.  He bore the iniquity for us all – He was oppressed – He was afflicted – He was cut off from the land of the living.  He was stricken for the transgression of His people – He made His grave with the wicked and the rich man in His death.  He was bruised and put to grief by God’s pleasure for us – He was made an offering for sin. Isaiah 53:1-10

V1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

V2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

V3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

V4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

V5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

V6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

V7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

V8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

V9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

V10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Adam, by His disobedience, went to the tree of knowledge of good and evil and brought death upon mankind.  Jesus, by His obedience, went to the cross and died, resulting in eternal life for us.  Jesus took your and my place.  By His obedience we have life.  Adam’s disobedience was a selfish act, motivated by sin, resulting in death.  Jesus’ obedience was an unselfish act, motivated by a love that knows no limits.  Jesus’ act of unselfish love resulted in our eternal life.

 

Foundation Scripture: Proverbs 4: 20-22 (Amplified)“My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.”   God’s word is life to those who find it and healing and health to their flesh. Psalm 107:20 (Amplified)“He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction.”God sent forth His word to heal us. The Hebrew translated “health” in Proverbs is “marpe” and “heal” in Psalms is “raphah.”  However, they mean the same thing: heal, cure and make whole.

In Proverbs, the word “raphah” also means to mend and repair. We can see from the meanings of the Hebrew words that these passages are not referring to spiritual healing, but to physical healing. 

So many people go through life accepting second best or, in some cases, “hell on earth,”  because they have no idea that there is an answer, a remedy and a cure for their affliction. It does no good to say, “If it is God’s will He will heal me/deliver me.” Because then you could also say, “ If it is God’s will, He can save me.” No! No! No! If you are a Christian, then you should know, by now, that it is God’s will to save you – He sent Jesus long before you were born. In fact, the Bible says that He had planned to send Jesus from the foundation of the world (I Peter 1:20 and Rev. 13:8). Your salvation was planned for you from the foundation of the world and so was your healing and your deliverance. 

It is God’s will to save us and it is God’s will to heal us. How do we know this? We know it because He has told us. How did He tell us? He tells us through His word. Hebrews 4:3 “For we who have  believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world. 

God has provided everything we need. All He is waiting for is someone who will believe and in doing so, receive. You see, God’s word is life, health, and healing to us when it be comes  real to us – when we believe it! Psalm 103:5“Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, over coming, soaring]!”come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” God’s will is His Word! Stay in God’s Word.  Make it part of your life every hour, every day. We must change to agree with God’s word – not change God’s word to suit our opinions and carnal thinking. 

Forgiveness, healing, redemption and provision are all part of the same package as far as God is concerned. Isaiah 55:10-11“ For as the rain and snow

The Holy Spirit is your teacher. Allow Him to make God’s word and will clear to you. Allow the word to change you and soon you will begin to see your circumstances change all around you. God will be bringing you into His life and His health.  His word will work in you and heal you.