WORDS, WORDS, WORDS. WHERE ARE YOUR WORDS TAKING YOU ?
WORDS. The older I get the more I realize the Importance and Impact of them, and how we use them. As a follower of JESUS, I am blessed to have a heart that seeks The Word Of God. His Word guides me, encourages me, disciplines me, and ultimately points me to Salvation and Relationship. Our life is so full of questions and a need for direction. Adam and Eve had the same experience that we do when they were created by God and put in a place of Relationship and Rulership by God. They had Dominion over all that God had created on earth, but they were also created with Free Will. They had the ability to make CHOICES, and they were given the ability to Hear Words that would either guide them, or deceive them. SATAN used his words to trick them and deceive them. Mankind and our “Fall from Grace” has not changed much, has it. The world and it’s “voice” will strive always to replace God in our lives, and Satan knows it well and still relies on it TODAY ! THE TONGUE is truly a double edged sword. It can speak “LIFE”, or it can bring “Death and Destruction”. Like any “sword”, it sits in the hand of those who use it. US. It is ours to Control, for better or worse. GODS WORD is described in scripture as a direct line of Communication from the Lord; truly divinely inspired. HOW BLESSED ARE WE THAT JESUS IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD IN GENESIS AND JOHN 1:1 IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. WOW ! In Jesus, we find Salvation, Truth, Mercy, Forgiveness, Grace, and LOVE. Through Jesus Christ, GOD has revealed Himself to us. Jesus was NOT just a teacher, HE IS GOD:) “I AM” ! It amazes me that many, many people “choose” to reject Him, seeking other little gods or self to place their trust and faith in. As sad as I find it, I Get It. Free Will allows us to “Hear” what we desire, and if one is unable to “use the HEART” in making correct and discerning choices, then is it a surprise that “ The Mind Will Justify What The Heart Desires ?”
FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE, SHARPER THAN ANY TWO EDGED SWORD, PIERCING TO THE DIVISION OF SOUL AND OF SPIRIT, OF JOINTS AND MARROW, AND DISCERNING THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF THE HEART. Hebrews 4:12
ALL SCRIPTURE IS BREATHED OUT BY GOD AND PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY, TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN ALL WISDOM, SINGING PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEART TO GOD. Colossians 3:16
IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE; THE FLESH IS NO HELP AT ALL. THE WORDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE. John 6:63
BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE', FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR POWERS OF DISCERNMENT TRAINED BY THE CONSTANT PRACTICE TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL. Hebrews 5:14
WORDS. Two distinctly different challenges, First, WHAT WE HEAR. Secondly, WHAT WE SPEAK. It becomes REALLY CLEAR that WORDS can give LIFE, or DEATH….Right ? In Proverbs we learn a lot about Words and the Tongue. Our pastor at Illuminate Community Church, Jason, has been leading us through a study that contrasts many things regarding Wisdom and Folly, but as Proverbs advances, WORDS become a critical aspect of our Lives ! Our words can plant thorns and thistles to hamper and destroy. Our words can cause pain and doubt. our words can enter into gossip and cause true dissent in our families, in friendships, and our most important communities, including our churches. AND GOD MAKES IT CLEAR IN THE BOOK OF GALATIONS 5:20 THAT DISSENSION IS TRULY BAD AND WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S KINGDOM ! WHY ? Because it destroys UNITY. Our words sow seeds that either bear Fruit…or Destruction. Also of extreme importance in life are The Words that we listen to for guidance and knowledge. The world is SO FULL of so many voices…is it any wonder that one becomes confused or misled listening to them ? Even worse, we often get trapped in our own voice and our own SELF DERIVED TRUTH, because we have no Foundation to rely on. “I can only trust myself.” “I can only trust…science, academia, politicians, friends, dogma, …even pastors, who actually distort THE WORD OF GOD :( When we pile our own fleshly needs on top of ALL THE WORDS WE FILTER FROM HUMAN SOURCES, it can become Overwhelming indeed. AHHH, but Thankfully, GOD provides the path to Abundant Life and Truth with HIS WORDS ! To know them requires time and commitment to a relationship with HIM, and it starts and ends with JESUS ! Jesus actually came to help each of us Establish and be Reborn into the Truth and Relationship that Satan stole from us so long ago in the Garden. Will you embrace Jesus, or will you continue to let Satan have his shoddy little lie control you and your life ?
THE MOUTH OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED CONCEALS VIOLENCE. Proverbs 10:11
A CITY IS BUILT UP BY THE BLESSING OF THE UPRIGHT, BUT IT IS TORN DOWN BY THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED. Proverbs 11:11
SO FAITH COMES THROUGH HEARING, AND HEARING THROUGH THE WORD OF CHRIST. Romans 10:17
AND HE SAID TO THEM, “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU HEAR: WITH THE MEASURE YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU, AND STILL MORE WILL BE ADDED TO YOU. Mark 4:24
WHO are you listening to ? WHAT are your Words Accomplishing ? Are they bringing FRUIT ? Are you encouraging, praising, watering, planting, teaching, shepherding, uplifting, truth telling ? OR. Are they bringing DESTRUCTION ? Are you lying, deceiving, gossiping, discouraging, causing dissension, destroying ? Our world is FULL OF SELFISHNESS AND DISUNITY. Should we be surprised ? The battles we see in morality and truth are everywhere. Sadly, it is Humanity without GOD. WHERE ARE YOUR WORDS TAKING YOU ? I implore you to SEEK GOD, and use your ears wisely to build yourself a foundation and life in Jesus Christ. When you speak, shine the light and truth that lives in a Heart Full Of All That Comes From ABIDING IN CHRIST:) Our lives are but a vapor, but they can indeed bring TRUTH, HOPE, AND PROMISE if they come from the ONE TRUE KING ! WORDS MATTER/JAA
MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME. John 10:27