Genesis 1
3 And God said, “Let there be light,†and there was light.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.â€
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.â€
11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.â€
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.â€
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.†And it was so.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.â€
GOD SPOKE OUR WORLD INTO EXISTENCE, GOD SPOKE US INTO EXISTENCE
I find this to be an incredible revelation, leading to the understanding how important the spoken word is.
We are warned throughout the Bible about the power of our words, to lift each other up, glorify the Lord, not to tear down and spew evil
Proverbs 16:27-28
A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
A few months ago we as a church took an oath to not slander, or gossip about each other or tolerate from each other. That oath provided an amazing freedom. It also stops some of the enemy's tactics in their tracks. There is no wondering if people are talking behind my back, judging, or condemning me. The devil can not plant lies in my thoughts like he tries all the time. For example no worries about people talking about how I parent, worship, pray, clothes I wear, my sins, my families sins.... The list goes on and on.
How many churches have been adversely affected by members gossiping or condemning the pastor, how many companies are affected by negative comments by employees, how many politicians lives have been destroyed by slander.
Some examples that come strong into my thoughts are when my kids played on elite/ select sports teams. Parents can be relentless talking about another child's poor performance, how ridiculous the coach is, how inept the referees are, that's not to mention how some would talk about other parents. The effects on the teams are devastating The kids slowly become miserable about going to train, kids start questioning the coaches authority, kids begin disrespecting refs. eventually kids no longer like the sport and want to quit. Actually I lost a very close friend due to this. One parent was talking about my friend and the child negatively. I did not respond, however, I did not stop it. I believed at the time I was doing it to protect her from the harsh words the parent wanted to tell her. Eventually I told my friend, she felt betrayed that I had not told her earlier. In her heart she knew all along what was going on.
Gossip and slander are like any other sin, it is seductive If we do not constantly focus on The Lord, conversations that hurt others can lure us in without us even being aware.
I know the following passage is long, but I believe it is extremely important. I was convicted by this passage during church.
James 3 Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce
Our tongues are so small in comparison to the rest of our bodies yet have so much power. James uses the example of a rudder so small in comparison to a boat, yet controls the entire destination. Verse 9 is the slam dunk for me, we Praise God with our words and curse the humans made in his likeness with the same mouth. OUCH!!! That is the day I stopped condemning my husband over and over and over for what he had done. The Lord was certainly not pleased with my speech. In Gods eyes I was sinning just like him.
It has been very important to understand the power of word curses. I think about the child that is told they are fat. That one comment can lead to a lifetime of body image anguish. I was told over and over "you are so much like your father", are you kidding me, this is the same man that everybody talks about how bad he is. That causes some confusion in a child. I have heard parents say horrendous things to their own children. "You are so lazy", 'You are never going to grow up and get a job", "You are a lier" , "You are useless" These are seeds planted in the child's mind that grow into major problems.
God tells of the way we need to speak to one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Dear Lord forgive us for every harsh word we have spoken about another one of Your children. Lord in Your Name Jesus Christ break any word curses spoken about us or from us. Lord bind our speech to Your will. Thank You Jesus
3 And God said, “Let there be light,†and there was light.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.â€
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.â€
11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.â€
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.â€
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.†And it was so.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.â€
GOD SPOKE OUR WORLD INTO EXISTENCE, GOD SPOKE US INTO EXISTENCE
I find this to be an incredible revelation, leading to the understanding how important the spoken word is.
We are warned throughout the Bible about the power of our words, to lift each other up, glorify the Lord, not to tear down and spew evil
Proverbs 16:27-28
A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
A few months ago we as a church took an oath to not slander, or gossip about each other or tolerate from each other. That oath provided an amazing freedom. It also stops some of the enemy's tactics in their tracks. There is no wondering if people are talking behind my back, judging, or condemning me. The devil can not plant lies in my thoughts like he tries all the time. For example no worries about people talking about how I parent, worship, pray, clothes I wear, my sins, my families sins.... The list goes on and on.
How many churches have been adversely affected by members gossiping or condemning the pastor, how many companies are affected by negative comments by employees, how many politicians lives have been destroyed by slander.
Some examples that come strong into my thoughts are when my kids played on elite/ select sports teams. Parents can be relentless talking about another child's poor performance, how ridiculous the coach is, how inept the referees are, that's not to mention how some would talk about other parents. The effects on the teams are devastating The kids slowly become miserable about going to train, kids start questioning the coaches authority, kids begin disrespecting refs. eventually kids no longer like the sport and want to quit. Actually I lost a very close friend due to this. One parent was talking about my friend and the child negatively. I did not respond, however, I did not stop it. I believed at the time I was doing it to protect her from the harsh words the parent wanted to tell her. Eventually I told my friend, she felt betrayed that I had not told her earlier. In her heart she knew all along what was going on.
Gossip and slander are like any other sin, it is seductive If we do not constantly focus on The Lord, conversations that hurt others can lure us in without us even being aware.
I know the following passage is long, but I believe it is extremely important. I was convicted by this passage during church.
James 3 Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce
Our tongues are so small in comparison to the rest of our bodies yet have so much power. James uses the example of a rudder so small in comparison to a boat, yet controls the entire destination. Verse 9 is the slam dunk for me, we Praise God with our words and curse the humans made in his likeness with the same mouth. OUCH!!! That is the day I stopped condemning my husband over and over and over for what he had done. The Lord was certainly not pleased with my speech. In Gods eyes I was sinning just like him.
It has been very important to understand the power of word curses. I think about the child that is told they are fat. That one comment can lead to a lifetime of body image anguish. I was told over and over "you are so much like your father", are you kidding me, this is the same man that everybody talks about how bad he is. That causes some confusion in a child. I have heard parents say horrendous things to their own children. "You are so lazy", 'You are never going to grow up and get a job", "You are a lier" , "You are useless" These are seeds planted in the child's mind that grow into major problems.
God tells of the way we need to speak to one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Dear Lord forgive us for every harsh word we have spoken about another one of Your children. Lord in Your Name Jesus Christ break any word curses spoken about us or from us. Lord bind our speech to Your will. Thank You Jesus
