Radical Disciples – A Remnant Revolution

Don’t say anything that would hurt [another person]. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you. (Eph 4:29)

When we accepted Christ as our Lord, did we not surrender our right in regard to how we speak to others. Especially when we desire our “right” to voice our opinion when it is nothing more than tearing down another?

I have often heard others make the statement and even had Holy Ghost convict me of such behavior that we have the right to voice our opinion at the cost of hurting another, after all it is our right!

This is so far from the Kingdom culture that we must submit this to the power of the cross to broken off from our lives. If we have been wronged by another we are to forgive them even as Jesus taught us rather than letting our carnal mind be expressed when it is in the state of fleshly thinking.

The opening scripture defines how we should respond even when others may be rubbing us the wrong way. There are several scriptures which reference this and we must put them into our hearts, allowing Holy Ghost to write them there as a weight against the way in which we deal with others. Scriptures such as Eph 4:29 mentioned above as well as Col 4:6 should be our compass when we are faced with a situation that we need to respond.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col 4:6)

For we can have a powerful testimony of God’s grace in our lives be torn apart in moment just because we believe we have a right to respond harshly in the face of being wronged.

I’m not sure about you but I often find myself saying the wrong thing. I’m often much more comfortable expressing myself through the written word so that I have an opportunity to take some time and be thoughtful concerning the points I would like to make. Unfortunately, we don’t always have that luxury in real-time conversation, and our emotions often take over.

James 3:3 states Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. When I was growing up I worked at a horse stable for a summer and I would watch as the trainer would place the bridle over his trail horse and then insert the bit into the animal’s mouth. I thought it was cruel, but in the end I saw how the bit could turn the horse on a dime. Just as we place a bit in the mouth of a horse to control it we should have a bit….of sorts…..to control our tongue so that when we are engaged in conversation we say the right things.

The tongue is a mighty weapon. We often use it to destroy someone else on purpose or unintentionally. What we think of as small little comment can actually wreak a bit of havoc with someone else……So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites (James 3:5).

James 3:6-7 continues the thought….And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man. Our tongue can destroy what we love. Our tongue can get us into mischief. Our tongue can embarrass us greatly. Our tongue shapes our character and provides a method for others to view us. Unfortunately very few men learn to control their tongues even though we have learned to control many things of this world including various animals.

Many people live their lives by excelling as verbal arsonists setting fires everywhere they go. They berate their kids, their spouse, and their friends. They intimidate others with their arrogance and some even turn folks off by their constant comments of doom and gloom.

We must remember our tongues display who we are…..the true us….not that fake one we put on for company. Our words shape who we are.

The tongue is inconsistent……The words we utter often don’t make sense. James 3: 9 explains…With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God’s likeness. How can this be?

How many people did you judge today? Curse today? Belittle today? Perhaps you are like me and you have explained your actions away because you didn’t speak your words….you just thought them. Perhaps you voiced your opinion to someone else and not to the person your words could destroy.

It doesn’t matter. Your words….spoken or unspoken…..delivered to the person they are about or to someone else are YOUR words from YOUR tongue. By allowing your tongue to flap in that manner you are belittling something…cursing something made in God’s image.

The true condition of your heart comes out through your tongue. Many, many years prior to Freud explaining why we have so many hang-ups Jesus had the answer as He said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).

It would seem then that the solution to control the tongue is not a bridle and bit…..not a rudder….., but a new heart. Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31), and we need to continually ask God for help everyday…..Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).

I know in my own life, Holy Ghost has been teaching me to respond with the same Grace, Mercy and Love that the Father has used in my life. Above all things we must act in Love – for we can operate in many of the gifts of the Spirit, preach or sing before huge crowds, win hundreds of soul’s to the Kingdom, yet in our personal dealing’s with others if we allow what we consider to be our “right” to respond anyway we please and do not respond I n Love all the other thing matter not.

I’ll be asking Holy Ghost for His help everyday in my own walk…..will you?

HIS,
Russ Welch