The Tongue

A good indication of the condition of the heart is the tongue. May we allow the LORD to cleanse and purify our tongues so that we may be His messengers. When GOD baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, He will give us the gift of tongues. If we are careless with our tongues and use it for divisive and destructive purposes, it will cause much suffering in hell.

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. 

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. 

The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, 

and sets on fire the course of nature; 

and it is set on fire by hell.

James 3:5-6

So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! 

Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

 For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." 

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal 

which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 

And he touched my mouth with it, and said: 

"Behold, this has touched your lips;

 Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."

Isaiah 6:5-7

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, 

they were all with one accord in one place. 

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, 

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, 

and one sat upon each of them. 

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, 

as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-4

 And being in torments in Hades,

 he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, 

and Lazarus in his bosom. 

Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, 

and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water 

and cool my tongue; 

for I am tormented in this flame.'

Luke 16:23-24

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What's Inside You?

What's Inside You?

Do you at times observe your reactions and wonder where those attitudes and words came from? You did not realise there were such thoughts in your mind. You did not know you had the ability to react that way.

You wouldn't know what is in a toothpaste tube until you squeeze it.

when you are put through a difficult situation and squeezed, the 'real you' shows up!

It is good then to objectively check yourself, consider and work towards the needed change.

It is what you put into your mind that forms your attitude and focus. Your form of thinking will result in your actions and reactions. You will be living what you are believing! When the tube is squeezed, what is inside will come out. Until then, you yourself might not know what is inside you!

Are you filled with hurt, anger and bitterness?

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, 

or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; 

for a tree is known by its fruit. 

Brood of vipers! 

How can you, being evil, speak good things? 

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart 

brings forth good things, 

and an evil man out of the evil treasure 

brings forth evil things.
Matthew 12:33-35

Are you filled with GOD'S love?

 Now hope does not disappoint,

 because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts 

by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5 

Come humbly to the Almighty GOD 

and ask Him to fill your heart with His amazing love.

 On the last day, that great day of the feast, 

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
John 7:37-38

Then let rivers of Living Water flow through you, 

bringing refreshing to others!

Flattery or Encouragement

Flattery or Encouragement?

Edification or Destruction?

Words spoken can either build one up or drag one down.

Even in building one up, flattery pumps up the 'self'

While encouragement builds one up spiritually and strengthens the heart.

But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak,

not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know,

nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness.

Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others,

when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you

not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives,

because you had become dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:4-8

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift,

so that you may be established-- that is,

that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Romans 1:11-12

A message informs. But when I live out the message and become a part of what I speak 

in relating to the hearers in love, it becomes an impartation! I'm part of it  - Impart.

Teaching the word of GOD, speaking prophetic words as led by the Holy Spirit

and sharing personal testimonies, bring encouragement and

build and strengthen the faith of the hearers.

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God,

for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,

but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;

for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues,

unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

For you can all prophesy one by one,

that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 1 Corinthians 14:31

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,

and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,

for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro

and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men,

in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love,

may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body,

joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,

according to the effective working by which every part does its share,

causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

To the Body of CHRIST, the Church, the various spiritual gifts are distributed by GOD.

We must therefore recognise and acknowledge this so that we can give to each other and receive from each other and thus be built up together as a wholesome assembly.

Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved,

but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong.

And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. Therefore I write these things being absent,

lest being present I should use sharpness,

according to the authority which the Lord has given me

for edification and not for destruction. 2 Corinthians 13:7-10

The Apostle Paul knew that with the authority given to him by the LORD, he was responsible to firmly correct, rebuke and exhort those in the Corinthian Church. He knew it was better for him to do this in writing rather than confronting them in person with sharp words that would cause destruction to their souls and not edification!

Let us speak the truth in love with gentleness.

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all,

able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition,

if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil,

having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23-26

Even words of correction should be spoken with gentleness in humility.

Flattery boosts up carnality but encouragement builds up spirituality.

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; 

Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 

Proverbs 20:19 

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, 

And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 26:28 

A man who flatters his neighbor Spreads a net for his feet.

Proverbs 29:5  

Flattery is like a bribe when it comes with a motive,

to please the hearer and to gain something from him.

Do we speak unnecessary words to show off our knowledge?

That would puff us up and also bring disputes.

 Now concerning things offered to idols: 

We know that we all have knowledge. 

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
1 Corinthians 8:1

 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--

remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 

nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, 

which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, 

from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 

from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 

desiring to be teachers of the law, 

understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
1 Timothy 1:3-7

 Do we enjoy gossip?

Do we enjoy speaking unprofitable words which lead to disputes and arguments?

Do our words edify people?

Are they in line with our lifestyle?

Does our motivation to teach GOD's word come out of a pure heart of love,

to give people godly edification and to strengthen them in their faith?

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3

Leaking Buckets will not Overflow

Leaking Buckets
will not Overflow

Intercession

Intercession of faith without gossip and negative talk will fill
the bucket of your heart with the love of GOD
causing it to overflow, bringing answer to the prayer.
Thus the vicious cycle of curse will be reversed
to become a precious cycle of blessings.

Now when He had taken the scroll,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp,
and golden bowls full of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 5:8

Remember your Creator
before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

As long as we have breath,
until our golden bowl is broken
and the spirit returns to GOD, let us intercede.

The LORD JESUS set the example for us to follow.

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they do."
And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Luke 23:34

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice,
He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' "
Having said this, He breathed His last.

Luke 23:46

Negative, faithless talk and gossip while interceding
is like a leaky bucket that will never fill to overflow.
That is the reason we do not see answer to our prayers.

When we take up a prayer request to the LORD
and wait on Him, the Holy Spirit will give us revelation
of GOD’S heart and teach us how to intercede.
There could be a symbolic situation or a picture
that will give us understanding of the spiritual need.
This revelation is strictly  towards effective prayer
and intercession. It is not for the purpose of sharing
with those being prayed for.
If we leak it to those being prayed for,
the answer will be hindered.

Whether it is a situation that we are in
or a need of another, we have to believe
that if our prayer is in line with GOD’S will,
it is already done.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us. And if we know that He hears us,
whatever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions
that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15

Gossiping the prayer needs

It is common to pass on prayer requests
to prayer partners.

When you receive a prayer request,
it is easy to quickly pass it on
to one or many others
and feel relieved of the burden.
This is a deception of the enemy
and a sign of a leaky bucket.
Do not pass on a prayer request
or even a burden in your heart
before you have spent time
in the LORD’S presence to intercede.
If the burden is lifted, there is nothing to pass on.
You don’t need to feel guilty
that you have not passed on the request.
You have taken it to the right place
and dealt with it in the right way.
You will rejoice to see the proof of the answer
with your eyes!

Let not prayer requests be like the
‘Pass the Parcel’ game!
The music has to stop sometime
and somebody has to open it!
If not it would be like ‘Chinese Whispers’,
growing and changing from mouth to ear and ear to mouth!

Let us be righteous like Elijah
and pray effectively and earnestly.

Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours,
and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain;
and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain,
and the earth produced its fruit.

James 5:16-18

If we have been leaking out prayer requests,
and then come before the LORD to intercede
our heart is already half emptied or fully emptied!
What then do we have to bring before GOD as a prayer?
What hope of an answer do we have?

The burdens of others are to be poured out
in intercession before GOD.

The LORD JESUS set the perfect example for us to follow.

The perfect Son of GOD became the Son of Man
and sat and mingled with publicans and sinners
without opening His mouth in condemnation!

He carried the sin of the world in His soul and body
without a leak and poured it out even to His last breath
to the Father as intercession.

Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:12

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.

Isaiah 53:7

After interceding for a person or a group of people,
when your heart is filled with GOD’S love
and the spiritual situation is clear to you,
then you should speak to those concerned as the LORD leads.
This will help resolve the matter
as your heart and the hearts of others are prepared
with the love of the LORD.
Do not wash dirty linen in public
and do not gossip the matter to others -
not even as a prayer request!

Prayers

Unbelief?

And the angel answered and said to him,
"I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,
and was sent to speak to you
and bring you these glad tidings. But behold,
you will be mute and not able to speak
until the day these things take place,
because you did not believe my words
which will be fulfilled in their own time."

Luke 1:19-20

Zacharias was literally muted
so that he wouldn’t leak words of unbelief!

Therefore I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 62:8

Our own burdens should be poured out to GOD in prayer.

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

He accepts all kinds of hurts, anger, bitterness
pain of body and soul and confusion.
JESUS has dealt with all of these on the cross.
If you would only take time to pour out
everything that is a burden to you,
and continue to wait on Him,
He will start filling your heart with hope through His amazing love.

Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:5

The LORD JESUS set the example for us when He suffered.

For to this you were called,
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that you should follow His steps:
"Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return;
when He suffered, He did not threaten,
but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

1 Peter 2:21-23

The LORD JESUS poured out the agony of His soul
to His Father at the garden of Gethsemane saying,
“O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me
unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

For some reason if you are not able to do this,
you may take your burden to the leaders in your local Church
or to a Godly friend.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
And the prayer of faith will save the sick,
and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:13-16

If you are facing a difficult situation
or if you are at a crossroad or left with an emotional load,
it is a temptation to unburden through channels
that are open before you.
It is easy to leak through facebook, texts, tweets
or any other social media
rather than take time to wait on the LORD alone.
Leaking out your hurts, anger and confusion this way
will also defile others, and affect their attitudes.
Causing such offence to others stirs up the wrath of GOD.
It is like leaking dirty infectious substance
causing danger to others.

Recently a godly friend spoke to me negatively about her husband.
Then she brought her sister for prayer saying,
“She has gone through much pain.” They looked very similar,
almost like twins. I was then surprised to hear the sister speak
very similar things about her husband!
Immediately I understood where the negative talk
of my godly friend came from!!

Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth
goes into the stomach and is eliminated?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth
come from the heart, and they defile a man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Matthew 15:17-19

knowledge and information

If we have information regarding a person or situation,
we need wisdom to channel that knowledge in prayer
or in speech at the right time to the right person.

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

Proverbs 15:2

We need GOD’S wisdom to use that knowledge profitably.
Leaking that knowledge to the wrong people
or even to the right person at the wrong time
can cause harm and hinder a good outcome.

My mouth shall speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

Psalm 49:3

Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Proverbs 10:14

Now as they came down from the mountain,
Jesus commanded them, saying,
"Tell the vision to no one
until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."

Matthew 17:9

Even the experience of seeing
the transfiguration of the LORD JESUS
was to be kept secret until the right time.

When the LORD performed a miracle,
He often commanded that it should not be publicised.

As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him,
and he was cleansed.
And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,
and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone;
but go your way, show yourself to the priest,
and offer for your cleansing
those things which Moses commanded,
as a testimony to them."
However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely,
and to spread the matter,
so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city,
but was outside in deserted places;
and they came to Him from every direction.

Mark 1:42-45

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.

Proverbs 27:14

We need to exhibit self control,
speaking the right words to the right people at the right time.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3

He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 13:3

So then, my beloved brethren,
let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath;
for the wrath of man
does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20

Do not trust in a friend;
Do not put your confidence in a companion;
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom.

Micah 7:5

Overflow

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability
which God supplies, that in all things
God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belong the glory and the dominion
forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:11

What comes out of the mouth is an indication
of what is in the heart.
An evil heart will leak and overflow wickedness.

Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:34

Idle words

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak,
they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Matthew 12:36

Wrong teaching

For there are many insubordinate,
both idle talkers and deceivers,
especially those of the circumcision,
whose mouths must be stopped,
who subvert whole households,
teaching things which they ought not,
for the sake of dishonest gain.

Titus 1:10-11

Deception and snare of the enemy
For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth is smoother than oil;

Proverbs 5:3

lies and flattery

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 26:28

These are grumblers, complainers,
walking according to their own lusts;
and they mouth great swelling words,
flattering people to gain advantage.

Jude 1:16

Victorious life

GOD’S love in the heart will overflow as words of praise to GOD,
words of love, kindness, edification, encouragement,
rebuke, truth and grace.

The Spirit of wisdom and self control with a righteous motive,
will bring forth the right words at the right time to the right people.

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.

A wise son or daughter who speaks the right words
at the right time causes the parents to rejoice.

My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice-
-indeed, I myself; Yes, my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.

Proverbs 23:15-16

So all bore witness to Him,
and marveled at the gracious words
which proceeded out of His mouth.
And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"

Luke 4:22

Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt,
that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Colossians 4:6

So Jesus said to them again,
"Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
And when He had said this, He breathed on them,
and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;
if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

John 20:21-23

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
his is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me," Says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17

"As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them:
My Spirit who is upon you, and My words
which I have put in your mouth,
shall not depart from your mouth,
nor from the mouth of your descendants,
nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants,"
says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore."

Isaiah 59:21