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THE KEY TO BEING CHRIST-LIKE - BRIDLING OUR MOUTHS AND OUR TONGUE!
I think as a Christian that this is an element of scripture that we spend very little time reflecting upon...
MOST DEFINATELY MYSELF AND THIS IS ONE OF MY GREATEST THORNS IN MY FLESH - MY MOUTH!
I NEVER REALLY REALIZED HOW MUCH THE WORD OF GOD SPEAKS ON THIS SUBJECT - SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE SOME SCRIPTURES WHICH WOULD BRING IT TO LIGHT AND MAYBE WE CAN ALL REFLECT UPON THIS IN OUR OWN WALK WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:
"My dear brothers, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
-JAMES 1:19,20
" Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
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.
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.
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."
-JAMES 3:1-10
THIS IS SO TRUE. TEST YOUR OWN SELF - I HAVE.
WHEN SOMEONE MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY AND INSULTS YOUR CHARACTER OR FAMILY OR CHILDREN - TRY KEEPING YOUR MOUTH SHUT IN RESPONSE. I HAVE LITERALLY HAD TO BITE MY TONGUE TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT! I NEVER REALIZED HOW TRUE THESE WORDS REALLY WERE IN MY OWN LIFE, UNTIL I ACTUALLY REALIZED HOW MUCH MY MOUTH FLIES OPEN AND SPUES FORTH ALL KINDS OF EVIL THINGS IN RESPONSE TO MY ANGER...THEN I'M LEFT WITH GUILT, EVEN IF THE WORDS OF THE OTHER PERSON PUT THEM IN THE WRONG.
WE ALL MAKE THINGS WORSE BY THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTH DURING ANY CONFLICT!
WE ALL SHOULD REALLY PRAY THAT GOD WILL HELP US BRIDLE OUR TONGUES - THIS IS ACTUALLY THE ONE THING THAT CAN CAUSE A WAR OR BRING PEACE TO PEOPLES, NATIONS AND EVEN IN OUR OWN HOUSEHOLD:
THOSE ARE ONLY A FEW VERSES WHICH SPEAK OF THIS SUBJECT, THERE ARE A LOT MORE - SO THIS MUST BE SOMETHING GOD REALLY WANTS US TO LOOK AT IN OUR OWNSELVES.
AFTER ALL, REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID:
"Peter said, Explain the parable to us.
Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.
Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "
MATTHEW 15:15-20
THE TRUTH THAT JESUS IS TEACHING US WAS TO HELP US. IT APPEARS THAT MOST OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAVE IN LIFE - ORIGINATE FROM OUR TONGUE!
(SOMETHING WE SAID TO SOMEONE WE SHOULD NOT HAVE: GOSSIP, COMPLIMENTS GIVING TO THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN, INSULTS THAT LEAD TO FIGHTS OR EVEN MURDER, ETC.)
GOD FEELS SO STRONGLY ABOUT THIS SUBJECT THAT THE FOLLOWING VERSES ARE HOW MANY TIMES HE REMINDS US OF THIS - BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SPARE US TROUBLE WITH OTHERS AND TROUBLES WITHIN OUR OWN SELVES:
" If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."
-JAMES 1:26
" For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."
-1 PETER 3:10
" Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
-1 JOHN 3:18
"Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him "
-JEREMIAH 9:8
"They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me," declares the Lord.
-JEREMIAH 9:3
"For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things."
-ISAIAH 59:3
"Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars?"
-ISAIAH 57:4
" He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity."
-PROVERBS 21:23
"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone."
-PROVERBS 25:15
"As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks."
-PROVERBS 25:23
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
-PROVERBS 15:1
"A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
-PROVERBS 26:28
"He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue."
-PROVERBS 28:23
"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. "
-PROVERBS 31:26
"Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit. "
-PSALM 52:2
"You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!"
-PSALM 52:4
" I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue."
-PSALM 66:17
"My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion. "
-PSALM 71:24
"May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous."
-PSALM 119:172
" What will he do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?"
-PSALM 120:3
"May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy."
-PSALM 137:6
" Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."
-PSALM 139:4
"haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,"
-PROVERBS 6:17
" keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife."
-PROVERBS 6:24
"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."
-PROVERBS 10:19
"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value."
-PROVERBS 10:20
"The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out."
-PROVERBS 10:31
"A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue."
-PROVERBS 11:12
"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
-PROVERBS 12:18
"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."
-PROVERBS 12:19
"The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly."
-PROVERBS 15:2
"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."
-PROVERBS 15:4
"To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue."
-PROVERBS 16:1
" A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue."
-PROVERBS 17:4
" A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble."
-PROVERBS 17:20
"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."
-PROVERBS 17:28
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. "
-PROVERBS 18:21
" A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare."
-PROVERBS 21:6
" For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. "
-PSALM 45:1
" You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit."
-PSALM 50:19
"Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness."
-PSALM 51:14
" Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty. "
-JOB 15:5
"Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,"
-JOB 20:12
" my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit."
-JOB 27:4
"I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue."
-JOB 33:2
" For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. "
-JOB 34:3
"Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope?"
-JOB 41:1
"Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit."
-PSALM 5:9
"His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue."
-PSALM 10:7
"May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue"
-PSALM 12:3
" and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,"
-PSALM 15:3
"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,"
-PSALM 16:9
"keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies."
-PSALM 34:13
"My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long."
-PSALM 35:28
"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just."
-PSALM 37:30
"... I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."
-PSALM 39:1
I THINK THESE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES SHOULD BE OUR GUIDELINE WHILE SPEAKING WITH ONE ANOTHER ON THIS FORUM:
"Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions."
-1 TIMOTHY 6:4
"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge."
-1 TIMOTHY6:20
"Don't let people waste time in endless speculation over myths and spiritual pedigrees. For these things only cause arguments; they don't help people live a life of faith in God."
-1 TIMOTHY 1:4
"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels."
-2 TIMOTHY 2:23
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT GOD IS DECLARING TO US HOW WE CAN BE MORE "CHRIST-LIKE"! WE MUST KEEP OUR MOUTHS CLOSED MORE OFTEN THEN OPENED: OUR SAVIOUR DID AND BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE HOPE OF ETERNAL SALVATION !
"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."
-ISAIAH 53:7
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Originally Posted by MikeD
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