Thoughts on Speaking the Truth

The Bible tells us to be “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4.15). It doesn’t use the word” speak”. It uses “speaking”. So it seems  that this isn’t a once and done thing.

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

Sometimes it seems easier to say nothing, then cause a stir. But, what if someone never got right with the Lord because we always strive to not offend someone? 

Proverbs 29:5 says, “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” 

The Lord requires us to warn people.  The Lord said in Ezekiel 3:18, “ When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

Leviticus 19:17 commands,

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”

Proverbs 27:5-6 says,  “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

If we don’t tell someone the truth, we don’t love them. It seems today that people are too afraid of offending someone that they won’t say anything.

But when we speak the truth it should be motivated out of love. 

When we speak it should not be because we think we are better than others, or done out of a mean spirit. God hates this. Proverbs 8:13 reads, “[P]ride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” 

Even the Pharisees spoke the truth (sometimes). Jesus said in  Matthew 23:3-5, “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. . .  But all their works they do for to be seen of men . . .”

Matthew 12:46 reminds us, “  . . . That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” We will give account of our words, whether they were from God or not.

God bless.

We Don’t Always Have to Speak

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . .A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;” Ecclesiastes 3:1;7

The Bible tells us that there is a time to speak and a time to keep silence.

Jesus said in John 16:12, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” Jesus didn’t always speak. Even though everything He had to say was good, sometimes it wasn’t the time to say it. He also said that they couldn’t bear it now.

Sometimes before we speak maybe we should ask, “What can this person bear”?  Galatians 6:2 also tells us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” 

Rather than being called to speak, perhaps God wants us  to do something? 

The Bible tells us that there is a time to act rather than to speak. 

James 2:15-16 reads, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” 

Sometimes we need to help bear someone’s burdens.

I John 3:18 reads, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 

In the book of Job, Job was in mourning. And his friends came and said a lot of things to him. One of the things that was said was that Job walked with wicked men (Job 34.7-9). And one implied  that Job was a hypocrite (Job 36.13).These things were not true (Job 1.8). 

Job’s friends were so busy trying to say something that they left the Spirit of God out of it. 

I was wondering if we ever could be so laser-focused on speaking that we leave the Lord out of it. 

Now if the Lord calls us to say something we need to say it. But, we need to listen to Him. And He calls us to do more than speak.

Proverbs 10:19 warns  us, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

Proverbs 9:13 reads, “A foolish woman is clamorous . . .” Clamorous means to talk excessively and loudly.

These have been just a few thoughts.

God bless.

What to Think

Last night I had taken down a bunch of notes on “What to Think On”. My Dad has been talking a lot lately about what to think and what to speak. Anyways I found that I had written down thoughts on this before, just in a  different order. So I am sharing that with you today, with a couple more verses. God bless.

^“ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” James 4:11

A name for Satan is “the accuser of the brethren”.

Revelation 12:10-11 reads, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” 

In this verse, Satan accuses our brethren before God.  But, it surely doesn’t seem as though, our Heavenly Father is the only one to whom Satan takes these railing accusations to.

Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. (Mk. 3.35) Satan’s house isn’t divided,  but he tries to divide God’s people! It seems that Satan takes those accusations to us as well.

The Bible says he tries to provoke us and tries puts things into our hearts.

He provoked David to number Israel in I Chronicles 21:1.

He put something in Ananias and Sapphira’s heart in Acts 5:3.

He put something into Judas heart in John 13:2.

He also can take good things out of our hearts if we let him.

“ And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” Mark 4:15

It seems like he gets us to forget good things, and remember only the bad.

The Bible speaks of the  children of Israel’s discontentedness when they came out of Egypt. The “mixed multitude,” the Egyptians that were with them provoked the children of Israel. They complained about God and His provision. They said that they had it better back in Egypt. They “remembered the fish they used to eat”. They remembered the fish in Egypt, but they didn’t remember being slaves, or being treated cruelly. They didn’t remember the miracles that God did on their behalf, and that He supplied their every need.

The influence of Satan causes us to remember the wrong things, and to have a skewed image of reality.

I think of Eve in the Garden of Eden. He drew her focus to the one tree God said she couldn’t have, rather than upon the overflowing blessings of God that surrounded her.

Satan would like us to forget the good things, and focus on the bad whether that bad is real or imagined. 

But God’s people are not our enemy!

” For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

He wants us to focus so much on the bad, that we forget how much someone may love us. He did this to Eve. He didn’t point to every tree in the garden that God gave Eve, but he pointed to that one poison tree that God said not to eat from.

God tells us what to think on.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Also the Lord commands us in I Timothy 5:19,

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”

And not just elders, God didn’t want us to condemn his people without witnesses.Deuteronomy 19:15 says, “ One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (See also Matthew 18:16-17). These have been just a few thoughts. God bless.

Thoughts on Speaking

Have you ever been having a conversation and trying to tell someone something and someone or something keeps interrupting you? It seemed like it happened a lot to me in a recent week. Then in a trip the car I was reading aloud a devotion from one of the ladies from the WMA of Mississippi when I was interrupted by the GPS. I was saying something important, and was interrupted by a computer telling us how to get to a place that we had been to a dozen times.

This made me think that we as Christians have something important to say. We have something we are commanded to say. We are commanded to preach the Gospel. Not only that, but the Lord’s Church was also commanded to teach doctrine and all things that Jesus commanded ( Matthew 28:19-20).

Now I’m more the person that always wants to wait for the “right” time (a time that I feel good about). But the world will never give us an opportunity to say what is needed if they don’t want to hear what we are saying. We can’t just think that we meet the slightest opposition that God doesn’t want us speaking. The Bible also tells us not to give place to the Devil (Eph. 4.27). If we don’t stand our ground and push back, we can be sure that he will run over us, and keep making distractions so that we will never say what God wants us to say.

Paul wrote of redeeming the time because the days are evil in Ephesians. He also wrote of redeeming the time in Colossians specifically in regards to speaking.

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:3-6

It is true that there are times when the Lord would have us to be silent, but it is not supposed to be our only state. We ought to pray for opportunities and not be passive in doing what we are commanded. My Dad counseled me recently and told me of how the apostle Paul fought to do the will of God and we ought to be that way too.

Ephesians 5:15 speaks of “speaking the truth in love”. We as God’s people need to keep speaking, as the word is present tense. We need to speak the truth, and we need to do it always out of love.

Sometimes the truth hurts. Cleaning a cut stings, but in the end it brings healing. The Word of God will also bring healing.

These have been just a few thoughts.

God bless!

“[A]nd when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:40-42

Thoughts on Job and the Tongue

James 1:19-20 tells us, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

A little while ago I went through the book of Job. Studying James 1:19-20 made me realize that there are plenty of things in Job that relate to the tongue. Here are some thoughts I had on Job as well as some thoughts on this verse.

 

What type of man was Job?

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Job 1:1

In the beginning the Lord says that Job was perfect and upright. This is also what the Lord said of Noah:

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9

Job made intercessory prayer.

“And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” Job 1:5

The Bible says that Job did this continually. Job considered that others might curse God in their hearts. So he arose early and prayed for them. The Lord Jesus also rose up early to pray.

Next the Devil comes in.

 The Devil comes in the picture. And what does he want to do? He wants to get Job to curse God. He wants to get Job to curse God, a man who prays for others that they do not curse them.  “Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Job 1: 9-11

Instead what does Job do?

“. . .Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job 1:21-22

Rather than curse, Job blesses God.

This always seems to make the enemies of God angry. “And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.” Numbers 24:10

Bro. Grover Laird, a dedicated man of God, and one of the wisest men I have ever known, once wrote that Satan is always looking for someone to hate the Lord through. Perhaps this is why it makes some angry when we praise the Lord.

The Devil Doesn’t Give Up

     Chapter 2 begins, “Again there was a day…” There was another day that the sons of God came to present themselves before him. It doesn’t seem like too much time has passed between the first time and the second.

Here again Satan has been walking to and fro, and seeking to find something to accuse God’s people.  Yet, Satan didn’t have anything to accuse Job.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” Job 2:3

The Lord still mentions that Job is perfect and upright, and still holds fast his integrity even though all that happened to him.

Satan claims that if God would move his hand against Job’s body, Job would curse God to his face.

“And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.” Job 2:4-6

But, Job still doesn’t curse God.

 Satan still doesn’t give up.

After this we don’t see Satan mentioned.  But, what is the next thing we hear?

“Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”

This came out of the mouth of Job’s wife. We know from Ananias and Sapphira, and from the Lord’s rebuke of Peter, that Satan can influence people to say things.

“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:33

His wife said, “does thou retain thine integrity.” But who wanted Job to give up his integrity?

The Devil  said“…and still he holdeth fast his integrity. . .” Job 2:3

Who wanted Job to curse God?

“[H]e will curse thee to thy face.” Job 2:5

Who wanted Job to die?

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy . . .” John 10:10

Who did not have power over Job’s life so long as God had a hedge about him?

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.” Job 2:6

Job retains his integrity.

  “Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” Job 27:1-6

God’s Spirit was with Job.

“All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils”.

If Job said that he was in the wrong, he would be a liar.

“My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you:”

Jesus said in John 8:55, “Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.”

Job never said he was without sin, or perfect.

“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20

Job maintains he is not a hypocrite.

“ For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?” Job 27:8-9

Job’s friends did say a lot of good things. But, they weren’t at the right time. But they didn’t apply to Job. And they weren’t directed by the Spirit of God.

Next comes Elihu.

He was the young man. He was good, right? That’s what I always thought. He said good things about Job, right? But, what exactly did he say?

“What man is like Job. . . Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.” Job 34:7-9

He says that Job goes in the company of the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men.

He continues, “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.” Job 36:11-13

Elihu alleges that Job is a hypocrite.

He calls Job a fool.

“ Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.” Job 34:35-37

 

Elihu has no pity on Job.

“My desire is that Job should be tried to the end. . .”

“For he addeth rebellion unto his sin.” Job sinned and now he is adding rebellion to his sin. He “multiplieth his words against God.”

“[T]herefore trust thou in him. But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger…”

He is telling Job to trust in God. And because he hasn’t God has visited him in his anger.

Next God speaks.

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” Job 38:1-2

The LORD is answering Job. After all these insults the LORD is answering Job.

Job, “Who is this?” The Lord knows Job, but who is this “that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” Remember the words of Elihu to Job?

“Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.”

Job was not without sin, but do notice what the Lord maintains at the end of the book.

“And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.” Job 42:7-8

Job was justified by a voice from heaven, or out of the whirlwind. This voice said that what Job spake was right.

Job surely won this crown of overcoming temptation, and Satan by not sinning with his tongue. We often say that the words that we speak don’t matter, but what does the Bible teach of how important it really is?

In light of James 1:19-20, were Eliphaz and the others swift to hear?  It surely doesn’t appear that they were slow to speak. The Scripture also says that Elihu’s wrath was kindled.

They didn’t seem to listen to Job, and I notice that God wouldn’t hear them in the end. I also notice that God answered them in wrath.

This makes me think that I ought to listen to others more, so that God will listen to me and my prayers. If I am quick to wrath, maybe the Lord will also answer me in wrath.

These have been just a few thoughts.

God bless.

“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” Psalm 15

 

 

 

 

Speaking the Truth in Love

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

The phrase “speaking the truth in love” , must be kept as it is, without changing one word, or leaving one out.

The first word, “speaking”.

Notice that this word is “speaking” not “ speak”. “Speaking” is present tense. It is continued action. Christian’s aren’t to just say something once, and then quit. Christian’s are to keep on speaking.

But, what are they supposed to keep speaking? Not, just any old thing.

”But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36

”But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5:3-4

These are just a few things Christians aren’t supposed to be speaking. We shouldn’t be glorifying sin, or joking about it. We shouldn’t joke about things that destroy lives.

”Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” Proverbs 14:9

What we as Christian’s are supposed to speak is the truth. We are also to be speaking it constantly.

But, what is truth?

” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Jesus Christ is the truth!

We are to tell others about Jesus Christ! We are to tell them about  Jesus, and what He said.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39

We aren’t to tell others, “what I think”, or “what I believe”. We are to preach what the Scriptures say.

” For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…” II Corinthians 4:5

The Bible also tells us to speak God’s Word constantly.

” Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:” Deuteronomy 11:18-20

Again in Deuteronomy 6 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…”

 

Another aspect of speaking the truth is the way we live our lives.

”Actions speak louder than words” a saying goes.  Jesus Christ wasn’t constantly speaking with His mouth. His silence is even recorded in a few places!

Yet,the Bible calls Him, “the Word of God”. Jesus  gave witness to the truth by His actions.  And that is what we Christians are to do as well. Do our actions show Jesus Christ, or someone else?

Proverbs 11:9 also says, ”An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour:…”

The Bible tells us that if our words say one thing, and your actions say another, it can be a dangerous thing.

Lastly we are to be speaking the truth in love.

When we speak with our mouths it should always be motivated by love, just as it should always be the truth.

When we speak the truth, it should be out of love. It should not be done with the intention to hurt, or out of pride.

”[P]ride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13

”[B]e clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” I Peter 5:5

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1-2

If we are following the Lord, this is what we will do.

A Multitude of Words

James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…”  The Bible cautions us about talking too much.

Proverbs 10:19 says,

“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”  

One of the hardest sins it seems to overcome, is sinning with our tongue. The Bible advises us that often it is better to remain silent than to speak.

Ecclesiastes 12: 14 says,
” For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” 

If we really believed this, and were wise, we would hold off on speaking more often.  Then we would have a lot less to answer for on judgment day.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 says,

 “…a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” 

“A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.”  Proverbs 9:13

Clamorous means:
” Speaking and repeating loud words; noisy; vociferous; loud; turbulent.”

A fool is known by a multitude of words, and the foolish woman is known by the same.

 The Bible says that the wise in heart, will hear.

” The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” Proverbs 10:8

To prate means
” To talk much and without weight, or to little purpose; to be loquacious; as the vulgar express it, to run on.”

”A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” Proverbs 18:7

 It is often said , “We most often listen with the intent to reply, rather than listen with the intent understand.”

Proverbs 18:13 says,
“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” 

It is better in our dealings with our fellow man, to listen and understand what they are saying.  

 

We ought to be quiet when we are in God’s presence.

”Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” Ecclesiastes 5:1

God bless!