Gtcotr/ss022816
Some
of the greatest mountains we face are mountains in our mind. As well, some of
our greatest challenges are of our own making. And, what we believe and say
about ourselves and our situations makes all the difference. For this reason it
is vital that we guard our hearts with all diligence, (Proverbs 4:23), our
lives depend on it!
This
morning I would like to encourage you to quit cursing. It pleases God when we
stop cursing ourselves and others. Let me begin by reading:
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God.
Thoughts
produce words – better said – Words come from thoughts. We may not be able to
fully harness our words unless we can first control our thoughts. Jesus said it
this way:
Luke 6:45 "A good man
out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of
the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of
the heart his mouth speaks.
James 3: 2 For we all stumble in many
things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able
also to bridle the whole body.
We
should all strive to be perfect and to exercise a reasonable amount of self
control. In fact, self control is a greater asset than one might realize. Self
control, it turns out, might just be a byproduct of filling our mind with the
right stuff!
At
any rate, people end up saying what they think – maybe not to everyone but
certainly to themselves and eventually to someone else.
Problem
is, when we think in terms of curses, we tend to curse.
Romans 12:14 Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Oh
yes, curses are real! God would not have given us instructions to not curse
others unless He believed our cursing actually had power to harm others.
Numbers
22 tells the story of Balaam who was a prophet during the time of Moses. God
gave strict instructions to Balaam to not curse the Israelites. In fact, an
angel of the Lord stood ready to kill the prophet because he did not want any
curse words coming from the prophet spoken against the children of Israel.
Evidently curse words hurt … even when we speak them about ourselves!
Proverbs 4
20 A man’s stomach shall be
satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he
shall be filled.
21 Death and life are
in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Numbers 14:28 "Say to
them, ’As I live,’ says the LORD, ’just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I
will do to you:
It’s
not only what we say about ourselves but also what others may be saying about
us. As well … what we say about others it also important!
Isaiah 57:17 No weapon formed
against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in
judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the
LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.
Remember
– It will please God if you will just quit cursing! How can you do this? Fill
your mind with the good Word of God! Think on the best you can imagine God can
do. Renew your mind and renew your life!
