Tag Archives: tongue

The Holy Spirit and Being Guilty (Word to the Wise)

22 Tuesday Mar 2016

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To blaspheme the Holy Spirit, what does one have to do? Looking at Matthew 12:32, to answer this question one needs to look at the entirety of the context. First, the religious leaders questioned the authority of Jesus in His healing a man possessed of demons. Jesus, in turn, questioned their logic and their theology (12:25-30). After questioning them, he concluded with the now famous words, “…whoever speaks a word against the Holy Spirit” it will not be forgiven him, in this age or in the next (12:32). In my estimation, Jesus gives explanation to what He meant in the following verses (12:33-37). From the heart comes fruit. That fruit is either good or bad. If the heart is good, that is, if the Lord has been set on the throne of the heart (cf. 1 Peter 3:15; Col. 3:16), then what comes from the heart will be that which reflects the Lord’s will in obedience. On the other hand, that which is bad is evil (in a heavenly/spiritual context); it’s as if one lived in the midst of snakes. From the heart comes only that which is bad and, consequently, it is a speaking against the Holy Spirit and His mission, thus not obeying Him. In a Christian era context, one can still be guilty! RT

A Wholesome Tongue (A Word to the Wise)

28 Thursday May 2015

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A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Proverbs 15:4, NKJV). A word properly spoken can be a word most fitting for the occasion. The words you speak, are they cutting or are they edifying? The Holy Spirit in Colossians speaks of the importance of our words, “Let your word always be with grace, having been seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer each one” (4:6, EMTV). The idea is clear enough; the words that come out of your mouth are words that are a direct reflection of that which is in the heart. Unfortunately, there are many who call themselves Christian and the words spoken by the same are as unchristian as words spoken by an atheist. What kind of words do you speak (or write)?

The Tongue and Brain Not Connected (A Word to the Wise)

15 Friday May 2015

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The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness (Proverbs 15:2, NKJV). We see it all the time or, perhaps stated better, we hear it all the time: some people engage mouth before they engage brain! If there is one thing the Holy Spirit teaches (And, of course, there are a great many other things taught!), it teaches that one’s mind is to be controlled by the Lord’s Spirit, His teaching. His word instructs us not only on what to answer, but how to answer (1 Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6). It is tremendously unfortunate that many have failed to hear, but doubly so if that one is a Christian! Imagine: The tongue of the [Christian] uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of [nominal Christian] pours forth foolishness. The “nominal Christian” who does as much brings much discredit to the Lord’s name.

The Lying Tongue

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

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Psalm 120 is a prayer to the Lord to relieve one from the lying tongue. Who are the liars around the psalmist that he feels the need to offer this prayer? It is those who love war rather than peace (120:6-7). As I was reading the Psalm, the thought occurred to me concerning those who lie to themselves, and the struggle they endure trying to get a handle on it. The Psalm does not seem to address this notion, but can you imagine the struggle that many have as they reflect on their lives and see the damage done to themselves, not to mention that which is done to others? The Scriptures are plain—liars will not be in heaven (Rev. 21:8)! The struggle is great in this world of pain wherein, it seems, so many around us are nothing but liars, but the greater struggle is with ourselves when we lie to ourselves, and the Lord knows it.