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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Bible Verse of the Day: September 30, 2021
- Thread starter Sister
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Sister
CF Ambassador
That would be nice to do. I read and share them for sure as a food for thought/encouragement for sure, but it is important to slow down. Repetition brings revelation...
I believe the verse is speaking of having wisdom and discernment in the content of the subjects we talk about. It encourages me to think about what I am talking about. How someone speaks, reflects what they think and how they live. A froward/worldly person is going to talk about worldly things that are sinful or not of God. The lips of the righteous are going to talk about, "whatever is good, whatever is righteous, whatever is pure, whatever ever is lovely, whatever is of good repute." Philippians 4:8 The righteous will speak these things, because these are the things they are thinking about. And the righteous will speak the Gospel and speak praises to God, because we know this is what we ought to be talking about.
Wonderful answer. I looked, and that whole Chapter mentions several things that describe what things the lips of the righteous will speak:
8 A wise man in heart will receive commandments; but he that is unguarded in his lips shall be overthrown in his perverseness... 10 He that winks with his eyes deceitfully procures griefs for men; but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker... 12 Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife. 13 He that brings forth wisdom from his lips smites the fool with a rod. 14 The wise will hide discretion, but the mouth of the hasty draws near to ruin... 18 Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish. 19 By a multitude of words thou shalt not escape sin; but if thou refrain thy lips thou wilt be prudent. 20 The tongue of the just is tried silver; but the heart of the ungodly shall fail... 23 A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence in a man... 28 Joy rests long with the righteous: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish... 31 The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. 32 The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. (excepts from Proverbs 10 in the LXX).
Much of this reminds me of James 1:
19 My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and the overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves... 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is in vain. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
"Undefiled" here essentially meant free of demonic influence. So did keeping oneself "unspotted from the world." Proverbs 10:19 above talked about refraining ones lips, which is the same thing James was saying about being slow to speak. Same point in mentioning "the mouth of the hasty." James also talked about the wise speaking in "the meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13), and how "wars and fights" arise from the flesh (James 4:1), both of which coincide with v.12 where it says, "Hatred stirs up strife, but affection covers all who do not love strife." Righteous lips instead seek to "cover enmity" (v.18).
Found this definition for "froward" which even contains a scriptural reference in it:
Froward: "(of a person) difficult to deal with; contrary. 'The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.'"
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/froward
Sister
CF Ambassador
Reproving boldly makes you a peacemaker. I find that interesting. Not a peacekeeper but a peace maker. I think even the righteous man can fall in that at times. I also like how it says that wisdom brings prudence in a man. Good commentary here. How do you know that "undefiled" means free from demonic influence? I guess how I read it is a genuine religion rather then a fake one with just lip service.
Yes. Sometimes it takes silencing people, lest they just keep talking forever and saying/teaching things that stir up strife. It's not a fun thing to do to reprove them strongly and boldly, but sometimes you just have to do it anyway. Then you drift off to another forum so you don't have to look at those people for awhile, LoL.
Because of what he goes on to say in the rest of the letter. In Chapter 3, he says:
6 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, being set on fire by Hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the image of God...13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, soulish, and demonic. (James 3:6-9, 13-15)
There are additional allusions to demons in James that are more complex to explain, but the word he uses here for demonic is literally δαιμονιώδης, from which we get the word "demonic." The King James Version translates it as "devilish." And v.2-3 of the same Chapter talks about powerful forces being controlled by something small; ships by a small rudder, and horses by a small bit. It's a reference to how very powerful, even demonically-driven emotions like anger and wrath can nevertheless be kept back if we just keep our mouths shut. But if we let the Devil speak through us, it generates more strife like a little kindling getting out of control and turning into a huge forest fire. This is exactly what Satan and his demons want to incite Christians to do; get into all out war with one another if possible.
Sister
CF Ambassador
Yes. Sometimes it takes silencing people, lest they just keep talking forever and saying/teaching things that stir up strife. It's not a fun thing to do to reprove them strongly and boldly, but sometimes you just have to do it anyway. Then you drift off to another forum so you don't have to look at those people for awhile, LoL.
Because of what he goes on to say in the rest of the letter. In Chapter 3, he says:
6 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, being set on fire by Hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the image of God...13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, soulish, and demonic. (James 3:6-9, 13-15)
There are additional allusions to demons in James that are more complex to explain, but the word he uses here for demonic is literally δαιμονιώδης, from which we get the word "demonic." The King James Version translates it as "devilish." And v.2-3 of the same Chapter talks about powerful forces being controlled by something small; ships by a small rudder, and horses by a small bit. It's a reference to how very powerful, even demonically-driven emotions like anger and wrath can nevertheless be kept back if we just keep our mouths shut. But if we let the Devil speak through us, it generates more strife like a little kindling getting out of control and turning into a huge forest fire. This is exactly what Satan and his demons want to incite Christians to do; get into all out war with one another if possible.
You know your stuff, brother! Interesting about the word meaning of defiled in the context of the chapter. It is all the better reminder to keep the mouth shut when feeling anger/wrath/or even fear and confusion. We all fall short, but the righteous use wisdom and discernment when speaking.
Sweetvineshema thanks for taking this deeper with your question! I normally just post these, because I listen to it on my twenty minute break normally. But I love taking these deeper! You just might not see.me answer till later at night, weekday I am working at school so I get on at lunch and sometimes when the kids are napping and I have nothing else to do.
The real trick is staying in the right Spirit when having to reprove someone. People can anger you by their conduct. There's a passage where it states plainly that even Jesus became angry with the Pharisees when they refused to answer Him, instead remaining hard-hearted against Him healing on the Sabbath:
He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him... And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. (Mark 3:1-6).
Thus, there's a precedent for sinners making you downright upset, but the question is this: Do we keep our anger in check when having to rebuke others, making sure not to sin against them in the process of having to correct them. As the scripture says, "Be angry, but sin not." It's not the easiest thing to do, but not impossible either. Jesus proved it.
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Shema
CF Ambassador
As I read through the answers from you and Hidden In Him , I got blessed. Thank you so much. I think we should start going deeper on each Bible verse if need be.
Well thank you, SV. That was a very nice thing to say.
At the time I joined, I thought I was mostly just saying hello to everyone, as I'd planned on mostly taking a few years off from the forums to concentrate on my writing. But I like it here. It's always nice meeting a new group of Christians and feeling like you are becoming a part of a new community. So I'll do what I can to try and stay up with these devotionals, and maybe interact on a few other things that interest me here and there as well.
You've been a blessing too in being so welcoming.
God bless,
Your friend
Hidden