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Tag: Phoenix International Christian Church

The Tongue And Its Power

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21

Prov 6:16-19
16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

The Tongue’s Actions Determine God’s Feeling About Us

One of the things I appreciate about my mother is that she had deep convictions about lying. I would not get in too much trouble if I was honest about the what I did and the parties I went to. If I lied though, mom would “lose it,” stiffen the penalties, and the punishment would often become double or more. This is because lying to someone who loved me so much was very hurtful to them, and offensive to her, and she understandably took it very personally. This disposition around lying stuck with me. Therefore, it has helped me understand God and personally connect to scriptures like this one.

Most importantly, God emotionally and intensely reacts to me if I use my tongue to lie. If I stir up people against each other or cause problems with my words God hates it. The Hebrew word “sane’” here does really mean “to hate (personally).” The Hebrew word translated as “detestable” here is “tow`ebah,” and means “a disgusting thing, an abomination.” God takes how I speak very personally. It’s because his love is so deep that he cares this much about what comes out of our mouths. Love always “rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6) and “God is love” (1 John 4:8), therefore this intense reaction from God makes sense.

Prov 6:23-24
23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

The Tongue’s Powers Must Be Protected Against

The best defense we have against someone using their tongue to seduce or entice us to sin are the commands of God. Besides, if we spend time filling ourselves up with God’s word, when (not “if”, but when) we are enticed by a “smooth tongue,” we’ll be prepared. A “smooth tongue” is contrasted here with the commands of God. The “smooth tongue” being darkness and “leading down to the chambers of death” (Proverbs 7:27). The commands of God being “a lamp,” a “light,” and “the way to life.” Who am I going to listen to? Sometimes my own “self-talk” from my heart and thoughts is dark and would lead me to death, persuaded to sin, and disbelief. How can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ?” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Consequently, the biblical way to keep myself pure and to guard my steps like this is to memorize the scriptures and having them “hidden…in my heart.” :

Ps 119:9-11
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Prov 10:19-20
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

The Tongue Can Be Used Too Much

Clearly, we see all of us can choose to use our tongue to lie, to entice, and to seduce. Furthermore, we can use our tongue simply too much – by talking more than is necessary. The scriptures teach us “when words are many” there is some kind of sin we are covering for. Rationalizing, excuse-making, and deceiving all take more words to make work than the truth. The scriptures caution us “A gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid a man who talks too much.” (Proverbs 20:19) I need to make sure that I am not that man who uses words to manipulate and defend himself. I can often over-explain which comes from insecurity, which can come from a lack of faith, or a self-focus, or a troubled conscience. Finally, it’s important for me, and all of us, to identify whatever is causing us to use “many words” when this comes up.

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. (Proverbs 15:28)

Similarly, this “economy of words” is something the ancient Spartans famously demonstrated in their culture. “Lakonia” is the name of the ancient region of Greece in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. This region’s capital was (and still is) the city of Sparta. The word “laconic,” has come to mean both from this region and to thoughtfully use the least amount of words possible. Such was the practice of the ancient Spartans. Another thing I find is that the truth takes much fewer words and makes for a lighter heart and clearer head. Most importantly, it also brings me into fellowship and closeness with those around me and gets me in touch with grace – both given and received. (1 John 1:5-10)

Prov 17:28
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

The Tongue Speaks What The Heart Is Full Of

What will I use my tongue for today? How will it affect God’s view of me? How will it affect those around me? What does it indicate about my own heart? Jesus said, “for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45) What will I fill my heart with today and what impact will it have? What will it bring forth from my heart – wisdom or perversity, a piercing sword or healing? Consequently, will it help me endure forever…or only last a moment?

Prov 10:31
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
Prov 12:18-19
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Prov 11:12,19
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Dare I speak the truth from my heart, good or bad? Even more, will I get in touch with where I actually am in my relationships – with God and with others? Or will I decide to “gush folly” and avoid the issues? There is no hope in a deceitful tongue. Additionally, there is no healing in a deceitful tongue, only crushing my spirit – and others!

Prov 15:2
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
Prov 15:4
4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Prov 17:20
20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

The Tongue That Deceives

A deceitful tongue is the result of a perverse heart. When I’ve made the conscious decision to lie, it was always to get ahead. Often, I wanted something for nothing and acted selfishly.

As a result, when I was a teenager I stole some chips capriciously from the storefront display at the corner convenience store. I lied when I got caught, saying that I thought the friend with me had paid for the chips when he went to the counter. I recall another moment when lied to my jazz guitar teacher, saying I was so broke I could not afford gas that week and could I pay him later. He shrewdly exposed me and I’ll never forget the look on his face when he realized I was trying to take him for 20$. That was the price deceit and selfishness put on that friendship. Please forgive me, Eric. Certainly, even if I would have made a fortune, it would never be worth it! “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” (Proverbs 21:6)

Prov 26:28
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Prov 16:1
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.
Prov 17:4
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue

The Tongue That Replies Well

Furthermore, God can guide me to reply well. I can pray to him for help, for guidance, for an apt and wise reply. I can listen to his word, his “lips,” and avoid my own self-deception. Sometimes the most malicious tongue is my own, tearing me down in my head, and it is wicked to listen to that inner voice of self-doubt in my heart! This is a choice I make! I must instead decide to listen to the Lips of God, the Word of God, and put its truth in my head and heart! “I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.” (Psalm 119:48) “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psalm 119:97) What will I meditate on? Whose lips shall I listen to?

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Prov 2:1-5)

Prov 25:15
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Prov 25:23
23 As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks.
Prov 28:23
3 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
Prov 31:26
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

The Tongue Can Heal, Endure, And Wisely Instruct

The tongue can be used for many things. It has all manner of incredible power in our lives and the lives of those around us. The tongue can be deceitful, persuasive, sly, flattering, smoothly seductive, and in its gentleness, even break bones! Incidentally, according to the bible, it is not sticks and stones that break bones – it is the words spoken by a gentle tongue! The tongue can commend knowledge and bring healing! It can help one endure forever and bring forth faithful instruction and very the wisdom of God!

The scriptures are true –
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)

Finally, may all of us love the tongue, and “[speak] the truth in love,” so “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15) To God be the Gory!

Jeremy Ciaramella
Evangelist,
Phoenix International Christian Church

January 29, 2019
What Do Righteous and Righteousness Mean?
“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” – Proverbs 28:1

What do righteous and righteousness really mean? What does it mean to be a “righteous person?” Who is highlighted as a “righteous person” in the scriptures and why? Or, most importantly, how can we be righteous in the eyes of God? If I follow all the right rules will I be righteous? Is it about duty? Is it about heart?

The word “righteous” appears twenty-four times in the four gospels. It appears one time in the gospel of John, two in Mark, six in Luke, and fifteen in Matthew. Mark’s gospel does not use the word “righteousness” at all. Luke’s and John’s gospels only mention “righteousness” twice in each of theirs. However, “righteousness” appears seven times in the gospel of Matthew. Because the gospel of Matthew has these words used more than any of the other gospels we’ll start our study there.

Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. – Psalm 106:3

Someone Who Does What Is Righteous

The first time “righteous” appears in the gospel of Matthew is in Matthew 1:19. “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” The Greek word for “righteous” used here is “dekaios.” The base root word is “dikē” which means “custom” or “just.” This root word came to denote “what is right” (c.f. Vines). “Dekaios” is used to describe someone who observes these “rules”, “customs”, and does “what is right.”

1 John 3:7 sums up this idea. “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.” The word for “righteous” here is “dikaiosynē” and it’s root word is “dekaios” which we’ve discussed previously. The scriptures utilize this word “dikaiosynē” in the following ways*:
1. in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God
  1. the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
  2. integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
2. in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due
*blueletterbible.org

Righteousness Means You Do What Is Merciful

Joseph did what was right and did not expose Mary to public disgrace. Joseph could have made her pregnancy known and would have been within his rights to do so. This would have disgraced Mary and the child she was carrying. Furthermore, the scriptures commanded that a woman who lied to man about her virginity was to be stoned to death at the door of her father’s house. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21) Joseph was being merciful in his actions. He did not know what to believe in this situation and yet he handled it “righteously.” Joseph did not lash out.

We must ask ourselves if we lash out when it is within our power, our opportunity, our even our “rights.” Certainly, Joseph’s heart was broken and the scriptures called for punishment. Despite all this, he did what was righteous and was merciful. When our hearts are broken or we suffer injustices at the hands of those we’ve trusted – will we be merciful like him? Will I thirst for vindication or for grace? Shall I put my hope in rectification or in the mercy of God? Do we desire the satisfaction of a justly delivered punishment or the homecoming of forgiveness? (Luke 15:11-24) God always allows us our choice of what we will hunger and thirst for.

The Righteous Will Shine

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:40-43)

This passage is very sobering. We can be in the kingdom and be causing sin and doing evil! Therefore, people can look saved but be destined to have angels “throw them into the fiery furnace!” We can cause each other to sin even when our sin is not “public.” We can think that because our sin is “private” it is not hurting anyone else. I believed this lie myself in the mid-late 90’s. During this time I struggled with gross impurity almost weekly for a couple of years. Additionally, I numbed my heart to the thought that it affected anyone else because I committed the sins in “private.”

“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” – Luke 12:1

Un-Righteous Yeast Affects The Whole Body of Christ

The Holy Spirit through Paul the Apostle asks “Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?” (1 Corinthians 5:6) The Word of God teaches “you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” (1 Cor 5:11) The Holy Spirit through Paul lists here sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slandering, drunkenness, and swindling in this passage. These kinds of sins are the yeast that will infect “the whole batch of dough.” If we are going to overcome this, we must confess and renounce our sins. Then we will be righteous and shine like the sun.

I remember the profound effect memorizing the first and second chapters of the book of 1st John had on my mind and heart. I spent several months in 1999 memorizing these two chapters of the bible. By God’s grace and faithfulness, He placed in my life two amazing disciples of Jesus who “discipled” me consistently and firmly with God’s word. At first, I was critical, petty, proud, arrogant and hard-hearted. This is because I resented the sharp truths presented to me from the scriptures by this dear brother. To my shame I was numbed by sin and enslaved to pride. It is to God’s glory and through his grace alone my character was shaped, my heart freed, and my mind changed. Darren Christina, you will forever have my deepest gratitude.

Confession Is The Key To Being Righteous

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Prov 28:13)

The main point in this scripture is finding mercy by confessing and renouncing sin. We certainly can’t find something we are not even looking for. In the past, I’ve confused finding mercy with self-worth and self-validation. I’ve thought and wrestled with my worth, my significance, coming from “my impact” or “my accomplishments” in the ministry in particular. In retrospect, this skirts mercy and grace altogether because these are given, not earned by works or merits. I’m already priceless to God, and I confess my sins because of that. I trust that God is who he says he is, and he hears my cries for mercy.

The main principle in 1st John 1:5-10 is similar to Proverbs 28:13. We are called to “walk in the light” because “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” The author of 1 John is the beloved apostle John who also wrote the Gospel of John. We can understand better what John means here in 1st John 1:5-10 by looking at what he wrote about “light” in John 3:19-21. “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:20) When we are transparent and confess our sins (walk in the light, as “he is in the light”) our evil deeds are exposed. Then, according to the promises in 1 John 1:5-10, “the blood of Jesus, [God’s] Son, purifies us from all sin.

“…The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” – Matthew 13:43

Our Righteousness Is From God’s Mercy

“…confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) We will be made righteous by Jesus’ obedience. (Romans 5:19) Jesus humbled himself and “became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8) Our responsibility is to own our sin, to confess it, to renounce it and repent of it.

“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:24-26)

May we find righteousness not in ourselves, but in Christ. I pray I remember God’s grace, and allow it to teach me to say “no” to my worldliness and ungodly passions. (Titus 3:12) I pray that grace will inspire me to walk in the light, to confess my sins plainly, so that whatever “righteousness” I do or have is shown as being done “through God.” (John 3:21)
January 11, 2018