The Tongue - Edition #10: Perseverance in Speech

April 11th, 2006

A friend responded yesterday to Edition #9 that I thought I would share.

Thank you for sharing your heart with the Scriptures God put on your heart today. I can be a constant worry wart if my eyes aren't on Jesus. I love the Scripture 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 and 1 Peter 5:7. I appreciate your heart for your friends and will pray that the IRS just passes them by.

2nd Corinthians 4:7-11
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

1st Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I think these are great scriptures. I went and saw them this afternoon, to help comfort them, as I know they are troubled. It helped, I think, to just let them know that I would be there for them. They are going to have to sell a number of things and give up the lifestyle they are accustomed to, but I reassured them that as the morning turns to afternoon, these things will to pass. It’s hard to see sometimes as we tend to live in the moment, and dream about tomorrow. When things are taken away, we tend to think that the dreams of tomorrow are being squished. But the reality is, should the dream become a realization, it just makes it that much more enjoyable. Thanks for your thoughts and sharing. I appreciate it, as I know they do to.

Yesterday was a great day. My son turned 11 months old and he hit a ball for the first time. We have these things called bam-bams and also a blown up baseball which I hit for him and he enjoys it very much. For the first time, he did it on his own. He can’t even walk, but he can hit a baseball. AWESOME!

The Tongue – Edition #10: Perseverance in Speech

2nd Corinthians 6:3-13
We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

2nd Corinthians 8:1-7
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

God says that a truthful walk with him is not easy. If it wasn’t easy for his only son, why should it be a cake-walk for me? Truthful speech is commendable. And it is something that should be excelled in… if I excel in giving, in faith and knowledge, I should also excel is speech, truthful speech. And being a person who is great with numbers, speech isn’t my strong point. Yes, I write this blog and then email it out, but it doesn’t mean I have a strong hold on the English language. I use the dictionary quite a bit and I have grammar and spell check that catch a ton of things for me. As a matter of fact, spell check just told me I misspelled grammar in the last sentence (which I corrected). And this brings up a great point about speech. If I am to excel in my speech, what does the bible say about that?

1st Corinthians 14:6-12
Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

Someone once asks after I was baptized if I spoke in tongues… and I said no. I only speak English. That’s it. I do desire to learn other languages, but I haven’t made the effort as of yet. I haven’t even mastered English. But the bible calls me to speak intelligently and to do so in such a way that builds up the church. Anything less would simply be useless. It would be futile to God, ineffective to his church, and to no benefit to me and to those who hear me. So, I then thought of this scripture, and it brings it new light:

1st Timothy 4:11-16
Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

To save those who hear me, I need to persevere in my speech. It’s part of the doctrine. Yes, I do have to do all the other things as well, but speech is part of it. I need to take care of how my tongue works. And if I do, I will save both myself and others. And that is always a good thing. Johnny Out.