Don't Offend With Words

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2).

One of the many things the Holy Spirit helps you do is to make your communication gracious. The Christian whose communication isn’t tamed and who offends in words is a spiritual babe. It doesn’t matter for how long you may have been talking in tongues or the position you occupy in church, if your tongue hasn’t been tamed, your fellowship with the Holy Spirit is still at a childhood stage.

Some Christians often wonder why they’re not effective in their spiritual life. Often, it’s because of the character of their words. They speak idle, inoperative words; their tongues haven’t been yielded to the Holy Spirit. Your spiritual maturity as a Christian is measured by the character of your words. This is one reason you must tame your tongue. The Word of God enjoins us to watch our words and exercise control over our tongue. It’s your responsibility. It’s not enough to just say, "O, God, please tame my tongue." No, you’re to yield your tongue to Him by following His instruction for the use of words.

James 3:11 says, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" You can’t use your tongue for blessing and use the same tongue to curse. Refuse to engage in unwholesome or unedifying communication. Never speak words that defame or revile another brother or sister. One of the proofs that you have the Holy Spirit and that His character is expressed through you is edifying communication.

There’s a lifting nature of Christ in you, and it’s expressed in your speech. Therefore, choose your words. Choose words that lift and bless: "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6).

Prayer

Dear Father, I thank you for filling my heart with your love, kindness and compassion. I refuse to allow malice and bitterness any place in me. I choose to speak words of love, compassion and kindness to bless and uplift all I come in contact with today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

further study:Proverbs 18:21 Daily Scripture Reading 1 Year Reading Plan : 1John 2:15-3:1-10 Ezekiel 11-12 2 Year Reading Plan : revelation 5:1-14 Joel 1



-Pastor Chris 

Put the Spirit first

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him (John 4:23).

One thing you must accord prime importance in your life as a Christian, is to always put the Spirit first; give Him the preeminence in your life. Never allow anything take your attention or focus away from Him; put Him before everything else.

Even in prayer, the Apostle Paul shows us the prime place of the Spirit when he says in 1 Corinthians 14:15:"What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Observe that praying in the spirit came first. A good number of Christians have this in reverse. Many who pray in the spirit at all, pray with the understanding first, then pray with the spirit.

Such believers would have their lives dominated by natural circumstances because they put their understanding first and the spirit last. Hence, no matter what they face in life, they'd respond first from their understanding. This of course, would be a response of fear, agitation, and apprehension; because they've only trained themselves to think and reason first from the standpoint of their human understanding. Their answers come from the carnal realm.

The experience of King Asa of Judah shows that it's dangerous to live this way as a Christian. Asa was a wonderful king, who experienced God's favour when he assumed the throne as a king of Judah. The Lord helped him against his enemies several times because He put the Lord first. However, the Bible tells us that thirty-nine years into Asa'a reign as king of Judah, he became"...diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians" (2 Chronicles 16:12).

Rather than seek the Lord, Asa resorted to the doctors for help. The doctors couldn't help him, and he died of the disease. Let the Spirit always come first in your life. Make it a principle for yourself; to trust the Lord always and seek His help only!

Prayer

Dear Father, I thank you for your love, your grace, and the power of your Word in my life! I thank you also for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the blessings I receive as I yield myself to you to have your way in my life, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Rhapsody of Realities    

--Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Wisdom and Guidance

The spirit of truth abides in me and teaches me all things. He guides me into all truth. Therefore, I confess I have perfect knowledge of every situation and every circumstance I come up against. For I have the wisdom of God. 

(John 16:13; James 1:5)

I trust in the Lord with all my heart, and I lean not to my own understanding.

(Proverbs 3:5)

In all my ways I acknowledge Him and He directs my path. (Proverbs 3:6)

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. (Psalms 138:8)

I let the word of Christ dwell in me richly in all wisdom. (Colossians 3:16)

I do follow the Good Shepherd. I know His voice and the voice of a stranger I will not follow. 

(John 10:4,5)

Jesus is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. 

Therefore, I confess I have the wisdom of God, and I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

 (I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 5:21)

I am filled with the knowledge of the Lord's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 

(Colossians 1:9)

I am a new creation in Christ. I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, I have the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God is formed within me.

(2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; I Corinthians 2:16)

I receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened. I am not conformed to this world, but I am transformed by the renewing of my mind. My mind is renewed by the word of God. (Ephesians 1:17,18; Romans 12:2)

With thanks to,

Living Word Christian Center