June/28/ 2020 Filed in:
Dad TalksProverbs 1:8 NIV
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction…”
Proverbs 18:21 BSB
"Life and death are in the power of the tongue."
Three ways that words can create life or death...
1. Spiritually
Matthew 12:37 NIV
“For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned”
2. Physically
3. Emotionally
James 3:3-12 NIV
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
1. The tongue has the power to DIRECT where I go.
James 3:3 NIV
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses…we can turn the whole animal.”
James 3:4 NIV
“Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.”
2. The tongue has the power to DESTROY what I have.
James 3:5-6 NIV
“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
3. The tongue has the power to DISPLAY who I am.
When we open our mouths we show the world what is in our hearts.
James 3:9-10 NIV
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
James 3:11-12 NIV
“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
Matthew 12:34 BSB
“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
How do I gain control over my tongue?
James 1:19 NIV
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”
1. OPEN your ears
James 1:19 NIV
“Everyone should be quick to listen…”
2. USE your brain
James 1:19 NIV
“…be slow to speak”
3. CLOSE your mouth
Proverbs 10:19 NIV
“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
Psalm 39:1 NIV
“I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth…”
4. CHANGE your heart
Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”
June/21/ 2020 Filed in:
Dad TalksDad Talks
Part 1
The WISE WAY
Proverbs 1:8 NIV
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction..”
THE WISE WAY IS THE BEST WAY.
Proverbs 2:1-10 NIV
1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Think about these three things…
1. Wisdom is not the easiest.
2. Wisdom is not the quickest.
3. Wisdom is not the most popular.
Three benefits to wisdom:
1. Wisdom gives you constant protection.
Proverbs 2:10-11 MSG
“Lady Wisdom will be your close friend, and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion. 11 Good Sense will scout ahead for danger, Insight will keep an eye out for you. 12 They'll keep you from making wrong turns, or following the bad directions from those who are lost themselves”
2. Wisdom gives you clear direction.
Proverbs 2:6 and 9 NLT
“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding…Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.”
Proverbs 4:10-11 MSG
“Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.”
3. Wisdom gives you continued success.
Proverbs 3:-1-2 MSG
“Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.”
Proverbs 3:15-16 NLT
“Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.”
How do I get on the wise path?
1. Admit that you don’t know it all.
“The greatest enemy of learning is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”
Proverbs 3:7 NIV
“do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil.”
Proverbs 12:15 NIV
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice”
Proverbs 11:2 NLT
“pride leads to disgrace but with humility comes wisdom.”
2. Ask God for wisdom.
Proverbs 2:3-5 NIV
"call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
James 1:5 NIV
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Proverbs 2:6-8 NIV
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
3. Align your life with God’s word
Proverbs 2:1 NIV
“My son… accept my words and store up my commands within you”
Psalm 19:17 NCV
“The teachings of the Lord are perfect; they give new strength. The rules of the Lord can be trusted; they make plain people wise.”
June/14/ 2020 Filed in:
StrongerStronger Families
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV “But those who wait on the Lord, shall RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.”
Acts 16:25-34 NIV “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
Acts 16:34b “…he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
How do I get back on track?
1. Recognize
Acts 16:26-27 NIV “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up…”
2. Repent
Acts 16:29-30 NIV “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:30-31 NIV “He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
You can teach what you know but you will reproduce who you are.
3. Rearrange
Acts 16:33-34 NIV “At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
4. Recommit
Acts 16:34 NIV “The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
Joshua 24:15b NIV “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
