Post by Les Brewer on Oct 4, 2020 22:18:17 GMT
Be Quick and Slow!
We are exhorted to be quick! Be quick to hear! Let us think on what we hear!
We are exhorted to be slow! Be slow to speak! Let us think on what we say!
(6) Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
(7) For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. Ecclesiastes 5:6-7 KJV
These verses instruct us concerning the utterance of our mouth and how our words can cause us to sin! The context is about making a vow to God or others; but especially to God.
(2) Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2 KJV
In observance of life and the nature of people when we are in a bind and want help we are apt to make rash promises without much mental deliberation. Many times we do not make a reasonable assessment of what we are saying before we say it. Frustration is the result of haste and anger is the child of impatience.
(8) Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
(9) Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9
The patient person in spirit is better the proud person in spirit; pride always leads to haughtiness because it is an inordinate sense of superiority over others. The mouth of the proud tends to provoke anger because anger is the fuel that stokes the flames of the prideful. There is no reason but only rashness in the mentality of the impatient prideful person. James put it like this concerning our conduct!
(19) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
(20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
(21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
(22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:19-22 KJV
What the Lord desires is discipline concerning the words of our mouths. We must learn to throttle our hearts in order to throttle our mouths. Our anger doesn’t produce righteousness; but to the contrary unrighteousness. There is the dynamic of controlled discipline when it comes to others “context is everything”. When one is in a position of authority they must utilize the wisdom of controlled discipline in getting things done. Respect is everything when it comes to the distribution of disciplinary actions when seem harsh but get results concerning production. Yet; let us consider harshness and rudeness outside the context of the positions and hierarchy of authority in a workplace situation. Human interaction is a dynamic we all must traverse in life. Most people are not hermits who isolate themselves from the general population. We go to the marketplace, the workplace, the leisure spots, and the scenic places which draw populations of individuals together. Most populations are very diverse with many cultural differences. Colloquialism is sometimes a barrier between people groups because of dialect which is unfamiliar. Hence; concerning words we need to be inclined to hear with swiftness and contemplate what we’ve heard before we respond.
In modern society we’ve lost respect for the wisdom of elders, the reason for authority, and the use of discipline. Yet; as for myself I will adhere to the word, wisdom, and worth of God’s authority! His words are written on the tables of my heart and I long to live them! Why? Because I love God so dearly! My prayer is like the prayer of David “Psalms 141:3 ESV (3) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Let me be humble enough to respect my elders and let me humble enough to receive a rebuke or correction and to understand when I am wrong or at fault. David also said: “Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.” (Psalms 141:5 ESV)
God is totally concerned about our speech; rhetoric without righteousness is unproductive concerning our spirituality. The Lord has many scriptures which concern our language. One passage that sticks out in my mind which shows us what God loves and approves of is in Psalms 15:
(1) A Psalm of David. O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
(2) He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
(3) Who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
(4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
(5) Who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalms 15:1-5 ESV
Our person should reflect the person of Christ in words and in deeds. Through Christ we have been empowered to walk in righteousness. Our fruit is on display which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance; or so it should be. If we’re not displaying Spirit-Fruit we need to go to the prayer closet until we get a breakthrough. Now more than ever the lost of this world need to see Christ living in and through us.
I see just as much slander coming from the body of Christ as I do the world of the lost. How can we win the lost when we the body is full of the world. We can never know the impact we could make on the world when we are just as dubious as the world is! As a godly leader I want to lead by example not by exemption; it’s not a do as I say and not as I do situation. I cannot exhort or plead with one to do what I am not consistently practicing myself. If we are so quick to anger; anger is an issue we must defeat through spending time in the presence of the Lord asking for deliverance. Jesus rebuked hypocrisy wherever he seen it on display; even to the point of brutal truth. Some in the body of Christ need a good Holy Ghost slap in the face concerning their treatment of others. Today many compass land and sea to proselyte others who become twice the hypocrites they are upon their conversion!
O Lord when I preach; let me preach to me first! O Lord; when I instruct others; let me be first to practice my instruction. O Lord; help me to be quick to hear; slow to speak; and slow to anger! O Lord empower me to walk in the spirit so I do not fulfill the works of the flesh; so when my fruit is inspected it is in fact the fruit of the Spirit. Let me be the example that reflects Christ to those around me. In the name of Jesus I pray! Amen
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries International)
We are exhorted to be quick! Be quick to hear! Let us think on what we hear!
We are exhorted to be slow! Be slow to speak! Let us think on what we say!
(6) Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
(7) For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. Ecclesiastes 5:6-7 KJV
These verses instruct us concerning the utterance of our mouth and how our words can cause us to sin! The context is about making a vow to God or others; but especially to God.
(2) Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2 KJV
In observance of life and the nature of people when we are in a bind and want help we are apt to make rash promises without much mental deliberation. Many times we do not make a reasonable assessment of what we are saying before we say it. Frustration is the result of haste and anger is the child of impatience.
(8) Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
(9) Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9
The patient person in spirit is better the proud person in spirit; pride always leads to haughtiness because it is an inordinate sense of superiority over others. The mouth of the proud tends to provoke anger because anger is the fuel that stokes the flames of the prideful. There is no reason but only rashness in the mentality of the impatient prideful person. James put it like this concerning our conduct!
(19) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
(20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
(21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
(22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:19-22 KJV
What the Lord desires is discipline concerning the words of our mouths. We must learn to throttle our hearts in order to throttle our mouths. Our anger doesn’t produce righteousness; but to the contrary unrighteousness. There is the dynamic of controlled discipline when it comes to others “context is everything”. When one is in a position of authority they must utilize the wisdom of controlled discipline in getting things done. Respect is everything when it comes to the distribution of disciplinary actions when seem harsh but get results concerning production. Yet; let us consider harshness and rudeness outside the context of the positions and hierarchy of authority in a workplace situation. Human interaction is a dynamic we all must traverse in life. Most people are not hermits who isolate themselves from the general population. We go to the marketplace, the workplace, the leisure spots, and the scenic places which draw populations of individuals together. Most populations are very diverse with many cultural differences. Colloquialism is sometimes a barrier between people groups because of dialect which is unfamiliar. Hence; concerning words we need to be inclined to hear with swiftness and contemplate what we’ve heard before we respond.
In modern society we’ve lost respect for the wisdom of elders, the reason for authority, and the use of discipline. Yet; as for myself I will adhere to the word, wisdom, and worth of God’s authority! His words are written on the tables of my heart and I long to live them! Why? Because I love God so dearly! My prayer is like the prayer of David “Psalms 141:3 ESV (3) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Let me be humble enough to respect my elders and let me humble enough to receive a rebuke or correction and to understand when I am wrong or at fault. David also said: “Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.” (Psalms 141:5 ESV)
God is totally concerned about our speech; rhetoric without righteousness is unproductive concerning our spirituality. The Lord has many scriptures which concern our language. One passage that sticks out in my mind which shows us what God loves and approves of is in Psalms 15:
(1) A Psalm of David. O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
(2) He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
(3) Who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
(4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
(5) Who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalms 15:1-5 ESV
Our person should reflect the person of Christ in words and in deeds. Through Christ we have been empowered to walk in righteousness. Our fruit is on display which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance; or so it should be. If we’re not displaying Spirit-Fruit we need to go to the prayer closet until we get a breakthrough. Now more than ever the lost of this world need to see Christ living in and through us.
I see just as much slander coming from the body of Christ as I do the world of the lost. How can we win the lost when we the body is full of the world. We can never know the impact we could make on the world when we are just as dubious as the world is! As a godly leader I want to lead by example not by exemption; it’s not a do as I say and not as I do situation. I cannot exhort or plead with one to do what I am not consistently practicing myself. If we are so quick to anger; anger is an issue we must defeat through spending time in the presence of the Lord asking for deliverance. Jesus rebuked hypocrisy wherever he seen it on display; even to the point of brutal truth. Some in the body of Christ need a good Holy Ghost slap in the face concerning their treatment of others. Today many compass land and sea to proselyte others who become twice the hypocrites they are upon their conversion!
O Lord when I preach; let me preach to me first! O Lord; when I instruct others; let me be first to practice my instruction. O Lord; help me to be quick to hear; slow to speak; and slow to anger! O Lord empower me to walk in the spirit so I do not fulfill the works of the flesh; so when my fruit is inspected it is in fact the fruit of the Spirit. Let me be the example that reflects Christ to those around me. In the name of Jesus I pray! Amen
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries International)
