DISCIPLINE: To Tame the Tongue

JAN. 16, 2000

WE HAVE NOW HAD 4 SESSIONS ON THIS TOPIC OF DISCIPLINE: THE WAY TO SUCCESS. IN THIS SERIES WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE DISCIPLINE OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION, THAT IS SAVING THE BEST FOR THE LAST. THIS IS ONLY ONE AREA OF DISCIPLINE BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER DISCIPLINES THAT CAN BUILD GODLY CHARACTER THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE, IN BUSINESS, IN MARRIAGE AND SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR OTHER MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS. WITHOUT DISCIPLINE WE DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS, ADVERSITIES AND DIFFICULTIES THAT CAUSE MOST TO QUIT AND TO FAIL. VAN CROUCH SAID, YOUR NOT FINISHED WHEN YOUR DEFEATED, YOU’RE FINISHED WHEN YOU QUIT. LISTEN, THE DICTIONARY IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE SUCCESS COMES BEFORE WORK. DISCIPLINE IS HARD WORK TOWARDS A DESIRED GOAL OR PURPOSE.

1 Tim 4:6-8

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding

promise for both the present life and the life to come.

THE CENTRAL POSITIVE COMMAND IN THIS TEXT IS "TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE GODLY." WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? LISTEN TO A COUPLE OF OTHER TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE..

• KJV - "EXERCISE THYSELF UNTO GODLINESS"
• LIV - "SPEND YOUR TIME AND ENERGY IN THE EXERCISE OF BECOMING SPIRITUALLY FIT."
• NASB- "DISCIPLINE YOURSELF FOR THE PURPOSE OF GODLINESS"
• THE MESSAGE- "EXERCISE DAILY IN GOD - NO SPIRITUAL FLABBINESS, PLEASE!"

Heb 12:7-11

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his

holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace

for those who have been trained by it.

Rev 3:19

19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

NOW MOST OF US DON’T EVEN LIKE THE SOUND OF THE WORD DISCIPLINE. AT THE MENTION OF THE WORD WE THINK OF DRUDGERY AND PAIN. IN FACT DISCIPLINE WITHOUT ANY PURPOSE OR GOALS CAN BE ENSLAVING. SUBMITTING TO DISCIPLINE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ANY WHY'S CAN LEAD TO CONTROL AND SOME UGLY RESULTS. HOWEVER, I OBSERVE THAT WITHOUT CLEAR GOALS TO PULL US ALONG, WE WILL WANDER AIMLESSLY AND WE WILL REACT IN HOSTILITY TO ANYONE WHO ATTEMPTS TO PUSH US IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

• A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAT HAS A GOAL OF BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL MEMBER OF THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY WILL BE MOTIVATED TO GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME, TO COMPLETE HIS ASSIGNMENTS, AND TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.

• THE GOAL OF BECOMING A LAWYER, A DOCTOR, A PASTOR, OR A TEACHER MAKES THOSE LONG CLASSES IN LITERATURE, THOSE ENDLESS ALGEBRAIC EQUATIONS, AND THOSE GRINDING REVIEWS OF SPANISH GRAMMAR WORTHY OF BEING ENDURED.

• AN ATHLETE IN PURSUIT OF A SLOT ON THE TEAM OR A MEDAL IN COMPETITION WILL SACRIFICE LEISURE AND PLAY, WILL ENDURE PAIN, WILL SET ASIDE CERTAIN FOODS SO THAT HE CAN BE IN TIP-TOP CONDITION.

• A CHRISTIAN DESIRING CLOSE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR GOD IN THIS WORLD WILL ALSO PUT HIMSELF THROUGH CERTAIN PRACTICES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT USES TO DEVELOP A PERSON'S CHARACTER.

DISCIPLINE IS THE MEANS TO A DESIRABLE END. WE WILL NOT BE WILLING TO GO THE COURSE OF A DISCIPLINED LIFE WITHOUT CLEAR AND ATTAINABLE GOALS. THAT IS TRUE WHETHER WE ARE DISCUSSING EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION, ATHLETICS, BODY-BUILDING, OR BECOMING A PERSON WHO LIVES TO FULFILL THE DESTINY OF CHRIST IN THEIR LIFE.

NOW WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ONE MORE THING ABOUT DISCIPLINE. DISCIPLINE IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF BUT A MEANS TO A DESIRED END. WHEN WE MAKE DISCIPLINE THE END THE RESULT IS RELIGION. RELIGION IS MAN’S ATTEMPT TO PLEASE AND REACH GOD BY CONFORMITY TO RULES HE THINKS IS GODLY OR BECOMING A CHRISTIAN. I DON’T WANT YOU TO WORSHIP AND EMBRACE DISCIPLINE BUT USE IT AS A MEANS TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY IN CHRIST.

Matt 11:28-30

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give

you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle

and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my

yoke is easy and my burden is light."

HERE WE SEE THE INVITATION TO DISCIPLINE GIVEN BY JESUS IN VERSE 29, TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN FROM ME. YOU SEE, THERE IS A GODLY DISCIPLINE THAT IS THE RESULT OF THE RENEWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT BRINGS LIFE AND SUCCESS IN OUR LIVES. WITHOUT THE LEADING AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN DISCIPLINE YOU HAVE RELIGION, TRADITION AND A DEAD FORM THAT DENIES THE POWER OF GOD. WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT INITIATES DISCIPLINE BY WAY OF CONVICTION IT WILL LEAD TO HOLINESS, IT WILL LEAD TO LIFE, AND IT WILL LEAD TO FREEDOM.

NOW LET ME MAKE ONE MORE PRELIMINARY COMMENT ABOUT DISCIPLINE. THERE IS GREAT JOY IN THE DISCIPLINES OF THE SOUL. IN THE DISCIPLINED LIFE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP HIS SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN US AND KNOW THAT THEY WILL NOT BE WASTED IN SUPERFICIAL AND SELF-CENTERED PURSUITS. THE DISCIPLINED LIFE ENJOYS A FREEDOM UNPARALLELED IN THE LIFE THAT IS WITHOUT GOAL AND PURPOSE.

• THE FREEDOM TO PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SKILL IS PURCHASED AT THE PRICE OF DISCIPLINED PRACTICE.

• THE FREEDOM TO TURN CREATIVE IMPULSES INTO WORKS OF ART IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE DISCIPLINE OF APPLYING THE STROKES OF THE BRUSH AND LEARNING TO BLEND THE COLORS ON THE PALETTE.
• THE FREEDOM TO BE AN ALL-STAR SPORTS FIGURE, AN EXPERT CARPENTER, A MOM WHO RAISES WELL-ADJUSTED KIDS, OR A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN IS THE RESULT OF DISCIPLINE.

NOW, THIS MORNING I WANT TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER DISCIPLINES IN OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS THAT WILL MAKE US SUCCESSFUL AND PROSPEROUS. HERE ARE SOME AREAS OF DISCIPLINE THAT WE WILL BE STUDYING OVER THE ENSUING WEEKS:

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

JAMES TELLS US THAT IF ANY MAN OFFENDS NOT IN WORD THE SAME IS A PERFECT OR MATURE MAN. HOW MANY OF US AND HOW OFTEN HAVE WE PUT OUR FOOT IN OUR MOUTHS BY SAYING THE WRONG THING AT THE WRONG TIME. HOW MANY OF US ARE UNDISCIPLINED WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING. SOME PEOPLE SIMPLY TALK TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER LEARNED TO REALLY LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE. THERE MAY BE SOME UNDERLYING FACTORS HERE BECAUSE JESUS TELLS US:

Matt 12:33-37

33"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

SOME PEOPLE TALK TOO MUCH BECAUSE OF FEAR, OTHERS TALK TOO MUCH BECAUSE OF THEIR SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND PRIDE. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE CONDITION OF THEIR HEART. YOU SEE, ITS OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THAT THE MOUTH SPEAKS. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD SOMEONE SAY, "I NEVER MEANT TO SAY THAT"? THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THEY REALLY DID MEAN TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT CAME OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THEIR HEART. YOU CAN TELL THE NATURE AND CONDITION OF A MAN’S HEART BY WHAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH. I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL ALLOW SOME UGLY STUFF TO MANIFEST ITSELF IN OUR SPEECH IN ORDER TO UNCOVER AND AREA IN OUR HEART THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN CONFORMING US INTO THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF CHRIST.

Prov 13:3

3He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks

rashly will come to ruin.

Prov 18:21

21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those

who love it will eat its fruit.

JAMES MAKES REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THE TONGUE IS A SMALL MEMBER OF OUR BODY BUT IT HAS THE POWER OF GREAT AND LASTING DESTRUCTION. WE TRY TO CONDITION OUR CHILDREN TO BE TOUGH BY MEMORIZING THIS SAYING, "STICKS AND STONES CAN BREAK MY BONES BUT WORDS CAN NEVER HURT ME." DO YOU REMEMBER SAYING THAT TO YOURSELF AS A KID. I SURE DO. BUT HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THERE ISN’T AN OUNCE OF TRUTH IN THAT STATEMENT. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT OUR WORDS HAVE THE POWER OF PROMOTING LIFE AND HEALTH OR THEY POSSES THE POWER OF DEVASTATING DESTRUCTION AND DEATH. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN HURT BY SOMEONE ELSE’S WORDS. THE BIBLE DEFINES THESE NEGATIVE WORDS AS CURSES. WE TELL OUR CHILDREN THEY’RE STUPID AND THEY’LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY THEY’VE STRUGGLED THEIR WHOLE LIFE WITH THOSE DEADLY WORDS OF LIMITATION. OUR NEGATIVE SPEECH DIRECTED TOWARDS OUR SELF OR TO OTHER PEOPLE IS A CURSE THAT EMPOWERS DEMONS TO CARRY OUT THEIR DESTRUCTIVE FRUIT IN PEOPLES LIVES. GOD WANTS TO TAME OUR TONGUE SO THAT HE CAN USE IT TO BRING LIFE AND HEALING TO HURTING PEOPLE AND FOR US TO BRING HONOR AND GLORY TO HIS NAME.

Prov 15:4

4The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a

deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

THE PASSAGE IN JAMES GIVES US SEVERAL PICTURES OR ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE TONGUE, 1. HE LIKENED IT UNTO A BIT IN A HORSES MOUTH; 2. THE RUDDER OF A SHIP; 3. A SPARK THAT CAN START A FOREST FIRE; AND 4. A SOURCE OF POISON THAT CORRUPTS MY LIFE. THE IMPLICATION OF ALL THESE ILLUSTRATIONS IS REAL CLEAR: THE TONGUE IS VERY SMALL BUT ITS CAPABLE OF DEVASTATING DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION. THE BEST ILLUSTRATION OF THE 4 I THOUGHT WAS THE RUDDER OF A SHIP. THE RUDDER OF A LARGE SHIP IS A VERY SMALL PART BELOW THE SURFACE AND OUT OF SIGHT, YOU CAN’T SEE IT. BUT THAT SMALL PART OF THAT LARGE SHIP, WHICH IS HIDDEN TO THE NATURAL EYE DETERMINES THE COURSE AND DIRECTION OF THAT SHIP. SO THE TONGUE IS LIKE THAT IN OUR BODY, ITS SMALL AND YOU DON’T SEE THE TONGUE VERY OFTEN AND YET THE SMALLEST, UNNOTICED MEMBER OF YOUR BODY DETERMINES THE COURSE AND DESTINY OF YOUR LIFE. LET ME GIVE YOU A VERY PROFOUND EXAMPLE OF THIS IN THE BIBLE. ITS FOUND IN NUMBERS. ISRAEL IS SUPPOSE TO TAKE THE PROMISED LAND BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR DESTINY. WELL, WHAT’S YOUR DESTINY? YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD’S GOD A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE, A CAREER OR A CALLING, HE’S GOT SOME GOOD PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE. FOR ISRAEL IT WAS TO GO IN AND TAKE THE PROMISED LAND. NOW IN NUMBERS WE SEE ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS ABOUT TO GO IN AND SPY OUT THE PROMISED LAND. MOSES SENT 12 SPIES INTO THE LAND FOR 40 DAYS AND NOW THEY’RE RETURNING WITH THEIR VERBAL REPORT.

Num 13:26-33

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land,

and the cities are walled, and very great: (and moreover I didn’t finish college, I didn’t score very high on my SAT tests, or I’ve been divorced once) and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

NOW NOTICE IN VERSE 30 THAT 2 OF THE SPIES REFUSED TO GO ALONG WITH THIS NEGATIVE ATTITUDE:

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

( NOW, JOSHUA AND CALEB, BY THEIR RIGHT CONFESSION OR BY THIER GOOD REPORT, SETTLED THEIR DESTINY IN THE POSITIVE AND THE OTHER 10 SPIES SETTLED THEIR DESTINY BY WHAT THEY SAID.)

32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own

NOW LET’S DROP DOWN TO NUM.14:20 AND SEE THE POWER OF THE WORDS THAT THESE 12 SPIES GAVE TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL:

Num 14:20-38

20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went;

29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.

33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

NOW, NOTICE THEY SPOKE WORDS OF DEATH AND DEATH WAS THE OUTCOME

36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the

men that went to search the land, lived still.

JOSHUA AND CALEB SPOKE THE RIGHT WORDS AND THEY GOT TO INHERIT THE PROMISED LAND. THEY SEALED THEIR DESTINY BY THEIR POSITIVE WORDS OR CONFESSION. THESE MEN DETER MINED THEIR DESTINY, NOT BY RACE, NOT BY CULTURE, NOT BY WARDROBE, NOT BY EDUCATION BUT BY WHAT THEY SAID. THOSE WHO SAID THEY WEREN’T ABLE, WERE NOT ABLE AND THOSE WHO SAID THEY WERE ABLE, WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE LAND. WE SAY THINGS LIKE: " WE’LL NEVER HAVE ANYTHING AND WE’LL NEVER BE ANYTHING" AND YOU WON’T. "OUR MARRIAGE WILL NEVER IMPORVE, I’LL NEVER GET ANYTHING NICE CAUSE THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS TO SOMEBODY ELSE OR I’LL NEVER OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM" AND YOU NEVER WILL! "WELL, I COULD NEVER SEE MYSELF LIVING IN A HOUSE LIKE THAT" WELL, DON’T WORRY, YOU NEVER WILL! YOU SEE, ITS BY OUR OWN WORDS THAT WE LIMIT OUR POTENTIAL AND ABORT OUR DESTINY IN CHRIST. SOME OF YOU ARE LIVING WITH NEGATIVE WORDS SPOKEN OVER YOU BY YOUR PARENTS WHO WERE FRUSTRATED OR AFRAID, BUT THEY SPOKE THEM AGAINST YOU. MAYBE IT WAS A TEACHER OR A COACH OR SOME OTHER AUTHORITY FIGURE IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU’VE CARRIED THEM THIS DAY AS SURELY AS AN ANTHRAX VIRUS AND IT HAS POLLUTED YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND LIMITED YOUR POTENTIAL. WE HAVE TO BE SO CAREFUL AS PARENTS OR MATES OR LEADERS WITH OUR MOUTH CAUSE WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO GO NEGATIVE.

Heb 4:1-2

1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

NOTICE, THE WORD WAS SPOKEN TO THEM ABOUT THE PROMISED LAND BUT NEVERTHELESS….GOD SAID IT BUT THEY SAID, NEVERTHELESS THERE ARE GIANTS IN THE LAND. THERE ARE PROBLEMS: HIGH INTEREST RATES, CORPORATE DOWN SIZING; SO INSTEAD OF FOCUSSING ON GOD’S GRACE AND POWER AND PROMISE AND SAYING IT OUT LOUD THEY FOCUSSED ON THE NEGATIVE AND SPOKE ON THE NEGATIVE. WE SEE THE WALLS AND THE GIANTS AND WE BE NOT ABLE AND AS A RESULT OF THEIR WORDS SETTLED THEIR DESTINY FOREVER. PROV.18: THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH ARE IN THE TONGUE; NO ITS LIFE AND DEATH ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE. I’VE QUOTED THAT WRONG FOR YEARS. THE POWER IS NOT IN LIFE OR DEATH BUT IN THE WORDS WE SPEAK. NOW, JOSHUA AND CALEB SAID, WELL WE SEE THE WALLS AND THE GIANTS BUT GOD SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE BREAD FOR US. GOD SIAD HE WOULD DESTROY THEM, THAT HE WOULD DEFEAT THEM, HE KEPT US ALIVE AND GOT OUT OF EGYPT, WE SAW HIS MIRACLES IN THE WILDERNESS SO COME ON NOW, WE ARE WELL ABLE TO TAKE THE LAND. SO WE GOT 2 DIFFERENT GROUPS SAYING 2 DIFFERENT THINGS. I WONDER WHICH GROUP RAISED YOU? WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD DID YOU COME OUT OF: WE BE NOT ABLE? WHEN YOU ACCEPT CHRIST THERE IS NO MALE OR FEMALE, NO JEW OR GENTILE, NO AFRO-AMERICAN OR ITALIAN, OR NATIVE AMERICAN OR HISPANIC OR CAUCASIAN, IN CHRIST ALL LIMITATIONS HAVE BEEN BROKEN OFF YOUR LIFE AND OPENED UP TO YOU ARE THE UNLIMITED RESOURCES OF HEAVEN TO HELP YOU FINISH YOUR DESTINY IN CHRIST! I AM THE ONLY GUY THAT CAN GET IN THE WAY OF MY DESTINY, I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN STOP IT BY MY RESPONSE TO PREJUDICE, CULTURE OR RACE. GOD HAS ALREADY DETERMINED MY DESTINY AND I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN REFUSE IT, REJECT IT OR BE AFRAID OR DRAW BACK IN UNBELIEF. DON’T GIVE AWAY YOUR FUTURE BY YOUR NEGATIVE WORDS BUT BELIEVE THAT WHAT GOD SAID HE IS ABLE TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR LIFE.

Eph 3:20-21

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Phil 1:6

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Rom 4:18-22

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

NOW, JUST AS THOSE 12 SPIES SETTLED THEIR DESTINY BY THE WORDS THEY SPOKE, YOU AND I WHO HAVE HEARD THE GOSPEL AND VERSES LIKE WE JUST READ, SETTLE OUR DESTINY BY THE WORDS WE SPEAK. DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE.

James 1:26

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

1 Peter 3:10-11

"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from deceitful speech.

11He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

SINCE DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE IT WOULD BE TO OUR ADVANTAGE TO ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TAME OUR TONGUE, OUR SPEECH OR OUR WORDS AND USE THEM TO PROMOTE HEALTH, PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. JAMES TELLS US IN THIS VERSE THAT OUR TONGUE MUST COME UNDER THE DISCIPLINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OR OUR RELIGION OR BEING A CHRISTIAN WILL BE WORTHLESS