Sticks and Stones How many of you remember hearing as a child: "Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me!" This is a childs way of trying to defend themselves against harmful words. But sadly it isn't true, words can harm you. They may not leave a physical scar, but they can leave an emotional one. How many times has someone said something to you out of anger or some other emotion, and then later they apologize. They may truly mean they regret what they said, but the emotional damage is already done. What we say can hurt people, look at these 2 verses for example: Proverb 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who live it will eat it's fruit. People need to stop speaking out of emotion and speak out of love. Take Esau for example, he was the first born son of Isaac and because of a temporary emotion he sold his birthright to his twin brother Jacob for a bowl of stew! His hunger quickly abated, but his birthright was gone forever, all because he was hungry and impatient. Now if Esau had captured the thought and been patient, he would have realized that God would not be pleased and He certainly would not die from hunger with food sitting right there. We must take every thought captive and test it against the word of God. What we say is obviously of great concern for there are many verses in Proverbs alone dealing with the topic. Here are just a few of them: 12:14 From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 15:4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. 16:21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. 16:23 A wise mans heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. It is easy for us to take offense when someone says something to us, but in turn we must also take captive that emotion and remember what Jesus taught us in Luke 6:37-42. He spoke of forgiveness and judgement. If we want God to forgive us we must first forgive others any offense they may have caused us: "...And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25 And before you judge or condemn someone else, take a long hard look at yourself. In verse 41 Jesus says, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" We are all walking out of different life situations and some are more mature than others in their walk. Proverbs 12:16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. To those who are more mature, be an example to those brothers and sisters who are less mature. If you want a good example of how to live as children of light read the passage in Ephesians 4:20-5:21. Every day you face decisions. You can choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood, to speak in anger or in love, to gently rebuke or to harshly judge. Choose to be a child of light. Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. To those who are more mature, be an example to those less mature brothers and sisters in Christ. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Cross the Line and Worship With the Enemy We all have a comfort zone in which we feel safe and secure. We operate in our gifts and are confident in our abilities. But don’t you want more out of your life? God has so much more for you if only you would ask him for it! Many won’t reach for more because they are afraid they will fail, or they are so bogged down in their problems they don’t think they can obtain more. The key to gaining favor is learning how to worship with your enemy. Who is your enemy? The illnesses, financial difficulties, people who try to drag you down with them, any number of things that Satan is using to distract you from worshipping God. You have to learn to worship with your enemies, “..You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalms 23:5 (NIV) God is listening to you, and he wants to help you. If you focus on him and step out in faith, he will not let you fail. “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalms 55:22 (NIV) Cross the line that defines your comfort zone, step out in faith that God will supply what you need to accomplish your goal. As you focus on God and your worship takes you closer and closer to him, look back down and see just how small your problems have become. Why wallow in self-pity when you can delight in the joy of the Lord? You know it has to really frustrate Satan when we worship God with our enemy right there, unable to distract us from what is important. God “prepares a table” before you (supplies what you need), in the presence of your enemies (all those problems that Satan is whispering in your ear), and you are so focused on God that you don’t hear Satan. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV) God will provide your every need, so don’t let Satan distract you from the favor God has waiting for you. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7 (NIV) Cross the line and worship with your enemy! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Revival "Create in me a new heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me..... Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalms 51:10,12 Revive, it simply means to restore, refresh or recall; to return to conciousness or life. This is something that many christians need, a revival of the Holy Spirit, for many have grown careless in their spiritual dealings with their lives and the lives of others. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus." Acts 3:19,20 We need to revive the joy of our salvation! Do you remember how you felt when you first accepted Jesus? That overwhelming feeling of joy and peace you once had can be refreshed. Revival must first begin in our hearts and minds, are you putting God first in all you do? Do you stop and ask yourself, "How would Jesus respond to this situation?" You should be asking yourself that all the time, if you are focused on God throughout your day then it is alot harder to act carelessly. The Holy Spirit will convict you if you go astray, and if you are focused on God you won't ignore that conviction very easily. You will have to make a very concious effort to do what is wrong. Once you have achieved a revival in your own heart, your next step is to bring revival to your home. With your renewed joy, you will be an excellent example to your spouse and/or children. The resulting outpouring of the Living Water in you will flow over them and give you many opportunities to teach your children the way they should go in life. Make God the head of your household, the focal point of your marriage and it will give strength to your family. The next step in revival is to infuse it into your church, let people see the revival in your family. If you don't already know what your spiritual gifts are, then find out from someone in the church who is experienced in these matters. Once you do know, use them to their fullest and always remember to support those whose giftings are different from yours. We are all part of the body of Christ and need to function together, all of the parts are important to the proper functioning of the body. By this coming together and supporting of one another we make it possible for our missionaries to take revival out into the nations, reaching the lost. Many people are lost and need to hear the truth, when we take revival into the nations we cause the whole cycle to start again, by sowing the seeds of truth far and wide we will see it take root and grow strong. That seed will spark revival in each individual, and their family, church and back again into the nations to be spread again and again. Praise Jesus! There will be no excuses on judgement day that they didn't know the truth. The bible says in Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." All will know, yet all will not believe. That is why it is imperative that we all do our part in bringing about this great revival, to win as many people as we can for the kingdom before the return of our Lord, Jesus for his bride, the church. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and wordly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14