Michael continues that the antidote to an untamed tongue is to turn from “the wisdom of this world” and instead seek God’s wisdom from above. This wisdom of God comes from the Word of God and prayer. James 3:17-18 says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Ephesians 2:1-8 explains that even when we were dead in trespasses and sin, God gave us grace and loved us anyway. I was convicted and destined for hell, but because of God’s grace, mercy and love, He gave me a Savior and heaven as a gift. I just had to repent, believe and receive it. Luke 6:45 says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” You can tell a healthy soul that walk by the Spirit by what comes out of the mouth. Salvation involves confessing with our mouth our heart’s conviction that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). At the moment of salvation, a Christian is fully forgiven, as Christ puts on our sin and we put on His sinless righteousness. Because we have been born-again of God’s Holy Spirit, we have been declared righteous in Christ. From the moment of new birth from above, our forgiveness is a past, present and future reality.
Even though we have been born-again of God’s Spirit, we continue to sin in our fallen flesh until glory, when we miss the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. However, we remain righteous in God’s sight because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. For He who knew no sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. After salvation, if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. When we sin, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Before we can encourage others, we need to encourage our own hearts in the Lord. This is the purpose of prayer in Philippians 4:4-8 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Aaron’s benediction in Numbers 6:24-26 is a blessing of encouragement: “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” ... that we may encourage one another in the Lord, and that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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