Words of Fire

Last night I spoke at our Ladies Night of Worship. I gave one of my least favorite message to date. It's a hard message.

I hope it ministers to you as it has been ministering to me.

Words of Fire

James 3:3-6 – When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. 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 person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

It sets the whole course of his life on fire…

THE WHOLE COURSE OF HIS LIFE…

Kinds of fire…Fire for God or Fire that destroys?

Fire for God:

2 Timothy 1:6 – For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God

Hebrews 12:29 – God is a consuming fire

We can spread the Love of God, the Word of God, share HIS MESSAGE, we can spread LIFE

Destroying Fire:

Proverbs 16:27 – A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Proverbs 26:18-19 – Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

Proverbs 26:20 – Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down

We can leave a path of destruction

The tongue is a fire…where does this fire come from? THE HEART

Matthew 12:34b – for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 15:18-19 – But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts…

What course of fire ware we on?

Where is our heart set?

I have learned quickly as a mom that I set the tone for the day. Examples.

• ·         Sunday morning E got spanked and my tone was ugly – he had a bad day.
• ·         I got stressed out one night because the power kept going out and got frustrated with the boys and it took an hour for everyone to stop crying and settle down for bed.
• ·         If I come in the room smiling and happy and we have our prayer circle first thing our day tends to be much more peaceful.

When my heart is set right…ON GOD, ON HIS WORD, ON PRAYER, & ON TRYING TO PLEASE HIM AND BRING HIM GLORY…Good Fire comes from my tongue. We pray, we praise, we treat each other better.

When my heart is distracted as it SO EASILY is by…MYSELF & WHAT I WANT, SOCIAL MEDIA, WORRIES, NEGATIVITY…Destruction comes from my tongue. I bark and yell. I get frustrated and angry. We all treat each other badly.

We set the tone as moms, as wives, as sisters, as daughters, as friends.

It is so easy for me to say…if my boys would just be quieter or if they would stop fighting or if this person would stop this or do that THEN I wouldn’t be so mean or get so frustrated.

But the reality is…the fire that comes from our tongue isn’t about ANYONE ELSE but ME and MY HEART.

I tell the kids in Children’s church all of the time...GARBAGE IN = GARBAGE OUT. 

It matters what we are putting in.

Are we putting in enough of the goodness that God has for us? 

Are we hiding HIS word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him as it says in Psalm 119:11?

Are we as women, aka the tone setters of our families and friends, spreading a contagious fire for God or are we leaving a path of destruction?

Let me just tell you...THIS IS A HARD HARD SUBJECT FOR ME. I have had a rough couple of years when it comes to this topic.

I do not speak to my children the way I truly want to consistently. I yell and bark more that I am gentle and kind.

I complain WAY TOO MUCH to my husband. The Bible says in Proverbs 27:15-16 – A nagging wife is like dripping that never stops on a rainy day. Stopping her is like trying to stop the wind. It’s like trying to grab oil with your hand. YUCK!!!

I AM WORKING HARD TO CHANGE THESE THINGS!

HOW? 

Through fasting, praying and trying to STAY in my Bible and HIDE the word in my heart. Not just read it but memorize it and study it. I want to put so much Word and God in my heart that NOTHING else has the chance to come out.

Proverbs 4:23 – Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Psalm 19:14 – Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your eyes. You are my Rock and my Redeemer. This has become my prayer!

HE CAN HELP US. HE WANTS TO HELP US. He has already changed me so much! Because of Him I am not who I used to be. 

I AM BETTER THAN I WAS BUT NOT NEARLY CLOSE TO WHERE I WANT TO BE!!

Father, 

I pray that the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart are pleasing to you. Help me in this area Lord. I need you. Thank you for how far you have brought me but Lord, I WANT SO MUCH MORE OF YOU! I want to be even better than I am. I want to bring you glory in all that I say and think and do! In Jesus name. Amen.