Taming The Tongue
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity;
so is the tongue among our members,
that it defiles the whole body,
and sets on fire the course of nature,
and it is set on fire of hell."
Ya'qob/James 3:6
Beloved Daughters of Tzyon,
Let us give thanks and praises to YAHWAH, our Rock!
" A Lying Tongue"
"The tongue is like a fire" The human tongue is like a lit match that many times is carelessly thrown into the wrong bushel or place. It is always leaving a devastating mess that brings destruction. The main mess it leaves behind is one that we are all familiar with and that is division.
The tongue, though so small, has vast possibilities of iniquity in it. It has the manner of gossip, and its evil speaking spreads so rapidly between 2 or more persons. The word ‘world’ here is used to express vastness. When you think of the world, you think of poverty, sin, hatred, abused, immorality, the occult. You think of everything on it, in it, around it and the mass of human beings with different attitudes, personalities that all live on it.
"So is the tongue among our members." Our tongues not only pollute a man or woman’s personal life and walk with Yahoshua, but it contaminates that person or people we are talking about.
"that it defiles the whole body" Greek word for defiles – ‘spiloo’ means to stain, defile, spot.
"that it defiles the whole body" Greek word for defiles – ‘spiloo’ means to stain, defile, spot.
Our tongues can bring harm, danger; it scars and corrupts not just the person or people, but the entire body. The body is one. When one part of the body is not functioning, (in this case because of gossip and judgment) it affects the entire body. With our mouths we slander, lie, blaspheme and tear down and in the process we not only hurt those around us, but also ourselves.
"and sets on fire the course of nature." Greek word for nature – ‘genesis’ meaning, age, generation, nation and time.
Another way of explaining it is, "the circle of life set in motion at birth." Our mouths affect the whole of the wickedness in the whole of man for the whole of life.
"and it is set on fire of hell." Greek word for hell – ‘gehanna’ apart for this instance, it is used only by Yahoshua in Bryt Ha Kadashah/the New Covenant (aka New Testament). It is used as a name for a place of everlasting punishment, the lake of fire. All evil speech has its course. It is wicked in its very character and it will only lead you where it came from. The Lake of Fire.
Division, slander, lies and deceit are some of the enemy’s finest tools he uses to break communication between marriages, families and loved ones. Many people have gone to their graves today with much hatred in their hearts because they never got rid of the lying tongue or the gossip that filled their ears and mouths with sweet honey. The honey was so sweet that they wanted to believe the lie. Too many brothers and sisters have been brutally distraught both physically and spiritually because of the "whispering" that has gone on behind closed doors, through emails, or over the phone.
Each of us have had our trust in people undermined, or in some cases even destroyed because of lies. We would all agree that lying is an ugly evil. It is written that lying began with the devil and that he is the father of lies.
Yahokhanan/John 8:43-47 says, "Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not. Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me? He that is of Elohym hears Elohym's words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of Elohym."
The Scripture is filled with admonitions against being dishonest and lying. One of the Ten Commandments states:
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour." Shmot/Exodus 20:16
Before we point our finger at another for being a liar that we feel YAHWAH needs to deal with, let us examine our own lives to see if we are infected with the same disease. What kind of witness are we to those around us? Are we deceived and have we become liars ourselves?
How many of us right now have listened or are still listening to the lies of the enemy, be it words from a friend, relative, co-worker, etc., all of them being the vessel of Satan? How many of us have believed the gossip, the slander that sounds too sweet to be true yet believed the accusations about the person anyway? Whom have we spoken against today? How many people have we put down because they have a closer walk with YAHWAH, Yahoshua, or even your parents, siblings, friends? How much jealousy is in our hearts that we go out of our way to tear down a brother or sister in Messiah? How much envy and hatred is in our hearts that we will do everything we can to manipulate others to believing that so and so is a thief, a liar, a scam artist, a witch, a worlock. My beloved sisters, if the conviction of Ruakh Ha Qadosh/The Set-Apart Spirit has not hit you yet, pray. Pray without ceasing, that YAHWAH will bring conviction so heavy that it will humble you to repentance. If you know of someone that is passing on the accusations and lies, go to that person if you feel YAHWAH telling you to do so. Tell them the damage it does to others. Tell them that when they speak against a child of YAHWAH, they are REALLY speaking against YAHWAH! We not only hurt the person, we hurt YAHWAH and Yahoshua.
I encourage you sisters to pray right now. Forget about what you have to do this very moment. Forget about all the "satanic" distractions that the enemy is trying to bring in your home or work place. Come before the Throne of Ahbeenu. YAHWAH our Abba and our King knows all, sees all and especially hears all. If you have spoken against your brother or sister or falsely accused/lied on your brother or sister, now is the time to repent. If you have accepted the lies about someone else even though the lies appear to be true, now is the time to repent. If you have entertained the lies and accusations by passing on the untruth, now is the time to repent, because ALL of these things go against TORAH!!! Repentance means not to do the sin/wickedness again, not just saying "I'm sorry" alone!!!
All of Torah is telling about YAHWAH's desire for a community that is life filled and life giving and life producing.
It is in all of Torah that teaches us how to love and righteously treat our neighbors...and that we are called to bring to our neighbors "no harm, injury or violence in regard to their person, spouse, property, honor or rights." You are called only to do good to your neighbor, to encourage her or him and to do that which brings forth life for all. When you bring forth life then you are living in accord with YAHWAH, Who is the Elohym of the Living, Who loves life, Who wants life and Who calls each of us into life.
What then does this commandment mean? Do not bear false witness against a neighbor, all of our neighbors, and this assumes that we know who is our "neighbor"...(read the story of the "Good Samaritan.") This means that you should not lie, should not gossip about your neighbor and do not unrighteously judge your neighbor. You are not to stereotype a person or a group of persons. You are called not to oppress with lies, false testimony, and gossip about such persons. You are called to be a "light" unto the nations! You are called to encourage and build up your neighbor. They are times when it is not an easy thing to do...I remember my emah used to tell me, "if you can't say anything good about a person, then say nothing at all."
So, what are called to do and how are we called to act? These are the questions that we are faced with: what do you do when false witness is born against you? What about the person who is publicly lied upon? What about the one(s) who says horrible things about a group of people and whose opinions and words are supported by the status quo?
We are called to look at the entire society, at each and every person. We must look at the good of all persons. Torah says that we are to "examine, inquire, diligently search" before we "jump on the bandwagon" of "yeah, those *&%$#@ are guilty!" We are to call evil what it is - evil. How do we do this?
We can turn to the MateetYahu/Matthew for an answer:
MateetYahu/Matthew 18: 15 -17 provides a basis of what to do:
"If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If that one listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the congregation (or community); and if the offender refuses to listen even to the congregation (or community), let such a one be to you as a heathen and a tax collector."
This is ideal and it provides the basis of pointing out the fault, but what does one do when they do not have the power or the ability to stand up and point out the fault? What about when a certain group of people are targeted, lied about, teased, and marginalized? Then we, those that truly love YAHWAH and follow Yahoshua and obey Torah must stand with that one and the group of people who have born the brunt of the lies and false witnesses. We must speak truth and live in love. You see we are called to care for our brothers and sisters. We are called to speak well of our neighbors.
"We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Messiah, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love." - Ephesians 4: 14-16
It is written, Mt 12:34-36-O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out ot the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasue of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that you speak, they shall give account there of in the day of judgement.
It is written: Eph 4:29- Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
If you do not have a calm spirit, it is difficult to hear YAHWAH speak to you.
YAHWAH’s Word warns those that are full of words and quick to speak.
Pv 13:3- He that keeps his mouth, keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shalo have distruction.
The Scriptures also tells us, Ecc 5:2-Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter anything before Elohym: for Elohym is in the heaves and you are upon the earth: therefore let your words be few.
Pv 17:27,28-H e that has knowledge spare his words: and a man of understanding is an excellent spirit. even a fool when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Of all the kinds of lying, the most damaging and most despicable, practiced by only the most coldblooded and spiritually empty human vessels, is "bringing a false report." Bringing a false report is not a typical lie to duck accountability for something you did wrong, nor even a lie to get some undeserved reward. Lying consists of deliberately and with malice aforethought testifying falsely -- in court or elsewhere in public -- in order to "convict" an innocent of some heinous crime or moral turpitude...those that have ears to hear let them hear this today!!!
A lie is half way around the world before the truth can get its boots on. Surely the most abused Commandment today has to be that one about lying.
First and foremost, YAHWAH considered gossip to be such a serious matter that He included the avoidance of it as one of the Ten Commandments. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Shmot/Exodus 20). When you repeat something you heard from someone else, or share a story where you're not 100% certain the facts are correct, or even share information about another person that will only bring them harm and not good, you are bringing a false report against them. Since the second greatest commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself," you would be breaking that one as well by gossiping. Would you gossip about yourself to others? If not, then why commit that act against your neighbor?
In the book of Romans, Sha'ul/Paul reveals the sinful natures and lawlessness of mankind, stating how YAHWAH was pouring out His wrath upon those who were rejecting His laws. Because they had turned away from Abba's instruction and guidance, He gave them over to their sinful natures. "They are gossips, slanderers, Elohym-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know YAHWAH's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:29b-32). YAHWAH still does the same today. Many reject Him and His word, so He allows them to be ruled by their sinful nature and depraved minds.
Another group who was and is commonly known for indulging in this sinful behavior are widows (along with single and married women, and women that are Jezebels!)
Timothy cautions widows against entertaining the habit of gossip and of being idle. "Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to" (1 Timothy 5:12-13). Because women tend to spend a lot of time in each other's homes or working closely with other women and getting involved in many people's lives, they hear and observe a variety of conversations or situations which have the potential to become distorted, if what they see is not kept private. Timothy stated that widows get into the habit of going from home to home, looking for something to occupy their idleness. Idle hands are the devil's workshop, and YAHWAH cautions against allowing that sin to enter our lives.
Sisterhood, GET OFF THE DAMNED PHONE WITH FOOLISHNESS AND STOP EMAILING EACH OTHER SHARING LIES, GOSSIP, SLANDER AND ABOMINATIONS...AND LEARN TORAH AND AFTER LEARNING IT...HOW'S ABOUT OBEYING IT!!!
Think about a time when you've witnessed the destruction of a friendship over a misunderstanding that started with gossip. Those who engage in this behavior do nothing but stir up dissension and cause strife among friends. There is nothing honorable in their actions, and their own struggles or shortcomings are covered up by their desire to bring someone else down rather than focusing on the areas in their own lives which need work. Some people thrive on this and look for opportunities to destroy others. And when people like this are confronted, they deny the allegations and answer with an excuse for why they've done what they have. Rather than admit their wrong, they blame someone or something else, or attempt to make it sound like the sin committed isn't so bad. "A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts" (Meeshlay/Proverbs 18:7-8).
Gossip usually hits deep. The topics that are "too good not to share" are generally ones that end up inflicting deep and cutting wounds to a person's inner being. And the betrayal almost always comes from someone close to the person affected. Gossip is bad enough when it comes from someone who is simply looking for a source of information they can share. But, when it begins with a trusted friend or someone who has been taken into a confidence, the betrayal cuts deep to the soul, making it even harder for the one on the receiving end to forgive. "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much" (Meeshlay/Proverbs 20:19).
Those people who are considered "busybodies" are easily spotted and are usually in the center of the action, flitting from one situation to the next, seeking out a tidbit of information they can use to spread to others. They'll talk to just about anyone, pretending to care or be genuinely interested in what is being said to them, when all the while, their minds are racing ahead to the first person to whom they can repeat their conversation. Gossips are only in it for themselves and the perverted pleasure it brings them to tear others down. Sisterhood...y'all truly need to hear me on this today!!!
But, YAHWAH promises light at the end of the tunnel. "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish not go free (Meeshlay/Proverbs 19:5). The righteous will overtake the house of the wicked and bring them to ruin (Meeshlay/Proverbs 21:12). Those who guard their mouths and tongues keep themselves from calamity (Meeshlay/Proverbs 21:23).
So, guard your tongue and refrain from the sinful act of gossip and bringing false reports. Surrender your natural desires to YAHWAH and allow Him to help you remain righteous. Love your neighbor and your brother and sister as yourself and don't sin against them in any way that you wouldn't also do to yourself. Remember, YAHWAH rewards the just and the righteous, so strive to remain as such.
Egroup Moderators, Chatroom Moderators, Congregation leaders, Elders, etc., I urge you to encourage all those under your headship to stop the lies and deceit, for it will only bring division to the body YAHWAH has put you in charge over. You are responsible for every person YAHWAH has given you. If it is not dealt with, He will hold you accountable. Abba is NOT pleased with Ysrael and the believing nations amongst us, know for a surety the hammer will soon be dropped on the wicked, beginning with the house of Ysrael first, be clear about this!!!
Beloved sisters, on behalf of YAHWAH, Ahbeenu (our Father), I beseech you today. Go to your brother or sister, admit your wrong, and ask for their forgiveness. Even if you have not seen the person in years, go to them. Call them on the phone. Too many people have broken hearts and shattered ministries because of lies and division. Too many people are on their deathbeds right now and will wake up in the lake of fire because of the bitterness of lies. We will pay for the wickedness that we willingly do, one way or another...we will pay!!!
"Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."
Ya'qob/James 3:10
In closing, here are few scriptures dealing specifically with "a lying tongue":
Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. (Wayeeqra/Leviticus 19:11)
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. (Tehylah/Psalm 101:7)
YAHWAH detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 12:22)
You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men YAHWAH abhors. (Tehylah/Psalm 5:6)
Better to be poor than a liar. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 19:22)
He whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 17:20)
O YAHWAH, do not Your eyes look for truth? (YermehYahu/Jeremiah 5:3)
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. (Meeshaly/Proverbs 12:19)
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 24:26)
The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 13:5)
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 11:3)
I hate and abhor falsehood but I love Your law. (Tehylah/Psalm 119:163)
A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 26:28)
Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. (YermehYahu/Jeremiah 9:5)
You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. (Tehylah/Psalm 52:3)
Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 25:18)
Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" (Meeshlay/Proverbs 26:18-19)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (Ephesians 4:25)
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Debarym/Deuteronomy 5:20)
Keep falsehood and lies far from me. (Meeshlay/Proverbs 30:7-8)
Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. (Tehylah/Psalm 119:29)
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. (Tehylah/Psalm 34:12-13)
"For by your words you will be acquitted,
and by your words you will be condemned."
(MateetYahu/Matthew 12:37)
Receive The Wisdom...and bring forth good fruit!
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