The first half of the book has been dedicated to what the Biblical guidelines for our speech are and how much our speech affects those around us. The second half of the book is focused on how we can implement the necessary changes into our speech. The first chapter in this section is entitled "The Promise of Power" and focuses on the fact that despite how hopeless change (in any area of our lives) may seem God has given us His Spirit who does have the power to change us if we yield to Him.
"While no human being can tame the tongue...God can. It may
be impossible ...for you and for me, but it is not impossible
for God. 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' (Genesis 18:14)"
"It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we
are able to control this little muscle that rests between
our teeth."
be impossible ...for you and for me, but it is not impossible
for God. 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' (Genesis 18:14)"
"It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we
are able to control this little muscle that rests between
our teeth."
Philippians 4:8-9 lays out eight guidelines for our speech. We should ask ourselves the following questions about our words before we speak.
- Are they true?
- Are they noble?
- Are they right?
- Are they pure?
- Are they lovely?
- Are they admirable?
- Are they excellent?
- Are they praiseworthy?
*I would encourage you to look up the definitions of each of these words and really meditate on their meanings.
Does this come easy? No, "it takes practice! Practice! Practice! Practice!"
Mrs Jaynes also points out that in Galatians 5:23 we are instructed to have a gentle spirit. This gentleness is to extend to our speech. Many times gentleness (or meekness) is seen as a weakness; however "When Jesus said he was meek and lowly in heart, He was saying that he was submitted to God - mightily powerful but under God's control." "Meekness isn't weakness; it's power under control. It's taming and training our tongues to be under the submission and control of the Holy Spirit."
So we know what to do, but how? In John 15:5 Jesus tells us "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." We are to be constantly abiding in Jesus, this does not come naturally and I believe that's why it is a command, not a suggestion but something that Jesus knows is hard but necessary for us.
In Ephesians 1:19-20 Paul writes "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." As believers, who have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we have access to that same power that raised Jesus from the dead!! We need only to submit ourselves to the Spirit!
Martha:
I have to say one of the most encouraging things in this chapter was the focus on Martha. Martha tends to get all the negative attention, in Luke 10:38-42 we first meet Martha and she is scolded by Jesus for being too concerned with the things of this world and not spiritual things. Martha was trying to do the socially correct things while missing the opportunity to sit under the teaching of Jesus.
Now look at John 11: 1-27; in verse 5 it is said that Jesus loved Martha...despite her wrong priorities he loved her (just as despite our wrong speech Jesus loves us). In verse 20 we see that it was Martha that went out to meet Jesus. Her brother Lazarus had died but she was trusting that "even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." (vs. 22) again in verse 27 Martha states "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world".
What a great picture of the change that can take place when we heed God's instructions for any area of our lives. Martha certainly listened to what Jesus had instructed back in Luke 10:42 when he said "one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
The change in Martha's life did not come from her being good enough, or working hard enough. The power to change came when she yielded herself to the teaching of Jesus and submitted her heart to Him.
Each one of us struggles with different things in our lives but the answer to overcoming whatever we face and the power to make whatever changes necessary come from the same place...God.
Our flesh is weak but 2 Corinthians 4:7 & 10:4 remind us that:
- Are they true?
- Are they noble?
- Are they right?
- Are they pure?
- Are they lovely?
- Are they admirable?
- Are they excellent?
- Are they praiseworthy?
*I would encourage you to look up the definitions of each of these words and really meditate on their meanings.
Does this come easy? No, "it takes practice! Practice! Practice! Practice!"
Mrs Jaynes also points out that in Galatians 5:23 we are instructed to have a gentle spirit. This gentleness is to extend to our speech. Many times gentleness (or meekness) is seen as a weakness; however "When Jesus said he was meek and lowly in heart, He was saying that he was submitted to God - mightily powerful but under God's control." "Meekness isn't weakness; it's power under control. It's taming and training our tongues to be under the submission and control of the Holy Spirit."
So we know what to do, but how? In John 15:5 Jesus tells us "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." We are to be constantly abiding in Jesus, this does not come naturally and I believe that's why it is a command, not a suggestion but something that Jesus knows is hard but necessary for us.
In Ephesians 1:19-20 Paul writes "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." As believers, who have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we have access to that same power that raised Jesus from the dead!! We need only to submit ourselves to the Spirit!
Martha:
I have to say one of the most encouraging things in this chapter was the focus on Martha. Martha tends to get all the negative attention, in Luke 10:38-42 we first meet Martha and she is scolded by Jesus for being too concerned with the things of this world and not spiritual things. Martha was trying to do the socially correct things while missing the opportunity to sit under the teaching of Jesus.
Now look at John 11: 1-27; in verse 5 it is said that Jesus loved Martha...despite her wrong priorities he loved her (just as despite our wrong speech Jesus loves us). In verse 20 we see that it was Martha that went out to meet Jesus. Her brother Lazarus had died but she was trusting that "even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." (vs. 22) again in verse 27 Martha states "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world".
What a great picture of the change that can take place when we heed God's instructions for any area of our lives. Martha certainly listened to what Jesus had instructed back in Luke 10:42 when he said "one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
The change in Martha's life did not come from her being good enough, or working hard enough. The power to change came when she yielded herself to the teaching of Jesus and submitted her heart to Him.
Each one of us struggles with different things in our lives but the answer to overcoming whatever we face and the power to make whatever changes necessary come from the same place...God.
Our flesh is weak but 2 Corinthians 4:7 & 10:4 remind us that:
"..we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us"
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;"
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us"
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;"
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