| Jud. 4:4
|
"Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time."
 Note: The only thing said about Deborah's husband is his name but you can be sure that as a prophetess Deborah heard God and her husband, Lapidoth, knew his wife was a very special woman indeed. There is no record of him telling her she could not do what God wanted her to do at any time. The Bible shows her as an example of a women who's words were respected by her brethren, and God had her judge Israel; unlike some churches today where women are mocked by men just because they are women. |
| 1 Sam. 8:6-7 |
"But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.' "
Note: When a child of God is speaking the Word of God in the church it is the Word that gives the validity to them, not the other way around. |
| Job 32:6-10 |
"So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
"I am young in years, and you are very
old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to
you.
I said, 'Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach
wisdom.'
But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives
him understanding.
Great men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand
justice.
Therefore I say, 'Listen to me.'
I also will declare my opinion." |
| Job 32:17-20 |
"I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
Indeed my belly is like wine that has
no vent.
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer."
Note: I love Elihu! A young man who sat and listened to the learned, and was compelled to speak. God rebuked the elders, not him.
|
| Prov. 18:8 |
"The words of a *talebearer (gossip or slander) are like *tasty trifles, (A Jewish tradition reads wounds)
And they go down into the *inmost body." (Lit. rooms of the belly)
Note: When words are spoken in a jesting manner against me I feel it in the pit of my belly. It's like a blow to my stomach! |
| Prov. 25:11 |
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of
gold
In settings of silver."
Note: I strive to speak gentle loving words to others. |
| Prov. 26:2 |
"Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying
swallow,
So a curse without cause shall not
alight."
Note: My response to those times of offense is to bless the ones through whom the enemy is working, and dismiss the wrong attitude towards me knowing the Holy Spirit will heal me. |
| Acts 16:16-18 |
"Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out saying, 'These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And he came out that very hour."
Note: Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison, and their response was to pray at midnight and sing hymns to God. The result was an earthquake that loosed them, and the salvation of the jailer and his household. Amazing! I pray for such strength in the line of fire. |
| Gal. 6:7-8 |
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."
|
| Eph. 5:1-4 |
"Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."
Note: It is my opinion that the people in our country are ripping each other apart with their words. The Bible says to submit to authorities, but when back biting words that wound are publically aired it is the job of God's people to combat that hate with love, and uplift our brothers and sisters in Christ so the world sees God's love in us. |
| Heb. 4:12 |
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Note: It is possible to speak peace to these situations in Jesus' name. |
| Jas. 1:5 |
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Note: There's no age limit on this. The Holy Spirit strengthens you!
|
| Jas. 3:1-6 |
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small ruder whenever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell." |
| 1 John 4:4 |
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Note: It may seem at times that people in churches are being apathetic because of their silence, but perhaps some of them are simply like Elihu, sitting there in submission to the ones in charge. Yet as Christians we are called to be a voice in the wilderness to the world. To tell them in the unique way God has given us about Jesus Christ. About God and how He loved them so much He sent His Son for all of us. Perhaps if we keep our focus on the love God has for us all instead of our own agendas and how we want things done we can work as a team and reach the world for Jesus Christ. |
| Rev. 12:11 |
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." |
