“
But if you do not get your mind renewed with these Bible facts—even though you are born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speak with tongues—you will remain a negative person and miss the blessings of God.
”
”
Kenneth E. Hagin (Your Faith In God Will Work)
“
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
money, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not money, I am nothing. And though I
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to
be burned, and have not money, it profiteth me nothing. Money
suffereth long, and is kind; money envieth not; money vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave unseemly, seeketh not her
own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in
iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth
all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. . . . And now
abideth faith, hope, money, these three; but the greatest of these
is money.
I Corinthians xiii (adapted)
”
”
George Orwell (Keep the Aspidistra Flying)
“
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
”
”
Anonymous
“
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer.
”
”
Anonymous
“
The particular myth that's been organizing this talk, and in a way the whole series, is the story of the Tower of Babel in the Bible. The civilization we live in at present is a gigantic technological structure, a skyscraper almost high enough to reach the moon. It looks like a single world-wide effort, but it's really a deadlock of rivalries; it looks very impressive, except that it has no genuine human dignity. For all its wonderful machinery, we know it's really a crazy ramshackle building, and at any time may crash around our ears. What the myth tells us is that the Tower of Babel is a work of human imagination, that its main elements are words, and that what will make it collapse is a confusion of tongues. All had originally one language, the myth says. The language is not English or Russian or Chinese or any common ancestor, if there was one. It is the language that makes Shakespeare and Pushkin authentic poets, that gives a social vision to both Lincoln and Gandhi. It never speaks unless we take the time to listen in leisure, and it speaks only in a voice too quiet for panic to hear. And then all it has to tell us, when we look over the edge of our leaning tower, is that we are not getting any nearer heaven, and that it is time to return to earth. [p.98]
”
”
Northrop Frye (The Educated Imagination)
“
if you can not calm your mind, check at least your tongue. For so it is written: Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips that they speak no guile. Seek peace and pursue it.
”
”
Ambrose of Milan (The Complete Works of St. Ambrose (11 Books): Cross-Linked to the Bible)
“
WHEN GOD IS A DRUG—RELIGIOUS ADDICTION Mood alteration is an ingredient of compulsive/addictive behavior. Addiction has been described as “a pathological relationship to any mood-altering experience that has life-damaging consequences.” Toxic shame has been suggested as the core and fuel of all addiction. Religious addiction is rooted in toxic shame, which can be readily mood-altered through various religious behaviors. One can get feelings of righteousness through any form of worship. One can fast, pray, meditate, serve others, go through sacramental rituals, speak in tongues, be slain by the Holy Spirit, quote the Bible, read Bible passages, or say the name of Yahweh or Jesus. Any of these can be a mood-altering experience. If one is toxically shamed, such an experience can be immensely rewarding. The disciples of any religious system can say we are good and others, those not like us, the sinners, are bad. This can be exhilarating to the souls of toxically shamed people.
”
”
John Bradshaw (Healing the Shame that Binds You)
“
Make it a rule of your life to use your Tongue for high purposes alone. Resolve to speak in no way of any man or woman unless you can speak of the good qualities of that man or woman. No one ever gained Happiness out of injuring the Feelings or Character of someone else. No one ever failed to get Happiness by speaking well of other people.
”
”
Napoleon Hill (The Prosperity Bible: The Greatest Writings of All Time on the Secrets to Wealth and Prosperity)
“
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.
”
”
Anonymous (The Holy Bible: King James Version)
“
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Psalm 34:12–13, quoted in 1 Peter 3:10
”
”
Lois Tverberg (Listening to the Language of the Bible: Hearing It Through Jesus' Ears)
“
The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: King James Version)
“
The Bible says, For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God (1 Cor. 14:2). By speaking in tongues, you speak directly to God, bypassing all human reasonings.
”
”
Norvel Hayes (Why You Should Speak in Tongues)
“
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
”
”
Anonymous (ESV Study Bible)
“
Babel is a Biblical term for Babylon. The word is Semitic; Bab means gate and El means Cod, so Babel means 'Gate of God.' But it is probably also somewhat onomatopoeic, imitating someone
who speaks in an incomprehensible tongue. The Bible is full of puns.
”
”
Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash)
“
Speak God's Word out of your mouth The Bible which is the Word of God tells us that, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21) For as a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7) and “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)
”
”
Alex Uwajeh (Taming the Tongue: The Power of Spoken Words)
“
Those who wish to make themselves understood by a foreigner in his own language, should speak with much noise and vociferation, opening their mouths wide. Is it surprising that the English are, in general, the worst linguists in the world, seeing that they pursue a system diametrically opposite? For example, when they attempt to speak Spanish, the most sonorous tongue in existence, they scarcely open their lips, and putting their hands in their pockets, fumble lazily, instead of applying them to the indispensable office of gesticulation. Well may the poor Spaniards exclaim, These English talk so crabbedly, that Satan himself would not be able to understand them.
”
”
George Borrow (The Bible in Spain; or, the journeys, adventures, and imprisonments of an Englishman, in an attempt to circulate the Scriptures in the Peninsula)
“
Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
Speak Life Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. PROVERBS 18:21 If we ride to work with somebody and gossip about our boss and talk about how we hate our job and what a stupid place it is, we will have a bad day. The Bible says, “A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]” (Proverbs 18:20). Clearly, we will have to eat our words, so we need to talk about the right things to be happy. If we murmur and gossip, we will eat the fruit of death. But if we speak life, we will eat the fruit of the Spirit (see Matthew 12:37). Choose to eat good fruit today.
”
”
Joyce Meyer (Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year)
“
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have a prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, b so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 c If I give away all I have, and d if I deliver up my body to be burned, [1] but have not love, I gain nothing.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
”
”
Anonymous (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (without Cross-References))
“
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 2. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 3. And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. 4. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. 5. The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
”
”
Anonymous (Authorized King James Version Holy Bible)
“
O LORD, u who shall sojourn in your v tent? Who shall dwell on your w holy hill? 2 He who x walks blamelessly and y does what is right and z speaks truth in his heart; 3 who a does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor b takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 c in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who d swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 who e does not put out his money at interest and f does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be g moved.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill? A Psalm of David. PSALM 15 O LORD, u who shall sojourn in your v tent? Who shall dwell on your w holy hill? 2 He who x walks blamelessly and y does what is right and z speaks truth in his heart; 3 who a does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor b takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 c in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who d swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 who e does not put out his money at interest and f does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be g moved.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
Proverbs 6:20-26 20 My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. 22 When you roam, they* will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, 24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. 25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress* will prey upon his precious life.
”
”
Anonymous (The One Year Bible NKJV)
“
MAY 31 The Power of Your Words Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. PROVERBS 18:21 NASB OUR WORDS have tremendous power and are similar to seeds. By speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious minds, take root, grow, and produce fruit of the same kind. Whether we speak positive or negative words, we will reap exactly what we sow. That’s why we need to be extremely careful what we think and say. The Bible compares the tongue to the small rudder of a huge ship, which controls the ship’s direction (see James 3:4). Similarly, your tongue will control the direction of your life. You create an environment for either good or evil with your words, and if you’re always murmuring, complaining, and talking about how bad life is treating you, you’re going to live in a pretty miserable world. Use your words to change your negative situations and fill them with life.
”
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Joel Osteen (Your Best Life Begins Each Morning: Devotions to Start Every New Day of the Year)
“
If we are taught by God in affliction we are blessed. When God teaches, he applies his instruction to the heart. He commands light to shine out of darkness (2 Corinthians 4:6). The Holy Spirit brings divine truths in such a clear and convincing light that the soul sits down fully satisfied. The soul both sweetly and freely acquiesces in the revealed truths. When God teaches, the soul experiences truth as David (Psalm 119:71). Some only know notionally, but David knew by experience; he became more acquainted with the Word. He knew it more, loved it better, and was more transformed in the nature of it. Thus, Paul, “I know who I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12) – “I have experienced his faithfulness and his all-sufficiency; I can trust my all with him. I am sure he will keep it safe to that day.” Those taught of God in affliction can speak experimentally, in one degree or another. They can speak of their communion with God (Psalm 23:4). The sweet singer of Israel had comfortable presence. Those taught of God can say: “As we have heard, so we have seen. I have experienced this word upon mine heart, and can set my seal that God is true.” God’s teaching is a powerful teaching. It conveys strength as well as light. Truth only understood needs to be put into action and practice. God’s teachings are sweet to the taste. David rolled them as sugar under his tongue, and received more sweetness than Samson from his honeycomb. Luther said he would not live in paradise without the Word, but with the Word he could live in hell itself. Teaching is sweet because it is suitable to the renewed man (Jeremiah 15:16).
”
”
Thomas Case
“
(FIRE)
THE BOOK OF SATAN
THE INFERNAL DIATRIBE
The first book of the Satanic Bible is not an attempt to blaspheme as much as it is a statement of what might be termed 'diabolical indignation'. The Devil has been attacked by the men of God relentlessly and without reservation. Never has there been an opportunity, short of fiction, for the Dark Prince to speak out in the same manner as the spokesmen of the Lord of the Righteous. The pulpit-pounders of the past have been free to define 'good' and 'evil' as they see fit, and have gladly smashed into oblivion any who disagree with their lies - both verbally and, at time, physically. Their talk of 'charity', when applied to His Infernal Majesty, becomes an empty sham - and most unfairly, too, considering the obvious fact that without their Satanic foe their very religions would collapse. How sad, that the allegorical personage most responsible for the success of spiritual religions is show the least amount of charity and the most consistent abuse - and by those who most unctuously preach the rules of fair play! For all the centuries of shouting-down the Devil has received, he has never shouted back at his detractors. He has remained the gentleman at all times, while those he supports rant and rave. He has shown himself to be a model of deportment, but now he feels it is time to receive his due. Now the ponderous rule-books of hypocrisy are no longer needed. In order to relearn the Law of the Jungle, a small, slim diatribe will do. Each verse is an inferno. Each word is a tongue of fire. The flames of Hell burn fierce... and purify! Read on and learn the Law.
”
”
Anton Szandor LaVey (The Satanic Bible)
“
Who May Enter? Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Psalm 15:1-2 When we kneel at the altar, we present our hearts in reverent worship to God. It is our inward sacrifice of praise. In these verses the psalmist presents another side of worship—the worship that praises God with our lives. We offer this type of worship when we live in integrity and honesty in everyday situations. We offer it when we treat others with fairness in business deals and speak highly of others no matter who is listening. When we avoid the bitter tongue of gossip, tell the truth instead of resorting to a lie, or keep a promise we have made even at great cost, we are showing that our lives are a living sacrifice of worship to God. I’m thankful that we don’t have to be perfect to worship God. No one is without fault. However, when we endeavor to worship God through the way we live our lives, we offer him more than a show of worship. We present him with a heartbeat that sincerely desires to please him. Ask God today to help you live in such a way that your life is an offering of praise to his name. GOD, I am far from perfect, but I desire to serve you in integrity and honesty. I realize that others watch my life and that my daily decisions influence others. I pray that they will see you in both my words and my actions. Lord, I sincerely desire to worship you not only with my heart but with my character. Help me to live a blameless life. Only you can do this. May I speak your truth from a sincere heart so that you will receive the glory and honor you deserve. THE HEART THAT IS NOT ENTRUSTED TO GOD FOR HIS SEARCHING, WILL NOT BE UNDERTAKEN BY HIM FOR CLEANSING. Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)
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Cheri Fuller (The One Year Praying through the Bible: Experience the Power of the Bible Through Prayer (One Year Bible))
“
Psalm 34 * Theme: God pays attention to those who call on him. Whether God offers escape from trouble or help in times of trouble, we can be certain that he always hears and acts on behalf of those who love him. Author: David, after pretending to be insane in order to escape from King Achish (1 Samuel 21:10-15) A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away. 1I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. + 2I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. + 3Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. 4I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. + 6In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles. 7For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. + 8Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! + 9Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. + 10Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing. + 11Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD. + 12Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? + 13Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! + 14Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. + 15The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. + 16But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. + 17The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. 18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. + 19The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. + 20For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! 21Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. + 22But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
”
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Anonymous (Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation)
“
Unqualified Champions Consider these individuals from the Bible. Each person was aware of a personal shortcoming which should have rendered him disqualified for service. God, however, saw champion potential … Moses struggled with a speech impediment: “Then Moses said to the LORD, ‘Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue’” (Exodus 4:10). Yet God served as Moses’ source of strength. God used him to deliver the Israelites from bondage. Jeremiah considered himself too young to deliver a prophetic message to an adult population: “Then I said, ‘Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth’” (Jeremiah 1:6). God’s reply: “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” (Jeremiah 1:8). Isaiah, whose encouragement I quoted earlier, had reservations of his own. Perhaps his vocabulary reflected my own—especially my vocabulary as a teenager: “I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). Despite Isaiah’s flaws, God saw him as a man He could use to provide guidance to the nation of Judah. Paul the Apostle had, in his past, persecuted the very people to whom God would send him later. To most of us, Paul’s track record would disqualify him for use. But God brought change to Paul’s heart and redemption to his fervency. Samson squandered his potential through poor life choices. As I read about him, I can’t help but think, “The guy acted like a spoiled brat.” But God had placed a call on his life. Though Samson sank to life’s darkest depths—captors blinded him and placed him in slavery—at the end of his life, he turned his heart toward God and asked to be used for God’s purposes. God used Samson to bring deliverance to the Israelites. Do you feel like the least qualified, the least important, the least regarded? Perhaps your reward is yet to come. God has high regard for those who are the least. Jesus said, “For the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great” (Luke 9:48) and “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first” (Matthew 19:30). If heaven includes strategic positioning among God’s people, which I believe it will, that positioning will be ego-free and based on a humble heart. Those of high position in God’s eyes don’t focus on position. They focus on hearts: their own hearts before God, and the hearts of others loved by God. When we get to heaven, I believe many people’s positions of responsibility will surprise us. What if, in heaven, the some of today’s most accomplished individuals end up reporting to someone who cried herself to sleep at night—yet kept her heart pure before God? According to Jesus in Matthew 6:5, some rewards are given in full before we reach heaven. When He spoke those words, He referred to hypocritical religious leaders as an example. Could we be in for a heavenly surprise? I believe many who are last today—the ultimate servants—will be first in heaven. God sees things differently than we do.
”
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John Herrick (8 Reasons Your Life Matters)
“
The Miracle of Pentecost is less in the hearing and much more in the speaking. Disciples speak in the mother tongues of others, not by their own design but by the Spirit’s desire.
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Willie James Jennings (Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible (Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible))
“
The modern problem is born of the colonial enterprise where language play and use entered its most demonic displays. Imagine peoples in many places, in many conquered sites, in many tongues all being told that their languages are secondary, tertiary, and inferior to the supreme languages of the enlightened peoples. Make way for Latin, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, and English. These are the languages God speaks.
”
”
Willie James Jennings (Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible (Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible))
“
Psalm 108 (109) 1For the End; a psalm by David.†ω O God, do not pass over my praise in silence, 2 For the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful man opened against me; They spoke against me with a deceitful tongue; 3 And they surrounded me with words of hatred, And warred against me without cause. 4 Instead of loving me, they falsely accused me, But I continued to pray; 5 So they repaid me evil for good, And hatred for my love. 6 Set a sinner over him, And let the devil stand at his right hand. 7 And when he is judged, may he go forth condemned, And let his prayer become sin. 8 Let his days be very few, And may a different man receive his office; 9 Let his children be fatherless And his wife a widow; 10 Let his children wander about and be beggars; Let them be cast out of their houses. 11 Let the creditor search out whatever possessions he has; Let strangers plunder his labors; 12 Let there be no helper for him, Nor a compassionate one for his fatherless children; 13 Let his children be utterly destroyed; In a single generation, let his name be blotted out. 14 May the lawlessness of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, And may the sin of his mother not be blotted out; 15 Let them be continually before the Lord, And may the remembrance of them be utterly destroyed from the earth, 16 Because he did not remember to show mercy, But persecuted a poor and needy man, And one pierced to the heart, that he might kill him. 17 And he loved cursing, and it came to him, And he did not desire blessing, so it shall be far from him. 18 So he clothed himself with cursing like a garment, And it entered like water into his bowels And like oil into his bones; 19 Let it be for him like a garment that clothes him, And like a belt that girds him continually. 20 This is the work of those who falsely accuse me before the Lord, And of those who speak evil things against my soul. 21 But You, O Lord, O Lord, deal mercifully with me for Your name's sake, For Your mercy is good. 22 Save me, for I am poor and needy, And my heart is troubled within me. 23 I was removed like a shadow when it declines; I was shaken off like the locusts. 24 My knees were weak from fasting, And my flesh was changed because of the oil. 25 And I became an object of reproach to them; They saw me; they shook their heads. 26 Help me, O Lord my God; Save me according to Your mercy; 27 Then let them know this is Your hand, And You, O Lord, did this. 28 They themselves shall curse, but You shall bless; Let those who rise up against me be put to shame, But let Your servant be glad. 29 Let those who falsely accuse me be clothed with shame, And let them be covered with their dishonor like a double cloak. 30 I will give thanks to the Lord abundantly with my mouth, And in the midst of many I will praise Him, 31 Because He stood at the right hand of a poor man, To save me from those who persecute my soul.
”
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Anonymous (The Orthodox Study Bible: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World)
“
The style of the Holy Ghost is one which conveys the truth to the mind in the most forcible manner,—it is plain but flaming, simple but consuming. The Holy Spirit has never written a cold period throughout the whole Bible, and never did he speak by a man a lifeless word, but evermore he gives and blesses the tongue of fire.
”
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Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Knowing the Holy Spirit: Ten Classic Sermons by Charles Spurgeon)
“
its own tongue the glory and grace of Jesus while the water which they all drink speaks loudest of all, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37). So this beautiful gospel speaks to man, not only in the tenderest words of human language, the most profound discourses of human thought, but it lays under tribute every figure of Hebrew history and the natural world as an alphabet to express in the glowing language of symbol and type the abundant grace of Him who is the First and the Last, both in nature, revelation and His people's hearts and lives.
”
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A.B. Simpson (Christ in the Bible Commentary: The Complete New Testament)
“
The backbiting tongue has chosen the very motto of Death as its own: "I spare no one!" Priest or judge, known or unknown, religious or worldling, friend or foe, none of that matters to him. The backbiter spares nothing and no one, not even his father and mother. Why is this so? Because he enjoys talking, so speaking evil gratifies him. He considers it a pleasure when he finds something to criticize in others. He is filled with joy when he can invent and relate things that do not even exist.
”
”
Fr. Belet (Sins of the Tongue: Cross-linked to the Bible)
“
Mood alteration is an ingredient of compulsive/addictive behavior. Addiction has been described as “a pathological relationship to any mood-altering experience that has life-damaging consequences.” Toxic shame has been suggested as the core and fuel of all addiction. Religious addiction is rooted in toxic shame, which can be readily mood-altered through various religious behaviors. One can get feelings of righteousness through any form of worship. One can fast, pray, meditate, serve others, go through sacramental rituals, speak in tongues, be slain by the Holy Spirit, quote the Bible, read Bible passages, or say the name of Yahweh or Jesus. Any of these can be a mood-altering experience. If one is toxically shamed, such an experience can be immensely rewarding.
”
”
John Bradshaw (Healing the Shame that Binds You)
“
Some say the bible teaches that with our tongues we can speak, set things into motion both good and bad, life and death. What we bind and loose on earth will be bound and loosed in heaven.
”
”
William Elias
“
NO I DON'T SPEAK IN TONGUES. I LIVE IN TONGUES.
At the end it's not how I know the prophet. Not the many quotes. Not church and not even the Bible quotes I know. Not the long skirts. Not the natural hair.
Not the good I have done. Nothing else. Only His Token.
His Life inside of me. The Life I live, before and in the absence of the people. My thoughts.
DON'T BE DECEIVED. THE HOLY GHOST CHANGES THE NATURE.
A pregnant woman cannot hide her state.
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”
Mary Tornyenyor
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my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. 11 z “On that day a you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then b I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and c you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. 12 But I will leave in your midst a people d humble and lowly. e They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, 13 f those who are left in Israel; they g shall do no injustice and speak no lies, h nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. i For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” Israel’s Joy and Restoration 14[†] j Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. k The King of Israel, l the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. 16 z On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; m let not your hands grow weak. 17 l The LORD your God is in your midst, n a mighty one who will save; o he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. 18 I will gather those of you who mourn p for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. [3] 19 Behold, at that time q I will deal with all your oppressors. And r I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change s their shame into t praise and renown in all the earth. 20 u At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, v when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD.
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Anonymous (ESV Gospel Transformation Bible)
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glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and transforming believers into the image of Christ (John 16:7–9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 2:22). We teach that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, instructs, empowers them for service, and seals them unto the day of redemption (Rom. 8:9–11; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13). We teach that the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they committed to writing God’s revelation, the Bible (2 Pet. 1:19–21). Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (Rom. 8:9–11; Eph. 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27). We teach that the Holy Spirit administers spiritual gifts to the church. The Holy Spirit glorifies neither himself nor his gifts by ostentatious displays, but he does glorify Christ by implementing his work of redeeming the lost and building up believers in the most holy faith (John 16:13–14; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4–11; 2 Cor. 3:18). We teach, in this respect, that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of all his gifts for the perfecting of the saints today and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the beginning days of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of divine truth, and were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers (1 Cor. 12:4–11; 13:8–10; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7–12; Heb. 2:1–4).
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Anonymous (The ESV MacArthur Study Bible)
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5 Even so the tongue is a little member (it is small, but it exerts a powerful influence), and boasts great things (responsible for great things, whether good or bad). Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! (The image projected here by James is the picture of a vast forest in flames, all begun by the falling of a single spark.) 6 And the tongue is a fire (speaks of fire in a negative way, that which destroys), a world of iniquity (the tongue in some way is responsible for all the iniquity in the world): so is the tongue among our members (body members), that it defiles the whole body (constantly speaking in a negative way can bring about physical illness in the body), and sets on fire the course of nature (the tongue sets us on a particular path, and in this case the wrong path); and it is set on fire of hell. (By using the word “hell,” we are made to understand not only the wickedness of the tongue, but as well its destructive power.)
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Jimmy Swaggart (The Expositor's Study Bible)
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Healing Sickness 161. James 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 162. Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 163. John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 164.
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Lois Jackson (The Power of Belief: 365 Bible Verses in Different Categories Uplifting You Everyday & The Best Ways to Keep Faith that Everyone Should Know)
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4 The Lord GOD [the Father] hath given me [Jesus] the tongue of the learned [Father taught Me well], that I should know how to speak a [strengthening] word in season to him [Israel; see 2 Nephi 7:4] that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned [German: the Father is constantly communicating with Me and I hear as His disciple]. 5 The Lord GOD [the Father] hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back [I was obedient and did not turn away from accomplishing the Atonement]. In verses 6–7, next, Isaiah prophesies some details surrounding Christ’s crucifixion. In verse 6, especially, He speaks of the future as if it is past. 6 I gave my back to the smiters [ allowed Himself to be flogged; see Matthew 27:26], and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair [pulled out the whiskers of My beard]: I hid not my face from shame and spitting [see Matthew 26:67]. Here is a quote from Bible scholar Edward J. Young, (not a member of the Church) concerning the plucking of the beard, in verse 6, above: “In addition the servant [ Christ, in Isaiah 50:6] gave his cheeks to those who pluck out the hair. The reference is to those who deliberately give the most heinous and degrading of insults. The Oriental regarded the beard as a sign of freedom and respect, and to pluck out the hair of the beard (for cheek in effect would refer to a beard) is to show utter contempt.” (Book of Isaiah, vol. 3, page 300.) 7 For the Lord GOD [the Father] will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded [I will not be stopped]: therefore have I set my face like a flint [I brace Myself for the task], and I know that I shall not be ashamed [I know I will not fail]. 8 He [the Father] is near that justifieth me [approves of everything I do]; who will [dares to] contend with me? let us [Me and those who would dare contend against Me] stand together [go to court, as in a court of law—go ahead and present your arguments against Me]: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me [ face Me]. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD [the Father] will help me [the Savior]; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they [those who contend against Me] all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up [the wicked will have their day and then fade away and reap the punishment]. Next, in verse 10, the question is asked, in effect, “Who is loyal to the Lord and is not supported by Him?” The answer, as you will see, is no one. 10 Who is among you that feareth [respects] the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? [Answer: No one, because the Lord blesses His true followers with light.] let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon [be supported by] his God. the sparks that ye have kindled [rather than Christ’s gospel light]. This shall ye have of mine hand [German: you will get what you deserve]; ye shall lie down in sorrow [misery awaits those who try to live without God].
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David J. Ridges (Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon)
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If with the tongues of men and of messengers I speak, and have not love, I have become brass sounding, or a cymbal tinkling;
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Anonymous (Bible (Young's Literal Translation) (best navigation with Direct Verse Jump))
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was surprised by how quickly I was forgotten, how calm the waters were, as soon as I paddled out of the center of the evangelical right-wing whitewater. From one day to the next, I went from daily calls to be on some TV show, or be on the radio, or to be a participant in this or that symposium, march, seminar, or publishing venture, to blessed silence. It was a relief. It also confirmed what I already knew: that evangelicalism is not so much a religion as a series of fast-moving personality cults. As soon as a leader steps aside, or is shoved aside, or stumbles, the crowd looks for the next man or woman to briefly follow. There is always a bigger show down the street, another even better Bible-study leader or congregation to try, another hot author/guru to read, another trend, from speaking in tongues to giving homeschooling a try. And most evangelicals spend a good portion of their time wandering from church to church, from leader to leader, even from one radio and TV personality to another, in the same way that when I was a teen I’d switch my loyalty from one rock band to another. It’s all about who is “hot.” In
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Frank Schaeffer (Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back)
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Prayer For Today: Father In the Name of Jesus, I thank you that the power of life and death is in my tongue. Today I choose to speak life only. I thank you that the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God. So mountain (Insert the name of the mountain here) I command you in the Name of Jesus be plucked up by the roots and cast into the sea. Father I thank you that because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross I have a confident expectation of good today and every day. Father I thank you that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Today I receive anew the abundance of your grace and your gift of righteousness by which I am destined to reign in this life. Today I receive afresh the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you Jesus – In Jesus Name – Amen!
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Gloria Coleman (Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation: 31 Bible Verses About Faith - To Keep You Overcoming! (31 Days Daily Devotional Book 2))
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and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ACT2:05
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Anonymous (King James Bible Touch)
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ACTS 2 ‡†When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2†And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3†And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested [1] on each one of them. 4†And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5†Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6†And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9‡Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.
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Anonymous (ESV Study Bible)
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Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen. So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there— so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.
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F. LaGard Smith (The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®))
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Maintaining silence [Prov. 10:19] Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. [12:23] The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly. [13:3] Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. [17:28] Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. [18:13] To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. [21:23] Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
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F. LaGard Smith (The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®))
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You have the full proof of the rewards, the return, eternal life-- all of that-- every time you speak in tongues.
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Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille
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On Sunday morning, before a live in-person audience of eight thousand and a live television audience of perhaps two and a half million, the Reverend Jimmy Wayne Sutter preached a fire and brimstone sermon so bone-rattling that members of the audience in the Palace of Worship were on their feet and speaking in tongues while those at home were on their phones and giving their Visa and Master Charge numbers to waiting pledge takers. The televised worship service lasted ninety minutes and seventy-two minutes of it consisted of the Reverend Sutter’s sermon. Jimmy Wayne read excerpts from the Letters to the Corinthians to the faithful, and then followed that with a much longer segment where he imagined Paul writing updated letters to the Corinthians in which he reported on the moral tone and prospects in the United States. To hear the Reverend Jimmy Wayne put words in Paul’s mouth, the current climate in the U.S. was one of prayerlessness, pornography, creeping secular humanism inculcating defenseless youth in the secret rites of sinful socialism, permissiveness, promiscuity, demonic possession advanced by rock videos and by Dungeons and Dragons games, and a general and pervasive rottenness manifested most visibly by the sinfuls’ refusal to accept Christ as their personal Savior while giving generously to such urgent Christian causes as Bible Outreach, 1-800-555-6444.
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Dan Simmons (Carrion Comfort)
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Scholars had generally concluded that in all but the Supper scene, Paul was not quoting sayings of Jesus from his ministry. Rather, he was engaged in a practice common throughout early Christian preaching. Paul and his fellow charismatic missionaries of the Christ were relaying directives and revelations which they believed they had received directly from heaven, through inspiration, through visions and interpreting glossalalia (speaking in tongues), or simply through a study of scripture. [...] Others admitted that Paul had no sense of Jesus as an ethical teacher, but saw himself as the mouthpiece for a Christ in heaven who operated on earth in the present time of faith, through God’s Spirit. The footnote pointed to a couple of passages by way of illustration. One of these was 1 Corinthians 14:36-38: ‘Did the word of God originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing is also done by the Lord’s word.” [...]
Paul’s world seemed to be one of inspiration and revelation directly from God—and a competitive one at that. Once again, the atmosphere created by the early documents, by the voices of those who had been the heart and soul of the apostolic generation, was curiously out of sync with the picture crafted by the later evangelists.
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Earl Doherty (The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus)
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The Coming of the Spirit. 1 * When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.a 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,* and it filled the entire house in which they were.b 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,* which parted and came to rest on each one of them.c 4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,* as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.d
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Anonymous (The New American Bible, Revised Edition)
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caution believers who speak in tongues to evaluate carefully their motivation. Is it for the glory of God, or is it because of pressure from a group? Do you feel that you would be a lesser saint than others if you did not speak in tongues? The Bible urges you to pursue love, not tongues.
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Charles F. Stanley (Charles Stanley's Handbook for Christian Living: Biblical Answers to Life's Tough Questions)
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Proverbs 6:16-19 16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
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Anonymous (The One Year Bible NKJV)
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Psalm 15 A psalm of David. 1LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
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Anonymous (NIV, Once-A-Day: Bible for Women)
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Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
1 Peter 3:10-11
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English Standard Version Bible
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A psalm of David: (1) ADONAI, who can rest in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? 2 Those who live a blameless life, who behave uprightly, who speak truth from their hearts 3 and keep their tongues from slander; who never do harm to others or seek to discredit neighbors; 4 who look with scorn on the vile, but honor those who fear ADONAI, who hold to an oath, no matter the cost; 5 who refuse usury when they lend money and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent. Those who do these things never will be moved.
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David H. Stern (Complete Jewish Bible: An English Version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B’rit Hadashah (New Testament))
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HEAVENLY FATHER, please give me the right words to speak, words that will satisfy the soul of every listener. Let my words encourage and not discourage those who hear me speak. Help my tongue to nourish life and not to kill. And perhaps most important of all, help me to encourage others to be encouragers.
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Cheri Fuller (The One Year Praying through the Bible: Experience the Power of the Bible Through Prayer (One Year Bible))
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Another use of tongues suggested in the Bible is to let us pray even when with our own minds we have no idea what to ask for in a given situation (see Romans 8:26-27).
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John Sherrill (They Speak with Other Tongues: A Skeptic Investigates This Life-Changing Gift)
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Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! 14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
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Anonymous (Holy Bible Text Edition NLT: New Living Translation)
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Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! 14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right;
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Anonymous (Holy Bible Text Edition NLT: New Living Translation)
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Psalm 12 For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.* 1 Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! 2 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts. 3 May the LORD cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues. 4 They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?” 5 The LORD replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” 6 The LORD’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. 7 Therefore, LORD, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, 8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
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Anonymous (The One Year Chronological Bible NLT)
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8Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife, and the one who does not plow with ox and ass together. Happy is the one who does not sin with the tongue, and the one who has not served an inferior. 9Happy is the one who finds a friend, and the one who speaks to attentive listeners. 10How great is the one who finds wisdom! But none is superior to the one who fears the Lord. 11Fear of the Lord surpasses everything; to whom can we compare the one who has it?
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Scot McKnight (Sermon on the Mount (The Story of God Bible Commentary Book 21))
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One major problem is the Biblical ignorance of so many ministers. This is understandable among those who do not believe the Scripture, but it is inexcusable among conservative ministers. Too many preachers are not capable of studying for themselves and so are mainly dependent on commentaries. Too many preachers are busy with methods and programs and do not (in fact, cannot) study the Bible accurately. Therefore, unless there is a verse which solves the problem by direct statement, they have neither the interest nor the ability to come to an accurate position based on the entire tenor of Scripture. These ministers, many of whom do not believe in tongues, are not sure enough to speak against the present tongues movement. Lacking enough insight to see that this neutral position is impossible, they leave their people wide open to all kinds of experiences and to unsound spiritual influences. If someone opens himself to the spiritual influences present, no matter what his intentions and how pure his motives. if the spirit is false, he may come under its influence.
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Thomas R. Edgar (Miraculous Gifts: Are They for Today?)
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Speak God’s Mind Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things. PROVERBS 8:6 One of our biggest mistakes we make is that we sometimes answer people too quickly, just giving them something off the top of our head. Only a fool utters his whole mind (see Proverbs 29:11 KJV). Those who speak frequently and hastily are always in trouble, as the Bible says, “There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). Jesus operated in wisdom. He always knew just the right thing to say, at just the right moment, to astound everybody. If we don’t spend enough time with God, we will say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Decide to wait on God before speaking your mind today.
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Joyce Meyer (Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year)
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10For n“He who would love life And see good days, oLet him 3refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11Let him pturn away from evil and do good; qLet him seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, rAnd His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.
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John F. MacArthur Jr. (The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV)
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Proverbs 10:31-32 31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off. 32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.
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Anonymous (The One Year Bible, NLT)
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Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Bible verses that teach me how important my words are. My words can cause me to stumble so I lean on You to direct my thoughts and voice. Lord help me to remain quiet when I am unsure of what to say. Help me to see things as You do so I’m not led astray. I know my tongue can defile my entire body so let me only utter praise and blessings, in Jesus name, amen.
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Glenn Langohr (Be a Prayer Warrior and Use Words Wisely: 30 Declarations and Prayers to Speak Victory into Your Life)
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We tend to see gifts as the sign of the Spirit’s work in someone. But the Bible never does. Judas and King Saul were used by the Spirit to prophesy, do miracles, and so on… but they did not have Spirit-renewed hearts. To be truly led by the Spirit is to grow “the fruit of the Spirit” (v 22). Gifts may or may not operate out of a grace-changed heart; but the fruit-growth of the Spirit can only happen in a child of God. The only test that the Spirit has really indwelled you as a child of God is the growth in the fruit of the Spirit. The first part of that fruit, which Paul mentions here is “love”; and as he says elsewhere, to a church which over-desired particular spiritual gifts: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong … I am nothing … I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1, 2, 3).
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Timothy J. Keller (Galatians For You (God's Word For You))
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LOVE IS GREATEST GIFT. [1 Cor. 13:1–3] If I speak in the tongues5 of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,6 but do not have love, I gain nothing.
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F. LaGard Smith (The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®))