September 15 2013 The Art Of Cursing

The Art Of Cursing

“The Tongue has the power of life and death.” – Proverbs 18:21

UNDERSTANDING ‘THE CURSE’ BEHIND CURSE WORDS

Hebrew: herem - Greek: anathema

- The serpent was cursed (Genesis 3:14 – 15)
- Cain is cursed (Genesis 4:11)
- Curses are completely under God’s control (1 Kings 8:31 – 32)
- A curse cannot be placed on an innocent person (1 Samuel 14:24; Proverbs 26:2)
- Unfaithfulness is the source of all curses
- Faithfulness to God removes the curse (Deuteronomy 33:8-10)
- The greatest curse is the curse of sin (Romans 9:3; Galatians 3:10,13; Galatians 21:23)
- The cure for the curse of sin is the cross of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:10,13)

HOW TO TURN CURSING INTO BLESSING

1. BE AWARE OF THE TRUTH ABOUT CURSING 

James 3:8-10 “[The tongue] is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth...this is not right!”

2. LEARN TO THINK BEFORE I SPEAK

Proverbs 15:23 ““What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion!”

Memory Verse: Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

3. ENCOURAGE OTHERS WITH MY WORDS

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “So speak encouraging words to one another”

Proverbs 18:8 “The words of a gossiper are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.”

4. SURRENDER MY LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST

Galatians 3:10 - 13 “But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse...Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keepthe law. ...But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

September 1 2013 The Power Of Words

THE POWER OF WORDS

Memory Verse: “The Tongue has the power of life and death.” – Proverbs 18:21

THREE TRUTHS ABOUT MY WORDS

Truth #1: Words are a Gift from God

Truth #2: Words can build up or tear down

Truth #3: The quality of my life is determined by the quality of my words

HOW TO HARNESS THE P.O.W.E.R. OF MY WORDS

1. PRACTICE STARTING MY DAY WITH PRAISE.

Psalm 145:2 “I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever” 

2. OFFER WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS DAILY.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “So speak encouraging words to one another” 

3. WORK TO REMOVE ALL CURSE WORDS FROM MY SPEECH.

James 3:8-10 “[The tongue] is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth . . . this is not right!” 

4. EXERCISE LISTENING TWICE AS MUCH  AS I SPEAK.

Proverbs 12:15 “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”

5. RELEASE MY WHOLE LIFE TO GOD.

Matthew 15:11 (Jesus) “But the words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you.”

Romans 6:13 “Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”

August 19 2012 Managing Your Mouth

MANAGING YOUR MOUTH
James 3:1-12

James 3:2 - We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

I. Why must I watch what I say?

1. My tongue directs where I go.
Vs. 3 - When we put bits in the mouths of horses, we can turn the whole animal.
Vs. 4 - Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

2. My tongue can destroy what I have.
Vs. 5 - Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire.
Vs. 6 - It sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Proverbs 21:23 - If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say.
Vss. 7-8 - All kinds of animals have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

3. My tongue displays who I am.
It is inconsistent (Verse 9)
Vs. 10 - Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Vs. 11 - Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs?

The Problem is my heart.
Matthew 12:34 - For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

II. What’s the solution?

1. Get a new heart.
II. Cor. 5:17 - Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit.

2. Ask for God’s help.
Psalm 141:3 - Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips.

3. Think before you speak.
James 1:19 - Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.