Keep away from foolish and ignorant conversations

 

 

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,  and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

Always speak words wise

Always speak words wise,
That God doesn’t despise.
Always speak words wise,
That goodness you maximize.

Always speak words wise,
That it be good advice.
Always speak words wise,
That kindness you verbalize.

Always speak words wise,
That you’re favored in God’s eyes.
Always speak words wise,
That sincerity you realize.

Always speak words wise,
That avoids any false guise.
Always speak words wise,
That faith in others they energize.

Double tapping verbally

Generally the words ‘Double tap’ are used with regards to shooting a target twice to ensure that it gets hit. This reduces the chances of the target not getting hit, such as in the sport of clay shooting. This principle can be applied verbally as well. Here the purpose is NOT to harm anyone. It’s just to make sure that you get your point through and the other person has no ambiguity about what you said.

In terms of travel by air, the pilots do this all the time. They will repeat themselves two or three times saying ‘Requesting permission to land. Acknowledge. I repeat. Requesting permission to land. Acknowledge’. Only when they get the permission from the airport do they then go the next steps related to the actual landing of the aircraft. Due to the critical nature of landing a place the pilot doesn’t assume that the air traffic controller is too wise to filter through dozens of other similar requests coming in from other aircraft pilots.

There are times people can understand you directly. However, some people don’t get the point right away. And then you get misunderstandings and what you intended to convey never goes through. This is where you use the double tap. A parent often uses this with the kids. Such as telling them twice to brush their teeth before sleeping or in a more contemporary sense telling them to get off social media after a fixed amount of time. Thought the parent might not even know what a double tap is, he/she is doing it already.

One can use the double tap in terms of relationships as well. For instance, a husband can tell his wife not to buy a certain perfume for herself if he is allergic to it. He can repeat himself and try to get to her to reply. Sometimes the wife may have either not heard or is not interested in his opinion. Yet, if he verbally double taps her chances are that she won’t buy the wrong perfume. This would save them both a lot of time which would otherwise be waste in arguing with each other and even grumbling about each other to people at work and church.

A wife too could do something similar. If she feels uncomfortable about her husband forgetting their wedding anniversary, she can just a few days before their anniversary speak to him about it. There she can say that so and so day is their wedding anniversary. That way the husband can reply back and acknowledge this. This would save them the huge fights that happen when the husband ‘forgets’ the wedding anniversary.

Now this double tapping is never meant to be a one way street. You too need to pay attention is someone is repeatedly trying to tell you something. Hear it and then act wisely. You don’t always have to agree in terms of human relationships but you can do act in wisdom always.

Someone might wonder, is this sort of ‘verbal double tapping’ consistent with the Bible. I’d say God himself has used this concept, though the Bible for the record doesn’t use the words double tap, it does use repetition (hope I got this grammatically right). Though the Lord God doesn’t double tap every time there are certain when times he repeat himself. This is to ensure that a person gets to the seriousness of the point the Lord is making. At many instances in Genesis, God kept reminding Abraham that his descendants would be numerous as the stars. Abraham was childless for most of his life, yet God kept speaking about his offspring so that it would inspire faith in Abraham. Also God spoke in favor of Sarah the wife of Abraham that she would be a child and he confirmed this many times. And yes, Abraham and Sarah were indeed blessed with their little son Isaac who later became the human ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you read the Bible very diligently, you will notice a lot of repetition of prophecy and commands to God’s people. One thing that has been repeated at various times and even in the New Testament is that God’s people do not harden their hearts towards God. You can refer to Psalm 95:8 and Hebrews 3:7-15 for your personal reflection. (I might do a detailed post on the specifics of those verses in the future)

So now what I’d like, is that you is that you use your ability to speak the same thing again wisely, so that you get your point through. Not everyone needs to be told twice, some get it right the first time itself (gladly enough). There certain people and certain things that need a double tap to ensure that things are conveyed in the right way and accepted accordingly. Do not limit yourself to only saying twice, say as many times as you need. Also pay attention to what God repeatedly tries to tell you. It will just save you a lot of time and effort, if you pay attention to what God tells you again and again.

Christ be with you!

Avoid speaking like a deceived person

One must value one’s salvation that comes from Christ. This should manifest in your thoughts, words and actions. So to this effect we must remember to avoid speaking like a deceived person.

A deceived person doesn’t have control over his tongue. It doesn’t mean that his tongue has gone numb or got some disease like it. What it means is that he is only speaking things that are not good. Now he speaks falsehood to get his work done for he has no bother about his punishment in hell. At parties and outings he cracks vulgar jokes for he doesn’t value decency. He speaks with much seductive speech with women though he is already married or in a committed relationship. Such a deceived person has zero regard for the mental state of others. So he yells and screams and is rude to whomever he can safely target, be it at office, home etc. He prides himself in being sarcastic as he sees it as a sign of ‘intellect’.

Men can live deceived lives such as this but so also can women. A deceived woman spreads lies about another woman’s married life and spoils her name. She doesn’t own up when cornered with the facts but invents tales that never happened. She in the name of being liberated tries to match men in their sins of speech though freedom was never meant for sinning but for being good. Such women say in their heart that their sinful words will be overlooked because they live in a free society which aims for welfare of women. They are dead wrong even though they may not live in places like Afghanistan or Sudan. For their hearts only look at the physical world and not the world after death. For hell takes prisoners of those who act like deceived individuals, both men and women.

No wonder then as people who love and believe in Jesus Christ, we are not to speak like those who are deceived. We are called to a life that is pure and pleasing to the Lord God. This is not that hard when you realize that God will give you the grace to continue in him. Have your faith in Jesus and you won’t find the need to speak what is unholy. Don’t be part of those who hate the Light because these are the ones who will be judged for not having faith in Jesus the Light of the World.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. (John 3:16-21)

Here’s a list of scriptures that can help you speak without guile and without acting like a deceived person:

1. Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
2. Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
3. Proverbs 12:18-19 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. false witness endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
4. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
5. Proverbs 29:20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
6. Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak
7. Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
8. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
9. Colossians 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
10. James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

I’ve also included things that you are encouraged to remember when speaking:

1. Psalm 118:17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
2. Proverbs 16:23-24 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
3. Proverbs 17:27-28 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
4. Proverbs 18:13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
5. Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
6. Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
7. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.
8. John 3:34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
9. Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
10. 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

 

Related articles

• Day #227: Prov 14-15 & 1 Cor 1:1-17
• What I Say Matters
• Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth: A Reflection on Common Sins of Speech
• Prudent living can keep you from danger
• Think Before You Speak and Before You Act
• The Tongue That Defiles
• What does the Bible say about lying?
• The power of the tongue

Avoid Spirit Quenchers

The Holy scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says; Quench not the Spirit.

Obviously we are not to put out the fire of Holy Spirit in any person or place. However we must also take care no one quenches our spirit when its glowing for Christ.

For example, Miss Jane is a devout believer of Christ. She attends church services and volunteers at an orphanage about 8 hours a week. Tim who is jealous of her, foolishly questions her motives saying, “are you doing all this to get noticed by your church community instead of serving God in private?” This seems a legit question except that this question was asked in front of most of the congregation to make her feel guilty. Miss Jane feels embarrassed and laughs it off saying she is doing it for God. However such a foolish question has secretly caused her to feel guilty every time she is at the orphanage. She wonders is she really a good person in the eyes of others. Slowly she has plans to give up on her good works for God.

Miss Jane decides to formalize her exit from volunteering at the orphanage. Here’s where Dr. Henry, the leader at the orphanage hears her whole case on this. He then requests her to not leave but go on a short break of a month to get her mind cleared on this. Now the doctor is not happy about this. So Dr. Henry traces Tim and tells him to stop being a hindrance to the will of God. Tim doesn’t reply politely but ends up using foul language. So then this gets reported all across Jane’s Christian community. It manifests Tim’s true nature of deceitfulness to all. This ends Jane’s guilt and she decides to continue in her good work of helping in the orphanage.

Though the above example, is just a made up example, we can all relate to this in some way. There may be a difference, you don’t always get a Dr Henry type of a guy to fight for you. This is where you must be willing to handle all spirit quenchers yourself before you lose your fire for God.

Spirit quenchers are of many types. Some doubt a new prophecy even before it can stand the test of the word of God. Then we have the naysayers, who deny that anything good will come to you even if others got good things from Jesus. There are sceptical people who behave like functional atheists and say that signs and wonders, healing, miracle’s, praying in tongues have ceased to exist. Also there are people who proclaim every Christian who does good work as a selfish person without even checking facts. These are judgmental hypocrites who themselves won’t help a suffering child in need.

So when faced with such spirit quenchers avoid them. If they keep going on then rebuke them. In the way they question your motives question them back. Don’t assume that your silence is going to always settle things.

If a spirit quencher is a Church goer, you can use the following scriptural principle mentioned in Matthew 18:15-17 which Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and
a tax collector.

Now if you are dealing with a person who is not a Christian then there are different tactics to use. Don’t get taken up by their negative or deceitful opinions about your faith and the works that you are doing for Jesus. You need to concern yourself with the righteousness of Christ. By your confession unto the Lord Jesus you have received His righteousness. Don’t let anyone snub you out of it.

Keep away from them. If they still come to you then reject their lies right in front of them. These have foolish theories about the Christian faith and its principles. Leave them to their logic which in the end will bite them like a snake. They may have foolish questions to trap you and induce unbelief. So, tell them to refer to all Christian apologetics websites which are more than willing to take on their ‘rational’ questions. You may have to be assertive when dealing with them. There is no need for you to say sorry for  ‘offending’ them by you just trusting in Jesus.

If they use vulgar language, just tell them to stop it. Don’t use crude language yourself. You must face them with courage. Tell them “this conversation is going nowhere so it’s not helping anyone if you continue to speak like this”. However if they don’t stop using bad language then report them with due evidence to the relevant authorities. Don’t bother to attempt to win them to Christ if they seem to blaspheme the Holy Spirit for by that sin there’s no chance for them to receive salvation.

With all this being said make sure you don’t get upset by their behavior. Instead thank the Lord Jesus for your salvation. Pray for such spirit quenchers in private before God especially for their conversion. However also pray that you don’t lose your hope in Christ. Always let the fire of Holy Spirit grow more stronger in your heart and mind.

God bless you and Christ be with you. Be guided by the Holy Spirit. Amen.