by HARVEYOPP | Jan 15, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).
The easiest way for a person to sin is with the tongue. The restraining laws in our society prevent us from doing just anything we want, but it sure seems as if we can say anything we want. Man, because of his fallen, depraved heart, is prone to spew forth all manner of blasphemy and putrid language from his mouth, which produces a myriad of troubles for his soul. The Apostle Paul described man’s tongue in Romans 3:13-14 with these words: “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” Even those redeemed by Christ struggle to govern their vicious tongue. How many wars have been started because of a prideful, arrogant, rebellious tongue? How many couples have divorced because of a lying tongue? How many friends have been separated because of a gossiping tongue? How many times a day is God’s holy name or the name of the glorious Redeemer, Jesus the Christ, taken in vain, blasphemed, or used in an offhanded joke?
And make no mistake about it, the real problem with the tongue is the disposition of the heart. You see, the heart of every matter is the matter of the heart. As Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23). And Solomon wrote the following words: “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips” (Proverbs 16:23). “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little” (Proverbs 10:20). “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:28). Notice how closely knit together are the heart and the tongue. In other words, the condition of one’s heart is seen most clearly by the words one speaks. As Jesus said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man” (Matthew 15:18).
Therefore, before you speak, remember the words of Christ, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment” (Matthew 12:36). As those who are redeemed by Christ, let us daily practice restraining our tongue, the ‘little member of our body that boasts great things’ (James 3:5). We do this by constantly and conscientiously speaking true, kind, edifying, gracious, and loving words, which honor God, and also by keeping our mouth shut when it’s not absolutely necessary to repeat a matter. Too many matters are repeated again and again that would better be left untold since they bring no edification to the hearer. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6). And we read in Proverbs 15:4: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Only by guarding our tongue will we keep our soul from unnecessary troubles. “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:11-12).
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 5, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:12-13).
As Christians, our continual prayer should be that God would instruct our tongue at all times with five virtues taught in Scripture: truth, love, necessity, wisdom and edification.
TRUTH: If truth was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Don’t speak unless your words are true. As a Christian, you represent Christ who is the Truth. Therefore, your words must be true.” Proverbs 8:7: “For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.”
LOVE: If love stands before our words then we would hear our conscience say: “Are you speaking the truth in love? Are you really concerned for the one of whom or to whom you speak? If you’re not speaking the truth in love, then don’t speak. Keep your mouth shut!” Ephesians 4:15: “…speak the truth in love.”
NECESSITY: If necessity was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Is what you are going to say necessary or is it coming out because you simply like to talk? Are the words you’re going to speak about another person necessary?” So often we say things about others just to make conversation, and so often what we say is absolutely unnecessary. “Oh did you hear about so and so, and how he did such and such?” It’s almost as if we glory in the fact that we know something about someone else that others don’t know. Proverbs 6:16: “Six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
WISDOM: If wisdom was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Is it wise for you to speak these words at this time? Would it be better to give it further thought?” Proverbs 10:21: “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” Proverbs 10:31: “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.”
EDIFICATION: If edification was guarding our tongue then we would hear our conscience say: “Do your words build up or do they tear down? Do they preserve or do they spoil?” Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” 1 Corinthians 14:26: “Let all things be done for edification.”
The five godly virtues that must guard our mouth are truth, love, necessity, wisdom and edification. We know we need a guard when it comes to bad breath, yet our words are much more important than our breath because the effect of our words can last to eternity. As Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). How much more careful ought we to be with the words that come out of our mouth than our bad breath? “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.”
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 2, 2016 | Scott Henry
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:20).
The world was created by the Word of God (Gen. 1:3; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2), and thereby reflects the mind and character of God (Rom. 1:20). Man was created as the image of God (Gen. 1:16-27) and therefore cannot escape the face of God — “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever” (Rom. 11:36). Therefore, all the facts of this universe, every human being, all the creepy crawlies, all the birds of the air, all the beasts of the field, all the fish of the sea, all the trees of the forest, all the flowers of the meadow, all the grains of sand on the seashore, all the stars in the heavens, all the tiny molecules in the atmosphere, every last thing that God created declares the invisible attributes of the true and living God!! (Romans 1:20-21).
There is, therefore, no environment, no dark little corner, no small hiding place in this world where man can flee to escape the revelation of God (Psalm 139:8; Heb. 4:13). “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world…” (Psalm 19:1-4). God’s natural revelation goes out to the ends of the earth and all people in every tribe, tongue, nation, and language of this world see His glory (Psalm 97:6).
Therefore, even when living in open, idolatrous, rebellion against the true and living God, all men are in the condition of knowing the true and living God and not merely “a god” (Romans 1:21), albeit in judgment as covenant breakers. Therefore, the Apostle Paul says that all men are without excuse for their rebellion (Rom. 1:20), and even their conscience accuses them of their rebellion against the true and living God (Rom. 2:14-16). As the Apostle John wrote, Jesus is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9).
Therefore, don’t believe the “agnostic” when he says, “I don’t know if God exists.” The God who “upholds all things by the Word of His power” (Heb. 1:3), and “who gives life to all things” (1 Tim. 6:13) “…did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 17:14). When people say, “I don’t know if God exists,” they are simply suppressing information they already know to be true (Rom. 1:18). Therefore, believe God’s Word and not fallen, unregenerate, rebellious men who are liars and more vain than vanity itself. For Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).
by HARVEYOPP | Nov 17, 2015 | Scott Henry
“…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
The Word of God teaches that it’s the duty of every believer to always give thanks to God. Thanksgiving should not be limited to special occasions or certain days on the calendar because giving thanks to God refers to the attitude of the believer’s heart. The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 86, reads as follows: “Since, then, we are redeemed from our misery by grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we do good works? Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image, that with our whole life we show ourselves thankful to God for His blessing…” For the Christian, thanksgiving is every moment of everyday, and it continues throughout eternity. “So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations” (Psalm 79:13). As the redeemed of Christ, we must give thanks to the Lord at all times, without exception. “Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever! Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!” (Nehemiah 9:5)
Scripture also teaches that we must give thanks for everything; not only for the pleasant things that God gives to richly enjoy, but also for the unpleasant things. Job said, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept evil? The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). We also read in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks.” We are to be thankful always and for all things.
Something else the Word of God teaches us is that at the heart of all true thanksgiving must be praise to God for His grace, mercy, and love shown to us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:15: “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift,” and Christ is the gift the Apostle Paul is referring to. Just think of the well-known verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Christ is the unspeakable gift, the only begotten Son, given to redeem sinners from the guilt and consequences of their sins. True thanksgiving is not rooted simply in the material things we receive from God. True thanksgiving is rooted in God who sends everything — good and bad — for His glory and the salvation of all those He has given to His Son, Jesus Christ (John 6:37). As we read in Lamentations 3:37-38: “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?”
Nevertheless, God uses all these things, at every moment of every day, for the eternal, spiritual good of all those who trust in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28). Therefore, as redeemed sinners, we can and must give thanks to God at all times and in every situation because we know that in Christ, God is working all things together for our salvation and with this we must be content. Are there times and situations when your thanksgiving is not heard in heaven? If the darkest providence you could imagine came upon you today would you say, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will give thanks to the God of my salvation”? Take time today to give thanks to God for all He has done for you in Christ Jesus, and begin cultivating a thankful life to the glory and praise of God!
by HARVEYOPP | Nov 3, 2015 | Scott Henry
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
The word “casting” in our text is used of throwing a covering on something. An example would be a blanket thrown on a bed. In the same way, Peter says, “Cast your cares upon the Lord.” All our discontent, discouragement, despair, questioning, pain, suffering, and sorrow must be given to the Lord, and we must trust the One who truly cares for the sheep of His pasture. Our text is a call for faithful prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 2 Kings 19 is an excellent example of trust and humble dependence upon God. King Hezekiah received a letter from Sennacherib, King of Assyria, which said, “The other nation’s gods could not stop me, neither can Israel’s God.” Hezekiah was completely dependent upon God to save him and his people from the King of Assyria, and Hezekiah demonstrated complete dependence by bowing before the Lord in prayer. And the Lord said, “Because you have prayed to Me … I have heard.” God fought the battle for Hezekiah because he humbled himself in the sight of God and gave his burden to the Lord.
The Lord cares for His people. Jesus said in Matthew 6:30, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” The Apostle Paul wrote, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). And David wrote in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” And by knowing, believing, trusting, and meditating on these precious truths the Holy Spirit will produce in every believer a Christ-like attitude of humility, trust, and dependence upon our God and Father, which is demonstrated by our faithful submission under God’s mighty hand. Take time today and relieve the burden of your heart by “Casting all your care upon the Lord” remembering the precious truth that “He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
by HARVEYOPP | Oct 30, 2015 | Scott Henry
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13)
It’s a horrible fact, whether we admit it or not, that PRIDE is the most common sin which permeates the sinful human nature. We are all born Pharisees and rebels against God. We all naturally think far better of ourselves than we ought to think. We all naturally imagine that we deserve something better than we have. “A proud and haughty man; “Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride” (Proverbs 21:24).
Pride is an old, old sin. It began in the heart of Lucifer when he was determined to exalt himself above the Almighty (Isaiah 14:12-14). The sin of pride next reared its ugly head in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve thought, just like Lucifer, to be like God determining good and evil. They wanted to be their own authority, to do their own thing, to be their own boss. Pride is a subtle sin that rules and reigns in many hearts without being detected, and can even wear the costume of humility. “Therefore pride serves as their necklace” (Psalm 73:6). Pride is a soul-ruining sin. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). The sin of pride causes a person to: resist repentance, start a feud, cast forgiveness behind the back, overlook the needs of others, and pride continually fuels hatred for Christ and His Church. “By pride comes nothing but strife…” (Proverbs 13:10).
However, of all garments, none is more graceful, none wears so well, and none is as rare as the virtue called humility. “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). Humility is absolutely essential in the life of every believer and it’s a defining mark of a true Christian. Proverbs 15:33: “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.” The key element to a life of humility is submission to the Word of God. A person who is unwilling to submit to God’s Word is a person filled with soul-damning pride, which is exactly opposite of humility. You see, an attitude of submission is the fruit of humility, and true humility is demonstrated by obedience to God. Therefore, Scripture calls every believer to “…be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
Does your life manifest humility or pride? Our prayer should be that the Lord removes every last stench of pride that still dwells within our sinful heart. Praise God our salvation rests securely in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the only One who never had a prideful attitude but always walked in perfect humility before God and men. Praise God for JESUS … He is our ONLY hope of humility, forgiveness, wisdom, redemption, and reconciliation with God. Jesus truly is our only hope of salvation! Praise Him!
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