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The Power of the Tongue

I preach this message with all the love and humility I know. I’m not trying to throw stones at anyone but it is what God has given
me. And it is something that is so prevalent in our churches today.

James 3:5

 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire
kindleth!

Notice what Jesus said: (Mt.12:36-37). "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by
thy words thou shalt be condemned".

Do we really realize how important it is to analyze the words we say? What impact they will have on

whom ever is listening? The words that we speak, are they life or death? Do they give us hope or

discouragement? I think sometime we do not realize we are held responsible for every word we speak.

We had better listen very carefully to what we are saying, not just to others, but also to ourselves.

Matthew 12:36-37 (TM)

 34-37"You have minds like a snake pit, poison and full of venom! How do you suppose what you say is
worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to
your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a
blight on the orchard.

(blight: a disease or injury of plants marked by the formation of le-sions, withering, and death of parts
(as leaves and tubers) b : an organism (as an insect or a fungus) that causes blight.

2 : something that frustrates plans or hopes

3 : something that impairs or destroys
4 : a deteriorated condition

Proverbs 18:21-22 (says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat
the fruit thereof."Many a one has caused his own death, or the death of others, by a false or injurious
tongue. So what are you eating? Life or death?
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Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your
damnation." Words sometime sting, they hurt, sometime they are like a dagger being driven in our
hearts.

Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of
Reckoning when we stand before God.

Jeremiah 17:9 

 9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (TM)

 9-10"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the
heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as
they really are, not as they pretend to be."

Colossians 3:8 

 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your
mouth.

Colossians 3:8 (TM)

 5-8And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity,
lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy.
That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God
is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any
better. But you know better now that you are saved, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper,
irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. Making slur remarks about someone.These things are not the
fruits of one of my children.

It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Actually it is necessary to

mortify sins, because if we do not kill them, they will kill us. The gospel changes the higher as well as

the lower powers of the soul, and supports the rule of right reason and conscience, over appetite and

passion. It is the duty of every one to be holy, because Christ is a Christian's All ……his only Lord and

Savior, and all his hope and happiness. (Col 3:12-17)

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(Excerpt from Theresa thought for the day)

Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. How do the wise live?  Don’t
act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Ephesians 5:15, 17 (NLT) How do I
understand what the Lord wants me to do? 

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (TM) "This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting,
known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous
things that you could never figure out on your own.'  

What happens to a container when it is tipped over?  The contents usually come out!  Wow!!
 
She said this “I must confess - over the past few months several situations happened in the workplace

that angered and frustrated me.  My container was tipped over...and I was surprised at what came out. 

At the time I felt justified in my response. But later, after my heavenly Daddy finished chastising me,

I had to apologize for my response!”

 
He gently reminded me, "What you say flows from what is in your heart."  Matthew 6:45 (NLT)
 
Ouch!!  The anger and frustration (what tipped my container) revealed things in my heart that shouldn't
be there (the contents in my container)! For it to come out of you it must have been in you.
 
He also reminded me that He was only doing what I ask Him to do daily!  Listen church. I hope we all
pray this way.
 
Psalm 26:2
- Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests on me. Make sure I'm fit inside and
out. (TM)
- Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind. (NIV)
- Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections. (NLT)
- Put me in the scales, O Lord, so that I may be tested; let the fire make clean my thoughts and my heart.
(BBE) Control my actions and my deeds. Help me to think on things are pure and clean and pleasing to
you.
 
At some point, if it hasn't happened already, your container will be tipped over!  What will come out? 
Remember, "What you say flows from what is in your heart." Wow!

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Men's language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart
is the fountain, words are the streams.
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A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but

the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt

communication.

An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions,

dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner (and sometime the

Christian) brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonor God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant

watch over ourselves, that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian character. (Mt 12:38-45)

Matthew 15:18-19 

 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies:

Matthew 15:18-19 (TM)

 16-20Jesus replied, "You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don't you know that anything that is
swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally def-e-cat-ed? def·e·cat·ed; free from
impurity or corruption.

But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil

arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes.

He warns against things which really defile. Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was not

from what entered their mouths as food, but from what came out of their mouths, which showed the

wickedness of their hearts. Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit;

and nothing should be admitted into the church but what is from above; therefore, whoever is offended

by a plain, seasonable declaration of the truth, we should not be troubled at it. The disciples ask to be

better taught as to this matter.

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Where a weak head doubts concerning any word of Christ, an upright heart and a willing mind seek for

instruction. It is the heart that is desperately wicked, Jer 17:9, for there is no sin in word or deed, which

was not first in the heart.

They all come out of the man, and are fruits of that wickedness which is in the heart, and is wrought

there. When Christ teaches, he will show men the deceitfulness and wickedness of their own hearts; he

will teach them to humble themselves, and to seek to be cleansed in the Fountain opened for sin and

uncleanness. (Mt 15:21-28)

Ezekiel 11:19 

 19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart
out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Ezekiel 11:19 (TM)

 16-20 'This is your Message from God, the Master. True, I sent you to the far country and scattered you
through other lands. All the same, I've provided you a temporary sanctuary in the countries where you've
gone. I will gather you back from those countries and lands where you've been scattered and give you
back the land of Israel. You'll come back and clean house, throw out all the rotten images and obscene
idols. I'll give you a new heart. I'll put a new spirit in you. I'll cut out your stone heart and replace it with
a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart. Then you'll obey my statutes and be careful to obey my commands.
You'll be my people! I'll be your God!

James 3:2-11 

 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able
also to bridle the whole body.

TM- When You Open Your Mouth

2-If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect
control of life.

 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
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 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they
turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire
kindleth!

 TM- 3-5A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the
hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may
seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the
whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

 TM- 5-6It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of
your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a
reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of
hell.

 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been
tamed of mankind:

 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the
similitude of God.

 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

TM-  7-10This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The
tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we
curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

 TM- 10-12My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next,
does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they?
You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think; and whenever men's

tongues are employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tame the tongue without

Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does not represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult.

The man's tongue confutes itself, which at one time pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to
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refer all things to him; and at another time condemns even good men, if they do not use the same words

and expressions. True religion will not admit of contradictions: how many sins would be prevented, if

men would always be consistent! Pious and edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified

heart; and none who understand Christianity, expects to hear curses, lies, boastings, and revilings from a

true believer's mouth, any more than they look for the fruit of one tree from another. So when someone

calls you on the phone or comes to you to gossip tell them that is not what your ears are made for. We

need to learn that if we can not say something positive we will not say anything. Then, depending on

Divine grace, let us take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and

actions. (Jam 3:13-18)

A word out of your mouth…. Can accomplish nearly anything- or destroy it” James 3:5

(So are you a gossiper ? Mend your ways!!)

Excerpt from Jentezen Franklin

There’s a saying that goes,” The deepest wounds in life come not from swords but words.” If you don’t

believe it look at the walking wounded; they’re all around you! Are you yourself still struggling with the

hurtful words on an insensitive parent, a school teacher, a marriage partner, or a boss?

Or worse, a Christian who thinks God’s Word on the subject of Gossip doesn’t apply to them? God

takes the sin (yes, it’s a sin to gossip!) God takes this sin so seriously that He devotes an entire chapter

of the Bible to it. If we were to read James, chapter 3 regularly we might show more consideration

before opening our mouths. The Bible say’s: “A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it

can accomplish nearly anything- or destroy it!! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire!”
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One day a woman came to her Pastor with a troubled conscience. She had “sliced and diced” just about

everybody in the church.”How can I make things right?” she asked. He said, “Take a box of feathers and

drop one on the doorstep of each person you’ve criticized.” After doing so she came back to the Pastor

and said, “Is that all?” No,” he said, ”Now go, pick up all the feathers that you left on the door steps and

bring them back to me.”

A week or so later, the woman returned with out a single one.”The wind blew them all away,” she said,

after a long silence the Pastor said, ”that’s how it is with words; they’re easily spoken, but you can never

take them back again.” Do you gossip? It’s time to Mend your ways!! Wow!!

Mark 9:23 (TM)

 23Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."

An evil spirit cast out.

The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon

the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is

possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou

mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help

them against it, and remember his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But

Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy

the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with

the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains. (Mk 9:30-40) And that is what happens , when

we have to struggle in our walk with God we are not happy.

Rev.2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh (no matter what I will not give in to the enemy) To him that overcometh will I give to eat of
the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
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The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others. (Pr 10:12)

Prov.10:13
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In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void
of understanding.

Proverbs 24:3-4 (TM)

It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; It takes knowledge to
furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies. So we must be careful and not mess it up.

(Pr 10:22) The tongue of the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious
discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought.

James 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 1:8 (The Message)

 5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and
won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People
who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from
the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

Well I don’t know if I need to ask God about that!!! Let me tell you something honey, if it is important
to you it is important to your father.

Bible Exposition Commentary: “Double-minded” means “two–souled.” A two-souled man wavers and
is uncertain about God. He partly believes and partly disbelieves God – he debates whether he can trust
God. This person lacks certainty because he is a man of no fixed or decided purpose.

This double-minded man is the person of verses 5-7 who lacks wisdom but does not ask God for it in
belief. His prayer life is like a raging sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Unstable in all his ways

A double-minded person is inconstant, unstable and unsettled. His belief is like a drunk – a belief that
staggers down the road of life. People whose faith falters with the ebb and flow of life do not have
God’s respect because they divide their loyalty between God and other things. It is usually pressure that
cause them to crumble.
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Doubt blunts the faith we need to receive from God. This creates a chaotic spiritual life, the opposite of
a spiritual life that draws on God by implicit faith in God’s promises.

The favor of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which

those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which

way go our plans and contrivances?

Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead, 1Ti 5:6. A

sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but

enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but

the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and

character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not. ( And when people gossip

they definitely do not have the spirit of God. Well Hello!! Then it must be the spirit of the devil!!

(v 9) Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in

some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation

suitable to his precepts and example. (Rom 8:10-17)

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD of God… Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)  

Did you grasp that?  The worlds were framed by what poured from the mouth of our Father! His mouth
was a pouring place!  Your mouth is a pouring place as well!  And what comes out makes a world of
difference in the lives of those around you.  Are you pouring words of affirmation or damnation? Are
you pouring poison into lives or sweetener?  Are you building up or tearing down?
Matthew 12:34-37 (MSG)

Jesus spoke powerful words himself about the words that come out of a person's pouring place, 
 What did you allow to come out of your pouring place today?

James 3:2
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(KJV) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,
my strength, and my redeemer.

(NLT)  We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in
every other way.

Psalm 39:1
(KJV)  I said, "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a
bridle..."

Psalm 141:3
(KJV)  Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. I like this one!!
 
Get your eyes off of what you see and trust Him for what you can't see with your natural eyes!  
 
Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart for us, on the inside, where God is

making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes

compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than

meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now

will last forever.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)

(NKJV) Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal

weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.

For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

 
Closing:

After all these things we have talked about tonight Imagine that you get to heaven and you see Jesus.

After you fall on your face in adoration and awe, you begin to thank Him for all He did to get you to
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heaven. And then you ask a question that's been on your mind since you arrived, "Lord, is Scott here? Is

Jane here?" What if Jesus says, "Oh, did you bring him? Did you bring her?"

Wow!!! Then it comes to your mind, you had witnessed to these people many times, then you remember

as your mind goes back to a time in front of these same people that your container was tipped over...and

you were surprised at what came out.  At the time you felt justified in your response. But later, after

your heavenly Father finished chastising you for the foul language , the ugly spirit that you used, you

asked God to forgive you, but you did not have a chance to go back to these people and apologize for

your response! They lost confidence in you and the church and maybe never went back. So did Scott and

Jane make it ?? Wow! Good question!!!!

See, Jesus was counting on you to help those people you love understand what He did for them on the

cross and to point them to the only One who could get them to heaven.

In our word for today from the Word of God, Paul anticipated the joys he was expecting when he got to

heaven. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, he says, "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we

will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory

and joy." Now, when Paul sees Jesus, his joy is going to be that the people he loved - that he loved

enough to introduce to Jesus - will be there with him.

 
I wonder who you'll be looking for when you get to heaven; people who, as far as you know, may not be

headed there right now. If you want them to be there in heaven with you, you'll have to tell them how

they can know the Savior who died to get them there. In fact, that's why God has you in their lives, to

help them go to heaven with you. How are you doing ? …Wow!

There are very few sadnesses deeper in life than standing by the casket of someone you could have told

about Christ – or you should have told about Christ - but you didn't.
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We can't have any of those opportunities back, but we do have the friends and neighbors and coworkers

and loved ones who are still with us. And we still have time to tell them, but no one knows how much

time.

This very day you could start praying what I call the "3-open prayer." First, "Lord, open a door." That's a

natural, God-given opportunity to bring up your relationship with Christ. Then, "Lord, open their heart."

And finally, "Lord, open my mouth.to say the right thing" You don't even have to pray, "Lord, if it's

Your will." It is His will. "Lord, open a door. Lord, open their heart. Lord, open my mouth to say the

right thing." Begin to seek and pursue opportunities to tell the people in your personal world about the

Son of God who paid for their sin so they don't have to. Then what ever you do Live a consecretated life

before them. Don’t let them hear you or hear of you gossiping, talking filthy, cursing or showing

prejudice to anyone. You may think that you are not hurting yourself in their eyes because they are your

friends. . But do you realize in their mind what they must be thinking. Wow! This man, this woman is

suppose to be a Christian, a leader and they are saying these things. They are putting their church family

down. Wow!!!

So let us all learn to serve with humility. Because this is the one and only way we will prosper in God’s

Kingdom. Philippians 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The way of the world is to serve with pride; the way of Christ is to serve with humility. The way of the

world is to push, shove, and claw your way to the top. But when God puts us at the top we know then we

are where he wants us to be. When God orchestrates things they are done the right way. When you know

no matter what people say that it is a God move you don’t worry about it.
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You see, the way of Christ is to get ahead by helping others to get ahead. As Christians, we are to be

guided by the mind of Christ, not by selfish mentality of the world. Christ is our supreme example of

service with humility.

When we do our part and God sees our willingness and our humble attitude that we are willing to serve

at any level no matter what it is as God sees he will graduate us to the level He wants us to be. (Me)

God didn’t call Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage until he had served 40 years in the palace and 40 in the

wilderness. Moses’ testing time was waiting on God and being faithful whatever the task that lay ahead for him.

Sometime we want to lead God instead of God leading us. It’s not about our titles, and how much we know or

think we know, but it is what God wants us to do and where He wants us to be.

So instead of fretting and fusing and gossiping, why don’t we just learn to be like Moses, just fast and pray and

wait on God. The next time the enemy tells you to pick up the phone and talk about somebody tell him first I want

to talk to Jesus. First I want to pray for that person. Lord bridle my tongue that I will only say what you want me

to say. First I want to ask God to help me to love them no matter what has happen. That is how we will build this

church by reaching out to them in love and not in sizing them up, and judging them. We’ve got to be more

concerned about their soul than anything else. All good things come from above, not from us.

If there are people you want to have in heaven with you, please while there's time, share with them the message

that will get them there. Remember how important it is to watch your attitude and analyze the words you say?

What impact they will have on whom ever is listening? The words that we speak, are they life or death? Do they

give us hope or discouragement? We are held responsible for every word we speak. We had better listen very

carefully to what we are saying, not just to others, but also to ourselves.

Where do you stand today? Do you have guilt knowing that you have been committing murder by slaughtering

others by your words. And I’ll repeat these again. The words that we speak, are they life or death? Do they
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give us hope or discouragement? Then let’s pray and ask God to give us the wisdom we need to follow him in

all humility and love for our fellowman.