Controlling the Tongue

Spiritual Warfare: Know Your Enemy

In this episode, Wayne and Kimberly Jo look at spiritual warfare from Genesis 3 and the Serpent’s, deceitful temptation of Adam and Eve. They illuminate several biblical principles to help you recognize your enemy!

Spiritual Warfare: Get in the Game

Wayne and Kimberly Jo introduce the concept of spiritual warfare from Ephesians 6.

Self-Control: Our use of food

Wayne and Kimberly Jo discuss self-control and our use of food. Food is a wonderful gift of God, but can be a huge struggle for the Christian.

Controlling the Tongue

Self-Control: Controlling the Tongue James 3:5-10 ▶️ The tongue is small, but can be deadly James uses two illustrations: → “big horses” small bits  → “big ships” small rudders  3 Main issues related to our speech  1. Obscene talk (profanity)  put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth (Col 3:8). Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving (Eph 5:4). 2. Gossip and slander The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body (Prov 18:8). 3. Criticizing and demeaning speech ▶️ The tongue is driven by the heart  ...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks  (Matthew 12:34). ▶️ The tongue should be used for good  🔹 Praise God  🔹 Edify others  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1 Thes 5:11).  🔹 Spread the Good News  Some good biblical advice ⚡ Eliminate profanity and harmful/hurtful speech ⚡ Look for ways to purposefully build people up  ⚡ Listen more and talk less  … let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak…” (James 1:19).  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent (Prov 17:28).  Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few (Eccl 5:2).  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).   Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (Psalm 141:3)

Self-Control: Getting a Grip on Anger

Self-Control: Getting A Grip on Anger Anger: “an emotional response to perceiving that you have been wronged in some way” Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20). ▶️ Anger is Universal 🔹 Anger itself is not a sin Be angry, and yet do not sin (Ephesians 4:26). 🔹 Anger can lead to positive change Anger is an emotion. Sociologists say emotions fall into 3 categories: 1) Joyful or affectionate emotions 2) Sad or anxious emotions: (sadness, depression, grief, fear) 3) Hostile emotions: (contempt, disgust, jealously, envy, and anger) ▶️ Anger is a Secondary Emotion Anger is generally a result of 3 things: 🔹 Fear 🔹 Frustration 🔹 Hurt “The fruit is a result of the root” ▶️ Anger Must be Controlled let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20). So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it (Gen 4:5-7). Things to do 🔹 Pray 🔹 Identify “triggers” → Driving → Not eating → Certain people or situations 🔹 Find the underlying cause 🔹 Strive for harmony → Say—I’m sorry → Use “I-emotion” language: I feel sad when socks are left on the floor I allow myself to become irritable when I miss you and want to spend time with you and your attention is diverted elsewhere