American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 96
ARC Prayer Meeting:
This pass Sunday at the American Reformation Church, Pastor Jason Storms, continued his series on expounding the book of 1 Corinthians. The passages covered were 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. These verses covered the deplorable condition of the church at Corinth concerning ungodly and unnecessary divisions and factions. The Scriptures also speak of godly separations to remain faithful to the Lord, but that is not what Paul is dealing with at the church of Corinth.
Jason shared how this tragic situation has plagued the church throughout history and how we see it being used to bite and devour our brethren to this very day (Galatians 5:15). He warned keyboard warriors that the same Biblical admonishments that God expects in our communications that proceed from our mouths do not change when typing on a computer.
Jason revealed the poison and then provided the antidote from God’s Word. The Bible has much to say about speech, communications, dialogue, conversations, gossip, slander, reviling, lies, bearing false witness, and such that proceed out of our mouths. The Apostle James exposed our wretched state, “With it (The untamed tongue) we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:9. 10).
Our words unchecked reveal the conditions of our souls. Jesus taught, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). He also told us that by our words we will be justified or by our words we will be condemned (Matthew 12:37). The book of Proverbs concurs, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
Based upon these Biblical truths, saints of old uttered prayers to be mindful of these realities and to help tame the tongue that “boasts great things.” The tongue is set on fire and produces a world of iniquity. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. All this is James’s assessment of our little member that sets the world on fire.
The Psalmist prayed to God to help guard his speech. Psalms 141:3. “Set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” This is the way of wisdom. A wise person thinks before he speaks. He knows when to speak and when to be quiet just like our Lord. Wise speech is thoughtful, measured, and intentional. The wise speak with purpose and care, “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health” (Proverbs 12:18).
In Psalm 19:14, David prayers for pure words to flow out of his mouth, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalms 19:14).
May God, purify both our thoughts and my speech. May our words reflect the fullness of God’s character. As Proverbs reminds us, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. (Proverbs 15:1, 2).
