Be Careful What You Say
We’ve studied similar truths in these lessons before. But it’s always worth repeating. God hears our complaints! When we wallow in unbelief and self-pity, we camp in our own type of Kadesh Barnea where unbelief and bitterness will bring us down. The story of the spies is a constant reminder about taking possession of God’s promises. Will we believe and therefore speak? We read in the New Testament that these things happened to Israel as examples and warnings for us today. Drawing near to God through His Word and prayer helps us know the Truth on which we can stand firm. It’s important to pursue an intimate relationship with the Lord to be able to overcome the difficulties of every day living. We are not always on the mountaintop, but we can choose to respond in faith to adverse circumstances. Remember, faith is believing what we might not see but know is true. This lesson is all about declaring with our mouths what we know and believe is true in our hearts…and that is developed through intimacy with the King of kings.
Read Numbers 14:27-29
1. What did God say about the grumbling Israelites? What had they been saying?
Read Matthew 12:37
2. What is the effect of our spoken words?
Read Proverbs 18:21
3. What is in the tongue?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:13
4. What should we do with our faith or beliefs?
Those verses in Numbers puts the fear of God in me every time I read them! God said He would do to them the very things He heard them say. Let’s ask ourselves, “What have I been saying?” If we remembered what happened to the unbelieving Israelites, we would be very careful of what comes out of our mouths. Caleb and Joshua declared that the Lord would give them the Promised Land, and God fulfilled His pledge. In contrast, He also said that those who spoke unbelief and questioned His goodness would not only fall in the desert themselves but their children would also suffer for the parents’ lack of faith. What a sobering thought! What I speak can affect my children’s future. What I speak will either condemn or acquit. What a challenge to us all! Stop and think about your words today. As you pursue more of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, His Word will become your very own. Intimacy is a key to Kingdom living. Declare your faith in Jesus Christ over every situation you encounter. It could change your world!
GOD was so tired of the murmurs and grumbling of the Israelites – just like HE gets so tired of our grumbling in our daily lives – we should be so very careful about what comes out of our mouths – I love the heading – “Be Careful What You Say” – we really should think of this heading each day and really before we start to speak to others sometimes – a lot of times we open our mouths and insert Feet – I want to be to speak to others with love and uplifting words – I want to strive to be more like GOD – The Israelites was grumbling about everything in their daily lives. The word that come out of our mouths – really show who and what we are sometimes – we can judge other people too much – we really are not the judges in our lives – we are to be trying to lead them to the LORD. Our tongues have power and death – usually by what comes out of our mouths – we should strive to be more like the LORD and always speak encouraging words. We need to stop and think about what really comes out of our mouths – are we being encouraging or are we saying things to hurt people. I think reading the BIBLE and PRAYING each morning will help you and I get our minds more on the LORD and what HE would have us do this day. Great Lesson and much to dwell on this week – Thanks KAREN
I fully believe our words set the course. There was a time I was praying with my daughter for overcoming something that had her GRIPPED. It had been a battle for a few years. One day, God showed me a mistake we were making when praying…we would say “Help Hannah with HER fear.” God told me to change it to “THE fear”….we were not to continue claiming it as belonging to her. We saw HUGE improvement within one week.