Sermon: Moved by The Spirit: Speak Blessings

MOVED BY THE SPIRIT: SPEAK BLESSINGS
(Acts 2:11; James 3:2, 8-12)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 4 July 2010

2 Pet. 1:21 “… holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”

Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues (“glossa”), as the Spirit gave them utterance”

Acts 2:11 “… we hear them speaking in our own tongues (“dialektos”) the wonderful works of God”

I. THE HIGHEST FUNCTION OF HUMAN SPEECH IS TO BLESS GOD!

BLESS THE LORD!   Acts 2:11; James 3:9; Psalm 34:1 Psalm 103:1
PRAISING GOD!   Psalm 111:1; 112:1; 113:1;  115:18; 116:19; 117:2
GIVING THANKS TO GOD!    Psalm 107:1, 15
When our tongues are occupied with doing the positive things that God calls us to do – Blessing, Praising, Giving Thanks to God, they have little time to get into a lot of trouble.  They are bringing God’s blessings into our lives and into the lives the other people we know. Use your tongue to bless others for God!

II.  USE YOUR TONGUE FOR GOOD AND NOT FOR EVIL James 1:26

1.  BLESS AND CURSE NOT
BREAKING THE CURSE  (Mat. 5:44; Lk 6:28; Rom. 12:21)

2. DO NOT SPEAK AGAINST YOUR BLESSING Pro. 18:21; Pro. 6:2 Matthew 12:36, 37;
We negate the fullness of God’s blessings in our lives when we speak against them. God blesses us; regardless of how big or small our blessing how we receive and respond to it is critical.

3. YOU ARE WHAT YOU SPEAK! (not just what you eat) Job 22:28
When you say what God’s Word says, you activate God
When you say what the devil says,  you activate the devil

Our Tongue Can DIRECT our lives (James 3:2-4)
Our Tongue Can DESTROY our lives (James 3:5-6)
SPEAK BLESSINGS!

III. TRAIN YOUR TONGUE TO WORK GOD’S WAY – UNDER THE SPIRIT’S CONTROL Jer. 1:9; 2 Sam. 23:2

TAMING THE TONGUE.
Isa. 6:1ff
Eph. 4:29, 30 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”

IT’S A MATTER OF THE HEART
Our tongues reveal the true condition of our hearts (James 3:11-12; Lk. 6:43-45).  Prov. 4:23-24 Mt.15:18 ; 12:34, 35 Repent of those attitudes of heart that are inciting the speech.

RENOUNCEMENT
I renounce the sins of the tongue, including gossip, unkind words, and judging motives.

ANNOUNCEMENT
I announce that my tongue is to be an instrument of Christ – it belongs to Jesus.

AFFIRMATION
I affirm that my tongue was created for
praise to God and edification.

COMMITMENT
I will speak the truth with a positive, affirming spirit to bless others.