From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage@juno.com>
Subject: Joyous Greetings
Date: Sunday, October 29, 2000 8:02 AM

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
 Guards his soul from troubles."  Proverbs 21:23

As Believers let's look once again at this issue of controlling the tongue.

2 Peter 1:2-3 says, "Seeing that His divine power has granted to us
everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of
Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.   For by these He has
granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them
you might become partakers (sharers) of the divine nature..."

Remember, "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom
from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption."
1 Corinthians 1:30
 "...If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed
away..."2 Corinthians 5:17
We have died to the old sin nature.  We are now sharers
of the divine nature in Christ Jesus.

The Lord has given us, "...beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;" why?  "that they might
be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be
glorified."  Isaiah 61:3

Jesus said, "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad bears
bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce
good fruit.  So then you will know them by their fruit."
Matthew 7:17-18; 20

Every good tree by its very nature cannot bear bad fruit and every bad tree
by its nature cannot bear good fruit.  I say these things to show that as
partakers of the divine nature we do not have to yield to the evil ways of
the tongue.  As Believers we must keep a diligent watch over our tongue and
when the temptations come, and they do, we yield to the indwelling Holy
Spirit who leads and guides us.

It would be wise to heed some verses from Proverbs concerning our words
such as (and there are many more),
"When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
 But he who restrains his lips is wise."  10:19

"Anxiety in the heart of a man weights it down,
 But a good word makes it glad."  12:25

"A gentle answer turns away wrath,
 But a harsh word  stirs up anger."  15:1

"The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
 But the mouth of fools spouts folly."  15:2

"A perverse man spreads strife,
 And a slanderer separates intimate friends."  16:28

I close with the Apostle Peter's words to Believers,
"Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things,
even though you already know them, and have been established
in the truth which is present with you."  2 Peter Chapter1:12

Let us praise God from whom all blessings come.  Praise Father, Son and Holy
Spirit!  Amen.