James 3:10-12 (NKJV) Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter form the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olive, or grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
If you’re tempted to sow discord—don’t! God hates it, and there isn’t one Bible example where it turns out well for the person who sows discord. You will realise that the countenance of someone who sows discord and is full of strife will not be glorious. You can almost sense bitterness and hatred flowing out of the person. It is not a good feeling neither does the person make good company. It is wise to restrain our lips in the presence of these people.
Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV) In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
If someone tries to lure you into a net of discord—run! You don’t want any of the consequences that come with associating with those who sow discord. It is always more tempting to dwell on the negatives and to contribute to negativism especially when we have similar experiences or encounters, but if we don’t restrain our words, we can be assured that sin is not lacking. The devil would always like to stoke the flame, so don’t fall into his trap but flee from him. It does take more effort and energy to walk in unity and to say words that edify because it doesn’t always come naturally.
It is humanly impossible for anyone to use their own strength to tame the tongue or get a grip of their lip due to the sin nature and the fact that unbelievers are under the influence of the prince of the power of the air. However, it is not so for born-again Christians because we are new creations and have the nature of God in us. This is the reason James addressed the brethren that blessing and cursing should not proceed from the same mouth. The spring in the opening passage refers to the heart of man. We have a new heart the moment we are saved. Therefore, there is a new spring in all believers that is flowing with fresh water.
If you want to see good days in your life as a believer of Jesus Christ and enjoy the abundant life, you need to be intentional in making changes to your speech by speaking life and blessings. The transformed life is living from the inside out, and allowing the new creation to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to tame our tongue and reign in the flesh.
Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign (Session 4)
答案就在泉源里
雅各书3:10-12 颂赞和咒诅从一个口里出来，我的弟兄们，这是不应当的。泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗？我的弟兄们，无花果树能生橄榄吗？葡萄树能结无花果吗？咸水里也不能发出甜水来。
如果你被引诱意欲挑拨离间，千万不要! 神憎恶它，圣经中没有一个例子表明，播种不和的人得到了好下场。你会知道散播纷争、处处争竞之人的面容必无荣光。你几乎可以感觉到苦毒和仇恨从这人身上渗出来。这不是一种好的感觉，这既令人感觉不适，这人也不会是一个良朋。在这些人面前闭口不言才是明智的。
箴言10:19 多言多语难免有过，禁止嘴唇是有智慧。
如果有人试图引诱你进入一个纷争的网罗，赶紧跑!你不想要任何因为与那些挑拨离间的人交往而招致的后果。我们总是更容易沉湎于消极的一面，并助长消极的态度，特别是我们有相似的经历或遭遇时。 但如果我们控制不了自己的口舌，罪就匍匐在那里虎视眈眈，对此你我都心知肚明。魔鬼总是喜欢煽风点火，所以不要落入牠的陷阱，而要逃离牠。合一同行并且说造就人的话确实需要更多的努力和精力，因为这并不总是自然而然的。
因着罪性，人不可能以自己的力量驯服舌头或控制自己的嘴唇，并且不信的人是服在空中掌权者的权势之下。然而，重生的基督徒却不是这样，因为我们是新造的人，有神的性情在我们里面。所以雅各对弟兄们说，颂赞和咒诅不可从一个口里出来。开篇段落中的泉源指的是人的心。我们得救的那一刻就有了一颗新的心。因此，在每一个信徒里面都有一个活水潺潺的新的泉源。
如果你想在此生看到作为耶稣基督的信徒而有的美好的日子，享受丰盛的生命，你需要有意识地改变你的言语，说生命和祝福的话。更新的生命就是把里面的生命活出来，让圣灵赋予新造的人以力量，来驯服我们的舌头，掌管我们的肉体。
讲章系列: 细胞小组活动 (第四部分)
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