Todays talk is about our words, but more specifically NAMES…….. what do you call yourself? What do you call others?
Proverbs 18:21 NLT tells us “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
I don’t see a third option there. Death or life….
James 1:26 NLT If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
“I didn’t tell you to share your opinions or beliefs, I told you to share Jesus and the Good News.”
If we are spending more time being right on Social Media, then we are not spending our time right by spreading the Love of Jesus!
Proverbs 19:19 NLT “ An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.”
OUR WORDS MATTER!!!!!
What are we creating with our words? Walls or bridges? Division or unity? Death or life?
We need to think, talk, and act like citizens of Heaven. Bringing a glimpse of heaven to earth. Let’s live our lives as citizens of heaven and ambassadors on earth – as representatives of God’s kingdom right where we are. Today, Right Here, Out There!
Matthew 13:54 – 56 NLT “He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”55Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph,Simon, and Judas.56All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”57And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.”Then Jesus told them,“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”58And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
What you call someone is how you see someone; is how you treat someone. His home town, called him the carpenters son, Since the people seen him this way they, called him by name this way, that’s what they received from Him. They missed out on the gift and blessings that He is, because they could not get past this.
What you call your wife? What do you call your children? What do you call your Pastor? Your friends? Your Coworkers? Your government leaders?
What you call someone, is how you see someone; is how you treat someone.
Ask God what He says about them and speak that into their lives. We need to practice building them up and not tearing them down. Our families will never become something we don’t speak into their lives!
James 3:3-6 NLT “We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”
Although so small, the tongue or more importantly the words we choose to use can set those around us on the right path or we can set it all ablaze by the words we choose to use.
I can only change me and when I change me I change us (Kate)
We have to first understand how God sees us and what He calls us
Names are important to God; otherwise why would he change names?
Abram – Abraham = Father of many (Didn’t have any kids at the time and was OLD)
Sarai – Sarah = Mother of nations (Didn’t have any kids at the time and was OLD)
Simon – Peter = Rock (Wasn’t a rock he was hot and cold / Denied Jesus 3 times) We will dig into this more later
What is God calling you? What does he say about you? If you don’t know get in the Word!
Matthew 16:13-14 NLT “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Matthew 16:15-16 NLT “Then he asked them,“But who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:17-20 “Jesus replied,“You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”
Peter did thing and will do things that are not very rock or foundation like. But still Jesus calls him not by how the world sees him, but how God sees him. He is a rock, a strong foundation, and Jesus was letting him know to buckle up this is going to be the ride of a life time.
It doesn’t matter what others say about you. It only matters what He says about you.
Is the name your holding on to your past? Your mistakes? Your weaknesses? Your opportunities? Your hurts?
Don’t let the worlds view of you be your reality, who cares what the crowd says. Just as Jesus asked His second question of Peter, but who do you say I am…..
Listen to who the Father says you are his plans are way better. He sees what we don’t and calls that out in us. He brings the best out in us if we let him.
God wants you to pick up your new name. Be the new you. We have been born again. We have been made new. Why are we holding onto things of our past?
What is God calling you? Close your eyes, Jesus, who do you say I am?
When we know who we are, we become grounded by it. Our roots grow deep. We have a strong foundation set by the one who created us. It can’t be taken from us. No matter what’s happening around us or the lies we are being told, who we are in His eye is who we are! Stand firm in that!
Who is God calling you to be. Get in the word and find out? Stand firm in those things He reveals to you. No one can take away what God gives us! When we know what the Father is saying about us, when we do, we can do that for those around us. Watch them flourish!
We need to think, talk, and act like citizens of Heaven. Bringing a glimpse of heaven to earth. Let’s live our lives as citizens of heaven and ambassadors on earth – as representatives of God’s kingdom right where we are. Today, Right Here, Out There!