Transformed Speech (3)

In the last 2 weeks, we have been considering the topic of our speech and how our words are very important. We have also pointed out that God expects His children to have a new kind of speech which I termed a “transformed speech”. In this concluding post, I want to briefly address the issue of how we can develop the type of speech that God expects of us His children.

I will direct us to a few passages of the Holy Scriptures in this regard:

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart”

Matthew 12:33-35 New Living Translation (Emphasis mine)

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

Luke 6:45 New Living Translation (Emphasis mine)

These 2 passages are from recorded teachings of our Lord Jesus when He was on earth and they give us profound insight into the issue under consideration. Words are a reflection of the contents of our hearts and our speech will never rise above the state of our hearts. To say this in a different way: rotten words will come from a rotten heart and only a transformed heart will express transformed speech.

To be precise, it’s not only our words that spring from our hearts. Even our attitudes and actions are outflows of our hearts (see Matthew 7:21-23 and Matthew 15:19). This is the reason the Scriptures continually instruct us on guarding our hearts and keeping a watch on what we allow to dwell in our hearts:

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23 KJV

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Philippians 4:8 New Living Translation

I must stress it again: a transformed speech will only proceed from a transformed heart. This means we must continually allow the word of God settle and take root in our hearts. And as we fix our thoughts on true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable things, the words that proceed from our mouths will be gracious words just as it was said of our Lord Jesus: “Everyone spoke well of Him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from His lips…” (Luke 4:22).

Photo credit: http://www.carolecgood.com

Final Thoughts…

Sometimes we only hear good things being said about people at their funerals. We call such speeches eulogies. The word “eulogy” come from the Greek word “eulogia” which means “good speech” or “fine language”. It means that the word eulogy itself is not necessarily tied to funerals or to dead people though we generally only associate it to these. We can actually “speak well” of the living. We can “eulogize” our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbours.

Someone I respect once said “Our parents were generous with criticism and frugal with praise or commendation”. Apparently, the assumption is that if you commend people, they will become conceited and full of themselves. But I think when we hold on to such mind sets, we are robbing ourselves of the powerful positive effects of our words. Those words of commendation (or eulogies) will go a long way in creating a healthy milieu for children and also provide needed affirmation in peoples’ lives.

Think about this.

Transformed Speech (2)

I recently read the true story of a Music Teacher who made a difference in a student’s life by speaking the right words to him. Unknown to the teacher and even his own family, this student had been suffering verbal abuse at the hands of his older brother and this had severely affected the student. His academic performance had been poor all through the year and even his social functioning had become quite impaired. It had become so bad that he had decided to commit suicide on the last day of the school year. He left a suicide note at home but decided to meet his teacher for a final time to receive the result of his end of year assessment.

In the teacher’s words, the student looked terrible. He had sunken eyes with dark circles under them. He appeared pale and was wearing the clothes he had worn for the last few weeks of the school year. He then said to his teacher: “I know that I am getting a low grade on my final. I realize that I have not been participating in class and that I am an embarrassment to others. I am lazy, selfish, stupid and an ugly no-good-for-anything person. I have no place on this earth and what’s more, no one can ever love a person like me. I am a hopeless case with absolutely no future.”

When he finished, the teacher faced him and said to him, “Edward, your final grade is an A”. The student was completely surprised. “You are giving me an A? Me? Why would you give me an A when I did such a poor job in class, on my assignments and on my final exam. Why would you do that?”

The teacher’s answer to Edward was this: “You may appear to be a D student, but you are an A person. I believe in you now and I will always believe in you. I am here for you now and I will always be here for you. Never, ever forget that. Now, go and create the life you dream of. Believe in yourself. I will be watching. And by the way Edward-I love you”.

Later that night, the teacher got a call from a Priest in Edward’s Church thanking her on behalf of Edward’s family for saving his life. The words the teacher spoke to him that day changed Edward’s life. He had left the teacher’s office feeling positive and uplifted for the first time in his life. Even though he already had a rope hanging in the closet for his planned suicide, Edward abandoned the plan after hearing those words from his teacher.

According to the story, Edward re-enrolled in the Music Theory Class the next semester and worked hard, passing his final exam this time 100% and had a genuine A+. All these happened in the 1970s.

By 2010, Edward had become a successful Dentist in California, married to a beautiful wife with 4 sweet children. He was also volunteering with abused children, helping them to find love, acceptance and hope.

This story is a powerful illustration of how we ought to use our words. Can you just imagine what would have happened if Edward never heard those words from his teacher? Each day, life presents us with countless opportunities to use our words (our 16, 000 words, remember?). You have a choice on how you will use your words but I will direct our hearts to some verses of Scripture from the New Living Translation:

“The words of the godly are like sterling silver…”

Proverbs 10:20

“The words of the godly encourage many…”

Proverbs 10:21

“The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice…”

Proverbs 10:31

“The lips of the godly speak helpful words…”

Proverbs 10:32

“Wise words bring many benefits…”

Proverbs 12:14

“Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”

Proverbs 16:24

“Do not use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them”

Ephesians 4:29

Rather than engaging in “rotten” speech that tears people down and destroys relationships, I encourage you to adopt a transformed speech that brings health, healing, encouragement and life in every sphere of human existence. This week, whether at home, with your spouse or children, with neighbours or at work with your colleagues, say the right words.

To be continued…

Note: The full story of Edward and his Music Teacher can be read on https://letterpile.com/creative-writing/The-Power-of-Words-An-Amazing-Story

Transformed Speech

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Ephesians 4:29 KJV

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

This old English rhyme first appeared in a Church publication in 1862. The intention was to encourage children to overlook insults directed at them by other people and refrain from physical retaliation when verbally abused. While it is good to teach children to remain calm in the face of insults, unfortunately, it is not true that words will never hurt. In fact, words do hurt. Words can break. Words can harm and hurt.

I consider speech or the use of words one of the highest faculties we possess as human beings and the truth is that our words are powerful. Words spoken to children in their formative years go a long way in shaping their sense of identity and purpose in life. The words we use in our communications also impact on personal and even national relationships.

For instance, according to verifiable historical accounts, 2 of the greatest powers in Europe in 1870, the Kingdom of Prussia and the Empire of France went to war because the Chancellor of Prussia altered the words of a published telegram. The telegram inflamed public opinion in France, leading to a declaration of war. France was defeated and some part of erstwhile French territory was annexed to Germany. This resulted in some resentment against Germany and contributed in no small measure to the tensions that led to the First World War. All these happened because of the use of words.

It is with the recognition of the power of words and speech that the Scriptures are replete with different instructions and admonitions about how words should be used:

“Careless words stab like a sword, but the words of wise people bring healing.”

Proverbs 12:18 God’s Word

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1 KJV

“A gentle statement is a tree of life, but perverted speech shatters the spirit.”

Proverbs 15:4 International Standard Version

“What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words”

Proverbs 18:21 Good News Bible

Photo credit: https://www.collegepond.com

It had been claimed in a popular book that women use 20, 000 words per day while men use 7, 000. However, a 2007 study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Arizona using electronically activated recorders estimated the total number of words that each volunteer spoke daily for an average of 17 hours daily. They concluded that the average number of words in women was 16, 215 and in men 15, 669. Interestingly, both the highest number in any of the volunteers (47, 000 words a day) and the lowest number (700 words daily) were found in men.

Though we may disagree with the research findings, what we must agree on is that the average daily number of words spoken is so high and the way we use our words becomes an issue of paramount importance. I am convinced that if our verse in focus this week is obeyed and applied consistently in our lives, we would have less divorce, less church splits, less child rebellion, less inter-personal clashes and more peace in our societies.

The word “corrupt” in Ephesians 4:29 is the Greek word “sapros” which means “rotten”. Just as rotten food will not in any way nourish our bodies but rather contaminate, rotten words do not nourish. Rotten words tear people down. They make people sick emotionally. They create negative atmospheres in homes, families, relationships and churches. Rotten words sometimes leave emotional scars in adults from years of childhood abuse.

While such rottenness in speech may be the order of the day in the world, for believers in Christ, the new life we have in Him ought to be characterized by a transformed speech.

“It's not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either…”

Ephesians 5:4 God’s Word

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…”

Colossians 4:6 International Standard Version

According to Ephesians 4:29, our words should be edifying and ministering grace to our hearers. We ought to use words that will bring encouragement, praise, appreciation and express gratefulness. Our words should be loving, kind and gentle words. Even in correcting or rebuking people, our words should still express grace. Our words should build people up, bring health to those who hear us and create positive atmospheres all around us. As you go into the week, think about this: how will you use your 16, 000 words every day?  

To be continued…

Off With The Grave Clothes!

Photo credit: http://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com.ng

John 11 tells the story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Personally, I have been challenged by that passage of the Scriptures and I have learnt so much from it. This week, I will be directing our hearts to an interesting statement our Lord made after He had called Lazarus forth from the grave:

“Loose him, and let him go.”

John 11:44

The usual way bodies were prepared for burial in Palestine at the time involved wrapping many folds of linen strips in swaddling bands. Such rolls of linen would have made it extremely difficult if not impossible for any living person to move around. They were not meant for the living, they were grave clothes after all.

Lazarus still had all his grave clothes on even after Jesus had raised him to life and it was these rolls of linen that Jesus asked the people to unbind Lazarus from. Jesus knew that the demands of life were not compatible with the paraphernalia of the grave. Though Lazarus had been in the grave for some days and even if his body had perhaps become accustomed to the “comfort” of those linen strips, the miracle of his restoration to life by our Lord meant he needed to take off those grave clothes.

This is the same point the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul communicates to us in his epistle to the Ephesians:

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:22 – 24 NIV

When we come to faith in Christ, a tremendous change occurs in our lives. A radical change, the greatest miracle of all takes place. We are made alive and redeemed (see previous posts in the “In Him” series for more details). However, we must realize that we cannot live the new life in Christ with the “old grave clothes” of our former lives. The demands of the new life are not compatible with the paraphernalia of the old self.

This new life demands a radical change in lifestyle, values, standards, goals and conduct that will only be possible when we renew our minds.

“…be made new in the attitude of your minds…”

Ephesians 4:23 NIV 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Romans 12:2 NIV

Lazarus needed to be unbound from his physical grave clothes. We need to unbind the grave clothes in our minds. Patterns of our previous life need to be changed. Some of those thoughts have become entrenched in our minds like mighty strongholds (2^nd Corinthians 10:4 & 5). In addition, on-going influences in our world and in the culture around us continually attempt to conform us to the world’s pattern. But as we allow the word of God to have an influence on our minds, those “old grave clothes” become loosened.

So dear believer in Christ, this week I encourage you to expose yourself to the word of God and learn to focus your mind on His truth. Off with the “old grave clothes”, abandon the old life and embrace your new life in Christ.

More About The Believer (4): Gifted By God Part 2

Even though the original intention was not to do an in depth discussion of spiritual gifts, it has become imperative for a second post along the same line.

In this post I will be providing an answer to this question: How do I recognize or develop my gifts?

To answer this question, it is important to point out that there is really no scriptural passage that teaches us about discovering our gifts. The passages I referred us to in the last post- the 2 chapter 4s and the 2 chapter 12s (Ephesians 4, 1st Peter 4, Romans 12 and 1st Corinthians 12) just teach us to go ahead and use our gifts.

I have come across a number of tools that have been developed by different Christian Ministries/Ministers to help people identify their gifts. Essentially, they consist of series of questions aimed at helping believers in Christ identify their specific areas of gifting. A simple Google search of the term "spiritual gifts tool" will yield some good results.

However, I have found the following simple points helpful both personally and in the lives of other Christians in the process of recognizing and developing gifts with a view to playing the specific roles God has us to in our lives:

1. Be aware of the complete package of gifts/abilities in your life.

This complete package of gifts/abilities includes the following:

a. Natural gifts: By natural gifts, I mean abilities endowed genetically, transmitted to us through our parents and present from birth. Such natural gifts also need to be developed. Musical gifts, writing skills, linguistic abilities, mechanical aptitudes, e.t.c. are examples of such gifts.

b. Learnt or acquired abilities: These are specific abilities we may not necessarily have been born with but have been learnt through vocational training or education. For instance, I have acquired a number of skills in my medical training. Some of us have learnt how to play musical instruments, while others have acquired communication skills.

c. Spiritual gifts: These as defined in last week's post are supernaturally endowed gifts which were not transmitted genetically through our parents but by the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers in Christ. One way to identify what these could possibly be would be to consider areas of ministry in which we received sincere commendation from other believers about how well we did. Other ways would be to identify areas of service/ministry in which we feel most comfortable in and have received sincere feedback about how well people were blessed by our service. All these would be pointers to possible areas of our spiritual giftings.

2. Yield the whole of your life to God for His use.

Many of us compartmentalize our lives and only offer some aspects of ourselves to God. We must however learn as Scriptures teach us to present the whole of our lives to God for His use. Whether natural gifts, acquired skills or spiritual gifts, we ought to present the totality of our beings to God for His use (see Romans 12:1, 1^st Peter 4:1,2)

3. Take available opportunities for service.

Philip and Stephen were picked as deacons in the early church (Acts 6:1-5). Unlike in some modern day churches where being a deacon is more of a prestigious church title, being a deacon at that time was a menial task. Their role involved sharing food and supplies among the large number of church members who needed it. Philip went on to become an Evangelist to Samaria and beyond (Acts 8 and 9). Stephen himself was without doubt a man full of faith and fervent in the Spirit (Acts 6:5, 8). His speech recorded in Acts 7 shortly before his martyrdom indicate he was also filled with the knowledge of God and probably had a communicative gift. Yet these men did not refuse the opportunity to be of service in the early church as food stewards.

Barnabas who initially partnered Apostle Paul in missionary work was originally named Joses. He was named Barnabas (meaning son of exhortation) by the apostles as a testimony to his ability for speaking or exhorting people (Acts 4:36, Acts 11:23). But again, the first mention of Barnabas was in respect of his giving (see Acts 4:36, 37).

I have learnt that it is in the place of sincere devotion and service to God that our specific giftings become apparent and are sharpened. I remember serving with devotion in the Technical Crew and Music Unit of my Campus Christian Fellowship group as a Medical Student in the University. It was in that process I recognized the specific gifts of grace God has placed in me. I also learned to gradually allow God to sharpen and develop those abilities in me.

I hope these points will be helpful to you as they have been for me and many others with whom I have shared them with. Remember again like I wrote last week: you are not gift-less. Use your God-given gifts well.

More About The Believer (3): Gifted By God

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”

Ephesians 4:7 KJV

This verse above introduces us to an aspect of the life of the believer in Christ that is extremely vital. Yet from my interactions with people, I have come to realize that many people do not walk in the reality of the truth this verse expresses. Not only has God made us alive in Christ, broken down every barrier and granted us unfettered access to Himself, He has also given every believer spiritual gifts and enablement.

While a detailed exposition of the subject is not the aim of this post, it is important to point out that every believer has a gift measured out to him/her by Christ. There are 4 passages in the New Testament that deal with this in detail and I advise you to study these passages carefully. As an aid to remember them I usually think of them as the “2 chapter 4s” and “2 chapter 12s” (Ephesians 4, 1st Peter 4, Romans 12 and 1^st Corinthians 12).

Spiritual gifts could be defined as supernatural abilities given by God to His children for service to be good stewards of His manifold grace. They are divine enablements for ministry given by the Holy Spirit to believers to be used for the building of the body of Christ. Some believers may have more than 1 gift but I am convinced that no one has the gifts and everyone has at least 1 gift. Your spiritual gift is not necessarily the office you occupy or the title you bear. In fact, you may not even be in that office or bear that title to have the gift. The gift is a distinct ability Christ gave you through the Holy Spirit to minister His grace. Spiritual gifts are also not a measure or gauge of your growth or maturity, they are purely God’s gifts given by grace.

When these 4 passages mentioned above are considered together, we have a list that includes the following (in no particular order): prophecy, pastoring, teaching, evangelism, apostleship, helping, exhortation, giving, administration/leadership and compassion. This list provided here is by no means exhaustive.

We must realize that God did not call us to be terminals of His grace. Rather He wants us to be channels of His blessings. Many believers often conclude that they are not needed in the work of the ministry and that only “Official Ministers” have been called to this task. A careful reading of Ephesians 4:11 however shows us that this is a wrong mentality. God gave the gifts so that we would all be prepared, trained and equipped for the work of the ministry.

This week dear believer in Christ remember this: God has endowed you with His gift to serve others. You are not gift-less. Utilize His gift to be a good steward of His manifold grace.  

“Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.”

1^st Peter 4:10 Contemporary English Version

More About The Believer (2): Granted Access To God

“For through Him we both access to the Father by one Spirit”

Ephesians 2:18 NIV

Trying to get an audience with highly placed individuals like leaders, celebrities or even executives in organizations can be a herculean task. Many of them have their schedules booked to the full with different engagements and events that it is very unlikely that a stranger can just show up unannounced and get a chance to speak with such a person.

I can imagine how difficult it would be to call Aso Rock Villa to try and get even a 5 minute discussion with the President. Perhaps it would even be more difficult to get such audience at the White House in Washington DC. I am sure questions like “who are you?” “Where are you from?”, “what is your discussion about?” “Why do you want to speak with the President?” would be thrown my way. But I am almost sure that any of the children of either President Muhamadu Buhari or President Donald Trump would not get such responses. The difference is that they have a direct access to President-they are his children.

Not only has God through Jesus Christ removed every barrier and taken away everything that excluded us from His family, we have access to the Father by the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus. This word “access” describes more than a simple admittance into the presence of God. It signifies the free fellowship we enjoy with God as result of our having entered a state of friendship with Him. It is an introduction to God that makes it possible for us to regularly approach Him in prayer and communion with confidence that He will not turn us away.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand”

Romans 5:1, 2 NIV

It is recorded that at the death of Christ on the cross, the veil in the temple in Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom (see Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45). The veil was an elaborately woven fabric. Sixty feet long and thirty wide, the veil was also about a hand breath in thickness and 300 priests were needed to wash it. The veil was to separate the holy from the most holy place and only the High Priest could go beyond the veil (see Exodus 26:31-33). The ripping of the veil at the death of Christ was not a natural occurrence, neither was it a coincidence. It was emblematic of the wonderful reality that God has now granted all mankind access to Himself (see Hebrews 10:19-22)

“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence”

Ephesians 3:12 NIV

So remember, dear believer: you have been granted access to God through Christ by the Spirit. You can always approach God in full confidence and assurance. You don’t need any other go-between or mediator, dear believer in Christ. You have a direct line to God, it is your inheritance in Christ Jesus.

More About The Believer (1): No More Barriers

This period in the year has been chosen to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. We call it Easter. So many messages are being circulated with greetings and well wishes from afar and near. What would delight my heart the most would be that the words are not mere shallow expressions devoid of deep convictions or persuasions of the supernatural nature of the events at Calvary and the benefits that now accrue to every believer both now and in eternity.

Of a truth, Jesus our Savior was crucified and buried. He resurrected and ascended to Heaven. Just as Paul of Tarsus testified before Governor Felix and King Agrippa, “…this thing was not done in a corner” (Acts 26:26 KJV) or as the Easy to Read Version translates it, “…they happened where everyone could see them.”

His death and resurrection brought magnificent benefits to everyone and anyone who believes in Him. In the last few weeks we have been exploring some of those benefits in “Our Riches in Christ” series and this week we will consider another facet of our new lives in Christ.

No More Barriers

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands)-remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Ephesians 2:11-13 NIV

We are all used to different kinds of barriers and exclusions set up in human societies. Many of these are based on physical characteristics and attributes such as gender, skin color, nationality, ethnicity or state of origin. In quite a number of scenarios, we experience exclusion from certain privileges that some other people have access to simply because of attributes that are not exactly under our control.

Before Christ’s work of redemption, every non-Israelite (Gentiles) by birth was in a state of spiritual exclusion. Christ-less, hopeless, God-less, and excluded from the covenants of promise because under the Old Covenant, God chose the nation of Israel specifically as His people (see Romans 9:4, Deuteronomy 7:6, Exodus 4:22, Amos 3:2).

The term “uncircumcision” (which was used to describe non-Israelites) had even become a derogatory term. Apparently, the physical action of circumcision had become a major determinant of social interaction. In Judges 14, Samson’s parents expressed their displeasure about his desire to marry the daughter of “uncircumcised” Philistines. In 1^st Samuel 31, King Saul didn’t even want his death to be at the hands of a “gentile”. And this social exclusion had become so bad that in the time of early Church, even Apostle Peter had a bit of a challenge in understanding that the barrier was no longer present in Christ Jesus (see Acts 10:28, Galatians 2:11-14).

Ephesians 2 from verse 11 is however very emphatic in affirming to us that for believers in Christ, those barriers have been torn and brought down in Christ. The new relationship we have with God in Christ means we can no longer be excluded. We are no longer hopeless or God-less. We were afar but in Christ Jesus, we have been brought near. God does not deal with us on the basis of a physical act of circumcision anymore. Rather, there is a new circumcision, the real circumcision in fact, not made with human hands but done inwardly by the Spirit of God (see Romans 2:29, Colossians 2:11).

“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh”

Philippians 3:3 NIV

This week dear believer please remember: you are no longer hopeless, God-less, Christ-less or excluded from the community of God’s people. Your union with Christ Jesus has changed you. You have been brought into God’s dominion and you are now a beneficiary of the New Covenant that far supersedes the old.