*** Note: Before I get started today I want to share a few quick things with you.
First, the trip to the Dominican Republic was a success. The Lord led us to sponsor two Haitians schools and we now have 108 children we will oversee, as they seek their education. Before we left we were able to purchase much needed supplies for the schools and moving forward, we will seek them better facilities. If you feel led to provide tax-deductible donations, please do so. Here is the link to donate: https://rickpina.cloverdonations.com/donations-form/.
Secondly, last Sunday I preached a message entitled, “Just Like Jesus”. I feel led to share the link with you. Here it is: https://vimeo.com/142090737.
Lastly, yesterday I preached a message entitled, “The Unforced Rhythms of Grace”. I feel led to share the link with you. Here it is: https://vimeo.com/142088472.
Now, let’s get into the Word.
(Read Matthew 15:1-20)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. We have been studying the life of the Apostle Peter and our study has brought us to Matthew chapter 15. For about a week now we have been looking at a passage where Jesus had a ‘run in’ with a group of Pharisees and teachers of the Law. They were upset because Jesus and His disciples ate something without washing their hands first. Jesus was upset because they were hypocrites. Jesus scolded the religious group. Later, after things died down, Peter asked Jesus for clarification of what He meant when He scolded the Pharisees. One of the things Jesus said was that it is NOT what goes IN the mouth the defiles us, but rather what comes OUT. So I have been teaching about the link between your heart and your words. Let’s continue to flow in that same vein.
In Luke 6 Jesus illustrated the relationship between us and our words. He likened us to trees and our words to fruit. Trees produce their own fruit. Likewise, we literally produce our own words. The nature of the fruit comes from the makeup of the tree. The same is true with our words. Jesus explained that a good tree was not capable of producing bad fruit, nor was a bad tree capable of producing good fruit. Why? Because the fruit is a direct representation of the composition of the tree. This is how it is with our words. Jesus said, “Your words show what is in your heart.” In the King James Version this portion is translated, “…for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things:
- The content of your words is a direct indication of the quality and condition of your heart.
- Your heart is the reservoir of your soul. Whatever you allow through your eye and ear gates gets down in your heart.
- Your words are important to God because they are an outward expression of your inward reality. Your words expose your true self.
- A tree is known by it’s fruit. You are known by your words. People know you by the words you speak. That’s how we know God. We only really know God by His Word(s). Similarly, most of you (who receive Today’s Word) don’t know me personally, but you know me by my words. By knowing my words you know me. My words are just as much me as I am myself. My words are birthed out of the reservoir of my soul. So by knowing my words, you know me.
- You become what you behold. Whatever you allow through your eye and ear gates gets soaked up like a sponge in your soul. So when the pressure is on and the sponge of your heart is squeezed, the sponge will release whatever it has soaked up. Garbage in, garbage out! Righteousness in, righteousness out!
- Your words are telling the world whether or not you are a person of faith. When the pressure is on, do you speak words of faith or fear? Do you speak belief or doubt? Do you speak blessing or cursing? Whatever you believe the most is what will come out of your lips. What are your lips saying about you?
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You made plans for me before the foundations of the world. You made those plans by Your unearned and amazing grace. You now expect me to live by faith in according with Your grace. Part of living by faith is speaking words that align with heaven; words that align with Your Kingdom plans and purposes. For me to speak faith-filled words, I must fill the reservoir of my heart with Your Word. Therefore I meditate Your Word day and night. I become what I behold. Your Word comes through my eye gate. Your Word comes through my ear gate. Your Word gets down in my heart. My heart is filled with Your Word. Therefore, the fruit of my lips are words that align with heaven. I speak life and not death, blessing and not cursing, success and not failure, victory and never defeat. My words glorify You and they put me in alignment and agreement with heaven! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
