Healthy Talk. He is not my husband. Prescription for speech. Episode 38 on the JesusRx Prescription for Life Podcast
In the prescription for speech, I can tell you how wonderful it is to say the right thing at the right time. We don’t hit the mark because the tongue can do one of two things: bring blessings or cursing. (James 3:10).
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6) Is this difficult for you? It is for me many times. I know what I say is not ALWAYS full of grace. At times, it isn’t nice. Why? Because I don’t wait on the Holy Spirit to lead me, I start talking.
I want to cover two examples in God’s Word about believing words that were spoken. The first one is in John 2:22, the disciples believed Jesus' Words because what He said was fulfilled. Do you realize that it is the same for you and me? We can believe His Word because of the things He says He will do for us; He does. The biggest thing is removing our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. He forgives our iniquities and remembers our sins no more. (Psalm 103:12 and Hebrews 8:12) If we read Hebrews chapter eight, we see how this is possible with the giving of Jesus in our place. We no longer go to a temple to sacrifice animals, or go to a priest for forgiveness of sins; Jesus fulfilled it all, being the New Covenant. You should read chapter eight of Hebrews for a better understanding of how your sins can be forgiven.
I wondered why God would want to do such a thing. The answer is because He loves us. He had this plan so we could be with Him. If you accept Jesus, as the disciples did, and believe His Word, freedom will come to you. You will be set free from “stuff”. He wants our “stuff”. He is the ONE who can handle our stuff like no one else. You know, we as people have lots of “stuff”. We will never have too much “stuff” for God to handle. Sometimes we vent to other people about our “stuff,” and it is too much for them to hear and bear. I mentioned you will find freedom in Jesus. I want to tell you freedom does not come without pain at times.
Pain caused by my own actions is so much different from the pain caused by others that affect me. There is so much pain in this world. The way people talk to each other, post on social media, and yell at family members. At times, it’s all so hurtful. So, what’s the remedy?
I know I have control over the pain I cause to myself or to others. God will provide a way for us to escape self-destruction. To be tempted is not a sin. It happens. Look what God will do for us. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) This has to do with how I speak to others. When I am tempted to say hurtful or mean things because I’m hurt or because what a person may be saying is so untrue and ugly, I need to know I’m being tempted to speak in a way that is not gracious. This is what set Jesus apart. He was tempted in all respects, yet never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). This is the exact reason we were given the example from Jesus to pray that we are not led into temptation but delivered from evil (Matthew 6:13).
I realize I can only work on myself. As a cousin reminds me to “look in the mirror”. You gotta love cousins.
Pain caused by other people seems harder to handle and, therefore, harder to keep my tongue from speaking out against my hurt or those who have hurt me. I know this is the time I need to have the whole Armor of God on (Ephesians 6:10-20). When what others say or do does not make sense to me, am I supposed to speak out? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. God will give His children the words they need. The words, the timing, and the strength to speak will be given to you. You have to be in tune to the Holy Spirit, drinking in the medication from His Word to know when and what to say. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them (Luke 12:12)
Don’t ever be afraid to speak GOD’S WORD for a specific situation. I’ve told people before, it’s not what Eva says that’s important, it’s what GOD’S WORD SAYS that is important, and you can relay His Word all day long and be right! Read it, know it, stay healthy, and be blessed!
The second story I want to relay is found in John chapter four, where a Samaritan woman meets her Messiah. It’s important to point out that she was a Samaritan, as Jews and Samaritans did not get along. They pretty much hated each other. Jesus was a Jew, so he probably should not have had anything to do with her according to the customs of the time.
Jesus came to a well and was weary, so He sat down. His disciples went into town to get food. As He was there, a Samaritan woman came up and He said to her, “Give me a drink”. She realized Jesus was a Jew and questioned why He would be speaking to her. She knew Jews had no dealings with people of her kind. Jesus says to her that if she knew who it was that was asking for a drink, she would be asking Him for water, and He would be giving her living water. It appears she does not really understand what he is saying. She is just wondering how water is to be obtained, as He has nothing with which to draw the water. She then asks, “Where do you get that living water?” She was curious as to who He was and His standing among men. She wants the water where she will never thirst again or have need to draw from the well anymore.
Jesus had told her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Upon hearing this, how might you have responded?
Jesus continues the conversation with her, asking her to get her husband and come to the well with him. The woman answered and said, “I have no husband”. She could’ve said a number of different things to Jesus. She could’ve said okay and gone to get the man, pretending it was her husband. She could’ve asked Why do you want me to bring my husband here? She could’ve said okay, gone away, and not come back. She did not do any of these things. She answered honestly. The man she was with was not her husband. Jesus, knowing all about her, said, “You have well said, for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband: In that you spoke truly.
She perceives Him as a prophet. She knows that Jews worship in Jerusalem in the temple, and the Samaritans worship on Mount Gerizim. He explains to her that the hour is coming when worship will no longer be done on the mountain or in Jerusalem. He tells her the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
She knew the Messiah was coming (who is called Christ), and when He does, He will tell them all things. Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” He reveals Himself to her, plain as day. And she believed His words. He spoke with her at the well. Why? she wondered.
The answer is simple. He came to do what God sent Him to do. What did God send Jesus to do? It’s right here in John 3:17. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Wow, does this world need saving? Yes, it does.
Oh my goodness, here come the disciples and saw Jesus talking to a woman. Why would he do that? No one asked Him what he needed or why He was even talking to her. That was probably a good thing. Can you imagine questioning Jesus about who He calls? Actually, it was more about why talk to women, being diverted by them, and not focusing on the study of scripture or reflection on God.
The Samaritan woman used her voice and went back to speak about the Man who told her all the things she had ever done. Could this be the Christ? Because of Jesus' spoken words to her, she went and spoke to others, and they came to know Jesus. What is really cool to me is that the Jews and Samaritans did not get along, but now they are coming to Jesus, putting whatever they had aside to know Him. Of course, Jesus didn’t tell her about everything she ever did (or they would probably be there for a long time talking), but He knows it all. He knows all about us. He chose to speak to this woman, and He chose to give His life for those in this world who would choose to receive Him. He gave His life for ALL. Unfortunately, not all will come to God through Him. Some believe Jesus is not the only way to God the Father. In John chapter 14, Jesus tells His disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. There is a great article about how many Christians believe there are other ways to God. This is why so many people are confused about “Christianity”. According to God’s Word, there is no other way to God. Here is the article; it’s a quick read. It explains what is happening today as Christians allow the world to guide their thinking, not God’s Word.
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/is-jesus-really-the-only-way-to-god/
Back to freedom. This woman was set free, found living water in Jesus, and her thirst was quenched. She had a string of men who could never satisfy her. Now she was satisfied in the Messiah, the Christ, the living God. Jesus knew she was empty and needed to be filled.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah is born of God….God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (2 John 5:1, 11-12)
The word the Samaritan woman used was Messiah. Moshiach, meaning anointed, is the Hebrew word for Messiah. In English, Messiah means a savior, “hoped for deliverer.” The hoped for deliver has come to us. He went to the Samaritan woman that day. Some of the Jewish people are still waiting for “their Moshiach,” their messiah.https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/108400/jewish/The-End-of-Days.htm#Is
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/108400/jewish/The-End-of-Days.htm#Is
It was pretty interesting, and if I interpreted the part correctly, the reason they live by such rules is to usher in their Moshiach. God has sent the Messiah, as the Samaritan woman saw. She didn’t have to wait any longer for His arrival, and neither does anyone else.
Jesus spoke words of life to her. He didn’t tell her she was a slut, slept around, had many men, and how disgusting that was. He didn’t ignore her, but confronted her with a need she had. His need was to provide life, living water, and a new way for her. How did he do it? He asked questions, knowing the answers. God will ask you questions that He knows the answers to. He wants you to arrive at the truth. Will you be truthful about your life, like the Samaritan woman was? He wants you to come and drink of the living water provided by Jesus, His Son. God finds you as you respond to His loving mercy in Christ, shown to us on the cross.
Stay healthy, stay in His Word, and may YOUR words bring life to others today
