01-09-24-ENG.

Subject Summary

Do you realize that your tongue can actually block what God wants to do for you because your words are getting in His way? That’s exactly the way Jesus described Peter’s comment: “You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matthew 16:23 NASB). In other words, Peter chose to think and react to a situation as an earthly minded person rather than a spiritually minded person, so he actually positioned himself between Christ and the Father’s will. He became the roadblock as a result of his words. Whenever you speak a word that disagrees with God’s Word—even though you use God’s name—Satan has poisoned your speech.

Man’s natural interests agree with Satan’s interests. Any interest apart from God as Lord, Master, and Ruler is Satan’s interest. When you come to realize how often our everyday conversations disagree with God’s Word and His truth—through complaining, backbiting, pessimism, or the like—you will understand why your speech may be blocking your blessing.

When Peter agreed with God, Jesus told him he was blessed (Matthew 16:17). When he spoke out of sync with God’s will, he became a mouthpiece for hell. Why? Because he revealed a heart that lacked faith in what God said to be true. Your words are simply vocalizations of your thoughts and your beliefs. When you come to understand that your words have the power to invite either God or Satan into a conversation, you will want to watch your mouth. Satan loves to create a conflict of interests between our will and God’s will. And our will is far stronger than you realize.

If you aren’t accustomed to letting God be the Lord of your lips, and if you have finally decided to submit yourself to His lordship over your mind so that He can control your mouth, your soul is going to have to make a major adjustment. This is because your soul is used to telling you what to do. It is not used to God telling you what to do. This is a perfect illustration of the principle Christ introduces in verse 24, just after rebuking Peter. He says, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

To make Christ Lord of your lips, you will have to deny your soul’s desire to have its own way in what you say. Answer the following questions for personal reflection and deeper study. Feel free to discuss your answers in a group context.
 
Reflection
1. List some of the ways your will would contradict God’s will for your speech.

2. Can you think of a time when you wanted to be defensive but God wanted you to trust Him instead? What did you do? What was the result?

3. Look at Matthew 16:21-23 to see just how delicate and difficult it can be to get our tongues aligned with God’s will for our lives. From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to You!” But He turned and told Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s.”

Now read verses 15-17 (NASB) from the same chapter: He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Notice the difference between Peter’s two responses. Reflect on a time when you used your mouth to extol God’s goodness in your life but then, not long after, used it in doubt or fear. What may have triggered such a drastic change? How can you make a different choice the next time your emotions and your mouth get tangled up?

Application 

1. In light of the truths we have learned about aligning our words and our mouth under God’s will, perhaps you’re ready to take a step of obedience in what you say. Or are you holding back because you’re afraid of what might happen if you no longer speak your mind? If so, remember that when we obey God and put our trust in Him, He is our defender and our guide. This week, leave room for God to be your defender and your guide. When you are tempted to speak from your own will and not His, refrain from doing so. Take note of the outcome when you obey God, and record it.

2. Has God ever changed your plans? How did you feel? Did you respond in the right way, or did you pout or complain? Read James 4:13-16 and describe a God-honoring response when He changes your plans.

3. Make an effort this week to focus on verbalizing your plans in light of God’s ultimate control. Place your plans in His hands, where they belong, and see how that affects the way you respond to unexpected changes. Observe and record any noticeable changes in your reactions to interruptions.

4. Evaluate this statement: “One of our greatest tragedies is that we sometimes plan God right out of our lives. We don’t give Him room to interrupt.” Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.

5. Do you agree that many people who go to church today believe they can say whatever they want, sometimes couched as a prayer request or concern for another? If so, why has this way of thinking become so popular?

Scripture Memorization and Interaction Read and memorize the following Scriptures on the tongue and our words. Rewrite each passage in your own words as a prayer to God. Or you may choose to simply rewrite the verse in your own words as a way of helping you to remember its content. The first one has been done as an example.

1. “Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses His name” (Exodus 20:7). Heavenly Father, I have flippantly used Your name—not in a reverent way and not giving You the honor You deserve. I am truly sorry, and I ask not only for Your forgiveness but also that You will guard my lips and keep me from misusing Your great name. In Christ’s name, amen.

2. “The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin” (Proverbs 13:3).

3. “LORD, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain? The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor” (Psalm 15:1-3).

4. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. “Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it” (James 4:13-17).

5. “This is what the LORD says: The wise man must not boast in his wisdom; the strong man must not boast in his strength; the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me—that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the LORD’s declaration” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).