Brindle your whole Body 1 {Tongue and Belly}
James 3:2
[2]For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.(AMP)
To bridle oneself is to restrain from certain things, or to control the manner through which something is done... A typical example is the way a horse's movement is being controlled by putting a bridle on it.
In like manner as a believer who has been redeemed through the precious blood of Christ Jesus, we are expected to bridle our whole body so as not to fall into temptation or be guilty of sin.
Apostle James teaches the need to put caution to everything we do so as to faithfully and consciously represent Christ in our daily living and ultimately reign with God in eternity.
Two areas of life will be considered today.
1. Tongue
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
The tongue is a very powerful organ of the body that has the ability to destroy life and also recreate life
As a believer, not everything we thought of saying should ever come out of our mouth especially words of anger, hate curses etc,... Ephesians 4:29 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.
Devil is always waiting for that foul, profane, worthless, vulgar words to come out so as to use it against your life.
Spiritual maturity is evidenced by the use of the tongue, those who have been completely transformed in the newness of life in Christ are mastery of it.
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Words from the mouth has put many in trouble and has led some to early grave. Put a bridle on it before it caused you trouble you cannot bear.
2. The belly.
1 Corinthians 6:13
[13]For instance, take the matter of eating. God has given us an appetite for food and stomachs to digest it. But that doesn’t mean we should eat more than we need. Don’t think of eating as important because someday God will do away with both stomachs and food.
But sexual sin is never right: our bodies were not made for that but for the Lord, and the Lord wants to fill our bodies with himself. (Living Bible)
The first quest of man on earth is to find what to eat and drink, that's the only means of man's survival.. In spite of this, we are encouraged to bridle our belly so we don't sin against God.
Eve was first tempted through food, she desired more than has already been provided in the garden, she lust after it and sinned against God.
God gave wine for man's satisfaction, but consuming more than expected will lead to sin... Consider Noah after the flood, got drunk and became naked. Genesis 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 9:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
Through this he placed a curse on his very own child which last from generation to generations
How do you satisfy your belly? are you not taking more than you can consume? How do you control your appetite? ... Failure to bridle your belly will cause you trouble both in health and spiritual life.
David lust after bathsheba to satisfy his belly of sex... It cost him a lot...
The children of Israel could not bridle thier desire to eat manna, they ate till it started coming out of their nostrils, many died and could not reach the promise land.
You will always be tempted by food, satan did with Jesus.... You are not exempted... Bridle your belly, control your appetite so you can live a worthy and righteous life pleasing to God.
Finally, Apostle Paul said... 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.....
Not everything must go into your belly, and not everything you thought in the heart mush come out of your mouth.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord help me to bridle my tongue in Jesus Christ name
3. Lord, help me to bridle my belly in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.