Communicating God's Way - Lesson 10 - With Our Co-Workers

Some choice thoughts about the Tongue:

About Abrasive Speech
Many a blunt word has a sharp edge.Keep your words soft and sweet; you never know when you may have to eat them.

About Gossip
Gossip is like soap -- mostly lye!A gossip is just a fool with a keen sense of rumor.

About Profanity
Profanity is a public announcement of stupidity.Swearing is a lax man's way of trying to be emphatic.

About telling the Truth
A lie is a coward's way of getting out of trouble.Truth is as clear as a bell, but it isn't always tolled.

About Boasting
When you sing your own praise, you always get the tune too high.Don't brag; it isn't the whistle that pulls the train.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. James 3:2


This lesson is taken from our Discipleship Lesson 15: Relating to Unbelievers – “As a Christian, How Do I Relate to the Lost World?”

The Bible is very clear that the present world system is contrary to God’s eternal purpose. The Word of God commands His children to be separate from this world system. At the same time, we are to reach lost men and women who live in it for Jesus Christ. Do we work with mostly people who are going to be with us in heaven?

This lesson is designed to show us how to live a balanced and consistent life in order to influence the people we work with and around for the Lord Jesus Christ without the world influencing us with evil.


We need to expect opposition from the world if we live for Jesus Christ. We will be opposed because Jesus Christ was opposed.

John 15:18-21, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.”


You will be opposed only if you live for Him. If you go along with the world, you will not be opposed.

II Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”


We need to learn the area from which opposition will come.

Our opposition will come from those closest to us, those who know you best – friends, family, fellow workers and acquaintances.

Matthew 10:35-36, “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”


John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”


Mark 6:4, “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”


Our opposition will come from people in general. The two spiritual families have NEVER gotten along and never will.

Galatians 4:29, “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”


Your opposition will come from society in general.

The nature and course of this present world system is against God. This opposition is communicated subtly through the media (literature, television, radio, etc.). You must judge those things by the Word of God.

I John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”


James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”


Our opposition will come from Satan himself.

II Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”


He is your adversary.

I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”


He is currently at work in lost people

I John 5:4-5, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”


Learn how to overcome this opposition.

Give a soft answer. Avoid fights whenever possible.

Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”


Romans 12:18, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”


Please God with your life.

Proverbs 16:7, “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”


Have faith in God.

I John 5:4-5, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”


Love your enemies and help them. Jesus Christ loved His enemies enough to die for them when He didn’t have to do it. The world cannot understand this type of love, and those who are seeking the truth will be drawn to it.

Romans 12:14, “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”


Romans 12:20-21, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”


Pray for your enemies; pray with pure motives.

Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Keep good company. Associate with people who love God and want to serve Him.

Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”


I Corinthians 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”


Immerse yourself in the Word of God.

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”


Learn how the lost world should view you as a Christian. They should know you love God – NOT by your mouth but by your life.

I Corinthians 8:3, “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”


In Conclusion

James 3:2, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.“


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