Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

We find the interesting story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter 11. We will not examine the whole story, just the verses that pertain to the topic.

Genesis 11:6-9, "And the LORD said, Behold, the people <is> one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. "

We find a very interesting statement made by God about man in verse 6. God said
". . .nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." Does God really mean that man could have accomplished anything? Can you imagine where mankind would be today if God had not separated him with various tongues?

It may be that computers would be obsolete and that we (mankind) would be in an altogether different era. We may have long since passed Pluto in our travels of outer space, and the advancements in science and many other fields would be unimaginable.

Why did God confuse the language? Did He think that man would get too smart for Him? God forbid! Their intent was to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). If man had continued to gain knowledge with this attitude, it is unthinkable how wicked the world would be today. Let us put to rest the idea that man could ever become equal with God in knowledge. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable <are> his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33 KJV)

Acts 2:1-11

We find another very interesting story in the second chapter of the book of Acts. This time the story is reversed. Men assembled in Jerusalem from many different places and spoke many different languages; but this time God used the Apostles (only the twelve: verse 14, 37) to spread His word. The amazing thing about this story is the way that God chose to spread His word. He did it by making the Apostles speak in a foreign language that they had never studied. They spoke the languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Why did God at one time separate man by confusing their language and bring them together at another time by making them speak the same language? It was because of the intent of man's heart and God's ability to accomplish His will. At the Tower of Babel, man's intent was not to serve God but to serve self, whereas, on the day of Pentecost the Apostles' intent was to serve God at all costs.

These two stories, when examined in light of each other, show the amazing power of God. God, simply by changing the language of the people, made it impossible for them to live and communicate with each other. Then, by simply giving the Apostles the ability to speak a language that every man could hear and understand, (not only in his own language, but in his own dialect) His (God's) word was preached to thousands and about 3,000 were immersed that same day for the remission of their sins and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Mo, Mo, Moses

Mo, Mo, Moses while talking with God through the burning bush tried to avoid delivering God's message to Pharaoh. Exodus 4:10 (KJV), "And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I <am> not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I <am> slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." God's reply to Mo, Mo, Moses was, "And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?" (Exodus 4:11 KJV)

When we stand before God, we will have no excuse. He knows what we are capable of because He made us.

James Chapter 3

Please read carefully the third chapter of James. James devotes one whole chapter to this small member of the body, namely the Tongue. James compares the tongue to a horse and a ship. How is this possible? James says that just as the horse is led about by tiny bits placed in its mouth, and the ship is led about by a small helm, the body is also led about by the small tongue. If the tongue is such a small member of the body, how can it be so deadly? James explains this in verse 8, "But the tongue can no man tame; <it is> an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."

Why did James, an inspired man of God, say that the tongue could not be tamed? James did not say that the tongue could not be tamed, he said that no MAN could tame the tongue. There is a big difference. There is a way to tame the tongue. Remember, if God made the tongue, He can tame it. So, how does God tame the tongue? Have you ever wondered why we must make the confession that "Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God?" The confession, along with believing and repenting, changes our WILL. Therefore, if the tongue says, "I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God," then the body will follow. If we truly believe, repent and confess, then our body will follow the tongues lead. How? With the completion of becoming a new creature by being immersed into that belief and living a life pleasing to God.

Speak The Same Thing

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and <that> there be no divisions among you; but <that> ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV) Note: Paul encourages all Christians to speak the same thing. How can this be accomplished? Is it impossible? Would the Apostle Paul, another inspired man of God, command us to do something if it were totally impossible for us to do? No! Therefore, if we as Christians would come together and "SPEAK WHERE THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK, AND BE SILENT WHERE THE SCRIPTURES ARE SILENT" we would have little or no problem solving this age old dilemma.

Can you imagine what would happen in the church if we all spoke the same language (Doctrine)? We could make the day of Pentecost look like a small town parade. But, because of denominationalism, we end up looking like those men working on the Tower of Babel. One saying this and another saying that. The world looks at religion and says, "They can't agree among themselves, so I want no part of it." Brethren, if we want all men to be WON to Christ, we must be ONE in Christ.

Tongues of Fire

James says, "And the tongue is a fire..." (James 3:6a) Why does James compare the tongue to a fire? It is because the tongue has burned down and consumed more congregations than any physical fire could ever possibly burn down or consume.

James was correct in saying that the tongue is a fire. Either your tongue will be on fire in a similar manner as the Apostles tongues were on the day of Pentecost (Speaking the same thing as other Christians and the same thing as the Word of God) or your tongue will be on fire burning down the church that Jesus Christ died for.

Brethren, is your tongue tamed or untamed?

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