SLOW

Posted on Mar 27, 2026 by Shane W. Roessiger | Comments (0)

Today, God will be talking about things that we say out of excitement, but the Word in James 1:19-26 tells us to be slow to speak. When God made His vision clear concerning what He wanted to accomplish, we did not share it right away. We were slow to speak about it because we knew there was a right time to speak about it. God is all about details when He wants us to do something. Details need to be lined up right. We cannot just do something carelessly; whatever we do, we must do it with excellence and with all of our hearts. God wants to give you His eyes, but you might not want those eyes to start seeing how God sees. God wants every one of His children to be lined up with His Word and Spirit, "Precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10).

We cannot say things to God and people just because of zeal without commitment! When we make a commitment with our words, we must make sure we follow the words we spoke. God lined up every single detail in our lives so we can fulfill our own promises toward Him and people. When people start saying words, and we know they are not ready to die for the words they are saying, not only do men see that, but God sees that. Peter was making all of these promises in haste to Jesus. "I will never deny you…" (Matthew 26:35)

Let's carry on and read James 1:19-20. Be alert, be quick to listen to Him, but slow to speak and slow to get angry! How do we do that? It will take submission to the Holy Spirit! The anger that Jesus showed when the adulterous woman was caught was a righteous anger! The man of love - Jesus (John 8:3-11) was judged by the pharisees and saducees! But He was very SLOW to speak! The very thoughtful words of Jesus always moved in the hearts of men, and one by one they put down the stones. "Where are your accusers now?" Be slow to speak, slow to get angry, slow before you curse with your own mouth. Let God fill it. He even tells us not to plan, not to worry what we will say when they take us into councils, or courts, or trials for His sake. He will give you the words in that hour (Matthew 10:19).

Peter was too fast to speak: "I will never deny you…" He made a vow to God that only the Holy Spirit could help him to keep! Peter wanted to do something by his words. He did not count the cost. He spoke quickly, but God knew His heart.

But a doer of the Word, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Every speaker should be a doer of what they say (verse 22). I want to be a man who is blessed in every aspect! "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Verse 26

This is why we don't want to make fast commitments with people, but only by the Spirit! That is when His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Faithfulness is what God is looking for, not perfection! Never commit without counting the cost, or you will break your commitment! Everybody loves the anointing, healing, signs and wonders, and good news, but they are breaking their vows. We have been burned so much by people who commit with zeal and emotions, but they don't follow through. Then we need to pick up the excess. Just like it happens in business. The only difference is that in the business world, you are fired and replaced. God never fires us, but He can replace us; but what happens in the process is a lot of trouble. Many see or think God replaced Judas with Paul. I am not sure about that, but Paul was one of many furthering the heavenly vision, showing the start of God calling him first, and then many others up to this day! Now, many are continuing God's vision on Earth. Paul has a great record of counting the cost, and he never stopped carrying on the vision.

Now, let's look at the other types of people Jesus spoke about. Many are like stony ground! Let's see Mark 4:16-17. God is talking about when He asks for something, and you say "yes to the Lord," but you never follow through. God loves when people struggle in keeping their promises more than those who say it and break it all the time! Some people receive the Word, but they think there will be no resistance. Jesus is the Word made flesh! Everything came against the Word of God. It is not different when persecution comes because of the Word.

God is not looking for commitment only on Sunday morning or during Sabbath Saturday, no! Commitment when you want to curse, when you want to give up, when you want to say "yes, yes" just because it is the right thing to say! The Word comes with all types of pressure, and it is not cheap.

In Luke 14:15-35, we see people who say "YES TO THE LORD," giving the Lord the reason why they are not following their yes: their business (a piece of land – verse 18), their finances (five yoke of oxen – verse 19), their marriage (wife – verse 20)! For this reason, God sent the apostles to go to all different nations and tribes to invite them to come, even though He showed how much they would suffer! The chosen people did not want to choose Him! The Jews were first, and now they are the last! Thank God because most of us are highway and byway converts (Luke 14:23)!

"So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind" (verse 21). But there is always more room (verse 22). And then He told them to go to the highways and hedges so His house may be filled (verse 23).

"For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper" (verse 24). Jesus spoke profoundly in Word and deed, now can anyone follow them? But with God, all things are possible! He promised to send us a helper to help us follow through His Word! There is a difference between going to the church and being the Church, being in Christ, and being baptized into Him and into the Holy Spirit.

Those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good must keep their words. God does not honor your words, but your commitment to the words you speak! Even if you lose everything mentioned in verses 25-26: "And there went great multitudes with him:

and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." To keep your word, you will have to bear his own cross (verse 27). Slow down in speaking. Because look at what He said about the price: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (verse 28). If we say YES, He is going to do it, but we need to keep that commitment. The pressure in doing it is not on you, but the pressure of keeping that commitment is on you! Just as a man who goes to war (verse 31), you have to think before you speak. Be slow…count, see, believe, have faith!

What is He saying? Let me be all you have; let me be the Lord of all you have. You can have it without having to come against Him, without idolatry; you can be clean and have it all. If you try to save it all, you will lose it; but if you lose all, you will have all! If you read the Word of God without understanding His heart, you won't have a hope and a future! So, when bad times come, He will bring you through! It is only the things we try to hold on to that we will lose anyhow!

"Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (verses 34-35). The words you speak in haste sound good but carry no savor! It is good for nothing. Every Word Jesus spoke, He fulfilled, but it cost Him His life! In the Kingdom, your words mean everything! Keep your words. In the world, words mean nothing. Keeping our word is one of the highest forms of integrity! In God's kingdom, it's the definition of faithfulness!

God is saying, "I know who you are by the words you speak. Be slow to speak, be quick to listen to Me."

Let's go to Matthew 5:33-37. Don't swear by things you think you can accomplish! We will be judged by our words spoken because of our frustration, anger, or for any reason.

We think it is not a big deal, but for God it is a huge deal! How many know you can be sinning all day without saying one word? Silence sin! But when we open our mouths – there is something worse that happens - we give the devil the right to fulfill our own words! We bring a war into our lives! That is why we need to be slow to speak!

"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (verse 37). When we want to give no, we can give a long explanation, so we end up saying yes. But also, some people explain their "YES" and their "NO" all the time. We don't need time for that, just make your decision and carry that on. Be a person of character so your yes is yes and your no is no!

In the flesh, something always will come to you looking better from the devil to stop you from doing what Jesus wants you to do. What is that called? Temptation! But His yes was yes, and His no was no! Sometimes you don't see the fruit of your commitment because your words are all over the place!

Look at the commitment of this man: "He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went" (Matthew 21:29). God knew the heart of this man. He knew he would change his heart! But the other man was not slow to speak: "And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not" (verse 30). This second man was fast to speak and gave up right away!

"Whether of them twain did the will of his father?" (verse 31). It is not about what we say. It is better to say NO so the Lord can press upon you and change your heart than break commitment! God is pressing on you about the commitments you have made to Him. So, which one of these men did the will of the Father? "They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Matthew 21:31

Today, God is getting your word lined up with His word, and you will start speaking slowly because you don't know if you can keep it. This is the way. Narrow is the way!

"Father, get hold of my words. May my words, my commitment, be your way, be according to Your will and Your Word. Help me to be slow to speak, slow to swear, never curse at all. Let my yes stand until You come back. Let my no stand until you come back. I won't be a man of double mind. I will be established wherever I am! The kingdom of God is not by observation, or by words, the kingdom is within, and out of my belly shall flow rivers of living water! Help me to be slow to speak, and very, very quick to listen to Him and to His words!"

SLOW

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