The Battleground Of The Mouth (Tongue)
Introduction:
Today we are going to talk about words. Reminds me of this story I read:
A monk was supposed to spend his time in study and prayer was allowed to speak only 2 words every 10 years. First 10 years went by…his 2 words were, “Hard Bed.” After the next 10 years his two words were, “Bad Food.” At the end of the next 10 years he was asked for his two words and he responded, “I Quit!” His supervisor looked at him and said, “I’m not surprised, all you’ve done since you have been here is complain!” -- Source Unknown
What is the most powerful thing you know? Atomic Bomb? Hurricane? Earth Quake?
I am persuaded that the most powerful thing we know is the tongue – the words we use!
James 3:5 (MSG) A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire.
In fact, Jesus was the “Word of God”
John 1:14 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
How we control our Tongue demonstrates our Spirituality.
James 1:26 (NKJV) If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.
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1. Words Are Powerful!
A. Words Can Give Life and Health or Death:
Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV) The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 12:18 (NKJV) There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
Proverbs 13:3 (NKJV) He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 15:4 (NKJV) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV) Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
B. Words Can Produce Peace or Anger:
Proverbs 15:1-2 (NKJV) A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
C. Words Can Be Truthful Or Deceitful and Lying:
Psalm 55:21 (NKJV) The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
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Psalm 109:2 (NKJV) For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful Have opened against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
Proverbs 12:19 (NKJV) The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
2. We Are Accountable For Our Words.
A. We Should Think About What We Say:
Proverbs 15:28 (NKJV) The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Proverbs 21:23 (NKJV) Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
B. Teachers Have Greater Responsibility:
James 3:1 (NKJV) My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
C. We Will Give Account For Every Word We Speak:
Matthew 12:36-37 (NKJV)
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
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3. With God’s Help We Can Control Our Tongue!
A. What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart:
Matthew 15:18(NKJV) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Luke 6:45 (NKJV) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
If we keep our heart pure (last week’s message) we can control our tongue!
B. We can’t tame our tongue by ourselves:
James 3:8 (NKJV) But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
C. Isaiah found the solution:
Isaiah 50:4 (NKJV) "The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.
D. David found the solution:
Psalm 141:3 (NKJV) Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 19:14(NKJV) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
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E. With God’s Help We Can Control Our Tongue Also:
Colossians 3:8 (KJV) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Ephesians 4:22-27 (KJV)
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
Conclusion:
The Mind – Heart – and Tongue are Spiritually Connected.
Ultimately, the Tongue brings forth what is in our heart and mind!
The Psalmist David Gives us great help again:
Psalm 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
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Our Tongue is the greatest tool of our Salvation:
Romans 10:8-15 (NKJV)
8 But what does it (faith) say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.