Determining Our Destinies With Our Tongue

JAMES 3:1-18; 1 PETER 3:10; MATTHEW 12:33-37

The tongue of faith brings calmness into life, family, and ‘troubled sea’ just as Jesus used His tongue to calm the troubled sea. “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord” (Matthew 10:25a). We are to learn of Him and may the grace of God teach us. Before you say anything at all, ask yourself, what would Jesus say in that condition of yours before you speak. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned…” (Isaiah 50:4). Go to the Lord, let Him give you the tongue of the Master. The old, acidic, poisonous words and tongue have to pass away if anyone is a new creature in Christ, and all things ought to become new. We need to go to God so that He can give to us the tongue of Jesus. Everyone needs the tongue of the learned so that we know how to speak good, right, encouraging and uplifting words in season to him that is weary. We need to go to God that He will open our ears, hearts and eyes. “For the Lord GOD will help me….” (Isaiah 50:7). The Lord will help you to know how to talk, what to say, when to say it and when to be quiet, that your tongue may have a positive impact on the people you speak with. The words you speak and your tongue will not make you ashamed in Jesus’ Name. “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22).

Jesus had a good heart and spoke good words, a gracious heart and spoke gracious words; He had a refined heart and spoke refined words; a happy heart and had happy words; and a loving heart and spoke loving words. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). To speak gracious words, our hearts must be full of the grace of God. Don’t create problems for the people that are hopeless and helpless: Think through and ask yourself how Jesus Christ will get them out of their predicaments. The Lord will speak either in prayer or counselling, to bring them out (Proverbs 31:8). Let righteousness be at the root of what you say in life and ministry (Proverbs 31:9). Do you know that Jesus Christ with all His knowledge knew when to be quiet? So there are times to be quiet, especially when there is that urge to just speak; that is the time to be quiet, like Jesus. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). Some people cannot bear a little bit of suffering and pain; pressure and injustice will make them want to talk. If you are going to be like the Master, you must know when to keep quiet. He has left us an example. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled,  not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). He was Master, Lord and King, had power and authority, and yet He did not threaten, but committed all to God. I pray that this same attitude and gracious words of Jesus, the Lord will give unto us.  “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelations 14:5). No guile, no lie, deception and hypocrisy. May the Lord reproduce that guileless tongue in every life, in Jesus Name.

Point 2: THE DEVOURING FIRE IN THE MISUSED TONGUE

James 3:5,6; Numbers 16:1-2,35; 21:4-6; Isaiah 33:12-14; James 3:9-12; Isaiah 5:20-24; James 3:14-16; Isaiah 26:11; Proverbs 26:20,21; Philippians 3:18-19; Psalms 97:3; Jude 15,16,7; Revelations 20:10,15

A misused tongue is a devouring fire: it is not under control but flippant, always nagging, talking without thinking or considering the consequence of what it says; its fire can burn down a whole family, church, tribe, profession and the nation. A little fire of argument in the family, disagreement with your boss in the office, dispute in the bus, debate can bring a whole life down. No matter how many gifts you have, sharp sightedness, good memory or brain, work faster, skilled, and strong you, your whole success or defeat depends upon the tongue. Remember men of renown, power and authority that their tongue brought upon them the judgment of God and of Hell fire, “And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense” (Number 16:35). Discouragement can set the tongue wagging, complaining and murmuring, like the children of Israel (Numbers 21:4-6), and many of them in their thousands died because of the wrong use of the tongue. We must be watchful. May The Lord preserve your family, local church and the whole of Deeper Life from all these destructive tongues in Jesus Name. “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God” (James 3:9).