The Tongue
The human tongue can either be used to bless or to curse, to be on fire for the Lord or to be set on fire by hell. In the book of Proverbs and Psalms we see scriptures regarding both our mouth and our tongue.
First, let’s look at what we don’t want our tongue to do. James has much to say about the tongue. Look at chapter 3, verses 5 and 6. The tongue is considered a little member of the body and it can boast of great things. Even so, a little spark is a small thing, but it can set ablaze much wood or a great forest. We have all seen the damage that forest fires do to acres and acres of timberland. The tongue can set so much on fire when we use it to speak the wrong thing. With the tongue, we can set into motion much iniquity, contaminating and defiling our whole body. The entire cycle of our life can be ruined by a fiery tongue. James says that a tongue which speaks evil is set on fire or ignited by hell.
But our tongue as Christians should not be one which sets on fire a world of iniquity and is ignited by hell, spewing out bitter poison and anger and animosity and cursing and slander. Our tongue should be a gentle tongue, tempered by the Holy Spirit to speak forth blessing.
No man can tame the tongue, but God can. He is the master at tongue taming. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to give a soft answer to turn away wrath. He teaches us how to be gentle in our words and comforting with the words of our mouth. He demonstrated the power of the tongue set on fire by heaven on the day of Pentecost when they were assembled in the upper room, waiting on the Holy Spirit to come to them. When He came, He demonstrated Himself as visible tongues of fire, flames of white-hot fire of the Lord God of heaven, the pure power of Almighty God. Yes, our tongue is to be used by the Spirit of God to speak and bring into existence great and marvelous works of the Holy Spirit, which the Lord Jesus Christ released by His resurrection, and which the Father ordained before the foundation of the world.
Now, let’s look at some scriptures about the positive aspect of our tongues. The tongue of the wise brings health and healing (Proverbs 12:18). Look at that! Our tongues can bring health and healing for ourselves and others. Healing is a wonderful gift from God. We see here that it can be brought about by the words of our mouth. The tongue of the wise utters knowledge in the right way (Proverbs 15:2). Every one of us wants to speak forth the knowledge that we have in the right way. I love Proverbs 15:4 (KJV and Amplified Bible): “A wholesome or gentle tongue (with its healing powers) is a tree of life.”
Here’s a scripture we all know about, but do we really KNOW it? Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21). Do you see this? Death (the cessation of life) and life (the fullness of God Himself) are in the power of that little member in your body called your tongue. This is so big! Whether you live or die is as close as your tongue, what you are speaking. Death and life to anything is in the power of your tongue----relationships, marriages, finances, ministries, and, yes, our physical bodies. I have seen people turn around their whole life by purposing to speak only life over their situation. The sick are healed. Financial troubles are turned to financial prosperity. Marriages are revived. Children come home. Relationships are restored. All because of that little member called the tongue. It is amazing to me the power of the tongue, such a small part of our bodies, yet such a powerful part of our bodies.
Finally, in Proverbs 21:23 we are told that we who guard our mouths as well as our tongues keep ourselves from trouble and actually keep our lives. What a statement! Guard your mouth and tongue and keep yourself out of trouble. How many times have each one of us wished we had not said something? Words spoken are so laden with power, especially words of born-again believers. Our words carry tremendous power not only for ourselves but also on this earth. We MUST GUARD or KEEP our tongues and mouths full of only the Word of God. That way we keep out of trouble. What an instruction for all of us to “take to heart.”
First, let’s look at what we don’t want our tongue to do. James has much to say about the tongue. Look at chapter 3, verses 5 and 6. The tongue is considered a little member of the body and it can boast of great things. Even so, a little spark is a small thing, but it can set ablaze much wood or a great forest. We have all seen the damage that forest fires do to acres and acres of timberland. The tongue can set so much on fire when we use it to speak the wrong thing. With the tongue, we can set into motion much iniquity, contaminating and defiling our whole body. The entire cycle of our life can be ruined by a fiery tongue. James says that a tongue which speaks evil is set on fire or ignited by hell.
But our tongue as Christians should not be one which sets on fire a world of iniquity and is ignited by hell, spewing out bitter poison and anger and animosity and cursing and slander. Our tongue should be a gentle tongue, tempered by the Holy Spirit to speak forth blessing.
No man can tame the tongue, but God can. He is the master at tongue taming. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to give a soft answer to turn away wrath. He teaches us how to be gentle in our words and comforting with the words of our mouth. He demonstrated the power of the tongue set on fire by heaven on the day of Pentecost when they were assembled in the upper room, waiting on the Holy Spirit to come to them. When He came, He demonstrated Himself as visible tongues of fire, flames of white-hot fire of the Lord God of heaven, the pure power of Almighty God. Yes, our tongue is to be used by the Spirit of God to speak and bring into existence great and marvelous works of the Holy Spirit, which the Lord Jesus Christ released by His resurrection, and which the Father ordained before the foundation of the world.
Now, let’s look at some scriptures about the positive aspect of our tongues. The tongue of the wise brings health and healing (Proverbs 12:18). Look at that! Our tongues can bring health and healing for ourselves and others. Healing is a wonderful gift from God. We see here that it can be brought about by the words of our mouth. The tongue of the wise utters knowledge in the right way (Proverbs 15:2). Every one of us wants to speak forth the knowledge that we have in the right way. I love Proverbs 15:4 (KJV and Amplified Bible): “A wholesome or gentle tongue (with its healing powers) is a tree of life.”
Here’s a scripture we all know about, but do we really KNOW it? Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21). Do you see this? Death (the cessation of life) and life (the fullness of God Himself) are in the power of that little member in your body called your tongue. This is so big! Whether you live or die is as close as your tongue, what you are speaking. Death and life to anything is in the power of your tongue----relationships, marriages, finances, ministries, and, yes, our physical bodies. I have seen people turn around their whole life by purposing to speak only life over their situation. The sick are healed. Financial troubles are turned to financial prosperity. Marriages are revived. Children come home. Relationships are restored. All because of that little member called the tongue. It is amazing to me the power of the tongue, such a small part of our bodies, yet such a powerful part of our bodies.
Finally, in Proverbs 21:23 we are told that we who guard our mouths as well as our tongues keep ourselves from trouble and actually keep our lives. What a statement! Guard your mouth and tongue and keep yourself out of trouble. How many times have each one of us wished we had not said something? Words spoken are so laden with power, especially words of born-again believers. Our words carry tremendous power not only for ourselves but also on this earth. We MUST GUARD or KEEP our tongues and mouths full of only the Word of God. That way we keep out of trouble. What an instruction for all of us to “take to heart.”
posted by Rev. Kialeen Potterton @ 8:42 PM
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