I once read about a young man with a terminal illness who met the American Preacher – Kenneth E. Hagin to be prayed for, however, something out of the ordinary happened. When Kenneth Hagin laid his hands on him, the Lord told Kenneth Hagin to remove his hands and prepare the man to die. The man died a few days after, Kenneth enquired of the Lord why the man couldn’t be healed and the Lord told him of how the man had used his tongue to pronounce death on himself by professing that he would never reach the age of forty. Sadly, he died a week to his fortieth birthday!
There’s
so much to learn from this story but I would like to first expound a little
on the term ‘uncontrolled’ or ‘not- controlled’
When
something is not controlled, it is without boundaries, loose and dangerous, a
perfect example is a society where there is no law, there is therefore bound to
be chaos and anarchy. Having an uncontrolled tongue is like possessing a time
bomb, which could be an instrument in the hands of the devil. Beloved, no one
would want to be around a bomb when it detonates. A tongue that is not controlled
drives people away from it - it is human nature to run away from dangerous
things!
Here’s
a long but interesting text from the book of James:
“Not
many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach
will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if
anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle
his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us,
we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so
large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder
wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member,
yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small
fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set
among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course
of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of bet and bird, of reptile
and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human
being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With
it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in
the likeness of God.” James 3:1-10 ESV
While
reading this scripture, I had to admit to myself that as a teacher, I would be
judged with a greater standard than others who aren’t teachers because I would give
account of my teachings. Also, not only am i expected to teach but also to do
what i teach (Acts 1:1). Remember, talk is easy, while the action totally
different.
The
above passage tells us that as humans we often err in many ways but one who
does not offend in speech (never says the wrong thing), is a perfect person and
is fully developed in character. Such a person is able to control his entire
body! The mouth is the tool of control. Horses are controlled through bits set
in the horses’ mouths, so also is the ship steered through a very small rudder
(the mouth of the ship).
The
tongue (being a little member of the human body) wields the same power as a
tiny spark in a forest; it can set ablaze an entire forest!
This
explains why slave masters did lock the mouths of their slaves with padlocks
fastened to their lips because one who has control of your utterance has control
of your life.
And
for this same reason, every government is concerned with what her activists feeds
the citizens because with just words many kingdoms have fallen and with same
words, kingdoms have been built.
With
the tongue, we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were
made in God’s likeness. Such incongruity! Out of the same mouth proceeds
blessing and cursing; James tells us it ought not to be so. “Does
a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig
tree bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield
fresh water.” v 11-12.
WHAT
FRUITS DO YOU BEAR?
As
a child of the light, God is interested in what proceeds from your mouth.
“Let
no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for
building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” Ephesians
4:29 ESV.
Your
tongue should produce words that edify, words that give life and bring healing.
– “There
is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise
brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body (Proverbs 16:24). Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad (Proverbs 12:25). To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good
it is! (Proverbs 15:23)” ESV
The
Bible tells us death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). God
has given us the power to make declarations on earth that are binding in heaven
(Matthew 18:18). This same power did Adam possess and was able to name every
living creature (Genesis 2:19).
Words
wield so much power, they are seeds capable of reaping a good or bad harvest.
It depends on how you use them. (Gal 6:7)
When
such power is possessed by an uncontrolled tongue, it would be abused and
misused. I and some other believers organized a prayer meeting some years ago.
In one of the days of our meeting, we were expecting some other guests and then
I made a careless statement. I declared that no one would come that day, even
though I didn’t mean it, no one came that day!
The
power of the tongue is limitless; for instance, the kind of words spoken to a
child has the capacity to shape his thoughts and determine the kind of person
he/she would grow into.
“Let
your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how
you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6 ESV
The
words you tell someone can become a mental image to that person, affecting his
personality and thus, making him become exactly what those words profess. As a
man thinks in his heart, so is he! (Proverbs 23:7). What sort of words do you
put into the hearts of others?
“Hear
and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but
what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Matthew
15:11 ESV
The
book of James tells us in verses 7-9 of same chapter 1, that while it is
possible to tame the tongues of animals, the tongues of humans cannot be tamed
by mankind. He referred to the tongue as a restless evil, full of deadly
poison.
HOW
THEN CAN OUR TONGUES BE TAMED?
The
answer is simply the Holy Spirit! The Spirit of God helps our infirmities
(Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit is the greatest advantage of every believer.
When you have the Holy Spirit in you, certain fruits would be manifested in
your life – fruits of the nature of God (Galatians 5:22). As you constantly
identify your weaknesses, take deliberate steps to grow and ask the Holy Spirit
for help, your life begins to transform into the very nature of Christ.
Today,
a lot of persons say to me that they’ve never seen me get angry; some say
they’ve never heard me speak ill to someone or of someone. But that wasn’t me
before! I used to always get angry at little things and this affected those
around me. I had to surrender this weakness to God and before I make certain
statements or carry out certain actions, I gauge such words or actions by
asking myself “does it glorify God? What would Jesus do?”
Beloved,
we must be Christ-like even in our words. The mouth speaks from the abundance
of the heart (Luke 6:45). Your words define who you are; if you have God in you,
then you have love in you, and so what should proceed from your mouth are words
of life and love.
Keep
your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. (Psalms 34:13) For
whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. (Proverbs
21:23)
The
tongue may be a small part of the body, but it wields great power. For every careless
word that we speak, we shall account for it. – “I tell you, on the day of
judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” Matthew 12:36 ESV
Prayers!
Dear
Lord, thank you for your words I have received. I am forever grateful for the
gift of your Holy Spirit. I ask that you help my utterances; I submit not only
my life to you but also my lips, that out of my mouth shall proceed words of
life and love. Let my life bear the fruits of your spirit, help my infirmities
Lord and breath upon every word that I say. In Jesus name. Amen.
God
bless you.
Tsalla
Emmanuel.
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