TROUBLE FOR THE UNCONTROLLED TONGUE.

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.