Transcript Slide 1
The Tongue Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (proverbs 18:21) The tongue • . If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed,[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. ( James 3:25) The Tongue • See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. (James 3:5-8) The Tongue • It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. (James3:8-12) Your words reflect your heart • “ 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”. (Luke 6:45) (Matt12:34) • Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”( Matt 15:18-19) “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”(Matt12:37) Good words ” A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger”.( Pro15:1) example: Abigail and David . . “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver” (Prov 25:11) • “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” (Romans 12:14) Bad words (Sins) • • • • • • 1. Judging others 2. Lying 3. Grumbling/ Complaining 4. Angry words 5. Swearing 6. Rude, useless jokes 1. Judging • “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6: 37) • ” Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things”. (Romans 2:1) 2. Lying • “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” (Lev 19:11) • Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour,” for we are members of one another.(Eph 4:25) • “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” (Col 3:910) 3. Complaining • “ Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” (Phil 2:14-15) 4. Anger • “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19) • “He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.” (Matt 12:19) ( Isaiah 42:1) “ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire”. ( Matt 5: 22) • 5. Swearing • “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain”. (Exodus 20:7) • “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God”. (1 Cor6: 9-10) • 6.Rude words • “ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Eph 5:3-4). • “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Eph 4:29) Let us then pray with the psalmist: • “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer”. (Psalm 19:14) • “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” ( Psalm141:3)