The Power of the Tongue

James 3:1–6 (NKJV)

1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Indeed, 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. 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.

The tongue is one of the smallest members in our bodies but the most destructive menmber because it yeilds the greatest power over the body in comparison to the other members.

The tongue determines the course of our life. The nature of our life is determined by what type of tongue we have.

Example (people losing their careers and reputation tarnished by what they said)

Israel as An example

Numbers 14:26–29 (NKJV)

26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.

28 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:

29 The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.

30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.

Nabuchednezer example

Matthew 12:36–37 (NKJV)

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

1 Peter 3:8–12 (NKJV)

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

10 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Is our word edifieing people, is it ministering grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 10:11 NKJV

11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

The freinds of Job instead of Their words giving comfort and life it caused damage.

Job 19:2 “2 “How long will you torment my soul, And break me in pieces with words?”

We can control our tongue only through the Spirit of God.

James 3:7–8 (NKJV)

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. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Since naturally man is Corrupt his tongue also is corrupt and hence man can not tame his tongue, it require the Holy Ghost to come in and change you and then through the power of the spirit of God and the grace of God to control your tongue.

Psalm 141:3 NKJV

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.