Show Me Your Tongue

Verses

James 1:26 NIV

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

james 1 26

James 3:2 NIV

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

in other words, James is saying that if we can control our tongue, we can control our whole life

Introduction

Doctor’s visit for a physical

Today we’re going to the ultimate doctor for a spiritual check-up

Every head has 7 openings (2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears) and one mouth.

How many of you wish you had more than one mouth?

It is the mouth, or more specifically, the tongue in our mouths that causes more trouble than all 6 of our other openings

Power of the tongue

Death and life

Proverbs 18:21 AV

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

if we use our tongues properly they will be to us trees of life / improperly - the result is death

we will eat the fruit of our tongues; whether sweet or bitter

Destiny

Controlling the tongue

James 3:2 AV

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Verses 3-8 are illustrations of this truth

horse w/ a bit in its mouth (controlling the mouth)

ship w/ a little rudder to control it

Destiny

WORDS DETERMINE OUR DESTINY

Story of the 12 Israelite spies in and

12 spies - 10 spoke negativity

Numbers 13:28 AV

Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

2 spoke positively and with faith

Numbers 13:30–31 AV

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

notice words spoken; “WE ARE WELL ABLE TO OVERCOME IT” - Caleb spoke life and as a result in God spared him and Joshua but said that the rest of the spies would never enter into the promised land

Death and life are in the power of the tongue

the men who spoke positively received life

the men who spoke negatively settled for death

ten of the 12 spies focused on the problems not on the promises

2 focused on the promises and not the problems

are you one of the 10 or are you one of the two?

Show Me (God) your tongue

Show Me (God) your tongue

Spiritual doctor (God) can see our hearts by our tongue

The heart is the root cause of issues but the tongue is how these issues are shown

Matthew 12:33–35 AV

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

The heart is the tree and the words we speak are our fruit.

the words that come out of our mouth indicate the condition of our heart.

If heart is good, good words

If heart is evil, evil comes out of our mouths

The Diagnosis - Diseased Tongues

Profaning God’s name

​ AVThou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

See also ; ;

Careless words

Matthew 5:37 AV

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Matthew 12:36 AV

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

IN OTHER WORDS, LET YOUR YES ALWAYS BE YES AND YOUR NO ALWAYS BE NO. IF YOU DON’T MEAN IT DON’T SAY IT.

Gossip

Leviticus 19:16 NIV

“ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “ ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.

Slander = untrue, exaggerated, malicious talk. in other words, gossip.

the title of satan in the NT - devil- means slanderer in the greek. if we gossip we are doing his work for him

Lying

Proverbs 12:22 AV

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Cursing

James 3:9–10 NIV

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

The Prescription - First Steps to Healing

call your problem by name: sin

Matthew 12:37 AV

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

2. Confess your sin and receive forgiveness AND healing

1 John 1:7–9 AV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3. Refuse to sin; yield to God

Romans 6:12–14 AV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

The outcome

Greater relationship with God

Healed tongues

Yielded bodies

able to tell sin its all about the Savior

able to keep my tongue from gossip and to God

able to keep my tongue from cursing to blessing

able to stop lying and start letting honesty flow