The Tongue

What We Think

We are okay if:

We don’t cuss - i don’t say bad words so i don’t really think to much about my speech

We DON’T blatantly lie, but just leave out some truth - if its not ALL true than its not true

We don’t make up stories but sometimes we exaggerate - exaggeration for effect is a lie

We accidentally tell a white lie and just let it go - white lies are just lies with the word white in front

The things we say behind someones back are true - Gossip doesn’t have to be untrue to be gossip

We share things about someone out of “concern” for them -

We say something untrue to someone to make them feel good - reality is its so that they like us more

We don’t say a bad joke we just give a funny look, make an awkward silence and let an innuendo do the work - whether the joke is verbally made or just hinted at with a look it still has the same heart behind it

As were on the topic of what We think I want to ask YOU about what you ACTUALLY THINK:

What do you think about an unrepentant, habitual (adultery, theft, drunkeness)

What He Thinks

1 cor 6:9-10 “Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

A reviler = a person who has abusive speech. All encompassing term for Speaking Sins. A Gossip or slanderer

So when God puts a list together of people who will not be in heaven, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE HE PUTS Reviler.

God is perfectly and completely HOLY. He is not neutral about anything. He doesn’t allow anything to slip past him. He hates ANY and ALL sin whether you deem it as small and acceptable or not.

Your words matter to God. A person with a lifestyle of unrepentant, habitual, characteristic UNTAMED TONGUE, will not inherit the kingdom of God.

NOW, before you think NOPE NOT ME, I’m off the hook. Let me show you another warning in scripture

James 1:26 “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”

If anyone believes they are religious. Not bad religious but genuinely thinks they are saved. This is the serving student, the perfect Sunday school attendance, the regular bible reader, the pastors kid, the theologian, the small group leader. If you cannot control your tongue YOU HAVE DECEIVED YOURSELF and your religion JAMES SAYS is worthless. Meaningless. Futile. Vanity.

Would you heed this warning and listen for yourself because James places all of us under the gun - and we better be sure that are tongues are tamed OR ELSE we are just proving that are religion is really just self deception.

Now before you become like me in study and feel completely crushed, listen to what James says later in ch. 3...

James 3:1-6 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

God isn’t looking for perfection but direction. A life-style that is characterized by repentance and growth in this area.

Yet many will let the sins of the tongue linger in their life. Because its mostly harmless, its what everyone does, it promotes your ego, makes you seem cool, popular and in the know about everything and everyone. You feel liked because you have the info. YOU DO NOT REALIZE YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE.

He goes on in James 3 with a few illustrations of the power and destructiveness of the 2 ounce muscle in your mouth.

Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

Maybe you have heard of the Dixie fire. In Nor Cal

started: July 13

burned almost a million acres

over 700 square miles BIGGER than NYC

Destroyed over 1300 buildings

Taken lives

Still active TO THIS DAY

How did it start? Car Crash? Arson? Lightning? NOPE they think a tree may touched a power line. It took a gust of wind to start the largest fire in the US right now. That has created irreversible damage.

Our tongues, though small are FIRES that can cause MASSIVE devastation.

The utterances of your lips and vibration of your vocal chords can split longtime friendships, once healthy marriages, seemingly solid churches. You may think that right now its just fun and meaningless BUT it takes one gust of wind, one more ear TO create carnage

Prov 6:16-17 “There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,”

Eph 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

The Godly Gossiper

Eph 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

This term here is an all inclusive term, there cannot be any unwholesome word: no curse words, gossip, put down, slander, lies are to come out of your mouth.

So that means there is no room for a gossip EVEN a “Godly” one

Gossip involves spreading personal “news” about someone else. Even if the information is true — and often it isn’t! — gossip can still be harmful

Those who camouflage gossip w/ Christian language.

It starts with things like: Hey Im concerned about so and so, Be praying for this person, I can’t say much BUT, Did you hear, Don’t tell anyone..,

The gossiping tongue and the ear that loves to hear it, IS A TOOL FOR HELL. It lights a fire and leaves many victims in its wake.

The Spiritual Slanderer

Respectable Sins Student Edition: The Truth About Anger, Jealousy, Worry, and Other Stuff We Accept Chapter 19: Verbal

slander — making a false statement or misrepresentation that damages another person’s reputation to gain an advantage over that person.

Slander by all means is included in Eph 4 as UNWHOLESOME

Most of us do not slander in ways that are clearly evil but we say it smoothly and present it in acceptable ways to whoever will hear.

You ever assume wrong motives from people? - He’s probably doing that because he’s prideful, she only does it for attention, she must not be a believer - slander

Ever Accuse your christian friends of not being godly enough? - I’d expect it from them, they are immature, IDK how they hang out with those people, watch that show, do that thing, THEY JUST don’t take their spiritual life seriously - slander

You ever misrepresent another persons views without first determining what those views are? - You tell your parents or D-Group leader about how this other person is acting and thinking although you don’t actually know for sure. You just trust your gut, discernment - slander

You ever make someones failures seem WAY bigger than they actually are? - He said the worst thing ever, she messed up big time, when reality is its not as big of a deal as you present it as.

We can be to quick to say we never slander another because we don’t do it in obvious ways BUT have you secretly been a spiritual slanderer?

The Devout Deceiver

This is the cousin of the spiritual slanderer. Its the religious liar. Christians don’t typically lie in obvious ways.

But do you tend to leave out some truth in fear of punishment and desire to keep your reputation with parents, small group leader or even friends?

Do you tell stories and exaggerate certain details to make you seem moral and good and like you were not involved in the bad stuff? Or to make others look worse, dumb and in the wrong?

Prov 6:16-17 “There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,”

On Gods list of things HE HATES taking the number 2 spot a lying tongue.

A tongue that doesn’t tell complete truth. Are you words provoking a holy God?

You may be the devout deciever

The Crude Comedian

This is the comedian who makes inappropriate jokes.

Sexual innuendos. Racist remarks for a laugh.

Often this crude comedian can be a silent stand up and hint towards crude humor with the raise of an eyebrow and an intentional awkward silence.

Eph 5:3-6 “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Is there a hint of immorality in your jokes? Would your parents approve? Would God laugh? Or are you mocking God by laughing at the things he hung on a cross for?

Are you the crude comedian?

So What?

Before you walk out thinking “watch my mouth” allow me to read to you Jesus’ words of application

matt 12:34 ““For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”

He diagnoses the real issue with our tongues, it is our hearts. We have an ever present thermometer on our spiritual lives and that the words we say.

See even if write before you insult someone, or gossip to your parents, you catch yourself. YOU STILL THOUGHT IT.

Whether I say out loud “I hate you” or in my heart “I hate you” the truth that I hate you would still be there and is still sin.

So what can we do? We must cry out God for heart change LIKE ISAIAH

Isa 6:5 “Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.””

Have you come to your knees before the Lord yet? Have you cried out for forgiveness from you sins of speech?

The good news is when you ask God for forgiveness He is faithful and righteous to grant it.

Because although you have a running tab of every ill spoken word that has ever come out of your mouth THAT must be punished by God

Jesus died for and paid the price for every single sinful utterance from your lips.

The running tab you have is erased at the cross. And he the credits HIS perfect life to your account. And through his resurection we have hope. We have hope that the God who saved us is alive and will sustain us and will provide the power to bridle the once wild flaming tongue.

If you haven’t already submit your life and tongue to Jesus Christ. Use your once blasphemous mouth to confess him as lord.

For those who have, here a just a few questions to ask yourself before saying that sentence, typing that text and writing that post.

1. Will what I’m about to say tend to tear down or build up the person I want to talk about?

2. Is it true?

3. Is it kind?

4. Does it need to be said?

This is hard but possible for those in Christ and so you need to pray every single say for spirit powered control over your tongue.

And discipline the use of your tongue.

Resolve to not be the promoter or audience for gossip

Resolve to refrain from degrading humor

Resolve to only speak the truth in love

Resolve to build others up and not tear them down

The sins we have discussed tonight are not lesser sins, not smaller sins, not things for the super christians. But the sins of the mouth are DEADLY and Dangerous. Prov 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” which will you choose?

Pray:

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight

Please Forgive us of our unclean lips that have revealed our unclean hearts

and let our words and heart be acceptable to you

Expose the hearts of the students that have a worthless religion

Transform the tongues that were once in opposition to you into instruments of praise

Be with us now as we use our mouths for something honorable, good and right which is singing your praise.

LOVE YOU GUYS