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“Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” James 3:1-12 NLT

 

The Power of the Tongue

  • According to Jesus, my speech reveals my spiritual conditionand what is in my heart

“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Matthew 12:34 NLT

 

  • The tongue is small yet very powerful

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” Proverbs 18:21 ESV

 

  1. The power to direct(James 3:1-4)
    • Like a bitin a horse’s mouth
    • Like a rudderon a ship
    • My words lead my relationships in the right or wrong direction
    • My words determine my attitude

 

  1. The power to destroy(James 3:5-8)
    • Like fire
    • Like untamed animals
    • My words build up or tear down

 

  1. The power to delight(James 3:9-12)
    • Like a fountain
    • Like a tree

 

 

 

How to Control Your Tongue

  • Discipline yourself to say words that are:
    • Kind

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV

  • True

“…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 NIV

  • Necessary

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” Proverbs 11:13 NIV

 

  • Yieldyour tongue to the Holy Spirit

“Set a guard over my mouth…” Psalm 141:3a NIV

 

  • Praybefore you speak

“…Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3b NIV