This is an article written by my good friend Ephraim Bello from Lagos, Nigeria. I wanted to share this with you all today.
How Powerful Is The Tongue
God himself has given us a real beautiful example of the power that’s present in the tongue. This is a very vital aspect we need to constantly check within ourselves when walking with God on our daily basis.
We need to note God’s instructions on the right use of our tongue. It’s very obvious our tongue is helpful whenever its being used appropriately for the right purpose without being misused. For blessing others and bringing glory to the name of the Lord, so also our tongue can tear people apart and bring sorrow, hurts and damages to other if used in a negative way, of which this hinders the testimony of the Lord.
James 3:1-12 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 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. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
James 3:1-12 speaks about this. Which clearly stated for the tongue of Christians determine their spiritual health/growth. Whatever we alter out of our mouths indicate what type of Christians we truly are. To emphasis on this topic, James used series of illustration to shed light On how powerful our tongue works.
Power to direct is in the tongue
Starting from the 3-4 verses, showcase rudder and the bit. Our utterances could direct and impact lives in both wrong and right path. Lets check the book of Proverbs 18:21 . Intentional lies , half-truth , noticing the idle statements. These things determine and change the purpose of life and bring it into destructions. When its being used in the right way, it could lead people out from their sins to the Lord via salvation of their soul . We do much needs the Lord guidance on the use of our tongue.
Power of destruction in the tongue.
Reading from verses 5-8. We would discover where the tongue was being referred to as a little part of the body, which could also cause destruction, because whatever words the tongue spill out comes mostly from what’s present in the heart. We can as well check (Matthew 12:34-35) which says , A little spark of fire in the forest can burn it all off, so also is the tongue like a small flame. The book of proverbs 16:27, Poison can be spread by an evil tongue . In the other way round, a spiritual tongue is such a great medicine to life. Proverbs 12:18.
Delighting power is in tongue.
There was an illustration of spring or fountain in verse 9-12. How impossible it could be for spring in production of crystal clean water and salt at the same time. (Proverbs 18:4) Meaning the tongue is not ideal/meant for blessings and cursing at same way. (Proverbs 13:2 ) A tree can not bear two types of fruit (proverbs 18: 20-21).
Using The Tongue Wrongly
Blaspheming, hypocrites and swearing.
(James 5:12) In today’s world, people seem to believe in themselves than acknowledging God first before doing anything else. Some people are careless with their words. Some enjoys taking the name of the Lord in vain.( 1peter 3:10 )Being very careful as a believer.
Giving Blame to God for allowing temptation
(James 1:13-14) God never tempts us to sin, the moment a man is lured away by his own lust then temptation arises.
Flattering and Boasting Leading to a destructive fire (James 3:5 )
(James 3:14) A single word can cause division in a church or a family upset.
My Testimony Indicating Power Of The Tonque
So many years back, 24yrs ago to be precise. it was about the time for me to round up my Junior High School classes. Suddenly i became so ill of which i got tired easily/often, the only thing i could complained about was the pain that moves across my abdomen region to my ribs.
It affected my education of which i stopped studying, so as to see physicians and i did various medical test of which came back as nothing. Though i was given series of medications, but to no avail. Deeply inside my heart i knew i wasn’t going to die despite it all. I even tried some home remedies and herbs , yet the situation could only got worst. Mum and every loved ones. started praying for me, we fasted and sometimes i danced like nothing was wrong with me, whenever the pain gets too serious i stopped. I was trying to be active so no one gets worried about my silence.
Yet the pain persisted . I was being brought into a church , as the prophet was praying for me he said he saw a revelation that some evil people were behind the pain i was having then, that they wanted to get me killed for their own reasons. By hearing his revelation, there was a confidence that rose up in me from nowhere.
He further said, that i might not last 7 days nor 7 weeks on earth as lungs and every organs already turned into black. Suddenly my Mum started crying . I got up on my feet with Confidence and Holy annoyance. Told my Mum to get up and let start going.
I said the death part of his vision wasn’t mine neither my portion. She was trying to calm me down, but i already went out of the church. (Being a kid then i was referred to as being stubborn because of my faith). She came outside to meet me and said to me, “ at least you would have listen to everything he had to say”. I said No, i don’t have to listen to him anymore as God didn’t tell me about death.
I voiced out “I shall not die but live to proclaim the goodness of God” even at that time i knew nothing about bible, but I’ve only heard people using the same scripture. With my facial expressions and reactions, my mum felt that bit of peace too, but not knowing i wasn’t the one talking by myself, it was the spirit of the lord directing/ordering my tongue to have made such Holy confessions over my life.
That is what the power of the tongue can do. I can still remember that day, the moment my Mum said to me, “Just as you have spoken with your mouth, so shall it be in Jesus Name” (Long story cut short). That was the beginning of my healings to the end of the illness. Today am still a living testimony on how God used my tongue to revived my soul.
Ways To Use The Tongue Rightly
There were enough illustration in the book of James how is right for the tongue to be used.
For Praising God
* (James 1:5-6) Indicating the use of our tongue is for praising God. Its an act we have to be engaging constantly. The books of psalms 150, 149 and 148 are helpful too.
For Praying To God
* You need healing (James 5: 14-15)
* Needing wisdom (James 1: 5-6)
* Assistance while in Trouble (James 5: 13-15)
* Restoring a Backslider ( James 5: 19-20)
* Making huge request ( James 5: 17-18)
For Witnessing The Lord’s Power
This is not in book of James, can be found in (Acts 1:8) (Psalm 107:2)
Sing Unto The Lord
* (Psalm 51:14) (James 5:13)
Now this has helped us to see that our tongues could be used in some good ways and also some numbers of bad/odd ways too. Can our tongues be controlled? The answer is YES, but only by the Holy Spirit . Ask yourself if you ever requested from the Holy spirit to take charge of your tongue and utterances. (Romans 6:13) Being exhorted to offer this part of our body to God ” as a device of righteousness” being our eyes, beauty, tongue or hands.
Kindly give your tongue in prayers to the lord right now to control it for you. As you do this, the Holy spirit will minister unto you to use your tongue rightly/positively for the glory of God.
In Addition, endeavor to study these verses:
* (Psalm 17:3 , Psalm 39:1 ) For a resolution to make.
* (Matthew 12: 34-37) For a warning to take note about.
* (Psalm 19:14, Psalm 141:3) For a Prayer to Pray
GOD BLESS YOU!!!
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