The Tongue

The theme is the deeper life, where Christianity is not just somewhere you attend but that it becomes you. You become an embodiment of your belief in Christ.
Paul said to the Corinthians in II Corinthians 3:2 that they were written epistle read by men. There life should preach a message.
We are as Christians to give off a fragrance. II Corinthians 2:15
15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
I wonder what smell we give off as Christians.

This weeks study is about the tongue, understanding the impact we can make for good or evil by what we speak.
Proverbs 18: 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
This scripture highlights that.
We need to know what pleases the Lord, and what he hates.
Proverbs 6: 6These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Notice out of all these things the tongue is involved in three of these sins.

More and more I am realising that what you say even in private, God hears and we will have to give account for it.
Matthew 12:36-37But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment.
I will ask a general Question………
Has anyone in hear ever spoken negative or evil of someone?
Has anyone ever been attracted to gossip?
What pushed you to gossip?
I can guarantee it is usually a hurt or an injustice was done, there fore the backbiting spills out.

The other day I was boiling the Cabbage and it had a little too much water, and on top of that I had the lid on, and it began to bubble over and spill out onto the stove.
Have you ever felt like you cannot hold it any longer?

What made the pot boil was the fire underneath it, sometimes there is someone telling you lies that is causing you to boil over.
Let's look at what James says about the tongue.
James 3 the whole chapter is relevant.
Let us analyse this chapter. 1-2
Bridle
chalinagoôgeoô
Thayer Definition:
1) To lead by a bridle, to guide
2) To bridle, hold in check, restrain
epistomizoô
Thayer Definition:
1) To bridle or stop up the mouth
2) Metaphorically to stop the mouth, reduce to silence
James is saying; if you can stop steer or reduce to silence the mouth, you are on your way to perfection.
Verses 3-5
The next point James makes is that the tongue in volume and size in comparison to the rest of our bodies is small, yet it drives the whole body.
To bring out this point he uses metaphors and anecdotes, as the small rudder steering the ship.
Has anyone ever witnessed how from something said, or spoken against someone can cause such a large matter?
It was said that the fires that nearly destroyed all of Australia's forestry was caused by a cigarette, one cigarette caused such devastation.
Verses 6-8
All kinds of wild animals can be tamed yet the tongue cannot be!
The Circus can train wild ravenous tigers to jump through hoops; Wild elephants can place their hoof on a trainer without crushing him.
But the tongue!
Verses 9-12
James in this verse makes us aware of what I call a Paradox, We curse our brother our sister, then with the very same God we sing wonderful worship songs with such sweetness, or we pray with such vigour, and sincerity.
Can a fountain, one day give sweet water and the next day bitter.
The fountain is our life our hearts, what is in your fountain, what is in your heart.

The Heart
1a) that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
1b) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
2a) the vigour and sense of physical life
2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life
2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
2b3) of the will and character
2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
1c) of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate
The heart is the fountain Jesus speaks about the deceit of the heart
The tongue is the tap that releases what is in the heart.
Matthew 12: 34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A 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.
Matthew 15: and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man:
What a powerful lesson James gives on the tongue.
Have you ever been tempted to Backbite?
How did you overcome it?
God gave me a wonderful revelation about the dung gate that was in Jerusalem. In the time of Nehemiah,
There was a fish gate, sheep gate, fountain gate, and others but what was necessary was the dung gate so all the filth, and refuse could flow out of the city.
We need a dung gate so that all the filth that comes in via backbiters and gossiper, TV, media, the world flows out.

The Power of Confession
The tongue can also be used as a powerful tool, for good.
Ecclesiastes 12:11
Proverbs 12: 8There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Good words are health to the bones Proverbs 16:24
Look at the thief on the cross his confession, saved him from Hell
Luke 23:39-43
Confession is powerful Romans 10:9-10
Your tongue leads the way, and then the rest of the body follows.

I believe this is why prophecy in the New Testament can be so beneficial, because you are speaking words of encouragement and healing.
I Corinthians 14

Job 6: 24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 25How forcible are right words! But what doth your arguing reprove?
Job 5:21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
Proverbs 25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance backbiting tongue.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Psalms 34; 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Psalms 39: 1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Proverbs 10: 20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

What Have You Learned from this study?

Have You Changed In Any Way as a Result?

Are there any circumstances where you might be justified in sharing a matter?
Proverbs 11; 13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Proverbs 17: 9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Titus 1: 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Yes

Galatians 6: 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Revelations 14: 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Murmuring and Complaining is the spirit of this age
Jude 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

II Peter 2: 2 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.

Titus 3: 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
Let us as James puts it so well; be slow to speak and slow to wrath and remember a fool is known by the multitude of his words.