A Systematic, expository study of God's Word                                                SPECIAL STUDY

THE POWER OF DISCIPLINED AND UNDISCIPLINED TONGUE

       Proverbs 18:21

The Lord is bringing our way a message that is very important and that concerns everyone ‑ young and old, boys and girls, Christians and non‑Christians alike. It is a message that is addressed to everyone that has ability to speak and to pass across ideas through a channel unto another person to hear. It concerns us in the family, in the place of work, in the market where we buy and sell, on the road, which we use with other road-users and within the confines of the church where we interact with other believers.  It concerns the relationship between friend and friend and even the reaction of an enemy to another enemy. It concerns the illiterates as well as the educated, it concerns people who live alone and people who live in communes; it concerns the government officials who have some words to pass across to the citizens.

The tongue, for good or for evil, for better or for worse, is mighty and powerful. Through the use of the tongue, nation can be set against nation; there can be war, famine, death, and devastation. Through the tongue, there can be unity, fellowship, peace and settlement of disputes; marriage can be contracted or destroyed. Through the tongue, we can make friends or enemies. Through the tongue, your husband can so love you that no in‑law or neighbour can see in‑between you. Or else, a crack can be created in the wall of your marriage and, thereby making a way for demonic forces to enter and ruin your home. Through the tongue, a church can be so united that nobody will be able to penetrate and do them any evil or else a church can be scattered as to turn their backs on one another. The tongue can be a great blessing if it is used in the way God ordained. On the other hand, the blessings of regular fellowship, weekly Bible study and mighty revivals can be lost through the wrong use of the tongue. We can help and heal one another as much as we can harm and hurt one another with the tongue.

Our tongue marks us out. It shows who we are and who we belong to; it shows what kind of person we are. Our tongue shows whose followers we are and which church we belong. It shows whether we are following Christ or the Antichrist (James 1:26,27). If you will keep out of trouble, then keep your tongue within the cage of your teeth (Psalm 34:11‑13). Don't say yes when you ought to say no and, don't say no when you ought to say yes. Don't talk when you ought to keep quiet.

DIVINE PRECEPTS FOR THE CHRISTIAN TONGUE

James 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:25,29; Matthew 18:15‑17; Titus 3:2

In the world in which we live, not everybody will use their tongues aright. Generally, unbelievers (and they include your unbelieving husband, wife, relations, friends) deliberately use words in such a way as to cause strife or provoke their opponents to anger. As born again Christians living in the same community, engaged in the same type of business, cooking in the same kitchen or using the same facilities with them, we must be "'swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" as we interact with them. Obscene words, dirty, unclean jokes, irritating words must not come from our lips but that which can encourage, unite and edify hearers and stir them up to love and to prayers. How marvellous it will be if the words we speak as we go out there are words that instil grace, courage, strength and fervency in the listeners! What a joy it will be and what a wonderful Christian life we will live! The God who created us and the Lord who saved us knew that people are going to offend us and has provided solution. He says: "if thy brother shall trespass against thee, (don't go to make a broadcast of it on the radio or in the press, don't report him to your wife or husband; don't call your children and ask them to revenge on your behalf) go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." If you do, fellowship and friendship can start again

Many lives have been lost when, because of little disagreement, third parties were brought in at a wrong point. But the Prince of Peace tells us how to maintain peace among ourselves. God is not the author of confusion and conflict but of peace. And He would want us to take all necessary steps to be at peace with the people who have offended us. It is not every time some little problem happens that we run to the leader or Pastor to report. The first step is to tell your brother. The second step to take if he doesn't agree is to get one or two other people to try to settle the matter. But if the fellow appears recalcitrant and you want peace at all costs, then you take it to the leader or Pastor not so that he can crucify him but so that the difference between him and you can be sorted out amicably. If you have taken these steps and the brother still appears unrepentant, then you take him as, a backslider or an unbeliever and begin to fast and pray for his restoration or repentance. Two wrongs cannot make a right. If he has backslidden, your acting like him will not show that you are right but will only cast you in the shadow of a backslider and sinner as he is..

DEADLY POISON IN THE UNCONVERTED TONGUE

Romans 3:12,13; Psalm 140:3; James 3:8; Daniel 4:30‑33; Numbers 21:4‑6; 2 Samuel 6:15,16,20‑23

The unconverted heart is linked up to an unconverted tongue. But the converted, purified, purged heart is linked up to a converted, purified, purged tongue. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The unconverted man with the unconverted heart will demonstrate the unconverted tongue. Deadly poison comes out of the mouth of unconverted people! With their tongues, believers should extract rather than add to the poison already injected into the soul by the unbelievers' words. Say something that will increase rather than diminish the joy of the hurt. Say something that should encourage and make him happy. We shouldn't be used of the devil to say to our fellow believers the same demoralizing words that the unbelievers are saying to them. The poison of the tongue does more damage to the owner than it does to the target. The poisonous tongue poisons itself more than it does its victim. If you can, don't speak when you are discouraged. Don't open your mouth too wide. What you say can bring greater burden or problem than the one you have set out to solve with your tongue when you were discouraged.

DIVINE POWER THROUGH THE CONVERTED TONGUE

Proverbs 21:23; 15:1,2; 25:15; Luke 4:22,32,36; Job 22:27,28; Psalm 141:3

"I am sorry" said very softly may be all that is needed to quench a raging inferno or to stop a little problem from becoming a big problem. The Lord spoke words of grace and encouragement. We, His followers, ought to speak the way He spoke. Our words ought to carry along with them the same power and authority that His carried. If you talk to God. He will give you the tongue of Jesus. You will know how to talk to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the unbelievers, the disciples and to Mary. You will know how to rebuke, comfort and intercede for Peter. If you will ask the Lord to give you the tongue of Jesus, He is going to give you power in prayer. "Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways." If you will speak like Jesus, you will pray like Jesus and God will answer your prayer like He answered the prayers of Jesus. How, like the psalmist, we need to pray: "Set a watch, OLord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."

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