CONTROL YOU TONGUE (PART ONE)
FROM THE GENERAL OVERSEER,
Pastor (Dr) E. O. Abina
GOFAMINT
CONTROL YOU TONGUE (PART ONE)
Sunday 14th June, 2015.
“For we stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to control the whole body” (James 3:2).
One of the most powerful weapon available to mankind is the tongue, so small yet so deadly. Wars have been started, untold millions have died, nations have perished, relationships have been broken, families destroyed, people imprisoned, organisations and institutions have collapsed as a result of the negative use of the tongue. Indeed there seems to be no part of the body that has brought untold misery to mankind like the tongue. The tongue is one of the major organs that execute the thoughts of the heart. It is the mirror of the heart.
James 3:6 calls it “a fire” “a world of iniquity”. Think about the many sins that can be committed with the tongue, the most popular ones are lying, backbiting, slander. Then we have deception, disrespect, exaggeration, boasting, evil communication, character assassination, murder, jesting, swearing, cursing, abusing, manipulation etc. the list is endless.
The tongue when misused brings destruction to both adult and children alike, like Korah, Abiram and Dathan who were swallowed up by the earth for the things they said against Moses. Numbers 26:10 or the Children who mocked and abused Elisha, they were not only children but the bible calls them “little children” which reveals that they were very small indeed and Elisha cursed them and instantly bears devoured the forty-two children. 2Kings 2:23-24or Rehoboam who lost the kingdom when he spoke foolishly to Israel in 1Kings 12:10, such is the power of the tongue.
The tongue has the power to transcend generations, some are still reaping the evil harvest of the words spoken thousands of years ago, like the nation of Israel which has known no peace because they requested that the death of Jesus be on them Matthew 27:25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children
The tongue when used negatively acts as a forerunner to other sins. No Christian can be holy if his or her tongue is not pure, because the tongue corrupts the whole body and its misuse is a sure route to hell fire. James 3:6b Says: “The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.”
Remember your tongue is the major organ which you will use to sing a new song this month as the Lord changes your story for the better. So it is important to remove every obstacle, so that God can abundantly bless and intervene in our affairs. Let us now consider some points.
1. Your tongue reveals who you are: Only God has an access to the thoughts of man but when one speaks, it reveals the heart and its thoughts and the character of the individual. Jesus said. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speaks good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A 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. Matt. 12:34-35
The tongue is a creative or destructive weapon: Unbelievers can use their tongue for diabolical purposes such as incantations etc. That is why the bible tells us in Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn”. What the tongue can create the tongue can destroy. We create every time we use our tongue; we can create what is good or destroy.
Through our words we create feelings and emotions we can make someone sad or happy, lifted or depressed through the way we use our tongue. A church, family, business or nation can be a better place or a terrible place through what people create or destroy with their tongues. Prayerfully, ask yourself for a moment, what am I creating or destroying with my tongue? Am I creating confusion? Destroying relationships? Am I building up or tearing down? Consider your ways and ask the Lord to make all crooked paths straight. Till next week, keep on singing a new song.