TONGUE-THE POWER

OF WORDS
Proverbs 18:21
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are
in the power of the
tongue: and they
that love it shall eat
the fruit thereof.
 TONGUE
The tongue is vital for chewing
and swallowing food, as well as
for speech. The four common
tastes are sweet, sour, bitter, and
salty. A fifth taste, called umami,
results from tasting glutamate
(present in MSG). The tongue has
many nerves that help detect and
transmit taste signals to the
brain. -Google
• Sticks and stones may break my/our bones,
but words are powerful weapons that can
inspire or destroy someone.

• Much can be said of a person's character

by the way they use their tongue. Matthew
12:34; Proverbs 18:21

• Tongue is “a fire, a world of iniquity” James

3:8

• Tongue is a “deadly poison” James 3:8

• As a fool would carelessly play and prank with a
loaded gun, so many Christians today do likewise
with their deadly tongue.

• If only we could fully realize the untold damage that

we are doing to the body of Christ! If only we could
see the full effect of the words we use!

• Perhaps a closer look into the Bible can help. God

made man, and God made man's tongue, so surely
God should be qualified to comment on the subject.

• Surely God should have some good counsel

concerning the use and misuse of the human tongue.

• Let us consider some sins of the tongue as we find

them revealed in God's word.
The Lying Tongue
• Proverbs 25: 18 , "A man that beareth false
witness against his neighbour is a maul, and
a sword, and a sharp arrow."

• So, a lying tongue is a misuse of a deadly

weapon. It can be used to harm others near
at hand (a maul), a few feet away (a sword),
or a great distance away (an arrow).

• Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44)

• God said that he hates a lying tongue (Pro.
6:17).
• All liars will have their part in the lake of fire,
according to Revelation 21:8.
The Flattering
Tongue
• Flattery is also a sin of the tongue.
• The Bible speaks of flattery as a
characteristic of the wicked, not the
righteous: "For there is no faithfulness in
their mouth; their inward part is very
wickedness; their throat is an open
sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue."
(Psalm 5:9)
• Imagine the improvements which could be
made in our nation if voters elected leaders
on the basis of the RECORD rather than
on the basis of the flattering speeches!
• Flattery is just a form of lying, and it has
no place in the life of a Christian.
The Proud Tongue
• The Bible also speaks of the proud tongue.
Psalm 12:3-4 says, "The LORD shall cut off all
flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh
proud things: Who have said, With our
tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own:
who is lord over us?"
• The most annoying Christians in the world
are those with proud tongues because a
proud tongue usually comes with two
closed ears!
• Proud- tongued Christians are generally so
full of themselves that they learn very little
from anyone else.
The Proud Tongue
• A proud-tongued Christian will talk
much of his knowledge and service,
but very little about the Lord.
• A proud- tongued Christian is hard to
teach or reason with because he
thinks he knows everything.
• Brethren, God hates a proud tongue.
• Allow the Holy Spirit to use our
tongue in the way of humility and
kindness because pride will only
quench God's Spirit and damage our
testimony.
The Overused Tongue
• Some people sin by simply overusing
their tongue.
• Ecclesiastes 5:3 says that "a fool's
voice is known by multitude of words."
• People think they appear smart by
much talking, but the Bible states just
the opposite.
• Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, "Be not rash
with thy mouth, and let not thine heart
be hasty to utter any thing before God:
for God is in heaven, and thou upon
earth: therefore let thy words be few."
• God doesn't like a blabber mouth. A prou
The Swift Tongue
• Some people are guilty of speaking too
swiftly when they really need to wait
before saying anything.
• God's word says the following in Proverbs
18:13: "He that answereth a matter
before he heareth it, it is folly and shame
unto him."
• How many times have you had to "eat"
your words because you spoke too
swiftly?
• James 1:19 warns us to be swift to HEAR
and SLOW to speak.
• That’s why God gave us two ears but
only one mouth.
The Backbiting Tongue
• Proverbs 25:23 and Romans 1:30 make mention of a
backbiting tongue.
• A backbiter is someone who uses their tongue
against you when you aren't present, yet they will
not face you with their charges when you are
present. This is a cowardly backbiter who would
rather stir up problems than solve problems.
• A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT the
preacher than talk TO the preacher.
• A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT some
weak Christian in the church than offer some words
of encouragement TO them.
• A backbiter is of no use to anyone, and no one has
ever been strengthened or edified through
backbiting.
• Beware of the backbiters, especially the ones who
sow discord among brethren (Pro. 6:19)!
The Cursing Tongue
• Some people, Christians included,
have a habit of using their tongue for
cursing.
• Romans 3:13-14 says, "Their throat is
an open sepulchre; with their tongues
they have used deceit; the poison of
asps is under their lips: Whose mouth
is full of cursing and bitterness."
• This passage deals strictly with
unsaved people and their ungodly
ways, yet there are a great many
professing Christians who curse
regularly.
The Cursing Tongue
• Psalm 109:17-18"As he loved cursing, so let
it come unto him: as he delighted not in
blessing, so let it be far from him. As he
clothed himself with cursing like as with
his garment, so let it come into his bowels
like water, and like oil into his bones.“
• Many people curse because their life is
miserable. They are unhappy so they make
it known with their degenerate speech. The
passage says that God keeps them
unhappy BECAUSE of their speech!
• God curses those who curse!
• Brethren, don't expect God's blessings
when our mouth is filled with cursing.
The Piercing Tongue
• Another sinful tongue is the piercing
tongue.
• Proverbs 12:18 speaks of this tongue by
saying, "There is that speaketh like the
piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the
wise is health."
• Some people have a sharp piercing tongue
which Satan uses to offend and insult
others.
• The Bible commands Christians to have
their speech dominated by GRACE (Col.
4:6), yet most churches have a few people
who use their tongue like a sword to
pierce their brethren in Christ.
The Piercing Tongue
• Another sinful tongue is the piercing tongue.
• Proverbs 12:18 speaks of this tongue by saying,
"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a
sword: but the tongue of the wise is health."
• Some people have a sharp piercing tongue which
Satan uses to offend and insult others.
• The Bible commands Christians to have their
speech dominated by GRACE (Col. 4:6), yet most
churches have a few people who use their tongue
like a sword to pierce their brethren in Christ.
• Titus 2:8 commands us to use sound speech
which cannot be condemned.
• Brethren, do you use graceful speech which
cannot be evil spoken of, or do you possess a
piercing tongue?
The Silent Tongue
• A silent tongue is also a sinful tongue
because we have been commanded to
speak up and witness for the Lord Jesus
Christ.
• In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, "But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth."
• We, as Christians, have an obligation to
tell others about the saving grace of
Jesus.
The Silent Tongue
• To be silent about Christ is to sin against
Christ.
• Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be
ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him
also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father
with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
• Brethren, if you do not want to be ashamed
of yourself when the Lord returns, then
don't be ashamed of Jesus today.
• Pray for opportunities to speak up for your
Saviour. Don't be found guilty of having a
silent tongue.
 James 3: 8-12
8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil,
full of deadly poison.
9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith
curse we men, which are made after the similitude of
God.
10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet
water and bitter?
12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either
a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and
fresh.
Conclusion
• Dedicate your heart, mind, and
tongue to the lord, daily
• Pray that god would give you
an awareness/consciousness
of your words
• Ask for forgiveness for any
unloving words or attitudes
• Practice speaking words that
will encourage, comfort, edify,
and inspire