Monday, July 25, 2005

The Power of The Tongue

On Friday, I shared about our mouth-member as an instrument of righteousness or unrighteousness. I want to continue with that train of thought. James 3:8-10, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” If you recall, on Friday I shared that every word we say is either accomplishing God’s agenda or Satan’s agenda. Here are just some of the ways we use our mouths as instruments of unrighteousness: Silence –
pouting, withdrawal, ignoring; Sarcasm (Proverbs 12:8); Gossip (Proverbs 10:13, 26:20); Nagging (Proverbs 19:13; 27:15-16); Deception (Psalm 38:12, Ephesians 4:25); Idle words and coarse jesting (Matthew 12:36-37); Making our point (Psalm 12:3); Misused humor (Ephesians 4:29); Grumbling and complaining (Philippians 2:14).

Now before you get too distressed, God has given us the grace to use our mouth-member as an instrument of righteousness to accomplish His agenda in the following ways: Speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), To encourage (Acts 15:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11, 14); To Edify (1 Thessalonians 5:11); Bless (Romans 12:14); Instruct (Proverbs 16:21); Build up (Romans 15:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:11); Exhort (Hebrews 3:13); Admonish (Colossians 3:16); Rebuke (Titus 2:15) and Comfort (Proverbs 12:25).

Let me close with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Beth Moore: “We are created in the image of God; therefore, His words are omnipotent, and our words are potent. Using our instruments inappropriately is an effective way to stay out of our promised lands.”(Believing God, pg. 115)

Diane

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