THE WORDs OF OUR MOUTH "He who will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile." 1 Peter 3:10 I. The Spirit of God is greatly grieved when the words of our mouths do not edify or minister grace to those around us. Ephesians 4:29, 30 A. Bitter & sweet waters cannot come from the same well. James 3:10-12 B. A bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit; neither can a good tree bring forth bad fruit. Matthew 7:16-18 C. We must separate the precious from the vile ("worthless"). Jeremiah 15:19 II. There is great power in the tongue; it can minister either life or death.Proverbs 18:21 A.The tongue can be a destructive & deadly weapon.Proverbs 11:9; 15:4; Psalms 57:4 1. It is "like a sharp razor. "Psalms 52:2 2. Scripture describes the tongue as a sword. Psalms 55:21; 57:4; 59:7; 64:3 Proverbs 12:18; 25:18; 30:14 3. "And the tongue is a fire..."Psalms 57:4; 120:3, 4; Proverbs 16:27; 26:20, 21 Isaiah 5:24 James 3:5, 6 4. It is like the deadly poison of a serpent. Psalms 58:3, 4; 140:3 Romans 3:13 (Psa 5:9) James 3:8 5. Words can eat away like gangrene ("canker," KJV=ganggraing, Greek). 2 Timothy 2:16, 17 B. But our words can minister life as well. Proverbs15:4; 18:21; 10:11, 21 1. There is healing in a soft word. Proverbs 4:22; 12:18; 16:24; 17:22 2. A kind word can minister grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29 3. A word spoken in season can impart joy. Proverbs 12:25; 15:23 III. We are, therefore, exhorted to guard the words of our mouth. Psa 24:13; 39:1; 141:3Prov 13:3; 21:231 Pet 3:10 A."When the people complained, it displeased the Lord; and the Lord heard it; and His anger was kindled..." Numbers 11:1 B."All these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth" are a part of the"old man with his deeds," and must be dealt with accordingly. Colossians 3:8-10 C. By our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. Matthew 12:36, 37 D. Since we are to "speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11), God would rather that we give thanks and edify one another, than cause dissention and strife among the brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 Ephesians 4:29; 5:4 E. Not what goes into the mouth but what comes out of it defiles a man. Matthew 15:11, 18 (Mark7:20) F. We are to be an example in speech(1 Timothy 4:12), even as Jesus Christ "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again..." 1 Peter 2:21-23 IV. To be able to tame the tongue is a sign of true spiritual maturity. "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect (mature) man ..." Job 1:1, 8, 22 cp. 2:9, 10 Zechariah 3:13 James 1:26; 3:2 Revelation 14:5
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 15:30:10 +0000
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