James 3:6 "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

The tongue is self-destructive. Not only in a persons life but the churches life also. If the tongue of a person can self inflict their body so, how about the member of the body of Christ which represents the tongue?

Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are 6 things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable (the seventh is an abomination unto him): haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush to evil, a false witness who pours out lies, (and the seventh which is worse than the first 6 is) and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers (sows discord within the body of Christ, the church). This abomination is the busy bodies of the church who keeps the church separated. We can only worship God as a church if we are in one mind and one accord with the rest of the congregation. But unfortunately this is not always the case. One member can disrupt the entire act of worship through their tongue. Spreading rumors, telling lies, meddling in other peoples business is wrong and the scriptures say so. 1 Timothy 5:13 "Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

It only takes a tiny spark in a forest to cause a devastating forest fire. This message is for the church and for the individual church member alike.

Sometimes we hear someone say, "it's only words." Or the old saying "sticks and stones can break my bones but words can not hurt me." Though it may seem like harmless words at times, words carry much weight, which I will prove with scripture.

Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

Matthew 12:37 "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." James 3:8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is unruly evil, full of deadly poison." Verse 9 goes on to speak of the becoming lukewarm and contradiction of the tongue. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness."

The tongue is a very powerful weapon and there are many warnings in the bible about how we are to use it. Proverbs 21:23 "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity." James 1:26 "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

All things were made by the Word of God (John 1:3) (Hebrews 11:3) God spoke all things into existence. Genesis 1:3 "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." This is an example of the power of God's Word. In order for a sinner to come to repentance that person must first "confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 10:9). With the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever."

1 Peter 1:25 "But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

By being born again we as believers now have the Word of God living in us. The same spirit that moved upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2 now lives and abides in us. That means we have authority! Authority over principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Authority to act upon God's Word to say to the mountain "be removed" and if you have faith and do not doubt, it shall be removed (Matthew 21:21).

Jesus was the walking, living, breathing word of God, manifested in the flesh. Whatever he said and whatever he commanded, it was done. He cast out devils by his words, he healed the sick by his words, and he forgave sins by his words. There was a demonstration of the power of the spirit when Jesus spoke. John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

If we are agents of Christ, if we are his representatives on earth, and if we have been empowered by that same spirit which created all things, then we must claim this authority and walk in victory!

John 15:7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it will be done unto you." These are promises from Jesus so that his joy may remain in us and that our joy will be full.

How is God's word manifested through us, the believer? Titus 1:3 says "manifested his word through preaching." 1 Corinthians 1:21 "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was being preached to save those who believe."

The spoken word is full of power if spoken with the authority of the spirit of God. But words can also be used in an evil manner and we must guard our lips to not speak anything which would cause harm. Examples of death because of the tongue are plentiful in scripture. Here are a few to study Numbers 14:36-37, 1 Samuel 22:9-10, 2 Kings 18:28-35, Acts 5:5-10.

James 1:21 speaks of the word being planted or engrafted into the believer. This word is a seed which if nourished and fertilized should grow and spill out. So that, which a person used to speak, envying, lies, filthiness, greed, corruption, slander, folly should be changed over to godliness, purity, and holiness. Mark 7:20 "What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean." With this in mind we must consider Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken".

Psalm 34:1 "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." This is a good scripture to live by. If we are in constant praise of the Lord we will not be able to fill our mouth with gossip, backbiting and spreading rumors which will stop the forward progress of the word of God (Psalm 32:9). If there is bitterness in a person's mouth then nothing sweet will come out. Our lives as believers in Christ Jesus should be a reflection of his love and compassion. The servants heart is what we strive for and how can this be if we are speaking bad things?

James chapter 3 is an excellent chapter to study if you would like to go further into this subject.

Psalm 63:4-5 "I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."

In Christ Jesus,

Dale Thompson