Introduction

Beloved friends, as we gather together in this sacred space, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a profound truth, a truth that has the power to transform our lives in unimaginable ways. Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs, a wisdom that is as timeless as the heavens, as deep as the ocean, and as vast as the universe itself.

As we open our Bibles, we find ourselves in the eighteenth chapter of Proverbs, verse 21, which lays out a truth that is as simple as it is profound: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."

Think about that for a moment. The words we speak have the power to give life or to bring death. They can build up or tear down, heal or harm, inspire or discourage. The tongue, though small, wields a mighty power.

The esteemed Charles Spurgeon once said, "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." How true that is! The words we speak, whether truthful or deceitful, have a way of spreading far beyond our immediate surroundings. They can influence people and shape events in ways we can scarcely imagine.

Today, we will discuss three important points related to the power of the tongue. First, we will consider how we can tame our tongues through the Spirit. Second, we will look at the tragic trajectory that our tongues can take if left unchecked. Finally, we will discuss how we can transform our talk to align more closely with the truth of God's word.

Before we begin, let's bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your word and the wisdom it imparts. As we consider the power of the tongue, we ask that you would open our hearts and minds to the truth of your word. Help us to use our words to build up, not tear down; to heal, not harm; to inspire, not discourage. May our words reflect the love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.

Taming the Tongue Through the Spirit

Our words are a reflection of what is in our hearts. They are the outward expression of our inner thoughts and feelings. When we are filled with the Spirit, our words will reflect the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Conversely, when we are not walking in the Spirit, our words can become a tool of destruction, causing harm to ourselves and others.

The Spirit is our guide and our helper in this endeavor. It is through the Spirit that we are able to control our tongues and use our words to build up rather than tear down. The Spirit helps us to speak words of life, words that reflect the love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The first step in taming our tongues through the Spirit is to recognize the power of our words. Our words have the power to give life or to bring death. They can build up or tear down, heal or harm, inspire or discourage. We must be mindful of the words we speak and the impact they have on those around us.

The second step is to seek the guidance of the Spirit. The Spirit is our helper and our guide. It is through the Spirit that we are able to control our tongues and use our words to build up rather than tear down. We must seek the Spirit's guidance in all things, including our speech.

The third step is to practice self-control. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control, and this includes control over our tongues. We must practice self-control in our speech, choosing our words carefully and thoughtfully. We must strive to speak words of life, words that build up rather than tear down.

The fourth step is to cultivate a heart of love. The fruit of the Spirit is love, and when we are filled with love, our words will reflect that love. We must cultivate a heart of love, allowing the love of Christ to fill us and overflow into our words.

The Tongue's Tragic Trajectory

As we continue to delve into the wisdom of Proverbs 18:21, we find ourselves confronted with a sobering reality ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO