Taming The Tongue Series

The seven keys to revival – Sermon 2 – Key 2 “Taming the tongue”

Opening Scripture text Isaiah 30:25-26

25In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill. 26The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.

Isaiah promises us that in the that great and terrible day when the towers fall God’s Spirit would burn brighter than ever before. We are in that day today. So, let me ask you again some questions, “How many want of you want to experience a revival in your life?”” How many want to experience revival here at New Life Community Church? “”How many want to see revival in the city of Amery?”” How many want to see revival in the United States?”” I believe the time is ripe and God is ready but the church has to align itself with His word and His teachings.

Opening Illustration: Have the tongue in the box covered. Ask people to guess what powerful force is in the box.

Tell them this has been one of the most powerful forces in the world that has stopped revival from happening.

Thesis: The tongue has done more destruction to our society than terrorist’s attacks. It has been one of the most powerful forces stopping revival from happening in this nation.

Texts: James 3:1-10

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The 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.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

Proverbs 12:18

18Reckless words pierce like a sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

James 1:26

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Movie Illustration: Monty Python (from Group’s Blockbuster Movie Illustrations)

“Admit it - you’ve used similar phrases behind (People’s backs). Since the first words that come to mind in difficult situations are generally put-downs and smart remarks, taming the tongue is especially difficult. This scene provides a silly start to a serious discussion” (Belknap, page 126).

After Clip ask these questions (Taken from Belknap page 126)

1. Have you ever insulted someone before? What happened?

a. Did it resolve the problem?

2. Have you ever been insulted? How did it make you feel?

a. Read: I Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

b. Show overhead – of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.

3. Why is it so hard to speak only encouraging words? How does encouragement affect other people?

4. What are some practical ways you can learn restraint when you’re tempted to say rude or mean things?

5. What will you have to do to change your put-downs into words of encouragement?

Introduction:

The mass devastation and destruction caused this week all started in the tongues of men. Men and women who made the threats verbally threat set in motion the destruction of the World Trade Centers and the damage to the Pentagon. The tongue makes known the intent of the evil heart that dominates it and controls it. They make claims to what will happen and therefore cursing flows from their mouths. Their tongue was the force that put the whole deadly process into motion. The tongue recruited others to their deadly plan by lies and planting seeds of hate into others. The tongue’s purpose was to bring devastation and destruction to innocent people.