The Power Of Your Tongue

The Power of Your Tongue

Dr. Russell K. Tardo

I. The Power of Your Tongue

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

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. [Mark 11:23]

32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.... 36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. [Mat. 12:32, 36-37]

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. [James 3:2]

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. [Rev. 21:8]

9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [Rom. 10:9-10]

Without question, the human tongue is a powerful instrument and in its power is the ability to do evil or to do good. Consequently, believers need to carefully guard their tongues for it is an awesome force and influence in one’s life.

A. The Power to Reveal Maturity:

The tongue has the power to reveal one’s maturity as a Christian or one’s lack of maturity [Reference: James 3:2 above.] One’s words are the yardstick by which one’s level of spiritual is measured.

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. [Prov. 10:19]

B. The Power to Control:

The tongue has the power to control one’s whole life. When the tongue is under control, the entire body is controlled.

C. The Power to Build or Destroy:

The tongue has the power to build or destroy, not only one’s own life, but also the lives of others with whom one comes in contact, i.e., family members, friends, co-workers, business associates ... virtually every contact has the potential to influence positively or negatively.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! [James 3:5]

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. [1 Pe. 3:10]

9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.... 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. [Prov. 31:9, 26]

28The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath no word, let him speak my word faithfully.... 30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. 31Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord. [Jer. 23:28, 30-32]

D. The Power to Defile:

The tongue has the power to defile the whole body, i.e., to pollute the entire body.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [James 3:6]

16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

[1 Cor. 3:16-17]

11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.... 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. [Mat. 15:11, 18]