The Tongue Of Power

ISAIAH 61:

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple”.

Isaiah was a prophet of the Living God. In this text he recounts his encounter with the Lord. A Seraph of the Lord picked a live coal of fire and placed it on the tongue of Isaiah. Note that the Seraph picked the live coal with a tongue; he did not pick it with his hand because it was hot. It was, as a person would pick a hot slice of yam from a pot on fire. The Seraphim placed the hot coal on Isaiah’s tongue and the tongue became pure. It was then that he could answer the call to be sent by God. Immediately Isaiah saw the Lord, the trouble with his life and the reason for his powerlessness, was revealed to him. His lips were unclean and his tongue was polluted, therefore, his words carried no power.

This incidence took place in Jerusalem around 742 BC. Isaiah was a middle-aged man. He was in the midst of worshippers in the temple, whilst the evening sacrifice was taking place Uzziah King of Judah, one of the best kings around, had just died.

II Chronicles 261-5:

“Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him”.

1 Chronicles 2621-23:

“As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli. The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the Lord. Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites”

Uzziah was a powerful wise king he became very strong and was feared by neighbouring countries. His strength got into his head and he became proud. He was really a better king than many; his reign was golden; money and splendour corrupted the hearts of the people. God’s people forgot their calling as a holy nation. They were no longer living in conformity with the statutes of the Lord. They no longer trusted in God to protect them and provide for them. They conformed to the unholy ways of the nations around them. Their bellies and ears became heavy; they were unable to speak the Word of God. They could not even hear from God. Isaiah too was like that, until he saw the Lord and his life changed. He realised that he had unclean Lips: his tongue had no power. A tongue can carry power, discouragement, defeat and failure.

For your tongue to carry power you must:

1. Encounter the Giver of power

The Bible says: “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue.” Your tongue can carry power or weakness, disease or discouragement. God wants our tongue to carry power.

It is amazing to discover that the children of the devil do not mind doing anything to get power. Some sleep in the burial ground for 201 nights, some fast for many days, some memorise many incantations because they want power. It is discouraging to note that the children of God find it difficult to memorise the Word of God or fast and pray for many days.

2. Allow God’s coal of fire to dropped on your tongue, to purify it and your sins will be wiped away.

Do not be like the sons of Sceva who were trying to cast out a demon, in the Name of Jesus, that they heard Paul Preach. They themselves did not know Jesus so, the demon revolted; saying that it knew Paul and Jesus but did not know them. It pounced on them and dealt with them seriously.

How to experience the tongue of power

1. Your ‘King Uzziah’ must die.

Anything blocking you from seeing the Lord is a ‘King Uzziah’. It is that thing, which prevents you from seeing divine revelation. It is the thing that makes you so comfortable, that you do not have time to pray or work for God again. It is the thing, which occupies your time at the expense of your prayer life and Bible Study.

Take this prayer point seriously:

- My ‘Uzziah’ must die today, in the Name of Jesus.

It does not make sense, for any one who says he or she wants to reign with Christ, to have strange dreams, where he or she is having sexual intercourse or is being pursued or is flying. This is not God’s plan for His children. Your ‘Uzziah’ must die.