Praise Chapel Of Anaheim
ÒGoverning The TongueÓ
Sunday, June 7, 2009

TEXT: Proverbs 18:21 ÒThe tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it

will eat its fruit.

 James 1:26 ÒIf anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

INTRODUCTION: I was at prayer meeting Saturday morning asking God to show me what He wanted to speak to His people.

 

¯ He showed me a vision.

¯ I Saw a man with his mouth open and inside his mouth there was complete darkness.

¯ Then I felt that God said to me that there were people who were bringing death to others or to themselves by speaking death with their tongues.

¯ Today I want to speak on ÒGoverning the TongueÓ

¯ I will cover 4 areas.

o   The rule by which the tongue is to be governed.

o   The condition by which the tongue is governed.

o   Where the tongue is not governed, there is and cannot be true religion.

 

I.              THE RULE BY WHICH THE TONGUE IS GOVERNED. (By what principle can the tongue be governed?)

a.    Love.

1.    The tongue is subject to the heart and will. (Note: The words heart and will are used interchangeably in the Bible)

a.    It cannot speak either good or evil unless it is moved by the will and the heart of man.

1.    For example.

a.    When one swears it is an action of the tongue being moved by the will.

b.    When one speaks evil of another it is an action of the tongue being moved by the will.

c.    When one speaks praises of another or of God, it is an action of the tongue being moved by the will.

 

 

b.    This means whenever one speaks the tongue is being controlled by whatever is in the heart and heart and will of man.

1.    Luke 6:45 ÒA good man says good things. These come from the good that is put away in his heart. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is put away in his heart. Their mouths say everything that is in their hearts.

 

c.    This means in order for an individual to control his or her tongue they must conform their heart and will to the way of love.

1.    They must love God with all their heart , soul and strength.

2.    They must love their neighbor as themselves.

3.    When the will is conformed to the way of love there will never be evil words spoken.

a.    1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ÒLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

 

Psalm 19:14 ÒMay the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your

sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

 

II.            THE CONDITION BY WHICH THE TONGUE IS GOVERNED.

a.    The will of man must have a loving attitude in which the glory of God and the good of man becomes its supreme aim.

1.    In other words: A condition to controlling the tongue is to have a loving attitude that seeks the glory of God and the good of man as its highest aim.

a.    For example: When ones highest aim in life is to bring glory to God and do good to man; that individual will control what they say with their tongue.

1.    They will refrain from speaking evil of man. (Because they seek manÕs highest good!)

2.    They will refrain from speaking anything that may offend God. (Because they seek to Glorify God!)

 

 

 

b.    Another condition to governing the tongue is the heart and will must be entirely consecrated (dedicated) to God.

1.    If the heart and will is entirely consecrated to God, the tongue will be also.

a.    Why?

1.    Because the tongue is subject to the will of man.

 

c.    Another condition to governing the tongue is to try and abstain from very strong excitement.

1.    Whenever the feelings become strongly excited they are apt to control the will.

a.    Example:

1.    Someone cuts you off on the freeway. (You can easily feel angry and those feelings can easily begin to control your will).

a.    Then you might say something that you will regret later.

2.    We see this in the life of Peter.

a.    He was exposed to very strong feelings of excitement.

1.    Jesus had been arrested.

2.    The persecution had begun.

3.    The disciples were dispersed in fear for their lives.

4.    Peter is questioned whether he was one of Jesus disciples.

5.    He denies it 2 times on the third time his feelings take control of his will and he begins to swear and curse.

Matthew 26:73-75 ÒAfter a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ÒSurely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.Ó74Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, ÒI donÕt know the man!Ó

 

NOTE: This means the best thing to do sometimes is to walk away from an argument.

 

Proverbs 22:22-25 ÒDo not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily

angered, 25 or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.

 

NOTE: When our mind is strongly excited we are apt to speak extravagantly or in exaggerations.

 

d.    Another condition to governing the tongue is to think before you speak.

1.    Gather your thoughts before you speak. (Specially if you are speaking on behalf of God!)

 

 

 

e.    Another condition to governing the tongue is to have a sense of divine presence.

1.    This means realize you are speaking in GodÕs presence.

2.    God hears every word we speak.

3.    We will give an account for every word we speak.

a.    Matthew 12:36-37 ÒBut I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.Ó

 

f.     Another condition to governing the tongue is to appropriate and remain in the grace and strength that Christ provides.

1.    One who has not surrendered their heart and will to Christ can never control their tongue.

2.    Only through the grace and strength Christ provides can we find strength and grace to control our tongue.

a.    John 15:5 ÒI am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

 

g.    Another condition to governing the tongue is to have the moral courage to dare and keep silent when one ought to keep silent.

1.    If you donÕt have something important to say. (Say nothing at all!)

a.    Ecclesiastes 3:7 Òthere is a time to be silent and a time to speakÓ

 

III.          WHERE THE TONGUE IS NOT GOVERNED THERE IS AND CANNOT BE TRUE RELIGION.

a.    This means where the tongue is not governed there may not be true conversion.

1.    Our text clearly states this.

a.    James 1:26 ÒIf anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

2.    IMPORTANT NOTE: This does not mean that an occasional slip of the tongue proves that one is not converted!

a.    An occasional slip of the tongue could happen to a converted person.

b.    I am speaking of those who DO NOT GOVERN THEIR TONGUE AT ALL!

c.    These individuals have not conformed themselves to the law of God.

d.    These individuals are not living in an attitude of love toward God and their fellow man.

1 John 3:7-10 ÒDear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devilÕs work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because GodÕs seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

IN CLOSING: God has clearly called His children to control their tongue.

¯ Our tongue is subject to our will.

o   It cannot speak unless it is controlled by the will.

¯ This means in order to control the tongue we must conform our heart and will to the way of love.

b.    We must have an attitude of love in which the glory of God and the good of man becomes its supreme aim in life.

¯ There are conditions to controlling our tongue.

o   Our heart and will must be entirely consecrated to God.

o   We must abstain from strong excitement.

o   We must speak with a sense of GodÕs divine presence. (We will give an account for every careless word we speak.)

o   We must appropriate and remain in the grace and strength that Christ provides.

¤  You cannot control your tongue unless your heart and will is submitted to Christ.

o   We must have the moral courage to keep silent when one ought to keep silent.

¯ Where the tongue is not governed there can be no true conversion.

¯ DO YOU GOVERN YOUR TONGUE?

o   In your marriage?

o   At work?

o   In times of stress?

o   OR DO YOU LET YOUR TONGUE RUN WILD?