The Power of the Tongue

Let’s read James 3:2-13

² 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.

³ Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

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

⁶ 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.

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

In the scriptures above, we find that a man who is able to bridle his tongue is also able to bridle his whole body. Most of the problems that you may be having with your body can be traced back to what you have said with your mouth. Proverbs 6:2 (addition mine) says, Thou art snared (taken captive) with the words of thy mouth. If this is so – and it is – then it only stands to reason that if you speak negative, strife-filled words, evil things will dominate in your life. On the other hand, if you speak God’s Word, you will enjoy life and health.

Let’s read Proverbs 4:20-25

²⁰ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

²¹ Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

²² For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

²³ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

²⁴ Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

²⁵ Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Do you notice that you are to put away a froward mouth? To completely understand this, let’s define the word froward. It means a disobedient, uncontrolled mouth that is not under the conviction of God’s Word. In other words, it speaks the wisdom of the world rather than the wisdom of God. For example, if you feed your heart on television commercials and magazine advertisements concerning sickness confessing “Everyone has to be sick sometimes,” then the moment symptoms arise and make their way into your life that is what you will speak out of your mouth. Matthew 12:34 states out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The instant you release sickness through the words of your mouth you become snared by that sickness. Speak the Word of God; it is medicine to your flesh.

When you reach the point that your words will not bow to sickness, then you can control your body. You may be saying, “But the Bible says the tongue cannot be tamed.” No, that is not what the Bible says. Read it again! James 3:7-8 says that the tongue cannot be tamed by the same natural power by which man has tamed the animals. It takes the supernatural power of God to tame the tongue.

How is this accomplished? Through the Word. As you order your conversation in the Word of God, you will begin to tame your tongue and at the same time inject life and health into your body.

Let’s use the same example we used earlier and examine the difference between the froward mouth and a tongue that has been tamed by the Word of God. I didn’t say ignore the existence of the sickness. I’m saying speak the higher law – God’s Word. Some of you may be saying, “That sounds like Christian Science.” No, it’s not. Actually it is Christian Sense. Christian Science denies the existence of the sickness. I’m not denying the sickness, but I am denying its right to exist in my body. Why? Because the Word says, Himself bore my sickness and carried my diseases. Therefore, I speak what the Word says, hold fast to it, and praise God, my body will respond and become well.

I suggest that you read, meditate, and confess the following scriptures:

⁶ Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

⁷ For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸ All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

Proverbs 8:6-8