The Battle with the Tongue Clear View Baptist Church Annual Women’s Retreat Lady Liane Ingalls, Presenter

That Dastardly Tongue! As believers, we all struggle with something in our lives. Some struggle with areas related to the flesh, while others battle with their thought life. Still others struggle to overcome their past and the stronghold that has taken place within their lives because of past hurts or attacks. Struggle is nothing new and it doesn’t magically disappear when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. But sometimes, the struggles we encounter and have to bear are not always an attack of the enemy. Sometimes, we unwittingly invite the enemy in and create a mess that we didn’t have to deal with. And how do we do this, you ask? With that dastardly tongue!

What the Bible Says about the Tongue… The Bible compares the tongue to: A fire: James 3:5 A burning fire: Proverbs 16:27 A world of iniquity: James 3:6 A beast that needs taming: James 3:7-8 A fountain of either fresh or bitter water: James 3:11 A tree bearing either good or evil fruit: James 3:12 An unruly evil: James 3:8 Deadly poison: James 3:8 A sharp razor: Psalms 52:2 A sharp sword: Psalms 57:4; 59:7 A poisonous serpent: Psalms 140:3 A deep pit: Proverbs 22:14

Proverbs 18:21 says it best… The Bible says the tongue is powerful because of the effect it has on others. The tongue actually has the power to bring death or life. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” So, just out of curiosity, what kind of fruit are you eating? Is it fresh and sweet or rotten and the cause of disease?

Snaring yourself…Ouch! The tongue is powerful because of the effect it has on you! You can snare yourself with your own words! “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth; thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” Proverbs 6:2 How many traps have you set up for yourself because of your unruly tongue?

Separation from God The tongue is powerful because your words can separate you from God: “Who have said, ‘With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?’” Proverbs 12:4 Who rules your tongue?

Strategies of Satan  Your tongue is closely related to your heat, body, soul and spirit. For example, if Satan has control of your heart, he has control of your tongue.  Satan uses the things you say to cause a breach (opening) into your spirit.  By evil communication you create a breach through which Satan enters to war against your spirit. Satan also uses your lips to affect your soul.  Through the tongue, Satan affects your whole body.  Your tongue affects your whole life!

Winning the Battle with the Tongue The only way to win the battle with the tongue is by application of spiritual counter strategies given in God’s Word. 1.Get Your Heart Right With God. 2.Recognize Your Responsibility. 3.Realize Your Words Reflect on the Gospel. 4.Keep Your Words Few and Simple. 5.Think Before You Speak. 6.Separate Yourself. 7.Learn the Power of Peaceful Words. 8.Recognize Your Tongue is a Weapon! 9.Take Control of Your Tongue. 10. Pattern Your Conversation After Jesus. 11. Use your Tongue for Good.

Before You Speak… Ask yourself these questions: 1.Will what I am about to say bring glory to God? 2.Is it the truth? 3.Is it fair to all concerned? 4.Will it be beneficial to all concerned? 5.Will it edify others (result in good will and better friendships)? 6.If you are talking about another person, have you said the same thing to him or her? 7.Do you know that what you are saying is a fact or have you arrived at your own conclusions after hearing rumors? 8.If you have something against your brother or sister, have you attempted to be reconciled to them before discussing it with others? 9.Is it absolutely necessary that you say this?