Devil Got Your Tongue

We're all familiar with the phrase "Cat got your tongue?" in reference to someone who is unusually quiet, or they are unresponsive to a question they have been asked. We all know people who the cat has never had their tongue. haha. They just blurt out whatever comes to their mind with no filter or restraint.

The tongue is an interesting part of our body. In fact the Bible says in James 3:8-10, "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." It also says in James 3:5-6, "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell." My question to you and me today is does the devil got your tongue?

Are we hopeless against our tongue? Are we just destined to not have any control over our mouth and speech? I would submit to you that some of you think that you will always be negative, and pessimistic. You believe that's just the way I am. You have been this way for far too long, and you believe that you can't change and you may not want to change. I'm not just talking about swearing. I'm talking about gossip, criticism, slander, backbiting, lying, envy, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, self-seeking, lustful speaking, dirty jokes, harmful and hurtful words towards your fellow man. Are we destined to live this way? These things ought not to be so the Bible says. The true source of the unruly evil produced by the tongue is hell. James continues his discussion on the untamable tongue in verse 13-16 of chapter 2, "Who is wise among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."

The tongue doesn't always speak evil, but it tends to lean that way if we don't do something about it proactively. Luke 6:46 says, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." And I say, garbage in garbage out. What we put in our heart affects what comes out of our mouth. I would submit to you that we can control what comes out of our mouth. When James starts off talking about the tongue in Chapter 3:2 he says, "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." If you read that and think, "Well I'm never going to be perfect, so I'll never be able to control my tongue it's hopeless." then you'll keep being discouraged and never change. But listen to this, the word "perfect" in the original greek language is teleios. Basically, what this word means when referring to believers is "maturity". I believe that as you mature in your faith, you will have more control over your tongue. Maturity takes work, and if you're not willing to work then you'll always be ruled by your tongue. Which is in turn ruled by hell. We have to monitor what comes out of our mouth, but more importantly we have to monitor what we are putting into our heart and spirit. Check out these scriptures from Proverbs concerning our tongue.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" Prov. 18:21
"The tongue of the wise promotes health." Prov. 12:18
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov 15:1
"The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours fourth foolishness." Prov. 15:2
"A wholesome 'healing' tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit." Prov. 15:4
"The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the heart of a fool does not do so." Prov. 15:7
"The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Prov. 16:23-24.
"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." Prov. 21:23
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Prov. 4:23

When we work to become mature in our faith, we start to bridle our tongue and take control of our life through the power of His Holy Spirit. We begin to look like Christ to others through our speech.

James closes the discussion on the untamable tongue in Ch. 2:17-18, "But wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

The devil has no power except what you give him. That puny devil has not got your tongue any more. We are maturing in our faith, and we are taking back anything he has stolen from us. Speak life over yourself today, and hold onto His word. Quit speaking death, and discouragement. Speak the Word of God over your situation. Walk by faith and not by sight today. I will close with a Psalm from David.

"My lips shall utter praise, For you teach me Your statues. My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all your commandments are righteous." Psalm 119:171-172

Let your tongue utter praise, and speak of His word today!

The following blog posts will be several "Confessions" of God's Word over our life. Let's Speak it OUT LOUD. When we do speak it then the sword of the Spirit is in our mouth to war and win the victory.