The Power of the Tongue
Proverbs 18:21
1/8/17
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TEXT - Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) — 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And
those who love it will eat its fruit.
1. What are you speaking, death or life?
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What are you speaking to yourself – death or life?
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What are you speaking to others – death or life?
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What are you speaking to your spouse, your kids, your family members, your coworkers, etc. Life or death?
2. The Book of Proverbs has much to wisdom about our tongue and our words.
Proverbs 10:19–21 (NKJV) — 19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he
who restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart
of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack
of wisdom.
Proverbs 10:31–32 (NKJV) — 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But
the perverse tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is
acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
Proverbs 12:18–22 (NKJV) — 18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health. 19 The truthful lip shall be established
forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who
devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. 21 No grave trouble will overtake the
righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22 Lying lips are an abomination to
the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
Proverbs 13:3 (NKJV) — 3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who
opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 15:4 (NKJV) — 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it
breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 17:27–28 (NKJV) — 27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man
of understanding is of a calm spirit. 28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his
peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
Proverbs 21:23 (NKJV) — 23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul
from troubles.
James 1:19 (AMP) — 19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be
quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.
Proverbs 21:23 (NKJV) — 23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul
from troubles.
Proverbs 21:23 (NLT) — 23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you
will stay out of trouble.
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Good advice for husbands!
3. The Destructive Power of the Tongue
Turn to James 3:1–17 (NKJV) — 1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers,
knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 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. 3
Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are
turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little
member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 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. 7 For
every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been
tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been
made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My
brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and
bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine
bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is wise and
understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the
meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not
boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is
earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every
evil thing are there. 17 But the 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.
4. Where does the power of the tongue come from?
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The power of the tongue comes from your heart.
Matthew 15:18–19 (NLT) — 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s
what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual
immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
Matthew 12:34–37 (NKJV) — 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good
things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of
the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil
treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may
speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will
be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
5. Speak truth – Speak Life!
A. Speak truth
Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) — 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every
way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) — 17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 27:6 (NLT) — 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses
from an enemy.
B. Speak Life
Ephesians 4:29–32 (NLT) — 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you
say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear
them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember,
he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of
redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well
as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Colossians 3:17 (NLT) — 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Romans 14:19 (NLT) — 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to
build each other up.
C. SPEAK TRUTH – SPEAK LIFE!
6. THE GREATEST POWER OF THE TONGUE IS TO SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD!
A. The greatest power your tongue can have is speaking the Word of God.
B. Jesus was the Word made flesh. When He spoke nature and demons listened and
obeyed.
C. Hebrews 12:4 says that the Word of God is LIVING and POWERFUL!
D. God said, “let their be light”!
E. Jesus commanded (He spoke words) the wind and seas to be calm
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Jesus commanded demons to leave people
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Jesus commanded sickness and disease to leave
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Jesus commanded life to come back into dead bodies
Psalm 147:15 (NKJV) — 15 God sends out His command to the earth; His word runs
very swiftly.
Psalm 107:20 (NKJV) — 20 God sent His word and healed them, And delivered them
from their destructions.
Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) — 11 It is the same with MY Word, says the Lord. I send it out, and
it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere
I send it.
Matthew 24:35 (NKJV) — 35 JESUS SAID, Heaven and earth will pass away, but My
words will by no means pass away.
F. God has given His Children authority to speak His Word!
7. When Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead, I see some symbolism in this as it relates to
using the spoken power of God’s Word.
John 11:39–44 (NKJV) — 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of
him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been
dead four days.”
A. Lazarus was good and dead. Everyone is born spiritually dead
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Lazarus couldn’t be saved by doctors. Our best attempts to save ourselves spiritually
will not help our dead condition.
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Lazarus was bound by burial clothes. Our sins have wrapped us in condemnation.
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the
glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man
was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have
heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are
standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come
forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and
his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
B. Jesus spoke life into Lazarus. Only Jesus can bring spiritual life to you.
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Yet Lazarus was still bound in burial clothes so Jesus commanded others to “Loose
him and let him good”.
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This is where discipleship comes in.
Discipleship removes the death and
condemnation of our old life, our old ways and sets us free to live life and life more
abundantly.
C. As Christians we can speak life to new believers.
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Too many times some Christians criticize them not just with our words but our
attitudes, our looks, our gestures.
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Jesus set them free, they are born again and Jesus commanded us to loose them.
The only thing that will loose them is the Word of God! Speak life!
D. So there’s no confusion here, we are commanded to speak the truth in love. What is
truth? The Word of God.
8. Words we all want to hear and words we all do NOT want to hear.
A. We all want to hear God say, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into the
joys of the Lord.”
B. None of us want to hear God say, “Depart from me you cursed into everlasting fire
prepared for the devil and he’s angles.”
C. In several examples that Jesus gives about Judgment Day, there are those who are
being told they do not have access into heaven.
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They are shocked and give God reasons why they should have access into heaven.
Good deeds, giving to the poor, going to church sometimes, and not being as bad as
others.
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After they stated their case the Lord said, Matthew 7:23 (NKJV) — 23 And then I
will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!’
D. These individuals who are being rejected by Christ on Judgment Day didn’t have to
be condemned and rejected.
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The whole purpose of Jesus Christ coming to save us from our sins.
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The way into heaven is one must have their name written in the Book of Life.
E. Book of Life?
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Yes there is a Book that God has of the names of those who have access into heaven.
Not everyone has their name in that Book.
Revelation 20:15 (NKJV) — 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was
cast into the lake of fire.
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To get your name in the Book of Life you must be born again.
John 3:3 (NKJV) — 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5–6 (NLT) — 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of
God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human
life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
John 3:16–21 (NLT) — 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and
only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through
him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who
does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only
Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but
people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do
evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But
those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what
God wants.”
F. Since Jesus died on the cross ANYONE can have their name written in this Book of
Life IF they will repent of their sins and received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
G. To repent means one feels the guilt of their sins brought on by the Holy Spirit.
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They come to Jesus with the full feeling of this guilt and appeal to Christ’s mercy and
ask for Him to forgive them of their sins and commit to follow Him by obeying the
Word of God, the Bible
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At that very second the Holy Spirit brings the work that Christ did at the cross and
washes your sins away!
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The load and feeling of guilt is removed and the Holy Spirit brings you into spiritual
life!
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At that moment your name is written in the Book of Life!
CLOSING
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) — 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who
love it will eat its fruit.
1. The power of your tongue is great. It can speak death or it can speak life.
2. What are you speaking? Take note of it. Are you speaking death or life?
A. Your general attitudes and speech patterns come from the abundance of what is in
your heart.
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If you are speaking more death than life then you are not allowing the life of God and
God’s Word to fill your heart.
B. What you speaking to yourself, your spouse, your kids, your family, others?
3. God has given us the greatest thing we can ever speak, His Word!
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How much time do you spend in the Word, either reading it and/or listening to it?
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In a few weeks we are going to show you several options of how you can make getting
into the Word of God a daily part of your life.
4. We all need to ask God to bring to our attention the words we are speaking. Are we
speaking death or life?
A. Whatever your heart is filled with, that’s what’s coming out of in your attitudes and
speech.
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If your heart if filled with hurt, then hurt and anger will come out of your mouth.
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If your heart is filled disappointment, then disappointment will come out of your
mouth.
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If your heart is filled with lust, then lust will come out of your mouth.
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If your heart is filled with joy, then joy will come out of your mouth.
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If your heart is filled with peace, then peace will come out of your mouth.
B. If you truly and from your heart ask the Holy Spirit to show you, He will.
C. What to do when the Holy Spirit shows you the death that you have spoken with your
tongue?
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Be sorry for it and ask God to forgive you.
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Then ask the person(s) that you spoke death to, to forgive you.
5. Yield your heart and tongue to the Holy Spirit.
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Yielding to the Holy Spirit is a learned process just like yielding to a new eating style.
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You will feel the Holy Spirit’s constraint when you are about to speak death. At that
moment you and you alone choose if you are going shut your mouth or keep blabbing
death.
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The Word of God says we are to speak truth and speak life.
Special Word for Someone Present
You are living in obedience to God and His Word but it seems that life keeps coming up
sour for you and you are discouraged.
If you believe in God at all you must believe in His Word.
Romans 8:28 “We know all things work together for good to those who love God.”
Jeremiah 29:11–13 (NKJV) — 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says
the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you
will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me
and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
God says, don’t be discouraged; I am working all things together for your good because you
love me. Keep pressing against the resistance, keep seeking Me, I am listening. Keep
pressing for you are about to find a depth of My Presence, a depth of My love and a depth of
My peace that you’ve never known before. Don’t give up, I am trying to get you to let go of
the questions that are ensnaring you and holding you back. Let go of the questions, let go
of the past, let go of your failures, let go of your successes, turn to me with your whole
heart and as I have said, you will find Me, says the Lord.
A prayer:
Let us be still before the Lord to allow the Holy Spirit to press upon our hearts and upon
our spiritual ears to hear what He is saying to us as individuals.
Father God, I am sorry that I have used my tongue to speak death. Holy Spirit thank you
for showing me the death that I have spoken. I am sorry and I ask you to forgive me.
Holy Spirit give me the humility and courage to ask those I have spoken death to, to forgive
me.
God I surrender my heart and therefore my tongue to Your Holy Spirit.
God I need you to take away any bitterness, any disappointment, any hurt, any of my past
that is causing death to reign in my heart.
Holy Spirit I yield my heart and my tongue to you.
Holy Spirit let me feel Your restraint when I’m about to speak death rather than life.
Holy Spirit, as I read and/or listen to the Word of God, bring it alive in my heart so that life
will reign in my heart.
Holy Spirit, when the enemy of my soul comes against me raise a wall of protection by bring
the Word of God to my remembrance so that may speak life against darkness of the enemy.
Father God, thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for my sins.
Father God, thank You for giving me Your Word, Your Word that is ever living and all
powerful.
Father God I will use Your Word to Speak Truth and Life.
Father God I will use Your Word to bring inner healing in my life.
Father God will use my tongue to speak Life and not death
In Jesus mighty and powerful name AMEN!