By:               Sunday Eyanrin (Evangelist)

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INTRODUCTION

My Dearly Beloved Brethren, our sermon today is a warning about the danger of the “TONGUE”. This message has become necessary and timely, because millions of people all over the world, including members of the Lord’s Church (The Church of Christ) are deeply involved in this harmful and dangerous act of the uncontrolled “TONGUE”, and this will lead millions of people to “HELL” if is not repented of now. 

DEFINITION

Brethren, it is absolutely necessary that we define the key word of our topic, “TONGUE”. 

WHAT IS THE TONGUE?

The ‘’Tongue’’ is a fleshy movable muscular organ attached to the bottom of the inside of the human mouth, and most animals. The Tongue is used for tasting, licking, swallowing, and in human’s speech.

OUR TEXT IS TAKEN FROM

PROVERBS 18:21

Death and Life are in the power of the “TONGUE” and those who love it will eat its fruit. 

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

Brethren, the Tongue is one small, but powerful organ in the human body. Life and Death however have no power without an agent to carry them. This agent can turn them off or on at any time. It can make one effective and fruitful and the other powerless and weak. This agent is your TONUGE. Today in this sermon, we are going to consider what the “BIBLE” (God’s word) say about this little member in our body.

In James Chapter 3:1–12, the Scriptures declared the power of the Tongue.

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. 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. NKJV

THE SINS OF THE TONGUE

Brethren, after a careful rundown of the Power of the Tongue, as revealed by the Holy Scriptures, it has become absolutely necessary that we consider some of the Sins we commit with our Tongue, knowingly or unknowingly. 

THE SIN OF GOSSIP 

WHAT IS GOSSIP?

Gossip – otherwise known as  (whispering,) is the act of speaking things about others that should not be said, whether they are true or not.

Gossiping is one of those sins that we seem to overlook.  While we condemn others for their terrible sins and the way they live their lives, we don’t realize that in gossiping we are engaged in a terrible sin ourselves.  Gossip is a sin that often destroys the lives of those being talked about (often without their knowledge until it is too late).

Gossip among brethren is a dangerous Sin that has separated families, damaged marriages; hurt the leadership of so many congregations of the Lord’s Church, and in some instances even led to division.  It is a sin condemned by God.

WHAT DOSE THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOSSIP?

In Romans Chapter. 1:29, the Scriptures declared, being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, NKJV

1 Tim 5:11-13, the Scriptures declared more about this evil act.

11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. NKJV 

THE SIN OF LYING 

Lying – can be defined as the act of making an untrue statement with the intent to deceive. Or the act to create a false, or misleading impression about someone. My Brother, My Sister, have you ever told a lie? Lying is a universal problem. some people classify lies into two categories, Some lies are classified as big lies, while others classify lies as insignificant.

Beloved, what is your take in telling lies, big or insignificant? Brethren, do you realize that lie is lie? Have you ever at any time received a phone call from someone and you told a lie? Have you ever said to your children, or your wife, or husband, please say I am not at home when you are at home? That may look insignificant to you, but do you realized that you have Sinned?

SOME FACTS ABOUT LYING 

It is absolutely necessary that we give some case study to what Lying has cost some people both in the old and New testament . 1 kings 13: 1 – 34 is the account of a young prophet who was killed because of lying and  disobedient to God’s word. While in Acts 5:1 – 11, is the account of Ananias and his wife Sapphira who lied about the proceed of the land sold, and where both killed. Please, read. Acts 5:1 – 11.

WHAT DOSE THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT LYING? 

Brethren, Lying is one Sin that is insignificant to man, but very dangerous. Lying is an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 12:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight. NKJV

In Rev. 21:8,& vs 27, Apostle John by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit declared the penalty for those who are involved in such abominable act.

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Rev 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. NKJV

THE SIN OF CURSING

Brethren, Cursing and Swearing generally refer to speaking evil of someone. Brethren, do you take delight in cursing? Cursing is an intense form of language, where one typically invokes God or other supernatural forces to call evil down on someone else. It is an expression of hatred, which is the primary root of the problem.

CURSING – is simply define as, the use of profanely insolent language against someone. Most people, including some brethren, swear when they are angry, or frustrated. Let us take a deeper look at what the Bible says about the Sin of cursing and swearing .

Matt 5:22-23

 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. NKJV

Beloved, have you at any time say to someone you are a fool? Or you fool? In Gal. 5.19 – 21, Apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit declared. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

AN EXAMPLE OFTHE UNCONTROLLED TONGUE IN 2 Kings 2:19 – 25 

2 Kings 2:19-22 – Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'” 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. 23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 25 Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. NKJV

THE SIN OF MURMURING

Murmuring – is one Sin God is displeased with among His children. It is a Sin that has brought division among God’s people in some congregation of God’s people, including the Church. Brethren, we must understand the fact that murmuring against the leaders of the church is murmuring against God, and that was why God punished Miriam the sister of Moses. (read. Num.12: 1 – 16).

In 1 Cor. 10: 10 – 11, Apostle Paul declared. nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. NKJV

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION

TO THE SIN OF THE TONGUE?

Brethren, after a comprehensive analysis of the Sin of the Tongue, the only way forward  as suggested below are,

1. Total Repentance (13:3) I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
2. Pray to God for His guidance – 4:29
3. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. KJV
4. Pray God for forgiveness for any unloving words or attitudes which is a Sin.
5. Proper control of the Tongue.  (Colossians 4:6) Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”.
6. We must learn to control our Anger.

CONCLUSION 

JAMES 1:16 – 26

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. NKJV

MY BROTHER, MY SISTER, HOW ARE YOU USING YOUR TONGUE?

MAY GOD BLESS HIS WORD IN JESUS HOLY NAME  – AMEN

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