Ruling Your Spirit: Tongue

4 September 2022 PM – Proverbs 25:28 – RuleSpirit22 – Scott Childs

Introduction: Read Proverbs 25:28. If we do not learn to rule our spirits, we will have no defence against the devil. Our Christian lives will be weak and unfruitful. God has given each of us a spirit, soul and body. The Holy Spirit desires to commune with our spirit, which then communes with our soul, made up of our mind, will and emotions. Our soul controls our body. When our spirit yields to our flesh or the devil instead of to the Holy Spirit, we do wrong. If our spirit yields to the Holy Spirit, we will do right. We must choose to let the Holy Spirit control our spirit.

Transition: This evening we are going to learn some of what God says about our TONGUE and how He wants us to rule it.

Identify the Problem

a. God gave us our tongues

1) God has created us with the ability to communicate with our tongues, mouth and lips. We also communicate with our tone of voice and actions as we speak.

2) The tongue is a powerful tool. The Apostle James tells us that (James 3:5) “… the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!“

3) God is pleased when we use our tongues for good. (Proverbs 16:24) “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.“

b. Unfortunately, we often use our tongues for evil.

1) An unruled tongue can become very dangerous. Solomon wrote, (Proverbs 18:21) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue ...“

2) Unruled tongues have caused arguments and fights in countless marriages. He says a cutting word, and she responds with a sharp jab from her lips. Each round escalates until both are deeply hurt and angry. Poor communication ranks as one of the top causes of divorce.

3) Unkind comments, mean jabs, name-calling, blaming, accusing, yelling, lying, deceit, proud or boastful comments, selfish words or a filthy tongue will mar relationships, harm friendships, and ruin one’s reputation.

4) A thoughtless, hurtful comment to a child can hurt him or her emotionally for years.

5) A parent’s unkind or harsh words can provoke a child to anger or rebellion. No one enjoys harshness.

6) Sadly, some Christians sing praises in church on Sunday but use cursing and blasphemy with their unsaved friends at work.

7) Without question, an unruled tongue can mar your marriage, break friendships, damage emotions, enrage children, cause hatred, stir up tension and displease God.

2. Study God’s Precepts

a. Turn to James 3, the Bible’s tongue chapter.

1) None of us has a perfect tongue, Jas 3:2.

2) The tongue is puny but powerful, Jas 3:3-5.

3) The tongue defiles the whole body, corrupts everything around it, and is set on fire of hell, Jas 3:6.

4) You will never tame your tongue (Jas 3:7-8); but with God’s help, you can rule and control it.

5) God does not want the tongue to speak both blessing and cursing, Jas 3:9-12.

b. Many other Bible verses address the tongue

1) Ponder these verses. (Proverbs 10:19) “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.“

2) (Ephesians 4:29) “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.“

3) (Colossians 4:6) “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.“

4) (James 1:26) “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.“

5) (Psalms 34:13) “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.“

6) (Proverbs 21:23) “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.“

7) (Luke 6:45) “… for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.“

8) (Proverbs 12:18) “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.“

9) (Matthew 12:36) “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.“

10) (Proverbs 26:20) “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.“

11) (Proverbs 15:1) “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.“

3. Admit Your Guilt

a. Evaluate your tongue!

1) Are the verses we just read convicting? If so, your tongue may be unruled in some areas.

2) If your spouse or anyone else accuses you of misusing your tongue, do not ignore it.

3) Take a good look into God’s mirror (the Bible) and ask God to show you your tongue faults. When He does, do not deny it. The devil wants you to blame others, but that will not do. Humbly admit your fault without any excuse.

b. Admitting guilt is the first step to victory.

1) Admit it to yourself, then to God, and then to others.

2) (James 4:10) “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.“

3) Seek forgiveness from God and from all who heard you misuse your tongue. “The way I spoke was wrong. Would you please forgive me?”

4. Rule Your Spirit

a. We must again say, “If God’s against it, so am I”.

1) This is critical for ruling our spirit, and thus for ruling our tongue. If we do not hate the sins of the tongue that God hates, or we will not take this seriously.

2) Memorise and meditate on verses that deal with your specific tongue sins. As you meditate, talk to God about your sin. Let God’s word grip your heart.

b. We must yield our spirit to the Holy Spirit.

1) This week, the Lord brought James 4:7 to my attention. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.“

a) We must submit our spirit to God the Holy Spirit.

b) We must resist the devil and stop yielding to him.

c) By submitting to the Holy Spirit, we invite Him to produce His fruit of temperance in our life. This will give our spirit the ability to control our soul (i.e., mind, will, and emotions), enabling us to rule our tongues.

2) Walking in the Spirit is continually doing this. (Galatians 5:16) “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.“

3) Make this a matter of regular prayer and practice. (Psalms 19:14) “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.“

Conclusion: We all offend with our tongues; therefore, ruling our tongues is a duty we all must work on daily. Submit to the Holy Spirit and resist the devil. You CAN rule your tongue with God’s help. When you fail, humbly admit it to God and to those who heard you. Seek forgiveness, and then submit to the Holy Spirit again. Press on for God’s glory!

Song: Victory in Jesus – 496

Ruling Your Spirit: Tongue

4 September 2022 PM – Proverbs 25:28 – RuleSpirit22 – Scott Childs

Transition: This evening we are going to learn some of what God says about our TONGUE and how He wants us to rule it.

Identify the Problem

a. God gave us our tongues

1) God has created us with the ability to communicate with our tongues, mouth and lips. We also communicate with our tone of voice and actions as we speak.

2) The tongue is a powerful tool. The Apostle James tells us that (James 3:5) “… the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!“

3) God is pleased when we use our tongues for good. (Proverbs 16:24) “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.“

b. Unfortunately, we often use our tongues for evil.

1) An unruled tongue can become very dangerous. Solomon wrote, (Proverbs 18:21) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue ...“

2) Unruled tongues have caused arguments and fights in countless marriages. He says a cutting word, and she responds with a sharp jab from her lips. Each round escalates until both are deeply hurt and angry. Poor communication ranks as one of the top causes of divorce.

3) Unkind comments, mean jabs, name-calling, blaming, accusing, yelling, lying, deceit, proud or boastful comments, selfish words or a filthy tongue will mar relationships, harm friendships, and ruin one’s reputation.

4) A thoughtless, hurtful comment to a child can hurt him or her emotionally for years.

5) A parent’s unkind or harsh words can provoke a child to anger or rebellion. No one enjoys harshness.

6) Sadly, some Christians sing praises in church on Sunday but use cursing and blasphemy with their unsaved friends at work.

7) Without question, an unruled tongue can mar your marriage, break friendships, damage emotions, enrage children, cause hatred, stir up tension and displease God.

2. Study God’s Precepts

a. Turn to James 3, the Bible’s tongue chapter.

1) None of us has a perfect tongue, Jas 3:2.

2) The tongue is puny but powerful, Jas 3:3-5.

3) The tongue defiles the whole body, corrupts everything around it, and is set on fire of hell, Jas 3:6.

4) You will never tame your tongue (Jas 3:7-8); but with God’s help, you can rule and control it.

5) God does not want the tongue to speak both blessing and cursing, Jas 3:9-12.

b. Many other Bible verses address the tongue

1) Ponder these verses. (Proverbs 10:19) “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.“

2) (Ephesians 4:29) “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.“

3) (Colossians 4:6) “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.“

4) (James 1:26) “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.“

5) (Psalms 34:13) “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.“

6) (Proverbs 21:23) “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.“

7) (Luke 6:45) “… for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.“

8) (Proverbs 12:18) “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.“

9) (Matthew 12:36) “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.“

10) (Proverbs 26:20) “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.“

11) (Proverbs 15:1) “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.“

3. Admit Your Guilt

a. Evaluate your tongue!

1) Are the verses we just read convicting? If so, your tongue may be unruled in some areas.

2) If your spouse or anyone else accuses you of misusing your tongue, do not ignore it.

3) Take a good look into God’s mirror (the Bible) and ask God to show you your tongue faults. When He does, do not deny it. The devil wants you to blame others, but that will not do. Humbly admit your fault without any excuse.

b. Admitting guilt is the first step to victory.

1) Admit it to yourself, then to God, and then to others.

2) (James 4:10) “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.“

3) Seek forgiveness from God and from all who heard you misuse your tongue. “The way I spoke was wrong. Would you please forgive me?”

4. Rule Your Spirit

a. We must again say, “If God’s against it, so am I”.

1) This is critical for ruling our spirit, and thus for ruling our tongue. If we do not hate the sins of the tongue that God hates, or we will not take this seriously.

2) Memorise and meditate on verses that deal with your specific tongue sins. As you meditate, talk to God about your sin. Let God’s word grip your heart.

b. We must yield our spirit to the Holy Spirit.

1) This week, the Lord brought James 4:7 to my attention. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.“

a) We must submit our spirit to God the Holy Spirit.

b) We must resist the devil and stop yielding to him.

c) By submitting to the Holy Spirit, we invite Him to produce His fruit of temperance in our life. This will give our spirit the ability to control our soul (i.e., mind, will, and emotions), enabling us to rule our tongues.

2) Walking in the Spirit is continually doing this. (Galatians 5:16) “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.“

3) Make this a matter of regular prayer and practice. (Psalms 19:14) “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.“

Song: Victory in Jesus – 496