True confession. Before I began writing this message, I found myself in a hard place. I knew it was coming because I had been considering this message for months. The Holy Spirit placed it heavy on my heart like a burden. As I finally sat down to study and prepare, it became obvious that burden had much to do with sin, those that result from personal use of the most offensive weapon in the Bible, the tongue—at times a whip, a dagger, and a sword.
My spirit was crushed by thoughts of the sins of my tongue wounding, even murdering, those I love most and others Christ told me to love. Before I could begin orchestrating the words of the verses the Holy Spirit put on my heart (their meanings and applications to our lives), I had to spend time repenting and confessing sins from my own tongue. When we spend such time alone with God, we allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse our hearts and renew “a right spirit” within us, as David wrote (Psalm 51). It frees our hearts and minds to think, love, and live like Jesus. He rounds the points of our tongues to they cannot pierce and dulls the edges so they no longer cut.
Let’s examine together the verses I did with prayer that they take you to the place they did me. And after the woodshed time with God, you find forgiveness and the kind of tongue He intended when He gave you the gift of speech.
The Tongue Can Be A Murder Weapon according to Scripture.
James treatise on the tongue and its use among Christians:
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can saltwater produce fresh. James 3:5-12
Wisdom from Proverbs: The Tongue as A Weapon of Mass Destruction
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. Proverbs 11:9
The killer tongue: There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, Proverbs 12:18a
The killer tongue: .…a harsh word stirs up anger…But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness, but perversion in it crushes the spirit. from Proverbs 15:1-2,4
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits (whether rotten or good). Proverbs 18:21
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. Proverbs 25:18
When that day comes and you stand before Jesus, what will He say and do?
For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34b-37
For those who are secure in Christ (born-again) this does not mean we lose our salvation. Jesus was speaking to Pharisees. BUT it does mean that our rewards in Heaven will be impacted based on how we speak to and treat God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit then how we do the same with others.
Transforming the Tongue from a “weapon of mass destruction” into a Tool that Helps and Heals
The first step for you is what I outlined above that the Holy Spirit told me to do. It is the same for all. Where there is sin, no matter the source, there must be confession and repentance. God does not hold grudges, nor does He even remember our sins AFTER this time.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
That confession and repentance is between you and your Savior God. Now comes what can be an even harder part. To the extent that you can, finding and seeking forgiveness from those you have wounded beginning with your spouse and family. Do not stop there. The release and peace you will find from the Holy Spirit will be like a millstone has been removed from around your neck. Joy will overwhelm you like it has not in years. Freedom returns.
Transforming Our Tongues
(David asked God to) Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
…But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18b
The Healing Tongue: “A gentle answer turns away wrath…The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant…A soothing tongue is a tree of life… from Proverbs 15:1-2,4
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you… Matthew 5:44a
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for (edification) building others up, (timely) according to their needs, that it (gives grace) may benefit those who listen. Ephesian 4:29
My closing prayer for you is this: the Holy Spirit is doing a work in your heart to break it, so that He may transform your tongue from a weapon of mass destruction to a tool for healing and encouraging. I close this hard message with a blessing straight from the mouth of God to you. It was first given by God Who told Moses to tell Aaron to tell the Israelites:
The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Number 6:23-26
For Christ’s sake,
