Topic:Taming The Tongue
Text: Matthew 18:15-20

The tongue is the most endangered part of the human body. If you open your mouth every time you have an opportunity you stand the risk of making statements capable of putting you in trouble. A seemingly harmless statement is capable of putting you into trouble. How do you know when you make a statement that will shut heaven’s doors against you? I counsel you to weigh your words before you utter them. For example, it is very risky to speak against a man of God. When David had the opportunity of killing Saul who was after him, he dared not to it because he recognized that King Saul was an anointed of God.

Anyone that speaks against the anointed of God speaks blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Satan uses this weapon when there is no other way to get at his intended victim. How do we deal with the tongue? If your friend offends you, instead of backbiting, go to him and discuss the issue with him. Do not speak any negative word about anyone. Go to the person involved before you tell any other person. This is what Jesus taught us in our text: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault.” Satan knows how to play on disagreements. If anyone comes to you to backbite against another person, ask him whether he has gone to meet the person involved. If he says he has not, do not listen to him. Proverbs 25:23 says: “The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.” Your angry countenance should drive away a backbiting tongue.

You must not only avoid backbiting, you must also close your ears to gossips. The human tongue will misbehave unless it is tamed. Do you exercise control over your tongue or do you allow it to run riot? If you fail to tame your tongue, it may set you on fire. Beware!

Memory Verse: Proverbs 25:23 - “Thy north wind driveth away rain; so doth an angry countenance and backbiting tongue.”