WE CAN CONTROL OUR TONGUES!

                                             THE CHOICE IS OURS TO MAKE!

                                                                Psalm 141:3-4

INTRODUCTION: Many today wonder why our words are so important: Matthew 12:33-37. You

may not think that your speech is very important to God but it surely is: Proverbs 18:21. Our

God spoke this universe into existence by His spoken word: Genesis 1:3. As we go down

through the days of creation it says “And God said!” Psalm 33:6-9. God’s words and our words

always bring results: Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12. Our words can create or destroy unity:

Genesis 11:1-9. Our speech can be used either for good or evil purposes: Psalm 55:20-21;

Psalm 140:1-3.

I. SOME AREAS OF SPEECH THAT NEED TO BE CONTROLED!

The Word of God tells us that each of us needs to learn to control our speech: Ephesians

4:29. We must be careful of speaking evil or others: James 4:11-12; James 2:8. To judge

another has the idea of weighing facts, hearing the evidence, rendering a verdict and passing

sentence on another: Numbers 12:1-2. We are not to judge another but we are to warn others:

Galatians 6:1; John 8:9-11. We must guard our tongues against repeating confidences others

tell us about: Proverbs 11:12-13; Proverbs 26:20-26.

II. WHY IS THE TONGUE SO DIFFICULT TO CONTROL?

The first reason it is so difficult to control our tongues is that only a perfect person can do

so: James 3:1-12. The second reason it is so difficult to control our tongues is connected right

to our heart which is naturally evil: Matthew 12:34-37. So what’s wrong with our hearts?

Jeremiah 17:9-10.

III. HOW CAN WE LEARN TO BETTER CONTROL OUR WORDS?

First, it can only be done as we submit ourselves to the leading of our Lord: Philippians 4:13.

Our Lord is constantly working in us to help us control our tongues: Philippians 2:13. Our Lord

will help us just as he did Daniel to control his diet: Daniel 1:3-8. As we yield to the Holy Spirit,

He will work in our hearts to make them pure and that will cleans our speech: Proverbs 3:5-8.

We must submit our wills to our God’s will for our lives. As He controls our will, He will also

control our mind and our emotions: Romans 12:1-2. As our Lord works in our hearts it will

affect our speech to be more of a blessing and less of a curse to those around us.