“Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

Speak enough to fill 500 page book A Christian must learn Mouth Control Lip Control “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.” James 1:26 Word Control

- bit, rudder - fire, poisonous animal - fountain, fig

Power to Direct Responsibility of teachers Not for attention Rom. 16: serve themselves 2 Tim. 2:2 “Faithful” “Able” Bit in mouth of horse Rudder on boat or ship Bit - Rudder

How do we control the tongue ??? The Heart is the Key ! Matthew 12:33-35 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” v. 34b 35. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”

Power to Destroy Fire Poisonous animal Fire begins with a small spark Animals can be tamed Our tongue can destroy by:  Lying  Profanity  Gossip  Murmuring  Unjust Criticism

Jas. 3:8 “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” “Psalms 140:3 “They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison [is] under their lips.” “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” Eph. 4:29

Power to Delight Fountain, Fig Bless or Curse Words can refresh like a fountain  Spread the Gospel  Words of Encouragement  Defend the truth  Confess Christ  Sing Praises

It’s an inside job to Control !

Whisperer Secretly peddle slander / insinuations “Be sure not to use my name” Backbiter Slanderers, defamers Delight in destroying good name of others

“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.” Prov. 21:23 NKJV “[He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.” Ps. 15:3 Prov. 6: things God hates  A lying tongue  A False Witness  One who sows discord slander

Matt. 12: But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

“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.” Ephesians 4:29 Eph. 5:1-7 Follow God Mouth sins will keep us from heaven

“The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” Proverbs 10:11 “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.” Proverbs 10:20,21

“The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.” Proverbs 12:13,14 “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” Proverbs 12:18

Proverbs 13:3, 5 3. “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” 5. “A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame.”

Prov. 15:1-2 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”- Proverbs 15:23.

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” - Pro. 16:24. “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Prov. 21:23. “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Pro.22:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov. 25:11

Albert Einstein’s Theory A = X + Y + Z A = Success X = Work Y = Play Z = Keeping your mouth shut

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45

Ps. 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.” Col. 4:6 “Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Do you control your tongue, or Does your tongue control you? Is your tongue your enemy or friend ?

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Morning August 4, 2013