1. Choose Your Words Carefully

3. WORDS

4. WORDS

5. Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death.”

6. 1. He owns our words!

7. 2. God spoke to humans

8. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless.”

9. “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.”

10. Luke 6:44-45 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

11. Proverbs “The advice of the wicked is deceitful” “Fools show annoyance at once, are hot-headed and commit many sins, blurt out folly, stir up dissension, and delight in airing their own opinion” “Pride breeds quarrels” “Gossip separates close friends”

12. “Peter-The Apostle with the Foot- Shaped Mouth.”

13. James 3:1-12 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

14. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

15. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

16. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

17. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

18. You can’t tame the tongue because you can’t tame the heart!!

19. Proverbs 16:23 “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth…”

20. Galatians 2:20 “ 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

21. Romans 6:11-14 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness,

22. but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master…

23. Heart Probing Questions 1. “What is it that I want that I am not getting?” 2. “Do I want this thing so badly that a good thing now rules my heart, affections, and thoughts more than my master, the Lord Jesus Christ?”

24. 1 Peter 2:22-24 He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

25. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

26. Proverbs A wise and mature believer doesn’t forget the Words of His master (4:5). He listens closely to his master and stores them up in his heart (7:1).

27. Proverbs 22:17-18 “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.”

28. Proverbs 17:27 “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”

29. In which relationship do your words need to change from giving death to giving life? What is your heart craving in those moments instead of Christ Himself, His rule, His WORDS, and the other person’s good?