Gleans from Sunday End of Month with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Gbagada, Lagos HQ
24th February 2019
DETERMINING OUR DESTINIES WITH OUR TONGUE
James 3:1-18; 1 Peter 3:10; Matthew 12:33-37
Chapter three of the General Epistle of James is peculiar, for it is devoted to the use or misuse of the tongue; and how serious and important such a subject should be. Actually, you will find that from the Bible, Genesis to Revelation, our tongue determines how happy we are in life; how useful to the Lord; how healthy we are in ourselves and how spiritual. It is the tongue that determines how rewardable we are going to be in eternity; how friendly we are in society; successful, profitable, good and how well-remembered our lives will be after we are gone. It is the tongue on the other hand that determines our sadness, rejection, defeat, loss, failure, suffering in life, unanswered prayers, self-destruction, eternal ruin and damnation. Like a small steering wheel, it drives us to our desirable or damned destination. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (1 Peter 3:10). If you want a prosperous and rewardable life, check your tongue. “….for the tree is known by his fruit” (Matthew 12:33). The tree is known by its fruits not by the noise, height or its leaves. By the fruits it is bearing, you will know the nature of that tree. Jesus said, “…..for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34b). The problem is not at the doorstep of the tongue but the heart. If the heart is happy then the tongue will speak happy words, if the heart is depraved and dirty, then the tongue will utter words that are dirty, defiled and depraved. If the heart is cleansed and holy, the tongue will speak clean and righteous words, but if the heart is devilish, the tongue will speak devilish and evil words. Idle words come from an idle, vacant and worthless heart; the heart that has not experience the touch and salvation of the Lord. Every idle word that men speak, they shall give account. “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). It is the tongue that prays, confesses, shows confidence in Christ, that comes to ask the Lord for salvation, and then the fire of the Lord touches, purges and transforms that tongue, and this will lead to life and justification. But the tongue that is self-righteous, proud, says there is no need of the Lord’s salvation, misses conversion, and this will lead to condemnation. Here on earth, it is our tongues that determine how good our family will be, how prosperous the salesman will be, how good a teacher is, how good anyone in any field or profession is and what we get out of life. On the other side of the grave, it is the tongue that determines where we are going to be. A step further, it is unfortunate that we determine other people’s destinies with our tongue. The Evangelist determines the sinners’ destiny with his tongue, the Pastor-Preacher determines the destiny of multitudes of people with his tongue. The wife or mother determines the destinies and direction of the children with her tongue; our leaders in the nation determine the direction and destiny of the nation with the tongue. We determine quite a lot with our tongue, so such a little member requires our attention.
3 points:
Point 1. THE DEFINING FACTOR IN THE MASTER’S TONGUE
James 3:1-2; John 7:46; Matthew 10:24-25; Isaiah 50:4-7; Luke 4:22; Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 31:8-10; Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Revelations 14:4-5
If any man or woman, believer offends not in word, that man, woman or believer is a perfect one, and able to bridle the tongue. If you are going to have mastery over your tongue, you need to look at the Master Jesus, and see what defines His use of the tongue. “The officers answered, Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). Check the condition of your tongue; look at Jesus Christ, and see how He used His tongue, and come to Him to touch and transform your tongue, then you will be able to speak as He spoke. “….Be not many masters” Watch the Master, Perfect Teacher and Counsellor, and learn of him, because if we rush to be masters, with unsanctified tongues, we shall receive the greater condemnation. Check up your life, the history of your family, a broken home, or lack of promotion at work, lack of success and even the growth of the Church, and you will find that the tongue contributed in a large measure to those situations. Are people avoiding you, check your tongue; is it a razor blade tongue that cuts through the people? “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2). Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said and did nothing but what the Father taught Him. Let us learn of Him. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). The tongue of faith brings calmness into life, family, and ‘troubled sea’ just as Jesus used His tongue to calm the troubled sea. “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord” (Matthew 10:25a). We are to learn of Him and may the grace of God teach us. Before you say anything at all, ask yourself, what would Jesus say in that condition of yours before you speak. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned…” (Isaiah 50:4). Go to the Lord, let Him give you the tongue of the Master. The old, acidic, poisonous words and tongue have to pass away if anyone is a new creature in Christ, and all things ought to become new. We need to go to God so that He can give to us the tongue of Jesus. Everyone needs the tongue of the learned so that we know how to speak good, right, encouraging and uplifting words in season to him that is weary. We need to go to God that He will open our ears, hearts and eyes. “For the Lord GOD will help me….” (Isaiah 50:7). The Lord will help you to know how to talk, what to say, when to say it and when to be quiet, that your tongue may have a positive impact on the people you speak with. The words you speak and your tongue will not make you ashamed in Jesus’ Name. “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22). Jesus had a good heart and spoke good words, a gracious heart and spoke gracious words; He had a refined heart and spoke refined words; a happy heart and had happy words; and a loving heart and spoke loving words. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). To speak gracious words, our hearts must be full of the grace of God. Don’t create problems for the people that are hopeless and helpless: Think through and ask yourself how Jesus Christ will get them out of their predicaments. The Lord will speak either in prayer or counselling, to bring them out (Proverbs 31:8). Let righteousness be at the root of what you say in life and ministry (Proverbs 31:9). Do you know that Jesus Christ with all His knowledge knew when to be quiet? So there are times to be quiet, especially when there is that urge to just speak; that is the time to be quiet, like Jesus. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). Some people cannot bear a little bit of suffering and pain; pressure and injustice will make them want to talk. If you are going to be like the Master, you must know when to keep quiet. He has left us an example. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). He was Master, Lord and King, had power and authority, and yet He did not threaten, but committed all to God. I pray that this same attitude and gracious words of Jesus, the Lord will give unto us. “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelations 14:5). No guile, no lie, deception and hypocrisy. May the Lord reproduce that guileless tongue in every life, in Jesus Name.
Point 2: THE DEVOURING FIRE IN THE MISUSED TONGUE
James 3:5,6; Numbers 16:1-2,35; 21:4-6; Isaiah 33:12-14; James 3:9-12; Isaiah 5:20-24; James 3:14-16; Isaiah 26:11; Proverbs 26:20,21; Philippians 3:18-19; Psalms 97:3; Jude 15,16,7; Revelations 20:10,15
A misused tongue is a devouring fire: it is not under control but flippant, always nagging, talking without thinking or considering the consequence of what it says; its fire can burn down a whole family, church, tribe, profession and the nation. A little fire of argument in the family, disagreement with your boss in the office, dispute in the bus, debate can bring a whole life down. No matter how many gifts you have, sharp sightedness, good memory or brain, work faster, skilled, and strong you, your whole success or defeat depends upon the tongue. Remember men of renown, power and authority that their tongue brought upon them the judgment of God and of Hell fire, “And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense” (Number 16:35). Discouragement can set the tongue wagging, complaining and murmuring, like the children of Israel (Numbers 21:4-6), and many of them in their thousands died because of the wrong use of the tongue. We must be watchful. May The Lord preserve your family, local church and the whole of Deeper Life from all these destructive tongues in Jesus Name. “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God” (James 3:9). The tongue that you use to bless God during the service, and then the moment you go out of the church, you begin to curse in direct contrast! Have you found people who preach sound doctrine with their tongues, and then somebody offends them after the service and they get bitter and begin to speak angry words, raining curses upon the individual: this ought not to be. (James 3:9-10). You will remember that Nebuchadnezzar exalted the God of Daniel and promoted him and the three Hebrews, in Daniel Chapter 2 Then in Chapter 3 of the same book he used his tongue to speak against this same God and cursed men. People that speak with both sides of their mouth put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter as a result of their confusion. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). They are unpredictable and duplicity is their lifestyle; see the result of this, “Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 5:24). Remember, the tongue is connected to the heart, if there is bitter envying in the heart, the mouth will express it. If there is strive in the heart, the tongue will come out with it (James 3:14). And where there is envy, strife, fleshly and worldly heart, sensuality, devilishness and defilement, don’t say there is salvation there, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16), and fire of judgment will come. “LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them” (Isaiah 26:11). And to those with worldly and earthly wisdom, sensual, carnal and fleshly are enemies of God and their end is destruction (Philippians 3:18-19; Psalm 97:3; Jude 15, 16,19), and their fate, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). So as you look at the whole passage, and it talks about the people that misused their tongues, their wisdom is devilish, and their end result is eternal fire, the Lake of Fire at the end (Revelations 20:10,15). But you will not go there: but remember, your tongue will determine your destiny.
Point 3: THE DISTINGUISHING FRUITS OF MINISTERING TONGUES
James 3:13,17-18; Psalms 37:30,31; Proverbs 31:26,31; Ephesians 4:29; Job 16:4,5; Psalms 119:171; Proverbs 25:15; Isaiah 6:5-8
The fruits that sets us apart, distinguish us and make us distinct. These are people who know that the tongue matters, in everything we say, or anything we do. That they will allow the fire of purging and cleansing to touch and transform their tongues, and the wisdom from heaven is given to them, that they speak with the wisdom of Christ, and their lives are turned around (like your life will be turned around in Jesus Name). “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). In conversation, interaction with others, speaking with each other, remember the heart; if you love somebody words of love will come out from you to that person, if you are wise inside, the tongue will reveal that wisdom, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Divine wisdom affects and influences our heart and the way we speak. That divine wisdom will speak to the sinner and lead him to repentance; to the backslider and lead him to restoration; and to the believer and lead him to consecration. You will speak with divine wisdom and lead souls to Christ, and great will be your rewards here on earth and in eternity in Jesus Name. “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment” (Psalms 37:30). The mouth of the righteous speaks the wisdom of salvation, and sanctification, and is saturated with the word of God. You will not backslide, for this wisdom that is from above will be yours in Jesus Name (Psalms 37:31). “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26). That is a good and righteous woman in the church; teaching and helping other women to draw near to God, to love God, their husbands and children, and to be a blessing to the people in the community. She has the law of kindness on her tongue, and if any word will not show kindness to that other person, she will not utter it. With godly wisdom in the heart, you will speak the words that help and not to hurt; that heal not endanger; that encourage and lift up and not discourage or pull down; the words that make a person happy, holy, righteous and healthy, and not acidic words. “But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief” (Job 16:5). Unlike like his friends who seeing his condition heaped blame and words of judgment upon him, Job said he would use his tongue to bring them nearer to God, and encourage them. It is a soft tongue, not harsh, brutal, cruel, cutting nor acidic, that will break the bone (Proverbs 25:15). I pray the Lord will do it in your life. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; “And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” (Isaiah 6:5-7). The Lord wants us to act with humility and sincerity like Isaiah a prophet and minister of God, and checkup how we have been using our tongues; to know the fruits of our tongue, the defining factor, if we have got the mastery of our tongue, or if it has been the devouring fire, that we threaten people, are cruel, deceitful, make fire to burn down the work or company of other people with our tongue. I pray that the fire of the Holy Ghost will purge out and cleanse every unclean things from our tongue in Jesus Name. This was the sanctification experience for Isaiah, for he had known the Lord before this time, was even speaking and prophesying for the Lord to the children of Israel, but he came to the Lord for another and definite touch, and the coal from off the alter cleansed and purged his tongue and life. I pray that the Lord will do this for everyone this morning. After the purging, there was the witness of the Holy Spirit to the experience that Isaiah had. “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Let your response to be, Here am I; send me.
Ponder on this! Here on earth, it is our tongues that determine how good our family will be, how prosperous the salesman will be, how good a teacher is, how good anyone in any field or profession is and what we get out of life. On the other side of the grave, it is the tongue that determines where we are going to be. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! Our tongue determines how happy we are in life; how useful to the Lord; how healthy we are in ourselves and how spiritual. It is the tongue that determines how rewardable we are going to be in eternity; how friendly we are in society; successful, profitable, good and how well-remembered our lives will be after we are gone. It is the tongue on the other hand that determines our sadness, rejection, defeat, loss, failure, suffering in life, unanswered prayers, self-destruction, eternal ruin and damnation. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Hard Sayings – Divine wisdom affects and influences our heart and the way we speak. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – With godly wisdom in the heart, you will speak the words that help and not to hurt; that heal not endanger; that encourage and lift up and not discourage or pull down; the words that make a person happy, holy, righteous and healthy, and not acidic words. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Words on the Marble – To speak gracious words, our hearts must be full of the grace of God. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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