16/07/2019
DISCIPLINING THE TONGUE
“Let not 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. AND GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil Speaking, be away from you, with all malice.” Ephesians 4:29-31
Whenever we talk carelessly with our tongue, we grieve the Holy Spirit. He withdraws from our heart. Miriam and Aaron gossiped or backbite Moses “And the Lord heard it” Numbers 12:2
Now note what happened next.
“And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; AND HE DEPARTED, AND THE CLOUD DEPARTED from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous...Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days; and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.” Numbers 12:9, 10, 14-15
Backbiting God’s choice servant caused five things. First, God was angry about it. Second, He withdrew His presence from them. Third, Miriam was inflicted with leprosy. Fourth, Miriam was extradited from the camp. Fifth, the entire nation progress was forestalled by seven days. These things are still happening today, every time we talk against any of God’s children. Many believers see themselves empty and dry and they do not understand the reason why.
Mike Murdock shared an experience that is most enlightening in this regard. He relates “I will never forget a conversation in Washington D.C. I came down from my hotel room full of joy and enthusiasm. I had been praying in the spirit all day. I could not remember happier hours or days in my life. When I sat down to eat the name of someone came up. I was talking with two of my staff members. When this name came up I made a statement. ‘I like the young man but he’s rather lazy.’ The conversation continued until after about one hour I returned to my hotel room.
“But something was wrong. As I began to lift my hands and sing to the Holy Spirit, a cloud of heaviness settled into my heart, something was out of order. So, not knowing what was wrong I simply began to sing louder and became more aggressive in worship. The heaviness in my spirit remained.
Suddenly the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, “Why did you tell them that this young man was lazy.” I stopped, then I answered almost defiantly to the Holy Spirit – “Well, because he is lazy.” “You have offended me”, The Holy Spirit spoke into my heart. I thought for a moment, then I replied, “Well he did not hear me anyway. He is over 1,000 miles away.” “I heard you and you offended Me.” I tried another approach “Well, Lord, it is true that he is lazy and I would be willing to tell him to his face.” Suddenly, the Holy Spirit stopped me with a powerful understanding. That brought my mind to Philippians 4:8, where He gave us the guidelines for proper conversation, true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous, praise worthy. As He began to deal with my life, my heart began to break.”
I want to emphasize this grave truth, EVERYTIME YOU SPEAK NEGATIVELY AGAINST SOMEBODY THE HOLY GHOST WITHDRAWS FROM YOU. Now imagine a church where everybody is always gossiping, backbiting and tearing one another. That is a church that the Holy Spirit has abandoned. They may still go on with all their planned programs but He, the owner of the church will be absent. Imagine also a church where everybody speaks good of one another; such a church the Holy Spirit will endorse whatever pronouncement the servant of God declares from the platform.
Any woman that catches anyone talking evil against their own children will pick immediate offense, because you’re talking against the apple of her eyes. Every believer is God’s own child. The apple of His eyes. For you to talk against any child of God is to experience the displeasure and withdrawal of the Holy Spirit. But vast numbers of believers engage themselves in gossip, slander tearing one another verbally. Then, any marvel why they don’t see the power or experience what God says? “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early”. Hosea 5:1
As a child of God it is extremely difficult for Satan’s bullets to pe*****te you, but once he has gotten control of your tongue he can have a field day with you. Your tongue is the most important member of your body.
“If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but decieveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain”. James 1:26
James says although you may appear before men as most spiritual. You preach powerful messages that are full of revelation. You prophesy correct and accurately. You have successfully climbed the hierarchical ladder of your denomination to the highest echelons of power. Yet you cannot control your tongue, then your spirituality is on the surface. It carries no weight. You are carnal, shallow and empty.
When it comes to the use of the tongue, God’s standard is very high. “…speak evil OF NO MAN.” Titus 3:2. God puts the premium on how we use the tongue because it is the most powerful instrument in the body. So powerful is the tongue as a member in your body that if you are able to control and subdue the tongue, every other member of your body will automatically pipe down under the control of the Holy Spirit. “…If any man offends not in word the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” James 3:2.
Most people feel our sexual organs are the most influential members of the body. Others believe it is the stomach. But God says your tongue has been given the power to influence both your sexual organs and your stomach. Any man who has mastered the tongue has entered a place of perfection as a human being. James said so “The same is a perfect man.” Your tongue can turn around your sexual desires that seem to be running wild and your uncontrollable appetite.
“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouth that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ship which though they be so great and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm withersoever the governor listed. EVEN SO THE TONGUE is a little member and boasted great things”. – James 3:3-5
James goes on to tell me how men have succeeded to tame all manner of animals and beasts regardless their terror. Crocodiles, pythons, grizzly bears, gorillas, lions, rhinos and what have you have all been tamed by men. “But the tongue CAN NO MAN TAME.” James 3:8
This is true. However, there is a higher authority than man that can enable you and I to tame our tongue. He is the personality of the HOLY GHOST. When a man accepts to be possessed by the Holy Ghost, what we call the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs. The first thing the Holy Spirit takes over is his tongue. Speaking in tongues is a sign you have been taken over or possessed by the Holy Spirit.
It is essential that you put your tongue under subjection for an upliftment. Make positive and healthy confessions a deliberate action as you enter into this month of November and you will see God working miraculous in your life.
God bless you.
