THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
Text: James 3:2-11
Word can trigger up negative side of oneself.
The words that we speak, are they life or death?
Do they give us hope or discouragement?

Since we are held responsible for every word we speak, I think we had better listen very carefully to what we are saying, not just to our brethren, but also to ourselves. Notice what Jesus said: "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Mt.12:36-37).  Let us look at the words, justified and condemned a little more closely.
By being Justified -- we are being freed from all blame, we are without guilt and we are shown or proven to be right.
Condemned means -- to be pronounced unfit for use, guilty.

By our own words we can be free from blame and without guilt, or we can pronounce ourselves guilty and unfit for the use of God.
If it is the Word of God -- it is Life, it is freedom.

If it is ourselves speaking -- it is death, and words of death will destroy, kill everyone that hears us; and not only they who hear us, but ourselves as well. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

So what do we love -- Life or death? What are we eating, and what are we 'living' on? Is it Life or Death? It is one or the other. Let us quote Proverbs 18:21 again, it says that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." And in 18:20, "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled." Is our belly satisfied and filled with life, which is Christ, and live; or are we filled with the manna of death, which is an enemy, and die? Let it be life, and then this verse will come to pass, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (1 Cor.15:26).

Genesis 22:7-13 Isaac asked his father this questions,  here is the fire, this is knife, where is the lamb? Abraham prophecy that God will provide himself a lamb. The spoken word go into action and God provided.
Genesis 1:1-4 God spoken the word and it was established.
The creative word should come out of us.
The word created the world, the word sustain the world.
When you confess the word of God it will come to pass.
You can change your future by changing your word.

Has anyone ever said something negative to you, and you just wilted and felt like you had died inside, or perhaps they said some beautiful words to you, then you just blossomed like a flower.  This is the way of the tongue. Let us, therefore, tend to life with our tongue, which may seem to be an impossible task; but be assured with God all things are possible (Mk 9:23). We will and shall be able to tame the tongue and only speak living words of life and reality. In Proverbs 26:20 we also find these words: "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." When our wood, hay and stubble is consumed, the carnal fire has gone out, but the eternal flame of God will burn for ever. Praise God Hallelujah!

THE PROVERBS OF THE TONGUE

Proverbs 18:21, 18,20, 10:11, 6:2, 21:23, 16:24, *13:3*, 26:20, 10:20-21, 15;4, 24:3-4, 25:4-5

Maintain your confession.
1. You must  focus on the desire result no matter the situation.
2. Maintain a good confession. Romans 1:17

The word will work if you work it. Meditate on the word and this got to do with you renew your mind.
Romans 12:2
You must renew your mind.  The Tower of Babel was built on the word.

Romans 10:10
We can see there is a negative (dark) side, but there is always a positive (light) side as well. What is important to us is that which is positive, that which gives us life eternal, and we know our life comes from God the Father through Christ Jesus, Who is the savior of all man. It is good to know the dark side of things, so we can stand against the wiles of evil, but it is so much better to live and have our being in the positive (the side of light and life).

I myself want to live. What about you? I know the answer to that. We are all wanting to live, and not just live but to live life more abundantly.

So now that we know we are all wanting to live, let us look at some of the scriptures that speak of those things that give us life:

Proverbs 10:20 says, "The tongue of the just is as choice silver", (silver speaks of redemption & righteousness),( see also Proverbs 25:4-5 and Psa. 12:6).

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life" (Prov. 15:4), and we know that Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life -- ever living (Rev. 2:7).

"The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life" (Prov.10 :11), and John 4:14 tells us that He (Jesus) is the water for the thirsty. Jesus also said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink" (John 7:37). "In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found..." (Prov. 10:13), "...and with wisdom the house is built" (Prov. 24:3-4).

"The lips of the righteous feed many" (Prov. 10-21), and Jesus said, "Feed My sheep" (John 21:15-17).

To have all the words of life we must be circumcised in the heart and put on the mind of Christ, also communicate, and have an intimate relationship with Him, with Christ the living Spirit which dwells in us.
The word is the most important seed that we can sow, so let us sow good seed.

God bless

By Reuben Boboye Olisawo