Before introducing Minister Marcell Miss Kathy Tatum told the congregation that God planted good seeds in us; therefore we need to produce good, not evil. Now onto the day’s message which reminded me of a message I heard over a year ago called Taming the Tongue. If you are affiliated with Harrison Street Missionary Baptist Church I’m sure you remember this sermon quite well; let’s see how much these two compare. All scriptures will be quoted from the King James Version. Also, keep in mind that the term man means mankind the verses aren’t just solely based on the male gender.
He started out by reading Psalm 34:11-13 → “(11) Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (12) What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? (13) Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” Let me break this down: If a man wants to live for a long time he needs to be very choosy of the words he uses to others. Speak the truth, but only in love for one another not to harm or put-down.
He went on to Proverbs 13:3, 21:23, 15:4, 18:21 → “(13:3) He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth his mouth wide his lips shall have destruction.” “(21:23) Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his sole from troubles.” It is always better to sit back and observe for the less you say the less you allow yourself to lie and gossip. “(15:4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness is a breach in the spirit.” Once a person communicates outside the boundaries of God’s Will a break in his spirit will appear leaving a wide open hole for the devil to sneak through. “(18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” If you plant an apple tree do not expect it to grow oranges, but you may plant an orange tree at anytime. God has planted the seeds of his life in us so that we may all prosper. Now, we may change the seed of which God planted in us to become evil. Once this seed is planted and watered it will grow within you in the World.
We then turned to Matthew 12:33-34 and 7:17-18 → “(12:33) Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known for his fruit. (34) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” The tree being man and his fruit meaning his words, we are judged by, not only the things we do, but also the words we speak. Whatever is in your heart, whether it be pain, sorrow, jealousy, defeat, happiness or slumber the mouth will eventually speak on the heart’s feelings. “(7:17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” What looks good ain’t always good.
The last book we looked at was James 1:26 and 3:2-6. “(1:26) If any man you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” *Self explanatory.
He then went onto to give two lists; Diseases of the Tongue and the First Steps to Healing. Diseases of the Tongue included – excessive talking, careless words, gossip, lying, flattery and hastiness of speech. The First Steps to Healing are – call your problem by its rightful name; sin, confess all sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing, refuse sin.
