tongue

".......a soft tongue breaketh the bone." (Prov 25:15) May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts...(Ps 12:3)...let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile... (IPet3:12)

Our tongues need to be under the control of the Holy Spirit, if we want our prayers for Spiritual Revival to prevail. Perhaps there is no greater spreader of spiritual death in the Christian Church today than the human tongue.

In the vision of God, when Isaiah saw God's Holiness, he was convicted chiefly of the way he had been using his tongue. Apparently, he had not realised this until he saw himself in God's light. If a man of God - a prophet, like Isaiah - had been convicted of the wrong use of his tongue, how much more, we need to be careful of it. (Isa 6:5)

Jeremiah was told by the Lord (in Jer 15:19) that he could be God's mouthpiece only if he was careful about the way he used his tongue - if he separated the worthless from the precious in his conversation. ".. if you utter worthy, not worthless words, you will be my spokesman." (NIV).

Watchman Nee has said in his book, "The Normal Christian Worker":" If a Christian worker talks inadvisably about all sorts of things, how can he expect to be used of the Lord in the utterance of His Word? If God has ever put His Word on our lips, then a solemn obligation is upon us to guard these lips for His service alone. We cannot offer a member of our body for use at our own discretion. Whatever is once presented to Him is eternally His."

As in the physiology of the body. a doctor can often assess a man's state of health by looking at his tongue, so too in the spiritual realm, James tells us that how a man uses his tongue is a test of his spirituality (Jas 1:26). He makes bold claims to say that if a man can control his tongue he is a perfect man. (Jas 3:2)

God's Word concerning the tongue: "God is judge Himself." Ps 50:6,"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matt 7:1."By why dost thou judge thy brother? Or -why dost set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Let us therefore follow the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify another." Romans14:10.13,19.

"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." IPeter3:10. 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. "Jas 3:2. "Against an elder (or any leader) receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses." ITim 3:10. "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him. A proud look, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief. A false witness that speaketh lies and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19.

Objective: To Preserve the unity of our church that the Holy Spirit gives us and to enable us to be transparently honest and open with each other.

The following points may appear extreme to some of us. But to those, who have hungered and thirsted for revival and then see the Spirit grieved away by the sins of the tongue, will find them not extreme. However, to those who have lost their freedom and liberty in the Spirit because of backbiting tongues, they may find these words not extreme enough.

As we see the weakness, the impoverished conditions of the Church at large and realise that she has been kept from her rightful power by the contamination of indisciplined tongues, a hatred comes into our heart against these sins of the tongue.

Concerning the Convenant:-

1. That we should not listen, or wilfully enquire after any ill concerning each other either in a conversation between two persons or in a group. (We do not say that we will not listen to ought against someone but that we reserve the right to have it said in his presence only.) In any discussion of an absent person there is a danger that we will flow over into criticism. If found in this kind of situation, we are to excuse ourselves politely at once from the discussion or we can change the subject in a prayerful spirit.

2. That if we should hear any ill of another person, we will not believe it. (We should believe nothing of what we hear and only half of what we see.)

3. That as soon as possible we will communicate what we hear by speaking or writing to the person concerned.

4. That we will not speak or write a syllable of what we hear to any other person whatsoever.

5. That we will not make any exception to these rules, unless we feel absolutely obliged in conscience to do so, to the church elders who have been appointed by God to shepherd the flock, that is, to look after the problems, needs and welfare of His people. However, discussion at leadership level must be done in a prayerful spirit under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in the shadow of the Judgment Seat of Christ with the purpose of taking appropriate action..

Take Note:

1. Backbiting is the speaking or passing on of some words, even how true they are, which would lower the character of another person.

  • ii. Gossiping is the entering into empty talk about another person in his absence;passing remarks which would cause suspicion of his character. Example: "Tell me so that we can pray for the person", "You know this person... I think I'd better not tell you". "Pray for... I don't feel free now to share with you", etc.

    (The contents are based on a similar convenant drawn up during the Methodist Revival under John and Charles Wesley).

     

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