Sunday, March 8, 2015

The Power of the Tongue


Q: How many muscles are in the human body? (approx. 640)

Q: What is the strongest muscle in the body? (the tongue)

·         The tongue is the strongest muscle in your body, and most flexible. (actually comprised of 8 interconnected muscles - four connected to bone and involved in changing the position of the tongue, and four non-anchored involved in changing the shape)
·         Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.
·         The tongue is the fastest healing part of the body.
·         Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different.

Proverbs on the tongue

·         Proverbs 18:21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
·         Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
·         Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
·         Proverbs 12:18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
·         Proverbs 12:6 The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.
·         Proverbs 13:3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.

James 1:26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

James 3:1-12 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.  But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself

SermonCentral.com On October 8, 1871, at about eight-thirty in the evening, a lantern in Mrs. O’Leary’s barn, presumably kicked over by her cow, ignited the great Chicago fire. The woman was milking her cow; and there was a little lamp of oil, a little flickering flame. The cow kicked over the lamp; and the flame kindled a wisp of hay, and another wisp, until all the hay in the stable was on fire, and the next building was on fire, and the next and the next! The fire spread over the river to the main part of Chicago and swept on until within a territory one mile wide and three miles long, there were only two buildings standing. the little flame from that lamp had laid Chicago in ashes! That was over one half of the city.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

Matthew 12:33-37  “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.  You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.  The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Luke 6:43-45 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

In their book, Words Can Change Your Brain, they write: “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”

Positive words, such as “peace” and “love,” can alter the expression of genes, strengthening areas in our frontal lobes and promoting the brain’s cognitive functioning. They propel the motivational centers of the brain into action, according to the authors, and build resiliency.

Conversely, hostile language can disrupt specific genes that play a key part in the production of neurochemicals that protect us from stress. Humans are hardwired to worry — part of our primal brains protecting us from threats to our survival — so our thoughts naturally go here first.

However, a single negative word can increase the activity in our amygdala (the fear center of the brain). This releases dozens of stress-producing hormones and neurotransmitters, which in turn interrupts our brains’ functioning. (This is especially with regard to logic, reason, and language.) “Angry words send alarm messages through the brain, and they partially shut down the logic-and-reasoning centers located in the frontal lobes,” write Newberg and Waldman.

Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Leadership guru John Maxwell says that leaders carry two buckets with them at all times -- a bucket of water and a bucket of gasoline. (Think Hitler and Churchill)

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Is your tongue glorifying Christ at all times?  Does your life reflect your beliefs?  Are you speaking life or death to yourself or others?


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