30th June 2006- Taming the Tongue

Keep Quiet
By Kenneth Copeland

One of the things that you and I as believers must learn if we want to be faithful servants in the kingdom of God is how to keep our mouths shut. We need to master that skill.

When we get our backs up about something, we think we have to let everybody know about it. "I'm just going to give them a piece of my mind," we say.

Don't make that mistake. Nobody wants or needs a piece of your mind-- and if you give it to them, you'll only end up alienating people and bringing harm to yourself. Instead, learn to keep quiet.

This especially applies in the area of spiritual insight. When the Holy Spirit gives you discernment about a situation, don't go spreading it all over town. If you do, you'll come to the place where the Lord can't trust you with revelation and insight into things and situations.

I've seen that happen. I've known intercessors who have received revelations about someone's weaknesses or needs. They have been given insight into the problem in someone's life, so they could pray for that person. But, instead of keeping that information between themselves and God in prayer, they told others about it. As a result, they lost their effectiveness as an intercessor.

• Point to Ponder: If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.

• Scripture Reading: James 3:1-13 (See bottom)

• Verse: My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:12)

• What you can do about it: Develop the quiet art of the wise man, and the devil will find it increasingly difficult to harm your prayer life and ministry to others.
  

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Scripture Reading:
From James 3:1-13

3:1
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
3:2
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3:3
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
3:4
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
3:5
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
3:6
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
3:7
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
3:8
but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
3:10
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
3:11
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
3:12
My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
3:13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
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