Sermon Tone Analysis

9908

Before you can be successful in any battle you have to do a few things first.

First, you have to know your enemy, second, you have to locate the battlefield, and thirdly, you have to define your battle objectives.

1. THE ENEMY -- SELF

Many of the battles we face on a daily basis involve Satan's attacks on our physical bodies, attacks on our loved ones, or attacks on our finances.

But I want us to look at another one of our enemies this morning and it is SELF.

There are many people today who make excuses for their actions or words by confessing, "I just can't help myself".

Actually, they can't help themselves because they don't believe they can help themselves.

God's purpose for your life today is that you take authority over self and bring it into complete submission and control of the Holy Spirit.

In Proverbs 16:2 God's Word reveals that man's ability to exercise self-control or 'rule' over himself is actually a greater accomplishment than his ability to conquer an entire city.

The Apostle Paul knew the importance of exercising authority and dominion over himself.

He said, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

(1 Cor.

9:27)

2. THE BATTLEFIED -- OUR TONGUES

During World War I, when men were sent out to fight in specific territories which were crucial to the final outcome of the war, people referred to these soldiers as going to the "front" or "frontlines".

When these men reached the frontlines they were usually thrown right into the "heat" of the battle with heavy artillery fire, exploding bombs, and wounded and dying soldiers.

The word "frontlines" means "a military line formed by the most advanced combat units."

It is the most advanced or significant position in a battle.

In the Christian world, we often associate the "frontlines" or most advanced position in spiritual warfare with: a mission field in Africa, India or some other country.

However, the "frontlines"...the most significant battlefield where the struggles are usually the greatest...for most of us is where we live...in our homes...on the job, in our churches.

I want us to take a close look at the words we are speaking in our homes, on the job, at church, to see if they line up with the Word.

And then, we are going to discover how to gain control of our tongues and use them as a powerful force to release God's power and fulfill His will in our lives.

You may be wondering, why it is so important that we take control of our tongues?

James 1:26 says, "Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn't control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn't worth much."

There are Christians we attend church services everytime the door is opened.

Their mouths are filled with words of praise and rejoicing.

Yet, if you would follow them to their home, to the office, to the store, restaurants...and all the other places where they live...you would hear out of that same mouth criticism, complaining, gossiping, backbiting.

This has probably never happened to you, but have you ever noticed how easy it is for your mouth to "switch gears" on Sunday morning as you walk into church or when you have unexpected company drop by your home for a visit?

You may have spent the entire morning yelling at the kids or fussing with your husband or wife, but the moment your feet touch the church property or the moment you open the door to greet your unexpected compnay, you smile and say, "Good morning.

God bless you."

"Praise the Lord, isn't this a beautiful day?"

There are Christian families taday whose homes are filled with continual bickering...parents yelling and fussing at their children...husbands and wives arguing, criticizing and nagging each other.

There are churches where members use their tongues to stir up strife, to criticize and complain about the pastor, to spread gossip, or to destroy the reputation of a brother or sister.

On the job there are Christians who use their tongues to discredit fellow workers, to criticize, to spread discouragement.

Inconsistency in our lives.....

READ -- James 3:8-10 "but no man can tame the tongue.

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

?9?

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

?10? Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.

My brothers, this should not be.

The second strategy you must take in meeting our battle objectives is to recognize how powerful your tongue is and how vital your words are in determining whether or not you live in defeat or victory.

You are responsible for the words you speak.

Jesus said: "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

(Matt.

12:36-37)

In Proverbs 18:21 we read, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."

When you were born again you confessed Jesus as your Savior (Romans 10:10).

As a result of believing in your heart and speaking the words, "Jesus, forgive me of my sins, cleanse me and come into my heart," you received eternal life.

Did you know that the words that you speak can also greatly affect you actions, your entire body, and can determine the course of your life?

According to findings by leading neurosurgeons, the speech center in the brain has total dominion over all the other nerves in the body.

For example, if a person keeps saying, "I'm too weak to do that"..."I don't have the ability to do this job"..."I'm afraid to try"...right away the nerves receive the message from the central nervous system saying they are weak or incapable, and their body begins to adjust itself to what it has heard.

Now, since we base our actions on the infallible Word of God and not upon man's wisdom, let's compare these recent findings with the Word: "....if any one does not offend in speech--never says the wrong thing -- he is fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."

(James 3:2)

The neurosurgeons' findings confirm what James wrote two thousand years ago: if a man can control his tongue, he can control his own body!

To reinforce this truth, let's consider one of the three graphic illustrations James gives concerning the tongue: "Likewise look at the ships, though they are great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines."

(James 3:4-5)

In these verses, James draws a parallel between the rudder of a ship and the tongue.

Just as the rudder, which is 'very small' in comparison to the large ship that weighs thousands of pounds, controls the direction of the ship and keeps it on course regardless of the fierce winds and pounding waves; the tongue is also capable of directing the course of a person's life.

What does this mean to you as a believer?

If you continually speak negative words of fear, doubt and discouragement, you are setting the course of your life to live in discouragement and defeat.

If you constantly talk about your problems...your sickness... lack of finances...you will continue to live with your problems, your sickness, your lack of finances.

But if you will take control over your tongue, begin to fill your mouth with faith-filled words and the powerful Word of God and begin to speak it forth, you will be setting the course of your life to live in victory.

Your next battle strategy is to reevaluate the words that are coming out of your mouth.

The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Ephesian Church, set a good standard concerning the speech that Christian should follow:

READ -- Eph. 4 ?29? Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

?30?

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

?31? Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

?32? Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

In addition to these guidelines concerning your speech, we must not: lie (Col.

3:9, Acts 5:3), speak evil of any man (Titus 3:2, James 4:11), Sow discord among the brethren (Prov.

6:19, 1 Cor.

1:11), Backbite (2 Cor.

12:20, Romans 1:30), Speak with flattering lips (Prov.

26:28, Psalm 12:2-3), Speak 'proud things' (Psalm 12:3, Romans 1:30), Speak deceitfully (Psalm 120:2, Job 27:4), Murmur and complain (Phil.

2:14, 1 Cor.

10:10)

But instead our speech should be: Gracious (Eccl.

10:12), Seasoned with salt (Col.

4:6), Pleasant (Prov.

16:24), Filled with praise and thanksgiving (Eph.

5:19-20), Kind (Prov.

31:26), Honest (1 Peter 2:12).

What words are coming out of your mouth?

Remember, "Life and death are in the power of your tongue" (Prov.

18:21).

With your tongue you have the ability to create a good or bad atmosphere, depending on the words your choose.

In your relationship with your children, your husband or wife, your in-laws, you have the ability to build them up or tear them down.

Are your words filled with encouragement, love, praise?

Or, are they filled with negativism, discouragement, criticism?

When you face mounting pressures or what you may feel are unrealistic demands, do you take your frustration out on other workers?

In your relationship with other church members, what type of words are you speaking?

Do you murmur, complain or find fault with me.

How about when a brother or sister stumbles and falls, do you use your tongue to lift them up or to cut them down?

As you begin to make an honest evaluation of the words that you have been saying in these areas, don't become discouraged if there are areas where you are having difficulties in controlling your tongue.

You can take authority over self, and bring your tongue into submission to the Holy Spirit.

9909

We have to learn how to use our tongues as powerful weapons.

One of the major hindrances keeping many Christians from putting into practice and applying what they have learned in their lives is the words they are speaking.

Instead of speaking out the powerful, faithbuilding Word of God, their words are filled with negativism and defeat.

They spend most of their time talking about their problems.

As part of the family of God, God wants you speak His Word with power and authority to meet the needs in your life, and to bring healing and deliverance to those around you.

Before this truth can become a reality and work in your life, however, you must have a revelation of the tremendous power that is in God's Word.

There is creative power in God's Word!

Our of emptiness and void God spoke and this universe was created.