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Spiritual Warfare - Watch Your Mouth

July 30, 2023 • James 3:3–12, Matthew 12:34, Psalm 19:14, Proverbs 18:21, Ecclesiastes 10:12

Spiritual Warfare - Watch Your Mouth


Ecclesiastes 10:12 (ESV)

“The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor,

but the lips of a fool consume him.”


Ecclesiastes 10:12 (NLT)

"Wise words bring approval,

but fools are destroyed by their own words”


Proverbs 18:20-21 (NLT)

“Wise words satisfy like a good meal;

the right words [chosen words] bring satisfaction.

The tongue can bring death or life;

those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”


James 3:3-12 (NLT)

 “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 among all the parts of the body, 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.

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 12:34b (NLT)

"For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”

Matthew 12:34b (ESV)

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”


Genesis 35:17-18 (NLT)

“After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, ‘Don’t be afraid—you have another son!’ Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means ‘son of my sorrow’). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin [which means ‘son of my right hand’ [or strength]).”


Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”


Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruits.”


Psalm 141:3 (ESV)

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

 keep watch over the door of my lips!”


Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”