Guarding Your Tongue (Part 1)
from The Truth Church
Bishop Riggen draws from Titus 2:8, where Paul instructs believers to use 'sound speech'—words that are true and helpful—so that opponents have no evil to say about them. He pairs this with Psalm 141:3, a prayer for God to set a guard over one's mouth. From James 3:7-8, he notes that while every beast can be tamed, the tongue cannot be tamed by human effort; only God can control it. He emphasizes Proverbs 18:21, that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and warns that every idle word will be accounted for at judgment (Matthew 12:36-37). The preacher warns that outward religious standards, including speaking in tongues, are vain if the tongue remains unbridled (James 1:26). True spiritual maturity is marked by controlling one's speech. He challenges the congregation to avoid negative, doubtful, or harmful words, citing the Israelites who missed the Promised Land because they voiced their doubt, spreading unbelief. Joshua’s command to march silently around Jericho illustrates the power of withholding negative speech. He urges believers struggling with doubt to seek out those full of faith rather than spreading discouragement. The spiritual purpose is to surrender the tongue to God, speaking only words that build up, encourage, and align with faith, because seasons change and God is no respecter of persons.
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