The power of the tongue goes right along with what we talked about last week. If you didn’t catch it, last week we talked about The Law of Sowing and Reaping. This law is huge. It is actually one of the most important things that we can learn about because it is how everything in the kingdom of God works.
Today, I want to look at what we are speaking and – as a byproduct of that – what we are hearing. This post comes right out of Mark 4 again. This time we are looking at verses 23-24. Remember what we talked about last week.
The principles outlined in this chapter are some of the most important principles in the Bible. How can I say that? Because Jesus himself said…
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14 The sower soweth the word.
Mark 4:13-14 KJV
The concepts outlined here in Mark 4 are the foundations to many of the other parables Jesus told us about the kingdom of God.
Our Text
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Mark 4:23-24 KJV
The Power of Your Tongue as the Sower
Ultimately for words to be heard they have to be spoken. We know this is true. So when Jesus said that the sower sows the word (Mark 4:14), He could have also said that a person’s tongue sows the word.
James got a hold of this fact when he wrote…
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:4-5 KJV
The tongue is like the rudder to our lives. What we confess we will possess. The words that we say will determine the way we think, act and behave.
Or we can passively allow life, the waves, and everything else to beat against the ship and turn it in a direction we don’t ultimately want to go.
Mind and Tongue are Interconnected
The things you are thinking about eventually turn into what you say. Just the same things you say eventually lead you to what you will start doing. Solomon said this very plainly in Proverbs chapter 4 when he said…
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Proverbs 4:20-24 KJV
Verse 24 tells us how to do what verses 20 – 23 are saying.
- “Attend to my words” aka Listen
- “Keep them in the midst of thine heart.”
- “Keep (or Protect) thy heart with all diligence”
All of these things Solomon is saying to do comes with verse 24.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
What you speak gets sown into your heart! If you want to listen to God’s word and do it, you have to start by speaking it.
Start BEFORE you feel like it
Many people in college and other places have confided in me about things they are going through in their lives. They’ll say,
- “Well, I am just so stressed about this test.”
- “I have anxiety”, “My anxiety…”
- “My depression…”
- “I’m so tired…”
And before long they find themselves more depressed, more tired, more angry, more whatever else they are saying. Why?
Because they are talking about their feelings, they don’t know how to stop talking with perverse lips.
This is how.
Start talking the Word of God over your situation before your thoughts or feelings line up with it. Your thoughts and feelings will come in line with what you speak.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8 KJV
meditate = (or speak the word over yourself)
Hearing & Speaking with your Tongue are Interconnected
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Mark 4:23-24 KJV
Jesus here is talking about spiritual ears. When you speak the Word of God from your mouth over your situation it affects your…
- Mind
- Body
- Spirit
Psychologists and other scientists (world professionals) are discovering today what the Bible has said all along. Words have the power to change the mind, body and spirit of a person.
When the Word of God is heard by your heart that is what faith is!
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 NKJV
As we have looked over many times really we could say this and it would make this scripture easier to understand.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing [comes] by the word of God”
That is faith.
Mark 4:24 is simply saying that the level to which we speak (and subsequently) hear the Word of God the greater levels we will receive. Faith comes by hearing and it is that faith that will allow us to operate in more faith as we continue to grow.
It all starts with a choice
Today, I want to give you one simple action step that you can do anywhere. More faith doesn’t come from praying to God and requesting it. Faith comes by hearing more of the word of God. The capacity to walk in that faith comes by being a doer of the word.
Action Step: Make a Confessions Sheet
This is something I started doing at the beginning of 2019 and saw because of it a world of difference in my life: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Why? Because the thoughts I am thinking are determined by the Words I speak. I cannot allow circumstances or feelings to dictate how I am speaking.
To speak in agreement with the devil is to give away our most powerful weapon to the enemy.
Steps
- Outline 2-3 Large Goals you want to see occur in your life.
Example
GOAL 1: Healing of all allergies.
- Under each goal write 1 scripture.
Example
GOAL 1: Healing of all allergies.
Isaiah 53:5 KJV
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
- Finally, Pull this paper out every morning and confess that scripture over yourself.
In addition to this you will probably want to add some general ones that you are speaking over yourself every day. Things like Philippians 4:19 or James 1:5 (just to name a couple on my list). Remember with the same measure you “mete” or measure out it will be measured to you.
As you continue to do this you shape your thoughts, beliefs and actions to come in line with God’s word.
We make it too hard sometimes. It really is just that simple.
What you confess you will possess.
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