10/13/2026
📖 THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
“LET YOUR WORDS MINISTER GRACE, NOT DESTRUCTION”
Main Text: Ephesians 4:29–32
Supporting Text: James 3:5–10; Colossians 4:6; Titus 3:2
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying…” — Ephesians 4:29 KJV
🔰 INTRODUCTION — YOUR MOUTH REVEALS WHAT IS CONTROLLING YOUR MIND
A person can wound someone without touching him. No knife is necessary. No weapon is necessary. Sometimes a few words are enough.
Words can encourage or discourage, comfort or crush, strengthen or shame, build fellowship or destroy it.
James famously describes the tongue as “a fire” in James 3:6. However, from a Dispensational perspective, we should recognize that James is addressed specifically to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). We can learn valuable moral truth from James, because all Scripture is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16), but our direct doctrinal instructions for the Body of Christ are found particularly in Paul's epistles.
And Paul has much to say about our speech:
📖 Ephesians 4:29 — No corrupt communication.
📖 Colossians 4:6 — Speech always with grace.
📖 Titus 3:2 — Speak evil of no man.
📖 Philippians 2:14 — Do all things without murmurings.
📖 Colossians 3:8 — Put away filthy communication.
The question, therefore, is not simply:
“Can Christians say this?”
The better question is:
“DO MY WORDS REFLECT WHO I AM IN CHRIST?”
1️⃣ POLLUTION — REMOVE CORRUPT COMMUNICATION
📖 Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:8–9; Titus 3:2
Paul's first principle is negative but necessary:
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…” — Ephesians 4:29
Grace changes not merely where we go or what we do—it should change how we speak.
A. PUT AWAY FILTHY SPEECH
📖 Colossians 3:8
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
The believer should not use his mouth as an outlet for uncontrolled flesh.
Being angry does not give us permission to become verbally destructive.
B. PUT AWAY FALSE SPEECH
📖 Colossians 3:9
“Lie not one to another…”
Truth should characterize believers because we belong to Christ.
Half-truths, deliberate exaggerations, deception, and dishonest accusations have no rightful place in Christian communication.
C. PUT AWAY HARMFUL SPEECH
📖 Titus 3:2
“To speak evil of no man…”
Gossip and slander can destroy someone's reputation in minutes.
Before speaking, ask:
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Will it edify?
🔥 DON'T USE YOUR MOUTH TO DESTROY SOMEONE CHRIST DIED FOR.
2️⃣ PROVOCATION — REFUSE THE LANGUAGE OF THE FLESH
📖 Galatians 5:19–21, 26; Ephesians 4:31; Philippians 2:14
Many destructive words begin with an uncontrolled attitude.
The mouth often becomes the microphone of the flesh.
A. REJECT ANGER
📖 Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you…”
Notice Paul's language: put it away.
Grace does not teach us to excuse destructive anger. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness.
📖 Titus 2:11–12
B. REJECT ARGUING
📖 Philippians 2:14
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”
Some people seem unable to communicate without turning every conversation into conflict.
But spiritual maturity does not need to win every argument.
Sometimes wisdom says:
Be quiet.
Be patient.
Be gracious.
C. REJECT AGITATION
📖 Galatians 5:26
“Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Our words should not intentionally provoke jealousy, anger, division, or unnecessary conflict.
🔥 IF YOUR WORDS CONSTANTLY START FIRES, DON'T BLAME EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE SMOKE.
3️⃣ PURIFICATION — RENEW THE MIND BEFORE OPENING THE MOUTH
📖 Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23; Philippians 4:8
The biblical solution is not merely learning to bite your tongue.
The deeper answer is renewing your mind with sound doctrine.
Why?
Because eventually the mouth expresses what dominates the mind.
A. RENEW YOUR THINKING
📖 Romans 12:2
“be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Changed speech begins with changed thinking.
If your mind constantly feeds on:
gossip,
anger,
envy,
bitterness,
worldliness,
those things will eventually influence your conversation.
B. REPLACE YOUR THINKING
📖 Philippians 4:8
Paul tells believers to think upon things that are:
True.
Honest.
Just.
Pure.
Lovely.
Of good report.
Before changing the vocabulary, change what occupies the mind.
C. REPROGRAM YOUR THINKING WITH TRUTH
📖 Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”
Sound doctrine dwelling in the believer produces sound thinking, and sound thinking influences sound speech.
RIGHT DOCTRINE SHOULD PRODUCE RIGHT DIALOGUE.
🔥 WHEN THE WORD OF CHRIST FILLS YOUR MIND, GRACE SHOULD BEGIN TO FLOW FROM YOUR MOUTH.
4️⃣ PROCLAMATION — USE YOUR MOUTH TO MINISTER GRACE
📖 Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
God did not merely tell us what not to say.
He tells us what our words should accomplish.
A. SPEAK FOR EDIFICATION
📖 Ephesians 4:29
“that which is good to the use of edifying…”
To edify means to build up.
Ask yourself:
After people talk with me, are they strengthened or shattered?
A mature believer should leave people spiritually stronger, not emotionally wounded.
B. SPEAK WITH GRACE
📖 Colossians 4:6
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt…”
Notice:
ALWAY WITH GRACE.
Grace should affect our preaching.
Grace should affect our marriage.
Grace should affect church conversations.
Grace should even affect how we correct someone.
Truth without graciousness can become unnecessarily harsh.
Grace without truth becomes compromise.
We need truth spoken graciously.
C. SPEAK FOR ENCOURAGEMENT
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another…”
There are already enough voices tearing people down.
Be the believer who says:
“Remain faithful.”
“Keep studying.”
“Christ is sufficient.”
“God's grace is enough.”
“Your labour is not in vain.”
🔥 YOUR MOUTH CAN BECOME A TOOL FOR EDIFICATION INSTEAD OF AN INSTRUMENT OF DESTRUCTION.
5️⃣ PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL — USE YOUR MOUTH FOR CHRIST
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 5:19–20
The greatest purpose for our speech is not merely saying nice things.
OUR MOUTHS SHOULD MAKE CHRIST KNOWN.
A. DECLARE THE CROSS
📖 1 Corinthians 1:18; 15:3
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.”
Instead of spreading gossip, spread the Gospel.
Instead of constantly discussing other people's failures, tell sinners about the One who died for their sins.
B. DECLARE THE COMPLETED GOSPEL
📖 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
The saving Gospel today centers upon:
Christ died for our sins.
Christ was buried.
Christ rose again the third day.
This is the message the world desperately needs.
C. DECLARE CHRIST WITHOUT SHAME
📖 Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…”
Think about it:
We sometimes boldly talk about other people's lives but become silent when an opportunity comes to talk about Christ.
That priority should be reversed.
LESS GOSSIP.
MORE GOSPEL.
LESS SLANDER.
MORE SCRIPTURE.
LESS COMPLAINING.
MORE CHRIST.
🔥 IF GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A VOICE, USE IT TO MAKE THE GOSPEL CLEAR.
📣 CALL TO ACTION — THREE C's
A. CHECK YOUR WORDS
📖 Ephesians 4:29
Before speaking, ask:
Is it corrupt or constructive?
Is it harmful or helpful?
Will it destroy or edify?
Don't allow a temporary emotion to produce permanent damage.
B. CHANGE YOUR THINKING
📖 Romans 12:2
Don't merely try to control your tongue externally.
Fill your mind with God's rightly divided Word.
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
A renewed mind will increasingly produce renewed communication.
C. COMMUNICATE CHRIST
📖 2 Corinthians 5:20
“we are ambassadors for Christ…”
Use your voice for something eternal.
Tell someone about:
Christ's death.
Christ's burial.
Christ's resurrection.
Christ's finished crosswork.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
🏁 CONCLUSION — WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?
Your mouth can become:
A hammer that crushes,
or a hand that helps.
A fire that destroys,
or a fountain of encouragement.
A source of gossip,
or a speaker of the Gospel.
Paul gives the Body of Christ a clear standard:
📖 Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying…”
The goal is not simply:
“STOP SAYING BAD WORDS.”
The greater goal is:
“START USING YOUR WORDS FOR GOD'S GLORY AND THE EDIFICATION OF OTHERS.”
💡 FINAL THOUGHTS — THE FIVE P's
1️⃣ POLLUTION — Remove corrupt communication.
📖 Ephesians 4:29
2️⃣ PROVOCATION — Refuse angry, divisive, fleshly speech.
📖 Ephesians 4:31
3️⃣ PURIFICATION — Renew your mind with God's truth.
📖 Romans 12:2
4️⃣ PROCLAMATION — Speak words that minister grace and build others.
📖 Colossians 4:6
5️⃣ PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL — Use your voice to make Christ's finished work known.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
🗣️ BEFORE YOU SPEAK, REMEMBER:
IS IT TRUE?
IS IT GRACIOUS?
IS IT NECESSARY?
IS IT EDIFYING?
DOES IT HONOR CHRIST?
DON'T LET YOUR MOUTH BECOME A WEAPON OF THE FLESH.
LET IT BECOME AN INSTRUMENT OF GRACE.
📖 “LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAY WITH GRACE…”
— COLOSSIANS 4:6 KJV
