I read an article sometimes ago, and I came across posters from World War 11 that read, ‘loose lips sink ships. But going by the scriptural truth, it says, loose lips wreck lives and able to set the whole body on fire of hell. With a slip of tongue, we can weaken and discouraged a determined effort and mar another’s reputation that would exceptionally have a need of the blood of Jesus to wipe out the reproach and heals the emotional wound caused by such unguarded word. James 3:5-8.
Elder Tony of mission Timothie here at Nimes assembly is a strong and mature believer with great zeal, reverence and passion for the Lord. Despite his retirement from public work, he works tirelessly for the Lord through hospital visitations and market evangelism to expand the kingdom in his capacity of grace received and according to the measure from the Lord. Recently, I was with him in his car as he was taken me back home from the church, and while sharing the scriptures and speaking other things related to the kingdom, the elder said, you see Emmanuel, the Lord told me long ago that I should let his word (the word of God or from God) becomes or take the place of my (personal) word.
Whoa! I exclaimed. What, if everyone called by God’s name (children of God) will let the word of God becomes their spoken word in every conversation, would there ever be the need to pray like David once requested of the Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight O God? Psalms 19:14.
Would there ever be slippery tongue or corrupt communication proceeds from the mouth to offend any or say before the angel it was an error? Ecclesiastes 5:6.
Would there ever be a regretful act or spoken word to be taken back from the Christians who are supposed to be unapologetic to speak and do as those that shall be judged by the law of liberty – if they shall keep the scriptures in the heart that whatsoever you do, in word or deed, do all to the glory of God? I don’t think so.
King David was mindful of his relationship with God and conscious of his responsibility to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing: he knows the danger behind untamed tongue and to this end, he prayed and sought help and was heard. Here, in our above text of the scriptures, he prayed and sought for divine help for tongue controlled. He asked God to put padlock to lock his mouth and tongue and to open and close it at his divine will for word rightly spoken at the right time – the tongue of the learned- gracious words- words seasoned with salt and filled with grace, that he might know how to answer every man. Proverbs 25:11.
Words matter and it counts before God; though, you may appear weak, deaf and dumb because you don’t always have an immediate response to every word spoken or addressed (time to keep silence) before you, but the Lord shall be glorified when you speak at the right time. Ears should taste (analyze) every word’s quality to determines its source, value, effects and purpose (Job 12:11. Job 34:3) and every word spoken from the mouth of a child of God should be meant (not-regrettable) to be said because it reveals the spiritual quality, genuineness, growth and personality of the speaker- a good man out of the good things in his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man, out of the evil treasures in his heart, brings forth evil things. The problem with slippery tongue stem from multitudes of words – talkative spirit. In the multitudes of words there is sin, but he that restraints his lips are wise. Proverbs 10:19.
A talkative man will always fall into the problem of a slippery tongue because his belly is full of words with little or no power to control them- lack of self-control – to speak the right word to wrong audience, or wrong word to serious people, and at the end, come to apologise that those words are not meant for them. Though our belly is full of words, yet, we can choose not to give strong meat to those whom we have judged incapable to receive it because they continue to act as babes, and are in need of milk, but not of strong meat. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2.
Watch those unconscious talkative preachers ministering before the audience who have no need to learn the Hebrew or Greek languages because none among the crowd is seeking for a visa to any of those countries as a necessity to learn the language, much more to glorify their stupidity, they are doing this in the absence of a Jewish person or any group of listeners from Athens by giving details on the original Greek or Hebrew meaning of their chosen text as if the obedience to the word of God is in the root meaning of the translated word. This is how you can discern a talkative person who is prone or likely to have a slip tongue sooner or later if he has never. Tongue should be watched, and let the brain filter the words before any utterance or vocalization, for there is nothing hilarious in our entire spiritual walk and devotion, and not in our relationships with one another and with God. Mockery is to despise another, but such will say they are just joking. He that despises his neighbour sin– it is the mark of spiritual foolishness and madness – a foolish man despises his neighbour, but he that is wise will keep silence. Proverbs 11:12.
An odious, proud and disrespectful wife such as Michal, king Saul’s daughter, David’s first wife, will foolhardy say anything, but she was cursed by God for her slippery and mockery tongue against David, and her womb was shut (barren) all her life as consequence. 2 Samuel 6:20-23. The forty and two children at Bethel with slippery tongues emulate to walk in the footsteps and ill- mannered and impolite reckless way of talking as seen from the sons of the prophets which at first insulted and mocked Elisha for his bald head (2 Kings 2:3) but were very unfortunate to have encountered a changed Elisha with a new mantle of power and mandate, entirely different from the old Elisha previously begging for anointing, and would not be spared for their careless talk, but were cursed and were devoured by two she bears out of the wood as preventive measure for people with hole in their lips and think they can say anything to anyone. 2 kings 2:23-25.
Life birthed and guided by the Spirit of God cannot be theatrically, but is supernaturally – unpredictable. Spiritual life is not for the comedians and humorist (filthiness, foolish talking, nor jesting which are not convenient is ruled out – interdiction in communication among believers. Ephesians 5:4) but for spiritual warriors, spiritual athletics, and spiritual travelers who are in constant need of words of encouragement – people who are to gird up the loins of their minds in soberness and readiness against any unannounced attacks and unforeseen fiery darts of the wicked one. Believer’s words should first be filtered and processed from the inner man before it is spoken or released that it might minister grace to the hearers.
Serious minded Christians analyses the impacts of their words in every conversation; therefore, they are slow to speak to avoid the danger, folly and peril of paying the price of a slippery tongue. They meant whatever is spoken, for they are always led by the Spirit of God, though they are slow to speak, but shall speak if led to assuage grief for comfort, and to speak hard and bitter truth to win back an erring friend with words of rebuke and correction to save him from the error of his way – faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy is deceitful. Whatever is happening and wrought in the life of a child of God is divinely appointed in their circumstances and experiences for an outcome of an eternal weight of glory, and not to be utilised for any playful comment or cracking jokes or accusing wrongly with blame for the trial or suffering they are not unlikely culpable of. This is an offence which many are not innocent of it in the church today. You think you can trust a loose tongue with confidential personal matters or issues, you are delusional. They are not of a faithful spirit to keep secrets, and when the words are let out, they will excuse it as unintentional – a tale bearer reveals secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter. Proverbs 11:13.
Tale bearers, gossipers, false accusers and busy body in other men’s matter: these are people to avoid in our churches, and to keep a distance from because they are capable of destroying lives, community and families – a tale bearer (loose and slippery tongue) reveals secret, therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips. Proverbs 20:19.
Sometimes, slippery talkers will intentionally exaggerate an event because the slippery spirit works in them, just like the young Amalekite man who happened by chance to be at the right place shortly after the death of king Saul came across the kingdom’s crown on the head of the king, wrought falsehood on himself (2 Samuel 1:16) and claimed to have killed Saul to court favour and riches from David against his own life, but David ordered he should be killed. 2 Samuel 4:4-12.
We should be very careful not to be snared, destroyed, hated, rejected, humiliated and disfavored by the words of our mouth- a slippery tongue, even as Ish-bosheth by slippery tongue falsely accused his army general (Abner) of infidelity with his father’s (king Saul) concubine. Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, am I a dog’s, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that you charged me this day with fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer- Sheba. And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. 2 Samuel 3:6-11.
 
Christ never commits an offence by a slip tongue. Though they provoked him to speak more that they may have words from his mouth to accuse him, and lay snares to catch him by his words: yet, all the words from the mouth of the Lord were inspired by the Spirit of God and meant to be spoken on purpose; as he heard from the Father, even so he speaks: not like Moses, when he was provoked, slipped with his tongue, and he spoke unadvisedly with his lips- the consequence, he was punished and restricted by God from entering into the promised land. It is a shame on your reputation when you failed to work with or consult with your brain or listen to the Spirit of God before you speak: but instead, hastily speak what you are not sure of – be slow to speak. You need to have power not to give answer before the end of the question- whosoever answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13. Not only God can use your words against you, but the devil always have his ears attentive to catch something unworthy and negative out of your loose – chicken ass mouth to ensnare (and his servants said unto him, behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
So, they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, thy servant Benhadad says, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, is he yet alive? he is my brother. Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily (slippery tongue) catch it: and he said unto him, thus says the Lord, because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria. 1 Kings 20) and attack you. You should study and be sure before you make any remark or comment on any issue, not by irrational- un-established cause or effect of unconfirmed thoughts. You need to teach your tongue to reprove or criticise with based facts and constructive criticism, and to correct with adequate and sufficient information, lest your own mouth condemns you- the mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his lips are the share of his soul. Proverbs 18:7.
The tongue should not be used as an instrument to victimize, demoralize, captivate and manipulation; but unfortunately, many people, even in the church, by carnal wisdom and devilish inspiration are adapting to this style of evil tongue weaponry to fight their battles to denigrate others that they might appear nice, spiritual and holy, but when it backfires, they excused it to a slippery tongue – not really what they intended or meant to say. All of these springs up (out pouring) from an unguarded heart of a hasty spirit and faulty heart (keep thy foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifices of fools- slippery tongue from talkative spirit, for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter anything before God: God is in the heaven, and you upon earth, therefore, let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2) of a foolish Christian uttering hasting words (do you see a man that is hasty in his word; there is more hope of a fool than of him. Proverbs 29:20) and resulted in a slippery tongue and word. Never speak out all the words you are thinking in your heart – the heart is deceitful. It is not all that you see that should be spoken- appearance is deceptive. Do not judge after the flesh as the Lord would not (John 8:15) lest you fall repeatedly to the shame, reproach and imminent ruin of a slippery tongue.