Text: James 3:7-12 (NIV)
"No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."
By Oladipo Oluwatosin
INTRODUCTION
The tongue—so small, yet so mighty. James boldly declares that though humanity has subdued beasts of land and sea, the tongue remains wild and deadly. Today, this warning echoes even louder in the corridors of the prophetic and pastoral offices. Many anointed men and women of God who were meant to speak life have become agents of destruction. The very tongues meant to bless have become swords that slay.
I. THE TONGUE: A PROPHET'S BIGGEST STRUGGLE
James 3:9-10: "With the tongue we praise our Lord... and with it we curse human beings."
The contradiction is alarming: Prophets who speak in tongues yet curse with the same mouth.
OT Comparison:
Elisha and the Children (2 Kings 2:23-24)
Elisha cursed mocking children, and bears tore them. Though it showed prophetic authority, imagine the same happening today without mercy or instruction—it would cause outrage.
Balaam (Numbers 22–24)
Hired to curse Israel, but God restrained his tongue. God still intercepts prophets whose mouths are ready to curse His own.
NT Comparison:
Jesus and the Sons of Thunder (Luke 9:54-56)
James and John asked to call fire from heaven, like Elijah, but Jesus rebuked them: "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of."
The Spirit of the New Covenant is redemptive, not destructive.
II. THE DANGEROUS SHIFT: FROM PROPHETIC BLESSING TO PROPHETIC CURSING
Today, many prophets have shifted from:
Healing to harming, Correction to condemnation and Instruction to intimidation
Modern Reality: People are afraid to confront or question prophets because of fear of curses.
The term "CAC Prophet" is wrongly becoming synonymous with "Prophet of Curse".
Examples: A church member reports abuse: receives a curse instead of counsel.
A parent disagrees with a prophetic word over their child: receives doom as punishment.
III. CONSEQUENCES OF A CURSING TONGUE
Spiritual Damage: Souls are driven from Christ, not to Him. False fear replaces reverence.
Emotional Trauma: Many live under guilt, fear, and emotional bondage because of a spoken curse.
Physical and Material Loss:
Curses have split families, killed dreams, and wrecked livelihoods.
Proverbs 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."
What prophets say affects lives deeply.
IV. THE HEART BEHIND THE TONGUE
Matthew 12:34: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
The problem isn’t just the tongue—it’s the heart:
Ego, Pride, Bitterness, Competition, Insecurity
Many prophets curse not out of revelation but retaliation.
V. SOLUTIONS & REDEMPTION
REPENTANCE AND BROKENNESS
Joel 2:13: "Rend your heart, not your garments."
Prophets must return to humility.
FILTERING WORDS THROUGH CHRIST
Colossians 4:6: "Let your speech be always with grace..."
RESTORATION OF THE DAMAGED
Prophets must seek out those wounded and make peace.
Speak healing to those previously cursed.
ACCOUNTABILITY
No prophet is above correction.
Create spiritual councils or mentors to call out abuse.
TRAINING IN SOUND DOCTRINE
Prophets must be taught emotional intelligence, biblical balance, and the heart of God.
PRAYER FOR A CLEAN HEART
Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God..." Clean hearts produce clean speech.
VI. WHAT THE PROPHETIC TONGUE SHOULD BE USED FOR
EDIFICATION – Building up the body (1 Corinthians 14:3)
EXHORTATION – Stirring people to righteousness
COMFORT – Healing the broken
RECONCILIATION – Bringing people back to God
CORRECTION IN LOVE – Not condemnation, but restoration
CONCLUSION
The tongue may be untamable by man, but not by God. When surrendered to the Holy Spirit, the prophet’s tongue becomes a wellspring of life, not death.
Let us not be known as prophets who curse—but as prophets who bless, build, and heal.
PRAYER
Lord, tame our tongues. Heal every heart wounded by careless prophetic words. Restore every life shattered by curses spoken in anger. Make us prophets of peace and not destruction. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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