Living Out Our Faith Skillfully - James 3:11-12
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
We left off at verse 10 in our studies last week. This week we want to finish out this great discourse concerning our tongues with verses 11 and 12.
Last week, we studied verses 9 and 10.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
And, if you recall, we noted the following.
The Tongue is a Paradox - it spews from the same source both blessing towards God and cursing of men made in God’s likeness
The Tongue is a Parrot - it spews blessing and cursing repeatedly (proceedeth)
The Tongue must be Prohibited - it should not be so
When I was studying last week for verse 9 and 10, I came across this illustration that I think demonstrates once again our problem.
A little girl sat with her arms wrapped around her father’s neck. But her mother observed that over her father’s shoulder she was sticking out her tongue at her little brother. The mother responded by saying, “Take your arms from around your father’s neck. You cannot love your father and at the same time stick out your tongue at his son.” To profess love for God while reviling men made in His image is a brazen offense against God.
Tonight, we are studying verses 11 and 12. Let’s read the entire paragraph and we will come back to these last two verses. By the way, next week will do a complete review of the entire paragraph.
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
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!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Now look at verses 11 and 12.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
GRAMMAR STUDY
GRAMMAR STUDY
As before, we want to highlight a few words. Since these two sentences are illustrations, they are full of nouns. Nouns such as these:
fountain [a fountain, spring] used 2xs
place [through which one can see]
the fig tree [A common fruit tree in Palestine[1]]
brethren [sibling believers – believers understood as one’s own siblings in God’s family]
olive berries [A tree on which olives grow[2]]
a vine [a vine]
figs [a fig]
As for verbs, these are the ones we find in these two verses.
Doth…send forth meaning to about, to gush forth, to teem with juices.
Can means, as we already know, the ability or power to do something.
The words bear and yield are the same Greek word. Both words mean to make, produce, or create.
Now, let’s consider some spiritual application of these two verses.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
What is the Holy Spirit talking about?
As we already know, this whole paragraph is about the tongue. Personally, I see it as the difference between Biblical communication and non-Biblical communication.
What is the Holy Spirit saying about the tongue (our speech)?
Well, in these two verses, the Holy Spirit is giving us practical illustrations from nature demonstrating what He just said in verses 9 and 10.
Remember, in those verses, the subject was the ability of the sinful tongue to spew out blessings and cursing.
PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS FROM NATURE
PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS FROM NATURE
There are four different items from nature that He uses in these verses.
The first is a spring of water.
The first is a spring of water.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
The word “fountain” as we known is a spring. We also know that water gushing from a spring is either sweet or bitter. It cannot give both sweet and bitter water. I like Bible examples. The example from Scripture come to my mind is in the Old Testament.
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
Here we find a spring of water that was bitter. Note there was no sweet water or drinkable water. The two cannot flow from the same spring. However, God did a great miracle. He shews Moses a tree instructing him to cast into the waters. Moses obeys and God turns undrinkable water into that which satisfies the body and soul.
There is no doubt that a fountain can only give sweet or bitter water, but both. However, God can take the bitter and turn into sweet.
The second illustration from nature is a fig tree.
The second illustration from nature is a fig tree.
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
The fig tree is important tree in the Bible.
In Genesis, Adam and Eve took fig leaves and sewed them together to cover their shame.
In Deuteronomy, fig trees are part of the things listed denoting the bounty of Canaan, the promised land.
In Judges, the fig tree, the olive tree, and vines were used figuratively in Jotham’s warning to the men of Shechem.
In 1 and 2 Kings, the fig tree was used to symbolize Israel’s peace and prosperity.
Throughout Psalms, Proverbs, and the books of prophecy, figs and fig trees were used in myriad of ways to depict times of blessing as well as times of judgment.
During Christ’s ministry, it was under a fig tree that Christ saw Nathanael. Christ condemned a fig tree for being unprofitable. Christ also told a parable about a man and his fig tree.
In Revelation, Scripture describes the stars of heaven falling like a fig tree casting off its figs in great wind storm.
The fig-tree of Palestine (Ficus carica) produces two and sometimes three crops of figs in a year, (1) the bikkurah, or “early-ripe fig” (Micah 7:1; Isa. 28:4; Hos. 9:10, R.V.), which is ripe about the end of June, dropping off as soon as it is ripe (Nah. 3:12); (2) the kermus, or “summer fig,” then begins to be formed, and is ripe about August; and (3) the pag (plural “green figs,” Cant. 2:13; Gr. olynthos, Rev. 6:13, “the untimely fig”), or “winter fig,” which ripens in sheltered spots in spring.
Nature however dictates that a fig tree only produces figs. It cannot bear olive berries.
The third illustration from nature is the grape vine.
The third illustration from nature is the grape vine.
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Viticulture
Grapevines were cultivated throughout the ancient Near East, and vineyards were common in the biblical world. In some areas, farmers planted vineyards close to their houses; in other areas, vineyards were located some distance from villages (Matthews, “Actual and Metaphorical,” 20; Judg 14:5; 21:20–21). Since valleys and level ground were reserved for wheat and barley crops, vines were normally planted on hillsides. Prior to planting, ancients terraced the land and cleared of large stones, leaving smaller stones to aid in drainage (Jer 31:5; Matthews, “Actual and Metaphorical,” 26; Walsh, Viticulture, 93–9).
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Products and Economic Significance
In the biblical text, vines symbolize prosperous and stable social conditions (2 Kgs 18:32; Isa 36:16). A threat against “vines and fig trees” is a threat against stability and economic prosperity (Hos 2:12; Jer 5:17). In contrast, a “vine and fig tree” is a symbol of blessing (Hag 2:19)
Again, as noted in our text, grape vines cannot bear figs. Figs come fig trees. Grapevines produce grapes.
The Holy Spirit utilizes the practical examples demonstrating our real problem. It is positive proof that we, indeed, have a heart problem. God designed nature to produce after its kind. Thus, fig trees produce figs. Grapevine produce grapes. Olive trees bear olives. A spring of water can produce only one type of water whether it be sweet or bitter. A person can only bear out his or her mouth what is truly in their heart.
POSITIVE PROOF OF OUR HEART PROBLEM
POSITIVE PROOF OF OUR HEART PROBLEM
Look back again at verses 9 and 10.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
What really is at the heart of our tongue problem? It is the heart.
Christ said the following.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Our problem is our divided heart. Remember the context of James is the Holy Spirit talking to us as believers. And, as believers, we live each day battling with divided loyalties.
Over in Romans 7, the Holy Spirit speaks about divided heart.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Each of have that old flesh that is constantly tugging and pulling us to live as we did before salvation. Before our salvation, we spoke from heart of wickedness and sin. Cursing others was normal. However, at the time of our salvation, we were born again. We were made spiritually alive. We became new creations.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
All of us were born with a nature could do nothing right. That is the essence of Romans 7:18 “18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” But, praise God, at salvation, we experience a new birth that places within us a nature to do right.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Now, we waver between loyalty to the old nature versus loyalty to the new. That conflict or division is demonstrated by our outward actions and speech. We either exhibit the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
The battle between living for self versus living for the Lord is real. Each of us fight that battle everyday. However, our hope is that we can through power of the Holy Spirit and obedience to God’s Word slowly win the battle. Spiritual growth is demonstrated as we learn to exhibit more of the Spirit’s fruit than the works of flesh. For us to win the battle, we must heed the instructions verses 24 and 25 of the passage there in Galatians.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
We are to crucify the flesh meaning put it to death. And, then, we are to walk in the Spirit.
All the illustrations provide in our text, James 3:11-12, point to this one fact. The tongue does not have life of its own. Its life comes from the heart. When we allow the flesh to reign in our hearts, the tongue spews forth bitterness. By the same thought, when we allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our heart, the tongue speaks words that seek to edify others. Fig trees produce figs. Like kind produces like kind. Furthermore, the tongue can only produce either blessing or cursing, not both. Thus, it cannot be controlled by the flesh and the Holy Spirit at the same time.
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Here is this thought and we close. The believer who desires to live for the Lord as His useful instrument is the believer who must allow the Holy Spirit to reign in his life. It is a simple matter of control. The simplicity is this. It is either the flesh or the Spirit that is control. What is not simple it this. Obedience to the God is not simple for us. Our flesh makes it complicated. It is always drawn towards the temptations of our own lust.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
I know that sounds bleak. However, with God there is always hope. Our hope is this. We belong to God. He has given His Spirit to indwell us. We can with His help crucify the flesh. Every day must begin with a fresh determination to humble ourselves before Him allowing Him to reign in our hearts. For that to happen, we must daily fill ourselves with power of His Word living in obedience.
God changed the bitter waters of Marah and made them sweet. God can change the bitter waters flowing that from a tongue into sweet waters of blessing and edification. All we have to do is obey Him just Moses did.