A True Faith Will Control the Tongue
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My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 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. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 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. 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: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
You should started in the book of James last week. I believe you covered the first two chapters. That is a lot of cover but let me challenge each of you no matter if you are on the Bible quiz team or not, get in the Word of God, learn, and grow there by. Everyone no matter your talents can learn and grow in the Word of God.
This book of the Bible is written by? Who is James? What do you know about him? Who is he writing too? Jewish believers scattered abroad.
Like the sermon on the mount James talks a lot about the basic behaviors of a Believer in Christ.
Tonight, as we get into chapter three, we are going to only cover a few verses. But it is all about one little yet power part of your body.
The tongue carries a lot of power for such a small body part. James understood that the true follower of Christ needed to have control over their tongues.
Introduction
Introduction
In one of Aesop’s Fables, a donkey walking through the woods finds the skin of a lion. Hunters had killed the lion and left the skin to dry in the sun. The donkey put on the lion’s skin and was delighted to discover that all the other animals were terrified of him and ran away when he appeared. Rejoicing in his newfound respect, the donkey brayed his happiness—only to give himself away by his voice. The moral of the fable was clear: fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.
In our day of social broadcasting it seems that anyone can become famous by disclosing every embarrassing part of his life to the world on television or the Internet. Yet what is truly gained by such “entertainment”? People may sit at home and laugh at the folly of those who hold nothing back, but they are diminished in the process. This produces a corrosive effect because it encourages people to share more and more when they have less and less to offer.
We have an epidemic of people sharing their opinions without regard to whether or not they have anything meaningful to say. Someone said, “The problem today is that those who know the least know it the loudest.” Indeed much of what is promoted as wisdom is actually anything but—it is the worst of foolishness displayed publicly.
Maybe you’ve heard the old saying “You have two ears and one mouth—use them proportionately.” Almost all of us could stand to listen more and talk less. Rather than being compelled to tell everyone we meet everything we can fit into the length of the conversation, we should remember that one of wisdom’s best qualities is the ability to hold the tongue.
A fool uttereth all his mind: But a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
God tells us in His Word that the tongue has incredible power. We can use our tongue to bring blessings and life or curses and death. The saying "sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me" is simply not true. Our tongues can be the most difficult thing to control and leave us with great regret if we use our words to hurt. There is hope!
The Bible tells us that with the help of the Holy Spirit we can have power and control over our tongue. The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue or mouth.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: But he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
In verse one James points out that “master” the Greek word also meaning teacher is hold to a higher standard. He shall receive a great judgement if he does not control his tongue. But that does not mean that no one else needs to worry their tongue. In fact, in verse two James points out that we all offend. This word used means to; stumble, fall, or sin.
We all get into trouble because of your tongues.
May I say, I believe what we say behind a screen also applies. James was not writing to believers with Cell phones or social media but I truly believe even Christians will stand before God and give an account to what they wrote on facebook, or whatever social media you chose.
Stumbles Often
Stumbles Often
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.
If I can be honest, my mouth got me and still gets me in trouble more than anything else I have ever done. I would get my mouth washed out so many times, not necessarily for bad words, but because of back talking my parents. When I was 15 I remember my mom was ready to kill me because I wouldn’t let her get the last word. To the point she had to slap me in order to get me to close my mouth.
Maybe you don’t struggle in this area as much is I have. But let me list some things that you may all under.
Is your tongue always showing that you are:
- Patient and Longsuffering
- Kind
- Not bragging
- Not puffed up
- Not jealous
- Not Rude
- Not Provoked
Maybe like me when you get in trouble for something you said, you say the same thing I said, “well, he started it!” “he provoked me!”
Here is the thought though: The tongue speaks what is in the heart or mind, and it is the tongue that shall either justify or condemn us before God. This is exactly what Jesus said:
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
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.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
We must always remember that the believer’s warfare is spiritual and mental.
We must also, always remember to be on guard from who you are around, what things, you watch, or listen too. Because every adult in this room can tell you what you allow in your mind effects what comes out or your mouth.
The reason I got in trouble from arguing with my parents, back talking, or even yelling at them; was because I had friends that did the same.
Small but Powerful
Small but Powerful
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
The tongue is a little member that does great things two illustrations are given.
The bit or bridle that is put in the mouth of a horse to guide and turn the horses’s body. The bit and bridle are small but moves the large animal.
Then the small rudder or helm that guides a ship. It even controls the ship through the winds of a storm.
So it is with the tongue. It is only a little member of the body but it’s destructive or building up power is great. It can cause great pain in hurtful words, or build up another through encouragement.
Many underestimated the power of your tongue but you can use it for great things or destructive.
Conclusion
Conclusion
But how do we control such a powerful thing? No man is able to tame is own tongue, not fully, not completely, not enough to please God. Not without the Help of Christ. By yielding completely to Christ, in a daily walk with Him.
Maybe you struggle with your tongue like I did. You can’t gain control without, guarding what you put into your heart and mind, and without the help from Christ through a walk with Him.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.