The Book of James Chapter 3:1-12
James 3: [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.
A man working in the produce department was asked by a lady if she could buy half a head of lettuce. He replied, "Half a head? Are you serious? God grows these in whole heads and that's how we sell them!"
"You mean," she persisted, "that after all the years I've shopped here, you won't sell me half-a-head of lettuce?"
"Look," he said, "If you like I'll ask the manager."
She indicated that would be appreciated, so the young man marched to the front of the store. "You won't believe this, but there's a lame-braided idiot of a lady back there who wants to know if she can buy half-a-head of lettuce."
He noticed the manager gesturing, and turned around to see the lady standing behind him, obviously having followed him to the front of the store. "And this nice lady was wondering if she could buy the other half" he concluded.
Later in the day the manager cornered the young man and said, "That was the finest example of thinking on your feet I've ever seen! Where did you learn that?" "I grew up in Grand Rapids, and if you know anything about Grand Rapids, you know that it's known for its great hockey teams and its ugly women."
The manager's face flushed, and he interrupted, "My wife is from Grand Rapids!" "And which hockey team did she play for?"
Words are used to express thoughts which are born in
the heart
“Better
to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all
doubt.
Did
you realize how important each word that you say is?
Our
homeland security “taps” and records many things. Some say it’s an invasion of
privacy.
But
GOD records every word you speak.
Titus 2:8
[8]
sound speech that cannot be condemned
Jms 1:19
[19]
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak
Matt 26:73
[73] thy speech bewrayeth thee.
1)
Behold the Bridle (1-8)
Verse 1 tells us that masters or teachers will receive
heavy judgment for the power of their words
Teachers can persuade students. We must be careful
what we say when we teach.
A. James 3:2 If
any man offend not in word
Even
the most spiritual believers must watch continually
To
bridle is to control or restrain
Ps 39:1
[1] I
will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue:
All
must admit that at sometime we have spoken unkindly or hastily causing someone
hurt or grief
Yet,
if someone has not offended in word, he is said to be perfect or mature
“well-balanced”
B. James 3:3,4
A
simple bit in a horses mouth cuts into his flesh until he is tamed....control
or guidance by the bit
The
giant ship can change it’s course by a simple movement
of the rudder
C. James 3:5,6
Like
the bit and the rudder, the tongue is a small member of the body (unseparable from body).
Prov 18:21
[21]Death
and life are in the power of the tongue
Although
the tongue is small it has tremendous influence
“How great a matter a little
fire kindleth!”
Fire
that is controlled is useful but uncontrolled fire is dangerous and deadly.
One
thoughtless or unkind word can break friendships, divide churches and stir wars.
The
tongue is more dangerous than any drug or liquor.
D. James 3:7,8
Every
kind of beast, birds, serpents, sea creatures have been tamed, but the
tongue can no man tame
Gen 9:1,2 After
the judgment of the Flood “into your hand are they delivered”
The
wild and untamed beast must be forced to do what man wants it to do.
“Can
No Man Tame”- This sounds hopeless, no man can tame the tongue, but
Jesus Can!
The
Lord can control a slanderous, lying and gossiping tongue as easily as saving a
drunk
But
we must look to God to do the taming and we must pray and exercise care about
the tongue
A turtle lays thousands of eggs without anyone
knowing, but when the hen lays an egg, the whole country is informed
James 3:[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.
2) Believe the Blessing (9-10)
A. James 3:9,10
1.
The highest use of our tongue is to bless and praise
God
Ps 103:1,2
[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
[2] Bless
the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
2.
The problem is we use the same tongue to curse men
Praise
God in church and speak evil of your fellow man after church
I Jn 4:20
[20]If
a man say, I love God, and hateth
his brother, he is a liar:
Titus 3:2
[2]speak evil of no man
“These
things ought not so to be”
1 Pet 3:8-10
[8] Finally, be ye all of one mind, having
compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:[9] Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for
railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that
ye should inherit a blessing. [10] 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:
(Gossip,
slander, defame, rumor, lie, curse (Rom 3:13,14),
flattery, blaspheme)
James 3: [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.
3) Beware the Battle (11-12)
A. James 3:11,12
A
fountain cannot give sweet water & bitter! A fountain cannot give salt
water & fresh water
Words
are used to express thoughts which are born in the heart (the real source of
the problem)
Mt12:34
[34] for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh
Mt 12:37
[37] by thy
words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned
Words
reveal character
Words
spoken by the tongue are a mighty force for good or for evil
*The
right word spoken at the right time can guide men to a better life and even
change their life
Prov 15:23
[23] a word spoken in due season how good is it!
Prov 4:20-22
[20]My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.[21] Let them not depart from thine
eyes; keep them in the midst
of thine heart. [22] For they are life unto those that find
them, and health to all their flesh.
In John 1:36, John the Baptist said
“Behold the Lamb of God!” and two men followed Jesus
In Jn 4:26-29,39, the
woman at the well met Jesus who spoke powerful words to her, she believed and
was saved. She left her water pot ,
went her way into the city, used powerful words and others were
saved.
*A
word spoken in the wrong way for the wrong motive can guide men to a life of
shame
Prov 7:6-10, 21-27
[6] For
at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
[7] And beheld among the simple
ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
[8] Passing through the street
near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
[9] In the twilight, in the
evening, in the black and dark night:
[10] And, behold, there met him
a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of
heart.
[21]
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her
lips she forced him.
[22] He goeth
after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the
slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
[23] Till a dart strike through
his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
[24] Hearken unto me now
therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
[25] Let not thine
heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
[26] For she hath cast down many
wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
[27] Her house is the way to
hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Unkind,
unwise untrue words can cause despair and untold grief and heartache
·
Young lady who
committed suicide because of hurtful words
* The
tongue can bring joy or sorrow, life or death, laughter or tears
Prov 11:9,13
[9]An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth
his neighbour.....
[13] A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Ecc 10:20
[20]curse not
the king no not in thy thought...............
We
should pray like David
Ps 19:14
[14]Let the words of my mouth, and the
meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my
redeemer.
Ps 51:15
[15]O
Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew
forth thy praise.
Ps 141:3
[3] Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth;
keep the door of my lips. [4] Incline not my
heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works
with men that work iniquity:
Concl:
Is 6:5
[5]Woe
is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the
midst of a people of unclean lips
I
have never been hurt by anything I didn't say
"I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."
A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he heard, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Why can't we all be like the wise old bird?
Christ
knew how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.
Is 50:4
[4] The LORD GOD hath given me the tongue of the
learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary