James 3:1-12

Derek Del Rosario

James • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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(TEXT SLIDE #1) Today we are going to continue with our verse by verse Bible study series through the book of James.

And this short letter that James wrote to the church is FULL of PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS on how to live the Abundant Christian life.

But today, we are going to study the MOST CONVICTING PART of this amazing epistle… DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?

Slide

Let me show you a couple of PHOTOS up on our Video screens that are going to help you guess what convicting topic the Bible is going to teach us about today! (RUN THROUGH INTRO SLIDES #1-4)

Look at that picture! (INTRO SLIDE #2)

From that photo can you guess what our topic is today? (INTRO SLIDE #3)

What stands out in THAT PICTURE ??? (INTRO SLIDE #4)

IS THAT A CLEAR ENOUGH HINT FOR YOU??? (INTRO SLIDE #5)

NOW READ

YES, today the Bible is going to be teaching us about our tongues!

But even more than the tongue, the focus of these scriptures is ON

SLIDE

THE WORDS THAT WE SPEAK!

We are going to learn about the importance of using our words FOR GOOD and NOT FOR EVIL!

And that reminds me of the story of the husband that was trying to learn to say POSITIVE THINGS to his wife.

One morning his wife woke up, looked at herself in the mirror, and she DID NOT like what she saw.

So the wife told her husband, “hunny… look at me, my hair is all wiry and frazzled and my skin is all wrinkly”

“ my eyes are bloodshot,, my body is sagging everywhere, and I’m a mess!”

So she finally turned to her husband in tears and told him…“Hunny… please look at me and tell me something encouraging!”

Her husband looked at her for a minute and then he finally said…

“Well… there’s definitely nothing wrong with your eyesight!”

This morning as we begin James chapter 3, the Bible is going to teach us in our

Message title today is:

(TITLE SLIDE #1)

CORRECT USE of our tongues and our words.

And you can see our Bible text and the title of our sermon up on our video screens.

And all of us need to hear this word today, because at different times in our lives, the words that we have spoken have gotten us into trouble and even hurt the people around us!

So let’s get started and please open up your Bibles with us to the book of James Chapter 3.

And we will begin by reading verses 1 and 2.

Slide

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a [a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

So the author, Jesus’ brother James, begins this section on the tongue by giving us a warning about the words that we speak.

Listen again to this warning in verse 1… Verse 1 let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment

This is a warning to those that teach the Bible. And what the Bible is saying here is that TEACHERS OF THE BIBLE are going to be judged more strictly because of the important content that they talk about, so they need to be especially careful with their words.

I sure hope that God isn’t going to judge me on all my joking that I do each day, if he does I am in trouble for sure!

What James IS SAYING is that people that share God’s word need to take that responsibility and what they talk about seriously.

Let’s listen to a couple of other warnings where the Bible teaches us about this and similar topics.

Slide

We read this in…

(SLIDE)

Proverbs 10:19 - In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Jesus gave this warning over in…

(SLIDE)

Matthew 12:36 - “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” -Jesus-

Next up, here in verse 2, James brings up our words as he says…

Slide

2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

This word perfect that James uses here can be better translated means mature Believer

And what that means is that the words that we speak are a good measure to show us our TRUE LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY!

If you can control your tongue, you are on your way to becoming a MATURE BELIEVER!

But here is the problem, our little tongues are hard to control aren’t they!

One Pastor put it this way, “it takes two years to learn how to talk, but then it takes sixty years to learn how to be quiet.”

So how can we as Christians control our tongues?

James is going to get to that in a minute, but first, James has a few more important warnings for us about our tongues and the words that we speak.

And we will see that as we continue on by reading verses 3 and 4 together.

(SLIDE)

3-4- Slide

3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

In these verses, James gives us two analogies or examples to show us how our tongues have the power to control our lives and behaviors.

First, in verse 3 James brings up the example of A HORSE.

A large horse can be controlled by a little metal bit placed in it’s mouth… as long as the rider knows what they are doing.

In verse 4, James reminds us that a giant ship can be controlled and steered by a very small rudder that can control the movement of the large ship.

Our tongues work the exact same way because even though our tongues are small, they hold A LOT OF POWER.

Decisions and character and even destinies are often forged and constructed through our tongues, through our words.

Now what do a horse, a ship and our tongues have in common?

Here is what they have in common, all of them function correctly ONLY WHEN they are controlled correctly.

A horse needs a rider to lead it, a ship needs a pilot to control it, and in the same way, our tongues need a master to control it.

One more lesson here that I don’t want you to miss.

And that lesson is that our tongue, or more importantly, the words that we speak WILL STEER the direction of our life.

Whether we like it or not, the words that we speak are going to be the main influencing factor of what the people around us think about us!

So let me ask you a question… when evil comes out of your mouth… WHOSE FAULT IS IT?

I have found that when people speak sinfully, they almost always have an excuse about why they did it!

Usually, they try and blame someone else THAT MADE THEM SO MAD!

Maybe it was their spouse, or their children, or their neighbors, or their co-workers… or even THEIR PASTOR that forced them to speak evil!

But let me let you in on a little secret, NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE can control your tongue, ONLY YOU CAN.

That also means that when our speech is marked by sin, the only one to blame is us!

Now before we move on there is one thing that I need to clarify… and that is that our tongues actually aren’t the problem… Tongues are good!

I like my tongue because it is helpful to me, especially when I am eating my favorite food… ICE CREAM

But if our tongue isn’t the problem, and other people aren’t the problem… then WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Our sinful words actually reveal that we have A HEART PROBLEM!

Jesus made this very clear, and listen to what Jesus had to say about this truth over in… Luke 6:45 (SLIDE)-

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

So if we want to start controlling our tongues, we need to be working on

our heart condition!

Let’s continue on by reading verses 5 to 8 together. (SLIDE)

SLIDE5-8-

James 3:5-8 “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Here in these verses, the Bible gives us some DRAMATIC DESCRIPTIONS of the destructive power of the tongue.

And did you notice the destructive powers of the tongue that are mentioned for us here in verse 6?

James gives us FIVE DESTRUCTIVE DESCRIPTIONS in verse 6, so let’s read them again.

Here in verse 6 the tongue is described as…

Slide

#1- a fire,

#2- a world of evil among the parts of the body.

#3- (the tongue) corrupts the whole person,

#4- (the tongue) sets the whole course of his life on fire

#5 (the tongue) is itself set on fire by hell.

These descriptions of the damage that an uncontrolled tongue can do should shake us up and remind us of the importance of the words that we speak.

And haven’t you seen these descriptions be true in your life and in the lives of the people around you as you have witnessed firsthand the damage that words can do?

Uncontrolled tongues have destroyed marriages and have beaten down and alienated children!

Uncontrolled tongues have devastated reputations and torn apart friendships.

Uncontrolled tongues have even divided churches. One description here is especially damaging and that is that the tongue doesn’t only corrupt the whole person, but it sets the whole course of their life on fire.

What that means is that our tongues affect those around us, either positively or negatively, but our words ALWAYS affect others.

Those of us that are parents in here, what kind of words do our children hear coming out of our mouths?

Workers, what kind of words do our bosses and the workers around us hear us speaking?

How about the married people in here, do the words that your spouse hear coming from you build them up or tear them down.

We have to be careful of this, because this is just a fraction of the damage that an uncontrolled tongue can do, and that is why James describes the tongue AS A FIRE!

(Please Insert slide #30 here)

So what are the sinful uses of the tongue?

Let me remind you of a few of sinful uses of the tongue.

Gossip and criticism are sins of the tongue

complaining and arguing and put downs,

yelling and cussing and lying and bragging!

profanity and telling dirty jokes, all of those types of words are sinful uses of the tongue.

And finally, James closes this section in verse 8 by giving us a DEPRESSING CONCLUSION about the tongue.

Verse 8 tells us… no man can tame the tongue.

So Christian, is there hope for us?

Is there hope that we can DO A BETTER JOB, of controlling our tongues?

YES THERE IS!

PRAISE GOD that YES THERE IS HOPE FOR US!!!!

Listen to this promise that Jesus shared in the scriptures over in…

Matthew 19;26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

We can’t control our tongue or use it for good in our own efforts, no one can, but the good news is that God wants to help us control our tongues.

God is READY AND WILLING TODAY to help you get control of your tongue.

And we will talk about how that can happen as we finish up this morning by reading verses 9 to 12 together. (SLIDE)

SLIDE

James 3:9-12 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the [f]similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh

What James is describing here is a Christian that is a hypocrite, and WE DO NOT WANT TO BE this kind of CARNAL and DEFEATED believer.

Why are they a hypocrite? Because as we read here, with their words they not only praise God, but they also CURSE MEN!

And God’s word tells us this in verse 10… Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

So let’s be honest with each other, Do you ever do this?

I have to admit I do this sometimes and SO DO YOU, WE ALL DO!

How about while you are driving, have any of you ever done this, (spoken words of good and evil) while you are driving?

SInging worship songs in the car….then someone curts you off?

Again, out of this same mouth came worship and yelling… That is sin, and as the Bible tells us here… Christians SHOULD NOT be doing this!

Sometimes in our marriages we do this. (Please Insert slide #40 here)

And we end up looking LIKE THOSE PEOPLE UP THERE (point to screens!)

Again, being married is a test that will definitely show us whether we have control over our words or not.

One person said this about OUR WORDS in a marriage…

In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year of marriage, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year of marriage, they both speak at the same time, and the neighbors listen.

But Husbands do you do this in marriage… (MANLY VOICE)

I just can’t live without her…AND THEN…I can’t live with her…

Wives, do you do this in marriage… (HIGH GIRLY VOICE)

I just love Him sooo much…AND THEN… I can’t stand him…

So what’s the Big deal, why can’t we do both, mix bad things and good things with our mouths, everybody does it!!!

Here’s why we can’t do it… The sin that we speak, will always AFFECT AND INFECT the good things that we say! ALWAYS!!!

We can also lose our witness as a Christian if we have both rivers of blessing and cursing flowing out of our mouths!

So to finish up our sermon this morning I want to give you some good news.

I want to share with you a few practical steps that every Christian can take to help them control our tongues! (SLIDE)

And if you are taking notes… we are going to take a look at. …4 ways that God can help you control your tongue! (REPEAT)

Here is the first of our four ways that God can help us control our tongue. (SLIDE)

And that is…

#1-Remember that your heart controls your mouth. (REPEAT)

Sinful words ALWAYS come from sinful hearts.

Do you remember what Jesus taught us about that over in… Luke 6:45?

(SLIDE)-

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil [i]treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.-Jesus-

So when we are sinning with our words, the problem isn’t the people around us, it’s not all of our stress or difficulties… it is our own sinful heart problem.

So we need to recognize that and then repent and confess our sinful heart condition, and finally let God cleanse us and help us.

The 2nd of our four ways that God can help us control our tongue is this (SLIDE)

#2- Practice self control!

(Control your mouth and don’t let it control you) (REPEAT)

Listen to what God’s word has to teach us about that over in Proverbs 21:23

(SLIDE)-

Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

Do you have a guard over your mouth, or does every thought that pops into your brain, immediately spew out of your mouth?

One of the problems with sinful speech is that many of us have spoken like that for so long, that we don’t even know that we are doing it anymore.

So a really wise and brace thing to do is to give the people around you,

your spouse, your children, your friends, PERMISSION to correct you and call you on it when you use your words sinfully.

And when they have the courage to do that, we need to not defend ourselves or justify our sinful speech, but receive it, repent, and thank them for being willing to help us.

Here is the third of our four ways that God can help us control our tongue. (SLIDE) And that is…

#3-Talk less and listen more!

(REPEAT)

Don’t forget that God gave us TWO EARS, and ONE MOUTH for a reason… not the other way around.

Listen to what God’s word has to teach us about that over in…(SLIDE)-

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

I will be honest with you, many times the first step in controlling our tongues is learning to keep them closed a little bit more.

Some times, we need to follow the old advice that many of our mothers shared with us when we were young… “If you can’t say anything nice… don’t say anything at all!”

Here is the fourth and final of our four ways that God can help us control our tongue. (SLIDE)

And that is…

#4-Make a renewed effort TODAY to use your words for good and not for evil.

(REPEAT)

How can we use our words for Good?

By encouraging people.

By praying for people and talking to them about Biblical truths!

By blessing people and speaking faith filled words to them.

Listen to what God’s word has to teach us about that over in…

Ephesians 4:29 (SLIDE)-

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers

Do you know that your tongue can HELP YOU AVOID conflict and arguments too?

The Bible tells us how in…(SLIDE)-

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

I want to encourage you to make that renewed effort today to take control of your tongue.

Ask God to help you, ask the people around you to help you, and you will begin to see your tongue used for good things, for positive things, for the eternal things of God’s Kingdom!

And with God’s help, everyone of us can begin to control our tongues and use them for Good.

And church, that is today’s good news about the TONGUE! Amen?

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