Hard Love Part 4 James 3:1-12 James 3:1-2 “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 things in this passage about the power of the tongue.
The tongue has the power to direct where I go.
verse 3 “when we put bits into the mouths of horses we can turn the whole animal…”
verse 4 “Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.”
2. The tongue has the power to destroy what I have.
verse 5-6 “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
Proverbs 15:4 MSG “Kind words help and heal, cutting words wound and maim.”
3. The tongue has the power to display who I am.
verse 9-10 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
verse 11-12 “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
Matthew 12:34 “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
How do we control our tongue? In James 1:19 we find 4 tips.
James 1:19 “ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Open your ears.
James 1:19 “everyone should be quick to listen.”
2. Use your brain verse 19 “be slow to speak”
THINK before you speak! Is what I am about to say…
T.rue H.elpful I.mpulsive
N.ecessary K.ind 3. Close your mouth Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many sin is not absent but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
Psalm 39:1 “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth…”
4. Speak your heart Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Hebrews 3:13 "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today.
