Faith That Works: Mature Faith that Speaks Life

Guard your tongue

When I was in the third grade, my family was stationed in Guam. We were days away from moving to Washington State. I was hanging out at a family friends house with William and his sister Anna. Of course, it was the 1980’s, so there were loose expectations on parental oversight. Bill’s parents were out running an errand and my mother was down the street at our house. So, it was just Anna, Bill, and I home alone.

We were bored watching T.V. We made our way to the kitchen to find something to eat. We opened refrigerator to pretty much half a gallon of milk, some condiments, and juice. Bill’s parents were likely at the commissary. Still bored, Bill says, “I dare to stick you tongue on the refrigerator coil.” (There was a time when refrigerators had frozen coils.) Keep in mind, before we pass too much judgement, I’m in a tough spot. For starters, Bill dared me. In third grade it was tough to walk away from a dare. Second, I was ignorant. I had no idea what would happen if I stuck my tongue to the coil. I didn’t think it would do anything. But then Bill sweetened the deal. He told me what would happen. Bill, said, “If you stick your tongue to the coil, it will freeze onto the coil.” With my interest peaked, I said, “No way.” Then he said, “Yes way, I wouldn’t do it of I were you.” But Bill, “You dared me, and I’m just stupid enough to do it.”

With Anna and Bill closely watching me, I stuck my tongue out and latched it onto the coil. At first, it was just cold. But in a matter of three seconds, I tried to pull it off the coil. It was no bueno. My tongue was frozen onto the coil. Bill was right. I’m stuck look at the olive green refrigerator freaking out. Out of the periphery of my left eye, I can see Bill’s eyes glowing as big as white cue balls. He said, “Dude, your tongue is swelling and I think it is starting to bleed.” Ignorance was bliss. Before Bill’s words, I had no idea what was actually happening. It just hurt. When he said swelling and blood, I was done. I tried pulling my tongue as hard as I could but it was not coming off.

Bill made the executive decision to go get my mom from across the street, which was a big decision. There was kind of a code back then to not involve mom in a crisis unless it was absolutely critical. Bill must have seen critical in my eyes. He even apologized to me after the ordeal was done about getting my mom.

He couldn’t have been gone, two minutes, but it felt like forever. Anna was crying. I was crying and bleeding, and that was all we could do. My mother ran into the kitchen and asked, in so many “not church appropriate words,” “What is going on?” I think I heard something like, “Are you eat up with stupid?” She grabs warm water from the sink and pours it on my tongue. Instantly I was freed from my refrigerator stupidity. I thought to myself, that was brilliant. Warm water. Why didn’t we think of that? Had we thought of that, I would not have to explain to my mother why my tongue was frozen to a refrigerator coil.

Of course, she asked why I did it. I told her Bill dared me. And then she asked, “Didn’t you know your tongue would stick to a frozen coil?” Well, I replied, “Bill said it might do that.” Bill’s face exposed me as a liar. Bill was pretty clear about what would happen. My mother saw his face and looked at me. She didn’t have to say much of anything. Her face told me she was really wondering if the babies got switched at the hospital.

The folly of not guarding your tongue can bring shame upon and hurt upon yourself and those who do life with you. I wish I could say that was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done with my tongue. Unfortunately, I have come to learn the hard way what James is saying to us this morning: words that come from my tongue have severe consequences.

Toby Mac, in his song “Speak Life,” captures the difficulty of speaking well and its on who hers your words. He sings

“Some days the tongue gets twisted Other day my thoughts just fall apart I do, I don't, I will, I won't It's like I'm drowning in the deep

Well, it's crazy to imagine Words from my lips as the arms of compassion Mountains crumble with every syllable Hope can live or die” (“Speak Life” Toby Mac)

I don’t think Toby Mac is exaggerating when he says “hope and can live or die.” How often have you lost hope or felt despair by the cruel words someone has said to you? How often have you been encouraged by a single text or note from someone who sees your suffering?

How many times have you felt betrayed by someone who shared something you spoke in confidence? Or think about the times you’ve felt guilt for being apart of a conversation that seemed more like gossip or slander, even disguised as a prayer request? Yes, “mountains crumble with every syllable hope can live or die,” by your words.

The church has not always been the safest place for words. In James context, there were plenty of harsh words being thrown around. Remember, the rich and poor were t odds with each. The rich were exploiting the poor, and the poor felt helpless. James already had to exhort the church to

James 1:19 (ESV)

be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Your anger is prone to use your tongue as a sword of evil. James says

James 1:20 ESV

for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

No doubt there was uncontrolled anger led, and for James an unbridled tongue you proved your religion was worthless (James 1:26). Genuine faith that works is committed to an understanding that words have powerful consequences. Those who are genuine and maturing will choose their words wisely because The Holy Spirit is working in their heart wisdom and self-control. Maturing your faith is part of His work to sanctify you, and one way you show his sanctifying work is wisdom and control with your words. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Christian, you can know and trust that,

Jesus matures your faith by empowering you to use self-control with your words to speak life.

James hints at maturity in James 3:2

James 3:2 ESV

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

He uses the phrase “he is a perfect man” who is able to bridle his tongue. He is using the word perfect to convey the idea of wholeness, or completion. You can use the word to describe growth and maturity. The person who is able to “not stumble in using their words” is a mature person in the faith.

In what ways does the Holy Spirit mature your faith?

There are four ways the Holy Spirit matures your faith.

The Holy Spirit matures your faith to receive His word of warning (James 3:1-2)

James 3:1–2 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Teaching involves speaking. The goal of teaching in the church is eternal life. So, in essence, teachers aim to speak life into their hearers. Those who teach will go on record for the content they teach to the congregation. Daniel Doriani describe the issue well when he says,

“Teachers are especially vulnerable to failures of speech because their role demands that they speak so much. More words mean more errors. As we grow accustomed to public speaking, we can become careless. When asked to offer opinion, we comply, even if we have scant qualifications and little factual basis.” Daniel Doriani

Because teaching is attached to speaking, which is controlled by the almost untamable tongue, James begins this section with a warning: “Not many of you should become teachers.” And if you are mature in the faith, you will receive his warning before you enter the realm of teaching. What is his warning?

Receive His Warning of a greater danger of judgement.

There is a Proverbs 10:19

Proverbs 10:19 ESV

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

What is the transgression James is worried about in verse 1? It is the sin of potentially leading people astray into error. Since James is speaking in the context of teaching, he is speaking about truth or error. God would not condemn you for speaking truth, but he will judge you for teaching error.

Peter describes both the false teacher and their judgement in his second epistle. He says

2 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

He goes on to say about false teachers,

2 Peter 2:12 ESV

But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction,

God clearly judges those who teach error. Furthermore, the Lord will examine every word and hold you accountable for them. Douglas Moo warns,

“Teachers, because they bear so much responsibility for the spiritual welfare of those with whom they minister, will be scrutinized by the Lord more carefully than others.” Douglas Moo

Jesus warns Luke 12:48

Luke 12:48 (ESV)

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Paul feels the weight of the danger of greater judgement on teachers when he says to the elders of Ephesus

Acts 20:26–27 ESV

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Moreover, for those who decide to take a lead role in guide others in their faith, a wonderful and kingdom advancing role mind you, must be careful to bear the fruit of faith and live by that faith they are teaching others to do. One commentator said it well when he said, “Our greater knowledge brings with it a greater responsibility to live according to that knowledge.” A believer with mature faith will teach truth with their life as they do with their mouth.

James continues

James 3:2 ESV

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

It’s not that you shouldn’t teach. That is not what James is saying. He says in so many words, let the mature in their faith be teachers. Because those who have living faith that works are bing matured in the faith, and they show their maturity by being able to bridle their tongue.

Charles Wesley wisely councils those who teach in the church, and all believers who are maturing in their faith,

“O speak nothing, act nothing, think nothing, but as you are taught of God!” Charles Wesley

Living faith is a faith that works, the remembers God’s word by doing God’s word. Teaching is a good work that bears good fruit. Good teachers will be mindful of the Lord’s scrutiny and will receive the warning of greater judgment as a means of grace to guard their tongue. If you are willing to receive the greater danger of judgment in your speech, then you are capable of understanding the power of your tongue.

The Holy Spirit matures your faith to recognize the power of your tongue to wield it rightly (James 3:3-6)

James uses common illustrations at the time to one the one hand, show the significance of the tongue, and on the other hand how the irony of how something so small can have such powerful influence on your life and the life of your neighbor.

James 3:3–6 (ESV)

If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.

Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

Surely you catch the irony right away. Bits are small pieces of metal that control a full grown horse. A rudder is a small piece of wood that directs a massive ship. In verse six, would be like a match being lit that set an entire forrest on fire. All of these are small in nature and disproportionate to their influence.

In verses 5-6, James uses the imagery of fire for destruction. James audience likely relied on wood or charcoal braziers to cook and heat their homes, and the draft from open windows increased the danger of fire spreading rapidly. And being that they had little means to extinguish a fire, a small ember could burn down a house, or even a community.

On October 8, 1871, The Great Chicago fire started in a stable when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a small lantern. The fire lasted almost 3 days. The fire destroyed an area about 4 miles long and averaging 3⁄4 mile wide, encompassing an area of more than 2,000 acres.  Destroyed were more than 73 miles of roads, 120 miles of sidewalk, 2,000 lampposts, 17,500 buildings, and $222 million in property, and with it over 300 souls lost.

James says the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. A fire that can set your entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. Those are strong words. What does he mean? And what does that have to do with the “power of the tongue?”

When James says the tongue “boasts of great things,” he could be speaking of two things. First, he could be saying that the tongue, as Craig Bloomberg notes, can legitimately make the claim to have considerable power. That is a neutral meaning that is evident by the illustrations of a bridle, rudder, and spark. Those small things have great power over large things.

The other option is that he could be saying that the tongue speaks presumptuously. It is filled with arrogant things toward God. The only other time James uses the word boast is in

James 4:16–17 ESV

As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Boasting is most often used in a negative sense for pride or arrogance. Furthermore, the use of unrighteousness, fire, hell, seem to imply a negative use of the word. It is pride and arrogance before God that sends you to hell.

Also think about what Jesus says in,

Mark 7:15–20 (ESV)

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him....Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

What comes out of a person? Jesus says one things that comes out is careless words. He admonished the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, saying,

Matthew 12:34–37 ESV

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

In the same vein, James says what comes out of a person can make the whole person unclean. The fire James speaks of is the evil that comes from careless words. And the power of the tongue is that it has the ability to destroy or corrupt the entire course of a person’s life, or the entire course of a community’s existence. It has the power to determine the course of your eternal life. By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

There is an old poem describing the power of the tongue over the your soul.

“The boneless tongue, so small and weak

Can crush and kill,” declared the Greek.

The Persian proverb wisely saith:

“A lengthy tongue, an early death.”

Sometimes it takes this form instead:

“Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.”

While Arab sages this impart:

“The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”

From Hebrew wit the maxim’s sprung:

“Though feet should slip, don’t let the tongue.”

A verse in Scripture crowns the whole:

“Who keeps the tongue doth keep his soul.”

The tongue has great power. Those whom the Holy Spirit is maturing in the faith wield the power of their tongue wisely, for they know that he who keeps the tongue, keeps his soul. Not only his own soul, but the soul of those whom he is or she is teaching.

What does it look like for the Holy Spirit to help you wield your tongue rightly?

The Spirit helping you wield your tongue rightly looks like what Paul describes in

Ephesians 5:18–21 (HCSB)

And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:

speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,

giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

Submission to the Spirit helps you speak to your brothers and sisters in a way that honors God: praises, encouragement, edification. Receiving the warning is helpful. Recognizing the tongue has great power is wise. But without restraint, the life of the church, community, and home is still in jeopardy.

The Holy Spirit matures your faith to restrain the pernicious nature of your tongue (James 3:7-10)

James is a good Jewish teacher. He compares human beings to creatures, which is Jewish tactic draw attention to less-than-human or ungodly behaviors. It was a way to humble the learner in order to offer the wise way to live.

In James 3:7, he says the kinds of creatures in creation can be tamed, even domesticated, and even their tongue is tame. Then by comparison, he says no human being can tame their tongue, James 3:8. In this way, animals act better than human beings. Animals tongues are not a restless evil, full of deadly poison. They tongue cannot cause war and death and destruction. The nature of their tongue is not pernicious. Pernicious is our seventy-five cent word for the day. Pernicious means to cause insidious harm, ruin, injury, or hurtful. Other synonyms convey deadly, damaging, harmful, or toxic-restless evil, and full of deadly poison fit the description.

Your tongue is inclined toward restless evil and can be filled with deadly poison. Do you know what the deadly poison is? It’s hypocrisy.

James 3:9 ESV

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

This harkens back to the double-minded man in James 1:8, (double minded man, unstable in all his ways). You have a fallen heart that has the propensity to talk out of both sides of your mouth: to blessings and cursings. There lies the tension you live! You come to church. You praise God. You pray to God. You proclaim God’s truth out of your mouth. Then, you turn around curse, condemn, and conjure evil toward your brothers and sisters, who image bearers to God just like you. That is utter hypocrisy and James says,

James 3:10 ESV

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus did not give you his Spirit to empower you to slander and curse your church, community, and home. Instead, Paul says,

2 Timothy 1:7 HCSB

For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Jesus gave you his Spirit to help you exercise self-control with your words (Gal 5:22-23), so you can

Colossians 4:6 ESV

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

and to

Ecclesiastes 5:2 (TOTC Ec (Heim))

2 5:1 etc. not be quick with your mouth, and do not rush your heart to bring out a matter before God, for God is in heaven, but you are on earth! Therefore let your words be few!

The Holy Spirit empowers you to receive the warning, recognize the power to wield it rightly, and to restrain the pernicious nature of your tongue. This is dependent on you actually relying in Him to change your heart.

The Holy Spirit matures your faith to rely on Him to change provenance of your tongue (James 3:11-12)

Provenance is the place of origin, or the source. The tongue is like a river opening. Words flow out of it from a provenance, an origin. James closes this section with two metaphors. He asks,

James 3:11–12 ESV

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

What you have here are things that are contrary to their nature. Fresh water cannot come from salt water. Figs cannot grow on olive trees, or grape vines. You know a tree by its fruit. You know a mature believer by the way they talk.

As I have already mentioned, Jesus says your words come from you heart (Matthew 12:34). If your heart loves Jesus then you will use words that make much of Him. If your heart is worldly, then you speech will boast of the world. You cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit apart from the Spirit ruling your heart. That is why throughout the sermon I have said, “The Holy Spirit empowers you.” You must have Jesus’ Spirit living inside of you to mature in the faith.

Jesus says you must be born again (John 3:3). Born again Christians who have living faith have had a heart change. God takes your heart of stone out and replaces it with a heart of flesh that is willing and able to follow his commands Ezekiel 36:25-26. Furthermore, God says

Ezekiel 36:27 ESV

And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

The fruit of His Spirit living inside of you is,

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The Holy Spirit empowers you to exercise self-control with your words. A heart that is ruled by Jesus’s Spirit receives the warning to be careful with your words, recognizes the power of your words to speak life or death, restrains the fallen nature of your tongue, and relies on the Holy Spirit to change your heart, through regeneration and sanctification, so that your words reflect your redeemed heart.

You mouth is not meant for evil and for good. That is why you need Jesus living inside. You need to power of his life and his word to shape your heart and mind, to conform all of your life, especially your words into his image. Jesus says,

John 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

You can only have Jesus’ Spirit if you surrender to Him by faith. If you are not trusting in Jesus as your Savior from God’s wrath, every careless word you have spoke will condemn you to hell. By your own words Jesus says you will perish in God’s wrath. You can do nothing in your own.

Today is the day of salvation. Hear his words calling you to repent of your sin and trust his atoning work on the cross for you, and his resurrection and promise of eternal life. Call upon him today and you will be saved. Accept his gift by faith and receive not only his eternal life, but his Spirit to empower your life to flourish now.

Yes, in my immaturity, I stuck my tongue to a refrigerator coil, but...

Yes, I stuck my tongue to a refrigerator coil. It was dumb. My mother told me it was dumb. But that was not the dumbest thing I’ve done with my mouth. There was a time in my life where I cursed my neighbors. I lied to my friends and family. I spoke blasphemies against the living God. When I was 22 years old, Jesus invaded my heart. I asked for forgiveness my sin, and he forgave me of all my sin. From that time forward, with a new heart, Jesus gave me his Spirit to live differently, to speak differently.

When I was a child, I acted like a child. I did immature things like sticking my tongue to a refrigerator coil. I spoke like a child. But I didn't stay there. I grew up and matured. In the same way, God, in his rich mercy, has given me his Spirit to mature my living faith so that I no longer act and speak like a child. The Holy Spirit empowers me to exercise self-control and to use discernment to speak truth and life to my church, and my family, and my neighbors. By His grace, you and I can

“So speak life, speak life To the deadest darkest night Speak life, speak life When the sun won't shine and you don't know why Look into the eyes of the broken hearted Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope You speak love, You speak life” (Speak Life, Toby Mac)

It is such grace to hear,

Jesus matures your faith by empowering you to use self-control with your words in order to speak life.