JAMES PART 11
James the Just • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Control the Tongue
Control the Tongue
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. 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. 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.
*open prayer*
Tonight we have some good stuff to go over.
I think if you want to teach or be in any type of leadership position in the church, this passage is a must read!
Lets look a little closer.
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
That word “masters” basically means teacher, or leader.
What is James talking about….
This verse serves as a warning if you will…
apparently there will be different levels of judgemen, and if you put yourself in a position of leadership, you had better be sure you are right.
Lets look at these two verses real quick…
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Not everyone is called to be a teacher.
So first thing I will say is if you are going to be a teacher, or pastor, or evangelists, you had better make sure you are called first.
Then, knowing you are called, you should know you will be held to a higher account.
You better make sure that when you speak on behalf of our God, you speak correctly.
This is probably the scariest part about getting behind a pulpit.
Fear of misrepresenting God.
Think about why Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land.
Because he misrepresented God.
Lets look at it in numbers 20.
7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
To sanctify in the eyes of the children of Israel.
Moses misrepresented God when he struck the rock twice, instead of speaking to it…. Key being it was done in front of the people….
So we are going to look at the importance of representing God and the importantce of our words and speech.
Something that is often overlooked.
We may have a different way of speaking when we are at church, verse at work, or at home, or on social media.
It is interesting how in one moment we can use our tongues to do the most amazing thing, speak about God, and then in the next, use it to spew poison.
As a representative of Christ, ask yourself, does my speech bring glory and honor to God?
This is a good question for all Christian’s, but is especially true for leaders and teachers…
Look at how serious this is in verse 2
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.
What James is saying here is that we all stumble. We all Have faults and strugles, but to say you are in perfect control of your words and speach, is to claim to be perfect.
We know this is something we all struggle with.
This passage applies to all of us, since the only one that truly was perfect is Jesus.
It is just especially sobering for those of us in teacher roles.
Notice, James is including himself here with the word “we”.
He is not excusing this type of behavior, but rather he is acknowledged that it is something we all struggle with.
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.
Having control over the bit in the horses mouth, or control over the rudder of a ship controls the entire unit.
So to have control over your tongue is to have control over your own body.
The tongue is described as a “world of iniquity”.
A world of sin.
Remember in Luke 16.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Keep in mind, to control the rudder on a ship or the bit in a horses mouth does not mean you never let the horse out of the barn, or the ship out of the dock.
Taking a vow of silence is not what he is saying is the anwser here.
The tongue is discribed as a little fire. But a little fire can burn the whole Forrest.
How many marriages or friendships, or other relationships are completely destroyed because of our mouths getting us into trouble?
This message is found many times in the book of Proverbs.
Lets look at the person that doesn’t consider the destructive power of his words…
18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, And saith, Am not I in sport?
“Am not in in sport” is like saying “I was only joking”.
Lets read on.
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.
What we will learn, if you have not already, is that man cannot control the tongue.
In fact, trying really really hard will not control the tongue.
You could say the only thing more powerful than the tongue is the Holy Spirit.
No man can do it on his own.
All the animals and beasts we can tame, but this tiny little member of our body can no man tame….
Is that not amazing?
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.
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.
How can we lose control of our words?
Flirtatious remarks or signals at work.
Destructive speech, such as Gossip Or talking down to someone.
Engaging in vain arguments…
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
And really any other type of laungauge, physical, verbal, written, or implied that does not bring Glory to God is something we are all warned against….
But if you are a leader or teacher, you really need to be sure you have this in check….
Not because some pastor said so, but because God will hold you to a higher level of accountability.
There is a stern warning here for all of us.
Something we all need to be on the watch for.