Words And The Tongue

Story of the Pastor who used to be upstairs.

Proverbs 15:1 NKJV

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

NIV - A gentle answer turns away wrath

NLT- a gentle answer deflects anger.

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 15

15 A gentle response defuses anger,

but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire

A soft answer or a gentle answer can dispel a potentially tense situation dissolving a person’s wrath ( rage )

“Being conciliatory in such a situation requires forethought, patience, self- control, and kindness, virtues commonly praised in Proverbs.”

A harsh (lit., “hurtful”) word, by contrast, arouses rather than dissolves anger.

This is how we stay away from needless arguments.

This verses teaches us how to live in the virtue of wisdom.

It arouses anger.

Somethings that come from the tongue aren’t always harsh words.

Sometimes it could be things to boost ones credibility.

The tongue boast great things.

Time at Kai’s bachelor party

I remember one time I was at a bachelor party and the guys I was with started drinking and cutting up. Then a conversation started about God. And they were butchering ideas about God. The night I didn’t chime in. I could’ve easily jumped in and gave some thoughts I had readily available but I waited until they where sober then I told them what was on my mind about a specific text.

I could had boasted and said I’m doing this for God I’m with these missionaries. I spoke here I did this etc. etc. But I waited.

Proverbs 15:28 “28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.”

Proverbs 15:23 “23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”

James 3:1 NKJV

1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

These were written to Jewish Christians and to many of them wanted to become teachers.

Being a teacher was classified to be like a Rabbi.

And Rabbis of the day hold really high rank amounst the people of the day.

James’ complaint was simply that too many believers were overly anxious to speak up and show off.

But teaching as a moral responsibility .

James 3:2 NKJV

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.

James isn’t just pointing the finger at everyone else. But he’s pointing it at himself as well.

Nothing trips up a believer more then a dangling tongue.

James 3:3–5 NKJV

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. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

The argument is clear. Just as little bits … turn grown horses, small rudders guide large ships, and a small spark consumes an entire forest, so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. The tongue is petite but powerful!

James 3:6–8 NKJV

6 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. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Iniquity - unrightouesness

3-5 spoke about how power the tongue is

6-8 speaks about how evil tongue can be.

The tongue is a fire

The tongue inflames the whole course of life.

The tongue has so much power for such a small member.

The tongue is only the fuse the source of the tongue is hell itself.

James 3:9–18 NKJV

9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the 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. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.