Untamed Fire

INTRODUCTION

1) In this message we will explore the evil within speech from the perspective of James 3:1–12

James 3:1–12 NKJV

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 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. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 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. 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. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

a) I open with a story about how I once hit a pole with a go-cart at my Grandma’s house.

1. In this story I point out how I could control he go-cart with the steering wheel however I was not truly aware of how the control of the steering wheel worked.

Context of James:

Author: It seems clear therefore that the author is James, the half brother of the Lord, who became the recognized leader in the Jerusalem church. This conclusion is supported by the authoritative tone of the letter and by the marked similarities in Greek between this epistle and the speech by James recorded in Act_15:1-41 (BKC)

Audience: clearly addressed to “the 12 tribes scattered among the nations” (Jas_1:1), this letter has a marked Jewish flavor. The book has the substance and authority of the Prophets and the style and beauty of the Psalms. He refers to “firstfruits” (Jas_1:18; cf. Lev_23:10), the synagogue or “meeting” (Jas_2:2), “our ancestor Abraham” (Jas_2:21), Gehenna or “hell” (Jas_3:6), “the Lord Almighty” (Jas_5:4; cf. Gen_17:1), and to the early and latter or “fall and spring rains” (Jas_5:7; cf. Deu_11:14). Though some suggest that the “12 tribes” may be taken metaphorically as the Gentile church scattered throughout the Roman Empire, it is far more logical to take the statement in its normal sense. The letter is definitely to a Jewish constituency. Though the letter demonstrates careful Greek diction, it is nonetheless filled with extensive Hebrew symbolism (BKC).

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2) I don’t think I have to express the importance of speech in the everyday life of humans. Day to day we express so much with what we say to others.

a. I once worked with a group of tree service guys for Honduras, and I truly began to realize how integral communication is for humans.

b. Speech is essential if you want to not only function with others but have meaningful interactions. It kind of goes without saying that if I didn’t learn Spanish I was not going to have very deep interactions with humans.

TR: I’ve said enough about speech but we are here to see is what James says about speech or specifically the tongue.

I. Speech in teaching involves a lot of responsibility.

A. Teachers receive greater judgement.

1. Teachers are responsible for what they say.

a. They have an opportunity to teach the life changing truth of the gospel.

b. They have influence over the people they teach.

2. Not many should seek to be teachers James 3:1 “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

a. It requires more control over speech.

b. Stricter judgment is given to those who teach.

TR: Is speech only dangerous for teacher though? Certainly not. James goes on to explain.

II. The tongue is a catalyst for evil.

A. A man who can control his tongue is perfect.

B. What we say controls us with a lot of influence.

a. Like the bit in horses mouth.

b. Rudder on a ship.

c. Spark in a forest fire

C. Bad speech defiles.

a. The tongue is able to defile people.

b. The tongue defiles the course of nature.

D. The tongue is full of evil.

a. The tongue is set on fire by hell.

b. The tongue is an unruly evil.

c. The tongue is full of poison.

d. The tongue is untamable.

TR: Are we guilty of underestimating the impact of our speech? How might we be using it for evil? I will look at one example of evil that James highlights.

III. The hypocritical tongue.

A. James’s audience was using the tongue for contradictory purposes.

a. They were praising God with their tongue.

b. They were cursing their brother.

i. Their brother was made in the image of God.

ii. Cursing

“To wish anyone evil or ruin, to curse, to give one over to ruin

B. James emphatically states that this cannot occur.

a. Both good and bad things should not come from the same source.

b. James uses a fig tree and olives and fresh with salt water spring.

C. How often are we guilty of doing the same with our fellow believers.

CONCLUSION:

1) I want to challenge those listening to be aware of how they use their tongue and to avoid the evil that can be associated with the tongue.

a) James’s warning about the evil of the tongue should not be ignored and taken seriously.

b) seek to avoid the specific sin of “cursing” your brother with your tongue

2) I want to challenge you to look and pray about the way that you might be using the tongue for Evil in your own lives.

3) PRAYER: I pray that in all things but about our tongue especially that we will seek to be wise in how we use conduct ourselves. I pray that we would use our tongue to glorify your name and proclaim your name and not to speak negatively about our brothers and sisters. I pray that you will walk with us and guide us throughout this week and throughout our lives. I thank you for all you have done and all you are continuing to do. In Jesus name, Amen.