(James 011) From Cursing to Blessing: Transforming Your Speech
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The average person spends one-fifth of his or her life talking.
If all of our words were put into print, the result would be this:
A single day's words would fill a 50-page book,
While in a year's time the average person's words would fill 132 books of 200 pages each.
God created humans to communicate in a special way.
Animals communicate
Dog’s, birds, etc. have instinctive sounds
They can even communicate with us, but not like we can…
People can communicate with words
God has given us a heart, a mind, and a soul
He has given us the ability to think and make our own decisions
He has given us the ability to communicate what we feel
This communication can be powerful
Human communication by way of speeches have started
Revolutions
Riots
Revivals
Christianity is about communication
God used words to communicate to us through the Bible.
We are to use words to teach and encourage each other.
We are to communicate the gospel to others
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.
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.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
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.
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
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!
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
James give us great illustrations...
Horses are controlled with a small bit. (vs 3)
My uncle had Belgian draft horses.
The stand 16-17 hands high.
Weigh over 200 lbs.
Together a team can pull over 20,000 lbs on a sled.
As a kid I used to drive them around the barnyard.
All because of a small piece in their mouth.
Ships are driven by strong winds yet still controlled with a small rudder.
Soon to be the largest cruise ship on the seas.
The Icon of the Seas
1200 ft long
251,000 tons
Will hold almost 8,000 people.
Controlled by a small rudder.
Large boats were common in the ancient world.
Acts tells us Paul rode with 276 people.
Another ship carried 1000 people.
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
Our little tongue carries great power.
The longest tongue recorded is 3.86 inches from tip to back.
Like a bit in a horses mouth and a rudder on a ship it is small in comparison to our body.
Yet it has tremendous power!
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
1. The deep-seated power of the tongue. (3-5a)
Preaching the Word commentary points out: The tongues of Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill bear eloquent testimony to the dark and bright sides of the tongue's power. The Führer on one side of the channel harangued a vast multitude with his hypnotic cadences. On the other side, the prime minister's brilliant, measured utterances pulled a faltering nation together for its "finest hour."
2. The destructive power of the tongue. (vs. 5b-6)
2. The destructive power of the tongue. (vs. 5b-6)
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.
2. The destructive power of the tongue. (vs. 5b-6)
2. The destructive power of the tongue. (vs. 5b-6)
“how great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire”
(Preaching the Word Commentary) At 9:00 one Sunday evening, October 8, 1871, Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over the lantern as she was being milked, starting the great Chicago Fire, destroying over 17,000 buildings. The fire lasted two days and cost over 250 lives.
The tongue is also a fire.
All it takes is a little uncontrolled spark.
A sharp word.
A sentence we don’t think about.
Our tongues produce disturbances in our lives.
The tongue is a world of evil.
All the evil in the world is represented in one small scale.
It is represented in our tongues.
It can destroy an entire life.
It stains the whole body.
If a person is known for pure conversation, they are usually seen by others as good in every way.
Yet if not, they are usually distrusted in many ways.
setting on fire the entire course of nature.
Course = wheel of nature
From birth to death.
It is set on fire by hell.
This is the energy source of the fire.
Maybe I said something I didn’t even mean to be taken the was.
But the energy source of the enemy drives it.
The idea of the original Greek is continually set on fire...
We say one little thing and the enemy will blow on that spark and fan the the flame.
That’s why we need to so careful with our words.
A small spark from an ill-spoken word can cause a tremendous amount of destruction.
History tells us that the Chicago fire was not the worst fire that year.
ON THE SAME DAY… a fire ignited in the north woods of Wisconsin and burned for a month taking more lives than the Great Chicago Fire.
3. The uncontrollable power of the tongue. (vs. 7-8)
3. The uncontrollable power of the tongue. (vs. 7-8)
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3. The uncontrollable power of the tongue. (vs. 7-8)
3. The uncontrollable power of the tongue. (vs. 7-8)
All kinds of wild animals have been tamed.
No HUMAN can tame the tongue.
It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.
Restless - the unregenerate and uncontrolled tongue roams the world quick to defend itself and swift to attack others.
The tongue mimics Satan.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
One commentator said that restless means “always liable to break out”.
Full of deadly poison - the poison of a serpent.
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
3. The uncontrollable power of the tongue. (vs. 7-8)
3. The uncontrollable power of the tongue. (vs. 7-8)
Paul wrote this describing the tongue of the unbeliever.
James’ concern as he wrote was NOT the unbeliever.
He clearly addresses believers.
4. The revealing power of the tongue. (vs. 9-12)
4. The revealing power of the tongue. (vs. 9-12)
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
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.
4. The revealing power of the tongue. (vs. 9-12)
4. The revealing power of the tongue. (vs. 9-12)
James apparently observed a contradictory action by the Jews.
The Jews would udder “Blessed be he” each time the heard God’s name mentioned.
There times of worship were full of praise to God.
Yet they would leave their time of worship and curse someone that had angered them.
Are we any different.
We sing praises to God then share the latest gossip or frustration with a brother in Chris to those.
James calls this unnatural.
A spring doesn’t have fresh water and salt water.
You can’t have an apple tree that bears cherries too.
So James says stop doing it!
He doesn’t give us a 5 step plan.
He tells us how dangerous and difficult out tongues are.
Then he says stop using them for destruction.
The end.
Done.
“From Cursing to Blessing: Transforming Your Speech” how do we do this?
5. THINK before you speak.
5. THINK before you speak.
Slow down and ask yourself these 5 questions.
Is it True?
Is it True?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Is it Helpful?
Is it Helpful?
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
It is Inspiring?
It is Inspiring?
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Is it Necessary?
Is it Necessary?
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Is it Kind?
Is it Kind?
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Questions for the week:
How is my tongue directing my life?
What specific plan do I need to put in place to control my tongue?
How can I use the acronym THINK to help me this week?
Who are three people I can bless with my words this week?