James (W. 6) - James 3:1-12

Good morning, FBS Upstate Church! We are continuing our series in the book of James, so go ahead and find your place in James 3 this morning.

Have any of you ever had a bad dog?

Hailey and I experienced this. We had a golden retriever back in the day. He was fun, cute, energetic, but this dog’s stat line of destruction was unbelievable. I mean truly, some of what I’m about to share with you about this dog will probably cause you to think, “There ain’t no way that dog did that.” Let me preface the next few sentences by telling you that everything I’m about to say is not an exageration or a preacher story… it is cold hard facts.

This dog could open our dishwasher. He would open the dishwasher every day and eat the Tupperware.

If the dishwasher was empty, he could open drawers to our cabinets to retrieve Tupperware and then eat said Tupperware.

Y’all we had to put baby locks on our drawers before we had babies.

This dog ate our wedding cake topper. You know how traditionally you eat the top of your wedding cake a year later? Not us. The dog got it. 10 pounds of sweet potato cake eaten back a golden retriever.

This dog ate a crock pot. Yep. A Crock Pot full of spaghetti and 3 pounds of meatballs.

This dog also ate gorilla glue, and what was left over was left to harden on our carpet. Yep… he was fine, he just looked us dead in the eye and licked his lips for about 3 weeks.

This dog was crazy.

One time I was sharing this with someone and after detailing all of his escapades, this person looked at me and said, “Man, that dog sounds crazy, but it might say more about you than it says about him.”

“what do you mean?” I asked.

“It sounds like you may have a bad dog, but that dog probably needs a better Master.”

In a lot of ways, I think James is trying to tell us the same thing today.

You see, the subject we’re talking about this morning is the tongue in our mouths.

This is something all of us struggle with. And whether it’s the audible words we speak, words we type on a screen, or words we sign, we are called to live a life of taming the tongue.

The struggle is wide spread for sure. Similar to that dog I had, our stat-line of issues could be:

- Curse words

- words of gossip

- flattery, slander. Lying, 1-uping, complaining.

Whatever the struggle with our tongue may be, we must not be people that don’t laugh about bad language, condone the carnal communication or even excuse ourselves by saying, “Well, it’s just who I am.”

Instead, my prayer this morning is that after James confronts ALL of us on this issue is that we would be people that honestly say, “you know what… my tongue is an issue because my heart is a mess. I need a better Master.”

So this morning, here’s where we are going

James 3.

What he is going to lay before us is this:

Bottom Line: The words of your mouth reveal the condition of your heart.

Y’all stand to your feet as we honor the reading of God’s Word.

James 3:1–12 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 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. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 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. 5 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! 6 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. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

James, I love this about him, is so intentional with what he writes but is also not sorry about what he’s saying at all. He doesn’t mince words. James isn’t backing down. James is in your face. Why? BECAUSE THE THINGS HE WRITES IS TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.

Since the words of our mouth reveal the condition of our hearts, this passage is a big deal.

What we are going to see in our outline is this:

Your words are Powerful.

Your words are Revealing.

You Cannot Tame your Tongue.

Your Words are Redeemable.

Let’s get into the outline:

1. Your words are powerful. (v. 3-6)

Your words are so powerful.

Think of the most amazing moments in your life. Those moments involved words. The memories you have of those good moments have a soundtrack of phrases like:

“I love you, too.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“You’re hired.”

“Congratulations, you’re having a boy or a girl.”

Just the same, the most heart wrenching and hurtful moments also revolve around words. The soundtrack of those moments sound like this:

“It’s over. I want a divorce.”

“I’m disappointed in you.”

“We’re going in another direction, today is your last day.”

Words matter and words are powerful.

You think your "small" words, your "little" facebook post doesn't matter - but it's actually a spark that can set the woods on fire

Your words are dangerous

James speaks to this with a few illustrations and metaphors that we read about. I believe each of his metaphors teach us how powerful words can be. Notice the power of your tiny tongue.

a. Your Tongue, though small, has the Ability to Direct

“direct, also influence.”

Like a horse with a bit in it’s mouth.

This small bit can cause a large beast of an animal to move to the right or the left.

Our words do the same thing. Words direct people. Words can even direct large groups of people. Think about it. A bit that goes into a horse’s mouth weighs between .5 a pound and 2 pounds. That small object can steer an animal that weighs upwards of 1,000 pounds.

Our words can do the same thing. Influence the way people think about others.

How?

Direct larger objects - an example of this is talking about someone instead of talking to that person.

Someone sins against you, and you go to someone else, “Can you believe what they did to me.”

If you say that to your Upstate Group, what you’re doing is (1) acting out of order, (2) influencing the people you’re with to think about those others

Like a ship with a small rudder.

James 3:4 ESV

4 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.

Notice the phrase at the end of verse 4. “The will of the pilot directs.”

I think James is trying to let us in on something here. He says, “the will of the pilot directs,” and I believe he is referring to the moments when we are involved in a conversation and are emotionally stirred up. You know the moments when someone says something funny, and you just can’t help but top their joke with something else. Or those moments when you hear gossip and you can’t help but speak up to share something, too.

Practical example of this:

When everyone around you is gossip, and you just emotionally feel like, “Ooh, I’ve got the tea and I’ve got some deets on them, this seems like the right time to verbally slam them!”

Another example of this is how you even speak about yourself.

Did you know how you speak about yourself matter?

I need to get something off my chest real quick.

I have messed up with my words A BUNCH with my wife Hailey.

We were flirting and going back and forth, just having a great time together.

She was sharing with me about something, and made a great point.

Here’s where it went south.

I was genuinely trying to flirt and be funny and cute.

After she made her point, I said these dreadfully stupid words:

“You know, Hailey, you’re a lot smarter than you look.”

yeah. I know what you’re thinking, I don’t know why she married me either.

I tell you that story for a couple of reasons:

1. In a moment when my thoughts and emotions were stirred and I thought what I was about to say was going to be the best thing i could say, I missed it. That was in a moment when I even had the best intentions. Even in that moment the damage could be done really quickly.

You know what? That was a moment when I spoke negatively about my bride.

Why would we ever want to speak negatively about the bride of Christ??

b. Your Tongue, though small, has the Ability to Destroy

Like a wild fire set ablaze by embers from a campfire.

Again, it’s a picture of something small (the tongue) doing LARGE and MAJOR damage.

This looks like:

Having to have the last word. How many arguments have you had with someone where you just had to throw that final jab? That final jab can destroy.

Gossiping about someone.

Sowing seeds of disunity.

Telling someone else’s story that you have no business telling.

Complaining about leadership.

c. Your Tongue, though small, has the Ability to be a tool of the Devil // Your tongue becomes a Powerful as a tool of the Devil when left untamed.

James 3:6 ESV

6 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.

An untamed tongue does not sound like Jesus, y’all.

d. Your Tongue, though small, has the Ability to be Double-minded // Powerful

James 3:9–10 ESV

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Okay, James must just be a little harsh here. My tongue can’t be that bad. Oh, yeah? Let’s look at what other Scriptures say about our words and tongue:

Romans 3:14 ESV

14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

Psalm 10:7 ESV

7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV

18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Do you ever wonder, why did I say that? Why do I speak so cruelly to the people I love most? Why is it that I have a foot-shaped mouth?

I think it’s because, in God’s kindness, He allows our words to be a revealer of what’s really going on in our hearts. That leads us to the second point:

2. Your words are revealing. (v. 9-12)

Your words will also be revealed one day. Even the things you say that never get back to the person you’re speaking about. Look what Jesus says:

Matthew 12:33–34 ESV

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART!!!

James 3:6 ESV

6 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.

If the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness, what does that say about our hearts??

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

What does it reveal?

Your words are the clearest and best indicator of what’s going on in your heart.

This should tell you at least two things:

We are far filthier than we can even comprehend. Your words indicate what’s going on in our heart, we also know that we don’t even say all that’s on our heart.

God is VERY VERY kind to us to allow our words to be a mirror into our heart.

vs. 9-12 Reveals the intention of the heart. Words are not the bad part, but they reveal your heart is bad.

Do you remember how Jesus said when we believe in Him, we will have a fountain flowing

John 4:14 ESV

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

What James is saying is the untamed tongue reveals an unchanged heart.

Look what James’ says. “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?” NO! You have a useless fountain in your heart that doesn’t resemble the well spring of water that Jesus speaks of in John4.

———————-

Matthew 12:36–37 ESV

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Wait just a minute, if I’m a Christian, will I still be condemned by my words? No sir, in Christ, all of your careless and idle words are already forgiven by Christ! Praise God.

But Paul does tell us in Romans 14:12

Romans 14:12 ESV

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

We will give an account one day for whether or not the words we use are used to build up eternity and really matter, or if all we did was useless speech. I don’t know about you, but I desire to speak life for Jesus’ glory!

b. Words Reveal your Needs

If all you do is speak for the approval of man, that reveals that you’re insecure and need Jesus to meet that need.

If all you do is speak negative about yourself, that reveals that you need to go back and learn about your identity in Christ.

1. Your greatest need is for Jesus to save and change your heart.

2. Your greatest need as a believer is to rely on Jesus for your needs to be fulfilled.

The words we use reveal our messed up heart!

Now, I know what you’re thinking. It’s time for me to stop cussing, gossiping, lying, etc. That’s great man! Look at what James says in James 3:2.

James 3:2 ESV

2 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.

Cool cool cool! Let’s just all decide to tame our tongue! Got it James.

This truth should have all of us realizing, “I need to do something about my tongue.”

Now look at what he says, in James 3:8

James 3:8 ESV

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Right before this, James says we can tame bears, lions, elephants, etc.

But we can’t tame the tongue.

Square Quote: Your mouth needs a better Master… and you ain’t Him.

You are Unable to Tame your Tongue.

James 3:2 ESV

2 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.

Just like my dog needed a better Master, you do too.

Landing spot: You can't possibly be this person in your own strength; God has to change your heart and then your words will change from there

Square Quote: Your mouth needs a better Master, and you ain’t Him.

“But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8

Proverbs 21:23 ESV

23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

You can tame just about any animal, but the tongue cannot be tamed.

He gives this illustration of how man can tame these incredible beasts… but what else does James say?

While men and women have tamed (1) elephants to sit on it’s hind legs, (2) lions to bow, (3) bears to ride bicycles, (4) beagles to jumprope, (5)

James 3:11–12 ESV

11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Jesus is interested in coming into your heart to give you eternal waters

John 4:14 ESV

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

This is why James says in verses 11-12 that

No amount of filtration or solvent can clean the undrinkable

Don’t follow your heart because your heart is deceitful

The worse things that slip out of your mouth is just a fraction of what is actually going on in your heart.

So HOW CAN I TAME THE TONUGE??

JD’s two pictures:

Waters of Marah

Exodus 15.

Moses threw a tree into the bitter waters of Mara.

When your heart changes

When the fountain of our soul becomes sweet, the water that comes from the tap becomes sweet, too.

2. Isaiah said “Woe is me, I am unclean, I am lost. I am a man of unclean lips.”

Isaiah 6.

Every idle word will be brought into judgment.

An angel takes a burning coal to Isaiah’s lips from the altar. The altar is the picture of cross.

Putting the cross in our hearts and on our lips will bring healing to your words.

How do we tame the tongue?

Yield to the LORD.

Dallas Willard says, “It is only as we habitually subject the tongue to the grace of God as an instrument reserved for him, to do his will, that grace comes literally to inhabit and govern it. And when that happens the effects spread throughout all the body. James 3:2.”

Proverbs 10:20 ESV

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

You need to get to the point where you’re not the one with the reigns.

You need to get to the point where you’re not the one with the steering wheel guiding the rudder.

You need to get to the point where you’re not the one with the matches starting the fire.

Let King Jesus tame your tongue.

What about all that I’ve already said that struck like a sword and caused damage?

Jesus is forgiving to you. He loves you! That brings us to the last point:

4. Your Words are Redeemable.

Psalm 141:3 ESV

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

What does a tamed tongue look like?

1. A Tamed Tongue is slow to speak

James 1:19 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Being yielded to the Holy Spirit will do this!

2 Corinthians 10:5–6 ESV

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

One question to ask before you speak is this, “are my words going to build up or break someone down?”

2. A Tamed Tongue speaks life by the Word to others.

Colossians 3:16 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 4:6 ESV

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

3. A Tamed Tongue is quick to say, “I’m sorry.”

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Get right with God, and then get right with others.

A HEALED HEART IS REVEALED BY A TAME TONGUE.

Square Quote: Your mouth needs a better Master, and you ain’t Him.

YOU. CAN’T. TAME. THE. TONGUE.

Practical ways your words can redeem:

Be slow to speak.

Be quick to say, “I’m sorry.”

Speak life

P