The Book of James (week 4)
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THE WARNING!
THE WARNING!
INTRODUCTION
MY PEOPLE!
Okay, first thing first, later during this message I am going to have all the lights get turned off. Don’t worry it is on purpose. So, when that happens don’t freak out and be loud and all that jazz just sit there and listen. Can we do that?
WEEK 1: COUNT IT ALL JOY (James 1)
WEEK 2: DON’T JUST LISTEN TO THE WORD BUT LIVE IT OUT! (James 1)
WEEK 3: LIVING FAITH IS DISPLAYED & DEVOTED (James 2, Logan)
WEEK 4: THE WARNING! (James 3)
James 3 is a big flashing light. 1 -12 is warning to all of us. But before we jump into James 3 has anyone heard of the Great Fire of 1910?
The Great Fire of 1910 is the largest US wildfire is history. It is unsure if it was caused by a strike of lighting or a manmade cause but the fire covered over 3 million acres of land in Montano and Idaho. 3 Million acres is roughly 4,687 square miles. If you drew a straight line through that it would be close to 70 miles in length.
SHOW PICTURES OF ST LOUIS AREA AND IF A FIRE TOOK OVER
Here is a picture of the entire St Louis metro area. This whole area makes up of roughly 7,863 square miles. We are roughly here (St Charles). Lets say, a fire starts and spreads as much as the Great Fire of 1910. Here is what would be in flames.
It is crazy to think about such a small flame or such a small spark and how it can grow and destroy everything in it’s path.
What we are going to be reading today is something even more dangerous than a flame to a forrest. This is something that doesn’t need the right circumstances to destroy. James 3:1-10 is a warning about our tongues and how they have the ability to destroy everything around us.
***READ & PRAY***
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.
THE WARNING… THE TONGUE DESTROYS
But… what does the tongue destroy.
First thing is first, James has a clear statement to the church. “Many of you shouldn’t teach.” Why, because…
THE TONGUE DESTROYS THE SOUL (v. 1)
The soul is saved through faith by the completed work of Jesus. For most that faith comes through hearing the Word of God preached and taught.
21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.
The warning of the tongue destroying the soul is because while the tongue can preach the good news of Jesus. It can always preach false news as well.
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
It was common in the early church for the teaching to just rotate to anyone. If an overseer or an elder wasn’t established, the teacher would rotate to someone new each week. Thats dangerous! There is a reason why the bible has strict qualifications for elders and overseers (Pastors) the leaders who preach to the masses. There is also a reason why we have training, discipleship, seminary, and etc before we just let someone come up on stage and teach. (EXPLAIN LOGAN NOT PREACHING FOR 8 MONTHS)
James is saying hey this gig isn’t for everyone. Also, if it’s not for you, you don’t want it because God will judge those who teach with greater strictness. Now, you may be asking, Thomas what does that mean? To be honest I don’t know and I don’t know what that looks like. But I do know that there are many false teachers that lead many astray and God does not look kindly at those who use Him to gain for themselves and lead others to hell.
One example of this is and how the tongue destroys through false teaching is when people teach…
MY TRUTH over THE TRUTH
There many other examples I could give but
THE TONGUE DESTROYS THE BODY (v. 2-8)
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.
Have you ever said something before that you regretted? Something that made it so you couldn’t sleep, maybe you couldn’t eat and felt sick because all you could was feel guilt for what you said? I know I have been there before.
The consequences of our sins have a physical affect to our bodies. Sin is the reason we are dying. Our bodies were meant for eternity but sin caused them to die. Sin corrupted them and destroyed the possibility of our bodies living for eternity. That is why God will remake our bodies.
What is interesting here is James is saying this is a sin everyone falls to. Not everyone will have the same struggles in life. I have certain sin that I have never really struggled with like greed and jealously. Some may not struggle with lying or lust. But everyone will struggle with their tongue. The tongue brings such devastation because it isn’t just about what you say, it is about how you say it, when you say it, and even what you don’t say.
James is giving a clear warning that the tongue affects everything you are.
***WALK THROUGH EACH VERSE***
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.
The key here is to understand that no human can tame the tongue. But God can.
The last warning James give us about the tongue in these verses is how the tongue destroys others.
THE TONGUE DESTROYS OTHERS (v. 9-10)
THE GREAT LIE: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
This may be the greatest lie ever told.
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.
CONCLUSION
The tongue destroys the soul, it destroys the body, and it destroys others. But it doesn’t have too. While we don’t have the power to tame the tongue, Jesus does.
Lighter Illustration: This flame could cause this entire building to burn down. But with God, if you use in the right way it can also be light in someones life.
