Tongue Pierced
Notes
Transcript
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
We can be quick to think of this in a negative connotation.
Many immediately think of a legal case, but just like in legal cases the judge can be in favor or against you in the judgement.
We also need to look at this passage in the understanding of a competitive judge.
There is a difference between a judge of amateur competitors and professional.
The more you know of the sport the higher and more microscopic the judging is.
What we teach can have an effect on generations, as one generation teaches the next. We have to take this seriously.
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
We all sin, but that should be no excuse to not aim for entire sanctification.
James gives us a clue as to where to start.
That tongue!
A small lighter will light a wonderful candle… now try to light it with a M9-7 flame thrower and your house is gone.
Both tools produce flame, but they come in different tones.
This verse is not just talking about what we say but how we say it too.
It takes discipline to do it. The Lord gave us the capacity to do it at salvation, it is our job to apply it daily.
9844 Sanctification means … a life of discipline such as nine out of every ten of us will have nothing to do with.
&
Are we prepared for what sanctification will do? It will cost an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth and an immense broadening of our interest in God.
Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)
As we grow we become less concerned with “how does this serve me” to “how does this serve His Kingdom?”
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
(Bucking Belgian Sniffs Hind-end)
This horse’s shoulders stop at my nose and she weighs around 22-2400 lbs
And she was tamed and controlled by a single little piece of metal
4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
James again is stressing the responsibility each has over speech.
During WW2 the gov had to express to the people not to share when cargo and even battle ships left port or got to port.
Loose Lips sink ships… WW2 slogan
That slogan can be used in a different way…
This of our relationships as a ship
our marriages, our kids, our business partners, our church…
We can either lift up and mend the damages life storms bring…
Or we can blow holes in our own ship through our speech and attitudes.
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
The Tongue boasts…
with one breath someone sings praise to God, with the next gossip of their neighbor…
With one breath boast of how faithful you are and the very next is screams of panic at the slightest stretch in faith or discomfort.
One voice we boast of our Christian walk and in the next cut another to the bone
Defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life: This means to contaminate, pollute, and pervert not just our own soul but that of every thing within our sphere of influence.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
It appears that man can master all things, except for his own tongue.
We cannot do it alone, we must daily be in prayer that the Lord would tame this beast of beasts...
… something that is the size of a field mouse with the destructive power of Godzilla.
Take Home?
How Bridled Is Your Tongue?
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
Repent
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
