Our_Most_Unruly_Member
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ƒ üœ! ÝÔ USUS., ÔÝ ÝÔ_ ÔÌOUR€MOST€UNRULY€MEMBERÐ œ ì ÐJames€3:1-12Ð ˆ Ø ÐDr.€Jerry€VinesÐ t Ä ÐÌÌÌÌI€really€enjoy€the€book€of€James.€It€is€so€applicable€to€ourÐ ` Ðdaily€life.€It€touches€on€so€many€things€that€are€of€vital€interest€toÐ ü L Ðus€that€it's€as€if€James€sat€down€last€week€and€wrote€his€letter.€It€isÐ è
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Ðso€up€to€date€and€current€and€it€touches€life€where€we€live€in€suchÐ Ô $
Ðpractical€ways.Ð À ÐBefore€I€tell€you€who€our€most€unruly€member€is€would€you€likeÐ ¬ ü
Ðto€just€kind€of€look€around€for€a€moment€and€then€take€a€vote.€OfÐ ˜ è Ðcourse,€you€know€that€I'm€not€talking€about€the€members€of€ourÐ „ Ô
Ðcongregation,€but€rather€I'm€talking€about€the€members€of€our€body.€I'mÐ p À Ðtalking€about€what€James€mentions€in€verse€6€when€he€says,€"So€is€theÐ \ ¬ Ðtongue€among€our€members,€that€it€defileth€the€whole€body."€I'm€talkingÐ H ˜ Ðabout€a€subject€that€is€in€every€body's€mouth€this€morning€--€theÐ 4 „ Ðtongue.Ð p ÐJames€has€a€great€deal€to€say€about€the€tongue.€Back€in€theÐ \ ÐJames€1:19€he€said,€"Let€every€man€be€swift€to€hear,€slow€to€speak."Ð ø H ÐAgain€in€the€26th€verse€of€the€1st€chapter€he€says,€"If€any€man€amongÐ ä 4 Ðyou€seem€to€be€religious€and€bridleth€not€his€tongue,€but€deceiveth€hisÐ Ð Ðown€heart,€this€man's€religion€is€vain."€James€has€a€great€deal€to€sayÐ ¼ Ðabout€the€tongue€because€he€understands€the€tremendous€power€of€theÐ ¨ ø Ðtongue.€The€Bible€says€in€Proverbs€18:21,€"Death€and€life€are€in€theÐ ” ä Ðpower€of€the€tongue."€I€think€before€this€message€is€over€we€willÐ € Ð Ðunderstand€that€indeed€that€is€true.€Living€in€the€world€we€are€livingÐ l ¼ Ðin,€on€this€Jan.€20,€after€the€outbreak€of€war€I€think€all€of€usÐ X ¨ Ð2Ð D!” Ðunderstand€the€tremendously€devastating€possibilities€of€the€humanÐ 0"€ Ðtongue.€Death€and€life€are€in€the€power€of€the€tongue.Ð #l ! ÐIn€the€opening€verse€of€this€chapter€James€gives€a€special€wordÐ $X " Ðof€caution€to€those€who€are€involved€in€the€ministry€of€teaching.€InÐ ô$D # Ðjust€a€little€while€there€will€be€several€hundred€of€you€who€will€beÐ à%0!$ Ðgoing€into€Sunday€School€classrooms€and€you€will€stand€before€the€peopleÐ Ì& "% Ðand€you€will€be€a€teacher.€You€will€use€a€number€of€words.€I€want€toÐ ¸' #& Ðremind€you€that€James€says,€don't€be€overly€anxious€to€be€a€teacherÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbecause€you€are€going€to€face€a€greater€examination€when€you€standÐ )à$( Ðbefore€God.€Those€people€who€are€teachers€are€really€like€surgeons€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€mind€and€heart.€A€word€out€of€place€can€cut€and€hurt€and€do€greatÐ h+¸&* Ðdamage.€I€take€very€seriously€the€responsibility€given€me€to€preach€theÐ T,¤'+ ÐWord€of€God.€I'm€aware€of€the€fact€that€when€I€stand€to€preach€in€thisÐ @-(, Ðpulpit€and€thousands€of€you€are€listening€to€what€I€have€to€say€I€haveÐ ° Ðin€my€power€the€ability€to€do€great€harm€or€the€ability€to€do€greatÐ œ ì Ðdanger.€I€must€be€aware€always€that€I€am€accountable€unto€God.€I€mustÐ ˆ Ø Ðbe€very€careful€that€what€I€say€is€according€to€the€teachings€of€theÐ t Ä ÐBible€and€is€very€pleasing€to€the€indwelling€Holy€Spirit.Ð ` ° ÐThen€James€makes€a€statement€in€verse€2€that€I€think€just€kindÐ L œ Ðof€prefaces€everything€He€has€to€say€about€the€use€of€the€tongue.€HeÐ 8
ˆ Ðsays€in€verse€2€that€the€ability€of€the€believer€to€control€is€a€test€ofÐ $ t Ðthat€believer's€spiritual€maturity.€He€goes€so€far€as€to€say€if€we€doÐ ` Ðnot€offend€in€word€we€are€a€perfect€man.€He€does€not€mean€sinlessness.Ð ü L ÐMost€of€the€time€when€the€word,€perfect,€is€used€in€the€Bible,€itÐ è
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Ðdoesn't€mean€sinless,€but€rather€it€means€mature.€He€is€saying€that€aÐ Ô $
Ðtest€of€spiritual€maturity€is€the€ability€of€a€believer€to€control€hisÐ À Ð3Ð ¬ ü
Ðtongue.€I€think€that's€true.€I€read€that€the€average€person,€in€aÐ ˜ è Ðday's€time,€will€speak€about€30,000€words.€That's€probably€a€prettyÐ „ Ô
Ðgood€average.€Think€about€that.€The€ability€to€control€what€we€say€isÐ p À Ða€pretty€good€indicator€of€our€maturity€in€the€Lord.€Jesus€said€that€weÐ \ ¬ Ðare€to€be€very€careful€about€our€words.€He€said€that€out€of€theÐ H ˜ Ðabundance€of€the€heart€the€mouth€speaketh.€In€other€words,€what€is€inÐ 4 „ Ðyour€heart€will€come€out€in€your€words.€Your€words€will€be€an€indicatorÐ p Ðof€what€is€in€your€heart.€Just€suppose€that€someone,€unbeknowing€toÐ \ Ðyou,€tape€recorded€all€of€the€words€that€you€have€spoken€in€this€week.Ð ø H ÐThan€suppose€they€carefully€edited€those€words€and€had€a€small€tape€ofÐ ä 4 Ðthe€words€you€have€used€this€week.€Would€it€be€alright€with€you€if€weÐ Ð Ðplayed€that€tape€this€morning€of€the€words€you€have€used€this€week?Ð ¼ ÐWould€there€be€anything€in€those€words€that€would€indicate€to€othersÐ ¨ ø Ðthat€you€were€truly€a€born€again€Christian?€Or€would€there€be€anythingÐ ” ä Ðin€those€words€that€would€raise€a€question€whether€or€not€Jesus€ChristÐ € Ð Ðhad€indeed€changed€your€life?€The€night€Simon€Peter€betrayed€our€lovelyÐ l ¼ ÐLord€Jesus€Christ€they€said€to€Simon,€your€speech€betrays€you.€ThatÐ X ¨ Ðmeans€that€he€was€up€in€the€hill€country€and€he€had€that€hillbillyÐ D!” Ðaccent,€that€north€Galilean€accent,€and€they€said€we€can€tell€where€youÐ 0"€ Ðare€from€because€of€your€dialect.€Your€speech€betrays€you.€That€isÐ #l ! Ðcertainly€true€spiritually.€What€we€say€betrays€what€we€really€are€inÐ $X " Ðour€heart.€So,€the€tongue€is€a€good€indicator€of€our€spiritual€health.Ð ô$D # ÐIn€fact€when€you€go€to€the€doctor,€one€of€the€first€things€the€doctorÐ à%0!$ Ðwill€do€when€he€examines€you€is€say:€open€your€mouth€and€stick€out€yourÐ Ì& "% Ðtongue.€The€condition€of€the€tongue€is€a€pretty€good€indicator€of€theÐ ¸' #& Ðcondition€of€the€whole€body.€It€becomes€very€important€this€wholeÐ ¤(ô#' Ð4Ð )à$( Ðmatter€of€the€use€of€our€tongue€and€the€words€that€we€say.€That's€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðtopic€that€James€lays€before€us€in€these€opening€verses€3.Ð h+¸&* ÐI€want€to€make€several€statements€from€lames€about€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðimportance€of€the€tongue.Ð @-(, ÐFirst€of€all,€I€want€to€talk€with€you€about€the€directive€natureÐ ° Ðof€the€tongue.€The€tongue€has€the€ability€to€direct€life.€One€of€theÐ œ ì Ðthings€that€makes€James€so€interesting€is€that€he€has€the€ability€to€useÐ ˆ Ø Ðillustrations.€I€have€found€in€teaching€and€preaching€that€people€mayÐ t Ä Ðnot€remember€a€whole€lot€of€what€you€say€but€they€do€remember€yourÐ ` ° Ðillustrations.€Illustrations€are€windows€that€let€the€light€of€truthÐ L œ Ðin.€Illustrations€are€like€tacks€that€drive€truth€down€and€makes€itÐ 8
ˆ Ðstick€in€the€mind.€So,€James€uses€a€series€of€illustrations.€The€firstÐ $ t Ðtwo€he€uses€illustrate€the€directive€nature€of€the€tongue.€In€verse€3Ð ` Ðhe€says€the€tongue€is€like€a€bit€in€the€horses€mouth.€A€bit€in€theÐ ü L Ðhorses€mouth€is€just€a€few€ounces€of€steel,€yet€that€small€bit,€are€ableÐ è
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Ðto€control€a€half-ton€horse.€In€fact€you€can€see€a€little€child€uponÐ Ô $
Ðtop€of€a€huge€horse.€Yet,€that€little€child€is€able€to€guide€and€directÐ À Ðthat€horse€and€determine€where€that€horse€is€to€go€because€there€is€aÐ ¬ ü
Ðbit€in€the€horses€mouth.€James€says€that's€the€way€the€tongue€is.€TheÐ ˜ è Ðtongue€can€direct€your€whole€life.€Just€one€word€can€direct€life.€HaveÐ „ Ô
Ðyou€ever€thought€of€the€difference€a€word€can€make?€Here€is€a€manÐ p À Ðstanding€before€the€judge€anxiously€awaiting€the€word.€The€judge€looksÐ \ ¬ Ðat€the€man€and€says€"guilty."€That€one€word€changes€the€direction€ofÐ H ˜ Ðthat€man's€life€forever.€Or,€here€is€a€young€lady€on€a€moonlit€night.Ð 4 „ ÐIt€is€romantic,€indeed.€The€young€man€proposes€marriage€to€her€and€sheÐ p Ðsays,€yes.€That€one€little€word,€yes,€changes€her€life€and€theÐ \ Ð5Ð ø H Ðdirection€of€her€life€forever.€We€ought€to€be€very€careful€about€ourÐ ä 4 Ðwords.€Our€words€direct€us€like€a€bit€in€a€horses'€mouth,€it€directsÐ Ð Ðour€whole€life.€We€ought€to€be€very,€very€careful€about€what€we€say.Ð ¼ ÐFor€most€of€us,€when€we€were€babies,€it€took€us€about€two€years€to€learnÐ ¨ ø Ðhow€to€use€our€tongue€and€then€it's€taken€us€about€50€years€to€learn€howÐ ” ä Ðto€keep€our€big€mouth€shut.€It's€a€whole€lot€easier€to€learn€how€to€useÐ € Ð Ðyour€tongue€than€to€learn€when€NOT€to€use€your€tongue.€The€Bible€saysÐ l ¼ Ðthere€is€a€time€to€speak€and€there€is€a€time€to€keep€silence.€So,€weÐ X ¨ Ðmust€be€very€careful€about€the€use€of€the€tongue.€Probably€there€are€aÐ D!” Ðlot€of€us€who€wouldn't€have€gotten€ourselves€in€some€very€bad€situationsÐ 0"€ Ðif€we€had€learned€to€keep€our€mouth€shut.€So,€the€tongue€is€like€a€bitÐ #l ! Ðin€the€horses€mouth.€It€can€direct€your€life.Ð $X " ÐThe€second€illustration€is€in€verse€4.€He€says€here€that€theÐ ô$D # Ðtongue€is€like€a€rudder€of€a€ship.€He€is€saying€that€with€the€rudder€ofÐ à%0!$ Ða€ship€a€helmsman€(a€governor)€with€just€a€touch€of€a€hand€can€directÐ Ì& "% Ðthat€ship.€Here€is€a€ship€that€weighs€tons€and€yet€a€relatively€smallÐ ¸' #& Ðrudder€can€guide€that€ship.€The€rudder€on€a€ship€can€guide€that€ship€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€safety€of€the€shore.€Or,€the€rudder€on€that€ship€can€direct€it€toÐ )à$( Ðdestruction€on€the€banks.€That's€the€way€the€tongue€is.€The€tongue€hasÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€ability€to€direct€a€person's€life.€Think€about€the€tongue€of€aÐ h+¸&* ÐBilly€Graham,€preaching€the€unsearchable€riches€of€Jesus€Christ,€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðglorious€gospel€of€our€Savior.€By€the€use€of€a€tongue€spirit-anointed,Ð @-(, Ða€tongue€of€a€Graham€can€bring€millions€to€faith€in€the€Lord€JesusÐ ° ÐChrist.Ð œ ì ÐThink€about€the€tongue€of€a€Saddam€Hussein.€Think€of€theÐ ˆ Ø Ðdetructive€power€of€his€tongue€to€dimret€a€whale€nation€into€aÐ t Ä Ð6Ð ` ° Ðconflagration€of€destruction.€Death€and€life€indeed€are€in€the€power€ofÐ L œ Ðthe€tongue.€He€says€it€is€just€like€a€rudder€that€determines€life,€thatÐ 8
ˆ Ðdirects€a€person's€life.€The€directive€nature€of€the€tongue.Ð $ t ÐThere€are€two€more€illustrations€after€this€and€we€learn€aboutÐ ` Ðthe€destructive€of€the€tongue.€In€verse€5€he€says€the€tongue€is€like€aÐ ü L Ðburning€fire.€He€says€in€verse€5€that€the€tongue€is€a€little€member€andÐ è
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Ðit€boasts€great€things.€Behold,€how€great€a€matter€a€little€fireÐ Ô $
Ðkindleth.€We€know€that's€true.€Just€a€little€fire€can€start€a€hugeÐ À Ðforest€fire.€Sometimes,€out€in€California,€when€the€winds€begin€to€blowÐ ¬ ü
Ða€careless€match€tossed€and€a€fire€will€begin€to€burn.€Hundreds€andÐ ˜ è Ðhundreds€of€houses€can€be€destroyed.€It€all€starts€with€just€a€littleÐ „ Ô
Ðfire.€Back€in€1871€was€the€famous€Chicago€fire.€As€the€story€goes,Ð p À ÐMrs.€O'Leary's€cow€just€kicked€over€the€lantern€and€it€started€a€fire.Ð \ ¬ ÐBefore€the€fire€was€stopped,€17,500€buildings€in€Chicago€were€destroyed.Ð H ˜ ÐThree€hundred€people€lost€their€lives€in€that€Chicago€fire.€A€hundredÐ 4 „ Ðthousand€people€were€left€homeless€in€that€fire.€All€started€by€aÐ p Ðlittle€lantern€in€a€barn.Ð \ ÐIn€1950€in€Korea€a€pan€of€rice€boiled€over€on€a€charcoal€stove.Ð ø H ÐJust€a€pan€of€rice€and€it€burned€over€and€started€a€fire€and€before€itÐ ä 4 Ðwas€over€within€a€mile€radius€3000€buildings€were€destroyed.€How€greatÐ Ð Ða€matter€a€little€fire€kindleth.€That€is€what€is€saying€about€the€powerÐ ¼ Ðof€the€tongue€to€destroy.€The€destructive€nature€of€the€tongue.Ð ¨ ø ÐVerse€6€-€the€tongue€is€a€fire,€a€world€of€iniquity,€a€world€ofÐ ” ä Ðsin.€Have€you€ever€thought€of€all€of€the€sins€that€can€be€done€with€aÐ € Ð Ðtongue?€Think€about€the€gossiping€tongue.€Think€about€the€damage€thatÐ l ¼ Ða€gossiping€tongue€can€cause.€Think€about€that€criticizing€tongue.Ð X ¨ Ð7Ð D!” ÐThink€what€a€fire€a€criticizing€tongue€can€cause.€Think€about€thatÐ 0"€ Ðhateful€tongue.€Think€of€the€fire€a€hateful€tongue€can€cause€to€burn€inÐ #l ! Ðthe€heart€of€an€individual.€Think€of€that€lying€tongue.€Think€of€howÐ $X " Ðmany€fires€a€lying€tongue€has€started.€A€world€of€iniquity.€He€goes€onÐ ô$D # Ðand€says€"so€is€the€tongue€among€our€members,€it€defiles€the€whole€bodyÐ à%0!$ Ðand€setteth€on€fire€the€course€of€nature."€The€course€of€nature€thereÐ Ì& "% Ðwould€be€the€whaei€of€life.€He€is€saying€that€the€tongue€is€like€anÐ ¸' #& Ðaxel€that€spreads€its€flames€through€the€whole€wheel€of€life.€It€justÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsets€everything€on€fire€that€burns€around€it.€Fire€is€a€good€servant,Ð )à$( Ðbut€it's€a€bad€master.€Fire,€under€control,€can€be€a€good€servant.€YouÐ |*Ì%) Ðcan€warm€a€body€with€fire.€You€can€prepare€a€meal€with€fire.€If€JanetÐ h+¸&* Ðcalls€me€on€the€phone€and€says,€"There's€a€fire€at€our€house."€ThatÐ T,¤'+ Ðcould€be€good,€that€could€be€bad.€If€there's€a€fire€in€our€stoveÐ @-(, Ðthat's€cooking€me€some€homemade€biscuits€--€that's€a€good€fire.€Fire,Ð ° Ðunder€control,€can€be€a€good€servant.€But€if€she€calls€me€and€saysÐ œ ì Ðthere's€a€fire€in€our€attic,€then€that's€bad.€Fire€out€of€control€canÐ ˆ Ø Ðdo€a€great€deal€of€damage.€That's€exactly€the€way€words€can€be€in€aÐ t Ä Ðchurch.€Just€a€careless€word€at€church€--€what€a€fire€it€can€start.Ð ` ° ÐJust€a€thoughtless€word€in€a€congregation€of€people.€Oh,€the€damage€itÐ L œ Ðcan€do.€It's€the€same€way€in€a€family.€Look€at€the€damage€that's€done,Ð 8
ˆ Ðthe€burning€that€has€taken€place€in€families€just€by€hateful,€hastyÐ $ t Ðwords.€I€think€sometimes€about€the€damage€parents€do€their€childrenÐ ` Ðwith€thoughtless€words.€"You€dummy.€Can't€you€get€anything€straight?"Ð ü L ÐYou€tell€a€child€that€long€enough€and€you€just€keep€feeding€that€into€aÐ è
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Ðchild's€computer€and€that€child€will€grow€up€thinking€that.€I€justÐ Ô $
Ðwonder€how€many€fires€have€burned€in€the€hearts€of€individuals€byÐ À Ð8Ð ¬ ü
Ðabusive€parents.€I€was€reading€an€article€in€Newsweek€Magazine€givingÐ ˜ è Ðsome€of€the€background€of€Saddam€Hussein.€One€of€the€things€the€articleÐ „ Ô
Ðsaid€is€that€he€was€brought€up€in€a€little€village€and€he€was€abused€byÐ p À Ða€step-father.€It€has€built€tremendous€anger.€I€think€about€theÐ \ ¬ Ðtremendous€anger€in€the€hearts€of€some€boys€and€girls€and€young€peopleÐ H ˜ Ðbecause€of€the€fiery€words€of€a€thoughtless€parent.Ð 4 „ ÐI€think€about€words€that€have€burned€between€husband€and€wife.Ð p ÐI€have€a€feeling€that€just€about€all€of€us€married€folks€sitting€hereÐ \ Ðhave€some€words€we€wish€we€could€recall.€We€have€some€words€we€wish€seÐ ø H Ðhad€never€said.€Oh,€the€fires€that€have€burned€because€of€thoughtlessÐ ä 4 Ðwords.€It€sets€on€fire€the€wheels€of€nature.€It€is€set€on€fire€ofÐ Ð Ðhell.€Your€tongue€can€become€a€furnace€kindled€by€the€fires€of€hellÐ ¼ Ðitself€that€can€burn€and€wreck€and€ruin€and€damage.€If€we€don't€getÐ ¨ ø Ðthese€tongues€of€ours€under€control€by€the€power€of€Jesus€Christ€theyÐ ” ä Ðcan€do€a€great€deal€of€destruction.€It's€like€a€fire.Ð € Ð ÐHe€uses€another€illustration€to€show€the€destructive€nature€ofÐ l ¼ Ðthe€tongue.€In€verses€7-8€he€says€that€the€tongue€is€like€a€wildÐ X ¨ Ðanimal.€In€verse€7€he€makes€the€statement€that€man€has€been€able€toÐ D!” Ðtame€the€wild€animals.€That's€true.€I€never€cease€to€be€amazed€atÐ 0"€ Ðthese€guys€who€are€able€to€tame€lions€and€tigers.€Gobel€Williams€wouldÐ #l ! Ðopen€that€lion's€mouth€and€stick€his€head€in€the€lion's€mouth.€And€withÐ $X " Ðthat€whip€he€could€get€all€those€tigers€to€stand€up€all€around€the€cage.Ð ô$D # ÐMan€has€been€able€to€tame€tigers€and€lions€and€dolphins.€You€go€to€SeaÐ à%0!$ ÐWorld€and€those€things€are€almost€human.€They€obey€the€signals.€It'sÐ Ì& "% Ðamazing€what€man€can€do€with€animals.€There€is€one€animal€that€man€hasÐ ¸' #& Ðnot€been€able€to€tame€and€it's€den€lies€right€behind€man's€teeth€--€hisÐ ¤(ô#' Ð9Ð )à$( Ðtongue.€Words€can€do€a€lot€of€damage€like€an€animal.Ð |*Ì%) ÐIn€Galatians€5:15€Paul€said€to€those€Galatian€believers,€if€youÐ h+¸&* Ðbite€and€devour€one€another,€will€you€not€all€be€consumed€one€ofÐ T,¤'+ Ðanother.€You€can€just€rip€and€destroy€and€tear€up€and€do€damage€like€aÐ @-(, Ðwild€animal.€You€can€tear€people€asunder€with€your€tongue.€I€know€someÐ ° Ðpeople€who€claim€they€are€saved€who€are€just€like€wild€animals.€TheyÐ œ ì Ðjust€bite.€There€are€some€folks€you€just€don't€want€to€get€around.€YouÐ ˆ Ø Ðknow€every€time€you€get€around€them€they€are€going€to€say€somethingÐ t Ä Ðhateful,€something€smart,€going€to€put€somebody€down.€We€ought€to€askÐ ` ° ÐGod€to€help€us€not€be€so€destructive€with€our€tongues.€In€fact€heÐ L œ Ðpictures€the€tongue,€in€verse€8,€like€a€poisonous€serpent.€The€GreekÐ 8
ˆ Ðwords€used€here€in€the€original€text€are€very€vivid.€It's€the€pictureÐ $ t Ðof€a€restless,€weaving€snake€that€slithers€up€alongside€its€victim,Ð ` Ðhardly€noticed.€Then€just€at€the€appropriate€moment€that€snake€strikesÐ ü L Ðand€deposits€its€venom€and€it€slithers€away€into€the€grass€and€itsÐ è
8
Ðgone.€James€says€that€is€exactly€the€destructive€power€of€the€tongue.Ð Ô $
ÐSome€person€eases€into€the€conversation€and€just€a€word€and€a€reputationÐ À Ðis€ruined.€Just€a€little€word€of€jealousy€and€a€heart€is€damaged€andÐ ¬ ü
Ðlife€is€maimed€and€they€deposit€their€little€poison€and€they€are€gone.Ð ˜ è ÐYou€had€just€as€soon€have€a€cobra€in€the€vestibule€and€a€rattle€snake€inÐ „ Ô
Ðthe€pews€as€to€have€a€tongue€doing€damage.€The€directive€nature€of€theÐ p À Ðtongue€-€it's€like€a€bit€in€the€horses€mouth,€a€rudder€of€a€ship.€TheÐ \ ¬ Ðdestructive€nature€of€the€tongue€-€it's€like€a€fire€set€on€fire€of€hell,Ð H ˜ Ðlike€a€wild€animal€destroying.Ð 4 „ ÐNotice€the€deceptive€nature€of€the€tongue.€He€talks€about€aÐ p Ðfountain€of€water.€You€go€to€the€fountain€and€take€a€drink€and€if€it'sÐ \ Ð10Ð ø H Ðbitter€you€say€it's€a€bitter€fountain.€If€it's€sweet€you€say€it's€aÐ ä 4 Ðsweet€fountain.€James€is€saying€that€there€is€a€consistency€in€nature.Ð Ð ÐHe€is€comparing€the€consistency€of€nature€with€the€inconsistency€of€aÐ ¼ Ðperson€who€says€he€knows€Jesus€as€his€Savior€and€his€language€and€wordsÐ ¨ ø Ðdo€not€indicate€it.€He€says€in€verse€9€-€with€the€tongue€we€bless€GodÐ ” ä Ðand€with€the€tongue€we€curse€man.€There€is€an€inconsistency.€He€isÐ € Ð Ðtalking€about€a€person€who€with€his€tongue€on€Sunday€recites€the€creedÐ l ¼ Ðand€then€on€Monday€he€recites€the€cruelty.€There€is€an€inconsistencyÐ X ¨ Ðwith€the€tongue€that€on€Sunday€sings€the€praises€of€Jesus€and€on€MondayÐ D!” Ðcurses€out€the€crew€of€men€working€for€them.€He€is€saying€there€is€anÐ 0"€ Ðinconsistency€in€a€person€who€on€Sunday€sings,€"Oh,€how€I€love€Jesus."Ð #l ! ÐHe€blesses€God€and€then€on€Monday€he€blasts€his€brother.€That's€anÐ $X " Ðinconsistency.€Just€like€Jesus€said€whatever€is€in€the€heart,€the€mouthÐ ô$D # Ðspeaks.€I€heard€about€a€man€who€lost€his€temper€and€he€said€some€prettyÐ à%0!$ Ðhateful€and€ugly€things€and€after€it€was€all€over€he€apologized.€KnowÐ Ì& "% Ðanybody€like€that?€They€can€just€say€the€ugliest€things€in€the€worldÐ ¸' #& Ðand€then€when€it's€over€they€just€apologize.€Another€man€took€a€glassÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€water€and€put€it€on€the€table€and€slammed€it€on€the€table€and€when€heÐ )à$( Ðdid€water€poured€out€on€the€table.€He€said€to€the€man,€"Sir,€nothingÐ |*Ì%) Ðcomes€out€of€that€glass€that€wasn't€already€in€that€glass€when€it€wasÐ h+¸&* Ðslammed.€Sir,€nothing€comes€out€of€your€mouth€that€wasn't€already€inÐ T,¤'+ Ðyour€heart€and€you€got€under€pressure."€If€you€really€want€to€know€whatÐ @-(, Ðyou€are€--€what€you€are€is€what€you€are€under€pressure.€It's€theÐ ° Ðeasiest€thing€in€the€world€to€talk€sweet€on€Sunday.€The€test€is€how€youÐ œ ì Ðtalk€in€the€morning.€How€you€going€to€react€tomorrow.€Folks€who€haveÐ ˆ Ø Ðproblems€with€their€tongue€basically€have€a€heart€problem.€He€isÐ t Ä Ð11Ð ` ° Ðtalking€here€about€the€deceptive€nature€of€the€tongue.€He€is€saying€inÐ L œ Ðverse€11€-€does€a€fountain€send€forth€at€the€same€place€sweet€water€andÐ 8
ˆ Ðbitter?€He€is€saying€that€if€it€does€there€is€an€inconsistency€there.Ð $ t ÐIn€verse€10€he€says€these€things€ought€not€so€to€be.Ð ` ÐThe€next€illustration€is€in€verse€i2-€where€he€1lkY€about€aÐ ü L Ðtree.€He€says€there€is€a€consistency€in€nature.€An€apple€tree€givesÐ è
8
Ðforth€apples.€An€orange€tree€produces€oranges.€The€fruit€of€the€treeÐ Ô $
Ðis€consistent€with€the€nature€of€the€tree.€If€the€fruit€of€your€life€--Ð À Ðyour€lips€and€your€words€--€are€constantly€bitter€and€corrupt€is€anÐ ¬ ü
Ðindication€that€the€basic€nature€is€unchanged.€We€ought€to€be€carefulÐ ˜ è Ðwhat€we€say.€We€ought€to€ask€God€to€help€us€to€be€careful€what€we€say.Ð „ Ô
ÐJust€like€a€ship€has€a€helmsman€to€guide€that€ship,€you€and€IÐ p À Ðhave€a€helmsman€who€can€guide€our€life€and€guard€our€lip€and€His€name€isÐ \ ¬ Ðthe€Lord€Jesus€Christ.€Though€no€man€can€tame€his€tongue,€God€can€tameÐ H ˜ Ðthe€tongue€of€a€man.€The€Lord€can€help€us€control€these€old€tongues€ofÐ 4 „ Ðours.€Jesus€can€do€it.€We€ought€to€go€to€Jesus€and€say,€"Jesus,€help€myÐ p Ðwords€to€be€sweet€today."€You€ought€to€ask€yourself€a€question€everyÐ \ Ðtime€you€get€ready€to€say€something.€Number€one,€is€it€true?€NumberÐ ø H Ðtwo,€is€it€necessary?€Number€three,€is€it€kind?€No€man€can€tame€theÐ ä 4 Ðtongue,€but€God€can€tame€the€tongue.Ð Ð ÐThough€the€tongue€may€be€set€on€fire€of€hell,€it€can€be€set€onÐ ¼ Ðfire€of€heaven.€On€the€day€of€Pentecost,€the€Bible€says€those€disciplesÐ ¨ ø Ðfilled€with€the€Holy€Spirit,€tongues€like€as€of€fire€set€down€on€eachÐ ” ä Ðone€of€them.€That€day€their€tongues€were€set€on€fire€of€heaven€and€theyÐ € Ð Ðbecame€mighty€witnesses€for€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€and€their€tonguesÐ l ¼ Ðbecame€a€blessing€leading€men€to€Jesus€Christ.€Let's€pray€God€will€setÐ X ¨ Ð12Ð D!” Ðour€tongues€on€fire,€but€not€with€the€fires€of€hell,€but€with€the€firesÐ 0"€ Ðof€heaven.Ð #l ! ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ