The Power of Words
The Book of James • Sermon • Submitted
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IntroSpoken Word Video“Sticks and Stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me”Theme of is the issue of the tongue.James’ Common(Key) Themes Importance of WordsJames 1:26-27
ESVIf anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Spoken Word Video
Spoken Word Video
“Sticks and Stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me”
Theme of is the issue of the tongue.
ESVOf his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James’ Common(Key) Themes
Importance of Words
ESVKnow this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Double MindednessJames 1:6-8
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
ESVBut let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1:18
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
ESVDraw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Double Mindedness
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
ESVWith 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.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Our tongue can be useful for righteousness through godly discipline(2-5)There is power in our words much like there is power in the bridle and the rudder. (v.5) Power to hurt or to heal is found in our wordsProv. 18:21
ESVDeath and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
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.
Our tongue can be useful for righteousness through godly discipline(2-5)
There is power in our words much like there is power in the bridle and the rudder. (v.5)
ESVThere is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
James is comparing control of the tongue and affect of the tongue to how a bridle and a rudder help a maintain control in light of outside influences he has already connected the bridle and control in stormy seas with the work of the Lord in the life of a Christian. (1:6; 1:26) Our tongue has enormous capacity for actual harm (v. 6-8)Characteristics of the tongue The Character of the tongueA fire, a world of unrighteousness - is the focal point of the unrighteousness within us our words, our thoughts, and our actions are given life through our words.The influence of the tongueStaining the whole bodyMatt. 15:11 - inner purity, not outward ceremony is of importance. The tongue can defile a person. It can ruin testimonies and cause hurt among our brothers and sisters.
Power to hurt or to heal is found in our words
ESVit is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
The evil force of the tongueThe Cycle of Nature acc. to C.L. Mitton James is referring to the whole course of human life. (rather poetic in nature “time rolling on”) Desires will fail, old age will change many of the things we struggle with, but the tongue will always set on fire the entire course of life.
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
ESVthey are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—
James is comparing control of the tongue and affect of the tongue to how a bridle and a rudder help a maintain control in light of outside influences he has already connected the bridle and control in stormy seas with the work of the Lord in the life of a Christian. (1:6; 1:26)
Our tongue has enormous capacity for actual harm (v. 6-8)
The tongue’s affiliationSet on fire of hell, empowered by the devilGehenna is a symbolic depiction of hell, but also means valley of hinnom. This valley outside of jerusalem was a place where human sacrifices were made to the cannanite god molech. It was a place that God despised. It was also unclean from the human sacrifices and from burning trash and sewage. The imagery that James uses helps us feel the gravity of just how defiling ungodly speech can be. The untamed nature of the tongueOur tongue is a window into the heartSinful speech always leads to double mindedness or to use a more popular term, hypocrisy. Sinful speech poisons a testimonySinful speech always indicate what’s in the heart.
Characteristics of the tongue
ESVThe good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
The Character of the tongue
A fire, a world of unrighteousness - is the focal point of the unrighteousness within us our words, our thoughts, and our actions are given life through our words.
ESVKeep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
EndThe truth of life is that we do what we do because we want what we want. And we want what we want because deep in our heart, our identity drives our desires which drive our actions. If you see your self as anything other than a son or daughter of the most high God, you will inevitably end up falling prey to your words. If your identity is wrapped up in how athletic you are, or how pretty you are, or how talented you are, or how smart within your group, you are basing your identity on things that are going to change, and our reaction is to fight for that identity. We do it all the time with speech in different ways. The gospel changes our heart, it changes our identity and changes our speech. 2 corinthians 5:17
our words, our thoughts, and our actions are given life through our words.
The influence of the tongue
ESVTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Call to actionRepentance and confessionget help
Staining the whole body
- inner purity, not outward ceremony is of importance. The tongue can defile a person. It can ruin testimonies and cause hurt among our brothers and sisters.
it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
The evil force of the tongue
The Cycle of Nature acc. to C.L. Mitton James is referring to the whole course of human life. (rather poetic in nature “time rolling on”)
Desires will fail, old age will change many of the things we struggle with, but the tongue will always set on fire the entire course of life.
they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—
The tongue’s affiliation
Set on fire of hell, empowered by the devil
Words have power
Gehenna is a symbolic depiction of hell, but also means valley of hinnom. This valley outside of jerusalem was a place where human sacrifices were made to the cannanite god molech. It was a place that God despised. It was also unclean from the human sacrifices and from burning trash and sewage. The imagery that James uses helps us feel the gravity of just how defiling ungodly speech can be.
The untamed nature of the tongue
Our tongue is a window into the heart
Sinful speech always leads to double mindedness or to use a more popular term, hypocrisy.
Sinful speech poisons a testimony
Sinful speech always indicate what’s in the heart.
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
End
The truth of life is that we do what we do because we want what we want. And we want what we want because deep in our heart, our identity drives our desires which drive our actions. If you see your self as anything other than a son or daughter of the most high God, you will inevitably end up falling prey to your words. If your identity is wrapped up in how athletic you are, or how pretty you are, or how talented you are, or how smart within your group, you are basing your identity on things that are going to change, and our reaction is to fight for that identity. We do it all the time with speech in different ways.
The gospel changes our heart, it changes our identity and changes our speech.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Call to action
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Repentance and confession
get help