My Big Mouth, Untamable

Have you ever said something you wish you could take back?

God gave us a pause button but we wish we had a reverse button or undo button

from last week, a review...

Quick to Listen

Slow to speak

Heard

Understood

Words are powerful

To us

Over us

About us

Words are not equally weighted

The source isn’t equally weighted

The recovery time isn’t equally weighted

Boss words, Mom Words and Dad words are heavier

I said I’m sorry!

Why aren’t we back to where we were before I said that mean thing?

James 3:2 NLT

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

James 3:3 NIV

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

James 3:4 NIV

Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

picture of ancient merchant ship

James 3:5 NLT

In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

picture of forest fire

James 3:6 NLT

And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

When we hurt others with our words...

We defend our selves...

with more words

I didn’t mean it

I was mad

You scared me

If you start a fire accidently, you are still responsible for the fire that you started

James 3:7 NLT

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,

James 3:8 NLT

but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:9 NLT

Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

James 3:10 NLT

And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

James 3:11 NLT

Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?

James 3:12 NLT

Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

The End

There is no once and for all solution

What do we do?

Remember

Surrender

Confess

Heavenly Father,

remind me to be

quick to listen and

slow to speak.

Don’t repeat

the cycle

Break it!