SPEAK LIFE
Salem Sayers DNOW 2022 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 123 viewsSession 2 of Salem Sayers DNOW 2022
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James has explained to us two characteristics of the mature Christian:
he is patient in trouble (James 1)
and he practices the truth (James 2).
In this section, he shares the third characteristic of the mature believer:
he has power over his tongue.
A pastor said of his church who was a notorious gossip. She would “hang on the phone” most of the day, sharing tidbits with any and all who would listen. She came to the pastor one day and said, “Pastor, the Lord has convicted me of my sin of gossip. My tongue is getting me and others into trouble.”
My friend knew she was not sincere because she had gone through that routine before. Guardedly he asked, “Well, what do you plan to do?”“I want to put my tongue on the altar,” she replied with fervor.
Calmly my friend replied, “There isn’t an altar big enough,” and he left her to think it over.
There are a lot of teenagers in our world who gossip all the time and without constraint!
I can’t tell you how much gossip i hear around our youth lounge at the church every week about teachers and fellow students. It’s nonstop.
GOSSIP… has become the accepted sin within much of our culture.
The Christians that James wrote were apparently having serious problems with their tongues.
James had warned them to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).
26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.
12 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
When you read passages like
1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you?
11 Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
you get the impression that this assembly must have had some interesting meetings!
The power of speech is one of the greatest powers God has given us.
With the tongue, man can praise God, pray, preach the Word, and lead the lost to Christ.
What a privilege!
But with that same tongue he can tell lies that could ruin a persons reputation or break a somebody's heart.
The ability to speak words is the ability to influence others and accomplish tremendous tasks; and yet we take this ability for granted.
The tongue is the world’s smallest but largest troublemaker.
1. THE POWER OF THE TONGUE (VV. 1-8)
1. THE POWER OF THE TONGUE (VV. 1-8)
Apparently, everybody in the assembly wanted to teach and be a spiritual leader, for James had to warn them: “Not many of you should act as teachers, my brothers” (James 3:1, NIV).
Perhaps they were impressed with the authority and prestige of the office, and forgot about the tremendous responsibility and accountability!
Those who teach the Word face the stricter judgment.
Teachers must use their tongue to share God’s truth, and it is easy to commit sins of the tongue.
Furthermore, teachers must practice what they teach; otherwise, their teaching is hypocrisy.
Think of the damage that can be done by a teacher who is unprepared, or whose spiritual life is not up to par.
But teachers are not the only ones who are tempted and sin; every Christian must admit that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2, NIV).
And sins of the tongue seem to head the list.
The person who is able to discipline his tongue gives evidence that he can control his whole body. He proves that he is a mature (perfect) man.
Now ,
do you think James is making a mistake by connecting sins of the tongue with sins of the body?
NO!
Because words usually lead to deeds...
Loose lips sink ships is an American English idiom meaning "beware of unguarded talk". The phrase originated on propaganda posters during World War II.[3] The phrase was created by the War Advertising Council[4] and used on posters by the United States Office of War Information.[3]
This type of poster was part of a general campaign of American propaganda during World War II to advise servicemen and other citizens to avoid careless talk that might undermine the war effort.
But loose lips also wreck lives.
A person makes an unguarded statement and suddenly finds himself involved in a fight.
His tongue has forced the rest of his body to defend itself.
Power to Direct: the Bit and Rudder (James 3:1-4)
In selecting the bit and the rudder , James presented two items that are small of themselves, yet exercise great power, just like the tongue.
A small bit enables the rider to control the great horse,
and a small rudder enables the pilot to steer the huge ship.
The tongue is a small member in the body, and yet it has the power to accomplish great things\.
Both the bit and the rudder must overcome contrary forces.
The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse,
and the rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course.
The human tongue also must overcome contrary forces.
We have an old nature that wants to control us and make us sin. There are circumstances around us that would make us say things we ought not to say. Sin on the inside and pressures on the outside are seeking to get control of the tongue.
This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand.
The expert horseman keeps the mighty power of his steed under control, and the experienced pilot courageously steers the ship through the storm.
When Jesus Christ controls the tongue, then we need not fear saying the wrong things—or even saying the right things in a wrong way!
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Warned Solomon.
No wonder David prayed,
3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. 4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with evildoers. Do not let me feast on their delicacies.
When Jesus Christ is the Lord of the heart, then He is Lord of the lips too.
The bit and rudder have the power to direct, which means they affect the lives of others.
The words we speak affect the lives of others.
A judge says “Guilty!” or “Not Guilty!” and those words affect the destiny of the prisoner, his family, and his friends.
The President of the United States speaks a few words and signs some papers and the nation is at war.
Even a simple I LOVE YOU from the lips of a parent can greatly affect the direction of a child’s life.
Never underestimate the guidance you give by the words you speak or do not speak.
Power to Destroy: The Fire and Animal (James 3:5-8)
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: The World’s Smallest but Largest Troublemaker (James 3:1–12)
A fire can begin with just a small spark, but it can grow to destroy a city.
The Ranch Fire, the largest wildfire in California history in terms of acres burned, was caused by a spark or hot metal fragment that came from a hammer driving a metal stake into the ground, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Ranch Fire started in late July 2018 north of the community of Upper Lake and burned 410,203 acres in Colusa, Glenn, Lake and Mendocino counties, CAL FIRE said. The blaze destroyed 280 structures and resulted in one firefighter death and three firefighter injuries.
ANY AND EVERY WORD WE SPEAK HAS THE POWER TO STEER LIVES, TO STEER BODIES, TO CREATE LIFE THREATENING FIRES.
2. THE MESSAGE OF THE TONGUE (VV. 9-12)
2. THE MESSAGE OF THE TONGUE (VV. 9-12)
WITH THE SAME TONGUE, WE ARE PRINE TO BOTH BLESS AND CURSE. WE SIT IN WORSHIP ON SUNDAY MORNINGS PRAISING GOD, BUT THEN WE GET ON INSTAGRAM AND MAKE FUN OF OTHER PEOPLE.
OR WE GET HOME FROM CHURCH AND BEGIN TO TERRORIZE OUR SIBLINGS.
BEFORE WE EVEN GET HOME FROM CHURCH WE BEGIN TO GOSSIP ABOUT SOMEONE.
HOWEVER, IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS WAY. THE MESSAGE OF OUR TONGUE REVEALS THE NATURE OF OUR HEART. IF WE HAVE BEEN SAVED, OUR MESSAGE SHOULD REVEAL THE NEW NATURE TO US THROUGH CHRIST.
WATER...
It’s very important right?
The fountain, of course, provides the cool water that man needs to stay alive.
In Oriental countries, the presence of a freshwater fountain is a great blessing to a village.
Man needs water not only for drinking,
but also for washing,
cooking,
farming,
and a host of other activities so necessary to life.
4 The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
These verses parallel what James has written and speak of the importance of our words.
Water is life-giving,
and our words can give life.
However, if water is not controlled, it brings death and destruction.
Such was the famous Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood of 1889
This occurred on Friday May 31st.
After the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam, located on the south fork of the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The dam ruptured after several days of extremely heavy rainfall, releasing 14.55 million cubic meters of water.[4] With a volumetric flow rate that temporarily equaled the average flow rate of the Mississippi River,[5] the flood killed 2,209 people[6] and accounted for $17 million of damage (about $490 million in 2020 dollars[3]).
99 entire families died, including 396 children
124 women and 198 men were left widowed.
More than 750 victims were never identified and rest in the Plot of the Unknown in Grandview Cemetery
Bodies were found as far away as Cincinnati, and as late as 1911
1,600 homes were destroyed
Four square miles of downtown Johnstown were completely destroyed
The pile of debris at the stone bridge covered 30 acres
The great wave measured 35-40 feet high and hit Johnstown at 40 miles per hour.
The force of the flood swept several locomotives weighing 170,000 pounds as far as 4,800 feet
Our words can bring life… but like this flood and the misery that this water brought so many people, our words can also bring destruction.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Water also cleanses.
There was a laver (a large basin upon an upon a foot or pedestal) in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, provided for the cleansing of the priests’ hands and feet.
Washing your hands in the last two years has been one of the most popular teaching points of our culture because of sickness.
Something that God has provided us with in WATER.
God’s Word is the spiritual water that cleanses us (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26–27).
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.
But our words to others can also help to cleanse and sanctify them.
Our words ought to be like that river described in Ezekiel 47 that brought life to everything it touched.
The tongue is also delightful because it is like a tree.
In Bible lands, trees are vitally important to the economy: they help to hold down the soil; they provide beauty and shade; and they bear fruit.
Our words can help to shelter and encourage a weary traveler, and can help to feed a hungry soul.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
The most important thing about a tree is the root system. The roots of the tree must grow where the most nutrients are. Where is that?
Well it depends on where the tree is.... if there is a deep well beneath the tree, the roots will grow down deep. If there are lots of nutrients on the surface, the roots will grow on the surface.
Something though that I have often heard of a tree root system… beneath the surface can be 2 to 4 times bigger than what you see above the surface.
The ROOTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
The root system of a tree is one of its most important elements, providing several vital functions.
Roots store nutrients for the plant during the winter and
transport water and minerals during the active part of the growing season.
Roots also provide an anchor to the plant, keeping it from toppling during extreme weather conditions.
LISTEN STUDENTS...
If we are rooted in the things of the Lord, then our words will be the fruit of our fellowship with Him.
We will be like that “blessed man” in Psalm 1 and produce fruit in due season.
One reason our Lord was able to say the right words at the right times was because He communed with His Father and heard from heaven each day.
Jesus was at all times in tune with His Father
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.
If you and I are going to have tongues that delight, then we must meet with the Lord each day and learn from Him.
We must get our “spiritual roots” deep into His Word.
We must pray and meditate and permit the Spirit of God to fill our hearts with God’s love and truth.
If the tongue is inconsistent, there is something radically wrong with the heart.
The tongue that blesses the Father, and then turns around and curses men made in God’s image, is in desperate need of spiritual medicine!
How easy it is to sing the hymns during the worship service, then after the service, get into the family car and argue and fight all the way home!
14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.
18 But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
STUDENTS… WE MUST REPENT of the way so many of us use our tongues!
We must fill our hearts with God’s Word.
As we fill our hearts with God’s Word, and yield to the Holy Spirit, He can use us to bring delight to others, and we will be refreshing fountains and trees.
Yes, the smallest but largest troublemaker in all the world is the tongue.
But it does not have to be a troublemaker!
God can use our tongues to direct others into the way of life, and to delight them in the trials of life.
The tongue is a little member, but it has great power.
3. THE WISDOM FOR THE TONGUE (VV. 13-18)
3. THE WISDOM FOR THE TONGUE (VV. 13-18)
Wisdom was an important thing to Jewish people.
They realized that it was not enough to have knowledge; you had to have wisdom to be able to use that knowledge correctly.
All of us know people who are very intelligent, perhaps almost geniuses, and yet who seemingly are unable to carry out the simplest tasks of life. They can run computers but they cannot manage their own lives!
7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)
Knowledge enables us to take things apart, but wisdom enables us to put things together and relate God’s truth to daily life.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)
The true wisdom comes from above, but the false wisdom comes from below. In other words, there is a “heavenly wisdom” that comes from God, and there is a “man-made wisdom” that does not come from God. Whatever does not come from God is destined to fail, no matter how successful it may seem at the time.
V 13. (Wisdom from above leads to good conduct)
Do you think you are wise? Do you think you’re understanding? Show it in your good conduct, which is led by gentleness.
Gentleness is exhibited in several different ways.
Gentleness means that we think of others first.
Gentleness means that we are patient with others.
Gentleness means that we go out of our way not to cause harm.
Gentleness means that we practice self-control with others.
Gentleness means that we are confident in the strength that God has given us and we don’t need to intimidate people to feel strong.
So, good conduct and gentleness is a sign of true wisdom, as well as someone changed by the gospel. Don’t shun it, embrace it!
V. 14-16 (Earthly wisdom is selfish and envious )
Wisdom from above leads to good conduct.
Earthly wisdom is selfish and envious.
V. 17-18 (Wisdom from above produces Godly fruit.)
Well, James is giving us the secret sauce to true wisdom!
It is,
Pure – true wisdom is not tainted by evil. It’s pure.
Peace-loving – true wisdom does not look for trouble but looks for peace.
Gentle – again, it is gentle. It looks to be helpful to others, not harmful.
Compliant – true wisdom does not try to start arguments but tries to be reasonable and compliant.
Full of mercy – true wisdom leads us to be people of mercy; quick to forgive; quick to overlook an offense.
Full of good fruits – true wisdom produces godliness in us.
Unwavering – true wisdom sticks to the truth and the correct way without wavering.
Without pretense – true wisdom does not put on a false front but is genuine and real all of the time.
Most of all, it is guided, both in the beginning and throughout, by peace.
STUDENTS… WHEN YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO IS ALIVE AND FREE...
YOU SPEAK LIFE.
THAT’S WHAT YOU DO....
BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN LIFE.