James: A Faith That Works (9)
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If your tongue has ever gotten you into trouble… Raise your hand!
— Turn to your neighbor and say: “I’m not surprised!”
We’re not surprised, are we? It happens to all of us!
— We have ALL had the experience of saying something, and then wishing we hadn’t said it!
— “Putting our foot in our mouth!”
There was a man who worked in the produce section of a local grocery store.
One day, a woman came in and asked if she could buy half a head of lettuce…
Well, it had been one of those days, and before he could think, the man replied, “Half a head?! Are you serious?! God grows these in whole heads, and that’s how we sell them!”
The lady responded, “You mean after all these years of shopping here, you won’t sell me half-a-head of lettuce?!”
“Look,” he said, “If you like I’ll ask the manager.”
“Of course.” She responded.
So, the man marched away to find the manager, and when he found him, he said, “You won’t believe this, but there’s a lame-brained idiot of a lady back there who wants to know if she can buy half-a head of lettuce.”
As he was talking, he noticed the manager subtly trying to stop his outburst…
The crazed employee turned around to see the lady standing behind him… unbeknown to him, she had followed him to find the manager.
Without skipping a beat, the employee said, “And… this nice lady was wondering if she could buy the other half!”
Later that day, the manager cornered the young man, and said, “That was the finest example of thinking on your feet i’ve ever seen! Where’d you learn to do that?”
The man replied, “Well… I grew up in Grand Rapids, and if you know anything about Grand Rapids, you know it’s well-known for its great hockey teams and its ugly women...”
“Hey,” the manager interrupted, “My wife’s from Grand Rapids!”
The employee quickly responded, “And which hockey team did your wife play for?”
(LOL!)
Oh… How our tongues get us into trouble!!!
“THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!”
Everyday we speak thousands of words.
That is a lot of opportunity to say the wrong thing…
The words we speak effect the world around us.
What we say… How we say it… matters!
— Words have lasting results!
The words we speak can give life, hope, and love…
Or… they can bring death, division, and destruction.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
There is a story told of a woman from a small indian village, who maliciously gossiped about another lady and her family in the village…
One day she found out that she had been wrong… So, she went to the village’s “wise man” and asked, “How do I take all the wrong that I’ve done?”
The Wise man told her: “Go home and kill your chickens… pluck them… and put them in a bag. On your way back, scatter all the feathers on the road...”
so, the woman did as she was told… When she got back to the wise man, he told her, “Now, go back and pick up all the feathers that you scattered.”
The woman was astonished… “By now the wind has carried the feathers through out the village and beyond!”
The Wise Man responded, “So it is with your careless words… They are like the feathers, scattered in the wind. You cannot retrieve them.”
Let me tell you — Once the Words have left your mouth… It is too late!!!
19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
In other words… Engage your mind before you engage your mouth!
— Don’t let what you say be the result of anger… When we are angry, we say things we know we shouldn’t say…
WATCH YOUR WORDS!
The tongue is a dangerous thing!
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter;
37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
We are looking at “A Faith That Works”…
— Faith That Works is
James 1:27 (NRSV)
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Taming the tongue AND watching our words is VITAL to our walks as Christians!
The tongue holds the power of “Life” and “Death”… over our Faith!
26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
— The tongue can “overrule” an otherwise Godly life.
James tells us that a mature Christian “Has Power over the Tongue.”
2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.
Why is this important?
Why do we need to watch what we say?
Why is controlling our tongue so important?
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
The tongue is a small, but powerful thing!
— It sets the direction of our life...
Words have a tremendous influence and control over our lives.
Let me ask you — Where are you headed in life?
Where will you be ten years from now?
— Look at your conversations… What do you talk about most?
You see… We shape our words, then our words shape us!
What you spend the most time talking about NOW, will determine where — and WHO — you will be in the future.
James says… the tongue is a tiny thing…
Here’s the thing — because it is small… because it is tiny… we think that it is insignificant!
But… it has tremendous power!
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
Your tongue controls the direction of your life, wherever you go… a little bit of a word — or a phrase — can influence the total direction of your life.
WHY?
Because it influences your thoughts!
Your words have power… They have the power to direct your path towards Christ, or away from Him…
And… They have the power to direct people to Jesus or away from Him as well!
Our words can destroy us and others!
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
It only takes a spark to get a fire going.... Think about that…
James says your tongue can destroy like that… You can loose it all… Just like a careless camper can destroy an entire Forest overnight, a Careless Word can DESTROY a life overnight!
Gossip is like FIRE!
— It spreads quickly and it wreaks havoc wherever it goes!
How many people have destroyed their marriage… their career… their reputation… the reputation of another… their church… their friendships… because of a careless word?!?!
The tongue not only has the power to direct your life, but it will destroy what you have if you do not control it!
— Let me tell you — It’s not just verbal!
— (Cell phones) — How easy is it to send a quick text? To respond to that FaceBook meme? without even thinking it through first!
— There is ZERO accountability on the internet… and text!
What we TEXT… how we respond on Social Media… is just as important as the words we speak!
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
2 “How long will you torment me, and break me in pieces with words?
20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied; the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.
GOOD NEWS!!!!!
You GET to live with the consequences of everything you say!
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Words can create a chain reaction.
You can say something that you didn’t mean to have any harm, but … it can have devastating effects That Are Beyond Your Control!
— — You come home from work… you’re tired… grumpy… You yell at your wife… She yells at the oldest kid… The oldest kid yells at the baby sister… Baby sister kicks the dog… The dog bites the cat… The cat scratches the baby… The baby bites the head off the Barbie Doll....
— Wouldn’t it have been a whole lot simpler if dad had just bitten the head off the Barbie himself?!
Chain reaction — the course of hell…
James 3:6 (NRSV)
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
— A couple comes for marriage counselling… “I said this, then she said this, then I said this…” Then what happened? “All hell broke loose!”
Our words can cause “all hell to break loose.”
James says, “You’ve got to learn to manage your mouth!”… not because just because it can direct where you go, but… it can destroy what you have!
23 To watch over mouth and tongue is to keep out of trouble.
29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.
Paul is saying… when we use words to tear people down, rather then building them up, we are grieving the Holy Spirit.
God is not pleased with our words when they ARE NOT building up the Body of Christ!
You need to hear that again:
God is ONLY pleased with words that BUILD UP the Body of Christ.
We need to learn to pray the words of the Psalmist:
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
The Greek Word translated “poison” literally means “snake venom”.
— You can assassinate somebody with your words… You can assassinate their character…
The tongue is a deadly weapon!
8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
No man can tame the tongue…
But… there is One who can…
God is able to tame and control a lying… blaspheming… slanderous… gossiping… backbiting… and destructive tongue!
Just as He is able to deliver the drunkard from his alcoholism… or the gambler from his gambling… or the drug addict from his drugs…
Our God is an awesome God!
He can do anything!
BUT… There has to be a willingness on our part…
We MUST surrender and yield our tongues to the Lord Jesus and to the Holy Spirit!
A Faith That Works, SURRENDERS our will and words to God.
Our WORDS display who we are… and what’s in our hearts.
9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.
— Let me tell you: “The highest use of your mouth is to use it to praise God!” Yet…
— We come to church on Sunday… We sing praises to the Lord… then we walk out, get in our cars, and on the way home, we have an argument about what we’re having for lunch!
Isn’t it amazing how quickly our attitude can change?
— One minute your saying “Praise the Lord!” the next… “Shut up!”
— We quickly go from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde!
How tragic is it that we can be using our tongue to praise God, and ten minutes later be demoralizing our children in the car… or criticizing the pastor… or our spouse… or gossiping about another member of the church… ?
James 3:10 (NRSV)
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.
So, What do we do?
11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
James says, “Consider the source!”
— Whatever is in the well, comes out in the water…
— Whatever is in the tree, comes out in the fruit… (Bell pepper example)
What is the likelihood of an apple tree producing an orange… or cherries?!
My problem is not really my tongue. It’s my heart! (everybody say that)
What’s inside is what comes out!
— My mouth, eventually, betrays what is really on the inside of me.
Have you ever heard this excuse?
Someone says something really mean or hurtful and they say, “I didn’t mean it.”
Let me tell you — “YES, YOU DID!”
You mean it. Quit kidding yourself!
What comes out of the well is what is inside it!
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Jesus explained the Freudian slip… centuries before Freud even existed!
If we are God’s people, then the OUTPUT of our tongues MUST be consistently GODLY and GOOD!
Our words can DESTROY others, but they can also DELIGHT others.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Our words can refresh and encourage someone that is discouraged and ready to give up…
Words can give NEW LIFE to a dinged relationship…
OUR WORDS DO MATTER!!!
Look at your neighbor and say: “Your words DO matter!”
So… What is the solution?
How do we respond to this?
Get a New Heart.
31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Turn to God… and God will help you!
We need to pray like David:
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
2. Ask God for help — daily!
We need supernatural power… that comes only from God!
Remember what James said to do when we lack anything? ASK GOD!
3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
You cannot do it on your own.
Start your day with this prayer: “God, put a muzzle on my mouth. Guard my lips. Don’t let me be critical today. Don’t let me be judgmental. Don’t let me say things “off the cuff” that I’ll regret.”
Ask God for help!
Sidlow Baxter — “The proof that God’s Spirit is in your life is not that you speak in an unknown tongue, but that you control the tongue you do know.”
3. Get into God’s Word.
— You’ve heard the saying, “Garbage in, Garbage out.”
— What goes into your mind, goes into your heart… and what goes into your heart, comes out of your mouth.
Fill your mind and heart with God’s word.
4. Think before you speak.
Engage your mind BEFORE you engage your mouth.
19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Well… That’s all well and good, pastor, but how do we do that?
By following God’s game plan for taming the tongue:
Avoid the improper use of the tongue.
29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
Avoid…
— profanity and vulgar speech.
— complaining and arguing
14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing,
15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.
— gossip and slander
19 By mere words servants are not disciplined, for though they understand, they will not give heed.
So much damage is done in the church when people talk about others… Before you say anything about anyone else, ask yourself: “Why am I about to talk about this person?”
— avoid lying
— negative speech that criticizes and tears people down.
There is a time for correction and constructive criticism… but it must be approached wisely… and with love.
Instead use your tongue for:
— praise, prayer, confession and thanksgiving
— teaching others about God
— encouraging and building each other up
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.
— bless our relationships… learn when to say:
“I love you”
“Thank you”
“I’m sorry, please forgive me.”
“How can I help you?”
“Could you help me with this?”
Our tongue says a lot about us…
What does your tongue say about you?
Let me tell you — God hears it all.
What direction is your tongue leading you?
We need to have Heart Surgury!
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
19 For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.
The “bit” and the “rudder” MUST come under the hand of a strong arm.
James is saying that the only way we can get control of our tongue… is to let Jesus have control of your heart.
What’s in your heart is going to come out of your mouth.
19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.
Maybe we need forgiveness…
Maybe we need to go to our children, or our spouses, and say “I’m sorry.”
We all stumble in many ways — ALL OF US!
Maybe we need to look at the people we love and say “I’m sorry… I’m not as loving to you in my speech as I ought to be. I tend to be apathetic and cold… I talk to you harshly. I boss everybody around. I’m inconsistent and inconsiderate.”
Ezekiel says: “Get rid of all your offenses you’ve committed and get a new heart and a new spirit.”
Let me give you three scriptures to meditate on:
3 Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin.
23 To watch over mouth and tongue is to keep out of trouble.
10 For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit;