Series on James- Taming the tongue

 

Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-8

Maturity begins with the learning and growing in the knowledge and wisdom of God, being like Christ in all parts of our lives (Eph. 4:14-16; 2 Pet. 3:18). James stated in the beginning of his epistle, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT). 

So let’s read the first portion of the text, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”

James knew the needs of believers, and one major one was maturity. Maturity is a must in order to be a teacher of God’s Word. It begins with faith in Jesus Christ. Then James instructed, the church should draw nearer to Christ each day, their lives will become a reflection of Jesus in their lives. As they are tested by the world and it is allowed by God, even when they stumble, and all will stumble, it will refine them to a genuine faith,as Peter concured, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Pet. 1:6-7) 

James knew that teachers of God’s Word would be tried and tested by the world, even more so by God who would hold them in stricter account of the words taught and instruction given to those being discipled. For the words of the teacher should be the words of Jesus spoken to them by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Paul also gave instruction to those who wished to be teachers and leaders, “A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.” (1 Tim. 3:6) And thus the need for training and time to grow in the knowledge, discernment, understanding, and wisdom of God. 

So James concludes this portion with a humbling reminder of our humanness, everyone stumbles in our faith and with words. “We all stumble in many ways.” But it is what they do after they stumble that reflects their maturity in the faith. For no one is perfect except Christ, the Lord. Only he could hold the tongue in check because he only spoke the word that the Father told him to say. “I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” (John 12:49-50)

Application - Oh how hard it is to stand before God and give account of our words, especially as teachers. I’m strictly convicted by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to watch my doctrine, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Tim. 4:16) I love God’s Word, just like King David, “I have treasured Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.” “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” "The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Ps.119:11, 25:5, 19:7 NASB)

I know the importance of staying in total alignment with the Word of God with proper interpretation. For Jesus said in the last days before His coming, many will deceive, and Paul taught that many will teach and be misled by unsound doctrines. “Watch out that no one deceives you.” “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” ( Matt. 24:3; 1 Tim. 4:3)

Oh how I desire that all would listen to and believe in the sound doctrine of the Holy Scriptures. For in the Word of God is eternal life, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (Jn. 17:3; 1 Jn 5:20 NIV)

I have stumbled more times than I can remember but I know that I have a Savior who forgives and restores those who stumble in their words, example Peter on the night of the last supper and hearing the cock crow, but Jesus never left him, but restored him at Sea of Galilee (Jn. 18:15-27; 21:15-17). It is in the Spirit of God that we learn the truth and we also learn humility as well as the love God has for us and His children. He knows our hearts, minds, and our words and thoughts before we even speak or think about them, “You know when I sit down and when I get up. You understand my thoughts from far away. You look over my path and my lying down. You know all my ways very well. Even before I speak a word, O Lord, You know it all. You have closed me in from behind and in front. And You have laid Your hand upon me. All You know is too great for me. It is too much for me to understand.” (Ps. 139:2-6 NLT)

So take courage, we are human and God knows us better that we know ourselves when we stumble. He weighs us on proper scales, and He leads us according to His will and purpose outlined and aligned in His Word. So if you want to teach, be grounded first in Christ, then know the Word of God internally (heart) as well as in the head. Then let the Holy Spirit lead you in the words spoken by Jesus to teach others. “The Holy Spirit is coming. He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak His Own words. He will speak what He hears. He will tell you of things to come. He will honor Me. He will receive what is Mine and will tell it to you.” (Jn. 16:13-14) 

Last, James analyzes the devious power of the tongue. So let’s read the next portion of the text. “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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.  Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

James knew from his own life the power of the tongue to do good or evil. It had to be controlled, for earlier in his life he had said words that he really wished he could have taken back later. “Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” (John 7:3-5)

Now, James has undergone the transformation into being a christian, and not only a christian but now he is the elder overseer in the church in Jerusalem teaching and making disciples. He begins by teaching his disciples the carnal abilities of the tongue. A horse cannot be made to obey without the training and use of a bit and bridle. It will turn to its fleshly nature and do its own will. Only with a bit and bridle used by a train horseman will the horse turn where the rider desires. 

Second, the tongue is compared to a large ship. When the ship encounters strong winds that buffet it, it is the small rutter at the stern of the ship that enables the ship to utilize the strength of the wind and steer in the right direction. 

Third, James speaks of boasting. The tongue being a small muscle in the human body, creates and speaks of great boast that originate from 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.” (Luke 6:45) It is with this boasting that pride and arrogance are derived out of the heart of the person. James knows that he and his disciples are not to boast in anything except in the grace of Christ through the gospel.

Fourth, James likens the tongue to a match or fire. One strike of a single match and the flame can set a whole forest on fire. Not only devastating the forest, but destroying the lives that depend on the forest. And he uses the analogy of the fiery corruption of the body of a person by a free reigning tongue. It could destroy a life or lives and literally lead oneself or others to Hell! “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

Last, James speaks of the animal kingdom’s ability to be trained. They comply with gentleness, consistency, and steadfastness in love. But the tongue isn’t tameable, It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” 

The tongue is only controlled by God’s power, it is the bit and bridle. Since the mouth speaks from what is in the heart, the only control comes from a heart that is controlled by God’s Holy Spirit. In whom He dwells.

Application - I’m not much of a horseman. I have been on horses that knew that I was a novice and they tried to buck me off, rub me against a fence or tree. They even ran by their own will even though I was  pulling back on the reins even to the point of turning their heads upward and sideways. I have since learned a little about knowing the horse, and know not to get on a horse that is not trained and obedient to the bit and bridle. It has taught me how difficult it is to control the tongue that is rebellious. I have also learned the grace of being still and mindfully letting God lead in my thoughts and words, and not my fleshly heart and mind. It makes for a much smoother time. Second, I have learned the value of the rudder on a sailboat. When used properly, I can go forward against the wind by using the rudder, but there are times when you find yourself in a dead spot on a lake, and the boat is sitting still, you still have to man the rudder even though you haven’t moved. Then there are the times of running with the wind, where the speed is exhilarating, much like living and running in the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance. In all of this, it is only possible with the rudder (tongue) under the control of the Master. 

As well I have been a wildfire, it was started by the carelessness of mankind. It was not controllable by extinguishing it with water, it had to be controlled by diverting roads and by burning other areas in order to take away the fuel for it to feed on. So it is with a loose tongue. There was a story of a woman who liked to gossip, she had told stories about someone in church and the gossip destroyed the lives of some in the church. The pastor brought the lady in and asked her to take a bag of feathers outside the church and let the feathers fly into a brisk wind. She did so, then he asked her to go back out and collect all the feathers that she had let loose into the wind. She said it would be impossible. So the pastor told her that the words of gossip she had spoken, can't be taken back either. This is the danger of fiery tongue, for it is an evil spark waiting to start a destructive all consuming fire and poison, “It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

In conclusion, we have all been guilty of a loose rebellious tongue, speaking words that were not from God (stumbling). I’m including words of correction that are from God for those who have stumbled and to ask for forgiveness and getting forgiveness from God. These words come from His Holy Word, for they are for the chastisement, discipline, and healing for our sins and they are from the love of the Father that cares for our needs, and to give us hope and cleanse our hearts, minds, and tongues. And only God can clean the heart, mind, and mouth. David wrote in Psalms 51 and 139 an examination and cure for a loose tongue and slanderous words. “O God, favor me because of Your loving-kindness. Take away my wrong-doing because of the greatness of Your loving-pity. Wash me inside and out from my wrong-doing and make me clean from my sin…Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow… Let the joy of Your saving power return to me. And give me a willing spirit to obey you.” “Look through me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. See if there is any sinful way in me and lead me in the way that lasts forever. (Psalms 51:1-2,7,12; 139:23-24 NLV)

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com