James - Part 9 "The Power of the Tongue"
James 3:1-12 NIV
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.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 mankindbut no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
The tongue is small but powerful, so be careful how you use it!
1. The tongue is small, but it can control the direction of our lives. (James 3:1-5; 1:26)
2. The tongue is small, but it can do a great deal of damage.
(James 3:6-8)
3. The tongue is small, but hard to tame.
(James 3:7)
4. The tongue is small, but it reveals what is really going on in our hearts.
(James 3:9-12)
What do we do with the pain of hurtful words?
James 1:26 NIV
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Galatians 3:16-23 NIV
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
What will you DO with what you HEARD today?
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Galatians 3:9-12 NIV
So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”
