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…When you were younger, did you ever go into a field or woods to catch
snakes? As a boy, I would go to a rock pile during my summer vacation and
catch all kinds of snakes. Some were slippery and hard to get a hold of…
…Perhaps you never thought about it as such, but your tongue is like a
snake. It seems to have the same shape, it is slippery, and it can spit
all kinds of deadly poison. It can even kill. Killing without knives!
…God’s wonderful Word has much to say about our tongues and their usage. We
are only ever to use them in a way that honors the Lord, and builds up
those who hear us. All the other usages of our tongues are evil and
sinful. If you are a Christian, God demands that you control your tongue. He
will judge you for every word you say.
THREE BIBLICAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE TONGUE PROMPTING YOU
TO USE IT ONLY FOR GOD’S GLORY.
…For the misuse of the tongue is perhaps the easiest way for us to
sin!!!!
I.
Your Tongue,
Though Very Small, Has Great Power. (James 3:3-5a)
A. James
gives us examples illustrating the power of the tongue.
1.
Horses are controlled by the small bits
in their mouths. (v. 3) A prancing war horse… high-spirited, yet is
controlled by the small bit.
2.
Great ships at sea are guided by little
rudders. (v. 4) This is the largest man-made object that people might attempt
to steer. Great size, with strong winds, yet the small rudder steers the
ship.
B. James
gives us the application in verse 5. Your tongue, though a small member of
your body exercises a power far out of proportion to its size. It
typically weighs only 1 pound in the average adult, yet to a large extent, we
are known by the way we talk. People will like us or not, that is our
whole being, largely by what our tongues say.
II.
Your Tongue Has
The Ability To Do Great Damage To Others. (James 5b-12)
A. James
tells that our tongues are like fire because both can cause great destruction.
1.
The tongue destroys through hateful,
false, or careless words. It has, “the power of life or death.”
2.
The tongue does not operate independently
from the rest of you, rather, it is the tattle-tale on your mind. If
you have lust, envy, hate, and anger in your heart toward others, your
tongue will express it. Your tongue reveals the sinfulness in your
mind.
3.
James tells us that the source of the
tongue’s evil is Satan himself. (v. 6) Hell’s purpose is to corrupt,
pollute, and to destroy.
B. Your
tongue may harm others, because man is not able by himself to tame it.
(vv7-8)
1.
Even though man is able to control even
wild animals, he cannot control his tongue.
…by nature, the human tongue is wild and
undisciplined.
2.
“tamed” here means to subdue…does
not mean domesticate. (Zoos…)
3.
If man’s tongue is to be controlled, God,
through the Holy Spirit must do it. A transformed life
(salvation) will produce transformed behavior…new speech.
C. Your
tongue may do damage by being inconsistent. (vv9-12)
1.
James tells us that our tongue’s
inconsistency is contrary to nature and indicates that something is
wrong with the heart. To bless God and curse man is grossly
evil ( 9-10 )
2.
For there is no duplicity in God’s creation. (vv 11-12)
III.
Your Tongue Is Not To Be Used To Express Corrupting Words. (Eph
4:29-30)
A. Paul
uses the word, “unwholesome,” which in the Greek is the word for rotten.
It is the idea of corruption, like a piece of fruit that is over
ripened…rotten.
B. Some
examples of rotten words include: filthy, obscene, and slanderous
words. Do not use your tongue in this way. Dirty stories, profanity, and
crude jokes should not come from your mouth.
…Remember, all of this is really a heart issue at its root. New
heart…new tongue. Psalm 19:14…
C. Your
words should always be constructive, helpful and gracious. Your words
should build up all who hear you. As you depend upon the Holy Spirit,
and strive daily for a clean heart, God will give you victory in this vital
area. Not to do this, is to “grieve the Holy Spirit.” (v. 30)
Lessons for our lives:
1.
Perhaps your words reveal that your heart is evil, still unchanged...you need
to be saved!
2.
Remember your tongue is the tattle tail on your heart.
3. Never
underestimate the power of your words.
4.
Perhaps you must pray daily. Psalm 19:14
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