OBEDIENCE AND THE TONGUE
Pastor Dawn Marie Berry, SW Washington
JAMES 3:2-13 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
[LIVING] IF ANYONE CAN CONTROL HIS TONGUE, IT PROVES THAT HE HAS PERFECT CONTROL OVER HIMSELF IN EVERY OTHER WAY.
WE CAN MAKE A LARGE HORSE TURN AROUND AND GO WHEREVER WE WANT BY MEANS OF A SMALL BIT IN HIS MOUTH.
AND A TINY RUDDER MAKES A HUGE SHIP TURN WHERE EVER THE PILOT WANTS IT TO GO, EVEN THOUGH THE WINDS ARE STRONG.
SO ALSO THE TONGUE IS A SMALL THING, BUT WHAT ENORMOUS DAMAGE IT CAN DO. A GREAT FOREST CAN BE SET ON FIRE BY ONE TINY SPARK. AND THE TONGUE IS A FLAME OF FIRE. IT IS FULL OF WICKEDNESS AND POISONS EVERY PART OF THE BODY. AND THE TONGUE IS SET ON FIRE BY HELL ITSELF, AND CAN TURN OUR WHOLE LIVES INTO A BLAZING FLAME OF DESTRUCTION AND DISASTER.
MEN HAVE TRAINED OR CAN TRAIN, EVERY KIND OF ANIMAL OR BIRD THAT LIVES AND EVERY KIND OF REPTILE AND FISH,
BUT NO HUMAN BEING CAN TAME THE TONGUE. IT IS ALWAYS READY TO POUR OUT IT DEADLY POISON.
SOMETIMES IT PRAISES OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, AND SOMETIMES IT BREAKS OUT INTO CURSES AGAINST MEN WHO MADE LIKE GOD.
AND SO BLESSING AND CURSING COME POURING OUT OF THE SAME MOUTH. DEAR BROTHERS, SURELY THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
DOES A SPRING OF WATER BUBBLE OUT FIRST WITH FRESH WATER AND THEN WITH BITTER WATER?
CAN YOU PICK OLIVES FROM A FIG TREE? OR FIGS FROM A GRAPE VINE? NO, AND YOU CAN’T DRAW FRESH WATER FROM A SALTY POOL.
IF YOU ARE WISE, LIVE A LIFE OF STEADY GOODNESS, SO THAT ONLY GOOD DEEDS WILL POUR FORTH. AND IF YOU DON’T BRAG ABOUT THEM, THEN YOU WILL BE TRULY WISE.
ONE THING IN THESE VERSES MARKS US AS A MATURE CHRISTIAN. OFFENDING NOT IN WORDS/ BEING CONTROLLED IN OUR TONGUES.
HOW LARGE A FIRE OUR TONGUE CAN START.
HOW MUCH DAMAGE A FEW WORDS OF GOSSIP CAN DO.
WITH OUR TONGUE WE BLESS GOD AND SPEAK EVIL AGAINST PEOPLE. OR JUST THE OPPOSITE. WE MAY BE BLESSING PEOPLE AND SPEAKING EVIL OF GOD.....BOTH ARE WRONG.
"NO MAN CAN TAME THE TONGUE": SO WHAT CAN WE DO......WE CAN YIELD OUR TONGUES TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE CAN TAME OUR TONGUES!
BIBLE SPEAKS OF VARIOUS SINS OF THE TONGUE, FOR EXAMPLE:
PROVERBS 6:16-19 These six things Doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviates wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that South discord among brethren.
LYING TONGUE,
FALSE WITNESS,
SPEAKING LIES,
SOWS DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN.
PROVERBS 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. [LIVING] A GOSSIP GOES AROUND SPREADING RUMORS, WHILE A TRUSTWORTHY MAN TRIES TO QUIET THEM
PROVERBS 15:1-2 1: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
[LIVING] A GENTLE ANSWER TURNS AWAY WRATH, BUT HARSH WORDS CAUSE QUARRELS.
PROVERBS 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
[LIVING] LOVE FORGETS MISTAKES, NAGGING ABOUT THEM PARTS THE BEST OF FRIENDS.
PROVERBS 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
[LIVING] DON’T PRAISE YOURSELF, LET OTHERS DO IT.
WHAT ABOUT PROFANITY, OBSCENE LANGUAGE, OFF-COLORED JOKES....
EPHESIANS 4:29-30 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
[LIVING] DON’T USE BAD LANGUAGE. SAY ONLY WHAT IS GOOD AND HELPFUL TO THOSE YOU ARE TALKING TOO, AND WHAT WILL GIVE THEM A BLESSING.
DON’T CAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT SORROW BY THE WAY YOU LIVE. REMEMBER, HE IS THE ONE WHO MARKS YOU PRESENT ON THAT DAY WHEN SALVATION FROM SIN WILL BE COMPLETE.
STOP BEING MEAN, BAD-TEMPERED AND ANGRY. QUARRELING, HARSH WORDS, AND DISLIKE OF OTHERS SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE IN YOUR LIVES.
INSTEAD, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS GOD HAS FORGIVEN YOU BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO CHRIST.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR THE BELIEVER WHO WANTS TO BE OBEDIENT WITH HIS/HER TONGUE, WITH THEIR WORDS?
FOLLOW THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, OBEY HIS LEADING!
LET UR WORDS MINISTER GRACE, COMPASSION TO THE HEARER.
Pastor Dawn Marie Berry,
Longview Foursquare
