Living the Christian Life
The Worst Part of Us – The Tongue
James 3:1-18
As I look back over the past 31 years, I focus on my mistakes in life. Mistakes in relationships present and past. Almost all of the time, mistakes that I have made have been caused by one thing – something that I had said. Notice, nothing that I had done, but something that I had said. It may have been something off color at the wrong time. It may have been a hurtful word. It may have been something well intentioned, yet taken wrongly. The tongue is a dangerous weapon, when not controlled by God! Tonight, we look at why the tongue is a weapon and how we can control our tongue and be a witness, not a distractor from the word of God.
TEXT
I. The tongue is the toughest part of the body to control!
a. Comparisons are made to controlling a horse
b. Comparisons are made to controlling a ship.
i. All of these things can be controlled by man and the work of devises.
c. However, the tongue is nothing but a fire kindler.
i. World of iniquity
ii. Defileth the whole body
iii. Set on fire from hell
iv. Full of evil and filled with poison
II. Blessing and Cursing?
a. Have I done this before? Let’s get personal. Have I said praise God and said a by-word out of my mouth? Regrettably so – I have. Have I been forgiven, yes I have. If I hadn’t been, I couldn’t get up here tonight and talk to you on this subject.
b. Friends, it is so crucial that we watch what we say. Our words is an active witness of whether we possess God or not.
c. Words of the mouth proceed out of what is based in the heart. Remember these passages:
Psalm 119:33-34
Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 24:4-5
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of His salvation.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me!
Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
What is the abundance of your heart tonight? Is it strife, contention, anger, malice, wrath?
With such things in your heart, God can not use you.
Are things of the world in your mind and on your heart? God can not use you.
James 3:16
For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work.
There is a hope, however for each one of us.
III. God is a great God!
a. God’s word, instilled in our hearts can provide the following:
i. Purity
ii. Peace
iii. Gentleness
iv. Mercy
v. Fruitfulness
vi. Impartiality
vii. Authenticity
b. When we have God’s word engrained in us, it makes the control of the tongue issue, a non-issue.
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
It makes all the difference in the world – Authentic Christians can be found through those who are authentic in their language.
Have you failed in this area? I have!
You can be forgiven and have a new start tonight – a new look, a new sound, filled with the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.
