INTRODUCTION #13
1. Open your bibles to James 3:5-8.
2. James has had much to say about the tongue.
3. In comparison to the other members of our body the tongue is small. It is not near as large as our legs, our feet, our arms, our hands, our head and etc.
4. It is not near as large as these members of our body, but James warns us about an uncontrolled tongue doing tremendous damage.
5. James also emphasizes that the tongue is extremely difficult to tame.
6. In this lesson we will discuss the destructive and uncontrollable nature of the tongue.
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, JAMES 3:5a TEACHES THAT THE TONGUE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS LITTLE, IS DESTRUCTIVE WHEN IT IS USED FOR BOASTING.
1. Let’s read James 3:5a, “5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things”. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”
2. By “boasting” James refers to blowing a lot of things out of proportion. Exaggerating!
(1) An individual may blow things way out of proportion and cause others to think that they are rich, well educated, extremely qualified for a certain job, very religious; when in reality they do not near measure up to their bragging.
(2) This destructive misuse of the tongue is also, often found when gossiping is taking place.
(3) Something is being told about another person and the facts get blown all out of proportion and the reputation of an individual becomes ruined. Such is destructive.
3. Some years ago, Morgan Blake, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, wrote the following satire:
I am more deadly than the screaming shell from the [short barreled pistol] howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to keep me from saying the worst. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip. (Cited in George Sweeting, Faith That Works [Chicago: Moody, 1983], 76–77)
4. Turn to Psalm 57:4. This verse emphasizes how destructive an uncontrolled tongue can be.
In Psalm 57:4, David lamented, “My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword”.
Turn to Psalm 52:2-4. Here, David speaks of evil and boasting men. Let’s read Psalm 52:2-4, “Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue”.
In Job 19:2, Job asked Bildad, his so-called comforter, “How long will you torment me and crush me with words?”
II. SECOND, JAMES 3:5b&6a TEACH THAT THE TONGUE IS DESTRUCTIVE LIKE FIRE.
1. Let’s read the two statements in the latter part of verse five and the first part of verse six. “See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire.”
2. Fire consumes and destroys as it spreads. The tongue does this as well.
3. For an illustration, for every word of Hitler, in his book: Mein Kampf, 125 lives were killed in World War II. Hitler’s word’s inflamed the nation of Germany to kill multiplied millions.
4. The smallest match or spark can grow out of control into a conflagration that destroys thousands of acres of forest, killing countless animals and often destroying human life and property.
5. On October 8, 1871, at about eight-thirty in the evening, a lantern in Mrs. O’Leary’s barn, presumably kicked over by her cow, ignited the great Chicago fire. Before it could be contained, 17,500 buildings were destroyed, 300 people died, and 125,000 others were left homeless.
6. In 1903, a pan of rice boiled over onto a fire, spreading coals across the room and starting a blaze that eventually consumed a square mile of a Korean city, burning some three thousand buildings to the ground.
7. Turn to Proverbs 15:28. The writer of Proverbs points out the destructive nature of the tongue. Proverbs 15:28 declares, “the heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things”.
Turn to Prov. 16:27. Again, the destructive nature of the tongue is emphasized. In Prov. 16:27 we read; that “a worthless man digs up evil, while his words are as a scorching fire”.
Turn to Prov. 26:21. In Proverbs 26:21 we read another statement showing the destructive nature of the tongue. “like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife”.
III. THIRD, JAMES 3:6b TEACHES THAT THE TONGUE IS DESTRUCTIVE DUE TO IT BECOMING “A WORLD OF INIQUITY” WHEN IT IS NOT CONTROLLED!
1. “Iniquity” means “lawlessness.” “Iniquity” is used as a synonym for sin in many bible passages (Isa. 59:1&2 for one example)
2. An out-of-control tongue does not operate under the restraint of God’s law.
3. A tongue not adhering to God’s law can spew out all kinds of evil and hurt.
4. Uncontrolled tongues are constantly spewing out a world full of sinful things such as slander, corrupt speech, lies, profanity, blasphemy, false doctrine, lust, greed, deception, hatred, malice and every evil thing imaginable.
5. Turn to
IV. FOURTH, JAMES 3:6c TEACHES THAT AN UNCONTROLLED TONGUE WILL DEFILE THE WHOLE BODY.
1. Let’s read James 3:6 (the third part), “The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body”.
2. An uncontrolled tongue stains, spots, and dirties the whole person. Once the individual begins to misuse his tongue, his life will usually be filled with all manner of evil practices and corrupt attitudes.
3. A person may be an excellent worker and admired for many reasons, but if we begin to find out that he or she lies and curses and gossips we view their whole person with a whole lot less respect.
4. One foul mouth member of the church out in the community can cause multitudes to have a negative view toward the spiritual body (the church). Ecclesiastes 9:17b states , “one sinner destroyeth much good”!
5. Turn to Mark 7:20-23. Here, Jesus teaches that evil thoughts produce evil words and evil actions. Let’s read Mark 7:20-23: "And he (Jesus) said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts [from evil thoughts come evil words], adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit (sin of the tongue), lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy (sin of the tongue), pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
This passage teaches that we must learn to control our thoughts.
V. FIFTH, JAMES 3:6d TEACHES THAT AN UNCONTROLLED TONGUE “SETS ON FIRE THE COURSE OR WHEEL OF NATURE”.
1. The phrase “the course of nature” refers to the course of the individual’s life as he or she goes through life.
2. The ASV has this translated “and setteth on fire the wheel of nature”. The Greek language provides the picture of a wheel beginning to turn at birth and it continues to revolve through life until death.
3. When one goes through life with an uncontrolled tongue it is as if their whole life is setting on fire all that they come in contact with.
4. Their uncontrolled tongue ignites and inflames everything and everyone that they spew some of the bad language out to.
5. The uncontrolled tongue is like a fire out of control.
VI. SIXTH, JAMES 3:6e (the last phrase) TEACHES THAT THE SPEECH OF AN UNCONTROLLED TONGUE ORIGINATES FROM HELL!
1. Let’s read James 3:6e (the last phrase of verse 6), “and it is set on fire by hell”.
2. The Greek word for “hell” is gehenna. Other passages translate the word “hell fire” and use the word for the place of punishment for the disobedient.
3. Since James says that the tongue is said to be set on fire by hell indicates that the tongue is one of Satan’s tool, fulfilling hell’s purposes to pollute, corrupt, and destroy.
4. The tongue is unbelievably dangerous and destructive.
5. Turn to Psalm 55:21. The Psalmist, using figures of speech to shows the destructive nature of the tongue. “His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords”.
6. Turn to Psalm 59:7. Again, a passage warning against words that would originate from hell. This says, “Behold, they belch forth with their mouth; swords are in their lips”.
7. Turn to Psalm 64:3. Here, is another passage warning against words that would originate from hell! This says, “who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow”.
8. Every mature Christian knows that they must keep their mind filled with the word of God, which originates out of heaven. They must not let their tongue be controlled from the burning pits of hell and Satan.
9. When we use the tongue where it hurts rather than helps, where it discourages instead of lifting up, where it breaks hearts instead of mending them, that tongue is not directed by God but by Satan himself, and has the smell of sulphur about it!
VII. SEVENTH, JAMES 3:7&8a TEACH THAT BEAST, BIRDS, REPTILES AND CREATURES HAVE BEEN TAMED BUT NO MAN HAS TAMED THE TONGUE.
1. Let’s read James 3:7&8a, “7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue.”
2. For centuries, the major attraction of circuses has been the wild animal acts, in which lions, tigers, and other powerful and dangerous animals do tricks at the command of a human trainer. Even snakes are trained. We do know that many of these trained animals occasionally will become uncontrolled and attack their masters. But many live and die and remain in obedience to their masters.
3. Probably all of us have mental pictures in our minds of the amazing things that we have seen dogs, bears, horses, elephants and birds do.
We’ve seen the snake charmer of the East exercise control over his serpent, guiding the snake as he rises slowly from the basket.
We’ve seen different things from the sea: usually while watching T V, in exhibitions around the world where dolphins, small whales, seals, and sea lions have been trained to perform almost every trick imaginable through the proper use of love, discipline, rewards, and patience.
4. However, the tongue, even belonging to those who are faithful to God, is always to be guarded.
5. Turn to Psalm 141:3. Here, David prayed, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
6. Turn to Eph. 4:29. Here, Paul gives a challenge to all Christians to control their tongue. Let’s read Eph. 4:29. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
7. Turn to 1 Cor. 9:27. Paul, the great apostles declares that he had to discipline himself. This should convince every Christian that we must discipline our tongue. Let’s read 1 Cor. 9:27. “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
VIII. EIGHTH, JAMES 3:8b DECLARES THAT THE UNCONTROLLED TONGUE “IS AN UNRULY EVIL”.
1. “Unruly” suggests the idea of a wild animal fighting fiercely against the restraints of captivity. The animal doing everything he can to get out of captivity.
2. Too often we hear on the news of a Pit Bulldog attacking and severely hurting or killing a child. As horrible as that is, the tongue often produces unruly evil that is worse.
3. The tongue is not a leg, a foot, an arm, or a hand. It is only a few ounces of muscle in a body weighing many pounds. But this does not mean that it is weak.
4. Like the little bit for the horse, the little rudder for the ship, like the little fire that eventually burns an entire forest; the tongue can be vicious and extremely unruly in matters that are evil.
5. Turn to Proverbs 18:21. Solomon makes a statement that let’s us know how unruly and evil the tongue can be. Let’s read Proverbs 18:21a, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” Let’s please keep a leash on this unruly and evil member of our body: the tongue.
IX. NINTH, JAMES 3:8c TEACHES THAT “THE TONGUE IS FULL OF DEADLY POISON”.
1. When I read of this comparison, I think of a snake silently slithering through the undergrowth until it strikes, driving its venom deep within its victim, and then crawling swiftly away.
2. In a similar way, some use their tongues! There are some who would never think of turning loose a sack full of snakes here in the auditorium.
3. However, some of those same individuals think nothing of whispering their gossip and slander, destroying reputations within these same four walls!
4. Indeed the tongue can be “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”.
5. Turn to Psalm 140:3. In this passage David spoke of those who spoke against him as compared to deadly snakes. Let’s read Psalm 140:3. “They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips.”
6. Turn to Romans 3:13&14. This passage describes the poisonous tongues of the ungodly as being like serpents. Let’s read Rom. 3:13&14. “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;“ The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
7. There is no sting of a serpent that does so much evil in the world; there is no poison more deadly to the body of a human being than the poison of the tongue is to the happiness of man.
CONCLUSION
1. Turn to Matt. 18:6-9. The warning that this passage gives about the need to control our hands, our feet and our eyes serves to also warn Christians against the improper use of our tongues. This passage doesn’t name our tongue, but it has a warning for our whole body.
2. Let’s read Matt. 18:6-9. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” [Our tongue, also!]
3. If you need to obey the gospel: hearing, believing, repenting, confessing and being baptized or come for prayers, please comes as we stand and sing!
