LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS
JAMES 3:1 12
Last week I spoke to you about the thoughts that come into our minds and how we can hatch snake eggs and weave spider webs if we don't begin to learn to think Scripturally. We have to be very careful about our thought life.
I also printed Philippians 4:8 on the back of the bulletins so that we could put it somewhere that we would see it often, hoping that it would make an impact on our daily lives.
This is how we should train ourselves to think...according to the truth of that passage. But the average Christian just lets his mind wander anywhere it wants to, and that is why it becomes trained in the wrong areas.
Today I want to pick up where I left off last week...because the way we think is so very important because it is going to be evident in how we live. And this morning I want to show you how the heart...or the way we think and what we think...controls that most unruly part of our bodies...the mouth!
READ James 3:1 12
In this passage James is talking about the tongue...but he is very specific in whose tongue he is talking about...„ªand it is that of believers„«. He is issuing a call to the church to gain control of their tongues...before they are destroyed by them.
Now just how serious is this matter of taming the tongue? Is it really all that sinful? Especially when we look at the larger picture of our lives. Many Christians right now are waging intense warfare against a lot of serious situations.
In fact, many are facing the fight of their lives...whether it is relational issues, or a battle with certain habits or lifestyles...or spiritual apathy and dryness...maybe financial difficulties..whatever.
And you may wonder how I could compare a loose tongue to the kind of battle you're engaged in.
But this morning I want to tell you that an untamed tongue is the world's deadliest weapon. It is worse than drug or alcohol abuse... worse than any sin of the flesh...Look at v. 6
This is tough stuff we are dealing with this morning...but the rewards of addressing and dealing with this issue are worth the pain. This morning I want to show you from God's Word just how dangerous and damning and unruly tongue is.
And the first thing is probably one of the most horrible.
A careless, unruly tongue negates everything spiritual in your life! A loose tongue renders all religion absolutely worthless. It can make every spiritual activity totally useless in the eyes of God.
Look at 1:26 (READ)
Now I want to make sure that we are clear in who this is talking about. In the original Greek this verse reads "If any who is religious !"among you"„Ç...again speaking of those in the church.
These aren't drug addicts or unsaved people of the world...they are part of the body of Christ who appear spiritual, holy...people who are active in the work of the Lord. But their tongues are unbridled and out of control.
James is zeroing in on those who seem to be loving and kind and gentle but who move about the church...or on their job...or in their family with acid tongues..always listening to, and telling morsels of gossip.
They think nothing of murmuring and complaining.
But God says that all their religion...all their show of spirituality is in vain. It's valueless...worthless! And what a shame. I know people who have done good, compassionate, caring things for others... people who would almost seem willing to give their lives for others.
And yet it is all in vain because they, at the same, time spew out words that Jesus says will condemn them. But how can that be?
Matthew 12:34 37 (READ)
Here we are looking at Jesus as He was teaching the Pharisees, and we see what He thought about the words of our mouths. And there are few places where Jesus states things any more plain and clear.
And what does He say..."What is in your heart is going to come out of your mouth." It's just that simple. Now, you might cover it up for a while, but just as soon as you get aggravated or you get the opportunity...it is going to come out of your mouth right from the heart!
They say that when a person gets drunk they start to tell on themselves...because they start acting like they really are. They let go. Well Jesus is saying that your mouth is telling what is really in your heart...drunk or sober.
Then in v. 37 He says, "........." Now, if you want to see how true that is, just get arrested. One of the first things the arresting officer will do is read you your rights...and one of those rights is the right to remain silent. Why? Because whatever you say can be used against you. And the same thing is true in the spiritual.
Jesus is presenting a very simple yet profound teaching here...that your words will tell what you are, and either condemn or justify you. You see, your words are an extension of yourself. When you put out words, they are a part of you...right from the heart...and you are responsible for them.
You may say..."Surely God wouldn't discount my spirituality because I said something unloving or unkind." Well, this passage is speaking of Christians who have never tamed their tongues. They are habitual gossips and complainers...ones who will speak against God's people without blinking an eye.
And this is an issue of the heart. Because not only does a careless tongue discount all my spirituality...it also makes me face the indisputable fact that my heart is unclean. There is something smoldering inside me that is right out of the pits of hell.
If I hear sensual, lustful words coming out of my mouth...if I speak any gossip...if I tell a dirty joke...if I run another person down... if I speak unkindly or jealously about someone...if I raise my voice and scream at my family...if name calling pours out of my lips...
...if I utter curse words...if a stream of angry words flow out of my mouth...then I must ask myself: "What unclean, filthy stuff is still treasured up in me that would allow me to talk and act this way?
Careless talk is not just a flaw...it is not just a weakness or a habit we fall into occasionally. You can't say of a fellow Christian, "Oh, sometimes they might say things that would maybe hurt you...but most of the time they are really sweet and kind. And they really do love the Lord. They don't mean to hurt anyone."
NO! James says that all your good works are discounted...but more than that, Jesus says that person has an unclean, evil heart! READ Matthew 12:34 35
Jesus is saying, "If you are careless with your tongue you have a serious heart problem. Your heart is not right with God...and it goes very deep. There is an evil treasure stored up in you...just as a snake has bags of poison stored behind its jaw. If deadly poison is coming out of you...it is because the bag hasn't been drained!
Jesus says to all of us, "Check your heart...find out why you still speak so carelessly and hurtfully. READ James 3:11
There is no way we can continue mouthing off...gossiping, slandering, arguing...and then lay down at night and utter a casual prayer like, "Lord, if I've said anything wrong today forgive me...cover me with the blood."
God wants to get at that evil in your heart...that bag of poison hidden inside you. It doesn't need to be covered...but uncovered and removed. You can't pray to be covered by the blood when you've never truly repented and gotten to the root of the evil.
Look again at James 3:9 10 READ...The Greek word for curse here means "to tear down...to bring one down...to denounce as evil." Many Christians would not curse as we normally think of cursing. But what this verse is talking about goes much deeper than just a cuss word.
So many times we tear down the reputation of fellow Christians...and this is not only hurtful to the person...but also it tears down the body of Christ...and by doing so it opposes the work of God.
And often this doesn't even require a word...we can do the same thing by just making a negative facial expression. It plants negative thoughts in people's minds...and that is every bit as bad as coming right out and saying it. READ Psalm 62:4
These are the people that will take your hand, smile, and say nice things to you, like: "How are you...nice to see you. You're looking so good!"
But as soon as they turn away they mumble to someone else, "What a phony. They look like death warmed over. Did you see how much weight they've gained? They look terrible!"
And no Christian should have this kind of attitude. You can rest assured, there are roots of bitterness and rebellion in that person...there is something desperately wrong in their heart.
But probably the most dangerous person is the one who passes along gossip...who gets involved in conversations that are destructive not edifying...!and yet believes that they meant no harm!„Ç
When you question them about it, they might even get tears in their eyes and say, "I'm not like that. I may have said some things that might have seemed like that...but God knows my heart. I never meant any harm."
This kind of attitude is dangerous. The Bible says that great fires are caused by little sparks. And your little spark can ignite a big fire...even if you don't mean it to get out of hand. You can nonchalantly drop a little tidbit about somebody...and it can end up affecting their character...their spirit...their very nature.
It doesn't matter what your motive was...the damage is done. Your little spark has started a fire and it can rage out of control. It can damage a reputation...it can bring someone shame, disgrace, and sorrow.
And no matter what your motive was in telling it...you are still guilty...you are the fire bug. It was your unruly tongue that started it all.
So how do we get control over this deadly weapon? How does God expect us to bridle or tame our tongue when His Word says no man can do this? Well Jesus gives us the answer...it is found in Matthew 19:26, "..with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
So it is possible to have this unruly member brought under control. And I believe that the prophet Isaiah gives us the example we need for how to do that.
Turn to Isaiah chapter 6. READ v. 1
The first thing we see is that Isaiah drew near to the Lord...and he prayed for a vision of God's holiness.
Anyone who wants to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord must constantly go into His presence until he gets a vision of God's holiness. All healing...all blessings...all victories begin right at the throne of God...and that is where we see Him in His holiness.
The second thing was that once in God's holy presence, Isaiah was deeply convicted of having unclean lips.
READ v.5
Now why did Isaiah cry out about having unclean lips? Well not only does our sin come to the front in the presence of God...but our sin will really sink in...the depths of the things we often pass off will be seen for what they really are...grevious sins in His sight.
The third thing we see is that Isaiah allowed the Lord to touch him and cleanse him with His holy fire.
READ v. 6 7
This is the key!!! Letting the Holy Spirit do the work!
And the Holy Spirit is here this morning to do just that. God wants to put His fire to many of our tongues and sanctify them. Your part is to simply but honestly confess as Isaiah did, "I am a person of unclean lips."
The secret to victory...any victory, is closeness with Jesus...knowing Him...drawing near to His presence will reveal what is in our hearts. The reason many Christians continue to gossip and slander is because they never really have been close to Christ.
This morning I pray that you will let this word go straight to your heart and purge you with its fire. Ask the Lord first of all to forgive you for the wrong, hurtful, destructive things you may have said.
Then ask the Holy Spirit to put such conviction in you that every time you start to say something careless...unthinking...or unkind...that He will make you so sensitive to His voice that He'll stop you...right in mid sentence if need be.
And let there be only blessings that come from your life...from a pure heart and a kind tongue...tamed by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit.
