THE DUAL NATURE OF THE TONGUE
JAMES 3:8
1. INTRODUCTION. THE TONGUE IS UNIQUE AND UNLIKE ANY OTHER PART OF THE BODY. IT CAN SPEAK BLESSINGS OR IT CAN SPEAK CURSES. IT CAN LIFT PEOPLE UP OR IT CAN TEAR PEOPLE DOWN. IT CAN MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY OR IT CAN MAKE PEOPLE SAD. IT CAN SET PEOPLE AT EASE OR IT CAN SET THEM ON EDGE. THE JAPANESE PROVERB SAYS THAT THE TONGUE IS BUT THREE INCHES LONG, YET IT CAN KILL A MAN SIX FEET HIGH. YES, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE IS NO OTHER PART OF OUR BODIES QUITE LIKE THE TONGUE. IT CAN SPEAK TREASURE OR IT CAN SPEAK TRASH. HOW MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST DUE TO A SLIP OF THE TONGUE? HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THE MALICIOUS STATEMENT THAT YOU NEVER WILL BE ANYTHING? MY AIM TODAY IS TO SHOW US THE DUAL NATURE OF THE TONGUE.
2. THE TEXT. THIS EPISTLE WAS WRITTEN BY JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS, FROM JERUSALEM, AROUND AD 62. THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER WAS TO ENFORCE THE PRACTICAL DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
a) JAMES IN THIS PORTION OF THE TEXT, FOCUSES ON THE TONGUE.
b) HE LIKENS THE TONGUE TO A FIRE.
c) AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ALL OF US CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THE TONGUE HAS SCORCHED AND TORCHED MANY.
d) THE TONGUE HAS DONE MORE TO HARM PEOPLE THAN HIV AND CANCER.
e) THE TONGUE HAS RUINED THE REPUTATIONS OF MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE.
f) JAMES SAYS THAT THE TONGUE IS AN UNRULY EVIL THAT NO MAN CAN TAME.
g) BUT I STOPPED TO TELL YOU THAT ALTHOUGH MAN CANNOT TAME THE TONGUE, GOD CAN.
3. AS CHRISTIANS. WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF THE WORDS THAT COME OUT OF OUR MOUTHS. WHY? BECAUSE WORDS CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE. OUR WORDS CAN HAVE A LASTING EFFECT ON OTHERS, WHETHER THEY ARE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
a) THE OLD CHILDHOOD RHYME, “STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES, BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HARM ME,” IS AT BEST, MISLEADING, BECAUSE WORDS CAN HURT.
b) EPH. 4:29 TEACHES, “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.”
c) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IF WE ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES, ALL OF US HAVE BEEN GUILTY, AND MAY STILL BE GUILTY OF SAYING SOME THINGS THAT WERE DAMAGING TO OTHERS.
d) GOD IS NOT PLEASED WHEN WE SLANDER OTHERS, GOSSIP, BACKBITE. ILLUSTRATION ABOUT GOSSIP.
e) I MUST ADMIT THAT AS I PREPARED THIS MESSAGE, I HAD TO CHECK MYSELF, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I HAVE SAID SOME THINGS…
f) THE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF OUR MOUTHS ARE THE FRUITS OF WHATS IN OUR HEARTS. MATT. 12:34 TEACHES, “OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH.”
g) AN EVIL HEART WILL PRODUCE EVIL SPEECH, COME HERE MR. PRESIDENT.
h) A LOVING HEART WILL PRODUCE LOVING SPEECH.
i) A LITTLE SPARK OF THE TONGUE CAN CAUSE A FIRE THAT MAY TAKE YEARS TO PUT OUT.
j) THIS THIRD CHAPTER TALKS ABOUT HOW WE CAN TAME ANIMALS, AND CONTROL SHIPS, BUT WE CANNOT TAME THE TONGUE.
k) DON’T YOU JUST HATE BEING AROUND SOMEONE WHO IS NEGATIVE ALL THE TIME? AND COMPLAINS ALL THE TIME?
4. BUT GOD, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST, CAN…
a) PERFORM SPIRITUAL HEART SURGERY THAT WILL CHANGE WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE.
b) TURN WORDS THAT ARE HURTFUL TO OTHERS INTO WORDS THAT ARE HELPFUL TO OTHERS.
c) STOP ONE FROM LYING ON OTHERS TO LIFTING UP OTHERS.
d) CHANGE ONE FROM BEING JUDGMENTAL OF OTHERS INTO A PERSON WHO WILL CONSTRUCTIVELY ASSIST OTHERS.
e) OUR CONFESSION OUGHT TO BE LIKE DAVID, “CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME.”
f) VERSE 10 TEACHES THAT OUT THE SAME MOUTH COMES BLESSINGS AND CURSING, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE SO.
• SO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, LET US USE OUR TONGUES TO…
• PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME
• SING THE SONGS OF ZION
• EDIFY THE BODY OF CHRIST
• SPEAK A WORD TO THE LOST
• COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE HURTING
• TESTIFY OF HIS GOODNESS AND HIS MERCY
• BE A LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD
• BRAG ON THE BLOOD OF JESUS
• TELL SOMEBODY THAT IT WAS THE BLOOD THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE AT CALVARY
