Open your bibles to James Chapter 3.
As we continue our series from the Book of James entitled Faith That Works.
R. Kent Hughes says “one thing is clear about the book of James—the dominant theme is;
“Faith that is real works practically in one's life. Faith that is true, is a faith that works.” R. Kent Hughes
This is where we came up with the title “FAITH THAT WORKS". Each week we have been examining the relationship between our faith and our works. Last week we learned that faith without works is a dead faith.
God has given us a barometer to measure whether a person's faith is real. James tells us faith that is real Christian does not neglect the poor in the church. Rather it is compassionate and generous. He reminds us that faith is a risk. He uses Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. God had commanded Abraham to sacrifice his most loved and prized possession. His son Isaac. Abraham did is he was told. But he risked his son's life in faith trusting that God would keep his promise. God promised Abraham that Issac would be the first of many. Through Isaac, a great nation would be born. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”
Abraham’s faith in God was so sure that at the base of the mountain he told his servants “the boy and I are going up and WE will return. He didn’t know how but he was coming down with his boy but he knew he was so he did as he was told. That's why James says Abraham’s faith shows us that a person is justified by their works and not by faith alone.
Today James will talk about the power of words. There's no greater power than God's word. And this is part of the reason why I ask you to stand with me if you are able as we open up God’s word.
James 3 verse 1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (James 3:1-12 ESV)
PRAY
After Sheila and I became members of Oasis Church the call to pastoral ministry quickly was affirmed. Pastor Jeff Ludington quickly took me under his wing and gave me two instructions after I agreed to pursue pastoral ministry. The first was to empty everything out that I thought I knew about the Lord. The second was that I was not allowed to teach on a stage until he gave me permission to do so. Pridefully, I thought, as soon as he hears me preach he'll have me up there in no time. It was 3 1/2 years later that Jeff allowed me to have the opportunity to preach my first sermon at Oasis Church. As many of you know it didn't go very well but I would say this. I did have greater respect for God and His word. I can remember as I got on the stage I was excited and terrified at the same time. So much so that I had heart palpitations. To this day I still think that Jeff put me up too soon but I am glad he did. In that 3 1/2 years I learned to I recognize there is a great responsibility in teaching God's word, teaching it correctly and for the right reasons. And James feels the same as he begins in verse 1 by saying.
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1 ESV)
In my time journaling through this section of James, you can be sure I had a lot to confess and pray. Here is what I wrote;
Jesus, There are so many reasons over the years why I wanted to teach Your word. There was a time I wanted to teach out of pride because I wanted to impress. Teaching quickly became an idol for me because I loved the attention. Thank you for the grace to save me from my sin and the grace to redeem me from my narcissism and pride. Jesus, my struggle today in teaching the whole and sometimes hard truth is out of fear. I fear losing people and I fear failure. This is solely a lack of faith in You to grow and keep Your church. Forgive me Lord and increase my faith in You so that I will never deviate from your Holy Word or miss an opportunity to teach your people the truth that contains the power to set them free. Jesus, I pray that you surround me with teachers with these same convictions. Let every brother and sister, young and old will be taught the whole counsel of God. Holy Spirit, help me to be more like Paul who was unashamed of the gospel believing it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Help me to believe what you spoke through Your servant Solomon who said “Open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy!." (Proverbs. 27:5-6). Jesus, fill me and all of our teachers with your Spirit that we may be a true friend to your church, loving them, and teaching them well. I ask these things in the name of Jesus; my loving Teacher. Amen
James teaches here that those who become teachers that they will be judged with the greatest strictness. Though James singles out teachers here the judgment is not limited to leaders in the church. In Matthew 28, Jesus calls every Christian to go and make disciples teaching to observe all he commanded. And this is the responsibility of every follower of Christ. So we must be careful to know Jesus and his word so that we can teach it well. Jesus warns us what we stand before Him and be judged for every word that we have said.
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 ESV)
The warning here is that false teachers who speak lies and deceit will be condemned. But for those who teach God's word faithfully, Jesus will reward them for our faithfulness. But again it's going to take immense trust in God that his word is the truth that sets us free. We need to identify the things that keep us from sharing his word wholeheartedly. Last week we pose the question are we okay with an empty confession without any works attached to it. What would be the motive that will cause us to do that? Fear? Doubt? Unbelief? Lack of faith? What is it? What we teach is vitally important and James knows that everyone, including myself, has had a problem with this.
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. (James 3:2 ESV)
I wonder if at this moment James remembered growing up with his half of the Jesus and all the words that must've come out of his mouth prior to him coming to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Because now he says everyone stumbles in this area. And if anyone doesn't stumble in this area he's a perfect man able to bridle his whole body. That is to say, if a man can control his tongue 100% then he can control everything that he does without sinning which is completely impossible. James gives us a few illustrations to help us understand the great power of the tongue.
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. (James 3:3-4 ESV)
James uses the illustration of a tiny bit in the mouth of a horse and the rudder on a ship to tell us of the great power that the tongue. The horse is an amazingly powerful animal. A 1000-pound horse can run a quarter-mile in 25 seconds. You can pack 500 pounds of cargo on top of that same horse and it will not even flinch. But when you place a 5 inch bit in its mouth. A 100-pound girl who knows what she’s doing can make that horse dance. This is James' point. A rider can control the whole body of the horse with a bit in the mouth. Just as the pilot uses a small rudder to navigate a large ship through the wind and the waves. So it is with the tongue. Our tongues though small have tremendous power. The problem is the person who is in control of the horse and piloting the ship. We are in control of that. Which is dangerous considering we are sinful. The tongue can be a dangerous thing.
[5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. (James 3:5-6 ESV)
The tongue has extreme potential for harm. The tongue has the capability to spread sin, hate, strife, lies, rumors, criticism, flattery, accusations, and gossip. James describes the tongue is like a fire, a world of unrighteousness, staining the whole body, capable of setting on fire the entire course of life. James is saying that the instrument of all this evil is the tongue. It is the instrument but it is not the source.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (James 3:7-12)
No human being can tame the tongue because the source of our problem is not the tongue.
It goes much deeper than that. Jesus said:
How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34 ESV)
The words that come out of our mouths revile the wickedness of our hearts. Jesus said that it is not what you put into your mouth doesn’t defile you. Rather what comes out of a person is what defiles us. He said;
From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. (Mark 7:21-22 ESV)
James is not saying we need a new tongue. Every imperfect word that comes out of our mouth is the fruit of a deeper problem of the heart. But before you lose heart, there is good news. James says in chapter 4:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10 ESV)
When we humbly admit our heart is sinful and we are unable to tame our tongues that is when God will exalt you. Pastor and author David Platt wrote:
“God’s word is the ultimate solution to our word problem. And God always has the final word.” David Platt
It is in God’s word where He promises us a Savior. That promise when Jesus the Son of God came and lived the perfect life we could not live. Jesus died in our place taking every sinful word, thought, and deed to the cross and buried it in the grave. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave having victory over sin and death. We read in 1 John 5
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life (1 John 5:11-16a ESV)
Death does not have the final word for those who have faith in Jesus.
PRAY
