Perhaps some are assuming the reason I am preaching on this subject is because some members in the church are mis-using their tongue in the church.
But if you think this you are absolutely wrong!!!
God as my witness as I stand in this pulpit before you and the God I love and serve…I AM PREACHING THIS SERMON AS A CAUTIONARY SERMON.
Why?
Because Christian need to be aware of the GOOD WAY and the BAD WAY the tongue can be used.
Illus: I came across a statistic that shocked me recently.
I read that the average person speaks 11,000,000 (Million) words a year.
Imagine 11,000,000 (Million) words a year.
• This is easier to believe about some people than others.
• In fact I know some people that probably speak 11,000,000 words in a month.
Do you know how many words that is in a lifetime?
At the age of 65 it is 715,000,000 (Million) words.
Imagine the magnitude of that many words!!!
And God’s Word tells us we are going to give an account for every idle word we speak.
Look at Matthew 12:35-36 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Does that mean we are going to give account for every common word that we use each day?
No!!!
Let me explain…
Look at the word “IDLE”.
We use the word IDLE in two ways…
(1)We use that word IDLE as a lazy person in how they spend their idle time in their life.
Humor: Someone said this about a lazy person…there's no need to be angry at lazy people they didn't do anything!
We use the word IDLE in reference to how a person spend their IDLE TIME.
But here in the scripture we are not talking about idle time
(2)In this verse of scripture idle is referring to our words.
The word idle here literally means words that are thoughtless, useless word, that accomplishes no good, injurious words, false and malicious words that God keeps record and will judge us at the judgments.
For example in Jude 1:15 we read, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Words matter to God. He keeps a record of our IDLE words.
Jesus said, "I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every (injurious, harsh idle) word they spoken."
Can you imagine how embarrass lost sinners will be as they stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment and will give account for…
• All their cursing
• All their gossiping
• All their lying
• All their insults
• All their bickering
• All their boasting
• All their dirty jokes
• All their taking God’s name in vain
Can you imagine how they will feel on the judgment day!!!
Illus: I imagine they will be ashame as that crowd that screamed out “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
Every lost sinner who has mis-used their tongue to hurt others are going to give account for every idle word
Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
But on the other hand can you imagine how Christians will feel as they stand before the Lord at the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST THAT HAVE USED THEIR TONGUE SPEAKING MILLIONS OF GOOD WORDS…
• To encourage someone
• Taught Sunday school
• To preach God’s Word
• To invite someone to church
• To open their mouth and sing praise unto Him in the Lord’s house.
They will feel good at the Judgment Seat of Christ.!!!
Jesus spoke plainly about our use of words. He tells us, "for every idle word".
Why does God care about words?
We assume that the sins of our tongue are minor sins, sins that God will overlook.
Jesus was fully aware of the devastating nature of our words.
Words are incredibly powerful…
• They can build up,
• They can tear down,
• They can encourage,
• They can discourage
• They can motivate.
• They can destroy a person good reputation
• They can speak falsehoods.
• They can cause horrible scars.
Illus: Remember the saying many of us used as kids, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."
This isn't true!!!
Some of us are living with the scars of the hurtful words of others.
Illus: We all have been scarred by these harsh words. We have forgiven those who cause these scars but these scars will stay with us as long as we live.
• Someone said, “A tongue was intended to be a divine organ, but Satan often plays upon it.”
• Someone else said, “A sharp tongue and a dull mind are usually found in the same head."
We all will be judge for the MIS-USE OF THE TONGUE. (Christians and Sinners)
Our words reveal two things about us…
(1) Our Words reveal our heart condition spiritually.
The problem of the tongue is that it is connected to the heart! The Bible teaches out of the “overflow of the heart does the mouth speak.”
Our tongues reveal a heart condition.
Illus: Have you ever been to a doctor and he told you to stick your tongue out. Why? Because the tongue can tell him things within us immediately our condition.
During a physical examination a healthy tongue has a warm, pinkish color and anything different might indicate an underlying health condition.
Illus: Have you ever seen them advertise on television this gadget you can purchase that looks like a credit card and if you put both of your thumbs on it…it will reveal the heart condition of your heart.
I am not a doctor but I suppose:
• As long as you have these little mountains symbols pop up you are alright.
• If it makes straight horizontal line you have a serious problem.
Our tongue reveals spiritually our heart condition.
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.
Notice the scripture tells us…for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
For example if a person has…
• Hate in their heart that hate will come out in words of hate.
• Jealousy in their heart that jealousy will come out in words of jealousy.
• Evil in their heart that evil will come out in words of evil.
• Filth in their heart that filth will come out in words of filth.
• Doubt in their heart that doubt will come out in words of doubt.
Illus: Do you know why Hollywood produce movies with filthy words in their movies. It is because this is what is in their heart…FILTH!!!!
If there was any decency in their heart they would not make such movies.
The Bible is filled with people who used words to express themselves.
• With the tongue after Adam sinned and he said, “I am naked”
• With the tongue — Noah said, “It’s going to rain”
• With the tongue — Moses said, “Let my people go”
• With the tongue — Joshua said, “We can possess the land”
• With the tongue — David sent for Bathsheba With the tongue
• Isaiah said, “Woe is me” With the tongue
• Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do
What are you saying with your tongue?
Our words reveal what is within our heart.
Our Words not only express what is in our heart but also our words express…
(2) OUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
Look at James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Notice the word “Perfect” in this verse
In verse 2 James zeroes in on the tongue, saying, “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.”
Perfect does not mean sinless perfection, but rather, mature spiritually.
We can never achieve sinless perfection in this life, but we can grow in spiritual maturity.
Illus: The Bible tells us in the Old Testament JOB was a PERFECT and upright man.
That means Job was a MATURE MAN.
James is saying that those:
• Those who can bridle their tongue are a MATURE CHRISTIAN.
• Those who cannot bridle their tongue they are IMMATURE.
Illus: For example, a good pastor went to a church that struggled for years with immature Christians.
The church was cursed with members that wouldn’t do anything but run their mouths.
He was only there a couple of weeks before some immature Christians began some gossip about him.
A rumor was spread that the preacher had taken his wife to a concert after prayer meeting. As they were sitting on the front row, they got into a heated argument, and he bawled her out. Then he angrily marched her down the aisle almost dragging her against her will during the concert.
However, it happened that this seasoned pastor knew how to handle gossips.
• He decided that if they could dish it out, they had better be prepared to take it.
• He decided the best way to fight fire is with fire.
After a few weeks he got up and announced, "The story is not true about my wife and I at the concert. I would like to give you four reasons why it couldn't possibly be true.
• First, I wouldn’t take her to a concert after prayer meeting!
• Second, I wouldn’t argue with her in public.
• Third, I wouldn’t create such a scene by marching her down the aisle while the concert was still in progress.
• Fourth, I’M NOT MARRIED! "
Sometime the best way to put out a fire out is with fire itself.
This gave them something to talk about even though it was not true that him and his wife was not married.
The MISUSE of the tongue comes from two kinds of people in the church according to James.
(1)THE IMMATURE CHRISTIANS
We have a lot of IMMATURE Christians in God’s church today.
Did you know you can talk to a person in a few minutes and it doesn’t take long to get a feel for a person through the way they talk, the tone they use their words if they are mature or an immature Christian.
The tongue is the key to our maturity as a Christian.
But sometime the misuse of the tongue is not from a IMMATURE CHRISTIAN but according to James it from…
(2) A HYPOCRITE
WHAT IS A HYPCRITE?
It is a person who pretends to be a Christian.
Illus: All Actors and Actresses do not live in HOLLYWOOD!!!
In fact you will find in the church today SOME OSCAR WINNERS in God’s church!!!
James saw this as a major problem in the New Testament church.
HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE THESE HYPOCRITES?
Look at James 1:26. He says, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
Let take this little verse apart and let me show you three things James is saying in this verse.
(1)How do you recognize these hypocrites?
He says it is a person that “bridleth not his tongue”.
(2)But notice something else James says about these hypocrites that are pretending to be Chrstians.
Notice, James speaks of those who mis-use the tongue they are such good actors “…but deceiveth his own heart…”
Now that is some good acting when you deceive everybody and you even deceive yourself!!!
Illus: One reason I like to watch John Wayne acting as a cowboy he is so convincing as an actor he makes me think he is a real cowboy.
But let me show one more thing in this verse of scripture.
(3)Look at the word VAIN in this verse, he is saying when it comes to salvation they are EMPTY.
Illus: A insincere politician was giving a very good speech.
Two men heard the speech and one said to the other WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIS SPEECH?
The man said it was a very good speech but the man who gave it he is an EMPTY SUIT!
Notice the words, "IF any man among you SEEM TO BE RELIGIOUS..."
There is a vast difference between claiming to be SOMETHING and actually BEING SOMETHING.
There are some people who pretend to be Christians, but they are only pretending!!!
James lets us know that people might SEEM TO BE RELIGIOUS, but if their tongues are not "bridled", do not put any confidence in what they say.
LET ME MAKE AN ASSUMPTION IN THIS SERMON…
As I preach the remaining part of this sermon I am going to assume that everyone here is NOT A HYPOCRITE but a Genuine Christian.
This may not be true but I am going to assume this as I preach this sermon.
With this ASSUMPTION that I am making from time to time you have proven to be an IMMATURE CHRISTIAN and you want to please the Lord and you need to get your tongue under controlled..
Let me show you from God’s Word HOW WE FIGHT THIS BATTLE WITH THE TONGUE EVERYDAY AS CHRISTIANS.
First I want to show you that…
I. OUR TONGUES DIRECT OUR LIVES
Look at James 3:3-4 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
The tongue give DIRECTION to our life.
Let me illustrate…
Illus: A man can stand at the sacred altar of matrimony and say TWO WORDS…“I DO” and the direction for his life is set!!!
Notice James use two images to illustrate how the tongue DIRECT our lives.
He first use the image of a…
(1) HORSE BIT
“Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body...”
You want your life to change DIRECTION?
James tells us you need to get your tongue under controlled.
Why?
Just like a small bit can turn the whole body of a large horse so can your small tongue turn your life around for the better.
The meaning of this simple illustration is, that as we control a large horse by the small bit so can that small tongue can turn your life around if you get it under control.
He who has a proper control over his tongue can govern his whole body.
I personally believe people TALK TO MUCH!!!
Illus: Some people say I do not talk very much as a Pastor. My wife is a very good conversationalist so when we go out with a family I depend on her because she is a good conversationalist. This is true, I do not talk a lot but when I get with a crowd, I do a lot of listening but not much talking.
• Abraham Lincoln said, "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt".
• Calvin Coolidge said, "I have never been hurt by anything I did not say".
• Samuel Clemens, more notably known as Mark Twain once said, “A closed mouth gathers no foot.”
Illus: Jesus who is our ultimate example was placed on trial for heresy. He was in the right, yet He kept silent.
Remember this, if you are quiet…
• Nobody can quote or misquote you,
• Repeat what you did not say.
Sometimes it is just best to be quiet and not talk so much.
You will be surprise what you will learn about people if you listen.
Illus: I was at a restaurant one day eating my dinner alone which I seldom eat alone. In fact, I hate eating alone!!!
Behind me was six women were eating and having a good time. I was sitting close enough and I was not ease-dropping but eating alone I could hear everything they said.
I did not know that I knew all six of them but later I found out that I did.
Listen, I learned things about those six ladies and I did not know women talked like that. I knew men talked like that but not ladies.
All six of these ladies are church ladies.
I finished eating about the time they finished eating and as I stood up to leave they also stood up to leave and immediately they recognized me and I recognized them.
They knew I probably heard what they were talking about and they saw me and you could hear them all over that restaurant saying, “Preacher Belger you are not going to preach about what you heard us talk about today…are you?”
I put the fear of God in them and said, “be in church Sunday…”I now have my sermon for this coming Sunday!!!”
I was only joking when I said that but I guaranteed the next time they go to a restaurant they are going to get their tongue under control.
Some people talk too much!!! You can learn about people if you do not talk so much and listen.
Evidently James agrees that people talk too much.
Look at James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James supports the idea people talk too much.
Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Illus: God put this tongue surrounded by two sets of teeth and two lips to keep this tongue caged in and yet this tongue always wants to escape.
• A person that talks to much stay in trouble…
• They say things they should not say….
• They tell jokes they should not tell…
• They often speak before their brain is engaged…
They need to get their tongue under control.
Look at James 3:7-12 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Every kind of beast can be tamed but the tongue no man can tame. (Except he who looks to God to get his tongue under control…man cannot tame the tongue…but God can!!!)
James compare our tongue to a horse’s bit because horses are without understanding, and need direction in what path to go, and are strong, and would be truly and un-controllable unless bits and bridles were put into their mouths.
Psalms 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
The reason James is using the bit in a horse’s mouth is to compare it to the small tongue that DIRECT our lives.
Some people use their tongue to spread negative things. DON’T YOU HATE TO BE AROUND PEOPLE LIKE THIS!!!
These people do not have many friends because no one wants to be around them. THEY ARE SO NEGATIVE ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!
Illus: People like this remind me of a joke I heard about some children who played a trick on their grandfather.
They found him asleep on the sofa in the living room. One of the youngsters got the bright idea to spread some Limburger cheese on Grandpa's mustache.
• After a while grandpa woke up and began to smell that Limburger cheese and said, "Something in this living room stinks."
• He went into the kitchen, still smelling the Limburger cheese in his mustache, and said, "Something in this room stinks."
• He went into his bed room, still smelling the Limburger cheese in his mustache, and said, "Something in this room stinks."
• Finally, he stuck his head out the back door for some fresh air and said, "Ah, the whole world stinks!"
Some people use their tongue to make it sounds like the whole world stinks!!!
But after comparing the small tongue to a bit in a horse mouth to DIRECT them---James give us another image to make the point of DIRECTION.
(2)Large ship
“…Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
By this, and the following simile, expresses the smallness of the tongue, which is like the bit in the horse's mouth, and the helm of a ship.
An uncontrolled tongue is like an uncontrolled horse or an UNCONTROLLED ship which can be very dangerous.
But James does not stop with the tongue compared to a small bit and helm on a ship he shows us the danger of an uncontrolled tongue.
James 3:5-6 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Illus: Only God knows the churches that have been destroyed because someone took their small tongue and used it to say something that was not true.
• And the person that heard that lie told someone else.
• And that person took that same lie and told someone else.
• And soon it was all over the church.
• And someone carried that lie outside the church and began to spread that lie and it was soon all over the neighborhood and the church reputation was destroyed.
• And that church that could have been used by God to reach many souls is now closed are greatly hinder from doing God’s Work.
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Illus: There is a popular legend that has long been held that a cow being milked by Mrs. Catherine O'Leary kicked over a kerosene lantern, igniting a barn fire that caused the Great Chicago fire in October 8, 1871.
• We do not know if that legend is true or not but we do know it is true from a small match many buildings and individual lives have been destroyed.
• We do know the small tongues have destroyed churches and lives.
A fire can start out small but slowly grows to consume a great forest.
Do not misjudge the power of the tongue by its size!
Though the tongue is small and hidden in the mouth, its power is strong enough to direct our entire lives.
We have looked at what the Bible tells us…
I. The tongue can DIRECT OUR LIVES
II. The tongue can DESTROY OUR LIVES
But now let us look at one more thing…(Thank you for your patience)
III. OUR TONGUES CAN DISPLAY OUR LIVES
Every day of our life is on DISPLAY by the words that come from our mouth.
Illus: Some people cannot tell what you wore a month ago but they still can remember the WORDS you spoke a month ago.
Look at James 3:9 “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God… My brethren these things ought not be… does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my bretheren produce olives, or a vine produce figs.”
Perhaps you are thinking, Okay pastor, you've made your point, I need to make some changes on the way I use my tongue.
You said a few minutes you were going to ASSUME that I am a child of God and I know for sure I am. But I am a immature Christian and I need to get my tongue under control.
But how do I do it?
Words have meaning so let us look at how we can DISPLAY a life that the Lord will be pleased with our words. (Write these things down so you want forget)
First, let’s look at…
A. Refrain from attack words
Words can be used as a weapon to lash into people.
Sometimes people will hurt us with words and we in turn take our tongue and use words to hurt them.
James says…My brethren these things ought not to be
Illus: Some homes today are extremely troubled because husbands and wives use their tongue as weapons on each other.
God does not want us to use our words as a weapon. He wants us to use our words to bless others.
And when we stand before Him we will be glad we did, and not be ashamed of the words we have spoken.
Refrain from attack words
B. Refrain from gossip
We need to be careful about the news we share concerning others.
• Someone said, "There is only one thing as difficult as unscrambling an egg, and that's unspreading a rumor."
• Someone else said, It is not hard to get ketchup out of a bottle but it is another thing to try and get it all back in the bottle.
Gossip is destructive, and it is subtle.
Illus: BEWARE OF someone begins a conversation with these words: "Did you hear?"
Soon as you hear these words “DID YOU HEAR” (That is your Que) get away from that person as fast as you can.
Why? Before you know it, you're caught up in gossip.
• Someone said, "A gossiper usually makes a mountain out of a molehill by adding some dirt."
• There's a saying also, "He who gossips to you will gossip about you."
Watch out for gossip. My brethren these things ought not to be
C. Use clean words
Some words are just not proper to speak. Such as body parts and body functions.
Having a foul mouth is not something to be proud of.
Some words are not supposed to be said in public and some words are not to be said by Christians.
My brethren these things ought not to be
D. Use edifying words
Illus: It has been said that the best way you can discover who likes you, is to not pay any attention to what they say to your face, just find out what they are saying behind your back.
The Bible says, "No rotten talk should come from your mouth. These things ought not to be”.
D. Use truthful words
Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”
When you tell a lie, even if it one you might categorize as a “white lie”, it is an abomination in the sight of God.
WHAT DOES THE WORD ABOMINATION MEAN?
Let me explain it this way…
Illus: Oct 7, 2023 Hamass ATTACKED Israel. They captured hundreds of men, women, teenagers and even babies.
Some of these they killed immediately but they kept hundreds as hostages to hide behind.
But to show you what the word ABOMINATION mean…
These thugs:
• A chopped baby heads off with shovels.
• They brutally gang raped women and then killed them.
• They brutally ripped pregnant women open.
• They literally put Jewish babies in ovens.
They did such evil things that it is not descent to talk about.
Illus: They make us think of the Amalekites when Israel was leaving Egypt. And as they were traveling by foot many of them were tired, some sick, some disable were following from the rear. These Amalekites would come from the rear and overcome the tired, elderly, sick, disabled, and pregnant and brutally killed them.
God said now is not the time to deal with you Amalekites but I want forget what you have done!!!
And later God did not forget. God gave the King of Israel when they settled down in their land God said now is the time to deal with these Amalekites and I want you to UTTLELY KILL EVERYONE OF THEM!!!
You said that sounds like God is a cruel God!!! No, what these Amalekites did was cruel and they were only reaping what they sowed.
When I heard what Hamass did to Israel I was glad to hear the Prime Minister of Israel say I AM GOING TO WIPE THESE TERROIST FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
The world has never seen such brutality. And what they did was ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!!
The word here for “abomination” in the Hebrew means, “a disgusting thing”.
So we can say that lying lips turn God’s stomach. It makes God sick.
Jesus said, "But let your word 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no' be 'no.'
In other words our words should be TRUTHFUL!!!
The mis-use of the tongue God hates. My brethren these things ought not to be
Ephesians 4:29 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.
The Bible challenges us to use our words to help people, to build others up, not to tear them down.
Illus: A popular Zig Ziglar saying is, "He climbs highest who helps another up."
Our words can have an incredibly positive effect. How many of us have found great comfort or encouragement because someone said something nice to us?
Kind words can change a marriage into a happy home.
Kind words can change a church into a joyful place to be.
These are the kind of words THAT WE OUGHT TO SPEAK!
Conclusion:
I told you at the beginning of this sermon that this is a CAUTIONARY SERMON.
I cannot emphasize enough the words that come out of our mouths we need to remember some of these words…THESE THINGS OUGHT NOT TO BE!!!
I. OUR WORDS CAN DIRECT OUR LIVES
II. OUR WORDS CAN DESTROY OUR LIVES
III. OUR WORDS CAN DISPLAY OUR LIVES
