Part 1 v.1-3
Part 2 v. 4-8
We’ll wrap up with v.9-12
Just a quick recap of the first two parts.
Purpose of this series is:
to cause us to seriously consider how our tongue can be for building others up, or tearing them down.
and our Spiritual growth can be directly linked to how we have tamed our tongues.
As we wrap up, I’d like to remind you of three key points of our series.
If our tongues are out of control, our relationship with God is out of control.
Our speech, both publicly and privately, is seen by God.
Children hear how we talk to our spouses and friends, and to them.
The key verse that we tied into the first 3 verses of James chapter 3, was:
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
Considering David’s plea to the Lord, we should ourselves be intentional in our desires to tame our tongues by asking these 3 questions:
Is what I am going to say, true?
Proverbs 11:13 ESV “Whoever goes about slandering, reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.” -watch yo mouth-
Is what I am going to say, kind?
Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” -watch yo mouth-
Is what I am going to say, necessary?
Ephesians 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.” -watch yo mouth-
In part 2, we tied another verse to v.4-8.
Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
We considered some verses that illustrates for us the good treasures of the heart, as well as the evil treasures.
Please stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.
Read from my bible James 3:9–12 “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
Remarks:
v9- With it we bless our God and Father- Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
v.9b-with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
v10-out of same mouth blessing and cursing-this should not be!
v11-12: If figs are planted, figs will grow
If olives are planted, olives will grow
No spring yields both salt and fresh water!
-Our tongues reveal who we are!
Are we planting blessings or are we planting curses?
Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 12:33–34 ““Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Matthew 12:35–36 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
Matthew 12:37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.””
We see how James makes a similar analogy of trees as Jesus did.
Matthew 12:34 “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
We see virtually the same words in:
Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Matthew 12:36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
Greek transliteration for “idle” is: careless, empty, worthless, foolish, useless, barren
Marvin Vincent wrote this, pertaining to v36 “An idle word is a non-working word, an inoperative word. It has no legitimate worth, no office, morally useless, and unprofitable”
Jesus is saying for every careless, empty, worthless, foolish, useless, illegitimate, barren, unprofitable word we speak, we will give account of it, in the day of judgement!
Wow, that is sobering!
Jesus is saying “watch yo mouth”!
I saw this quote recently: Lord make my words soft and tender, for tomorrow I may have to eat them!
A few weeks ago, I read the story of a woman who had a very serious throat condition.
The doctor told her that her vocal cords needed total rest.
The condition was so serious, she couldn’t speak for 6 months.
She had a husband and 6 children. Seemed an impossible request, but she did what she was told.
When she needed the kids she blew a whistle.
Whenever she needed to communicate, she wrote things on pads of paper.
After 6 months, her vocal cords were healed and she could talk.
When asked what it was like to communicate only in writing, she said this:
You’d be surprised how many notes I crumbled up and threw into the trash before I gave them to anyone.
Seeing my words before anyone heard them, had an effect that I don’t think I can ever forget.
A mentor of mine told me that God gave us two ears and one tongue, so we could listen twice as much as we speak!
Just a couple more verses to consider today.
When I was a teenager and young man, I cussed like nobody’s business. I don’t say that in a boastful way, but in a transparent way, to preface what I am about to say.
I know of more than one Christian, people I value their kinship as brethren, that believe it is no big deal to cuss.
Scripture tells us otherwise. And if cussing is your thing, I implore you to change your heart!
We are told in Ephesians 5:4 “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”
Paul begins this chapter with descriptive words, that he unabashedly uses through verse 13.
As I read verse 5, I couldn’t help but think of people who have employed cuss jars.
Here’s that idea, but with a twist. Have a second jar for giving thanks, right next to it. Each time you resist cussing, give thanks and contribute to the Thanksgiving Jar. Use that thanksgiving jar for every occasion you have to give thanks.
How fast could you fill that up? Maybe you could bless Heart and Hands anytime either is filled!
The bible instructs us how our tongues can be constructive or destructive forces.
It is our choice.
As disciples of Christ, we are called to lead by example, to be above reproach, and by led by the fruit of the Spirit.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That self-control includes taming of our tongues!
-say goodbye to online viewers-
Ask someone to pray us out.
