James 3:1-12 Faith is tested by the tongue

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1 James 3:1-12 Faith is tested by the tongue Michael Silva / Sep 16, 2018 Opening: Fun Facts about the tongue The average tongue for a man is about 3.3 inches long, for a woman it s 3.1 You have about ~3,000 to 10,000 taste buds. You can t see your taste buds. The red and white dots on your tongue are not taste buds. You have taste buds in other places besides your tongue. They are also in your nose and sinuses, all the way down the throat to the upper part of the esophagus. The tongue is not necessarily the strongest muscle in your body. Your tongue can get fat. This is part of what leads to sleep apnea problems. Your tongue print is as unique as a fingerprint. In our passage today, James is going to make a connection between our tongue and our faith. Introduction: The Epistle of James The Proverbs of the New Testament. 1. Key Theme: Living out your faith, being doers of the Word and not just hearers of the Word. Let s read our passage today: James 3:1-12 (NKJV) i 1. In the 1 st and 2 nd chapters of James, we are reminded that doers of the word a) Doers of the word count it all joy when they fall into various trials (James 1:2-4). b) Doers of the word ask for wisdom in faith, without doubting (Vs 5-8). c) Doers of the word are not full of wrath, instead they are quick to hear, slow to speak, and receives the Word in their hearts (Vs 19-21). d) Doers of the word Pay Attention to All People, they don t show partiality (James 2:1-10). e) Doers of the word demonstrate true saving faith through their actions/works (James 2:14-26). 2. I ve summarized our passage today: Faith is tested by the tongue. a) Controlling our tongue is a significant part of our faith in action. James 3:1-2 1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

2 1. James is not discouraging the teaching of God s Word, that is very important! a) Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. i) Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ii) We want and need people to pursue their calling as preachers and teachers. b) What James is saying is that teaching is a serious responsibility and should not be taken lightly. i) For the Jew and remember this was James s initial target audience, Jewish believers, they would have grown up with the idea that being a Rabbi or teacher was one s highest calling. ii) It was extremely popular and desirable to want to step into teaching area of ministry. c) James is reminding us that the teaching ministry isn t just about someone having a natural gift or ability in teaching but that with those gifts come responsibility. i) There are implications and potential problems with teaching and these should not be taken lightly. ii) Teachers have a great accountability and will receive a stricter judgment. d) Jesus taught in Luke 12:48b, For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. 2. James is saying teachers most be careful because we all have a common weakness, For we all stumble in many things, namely in controlling our tongues. a) We all stumble, but our most frequent failures occur when we are speaking. b) Works reveal the genuineness of a person s faith and words show the depth of a person s maturity. 3. Notice James includes himself by saying We. If old Camel-Knees James, the half-brother of Jesus knows that he can stumble in this way then we all should take note. a) We ve all said stupid things right? We have all said things in error, even if we meant no harm, if it was not true then we are still guilty of error here. b) Those of faith should not consistently be out of line and in sin with an uncontrolled tongue. c) Controlling the tongue is a part of our faith in action as followers and imitators of Christ. 4. The word stumble in the original Greek means to trip up, to hinder our progress. a) But James tells us that if we can learn to bridle our tongue, that is a major step toward learning how to bridle our whole body. b) Those who do not stumble in word is a perfect man. That word perfect means complete or mature. Page 2 of 6

3 James 3:3-5a 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. 1. Bits and rudders, very small objects, which have great power. a) Control the bit and the rudder and you control the entire horse and ship. i) There is great power with both if they are properly controlled. b) James is likening our mouths to the small rudder or bit. i) Control the mouth and you are building the spiritual and physical self-control to be able to control the entire body. 2. Question: Who holds the reigns that control the bit in your life? a) Who is directing and steering the rudder in your life? b) Yesterday: Men s Breakfast Topic: Decision making. i) Good decision making all starts with our relationship with Jesus. ii) Colossians 3: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. James 3:5b-6 See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 1. Old saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me. If only that were true?! a) Words can be bitterly painful. b) Words can be destructive just like the spark that starts the fire that burns down a forest. 2. In 2010 I got to visit Israel, it was amazing. a) But I did not get to go up and see Mt. Carmel during my Israel trip because of a forest fire. b) This fire was inadvertently start by a coal from a hookah pipe. c) It was the deadliest fire in Israeli history - 44 people died. d) More than 17,000 people were evacuated. Page 3 of 6

4 3. Proverbs 26: Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, I was only joking! i) This verse reminds us that passive-aggressive language can be just as destructive. 4. James reveals where fire-filled words really come from, hell or Gehenna in Greek Straight from the enemy s layer. a) This Greek word Gehenna comes from the Valley of Hinnom just south of Jerusalem where children were once sacrificed to the gods (2 Kings 21) and where garbage from the city was continually burned. James 3: For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 1. In Genesis 1:28 it reads, Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. a) Man has been able to domesticate and tame some of the wildest of animals and yet we cannot control our own tongue. b) Our tongue can be so dangerous, it can be an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 2. Speaking of poison, Jesus declared in Matthew 12:34 37 while address the Pharisees 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 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. 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. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.. 3. We need to take this serious: A few words spoken can destroy a relationship that took years to build. a) We ve heard phrases like (Life Application Bible Commentary): i) Somebody had to tell him off. ii) It was good to get it off my chest. iii) I sure gave her a piece of my mind. iv) Maybe what I said will do him some good. v) I felt better for saying it. b) A woman once came to John Wesley and said, I think my talent from God is to speak my mind. i) Wesley replied, I don t think God would mind if you buried that talent. (Guzik) Page 4 of 6

5 4. Which describes your tongue a) Psalm 52:2 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. b) Or Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 5. We rightly bless God and show Him respect in our words and James reminds us we should do the same with our fellow man, who are also made in the similitude / likeness of God. a) The goal is not silence, but control! i) And look what great good can come from a tongue under control! (1) Think of the horse and ships and what great good they provide! 6. But we can t do this on our own, But no man can tame the tongue James says. a) That s why we need The Helper, the Holy Spirit in order to truly control our tongues. b) This means we need to live the Spirit-filled life! c) John 14: If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. d) Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. e) 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. James 3: Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 1. Two final illustrations Water and fruit. a) Springs are either salt water or fresh And trees only bear one kind of fruit. b) James s point is our tongue cannot bear bitterness and be fruitful at the same time. 2. Greg Laurie shares A helpful acronym that you can use when wondering if you should spread a certain piece of information is T.H.I.N.K. a) Ask yourself the following questions: T Is it true? In other words, this thing that you have heard about someone else, is this accurate information? Or is it just gossip or something someone heard about someone else. We are far too ready to pass on information before verifying if it is true or not. H-Is it Helpful? Will sharing this information be helpful to the other person? Page 5 of 6

6 I- Is it Inspiring? N- Is it Necessary? Do we really need to spread this information? K Is it Kind? b) You might say, Greg, if I applied that T.H.I.N.K. acronym to what I said about others, I would hardly speak at all! Ah! Perhaps that s not such a bad idea? Conclusion: What s the big take away from this passage? 1. Faith is tested by the tongue A tongue under control is a part of our faith in action. a) True believers work and rely on the Holy Spirit to help bring their tongues under control. 2. Could we all do better? Sure! a) Will we all do better? In His strength and for His glory Let s try! Invitation: Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. i All scripture references, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. Page 6 of 6