In this sermon from James 3:1-12, Pastor Mark talks about the power of the tongue and that, in the flesh, it wants to destroy us and we can use it for evil. But, the Holy Spirit can transform our tongue so we can use it for good.
How does faith work when you want to speak your mind? James 3:1-12
Communication degree pre-Internet
- Words you speak? 1984 Gyles Brandeth estimated 860,341,500 & wrote lexicon book
- Pre-internet & technology
- Me – public (Ser., Pod, Class, Devo, Print, Media Int, Conf/Train) 3.5 million?
- + Social Media + Private Conversations
HOW MANY WORDS DO YOU COMMUNICATE? How many are in anger?
James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Your Tongue Wants to Be Your Master
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 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.
2 Kinds of Teachers
- Imperfect who don’t know it, own it, or diligently work on it
- Imperfect who know it, own it, & diligently work on it
“stumble in what he says” – lost longshoreman, young pastor, lots content public
3 Kinds of Judgment
- Judged by others (repent or resist)
- Judge yourself
- Judged by God
Matt 12:336 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- Younger – Online warning (testimony)
- Single – sooner better (longshoreman)
- Married – nicknames, bad habits, setting home environment
- Parents/Grandparents
Your Tongue Wants to Run Wild
James 3:3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
- A runaway horse can kill people
- A wild horse is worthless
- A trained horse is priceless
STUDY GUIDE: “How many truths are twisted? How many lies are told? How many facts are buried? How many news stories are fake? How many classroom lectures are indoctrination? How many ads are false claims? How many juicy gossip stories are myths? How many social media platforms are throttling good and promoting evil? How many politicians know they are spinning facts rather than serving the Father? How many lawyers generate income by doing what Paul called suppressing the truth? How many PR firms are violating the command of God against lying and false witness in favor of building and defending a narrative?”
Tips 1. Set boundaries & keep them 2. Ignore anonymous 3. Unfollow, unfriend, and ignore 4. Have the conversation about not having the conversation 5. Log off
Can we use #15? https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/oregon/bucket-list-oregon/
Your Tongue Wants to Sink You
James 3:4 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.
A runaway ship can kill people
Can we use this photo?? https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-bismarck-2361207
Nazis commissioned the Bismarck battleship in 1940. Stretching 825 feet, the largest battleship in the world. It boasted eight guns that held shells fifteen inches across, as well as some five dozen other armaments. The Bismarck’s onboard targeting computer was so precise that it blew away the HMS Hood, which had been the pride of the Royal Navy, with a single shot. As grand as the Bismarck was, it had one small but fatal weakness. A vulnerable rudder was located right beneath its thermal exhaust port. In the darkness of night on May 24, 1941, the Royal Navy attacked the ship with little success—until one torpedo hit this rudder. The boat was severely disabled, attacked fiercely, and defeated.
- “Loose lips sink ships.” WW II slogan on posters by American distiller
Your Tongue Wants to Unleash Hell
James 3:5 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.
- A runaway fire can kill people & cannot be controlled or predicted what it burns
- CA – Dixie Fire 2021 – 1,300 structures, $540 billion to fight,
=burned nearly 1 million acres = larger NY, Chicago, Dallas & LA combined.
Can we use this photo? https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/05/us/dixie-fire-greenville-california.html
= Gehenna; child sacrifices, became dump – Jesus like 11X
Gossiping Lying False Witness Libel/Slander/Defamation
Flirting Threatening Yelling False Teaching
Flattering Cursing Unholy Oaths Name-Calling Excusing
Negative Narratives & Unholy Alliances
- Jesus – drunkard, glutton, heals by Beelzebul prince of demons
- Jesus cousin John
- Jesus mother
The Holy Spirit Can Transform Your Tongue
James 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and saltwater? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
- Animals – wild & tamed
- No Animal – as wild as the tongue (Moose, Wolves, Bear, Tiger)
Matt 12:34-35 out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
A Tamed Tongue
1 Please 2 Thank U 3 My fault 4 I’m sorry 5 I love U 6 I forgive U 7 I’m praying for U
- Isaiah 6
- Pentecost – tongues of fire brought heaven down
1. Prays 2. Worships 3. Evangelizes 4. Encourages 5. Teaches 6. Blesses