James chapter 3. Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed, and have been tamed by mankind.
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who have been made in God's likeness.
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?
Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Such wisdom does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure,
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Peace-makers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Peace-makers who sow in peace.
Thanks, Chris.
Let's keep our Bibles open and we're going to pray.
Psalm 19, verse 14.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Amen.
What am I?
I can start wars, break marriages, divide families, destroy churches.
I can bring healing, redeem marriages, restore families, renew churches.
I have the power to cause great evil and I have the power to do great good.
What am I?
Well, of course, we're talking about the tongue.
Look at verse 9.
With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father and with it we curse human beings who have been made in God's likeness.
James has already introduced us to the use of our tongues.
In fact, he said, if we claim to be a Christian.
Have a look back at chapter 1, verse 19.
If we claim to be a Christian.
Verse 19.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this.
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
Verse 26.
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves and their religion is worthless.
So how we use our tongue reveals if our faith is genuine.
That was the theme of chapter 2, if you look at verse 14.
Chapter 2, verse 14.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith, so they claim to be a Christian, but has no deeds?
Can such faith save them?
Well, the answer comes in verse 24.
You see that a person, as you watch, as you look at a person, a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
The mark of true Christianity is seen by what we do, how we live.
And now in chapter 3, James gives us another example of what true Christianity looks like.
And it all comes down to how we use our tongue.
Three things we're going to look at.
First, check your tongue.
Check your tongue.
Not surprisingly, James starts with teachers.
Those who teach God's word, like pastors.
Those who are responsible for the teaching of this church, the elders.
Look at verse 1.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers.
Well, why is that?
Because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Right now I'm teaching.
And as I teach, I'm using my tongue.
I'm saying a lot.
I'm talking a lot.
I'm going to be doing more speaking than listening.
That means I have to be very careful.
And as I teach, I've got great influence.
The words that I use have influence.
What I say can build up or tear down.
What I teach can be of great good or of great evil.
I need to check how I use my tongue.
Because, look at the end of verse 1.
You know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
This is serious.
The more I say, the more I will be responsible for.
The more I'm responsible for, the more accountable before God I am.
So it's crucial that I check out how I use my tongue.
But it's not just teachers that James is concerned about.
He's concerned for the whole church.
Verse 2.
We all stumble in many ways when it comes to using our tongue.
Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect.
Able to keep their whole body in check.
James is just so real and practical.
He just gets straight to the issue.
No messing about.
Look, he says, we all stumble.
We all mess up.
We all fail to keep our tongue in check.
But here's the encouragement.
When we keep our tongue in check,
our whole body is kept in check.
If we can control the tongue,
we can control our whole life.
Proverbs 18 verse 21 tells us that
the tongue has the power of life and death.
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Control the tongue
and we control our whole life.
Sam Albury uses a very helpful illustration in James.
He talks about it like this.
It's like James is inviting us into the doctor's surgery.
We are to stick out our tongue
and to get it checked out.
Let the word of God
diagnose anything that is sinful
and let the word of God
heal
and make it useful.
Let the word of God
diagnose anything that is sinful
and let the word of God
heal it
and make it useful.
So as we continue,
I give us all permission
to stick out your tongues
and enter into the surgery
of God's word.
What does God's word
diagnose
about our tongue?
Well, second,
know your tongue.
Four things
we need to know
about our tongue.
Four things that the word of God
diagnoses
about our tongue.
First,
the tongue is a controlling power.
Look at verse three.
When we put bits
into the mouths of horses
to make them obey us,
we can turn the whole animal.
I don't know if you've ever been on a horse,
but a horse is very strong
and very powerful.
With a tiny bit,
it's a small little steel bar
about so long
which inserts into the horse's mouth
attached to the reins
and with it,
you control the whole animal.
A tiny tug in the reins
and the horse will stop.
A pull to the right
or a pull to the left
and it will go the direction
you want it to go.
It's the same with a large ship
or a cruise liner.
Look at verse four.
Or take ships as an example.
Although they are so large
and are driven by strong winds,
they are steered by a very small rudder
wherever the pilot wants to go.
The largest cruise ship
that sails the seas today
is called Symphony of the Seas.
It's 360 meters long
and 60 meters wide.
It has 18 decks
and it weighs in at 227,000 tons.
But the small rudder,
only a few meters long,
can turn this ship
in any direction.
verse five.
Likewise,
the tongue is a small part
of the body.
The tongue is just like a bit
or a rudder,
but it makes great boasts.
It has the power
to control the whole body.
In other words,
the tongue powerfully determines
and directs the course
of our whole life.
The tongue controls
our destiny.
How we use our words,
what we say
in our conversations,
how we talk
to one another
powerfully controls
what our life
is going to be like.
So it's a controlling power.
Second,
the tongue is a destructive fire.
Look at the second part
of verse five.
Consider what a great forest
is set on fire
by a small spark.
In France last year,
there was a forest fire
covering eight square kilometers
and it destroyed
everything in its path.
Homes, buildings,
the whole forest,
the whole habitation
was all wiped out.
Eight square kilometers
left in a pile
of ash.
You know what the cause was?
A dropped cigarette.
Look at verse six.
The tongue also
is a fire,
a world of evil
among the parts
of the body.
just one word
from our tongue
and it causes
devastation
and destruction.
One word,
one phrase
can break a marriage,
destroy a family,
wreck churches.
Look at the rest
of verse six.
It corrupts
the whole body,
sets the whole course
of one's life
on fire.
A tiny spark
that lasts
barely a second
and barely visible
to the human eye
can set a whole
forest on fire.
And the problem is,
James is saying to us,
when we open our mouths,
sparks fly everywhere.
A careless word,
a bit of gossip,
a lie,
a put down,
a snide remark.
And before we know it,
our whole life
is a blazing fire,
devastated by broken
relationships
all around us.
How do we cause
such damage?
Well, look at the end
of verse six.
The whole course
of one's life
is set on fire
and is itself
set on fire
by hell.
The source
of all this
fiery destruction
is the influence
of hell itself.
When we use
our tongues,
sparks fly
and we're only
speaking what
the devil himself
speaks.
As one writer
has put it,
our tongues
are satanic.
So our tongues
are a controlling
power,
a destructive
fire,
and third,
they are an
untamable evil.
Look at verse seven.
All kinds
of animals,
birds,
reptiles,
and sea creatures
are being tamed
and have been
tamed by mankind.
We've seen
the pictures
on television.
Maybe you've been
to a circus.
We can make
bears dance.
We can make
birds carry
messages
and come back
again.
We can make
crocodiles not
to bite
and insert
your head
in its chops
if you wanted
to.
We can make
killer whales
jump in the air
to catch fish.
But,
look at verse eight.
No human
being
can tame
the tongue.
We can't
stop ourselves
from talking.
We can't
tame this
tiny organ
inside of our
mouth.
I hate you.
I'm not
listening to you.
You're such
a pain.
You always.
Rather than
me taming
my tongue,
my tongue
controls me.
Look at the
end of verse
eight.
It is a
restless evil
full of
deadly poison.
How many
times have
we said to
ourselves,
I wish
I didn't
say that.
How many
times have
we said,
I wish
I kept
my mouth
shut?
Look back
upon the
relationships
that are
now broken.
What's
the cause?
Well,
it just
pops out of
our mouth,
doesn't it?
Before we
even have
time to
think what
we are
saying,
our tongues
just take
over and
an outburst
of anger,
a harsh
response,
a slanderous
remark?
My tongue
is like
a viper,
end of
verse eight,
full of
deadly
poison.
I open
my mouth
and out
comes
poisonous
words that
crush,
break,
and destroy.
the words
I'm quite
sure that
my family
remember
are the
words that
are like
deadly
poison,
words that
break and
destroy.
I can't
seem to
stop it.
It's an
untamable,
restless
evil.
fourth,
the tongue
reveals
my heart,
verse ten.
Out of
the same
mouth
come praise
and cursing.
My
brothers and
sisters,
this should
not be.
One
moment we
can be
singing
songs of
worship to
God,
the next
we're
criticizing
the people
who stood
behind us
to somebody
else.
verse
11,
can both
fresh water
and salt
water flow
from the
same spring?
My
brothers and
sisters,
can a
fig tree
bear olives
or a
grapevine
bear figs?
Neither
can a
salt spring
produce
fresh
water.
James
uses his
words so
carefully,
but they
are so
clear.
his words
are so
revealing.
A tree
will always
produce its
fruit,
pear trees
don't grow
apples,
and you
won't find
an orange
from a
banana tree.
You see,
it's what
comes out
of our
mouth
that reveals
the state
of our
hearts.
What comes
out of our
mouth only
reveals the
source from
which it
comes.
Remember
what Jesus
said.
This comes
from Matthew
15.
He says,
what goes
into someone's
mouth does
not defile
them, but
what comes
out of their
mouth, that
is what
defiles them.
The things
that come out
of a person's
mouth come
from the
heart, and
these defile
them.
For out of
the heart
come evil
thoughts, false
testimony, slander,
and we can
add to that
crosswords,
malicious gossip,
destructive
lies.
Our tongues
as we speak
only reveal
who we are
and what our
hearts are
like.
so what
are we to
do with
this diagnosis
as we step
into the
surgery, as
God's word
makes the
diagnosis, what
are we to
do with our
powerful,
destructive,
untamable,
evil,
poisonous
tongues?
I guess
we've never
thought of our
tongues like
that, have
we?
Well, as we
said at the
beginning, let
the word of
God diagnose
anything that
is sinful,
and let the
word of God
heal it, and
make it useful.
God's word
will diagnose
what is sinful,
but the same
word of God
can heal it,
and make it
useful.
So we
check our
tongue, we
know our
tongue, and
third, we
transform our
tongues.
Let me show
you how our
tongues can be
transformed.
It requires
wisdom.
Wisdom that
comes from
heaven, not
wisdom from
the world.
Look at
verse 13.
Who is
wise and
understanding
among you?
wisdom.
Well, if
you're wise, let
them show it
by their good
life, by
deeds done in
the humility
that comes from
wisdom.
Wisdom is not
academic ability.
Being wise is
not about clever
arguments and
using our words to
win people over or
to prove your
point.
Godly wisdom, true
wisdom, is about
living life God's
way, living the
way God has
created us to
be.
It is, as it
says in verse
13, it's
showing it by our
good life, by
deeds done in
humility that
comes from
wisdom.
So, having
this wisdom,
having the
right kind of
wisdom in our
life, will
keep our tongue
in check.
It will enable
us to use our
tongue to build
up rather than
destroy.
It will enable
us to tame and
control our
tongue so that
we bring healing
and peace.
So, how do we
get this wisdom
to transform and
change our
tongue?
Well, there's
two steps.
First, we
need to repent
of worldly
wisdom.
Look at
verse 14.
But if you
harbor bitter
envy, so if
you store up,
internalize those
words of bitter
envy and selfish
ambition in your
hearts, do not
boast about it
or deny the
truth.
You see, the
reason James has
been working
through what the
tongue is like,
helping us to
understand what
the tongue is,
is so that we
can see how
great a problem
our tongues
actually are.
And when God's
word reveals to
us what our
tongues are like,
he's revealing to
us what our
hearts are like
and what comes
out of our
hearts.
And as the
diagnosis is
made, he's
saying to us,
don't ignore
it.
Verse 14,
end of verse
14, do not
boast about it
or deny the
truth.
You see, if we
try and hide the
problem, if we
fight against it
and deny the
truth, it's
going to break
us and destroy
us.
Verse 15,
such wisdom
does not come
down from heaven
but is earthly,
unspiritual,
demonic.
For where you
have envy and
selfish ambition,
there you find
disorder and
every evil
practice.
us.
You see, as I
sit under God's
word and as
the diagnosis
has been made,
if my response
is, well, I
don't have a
problem with my
tongue, I
don't have a
problem with how
I speak, well,
such a view,
we're told in
verse 15, is
earthly or
worldly wisdom.
It's
unspiritual,
it's demonic.
And all it
will result in
is more
damaged, broken
relationships, end
of verse 16, for
there you will
find disorder and
every evil
practice.
If we walk
into a surgery
and a diagnosis
is made and we
just walk out and
do nothing about
it, we will
just get more
sick.
And I think
that's the point
James is making
here.
the diagnosis
has been made.
Worldly wisdom
says, ignore the
diagnosis.
Just keep on
going and live
the way you
want to live
and, well, if
we do, we
will just find
further disorder
and every evil
practice.
We need to
repent of
worldly wisdom.
wisdom.
And second,
we need to
receive heavenly
wisdom.
Verse 17.
But the
wisdom that
comes from
heaven is
first of all
pure, then
peace-loving,
considerate,
submissive,
full of
mercy and
good fruit,
impartial and
sincere.
fear.
Now, when I
look at verse
17, I think,
well, where
do you see that
kind of wisdom
displayed?
Well, the only
place that wisdom
is displayed is
in the person of
Christ.
Because the
wisdom that
comes from
heaven is
Christ.
Christ is
pure.
Christ is
peace-loving.
He is
considerate.
He is
submissive.
Christ is
full of
mercy and
good fruit.
Christ is
impartial and
sincere.
So,
Christ is
the wisdom
that we
need.
Look at
how Paul
refers to
Christ.
in 1
Corinthians.
He says,
Christ,
the power
of God
and the
wisdom
of God.
Again,
Christ
Jesus,
who has
become for
us wisdom
from God.
That is
our righteousness,
holiness,
and redemption.
Christ is
the wisdom
we need.
And Christ
is the one
who has
come to
us.
And in
his wisdom,
he came
to us
from heaven
to me
and to
you.
And through
his wisdom,
through his
work here
on earth,
through his
death on
the cross,
my destructive,
evil,
poisonous tongue
has been
dealt with.
Christ
has paid
the punishment,
the price
for all
my wrong,
hurtful,
cursing
words.
and through
his wisdom,
he has
now forgiven
me and
gives me
the power
of his
Holy Spirit
to control
and tame
my tongue.
A greater
power
that I do
not possess
within myself.
And when
our tongue
is so
transformed,
it produces
words that
are,
verse 17,
pure,
peace-loving,
considerate,
words that
are submissive,
words that
are full of
mercy and
good fruit,
words that
are impartial
and sincere.
when we
repent of
worldly wisdom
and humbly
receive
heavenly wisdom,
our tongues
are transformed
and look
what happens
when we
speak with
a transformed
tongue,
verse 18,
peacemakers
who sow
in peace
reap a
harvest of
righteousness.
Rather than
sowing words
that produce
hurt and
division
and angry
responses
and put
downs,
we now
can sow
words that
reap a
harvest of
righteousness,
transform
tongues that
bring words
of healing,
words that
begin to
redeem and
forgive where
marriages are
breaking down,
words that
can restore
families,
words that
can renew
churches,
words that
enable us to
unite broken
relationships,
peacemakers
who sow
in peace
reap a
harvest of
righteousness,
transform tongues
that enable us
to respond to
the people we
will meet
this week,
not with
anger or
bitterness,
but with
words of
compassion,
words of
grace and
mercy,
offering
people the
hope of
Christ,
the true
wisdom who
has come
down from
heaven,
the one
who said,
I will
give of
my life,
I will
die for
you so
that you
can have
life.
James's
words are
so clear.
Check out
our tongues,
listen to
the diagnosis
from God's
word,
and let
that same
word heal
our tongues
and bring
about a
healing so
that our
tongues become
useful,
peace-loving,
peacemaking
tongues in
this broken
and disordered
world.
Let's pray
together.
Amen.
As we pray,
reflect on
these words
and after
I've read
them,
we'll just
leave a
quiet moment
for you
to bring
our own
confession
and our
own
response
to God
in the
quietness.
these words come from Psalm 139
you have searched me Lord
and you know me
you know when I sit and when I rise
you perceive my thoughts from afar
before a word is on my tongue
you Lord know it completely
search me God and know my heart
test me and know my anxious thoughts
see if there is any offensive way in me
and lead me in the way everlasting
exist
I
Father, we all stumble in many ways.
All of us use our tongues in the wrong way.
We ask that you would forgive us
for the times where we have used our tongues unwisely.
Help us, Father, that we would repent of worldly wisdom
and stop trying to fix things on our own,
but rather that we would receive humbly the wisdom from heaven,
Christ himself,
asking that you would fill us afresh with the power of your Holy Spirit
as we depend upon you.
Heal us so that our tongues may become useful,
that we may use words to build up,
that we would be peacemakers,
and that our words would point people to Christ,
the true healer,
the one who gives life to all who turn to him.
Father, thank you.
Thank you for one another.
Thank you for words of encouragement.
Thank you for words that build up.
Thank you for your gifts to us.
And we pray that we would go into this week
speaking words of peace,
bringing words of compassion.
Help us, Father, we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
We're going to sing in response to that last verse in James about sowing peace.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord.
And where there's doubt, true faith in you.
Let's sing this as a prayer for ourselves personally,
and our prayer for each other,
that we would be a channel of peace.
Let's stand together as we sing.
Amen.