Control of the Tongue
Introduction:
1. Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also
are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2.
One area that we need to lay aside is the evil words we speak against others.
3. James 1:26 teaches us to recognize that we can master restraint over our entire
body.
4.
Yet in order to master that restraint we must first control our tongue.
5.
In James 3:2-8, James answers three questions regarding control of the tongue.
6.
He shows us why we need to control our tongue.
7.
By this need we learn what our tongue does to warrant control.
8.
Finally James explains how we can control the untamable tongue.
I)
Why
Ought We Control our Tongue?
A)
Our
tongue controls our entire body
1.
By
the tongue our hearts are revealed.
a. James 3:5 - Even so the tongue is a little member, and
boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
b.
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.
c.
The
tongues power and influence is capable of far reaching harm defiling both the
individual .
d.
Matthew 15:18 - But those things which proceed
out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
(i)
For
the tongue continually boasts of one's power to damage and injury others.
(ii)
This
arrogance has no regard for the love one has for others.
(iii) Matthew 22:39 - And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
2.
We
must remain perfect in the eyes of God.
a.
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.
b.
Our
goal is to be fully mature in Christ and thus receiving our just recompense of
reward.
(i)
One
who has attained mastery over his tongue has reached this goal.
(ii)
This
does not mean that is above the possibility of sinning.
(iii) But it means
that he is like David ( Psalm 119:6), Elizabeth ( Luke 1:6), Abraham, Noah, Job
having his heart molded and purified through God's commandments.
B)
An
uncontrolled tongue destroys lives including our own.
1.
A
little fire destroys entire forests.
a.
James 3:5 - Even so the tongue is a little
member, and boasteth great things.
Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
b.
Tremendous
devastation comes from the smallest evil word spoken.
c.
Furious
flames consuming the lives of men, their families, and congregations of the
Lord's church have been started by an uncontrolled tongue.
d. Proverbs 26:18-25 - As a mad man who casteth
firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and
saith, Am not I in sport? Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where
there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and
wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a
talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the
belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver
dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within
him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations
in his heart.
2.
An
uncontrolled tongue establishes a world of iniquity.
a. 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.
b.
This
phrase "world of iniquity" indicates the sum of evil by means of the tongue.
(i)
The
harm produced by the tongue is immeasurable.
(ii)
Take
a goose down pillow and cast out the feathers upon the ground. Then go inside for 10 minutes and return to
pick up all the feathers.
(iii) It is impossible
to retrieve all the feathers and put them back into the pillow.
c.
Many
wars and strifes and feuds have resulted from the small tongue which wields
great influence.
d.
It
has been said that if all men were to suddenly lose the ability to speak the
number of sins would be greatly reduced.
3.
An
uncontrolled tongue sets hell fire to life.
a. 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.
b.
The
course of nature refers to one's life.
c.
The
tongue ignites injury and destruction in the lives of men.
d.
The
term hell here is the only time this term except by Christ.
(i)
Originally
a term used to describe the valley outside of Jerusalem where the children of
Israel used to worship the god Molech.
(ii)
They
sacrificed their children to this god in this valley.
(iii) Josiah's reforms
turned this valley into a garbage dump where trash was continually burned.
(iv) Thus, the placed
served as a fitting symbol of the place of future punishment and the Lord so
applied it hundreds of years later when he came to earth.
e.
From
this continual radiant heat we find the source of the evils of the hearts of
men destroying others and themselves by the fiery tongue.
II)
What
Actions of the Tongue Need to be Controlled?
A)
The
tongue acts as an unruly evil.
1.
It
is unruly because it follows the path of the devil.
a.
Gehenna
is the final abode of the devil the place of eternal damnation.
b.
The
uncontrolled tongue submits to no rule or demand of action.
c.
Satan
desires to be separated from God and thus Hell is that place.
d.
The
desire of the tongue to resist rule places its final resting place apart from
the laws of God.
2.
It
is the source of blasphemy against God.
a.
Since
the tongue desires lawlessness it speaks evil against the great lawgiver God.
b.
Blaspheming
his authority by disobedience to his commands.
c.
We
must note here that any spoken word that does not follow the path of loving God
or loving one's neighbor is a spoken word that rejects the laws of God.
d.
Therefore,
the uncontrolled tongue blasphemes God and his commands.
3.
It
is the source of sacrilege against God's plan of salvation.
a.
Sacrilege
is a violation of holy things.
b.
It
is an offense against one's duty toward God.
c.
The
tongue then in the same manner as blasphemy speaks evil against the things that
man must do towards salvation.
d.
False
teachers speak sacrilege against the plan of salvation when they teach
something other than that which is found within the Bible.
e.
Christians
sacrilege the plan of salvation when they teach that it is solely the preachers
responsibility to evangelize, or teach the acceptability of instrumental music
in worship, or the teaching of binding traditions of men.
B)
The
tongue poisons both ourselves and others.
1.
It
poisons by perjury.
a.
Lying
in a legal setting poisons the truth.
b.
This
sin is formulated with the intent of preventing justice.
2.
It
poisons through slander.
a.
Speaking
ill about another poison the minds of others.
b.
It
damages the ability of someone to be effective in the community.
c.
Speaking
evil about the preacher, elders, or church members prevents the effectual
movement of the Gospel into the world.
3.
Flattery
is the result of a poisoned tongue.
a.
Can
we understand that flattery poisons by means of false praise to get and
unwarranted favor or influence.
b.
How
damaging this can be upon others by poisoning their minds making them believe
they are something they are not.
4.
The
tongue backbites poisoning others.
a.
Oh
how we know of the destruction this causes.
b.
In
our homes and in the church poison courses through the veins because we prevent
God from taking revenge as are his right and his right alone.
5.
The
tongue poisons through gossip.
III) How Can We Tame
the Untamable?
A)
We
must recognize that it is not continually untamable.
1.
It
is a momentary lapse.
a. 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.
(i)
To
offend means to stumble, trip, or fall down.
(ii)
It
is a reference to the mistakes all of us make in not controlling our tongue.
b.
Importantly,
James includes himself in the mistakes made by all.
(i)
How
wonderful it is to see that even the apostles made mistakes.
(ii)
The
apostles had no more protection from sin and temptation than we.
(iii) Moses and Peter
had failed to keep their tongues controlled.
(iv) Psalm 106:32-33
- They angered him also at the waters of
strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked
his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
(v) Galatians 2:11-12 - But when Peter was come to
Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before
that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were
come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the
circumcision.
2.
Since
we all stumble we need provision for our sins.
a.
Thankful
should all be that the Lord provided protection from our fall from grace by
these momentary lapses.
b. 1 John 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(i)
The
emphasis is upon the fact that the blood of Christ continually cleanses us from
our sins.
(ii)
Yet
this continual cleansing comes at the price of a confession of sin and
repentance of it.
(iii) For this
involuntary stumbling coming through our lapse in judgment does not prevent our
entrance into heaven.
(iv) Oh marvelous
grace we have in Jesus and the blood He shed for you and me.
B)
We
tame the tongue through ceaseless vigilance of our will.
1.
See
the illustrations of the horse.
a. James 3:3 - Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths,
that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
(i)
James
affirms that restraint on the tongue controls the entire body.
(ii)
The
previous verse affirms the perfection afforded to man if we can control our
tongue.
b.
By
means of a bit this spirited animal is put into subjection.
(i)
Control
of the tongue is control of a small instrument.
(ii)
Yet
this instrument wields tremendous power.
(iii) A horse is a
powerful animal and its internal desire to go his own way may be diverted and
directed by a tiny bit.
2.
Understand
the illustration of the ship
a. James 3:4 - 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.
b.
The
brute forces of external circumstances may direct the ship in any direction.
c.
Yet
a small rudder easily prevents this wayward action.
(i)
In
both illustrations we are taught that the will of the rider and steersman
direct the path of both the horse and ship.
(ii)
Therefore
control of this little instrument the tongue we can control both the powerful
internal desires of the heart and the external forces of temptation.
3.
Know
that we have tamed every kind of wild animal.
a.
God
has placed man above every kind of animal.
b.
Man
has successfully tamed each of these kinds of animals.
c.
Yet
the kind of damage capable by the uncontrolled tongue has escaped the power of
man.
(i)
James
emphasizes the fact that man has been in control of the actions of the world
from the beginning of creation.
(ii)
Yet
because of sin he has failed to be in control of his tongue.
4.
When
inline with God's will we exercise control by the power of the Gospel.
a.
The
will of man controls the tongue.
b.
Let
us recognize the restlessness of evil and continually be vigilant in our
control of such a powerful instrument of death and destruction both to ourselves
and others.
Conclusion:
1.
Do you control your tongue?
2.
Or do you use it to perpetrate evil in the world?
3.
If you use it for evil then God calls you to repent.
Posted in: Book of James, Sermon Outlines