Temperance - Self-Control That Makes A Difference

Part 4 - The Tongue, There Is Nothing Quite So Deadly

James dealt with the tongue. Let us read

James 3:1 - 18 1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2For 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.

3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4Behold 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.

5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6And 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.

7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Terms you may hear today:

Gossip: rumor, hearsay, idle talk, -- I like this one a Scottish word, it just sounds bad - clishmaclaver

Backbiting: defamation, slander, libel, lie, insinuation, innuendo, and malicious gossip

Evil speaking: lies, gossip, backbiting, etc.

Clamor: disorder, noise, racket, uproar

Malice: hostility, anger, viciousness, maliciousness, animosity, ill will, etc.

Heresies: false teaching and doctrine

False witness: liar

  

INTRO: Have you ever seen someone that was, just totally out of control? Have you, you personally been that person? To be honest, we have all probably been lacking self-control or temperance at some time in our lives. And to be sure, when we are out of control we tend to be less than pretty in God's eyes or human eyes. Today I want to continue in a series on temperance. I have dealt with Anger, Sexual Impurity, and Addictions. I have saved the deadliest for last. The Tongue. There is nothing more deadly, more destructive, , more shifty, more harmful, more contagious nor more universal in our lives as Christians than our tongues. James tells us:

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.

Speech is a wonderful gift from God. Whereas our family pet can only bark, whine, growl, hiss or spit, we can communicate wonderfully. We can use our voices for good. We can praise God. We can uplift and exhort our fellow man. I have no problem with that. God has not edict against that. But, that is not what we tend to do.

Did you know God gives us seven (7) sins he totally hates? Listen to these and see how many relate to our tongue…

Proverbs 6:16 - 19 16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

I counted three for sure!

We use our speech to brag on ourselves, and we say all things for our benefit:

Job 16:3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

We open our mouths without thinking and get into trouble (hoof in mouth disease):

Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Old saying: There are those who may suspect or wonder if we are fools until we open our mouths and remove all doubt.

  

We fuel the fire so to speak and continue in disagreements:

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

3 John 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

We bear false witness and stretch the truth until it breaks:

Malachi 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

1 Thessalonians 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:

All this from a little organ called the tongue. Yes God gave us a great thing -- speech. But when we misuse it or when it is out of control, it is dreadful.

It is a killer. It can divide a congregation. It can separate best friends. It can fortify enemies. It can ruin lives. It can wound and scar for life.

 

The Native Americans (in movies) often describe it as a "forked tongue." God's Word says:

Psalms 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips.

 

The tongue can be like a knife or sword.

Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

 

The tongue can be like a fire, hot stoker or branding iron.

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.

 

The tongue can be like an ice cycle, icy, sharp and deadly.

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

1 Peter 3:8 - 11 8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

David had problems with other's tongues:

Psalms 64:1 - 5 1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

We will have problems with other's tongues:

 

Let us get started into the message…

I have seven (7) observations I want to share today…

1. We need to err on the side of silence - not saturation

Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Old Axiom - If you can't say anything good about someone, say nothing. -

Titus 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

2. We need to add to our speech love and grace -

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

3. We need to add to our speech caution - not carelessness -

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.

False saying - "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me!"

  

4. We need to use wisdom in our speech not wasteful foolishness -

Job 6:25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

5. We need to use our speech to share the works and love of God

Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

6. We need to forego all forms of evil speaking -

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

7. We represent Christ as His ambassadors, how we speak is how people envision Him

Ephesians 6:19 - 20 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

So, what do we do about our tongue?

How do we tame it?

We can't according to James.

But we can give it to God.

We can season our life and speech with love and grace.

We can follow the Lord's example.

We can let go of all forms of evil speaking.

We can lie godly and speak good things of the Lord.

We can start today!

 

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 070206am