July 18, 2010

Week Four – “Faith Exercises Speech Control” James 3:1-12

“1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or 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. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

Three pastors went to the pastor convention and were all sharing one room. The first pastor said, "Let's confess our secret sins one to another. I'll start - my secret sin is I just love to gamble. When I go out of town, it's cha-ching cha-ching, let the machines ring."

The second pastor said, "My secret sin is that I just hate working. I copy all my sermons from those given by other pastors."

The third pastor said, "My secret sin is gossiping and, oh boy, I just can't wait to get out of this room!"

Your tongue is dangerous and can be hurtful to others and eventually will come back on you.

How many of you remember a hurtful thing said to you 20 years ago or longer?

WHAT JAMES TELLS US ABOUT THE TONGUE

Leaders must have their tongue under control, V. 1

James says don’t try to be a leader if you don’t have your tongue under control. I am going to share some things with you later that will make this even more clear, but there is enough right here to make the point.

Leaders and teachers have significant impact on the hearts and minds and spirits of people under their influence. Because that is true they will be judged severely by God – and for that matter, by man – as that is as it should be!

If you are assuming the role of a leader or a teacher and your life is out of control and your tongue occasionally spews poisons and hurtful stuff you are in a world of hurt and you are creating a world of hurt. Do yourself a favor and do God a favor and do everyone else a favor and step out of leadership until you get it under control.

Controlling the tongue is a test of spiritual maturity, V. 2

Before they speak, spiritually mature people ask themselves:

• T—Is it true?

• H—Is it helpful?
• I—Is it inspiring?
• N—Is it necessary?
• K—Is it kind?

If we can’t answer any of these in the positive, then we should think twice about saying anything.

Controlling the tongue is very difficult, Vv. 3-9

An out of control tongue is very destructive

Like a wild untamed beast

Harriet, the church gossip and self-appointed supervisor of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose into other people’s business. Several were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked all afternoon in front of the town’s only bar. She commented to George & others that anyone seeing it there would know that he was an alcoholic. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment & walked away. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Harriet’s house and left it there all night.

Like a fire,,,,,

At 9:00 p.m., Sunday evening, October 8, 1871, the great Chicago Fire began on DeKoven street in a barn owned by Patrick and Catherine O’Leary. The fire would burn for the next two days; before it was finished it would blacken three and one half square miles of the city and destroy over 17,000 buildings before it was checked by gunpowder explosions on the south line of the fire. The fire left over 100,000 people homeless and cost over 300 lives. But, ironically, that was not the greatest inferno in the American Midwest that year. Historians tell us that on the same day that dry autumn a spark ignited a raging fire in the North Woods of Wisconsin which burned for an entire month, taking more lives than the Chicago Fire. A veritable firestorm destroyed billions of cubic yards of precious timber—all from one spark!

Like deadly poison….

Someone has calculated that for every word in Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf, 125 lives were lost in World War II. Perhaps our words will not cause wars or wreck cities, but what we say can break the heart of loved ones, ruin reputations and destroy friendships. Worse still is the knowledge that our words can destroy souls, sending them into eternity without Christ. How many people have been turned away from following Christ because of intemperate words of God’s professed people!

Josh McDowell shared, “Before I discovered that my cell phone had a lock screen button I would often accidentally dial the last number in my cell phone’s registry. The biggest problem was that I never realized that it had happened. I would go on with normal life and my cell phone would be on for an extended period of time without my knowing that it was on. When I would discover that it was on… either when I picked it up to make a call or when the person on the other end would hang up, and call me back to laugh at me, I would have this strange fear overcome me. What did I say, when I didn’t know that someone else was listening? Did I gossip? Did I say something evil? Did I make a joke that I would not want the person on the other end to know about? Well that it is how it is with the Holy Spirit all the time! It’s like your cell phone has accidentally called God and you didn’t know it. Would you live your live differently if every conversation and ever thought you ever had was being accidentally broadcast across the cell phone in your pocket to your Pastor? Well it is not being broadcast to your Pastor, but your every thought and the ear of God hears every word!”

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT YOUR TONGUE?

TRY TO MANAGE IT?

LET GOD DEAL WITH IT?

WHAT THE TONGUE TELLS YOU ABOUT YOURSELF

You don’t have a tongue problem - have a heart problem……

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks," states Matthew 12:33.

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'9For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean';” Matthew 15:18-20

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

Four Fundamental Heart Problems:

Guilty Heart – Guilt says, “I owe you” – (I took something from you)

If I have a guilty heart how does that express itself in my speech?

Guilty Hearts Give Excuses

Guilty Hearts Accuse Others

Angry Heart– Anger says, “you owe me” - (you took something from me)

An angry heart reveals itself through the tongue:

Angry Hearts Are Hurtful – They Blame You

Angry Hearts Are Hateful – They Burn You

Greedy Heart – Greed says, “I owe me” – (I will take something for me)

The greedy heart betrays itself by speaking these ways:

Greedy People Complain

Greedy People Center On Themselves

Jealous Heart – Jealousy says, “God owes me.” – (I missed something)

Jealous hearts express speak like this:

Jealous People Criticize

Jealous People Compare

Jealous People Celebrate

So, what should I do?

Deal with your heart issues! Get your heart right to get your tongue under control.

To Deal With A Guilty Heart – confession (to person offended)

To Deal With An Angry Heart – forgiveness

To Deal With A Greedy Heart – generosity

To Deal With A Jealous Heart - celebration

If you want to tame the tongue – get to the heart of the problem!

Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:10

HERE AT THE END OF THIS ADMOTION ABOUT THE TONGUE JAMES CONCLUDES BY TELLING US WE CAN CHOOSE HOW WE USE OUR TONGUE. IF ENOUGH OF US MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS WE COULD MAKE THIS CHURCH INTO A LIFE-GIVING PLACE – A HOPE-FILLED PLACE….. WHERE DO YOU NEED GIVE PLACE IN YOUR HEART TO GOD?

July 17, 2010

"Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so." James 3:10

After a passionate and detailed description of the latent dangers of an uncontrolled tongue James summarizes with this brief statement. Brief, yes, but very revealing.

What he says essentially is, "Decide what you want coming out of your mouth, praises or curses." That implies that the tongue CAN be controlled and that you are ultimately responsible to do so.

Think about the picture painted here. James portrays a person who stands in church on Sunday singing and praising and testifying but the rest of the week launches swear words with regularity. Is that how you want to be characterized? Do you want to be known as someone who has an uncontrolled tongue? Do you want your life controlled by your tongue?

Knowing that you can control your tongue probably means that you should, don't you think? Or do you think God will look the other way while you blurt out hurtful and obscene stuff? I don't think so!

Certainly, controlling your tongue is not easy. There is no arguing that. But neither is it easy to be praising one moment and cursing the next.

The first decision you need to make is simply, "Do I really want to control my tongue?"

If you are willing then you need to understand the source of the problem. Your tongue problem is not a tongue problem - it is a heart problem!

"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." Matthew 12:34-35

"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'" Matthew 15:17-18

What James knew and Jesus made clear, an uncontrolled tongue is a symptom of a sinful heart. A tongue problem is actually a heart problem. So managing the tongue or trying to control it will be an exercise in frustration. If you want to win the battle with your tongue you must allow God to deal with issues of the heart. Until you are willing to give God access into the deep dark dispusting secrets of your heart you will lose the battle with your tongue. Unless you are willing to get that serious with God - you are talking nonsense.

July 16, 2010

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:6

Sounds serious doesn't it?

It is!

Something needs to be done about this!

But what? How do you get control over this dangerous and destructive little organ?

Jesus, as usual, offers some insights:

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:33-34

Here's the deal, problems with the tongue are really problems with the heart! Your tongue simply reveals what is contained in your heart. Fix your heart and your tongue issues will cease!

Easier said that done!

Let's examine some of the heart issues that expose themselves through the tongue. Andy Stanley in his book "It Came From Within" identifies four basic problems of the heart that are betrayed by the tongue.

Those four are guilt, anger, jealousy and greed. When any of these or any combination of them lurk in your heart it is inevitable that eventually they will express themselves through your speech.

Ever have one of those moments when something ugly erupts off your tongue and embarrasses you. To cover the awkwardness you say, "Wow! I don't know where that came from!"

It came from within! Once you are exposed like that you have a choice, will you deal with your heart or try harder to filter your speech? Your decision on that will make you or break you. Bite your tongue or right your heart?

July 15, 2010

"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 person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man 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 men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." James 3:3-12

Remember the old saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me"?

Most old sayings get to be old sayings by being true. I am not so sure about this one because words DO hurt. You have been hurt by careless words, so have I. You have hurt others with careless words, so have I.

I want you to notice how many warnings James gives regarding the tongue in these several verses.

First, he tells us it is out of control. It is easier to control large beasts and huge ships than the tiny tongue.

Second, he tells us it is a fire. Have you ever been burned by words? Yeh, me too! And you have scorched some people with your words, too, right? Me, too.

Third, he refers to it as a "restless evil". Not just evil but restless and evil. The tongue can't wait to spread its evil. Not good!

Fourth, it even gets worse! The tongue is filled with "deadly poison". Is he saying that the tongue can kill people? Yes, I think that is exactly what he is saying.

And finally, if these are enough bad things, here is one even worse - the same tongue that can honor God also is capable of cursing Him! That is disgusting!

With all these things in mind I am sure you can understand why he says earlier that the one who controls his tongue is "perfect in all his ways"!

How does that happen? How do you get this powerful little trouble-maker under control?

That is what I will talk about the rest of the week. But it won't really matter until you get sick and tired of the damage your tongue is causing. Until you decide that it is time to get your tongue under control it really won't matter what I tell you.

Are you hurting over something that was said to you by another? Is someone else hurting because of your tongue-lashing?

Start there! Do something today to begin repairing the damage!

July 14, 2010

"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 person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man 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 men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" James 3:3-11

Little things can make a big difference!

I remember a tiny o-ring worth a couple of dollars that caused the Challenger to explode and killed our brave shuttle astronauts.

It was the failure of a few tiny heat tiles that caused the Columbia to disintigrate upon reentry high above Texas. More of our finest men and women perished in that tragedy.

A cell phone is small enough to fit in the tiniest hand. It can be placed in a purse or hidden in a pocket and yet it has revoluntioned the world!

Years ago I bought a tiny ring with a little diamond on it and offered it to a beautiful woman. She accepted it and agreed to become my wife and changed my life! It was a little thing that made a huge difference!

In our text, James is warning and bemoaning the destruction caused by something as tiny as the tongue.

I bet you are familiar with someone who has created big damage with a few words from a tiny tongue. Maybe that someone is you.

Once the damage is done it is impossible to undo it.

Wild animals can be tamed. Large ships can be controlled with tiny rudders. But the tongue is almost impossible to control. Left uncontrolled the tongue is like a raging fire. Have you ever tried to put out a forest fire?

James' big point in this short portion of Scripture is a huge truth about a tiny thing that requires lots of attention - the tongue!

Little things can make a big difference.

July 13, 2010

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." James 3:1-2

Did you ever have a perfect teacher? I'm sure you would remember if you did!

I had some very good ones. Each of them impacted my life in significant ways. But I can't say I ever had a perfect teacher.

What would a perfect teacher look like? How would you know?

James comments on that. He says that a perfect teacher is one who never says the wrong thing and therefore, says the right things. If a person can control his tongue he will have his life under control.

You can trust someone like that! You can learn from someone like that!

And, his challenge is this: until you get your speech under control, don't aspire to teach. Teaching and leading is far too important to leave to immature amatuers. Teachers and leaders have tremendous influence and if they have not gained control over their toungue they will disgrace themselves, discredit the Gospel and do harm to others.

When I was a kid my mom always said, "What you say is what you are!"

James agree with that! If you say you are a leader or a teacher but if your speech and your conversations are negative, or untrue, or unkind, you will betray your immature heart.

Leaders lead by example and teacher's lessons are "caught" as they are taught. Words mean things and have powerful significance. Therefore, the words of a teacher must come out of a mature, consecrated, and learned heart. Until then, don't be in a big rush to teach.

How is your heart? How are your words and your speech? What are you willing to do to change?

July 12, 2010

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1

I have always had trouble understanding people who are ambitious to be the leader. We see a lot of those these days.

Being shy by nature, I shied away from leadership. Early in my life you could have characterized me as a reluctant leader. It seemed like whenever there was a class election at school I would end up nominated and then once I get nominated I usually got elected.

I think I was elected either class president or vice-president most years from middle school on through college. Some of those years I ran for the office and some years it didn't. It didn't seem to matter.

When I started playing Little League baseball and the coaches started assigning kids positions, they put me at catcher. I sooned learned that the catcher is the leader on the field.

As a basketball player I became a point guard - another leadership position.

Leadership seemed to seek me. I am not boasting I am just sharing how it happened in my life.

By the time I got to college and I knew I would be studying for ministry, I began to embrace leadership since I knew I would one day be called upon to lead a congregation. I recognized how God had His hand on me preparing me to be a leader.

Early in my pastoral ministry I was blessed to gain Dr. John Maxwell as a mentor and a friend. He taught me invaluable lessons about how to lead in a way that honors God and builds churches. While he taught me countless concepts about how to lead, the greatest thing he taught me was the heart of a leader. Like James, he taught that leadership is a sacred responsibility that should be assumed carefully by serious-minded spirit-filled people.

If you want leadership but fail to embrace the responsibility and the accountability, you will set yourself on a path to failure.

You will, in fact, lead. But where will you be leading people? What value will you be adding to their lives?

If you find yourself eager to assume a leadership position make sure you are up for the job. Be careful! Make sure the driving force of your desire for leadership is not motivated by selfish motives. Ask yourself, "Why is it that I find myself desiring this position? Is it out of compassion for others and the desire to help them? Or, do I find myself coveting the power and the prestige of getting in a leadership position?"

Don't be too ambitious to rush into leadership. Allow God to prepare you and submit to a mentor who can shape you into a Godly leader. Don't embrace the responsibility until you are willing to receive the correction, the direction and the accountability to those you serve.

In this day we need as many Godly leaders as He can raise up. But we don't need leaders who are self-promoted for purely carnal motives.

Spend some time today reading over these first verses of chapter three and listen to what God wants to say to you about your leadership.