Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 2-9-18

Controlling The Tongue James 3:1-12
ing fire—- the tongue’s wickedness has its source in hell. Before you speak, ask, ‘Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? James 3:1 Being A Teacher
Is Not Easy
(James 3:1) Not many of you should become teachers, my broth- ers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
The crowds evaluated Jesus’ teaching as one who taught with au- thority. His enemies tried to entrap Jesus as a teacher with various questions, and at one-point Jesus
declared His teaching was more wise than King Solomon’s teaching (Luke 11:31).
God judges false prophets and false teachers because they mislead people. Those who teach will be tested and evaluated more strictly than others. They must live in ac- cordance with their teachings or be judged hypocrites.
James 3:2, 3 We All Make Mistakes And Stumble
(James 3:2,3) For we all stum- ble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bri- dle his whole body. 3) If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
Sincere Bible-believing teachers who pray for the help of the Holy Spirit when they teach will not be condemned if they make a mistake.
People make mistakes that are unintentional errors in facts and judgments; these mistakes are not sins. Someone may mistakenly think they are saying one thing when something else comes out of their mouths.
Only God speaks and acts per- fectly, and Jesus is our example of perfect speaking and acting.
What we say is the most difficult part of our lives to control.
James used an illustration famil- iar to those who received his letter. They knew how riders or chariot drivers controlled horses. If believ- ers can keep their mouths perfectly in check, then they have the power to choose how to use their bodies.
People can often keep their bod- ies out of trouble by not gossiping, putting others down, bragging, ma- nipulating, exaggerating, complain- ing, flattering or lying.
James 3:4 Asking God to Pilot Our Lives
(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 di- rects.
Today, someone might argue from the fact that the steering wheel of a car or bus is small, but the driver can use it to take people wherever he wants them to go by turning that small wheel. Small things can create or move big things. Small short words can work great good or great evil.
We need to humbly and submis- sively ask God to pilot our thoughts and our lives and guide us where He wills.
James 3:5,6 ) The Tongue Can Spark Satan’s Fire
(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.
Some people use their tongues to brag or tell lies about themselves and their accomplishments. Some use lies to destroy the reputation of a godly teacher.
A “small” lie can lead to a “big” deception that creates great harm.
James wrote about what can happen when someone does not carefully control what they say.
Even if they try to prayerfully control what they say, they can speak mistakenly or angrily and set events in motion that far exceed what was factually intended, said, or done.
Evil people can say or do things to believers that can influence them to say something that stains them.
Christians and teachers have many spiritual enemies that will tempt them to say and do things
that will promote the devil’s work.
James 3:7-12 It’s Better To Put Out Old Fires, Than Start New Ones
(James 3:7-12) For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, Both do- mestic and wild animals have been tamed by human beings, and God gave human beings dominion over all the animals (see Genesis 1:26) 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 salt water? 12) Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
People have often watched amazed when some animals have responded to their trainers in ways thought impossible; but these ani- mal acts are easier to achieve than our taming of our human tongues.
Each day Christians need to pray for God to tame their tongues.
Good-hearted people will some- times say destructive words in the heat of flaming anger, and it can poison a relationship forever.
James wanted to impress upon believers how important it is to guard our emotions, emotional re- sponses, and emotional words that can do so much harm. And when we sin with our tongues, we need to ask forgiveness.
James wrote to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are not perfect and in this life they do not speak perfectly, but they cannot use their human imperfections as ex- cuses for not changing.
Jesus commanded, “Bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:28).
Believers ought not to both bless and curse, because they have ac- cepted Jesus as their Lord and Sav- ior, and Jesus can guard their mouths if they will let Him.
(James 13-18) Genuine
Wisdom From Heaven
(James 13-18) Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15) This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.16) For where jealousy and selfish am- bition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to rea- son, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18) And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
So, remembering all this, how can we as Christians overcome crit- icism? In his letter, James gives us the answer: “Who is wise and un- derstanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).
As Christians, prayerful Bible study will make us more wise and understanding; since "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wis- dom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise" (Psalms 111:10). As Christians, whether we are judged by others or not, because we are wise and understanding to an increasing degree, we will show it by our good life.
Christians should choose to live a good life and produce good fruits in words and actions.
The second lesson of the month continues with Jesus’ brother, James. Many Jews who embraced Christianity wanted to become teachers (masters). James warned that although it is good to aspire to teach, the teachers’ responsibility is
great because their WORDS affect others spiritual lives.
Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but controlling your desire to say what you shouldn’t. James compares the damage the tongue can do to a rag-
PAGE 6-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018