Temple Baptist Church - 10-27-2021
James 3:1-10
Introduction:
A. One of the laws of Biblical Hermeneutics is that of Full Mention where "God declares his full mind upon any subject vital to our spiritual life." We find in these verses the Full Mention Principle concerning the tongue.
B. It is of the utmost importance to us because we all have one! Many sins of the Bible have little effect upon certain people. Last week, we dealt with Satan’s desire for the local church: division! Division can be accomplished in more than one way, but the simplest of these ways is that of an unbridled tongue.
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. (A bridle is something that all of us are familiar with: a device used to both control and guide a horse. It controls the horse to keep him from being rambunctious and it guides the horse to move in the direction of its master's desire.)
Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. (The more that we say, the more likely we are to say something that is either wrong or something right that we will later regret. Just because something is right does not mean that the time or the situation is right for it to be said. Refrain means wisdom in the tongue's use.)
Proverbs 12:13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 17:27-28 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. (28) Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. (This is one of my wife's life verses [the other being Isaiah 26:3]. To keep is to guard: to guard your mouth and your tongue which in turn will guard your soul.)
Ecclesiastes 5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
Ecclesiastes 10:13-14 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. (14) A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (The division within the Corinthian Church would have never come about if its members had refrained from saying! Each and everyone of us has different opinions and thoughts in certain areas and wisdom is needed to understand what needs to be said and what does not need to be said, thus maintaining unity within the body.)
C. God's desire for the local church is unity! I have often said, “Keep your words short and sweet for you never know which ones you will eat.” Speaking without thinking, in times of reaction, or in times of anger can do untold damage. Once words are turned loose, there is neither stopping nor gathering them back up again. You can never take them back once said and their effect is often lasting.
Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
D. Like the subject of hell, we do not preach on the tongue often enough. I try to watch mine but often turn it loose. A man once said, “Never leave your tongue in gear while your brain is idling!” We are all prone to do this so I will try to give each of us a little help to refresh our minds and resolves concerning its use.
E. Last week, we have established several things:
1. Everyone has a tongue!
2. The tongues can be wicked when allowed to flap!
3. All of us has at one time or another, said things that ought not to be said and we regret.
4. Be not many masters: we do not have to speak on every subject because we do not know every subject.
5. The more we speak, the more opportunity to say the wrong thing.
F. Some folks think that if they think it, they need to say it. Some folks think that if it is right, they need to say it. You do not need to say everything that you think nor is it always appropriate to say everything that is right. There is a time and purpose to every season and that includes the tongue.
G. Here are several misuses of the tongue that cause infinite damage and or division:
1. A Divisive Tongue - Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (God hates discord and the tongue that goes around spreading seeds of discontent. The church has an order: come to the pastor first with problems that involve the welfare of the church.)
2. A Gossiping Tongue - Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. (Most of the time, you need to pray for an individual, not talk about them! “Did you hear about so-in-so?” What a shame! We are not even to speak of those things done in darkness when it comes to sin and the less people who know about certain situations the easier that it becomes to reconcile them.)
Here are some questions that will stop the "gossiping tongue.”
a. What is your reason for telling me?
b. Where did you get your information?
c. Have you gone to those directly involved?
d. Have you personally checked out all of the facts?
e. Can I quote you if I check this out?
3. A Backbiting Tongue - Psalms 15:1-3 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. (This one goes along with the previous tongue but is a little different. Gossip is to spread while backbiting is to devour and defame. Satan does a good enough job without us so leave the slander up to him! He is the accuser.)
Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Psalms 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
4. A Critical Tongue - Psalms 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: (Many times, people’s faults are outward and easily seen. They become the object of critical people with critical tongues. Most of the time, I had rather have the object’s outward fault than to have a clean outward and have a harsh, critical spirit on the inside. Our Lord spoke more than once of the Pharisees cleaning the outward while remaining wickedly religious on the inside.)
5. A Prating Tongue - 3 John 9-10 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 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.
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. (Mischievous tongue. Notice this verse said “witnesses,” not gossipers! Simply trying to stir up something. By the way, never listen to evil reports against God’s men. Tell the individual who speaks against the pastor that you want him or her to go with you to visit the man of God and give him the complaint personally.)
Psalms 50:19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Psalms 52:2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Psalms 52:4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
6. A Murmuring Tongue – Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Exodus 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (I don’t like this or I don’t like that! No one can please everyone all of the time and some decisions that must be made are not popular.)
7. A Discouraging Tongue - Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. (Be an encouragement to others so that, when your time comes to be down in the dumps, there will be someone there to encourage you. The world discourages us enough without help from the inside.)
9. A Lying Tongue - Psalms 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
Psalms 120:2-3 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Tell the truth! A half truth is still a whole lie so, if you are not sure about something, it is better left unsaid.)
Conclusion:
A. The tongue is descriptive. The tongue shows on the outside what is on the inside.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
B. The tongue is devious. Set on fire in hell is a wonderful description of how devious the tongue is: belongs to us but lent to Satan.
Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Psalms 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Psalms 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Psalms 39:3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
C. The tongue is destructive.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
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