A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS SPIRITUAL FITNESS:  TONGUE-TAMING

James, the author of this epistle, is desirous that every believer will grow up to exhibit Christ-like maturity. He shows God can use the difficult situations we find ourselves in to build our character. If we determine to cooperate with God's grace as we go through trials, we will mature. And as we mature, our capacity for manifesting God's life will increase.

Paul writes Timothy, "Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next." (1 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT)

When it comes to spiritual fitness, the most difficult muscle of the body to control is the tongue.

Are you spiritually fit?  How you use your words will reveal much about your heart's true condition.

Jesus said, "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. 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 12:34-37)

The words of our lips often reveal what is in our hearts.  "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matthew 15:19)  In this we have evidence that we all fall short of God's glorious ideal for living (Romans 3:23). The writer of Proverbs says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)

The condition of our hearts is often expressed by our words.

Every day we can hear untamed tongues in action filling the world with damaging criticism, slander, sarcasm, maligning, gossip, exaggerations, distortions, innuendos and blasphemies.

The Psalmist spoke of the need of bringing the tongue under God's control:  "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3)

He was saying, "I need a new kind of mouth guard. Not one that keeps damaging objects from coming in but one that keeps damaging words from coming out.  I need You, Lord, to tame my tongue!"

Do your words build up or betray? Encourage or discourage? Direct or destroy? Heal or hurt? Confuse or clarify?  Cast vision or cast doubt?

We have a great responsibility as those created by God to communicate His life and truth.  Let the Spirit give you an inner conviction and outward discipline to control your tongue.

Paul writes to Timothy: "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)

James has already introduced the importance of controlling our speech: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19)

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26)

Spirit-controlled speech is mandatory for Christian maturity and especially for those who would be teachers.

1. What teacher had a positive impact on your life? Do you remember how their words affected you?  Which teachers were most successful in causing you to learn?

2. Who do you know that exhibits wisdom in having the right words at the right time for the right situation?  Explain.

3. What words have encouraged you the most in your life? What words brought discouragement?

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF WORDS

Just because a person can speak does not mean that they are qualified to teach. A teacher must be a mature Christian who knows how to edify, instruct, educate and bless with words that flow from a purified heart.

It is important not to be hypocritical, praising God once moment, while being careless with our words the next.

How often we wish we could take our words back, but once they are launched, they cannot be intercepted or retrieved.

Words have great influence over our self-concept and our behavior.

"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)

II. THE POWER OF WORDS

A. TO DIRECT A COURSE

1. AS THE SMALL BIT CONTROLS THE BIG BEAST (3:3)

"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. "  (James 3:3)

2. AS THE LITTLE RUDDER DIRECTS THE BIG SHIP (3:4)

"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." (James 3:4)

3. AS OUR LITTLE TONGUE DIRECTS OUR DESTINY

 "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts." (James 3:5)

B. TO DESTROY

1. AS A FIRE

"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." (James 3:5-6)

2. AS A POISON

"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." (James 3:7-8)

C. TO DELIGHT

1. AS A FOUNTAIN

"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 3:9-11)

2. AS A FRUIT-BEARING TREE

"My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." (James 3:12)

D.  DEMONSTRATING THE DANGER OF DUPLICITY

                The same mouth can bless or curse.

The same mouth can build-up or tear down.

We can choose to give our mouths over to the Lord.

III. PRACTICAL APPLICATION- SPIRITUAL SPEECH THERAPY

A.  MAINTAIN INTERNAL CONVICTIONS

1. Live in the light of the judgment seat of Christ

"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)

"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 NIV)

2. Practice Biblical Meditation

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

"My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:" (Psalm 39:2)

3. Practice the Presence of God

When Isaiah saw the Lord he was convicted of his condition before God: 'Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)

4. Hold Yourself Accountable to Build and Bless

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

B. PRACTICE OUTWARD DISCIPLINES

1. Think before you speak:

T- Is it TRUE?

H- Is it HELPFUL?

I- Is it INSPIRING?

N- Is it NECESSARY?

K- Is it KIND?

2. Take Words With You

"Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips." (Hosea 14:2)

3. Speak the truth in love

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4:15)

1. Why do you think there is greater judgment given to teachers?

2. Why is the tongue untamable apart from Divine intervention? (See James 3:8; John 6:63)

3. In what ways is the tongue like a bit and bridle? A rudder? A fire? A poison? A wild beast? A fountain? A fruit-bearing tree?

4. In what ways are words like 'power tools'?

5. In what situations, or under what conditions, do you find it most difficult to control your tongue?

6. What does the fact that we can curse others and praise God with the same tongue say about human nature?

7. When do you feel like your tongue is set on fire by hell? When do you feel that your tongue has been set on fire by heaven?