THE DIFFERENCE IS THE BUT…
Watch Yo Mouth!!!
Every once in a while I meet, or sadly, become the guy who believes in God but cannot control his tongue.
Can you relate?
Well most people think this is a discipline problem… They will tell themselves things like…
don’t say cuss words
do not be a gossip
do not be the guy or girl that is talking crap about someone else.
The truth is, these are not a problem with the mouth, however in Luke 6:45 Jesus Himself says…
“…for out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks”
What comes out of our mouth, comes directly from the heart… Let that sink in.. and…
Lets dig in→
JAMES CHAPTER 3
VERSE 1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
This one scared me for a long time…
IF I teach God’s word to others I will be held to a higher standard… I mean why would I WANT to raise the bar?
I have come to accept that I just cant help it. I really believe that this is who God made me to be. I am, To teach
I think this is specifically talking about church leaders though.
lol In the broader scope of the letter maybe he is calling out some unqualified wannabees
VERSE 2
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
I was sooo happy to see the words “we all stumble in many ways”
it is so super easy to think of people in your life and think, “man, they sure do have it together” and begin to view them as spiritual in a way that is unattainable.
when we compare ourselves to people like that, we start to view things as a competition of sorts.
if you know someone like that, befriend them. Learn from them. What are the Jesus centered things that they do, that you could do.
ask them. will you walk with me spiritually, can we be friends ?
Perfect means complete and mature
if you can control your tongue perfectly, then you can control what you do.
why?
because Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks”
VERSE 3-5
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
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 directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
Words matter James is talking to the church here, and it seems that there are people fighting and arguing. They want places of power within the church. They say things to hurt each other. This is not how we should represent Jesus
Have you ever blown up at someone when you were angry?
sure you have, I have too. what was your excuse?
I didn’t mean that…? well maybe you did, at least a little bit.
and now? there are consequences.
I think what James is getting at is that there ARE consequences when we say things.
whether we are telling someone somebody else’s business, or calling someone names, or just spitting venom out of anger, our words can change the trajectory of our life and those around us
Horses are WILD, unpredictable, and dangerous if they are not controlled
So are you and me
Ships, if you start them up and let them go, will hurt someone or be destroyed
so will you and me
Have you ever heard the term “say it till you mean it? Even if you haven’t, you for sure have seen this played out in a movie, if not your own life.
a guy on a football field needs to get two yards to win the game and the coach tells him…
“you can do this, you know you can do this, can you get two yards”
he replies halfheartedly “I can get two yards”
Coach: I SAID, CAN YOU GET ME TWO YARDS TO WIN THIS GAME!!!
He replies “I CAN GET TWO YARDS COACH!!!” But louder and with fire in his veins…
There is something about saying it out loud that matters
VERSE 6-12
6 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. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 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.
I Really feel like James is saying,
You call yourselves Christians. but you don’t act or sound like Christ,
You call yourselves The Way, but you don’t act or sound the way Jesus did
Tighten it up
Staining the whole body
You make yourself and the rest of us look bad when you talk like this, when you fight like this,
From the same mouth….
you are being hypocritical
no body is perfect but this should not be the norm
VERSE 13
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
YOU think you can teach? YOU think you’re the one who gets it?
remember how the chapter started out? I am pretty sure he is circling back to that.
Look for the humble gentle person who is living it out. let him be the teacher.
those are tough shoes to fill and I often wonder if I “measure up”
VERSE 14-16
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 ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
If you see someone get the positions you want and you’re bitter, and jealous, own it so that you can repent of it.
Is God NOT in control?
Is God NOT sovereign
Do YOU know better
We may think we are being smart by pretending to be smarter, to hide our shortcomings, to act like we “have it together” and are deserving of the positions we want. but the truth is , this limits us.
It limits our growth.
It limits our repentance
But we get jealous, and fight among ourselves, we get hate in our hearts for our brothers and sisters
We try to make them look bad …
because we want the position
because we want to be seen and heard and respected
because we want to see ourselves as righteous
James is saying that you are acting like you play for the other team.
this is how the world acts
not us
not the way
not Jesus followers
VERSE 17-18
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
If you want to be wise, or be a teacher….
You will first be pure (holy, ie set apart)
You will be peaceable
You will be gentle, not aggressive,
You will be open to reason (because a teacher back then was a leader, not just a teacher, willing to listen and see both sides)
You will be full of good fruits
Your life will show it.
genuine faith or a Spirit-led life is seen in transformed character and conduct, not just belief or words.
When there is quarrelling among believers we stain our reputation with the world.
we don’t win bc we don’t have peace
the world doesn’t want in when we look like them
When we make peace
its easier to learn God’s way
we look more like Jesus
The world wants what we have.
Peace doesn’t mean pushover
Jesus stood for truth
Jesus did not create conflict where there didn’t need to be conflict
Next Week We Look At Where Conflicts Come From & Who is in Control →
YOUR MONDAY MARCHING ORDERS
ARE COMING…
IN CASE YOU MISSED A FEW
SUNDAY NIGHT MEETING
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Tomorrow is Monday and that means you're likely heading into one of your largest areas of influence.
The people you will see tomorrow…
ENTER THE ARENA
EVERY MAN FOR THEMSELVES?
Tomorrow you enter the arena… If your like most of us, this is where you spend most of your time. This is the YOUR mission field. This is where, YOU, get to fight back the darkness!!!
Until next time,
Our King Is Coming, Be Ready