|
“The World’s Smallest Troublemaker”
Introduction: Have you ever heard the expression "He is a troublemaker." Well, I need to inform you we have a troublemaker present this morning within our congregation. He is what you call the "world's smallest troublemaker." Oh! By the way, if you are wondering about whom I am talking, he is hiding behind those ivories in your mouth, HE IS YOUR TONGUE.
Someone said, "A sharp tongue is the only tool with an edge that grows keener with constant use." This little bit of muscle within our mouths can create all kinds of incredible trouble for us.
It can start wars and stop them.
It can create stress and then relieve it.
It can express love and renounce it.
It can build up friendships and then tear them down again.
It can praise and worship God, or with those same instruments curse God and deny His existence.
The tongue can be our strongest asset or our greatest liability.
It is a true what we read in Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."
The Christians to whom James wrote were having serious problems with their tongues. In each of the FIVE chapters of James, including the extended chapter we are going to study this morning, he has something to say about the tongue or our speech. Notice:
James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to HEAR, slow to SPEAK, slow to WRATH.”
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.”
James 2:12 “So SPEAK ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”
James 4:11 “SPEAK not evil one of another, brethren. He that SPEAKETH evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, SPEAKETH evil of the law…”
James 5:12 “…, my brethren, SWEAR not, either by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea: and your nay, nay: lest ye fall into condemnation.”
Now, please follow me as I read James 3:1-12:
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (2) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (3) Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. (4) Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. (5) Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! (6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (7) For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: (8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (12) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”
Question: Are our literal tongues the real problem? Answer: NO! In Matthew 15:17-20 Jesus unmasks the culprit that controls the tongue.
“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?(18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
The tongue is neither friend nor foe. It’s merely a messenger that delivers the dictates of the HEART. So every time James uses the word TONGUE in our passage today, think HEART.
Since many have referred to James' letter as the Proverbs of the New Testament, we should not be surprised to find many verses on the tongue in that Old Testament book.
Proverbs 10:19, "…He that refraineth his lips is wise."
Proverbs 15:1-2, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (2) The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”
Proverbs 21:23, "Who so keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble."
Now retuning to James chapter 3, understand that James is not saying "SILENCE IS GOLDEN," rather he is dealing with the control of the tongue. Perhaps you noticed as we read, James gives us six pictures of the tongue:
In verse 3 the tongue is likened to the BIT in the horse’s mouth.
In verse 4 the tongue is likened to the RUDDER of a ship.
In verse 5 the tongue is likened to FIRE.
In verse 7-8 the tongue is likened to POISONOUS animals.
In verse 11 the tongue is likened to a FOUNTAIN, and
In verse 12 the tongue is likened to a FIG TREE.
You can put these six pictures into three meaningful classifications that then reveal the THREE POWERS OF THE TONGUE.
First: There is the POWER TO DEFILE: verses 1-4. In verse 1 James comes to those who held responsible positions in the church. “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” The word "MASTER" is the word for "Teacher". The very position itself opens doors for influence and persuasion. A teacher in many respects is in the "Drivers Seat."
Stop for a moment, because what I am about to say extends not only into the church but also into our homes. Our children look for guidance from those of us who are parents and are in "the driver’s seat."
Remember this often-used phrase that speaks volumes, "What we DO speaks so loudly that others cannot HEAR what we say."
Or let me say it this way, "It is not so much WHAT we say, but HOW and the WAY we live out what we SAY that is of supreme importance."
James’ words of caution were necessary because of leaders who did not PRACTICE what they PREACHED. They loved to talk and show-off, but not necessarily practice what they preached. The teachers were more interested in glorifying themselves than the Lord.
So James, who doesn't mince words, comes right out with some more thunder, "WITH RESPONSIBILITY, THERE COMES ACCOUNTABILITY." You who have the power to influence so many others by what you say will be judged more harshly for what you say. Remember, "WITH RESPONSIBILITY, THERE COMES ACCOUNTABILITY."
Wait a minute. James isn't about to let the rest of you off the hook. Verse 2 says, "for in many things we offend all." I believe every one of us must admit that we make far too many careless mistakes with our tongues.
The word "OFFEND" here speaks of a repeated action. We constantly stumble and slip up. If we err once a day, that amounts to almost 20,000 times in 50 years! Is James making a mistake by connecting sins committed by "the whole body" with sins of the tongue? No, because WORDS usually lead to DEEDS. Remember one of the famous slogans used during WW II was, "A slip of the lip may sink a ship." It may be that the tongue has slain more than all the bullets and bombs of battle.
Solomonsaid in Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."
Davidsaid in Psalms 141:3-4, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil things…"
Jesussaid in Matthew 12:34, "…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
Petersaid in I Peter 3:10 "He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile."
In verse 2 James points out if we do not stumble in the use of our tongue, WE ARE PERFECT and able to control the whole body. “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” The word “perfect” means “maturity.” A MARK OF A MATURE CHRISTIAN IS THE CONTROL OF THE TONGUE.
Now in verses 3-5 James uses the first two illustrations to demonstrate how powerful the tongue really is. “Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. (4) Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. (5) Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things…” He tells us that the tongue, though it is very small, can control the whole body. The BITin the horse’s mouth and the RUDDER of a ship have the power to direct, which means they affect the lives of others. The words we speak affect the lives of others.
A judge says "Guilty!" or "Not Guilty!" and with those words the destiny of a prisoner is affected.
Even a simple "Yes or No" from the lips of a parent can greatly affect the direction of a child's life.
How about this one? “DO you take this woman or man to be your lawful wedded wife or husband, to love her or him and cherish her or him …. till death do you part?” And you said, "I do!"
Our words have the power to control. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turneth away anger, but grievous words stir up anger."
SECOND: There is the POWER TO DESTROY: verses 5-8. Although a small instrument, the tongue has the power to DESTROY. Notice again another illustration in verse 5-6, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! (6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” As FIRE spreads, it destroys.
Have you ever experienced a forest fire? I learned what they are like during our first ministry. They are dangerous and frightful. An out of control forest fire is very destructive having been started by "only a single spark."
James’ point is clear, the tongue is also small, but it can start a raging fire of ruin that leaves in its path DEVASTATED andDISILLUSIONED people. Solomon said in Proverbs 26:20-21, "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife."My friend,
CONTENTIOUS tongues have greatly hindered the work of God.
CRITICAL tongueshave closed church doors.
CARELESS tongueshave broken the hearts and health of many a dear pastor and Christian workers.
This thing we call the tongue can do unpardonable damage. God can forgive and so do people, but the scars may last a lifetime.
James says in verse 6, "The tongue is a fire … and it is set on fire of hell." All evil talk, James says, "has it's beginning in hell and will cause the whole body, the whole personality, to burn in hell."
In verse 8, James gives us another indictment of the tongue, "It is an unruly EVIL, full of deadly poison." The Greek word translated "poison" means "arrow." The tongue is like a poisonous arrow.
Let me introduce three poisons that infect the tongue.
There is the poison of GOSSIP: Gossip has been dubbed the favorite indoor sport of many who call themselves Christians.
GOSSIP is passing on groundless information about a person. Whether it is true or not, the damage has been done.
GOSSIP is called ear pollution. "Oh. Did you hear what I have just heard? Someone just told me this in confidence, but I thought you should know so we can pray about it."
The moving lips and lose tongues of gossip have resulted in starting another fire. Listen to these chilling words. “I am more deadly than the screaming shell from the howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip.”
Gossip is like taking feathers from a pillow and spreading them all over the countryside. Try recovering them after the wind has blown them about for a few days. Just as you cannot recover the blown feathers, you cannot recover all the words you have passed on with gossip. Proverbs 16:27-28 tells us, "An ungodly man diggeth up evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire. A forward man soweth strife, and a whisper separates chief friends."
There is the poison of LYING. Whether it is a little exaggeration or a big deliberate untruth, it is still a lie. Lying is designed deception. In Proverbs 12:19 we read, "The lips of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
Satan is the source of lying. It appears to be his desire to use our tongues as Christians to hinder God's work and to hurt God's people. I've been personally involved in situations where I've had to trace down a rumor, spending hours or even days unraveling the problem, only to find out what was said was either stated carelessly or misrepresented by someone else. OH, HOW TRAGIC WHEN SATAN SCORES THIS KIND OF VICTORY, ALL BECAUSE A TONGUE IS OUT OF CONTROL.
There is the poison of FLATTERY. In Psalms 5:9 "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue."
If gossip is saying behind a person's back what you would never say to his face, flattery is saying to a person's face what you would never say behind his back. Flattery is speaking with a forked-tongue.
James tells us animals can be tamed and a fire can be controlled. When you tame an animal you get a pet. When you tame a fire you get power. But only God can tame your tongue.
As believers, indwelt by Jesus, the Living Word of God, God holds us responsible for every word that we speak. Every word that you and I speak reveals the true condition of our heart.
An evil heart is controlled by the flesh and manifests itself in words that ultimately produce death.
But, life-giving words flow out of a heart that is yielded to the control of the Holy Spirit.
THIRD: There is the POWER TO DIRECT, verses 9-12. Again James drew from the world of nature to make his point. “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (12) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” It is impossible for both "fresh water and salt water" to flow from the same source. Likewise it is impossible for a "fig tree to have olive berries" grown on its tree.
Just so, James was saying, it is not possible for PRAISE andCURSING to come from the same mouth of a mature Christian.
Proverbs 12:25, literally reads, "An anxious heart weights a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." All of us have felt the pain of sorrow or disappointment and a heaviness of heart. But oh, how a kind word lifted the spirit. For in Proverbs 11:24 we read, "Pleasant words are a honey comb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Listen to this:
A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen the stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.
Here are twelve profound yet simple words that could transform your life:
"Please and thank you," words of appreciation,
"I'm sorry," words that will build bridges and bind hearts,
"I love you," words that carry tremendous power and feeling,
“I'm praying for you," words that lift our spirit to God.
There's nothing that gives us away as much as our speech, because it reveals the location of our hearts. You can't cover up your heart.
If there's bitterness in our hearts, it will come out.
If there's hatred in our hearts, hatred will be revealed.
If there's anger in our hearts, anger will show.
No wonder James says in verse 8, "The tongue can no man tame." The heart is the factory that produces all these vile things, and the tongue is the showcase of the heart. There's little use carrying a Bible and wearing a lapel pin saying how spiritual we are, if we explode at the office, speak unkindly to our families, or if we are critical and bitter.
However, while no man can tame the tongue, GOD CAN! Oh, that you and I would have our hearts burning with love and devotion, so that our speech would likewise burn with love and praise to God as He reveals through us hatred for sin, but love for the sinner.
My prayer is, "Lord, teach me to hold my tongue. Teach me to do as the psalmist says, set a watch at the door of my lips that my speech may always be seasoned with grace. MY TONGUE NEVER A SWORD. My speech always edifying, uplifting, and that which glorifies God."
In her hymn, Frances Havergale said, "Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages for thee."
David said in Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."
Open your heart and stick out your tongue. Now say Ah-h-h-h. Perhaps your tongue looks healthy, but what has it revealed about your heart this past week?
May God grant us the heart of Jesus, who spoke words of grace, truth, compassion, and power.
May this week we use our tongues to speak the gospel of the grace of God to a soul in need of the salvation of our Savior.
May this week our tongue be used by Him to bring healing, blessing, and life to many FOR HIS GLORY.
In Romans 10:9-10 we read, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Just maybe, the most important thing you can do at this moment, if you have never done so, is to bow your head and open your heart by way of your mouth and say the words,
“Lord, I believe you died for my sins on the cross and right here and now
I am asking You to save me as I accept your gift of eternal life.”
********************************************************************
If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “The World’s Smallest Troublemaker” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know? Please send an e-mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.
Copy write permission: Because the “Weekly SERMON” will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: The “Weekly SERMON” in its original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and copies may be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the “Weekly SERMON” must set forth in full the heading that is given before each “Weekly SERMON.” Any other request for use, please contact Bible Baptist Ministries at pdmikBBM@aol.com or by phone at 570.829.5216.
In His Amazing Grace,
PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Microsoft Word 2007 document (DOCX), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.