James 3: Our Words Matter

2015-05-24 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Memory Verse:
James 3:10 NKJV
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

James 1:26 NKJV
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless

James 1:26 NLT
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

James 3:8-18 NKJV
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1. Recognize the danger in words
v8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison

What is the danger?
– evil words
– criticism
– gossip
– lies
An out of control tongue reveals an out of control heart
Always destroys joy, reputation, opportunity

2. The problem
v9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

James 3:9 NLT
Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

– It dishonors God
– It sets us up for failure and heartache

James 3:16 NLT
For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

– Pushes others away from God
vs 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

3. The Solution
v17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

– We must seek forgiveness
– We must strive to stop
– Determine to be positive rather than negative
– Turn everything around

a. PURE
b. PEACEABLE
c. GENTLE
d. WILLING TO YIELD
e. MERCY
f. GOOD FRUITS (works)
h. WITHOUT PARTIALITY
i. WITHOUT HIPOCRISY