#BibleLesson Timeless Truths. Developing a Faith that Works - Taming the Tongue Part A

 #BibleLesson Timeless Truths. Developing a Faith that Works – How to Have Real Faith - Part B

This is the third post in a ten-week Developing a Faith that Works Series.There are five lessons, each divided into two parts. URLs from previous weeks are listed as part of this opening statement.

URLs.

1/28/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/01/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys.html

2/04/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/01/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys_26.html

2/11/2021 – https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys.html

2/18/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-gods-keys_5.html

2/25/2021 - https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-developing.html

3/04/2021 – https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/2021/02/biblelesson-timeless-truths-developing_23.html

 

From last week:

THREE EXAMPLES OF “DO-SOMETHING” FAITH.

Faith without works is dead… A man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (Vv17, 24)

Compassionate Generosity

Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well-fed. (v16)

You ignore the poor and worship God at the same time.

You need to do compassion.

There are 500 verses on social justice in the New Testament.

Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. (1 John 3:17 – Living Bible)

If you really care, you are going to do something.

Sacrificial Obedience

Giving what is precious to you back to God.

Abraham knew human sacrifice was wrong and Isaac was fulfilling God’s promise.

“…for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” (Genesis 15:4b – NLT)

This is how Abraham showed his belief that God is in control!

Uncalculated Risk

Sacrificing comfort or safety for the benefit of others.

Rahab took a risk without any guarantee.

She knew God was in control.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (V26)

Good works do not save you.

They reveal your faith.

End of Review

 

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James 3:1-12 (NIV)

 

Some people are born with a silver foot in their mouth! 

 

Our months get us into a lot of trouble James talks more about the tongue than anyone else in the New Testament. Every chapter in the Book of James says something about managing your mouth. “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect [mature, healthy] man, able to keep his whole body in check.” James says, if you can control your mouth, you will be able to control every area of your life.

 

WHY MUST YOU WATCH WHAT YOU SAY?

Your tongue directs where you go. (vv3-4)

• You shape your words.
• Then, your words shape you.
• A small “slip” of the tongue can change your life.
• Bits and rudders need a controlling hand: Jesus.
• If you are headed in the wrong direction, change your tongue’s direction.

Your tongue can destroy what you have. (vv5-6)

• There are thousands of examples of families and careers that were destroyed by someone’s uncontrolled tongue.

You have to live with everything you say. Proverbs 18:20 (Good News)

• Careless words can turn you into a verbal arsonist!
• “All hell breaks loose” because the conversation came from Hell.
• Of course, controlled fire is good.

If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say! Proverbs 21:23 (Good News)

Although you can tame animals, you can’t tame your tongue. (vv7-8)

• Restless evil refers to a wild animal.
• The term deadly poison is the same used for snake venom. It can assassinate a person’s character.

 Next week we explore Taming the Tongue – Part B

Commit to making time each week to measure your Christian walk against the standard James presents.

Thanks to Pastor Larry Pitcher for the primary teachings in this post.

 

 

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