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| JAMES LESSON #47 Read James 3:13 Circle the word �show.� What does James 2 talk about? �Show� me your faith- without your works- I�ll show you my faith by my works. He�s saying, ok � you�re talking about being �wise and understanding� � show me your �wisdom� by your good behavior and deeds and he doesn�t put a period there � how? in the �gentleness� of wisdom. It�s not just �what� you do � it�s �how� you do it. It�s not just a religion that �does.� It�s a religion that speaks according to the �wisdom� that�s from �above.� (we�ll take a look at that wisdom in detail later) Look at Psalm 15:1-5 Who�s going to live in the �presence� of God? Watch everything in this passage that has to do with �speech.� n verse 2- speaks truth where? In His heart. The word �heart� there in the Hebrew is lebab: and it means: the feelings, the intellect and the will. That kind of utterance runs a lot deeper than merely being a flippant expression of the mouth. In verse 3 : does not �slander� �in the Hebrew is: �ragal� � to be a talebearer, to backbite: nor does he take up a �reproach� against his neighbor- �reproach� in the Hebrew is: �cherpah� and it means to shame- to blame-to discredit: this usually happens through �triangular communication� � I talk to so and so, about so and so, instead of talking �directly to� so and so. In verse 4: He �swears� � takes an oath and does not change- is immovable, even unto his own hurt : -He will never be shaken why? Because he has his tongue under control. Galatians 5:19 Here he talks about the �works� of the flesh. As you read through this watch for all the works of the flesh that have to do with the tongue. I want you to see that pure religion can bridle the tongue. If your tongue hasn�t changed, then you need to examine your faith. I want to carefully examine this passage � defining what�s there so you can clearly see what he�s saying. Works of the flesh that are �body� deeds: 1) immorality: Greek (porneia) any sexual sin 2) impurity: Greek (akatharsia) any unnatural action whether acted out by oneself or with another-any kind of uncleaness different from whoredom 3) sensuality: Greek (aselgeia) �sexual excess, absence of restraint, insatiable desire for pleasure, perversion 4) sorcery: Greek (pharmakeia) Occult, sorcery, witchcraft, illicit pharmaceuticals, trance, magical incantation with drugs, magic Works of the flesh that are �tongue� deeds� 1) enmities: Greek (echthra) �hatred, hostility, evil report, plotting 2) strife: Greek (eris) love of fighting, verbal arguing 3) jealousy: Greek (zelos) �jealousy that makes war upon the good it sees in another, troubling that good and diminishing it 4) outbursts of anger: Greek (thumos) � a violent motion or passion of the mind 5) dissension: Greek (dichostasia) � division, separation, discord, tearing apart, disunion 6) factions: Greek (hairesis) holding and speaking a different view than the majority and remaining in the same body � a heretic, breeding division with opinion -and the list goes on, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you, that those who �do� in the Greek: (prasso) �expressing an action as continued or not yet completed, what one does repeatedly, continually, habitually practicing as a way of life -shall �not� inherit the kingdom of God. (that�s not my �opinion� �that�s what God says) Question: Press rewind on the recorder and listen to yourself over the last couple of days. What do you hear? Are you a peacemaker or one who divides? Do you heal or do you destroy with your tongue? If you tear apart, criticize, grumble and complain, swear, lie, breed division, gossip �and the list continues..the even greater question is this: What�s behind your tongue�s behavior? Look a little deeper. What�s contaminating the water in your well? What�s your heart holding � that it shouldn�t be? What�s �driving� your tongue? If you are a Christian you are able to bridle the tongue. Think back to all the James has taught you so far � especially in the �joint effort opportunity� picture. �Bridling your tongue� is not a �you alone� issue. None of these things are. All of these, if accomplished, are accomplished through �joint effort.� Every Christian has a common resident living inside of them. The Holy Spirit. How�s that happen? How do you �get� the Holy Spirit? Through what �covenant?� The �New� Covenant. �I will put My Spirit where? IN YOU. �I� will cause you to walk in My statutes. �I� will cause you to keep My commandments. Who�s doing the work here? HE is doing the work. It�s a �joint effort opportunity.� My job? To be obedient to His leading. That �tug� � that �pull on the conscience� � that�s God saying �Don�t go there.� You have a choice � to obey, and grab on to the �joint effort opportunity� � or to go your own way, ending in destruction. To �walk in His statutes and keep His commandments is to be able to �bridle your tongue.� So, with the tongue, who�s controlling the reigns on that horse? Who�s directing the rudder for the ship? Those are the two illustrations that James uses in reference to controlling the tongue. Look at James 3:3 Notice that it does not say, �the horse� directs the entire body. It says what? �WE� direct their entire body as well. How�s that work? �Joint effort opportunity.� The �bit� is the Holy Spirit. That�s the source of power. The Holy Spirit is the one that makes it �uncomfortable� to turn in the wrong direction. We�re ultimately the one that makes the choice as to whether or not we continue in that uncomfortable direction or yield to right of way. It�s a �joint effort� �He�s the initiator- we�re the responder. It takes both. God�s saying here that if you get the �tongue� under control, you�ll get the whole body under control. Look at verse 4. Who�s controlling the ship? The pilot. Why? Because he has control of the rudder. Have you ever seen how big the ship is compared to the tiny little rudder? God is showing us the �joint effort opportunity� through both of these illustrations. In both illustrations HE has provided the �controller of direction� � in one situation it�s a �bit� � in the other, it�s a rudder. In order for either of those controls to be �activated� so that they become useful, they have to be �acted on� � �utilized� �how? The person who �knows what to do with the control,� DOES what he knows he�s supposed to do. If the bit is not acted on, the horse runs wild. If the rudder is not acted on, the ship runs adrift. The �joint effort opportunity� HAS to be activated how? Through obedience. If you are a child of God you are able to bring that tongue under control � not not not on your own- but taking advantage of the �joint effort opportunity.� When James starts in on the topic of the �tongue� he does it through a back door. He starts talking about �teachers.� He starts in the first verse, connects it to the second verse, and then drops teachers. What�s he doing? Remember: He�s talking about EXTERNALS � stuff you see on the outside � of Christianity. He starts off with a challenge for many to NOT become teachers. Huh? I will show you three things the tongue can direct, but for now, we will deal with just the first. The tongue has the power to change the course of a person�s faith.- This will carry into tomorrow- Let�s look at �teaching� for a minute. Why does he say, �Let not many of you become teachers?� Teaching is hard work. You have to study long hours. You�re held accountable-why? Because as a teacher you have to keep every word under control. You are judged..get this � you are JUDGED for every word you say. Why? Why so strong? Because a teacher can lead you into error. I�m going to be held accountable for everything I teach you. Why? Because it could lead you into wrong behavior. James says- don�t go there. Don�t be �many� teachers. Why was this such a big deal? In those days it was a really big thing to be a �teacher.� They loved being called �Rabbi.� �Rabbi� which means, �teacher,� was a popular office to seek. Look at Matthew 23:6-8. This is referring to teachers. Jesus points out that they love �honor,� and �chief seats� and �respectful greetings.� Then he goes on to say that we are all here as �servants.� THAT was not a popular line! Get this: A teacher: is a servant to you. Teachers in those days were in tremendous demand. Teaching had moved from �law� to �grace.� As teachers emerged, two types of teachers came to deliver the message. Who were they? What was their message? And why in the world is James being so incredibly �in their faces� about �not� being teachers? Hang on to those questions! More tomorrow! Loving you, Robin � copyright Jim and Robin Hibschman 2001 |
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