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| JAMES LESSON #51 When James says, �If any one does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his body as well,� (James 3:2) What�s he saying? The �if� is a �first class condition,� meaning, �it�s a fact� � He�s saying, If anyone does not stumble in what he says, it is a fact -he is a perfect man, able to bridle his body as well. What does the word �perfect� mean? Complete. What makes the man �complete?� Bridling the tongue. What�s the point in �bridling the tongue?� -to bridle the whole body as well. He�s saying that to �bridle your tongue� is to have all of your life �under control.� In verses 3-8 he uses the illustrations of the horse and ship. The horses whole body is pulled under control through the �activation of� the bit. The whole ship is pulled under control by the �activation of� the rudder. Regardless of the �storms� that might drive against it on the outside � the ship remains in position. So it is with the tongue and the rest of you. The point? The tongue under control results in �maturity� � the ability to bridle the whole body as well. A faith that�s real is a life that gives evidence of that faith. The evidence rests in the maturity found in a tongue under control. I want to look at the contrasts that James uses. James starts by talking about a tongue �under control� � and in contrast works with the tongue �out of control.� Just as the tongue under control brings about completion, what�s the tongue out of control do? Brings destruction. James says that the tongue is a �fire.� What�s true of fire? When fire is under �control� �it�s useful. When fire is out of control, then there is great destruction. James says that the beast and birds can tame the tongue but no man can tame the tongue. Ok � so how does all of this fit with �real faith?� We�re supposed to �control the tongue� � but �no man can tame the tongue� � the �control of the tongue� brings us to �maturity� � but �no man can tame the tongue..� Obviously..we have a problem here. Where�s �control� come from? Take a look at the �New Covenant� (Jesus) and tell me where the answer is. Look at Ezekiel 36:26-27- Here, God says, �I will put a new heart and a new Spirit where? Within you. I will �remove� the heart of stone and give you what? A heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit where? �Within you� and cause you to walk in what? My statutes. You will be careful to observe what? My ordinances..why? Because His Spirit lives within you. �so, is it possible to �control� the tongue? What�s the promise in Jeremiah 31:33? He says, I will write MY law where? Within. I will be your God. Yes � it�s possible to �control the tongue� because He writes His law �within� � He puts His fear within and will be your God. (Joint effort opportunity) � What about Jeremiah 32:39-40? It is possible to control the tongue because God will give a �new heart,� and �one way.� He will cause them to �Fear Him always,� so that they will not turn away. He will make an �everlasting covenant� with them and will not turn away from them. Ok � so what�s He saying? Only the man indwelt by the Holy Spirit, controlled by the Holy Spirit, the one who has access to the �grace� of God, the one who has received the promises of the new covenant � this is the person who can control the tongue. The person who can control the tongue is a person that has a faith that�s real. How do you know that for sure? Because a person without God�s Spirit dwelling in them can NOT control their tongue - The words of your mouth speak volumes to those who understand. Don�t ever ever forget that. The person who has asked God to take control of their life, confessed sin, and turned to go another direction is immediately filled with God�s Spirit. His Spirit gives the ability to harness the tongue �you, in turn, have to �activate� that ability with �obedience.� Look at James 3:9-12. James points out that there is no room for inconsistency in terms of you mouth. He uses a contrast to drive home his point. What�s the contrast? Out of one mouth comes both cursing men and blessing God. Wrong. He uses the illustration of the �fountain� that sends out from the same opening fresh and bitter water, and the fig tree, producing olives. He�s making the point that out of one fountain only one kind of water flows � not two. Why? Because there�s only one �source� for the water. The tree? It�s not possible for a tree to produce two different kinds of fruit because the �source� of the tree determines the fruit. If we have received the promise of the �New Covenant,� then we have one �source� and that �source� has been given by God. That source is a new heart, a new spirit, -it�s His law, written on our heart. It�s the fact that he will cause us to walk within His statutes, it�s His fear that is within us. That, is the �source� that�s there. From that source, as a habit, two different results can not come forth. So when we look at the tongue- yes- we all blow it in many ways. So why bring the tongue under control? What�s the big deal? The big deal is, that when we bring the tongue under control, our lives will come under control � which allows us to live and operate in �maturity� and �completeness.� It�s possible because of the �New Covenant� � the promise of God�s Spirit, dwelling in us. It�s in the taking advantage of the �joint effort opportunity,� that we can truly begin to live in maturity and completion. Why? Because we �rest� in Him through �obedience-� Ok- so the �source� of the �joint effort opportunity� in working with the tongue is a �new heart and a new spirit� � one that He�s placed in us. How does Matthew 12:33-37 compare? Here he tells us, either make the tree good and make the fruit good, or make the tree bad and the fruit bad � why? Because a tree is known by what? It�s fruit. (Remember that real faith will bear works: �fruit� � love, obedience and a faith that trusts and acts on what is not seen) What about verse 34? What does the �mouth� speak? The mouth speaks out of that which fills what? The heart. You want to know whether a person�s faith is legit? Just listen to their mouths. A person�s words will tell you a lot about the water that�s in their well. How does he explain this in the verse to follow? The good man, out of his good treasures speaks forth what is good. The evil man, out of his evil treasure speaks forth what is evil. What�s his warning? Every �careless� word that men speak what? They will render an account for in the day of judgment. By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned. Why? Because your words come from where? Your heart. If your words condemn you it�s because your heart condemns you. Bad words � contaminated well. Ok you tell me � If the �heart is the source� � and the tongue is �not� under control � what needs to be examined? The tongue? No. The heart. If the tongue is not under control and it�s out of the heart that the mouth speaks, --if being under the �New Covenant� means that you have a �new heart� and that God has put His Spirit �within� you and will �cause� you to walk in HIS statutes and keep His ordinances, and you will not turn away � then, if the tongue is not under control..we have a major heart problem. The �source� needs to be checked out. Is the faith real � or not real? We�re right back to the beginning with James- �It�s not enough to just �say� I have faith, - no � there must be a life that produces �works� that validate it. James wraps things up in talking about wisdom. What�s the question he asks in James 3:13? Who�s wise? Why is he asking that question? He�s saying � �Examine yourself.� What�s the �exam?� He says, �Let him �show� by his �good behavior� what? His �Deeds� how? in �gentleness of wisdom.� What�s that mean? Show �wisdom� by good behavior. He pulls on a contrast between �Earthly wisdom and wisdom from above� to drive home a point. How do you recognize �earthly� wisdom? Earthly wisdom has bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder and every evil thing. Those things are in direct contrast to the truth. Wisdom from above? 1) It�s pure � clean- innocent- free from defilement. It�s not contaminated. 2) It�s �peaceable.� What�s that? Healthful, wholesome, unites � Then what? 3) Gentle. What does �gentle� mean? Appropriate, proper, fitting, suitable. It�s a wisdom that is considerate and reasonable as it deals with others. 4) Reasonable. What�s that? It�s approachable, willing to listen, skilled in knowing when to yield and when not to yield. 5) Full of mercy and good fruits. What�s that? It�s full of compassion. It�s active compassion for those in trouble or need. It�s profitable and useful. It brings the fruit of �meeting a need.� 6) Unwavering and 7) Without hypocrisy. We�ve been looking at what James teaches in the light of not only chapter three but in relationship to the rest of the Word of God. In the area of �Teaching� � James instructs that: 1) don�t many become teachers � you will receive a stricter judgment 2) it�s necessary for you to have a spiritual �gift� 3) you need to equip the saints for the work of ministry by teaching the utterances of God which takes us right to the �tongue�- with a message that says: take advantage of the �joint effort opportunity� and get it under control. And wisdom? Should be reflected in action. The questions I leave you with are these: When you instruct � where�s your heart? When your tongue is activated � what�s it reflect? What�s at the source? -does your life reflect �wisdom that�s from above� � or �earthly wisdom?� Remember..this is a �process� � one of constant interaction in the �joint effort opportunity� � so don�t get discouraged - We �all� stumble in �many� ways. Loving you, Robin �copyright 2001 Jim and Robin Hibschman |
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