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Crosspointe, Crosspointe baptist church, James 3, James 3:1-11, Manage that mouth, Pastors blog, poway church
We had a great service this week at Crosspointe with several salvations! I am amazed at the power of the word of God!!! 
James 3:1-11
1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2For 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.
3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4Behold 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.
5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6And 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.
7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
We all have the natural ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Words carry weight. James talks more the tongue than anyone else in the bible because the tongue tells what is in your heart (James 3:2)
WHY MUST I WATCH WHAT I SAY? People make excuses for that they say, it’s just words or it was only a joke but words have power.
MY TONGUE DIRECTS WHERE I GO. Those that don’t talk a lot go far in the workplace because people they can be trusted to set a right example. The tongue directs where you go. You can see where you will be in ten years by your conversations today. What do you talk about the most? Weak people talk about other people while great people talk about ideas. We shape our words and than our words shape us. (James 3:3) Think about the big horses at a horse race. Those giants are controlled by a 115 pound jockey, and he can control the horse by a small bit in its mouth. James 3:4 says “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.” It is important to note that James points out that it is a very small helm. Small things direct what we do. Our mouths have great power to lead us to great distraction. Your life is directed by what you say. Words keep us on course or throw us off course. You may not have a lot of words but the words you say are still important and can still be used for God. Destruction follows loose lips (Proverbs 13:3)
MY TONGUE CAN DESTROY WHAT I HAVE.
Many people say things without thinking about the consequences. (James 3:5) Hurtful things do not need to be said, even if they are true. If you really need to say something you should say it to the lord. What goes around comes around. God will right all in His time. Be careful what you say because it can destroy what you have, a careless camper can destroy a national park and a careless word can destroy what you have. Before criticizing someone remember that Jesus died for them too. God does not need our tongue to fight his battle but rather we should use it to be a light to the world. Fire and words under control can provide warmth and light. There are preachers, unfortunately, who use their pulpit to preach against things but it should not be that way. We should not use the tongue and the body and the mind that God gave us to destroy. Words create a chain reaction. James 3:6 says “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.” By the way in that passage he is talking about you. “People so often hear from the church what we are against…movies, music, people. What they need to hear is what we are for! Jesus, friend of sinners” (Mark Hall, Casting Crowns) Animals are tamable but the tongue is not (James 3:7-8) so what can you do? Give your tongue to God.
MY TONGUE DISPLAYS WHO I AM.
Your words tell a story. I want to be the kind of person that people want to be around and not because I try to please them but because I am genuine. Jesus did not set out to please men but they loved him. Tongue reveals character (James 3:9) God is very capable of fixing what is out of control but what is out of control is your tongue. The tongue is probably the greatest contradiction in the world. (James 3:11-12) Consider the source. Whatever is in the well comes out in the water and whatever is in your heart comes out in your tongue. The problem is not really the tongue it is the heart. The tongue betrays what you really feel inside. Time tells a story. (Matthew 12:24) you can only act for so long before your heart explodes and what is really on the inside comes out through your mouth. My tongue simply displays what I am. If you have a problem with your tongue it is much more serious than you think because you have a problem with your heart.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
GET A NEW HEART. You can change! It will take discipline and control but you can change. (Ezekiel 18:31, 2 Corinthians 5:7) God specializes in heart transplants. (Psalm 51:10)
ASK GOD FOR HELP EVERY DAY! You must give your mouth your tongue your lips to God. (Psalm 141:3) none of us are the experts that we think we are. Ask for help controlling you tongue get into God’s word ever day. Getting into the bible will change your tongue. God can fix whatever it is that you are worrying about right now.
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
Just take a second to think ‘does what I am about to say need to be said’? (Proverbs 16:23) What does your tongue say about you? If we played back a tape of all your conversations from the past week what would be on it? Would you be embarrassed?
This world is dying to see something real and genuine and Christ like but that is not what Christians are displaying. Manage that mouth so you can use it to glorify God.
