TAMING OUR TONGUES?

James 3:1-18, The passage is of Taming the Tongue

Voice: Is unique just as the fingerprints. Voice expresses love, emotion – Voice itself conveys the emotion / mood / the heart of the person.

Tongue is a Powerful Mechanism – it gives courage / confidence than war / Hitler and Annadurai got political power through their strong speeches.

Tongue is a fire – Through Hitler’s negative speech Germany was in flames.

The tongue is just an instrument of communication what the mind thinks, therefore the source of words is the mind which decides the power of tongue in positive or negative way. The passage describes both speaking of words and the source of words,

1.      The speaking of words (3:1-6)

Tongue being Judgmental:

v.1, The passage starts with the warning to those who teach because they get judged more strictly. Understanding this fact people who don’t talk about sin are in a way bound to it. The inner self condemn them as they speak something irrelevant of what they live like.

v. 9, Says praise and curse come through the same tongue…

Matt 7:1-2, “Do not judge others lest you be judged… The measure of your judgment will fall upon you.” What a strong statement for those who are in front of people.

Ministry is not about judging others – because there is a Judgment day when Jesus will be the judge of all. We are asked to judge ourselves (examining ourselves 1 Cor. 11: 28-31). The tongue, being the mighty tool to lead the mass or into freedom / liberty.

University of California had a survey on spoken words which concluded that men speak about 7,000 words per day. Women speak 20,000 words per day. Women talk to express their feelings while men talk to communicate.

Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 12:18, “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing”

Tongue is compared to “Bit in the horse” (3:3) “Rudder in the ship” (v 4) “Fire that burns the forest” (vv. 5-6)

Chicago fire History, “The Chicago Fire of 1871, also called the Great Chicago Fire, burned from October 8 to October 10, 1871, and destroyed thousands of buildings, killed an estimated 300 people and caused an estimated $200 million in damages. Legend has it that a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn and started the fire..”

Tongue corrupts a person and called as deadly poisonous (vv 6-8)

2.      The Source of the Words (7-18)

vv. 7-8, “Taming animals is possible while taming the tongue is impossible – There is animal trainer for wild animals – No tongue trainers.”

Vv 10-11, Praise and cursing through same tongue – Fresh and salt water cannot come from same cistern, no fig tree bears olive fruits.

 

Tongue is just an expression of what the mind says (communicator of the thoughts)

Just like a spring that cannot produce fresh and salt waters - A tongue cannot speak bad when the thought is good and vice versa.

If the water is dirty, the tap has nothing to do with that – the water tank or the source that supplies the water needs to be cleaned.

Matt 12:34-35, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure”

Matt 15: 18, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.”

·         Words are expressions of heart

·         Fresh water or good words from a fresh/good resource

·         Good fruit from a good root

a.      Two Kinds of Wisdom (vv 14-18)

 vv.14-15; Earthly wisdom: Unspiritual – From devil – filled with bitterness - envy – selfish ambitions – Close to the nature of Flesh (Gal 5:19-21)

vv. 17-18; Heavenly wisdom: Spiritual – From God – Godly – Pure – Peace loving – humility – compassion – very close to the fruits of the spirit (Gal 5:22-13) and nature of love expressed by Paul in I Cor. 13.

James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

1.       Recognize that you need it

2.       Ask God for it.

1 Cor. 1:30, “Jesus has become for us wisdom from God”

·         Tongue is the parameter of Heart

·         Tongue will diagnose the whole body

What is your tongue look like?

Tongue cannot be tamed but can be transformed – A transformation will purify the heart which interns purify the tongue.

Let us pray like David

Ps 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Amen

*Credit: Rev. Charles Price, The Living Word, Canada

Pr. Asap Singh

Scripture Passage: James 2:14-26

 

INTRODUCTION: 

 

“FAITH or WORKS?” - It is (was) a controversy whole through the church history that many believe Paul and James are varying in their belief on faith and works. Paul is nullifying the fact of – Salvation only by faith in Romans 4, on the other hand James argues that Faith without works is dead (James 2).

Today we will be examining in the fact that should we have “FAITH” alone or plus “WORKS”? In earlier weeks we looked at people who came to Jesus and were filled with faith. Their faith led them to action – to take the first step of reaching out Jesus. Can’t we call them an action?

Both Paul and James look at Christian life in different dimensions. Paul on the one hand writing to the unbelievers – the way to become believer is only by faith. James on the other hand writing the believers to show their faith should be in the form of action (works). In other words faith alone saves a believer in inner point of view, that inner faith is evidenced to others by actions.

Today we will be looking at the fact in the point of James – how does faith and work go together or complement each other. (James 2:14-26). Pure faith will tend to do the following as the evidence of inner faith.

The above passage starts with a question “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” a strong statement on faith and works argument starts here, I find three strong reasons James brought out here to explain the readers that faith is evidenced in “GOOD DEEDS” it is not just deeds – Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-20 contrasting a good and bad tree based on its fruits not the outward appearances.

1.      FAITH IS EVIDENCED IN COMPASSION (JAM 2:15-17)

One of the reasons the Christian missions started with compassion works because of the Faith they had in the Lord. Reformation in the society, education, healthcare, charity works … etc… are the results of early Christian missionaries and their compassion towards people as Jesus had compassion towards the people, “Good tree bears good fruits.” Now-a-days India is facing the crisis of people bothering about cows rather than the poor and needy in the society.

James ends chapter 1: 27, with this statement “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Godliness is something caring for the orphans, widow and distressed… how can we care for them – it is by being compassionate to them.

James 2:15-17 talks about “Care for people who are in need” Faith in activity (deeds) once you started doing it, it becomes a repeated act or called “Chain Reaction” in science. Faith is like an elevator / moving train / aero-plane – as long as you watch it from far you will be standing where you are – once you get into it you will be moving from one place to other.

 

True Faith Activates With The Nature Of God – Our God Is Not Passive But Active.

I John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death”

I John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

God is love so you must love (His activity must be activated in us) – “I will pray for you.” Is the worst excuse to someone who is in need. When God’s nature is activated in us – we are active in faith – which will be evidenced in Compassion.

True (pure) faith leads you to Compassion – That is the evidence that you have faith!

2.      FAITH IS EVIDENCED IN COMPLIANCE (JAMES 2: 21 – 24)

                                                                                                           

The prime example is taken from the life of Abraham – Abraham’s life is explained in two stages in this passage. We see a passive faith and an active faith (after obedience to God’s commandment).

Stage 1: He had to believe that he will have a son and an innumerable generation – Lord told him to look at the sky and count the stars in the night - and the sands of the sea in the day time. He was reminded of God’s promise both day and night (Psalm 1:2). He had to believe almost a 100% impossible thing – the response from Abraham is “I Trust You” - A passive act in Faith (Just believe)

Stage 2: It is further explained when the impossible became possible almost 14 years after the birth of Isaac. The sacrifice of Isaac is an action or obedience (Compliance), for which he again said “Lord I will do it.”

v. 21, “He had to obey or act upon it” an active faith. Gen 22:3, “He rose up early in the morning – Saddled – Started travelling” probable he had not been informed where he is going to Sarah. It shows the eagerness to act upon the faith that he had towards the Lord.

v. 22 – “his faith was made complete by what he did” – Christian life is all about moving from PASSIVE faith to ACTIVE obedience.  Hebrews 11:17-19 the same action is explained. He believed (passive faith) and acted upon it (active obedience)

The result: v.23, “he was called God’s friend”   

True (pure) faith leads you to Compliance – That is the evidence that you have faith!

3.      FAITH IS EVIDENCED IN COURAGE (JAMES 2:25)

The example used by James is Raheb – the harlot. We see about the statement of faith spelled by Rahab in Joshua 2:9-11.

“I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰ We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. ¹¹ When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below…”

She was courage to take the first step in faith – the true faith in her evidenced through her courage. She would be killed by the king if he comes to know that she saved the spies of Israelites – she had faith in the Lord so that she was willing to take risk in her courage.

Rehab’s incident proves that “Trust in God and act according to it” Our faith is in something that is active so you must be active…

True (pure) faith leads you to Courage – That is the evidence that you have faith!

Conclusion:

To prove your faith is Real, you must prove it by works (deeds) – because faith is evidenced in three “C”s

·         Be Compassionate (because God is Love)

·         Be Compliance (Obey what God commands you to do)

·         Be Courageous (on your believes – and act accordingly)

FAITH without activity is MERE BELIEF

FAITH with work is what a REAL FAITH

May God enable you to be evident in your faith. Amen

Courtesy: Rev. Charles Price, Living Truth, Canada on his sermon on James, “Faith and Belief”

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:

Matthew 6: 5-13 & Luke 18:9-14

INTRODUCTION:

Prayer brings transformation but Prayer with transformation is effective as the Bible Say. A transformed person can pray and bring transformation to a community / state / country. Today I want to encourage you to be transformed in the presence of God and Transform the world around you. You can be the agent of transformation or spent your life idol as mere Christian.

THE PASSAGES

Matthew 6: 5-13 (NASB),⁵ “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.⁷ “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

⁹ “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ¹⁰ ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

Luke 18:9-14 (NASB), ⁹ And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 5-7 is called as the sermon on the mountain, We have no idea how long the sermon went on or how many people were attending in exact numbers. This sermon is the longest sermon recorded in the gospel concealed of three chapters. These chapters contain highest spiritual and moral lessons for anyone who lives anywhere in the world at any time.

PRAYER: We need to have a different understanding or interpretation about prayer at this time. When we use the word “prayer” it immediately reminds of asking something to God for our need or someone’s need. Prayer is beyond that! Prayer makes us to realize we are inferior to God and we are in need of His help, it also based on the relationship. Prayer is communication based on the relationship we have with God. Old Testament understanding of God is different from the Father identified by Jesus. The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in loving kindness (Ps. 145:7) we see it through Jesus.

The kind of dad we have makes difference in our understanding of “God as Father.” My dad was strict in every aspects, my daughter on the other hand drags attention and demands her place as my child. In Prayer we claim our right as children of God, not always begging for mercy / things before God. My God is the owner of the universe I being His child must claim everything my father possesses.

TRANSFORMATION: it is explained as “Remarkable change in form, nature or appearance. For example sugar turns into cotton candy – worm turns into butterfly. These are examples for transformation – a change in nature/appearance or essence.

Transformation in Christian understanding in “Inner change” or “change of heart.” Paul identified this as “New Creation in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17). Even though the Old Testament had this idea of inner transformation, the New Testament emphasizes it further.

Ps 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”

John 9:31, “We know that God does not listen to sinners”

Catholics have “Prayer for Transformation” as a part of service in most cases.

“PRAYER TRANSFORMS US BUT GOD WANTS A TRANSFORMED PRAYER.”

The passages identify contrast in the mindset of prayer. The first is the prayer of a hypocrite and the second part identifies the prayer of a righteous (Transformed person).

1.       PRAYER OF A HYPOCRITE (MAT 6:5-8)

In both these cases Jesus identify the “Pharisees” who by themselves called as righteous people but there was no inner transformation so that Jesus called them “The hypocrites.” Outside looks pretty good but the inside is full of dirt and deceit. Jesus expects the contrary in prayer – no matter how you look outside Jesus expects purity in the heart. The hypocritical prayer is self centered which has following aspects…

a.      Expectation to pray in the public (either temple or street)

b.      Wanted to get public attention

c.       Wanted to show polished long prayer & Repetitions.

All the above were good, but something essential is missing that is “GOD” we see the similar case when Pharisee prayed in the synagogue (Luke 18:10ff)

2.       PRAYER OF A TRANSFORMED (RIGHTEOUS) PERSON (MAT 6:9-13)

This prayer has the intention to exalt God and humble selfishness. This prayer doesn’t boast – gives importance to the inner man. I see the following nature as Jesus taught the prayer to the disciples,

a.       Exalts God (Hallowed by thy name)

b.      Expects His Kingdom (Thy Kingdom Come)

c.       Content in God’s Provision (Give us the daily bread)

d.      Extends Forgiveness (Forgive us – we forgive others)

e.      Expels Temptations (Deliver us from Evil One)

The prayer of the tax collector was similar to the second prayer, which Jesus approved at the end of the passage. God wants to hear a transformed prayer to change the world.

CONCLUSION:

We are all the agents of transformation to the areas we placed – Matt 5:13-16, “There is no use of Salt and light if they don’t serve the purpose for which we use them.”

A transformed person can transform the world – If there is no inner transformation in us, we cannot expect transformation outside through us. Only a tuned guitar tunes other, an un-tuned guitar can never help us tune a guitar so also the transformation serves in transforming others.

The experience in “Bulb Factory” a raw material goes through a transforming process, once it goes through that – it lights up the world and the shape never changes again.

David wanted to have this transformation as he sinned against the Lord so that he prays to the Lord, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!” (Psalm 51: 10). You can pray to the Lord to transform right now to be the agent of transformation to your community. May God enable to achieve it as you go through the transforming process. Amen!