Transcript 2015-08-16AM_Temptations_of_the_Tonguex

James 3:6-9
6 And
(NKJV)
the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity. The tongue is so set among our
members that it defiles the whole body,
and sets on fire the course of nature; and
it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of
beast and bird, of reptile and creature of
the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by
mankind.
8 But
no man can tame the tongue. It is
an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father,
and with it we curse men, who have
been made in the similitude of God.
TEMPTATIONS OF THE
TONGUE
James 3:6-9
Temptations of the Tongue
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This morning we begin to look at a very
important topic
We probably do not spend enough time
thinking about our tongue
There is so much to consider when we
think of the tongue, so this lesson will
come in parts
Temptations of the Tongue
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What we need to consider first and
foremost are really two things:

We need to consider just how powerful our
words can be, for good or for evil
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We need to consider just how difficult it is to
control our tongues
These two should serve as the basis for
these lessons
Temptations of the Tongue
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Today we begin with some general
thoughts about the tongue and the words
that we speak
Like anything, it takes work to get to
where we want to be
Here are some things about the tongue
that should encourage us to work on it…
Temptations of the Tongue
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1. Matter of the Heart

We need to understand that before someone
has a tongue problem, they have a heart
problem long before that
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Whatever we say comes from what we think,
what we believe and what we feel to be true
in our hearts
Temptations of the Tongue
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1. Matter of the Heart
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“For out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:33-37)
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“But those things which proceed out of the
mouth come from the heart, and they defile a
man” (Matt. 18:18-20)

Instead of “I didn’t mean that”, people
should say, “I didn’t mean to say that”
Temptations of the Tongue
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1. Matter of the Heart

That’s why Paul encourages us to think on
things that are good, lovely, pure, etc. (Phil.
4:8)
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If we have a problem with what we say, then
we should begin by working on our hearts
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The heart will correct the tongue
Temptations of the Tongue
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2. Power in Words
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As we mentioned already, we need to
understand just how powerful our words are

Look at what James says in 3:5-8…
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Our tongue has power for good and power
for evil or great harm
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See what God’s word says about this…
Temptations of the Tongue
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2. Power in Words
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James tells us that if we do not tame our
tongue that it can render our religion useless
(1:26)
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“He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
but he who opens wide his lips shall have
destruction” (Prov. 13:3; see I Pet. 3:10)
Temptations of the Tongue
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2. Power in Words

“There is one who speaks like the piercings
of a sword…” (Prov. 12:18)
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“Death and life are in the power of the
tongue” (Prov. 18:21)
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“…but the tongue of the wise promotes
health” (Prov. 12:18)
Temptations of the Tongue
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2. Power in Words
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“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the
bones” (Prov. 16:24)
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“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in
settings of silver” (Prov. 25:11)
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This shows the importance of how we say
something as well as the timing of it
Temptations of the Tongue
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3. Difficulty in Taming
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Again, as we mentioned, there is great
difficulty in trying to tame the tongue
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It’s just so easy to let something slip out of
our mouth, especially if we do not train
ourselves to choose our words carefully
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“But no man can tame the tongue” (Js. 3:8)
Temptations of the Tongue
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3. Difficulty in Taming
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James, knowing the difficulty in taming the
tongue, tells us to be “slow to speak” (Js.
1:19)
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We see the difficulty when James mentions
bridling the tongue again in 1:26, connecting
it with proper religion
Temptations of the Tongue
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4. Points to Ponder
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There are 3 simple things that we can keep
in mind to help us make a decision on
whether or not we should say something:
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Is it true?
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Is it needful?
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Is it kind?