UNFORK YOUR TONGUE!

TEXT:  JAMES 3:1-12

SUBTOPIC:  “CONTROL YOUR SPEECH”

The Book of “James” is the 59^th book of the bible; 5 chapters; 108 verses; 2309 words; and 24 questions; 100 verses of history, and 8 verses of fulfilled prophecy.  So Brother James had a lot to say!

This James was the actual half- brother of Jesus and he was writing to the Christians who were dispersed or scattered abroad.  He wrote about testings, gave them warnings, Christian living, the rich, human and divine wisdom, exhortations, and the tongue. 

We are going to talk about the “tongue”.  James had much to say concerning it.  It is the most difficult member of the body to control!  It is also the most powerful, yet being the smallest!  James called it a "little member and boasteth great things" (James 3:5).  How many of you have ever said something that you wish you could take back?  Words from this little member (or the pink tornado) have brought about great victories and defeats.  It has ever changed the course of history.  We need to ask God to “unfork our tongue”!  When I use the term “unfork”, it is in the sense of letting it speak things that are wholesome and not divisive.  To be “forked” is to be split.  Our words should be those that will edify (build up) and not destroy (tear down).

James gave some powerful illustrations of the tongue in the beginning of Chapter 3, and he had to know what he was talking about.  This first illustration is in relation to horses.  How many know a horse is a very powerful animal.  A man can’t handle him until he has tamed him or broken him in!  Once broken, the owner places that bridle on his head with a bit.  A “bit” is a metal mouthpiece on a bridle acting as a control.  When that’s in the horse’s mouth, you can turn him anyway you want.

James 4 “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 (or rudder) whithersoever the governor listeth”.  (Vs 5-6)”Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things.  Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity [unrighteousness – injustice – wrongfulness]; 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”.  In other words the circle of human life is continually excited by the tongue unless it is kept sanctified.  Misrepresentation, evil surmisings, falsehood jealousies, wrath, envying, malice - all form parts of the destroying flames of fire from the tongue!

The word course is from a Greek word meaning anything round that runs or rolls like a wheel.  Nature is from a Greek word meaning beginning, birth, genesis.  James was saying that which is set in motion at birth, the tongue sets it on fire!  Whatever we say or speak over our children or over our own lives, we will have just what we say!  Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”.  If we have a careless tongue, it will damage our lives.  Ask the Lord to “un-fork” your tongue!

So this little member is illustrated by a horse, a rudder, and a fire!  THAT IS A WOW MOMENT!!!

The definition of “tongue” medically is a moveable mass of muscular tissue attached to the floor of the mouth.  It is the chief organ of taste and aids in mastication (chewing), swallowing and speech.  The definition of “tongue” in the Greek is glossa, meaning of uncertain affinity, a language!   Tongue is the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.  The definition that means a language is saying we create our own world with our “tongue”, and it can be “hellish” or “heavenly”!

That “fire of hell” is the gehenna fire!  Gehenna or valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, where propitiatory sacrifices were made to Molech (2 kings 23:10) – any place of extreme torment or suffering; a place to burn trash (Jeremiah 32:35).

James is pointing out in his comparisons in relation to the tongue, not so much the matter of control, but of the inordinate influence of such a small part, yet it boasts great things.  James is saying to us don’t underestimate the power of the tongue because if you do you won’t be able to tame it.  With the bit and helm, there is a comparison in sense of direction or influencing direction!  If you control your tongue, it can direct your whole life into what God accepts.  If you don’t control it, it will get you into big trouble!  The “bit and rudder” must overcome contrary forces to direct the horse and the ship!  To work properly and accomplish good things, they must be under the control of a strong hand that knows how to use them properly!  Otherwise even though the horse is a strong animal and can do much useful work, no work will get done.  The ship is a useful means of transportation of people and cargo, but if the rudder is broken, it will be at the mercy of the wind and waves resulting in shipwreck causing the loss of lives and cargo.  In the same way, our tongue must overcome the contrary force of the flesh and be under God’s wise control if it is to accomplish anything good!  James does not say the tongue is untamable!  Only GOD can tame it!!

The Word of God speaks of nineteen (19) kinds of tongues.  Remember the Bible says the tongue is a fire and a world of iniquity, and James calls it a “deadly poison” (James 3:8):  Viper’s tongue (Job 20:16); Flattering tongue (Psalm 5:9); Proud tongue (Psalm 12:3); Lying tongue (Psalm 109:2; Proverbs 6:17); Deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:3); False tongue (Psalm 120:3); Froward tongue (Proverbs 10:31; Wholesome tongue (Proverbs 10:31); Healthy tongue (Proverbs 12:8); Naughty tongue (Proverbs 17:4); Perverse tongue (Proverbs 17:20); Soft tongue (Proverbs 25:15); Stammering tongue (Isaiah 28:11); Backbiting tongue (Proverbs 25:23); Piercing tongue (Proverbs 12:18); Tale-bearing tongue (Proverbs 18:8); Cursing tongue (Romans 3:13-14); Swift tongue (Proverbs 18:13; James 1:19); Over used tongue (Ecclesiastes 5:2-3).  The little member in the floor of our mouth can portray every one of them.

Remember much can be said about a person’s character by the way they use their “tongue”.  Jesus said “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (St. Matthew 12:34).  I will expound on a few of those “tongues” listed:

·        The Lying Tongue:  (an untruth – a sham – without a cause – deceit).  (Proverbs 25:18) “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow”.  A maul because it can be used to harm others close at hand; a sword to those that are a few feet away; and a sharp arrow to those a great distance away.  They lied on Jesus and crucified Him. Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied and were carried out.  In St. John 8:44, Jesus told the Pharisaic Jews that they were of their father the devil, and the latter part of that verse Jesus said, “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:  for he is a liar, and the father of it”!

·        The Tale-bearing Tongue:  (eergawn’ meaning to roll to pieces- a slanderer – whisperer)  (Proverbs 18:8) “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly”.  (Leviticus 19:16) “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people”.  Listen, talebearing spreads all sorts of hurtful information about individuals, and that’s just what the devil wants - to try to hinder and tear down God’s Kingdom!  Proverbs states that a victim of talebearing  is a wounded person!  God forbid we wound one another in the body of Christ.  Yet it does happen!

·        The Cursing Tongue: (vilification – abusive language).  (Psalm 109:17-18) ”As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him:  as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.  As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones”.  Many people curse because their lives are bitter and miserable.  They’re unhappy and they make it known with their degenerate speech.  So therefore God keeps them unhappy because of their speech.  How can you receive God’s blessings when your mouth is filled with cursing?

·        The Swift Tongue:  (to move with great speed).  Some people are guilty of speaking too swiftly when they really need to wait before saying anything.  Have you ever been guilty of speaking too fast?  When you speak too fast, a lot of times you have to eat your own words.  What does James have to say about that?  I told you earlier James knew some stuff!  (James 1:19) ”Be swift to hear, slow to speak”.  Why do you suppose God gave us two ears and one mouth?

·        The Backbiting Tongue:  (to slander an absent person or persons).  (Proverbs 25:23) ”The north wind driveth away rain:  so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue”.  (Romans 1:30) ”Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents”. 

·        The over-used tongue:  (too much or too often).  Some people get in trouble by just simply over using their tongue.  (Ecclesiastes 5:3) ”A fool’s voice is known by multitude of words”.  With much talking these people think they’re smart, but the Word of God says otherwise.  (Ecclesiastes 5:2) ”Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God:  for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth:  therefore let thy words be few”.  God doesn’t  like a blabber mouth.  And if that’s just your way then you need deliverance.  Instead of justifying it, ask God to forgive you and change your heart.

·        The Proud Tongue:  (haughty; arrogant).  Yes, the Word of God speaks of everything under the sun.  Even the proud tongue.  (Psalm 12:3-4) ”The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.  Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail;  our lips are our own:  who is lord over us”?  I believe these are the most annoying because they are so full of themselves that they learn very little from anyone else.  They are always talking about what they’ve accomplished and learned but not much talk of the Lord.  When church functions are planned, they have many suggestions, and if received, all the burdens are placed on everyone else but themselves.  They are hard to teach or reason with because they think they know everything.  They are boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents or leadership.

         Let’s talk a little about the backbiting tongue.  A backbiter is someone who uses their tongue
        against you when you aren’t present.  Yet they will not face you with their charges when you’re
        present.  A backbiter who would rather stir up problems than solve them is a coward.  A
        backbiter would much rather talk about the Preacher than talk to the Preacher.  A backbiter
       would much rather talk about some weak Christian in the body of Christ than offer kind words
       of encouragement to them.  A backbiter is of no use to anyone, and no one has ever been
       strengthened or edified through “backbiting”!  Beware of backbiters, especially the ones who
       sow discord among the brethren (Proverbs 6:19). 

The tongue is the most dangerous weapon!  If your lips could keep from slips, there are five things to observe with care:  to WHOM you speak; of WHOM you speak; HOW you speak; WHEN you speak; and WHERE you speak.  There are a lot of sins of the tongue, but only God can help us to control our speech.

      There were many things mentioned and other things not mentioned concerning the “tongue”. 
      We have found that it has potential for great harm.  Aren’t you glad James informed us about
      this little “pink tornado”?  The tongue is a deadly weapon of destruction!  It has the power to
      defame individuals, divide families, and destroy churches.  This same “tongue” has the ability to
      defile (to tread under foot; to make filthy; to profane):

1.    Defile the body (James 3:6) ”And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:  so is the tongue amongst our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell”.

      2.    Defile the heart (St. Matthew 12:35)”A good man out of the good treasure of the heart
      bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things”.

3.    Confuse the life (James 3:16) ”For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work”.

With all that can go on with this tongue there is good news.  This tongue has potential for great good:

        1.    With this tongue, we can bless God.  Giving Him all the glory, praise, and honor for all the

               things He has done and is doing!

       2.    With this same tongue, we can be a witness.
       3.    We can encourage those who have been down trodden; encourage those who are at the
               end of their wits; encourage those who have almost lost all hope!  Talking about the
               “potential” for good with the tongue!

There is more good news about the “pink tornado”!  It can be controlled!  Lord, un-fork our tongues!  The key is, first, getting your heart right with God.  The tongue expresses what’s in the heart, and out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.  If God is to control the tongue, He must rule the heart.  We have to be submissive to His leading and to His will.  Humble ourselves and allow Him into our hearts by faith.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)”If any man be in Christ he is a new creature [creation], old things are passed away and behold all things are become new”.  You see David said in (Psalm 51:10)”Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me”.

When the Holy Ghost guides our hearts on a daily basis, the fruit of the Spirit will develop over time.  Someone presses your button, and instead of flying off the handle and giving them a piece of your mind, you’re holding your peace.  That’s a fruit – “peace”.  God has worked on that tongue!  You’ve allowed Him to tame your tongue! 

To keep it tamed, we must walk in the Spirit, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!  Keep in mind this uncontrollable little “pink rebel” that lives in a pink cave guarded by two rows of white soldiers called teeth can be tamed by God!  Let us be renewed in the spirit of our mind. When we put on Christ’s mind the tongue will talk like He talks.  David said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue.  I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle [bridle]” (Psalm 39:1).

(Colossians 4:6)”Let your speech be always with grace:  seasoned, as it were with salt”.  Remember the tongue is the most dangerous weapon!  (Read James 3:2-3).

Ask the Lord to unfork your tongue.  Repeat this if you will:  LORD TEACH ME TO HOLD MY TONGUE.  TEACH ME TO SET A WATCH AT THE DOOR OF MY LIPS THAT MY SPEECH MAY ALWAYS BE SEASONED WITH GRACE.  AND MAY MY TONGUE NEVER BE A SWORD.  MAY MY SPEECH ALWAYS BE EDIFYING, UP LIFTING, AND GLORIFYING GOD!! 

AMEN!!

Minister Mary Perry