I title this sermon “Watch your Mouth”. I wish I had a dollar for every time my mother yelled that at me, she would say, “watch your mouth or I’ll wash it out with soap”… I can add another dollar to that when this week my wife while I was driving the car said, “watch your mouth”. Yes, even we pastors slip now and then and if you’re honest you do too. I was not going to preach on this subject this week; in fact I was about to start the book of Jonah. This is a great book to prep us for the August revival. However, God had other ideas. He gave several indications and endorsement about this subject. I didn’t know exactly why until there was an assassination attempt on former president Trump last night. This spoke volumes about hate speech…can kill.

By far the most common sin among Christians involves the use of our tongues. The word tongues and mouth are used akin in the Bible. Someone once wrote, “The tongue is deadly like screaming bullets that kill. Yet, it can harm without killing. It tears down homes, break hearts and wrecks lives and it wrecking this country. It has topples governments, wrecks marriages, ruins careers, destroys reputations, causes nightmares, spawns suspicion, and generates grief”. There are many victims of a loose tongue and perverse mouths so we all need to watch your mouth.

Our mouths can lies, gossip, slander and deceive. Loose tongue, contentious speech has hindered the work of God a thousand times over. Critical tongues have closed the church doors. Careless tongues have broken the hearts and health of many. It is the number one device Satan’s uses to destroy Christ’s church. It ruins the communion of the saints that is so vital to the oneness necessary to function with the power of the Holy Spirit. The question today is, “Is my tongue being used as a tool in Satan’s evil plans? Or is my tongue use to glorify God?

I. The ambition to speak vv. 1,
1.) Although James doesn’t mention the tongue in verse 1, the content clearly refers to the matter of speech. He warned his readers not to be ambitious for a teaching position because a teacher has the potential to misuse the tongue and receive the greater condemnation of God. The word translated condemnation (Kre’ma) means “judgment.” Being a master / teacher (dē-dä’-skä-los) one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so). Preaching God’s Word is a serious responsibly because of the potential to mislead people. It can be misused to elevate oneself in the eyes of the hearers rather than Christ. Teachers need to be an example of a truthful speech.
2. It seems some of James’ readers did not recognize that teaching in the church is a spiritual gift (I Cor. 12:28) and the gift is for the edification of the church. James cautions leaders to be careful to examine ones’ motive and the Lord’s direction. If any man can control the tongue he can handle the rest of his life without difficulty. This is the test.
II. The power of the Tongue (3:2-5)
1. James shifts the attention from teachers to all believers in verse 2, “For in many things we offend all.” The word translated offend is the same Greek word translated offend in 2:10 and is a synonym for the word “sin. A good translation of this verse would be that we all stumble.
2) Those little member or object such as the bits in a horses’ mouth and the helm of a ship will guide it where the captain wants it to go. What often holds the greatest influence may appear insignificant. The size doesn’t matter. It can be very powerful. So we see the importance of having control over such a little yet powerful member of the body! That is the tongue in our mouths.
That is a “perfect” mature person, so James is demanding here that we recognize that living faith shows itself in having our speech under control. The tongue is a small member of the body but it has potential for good or bad. Dr. Charles Swindol once said,” I am personally convinced that the number one enemy of Christian unity is the tongue. People who spread rumors invariably display a lack of wisdom”. Now that leads to the destruction of what an uncontrolled tongue, destructive speech can do. James likens it to…
III. The Destruction of a Tongue….vv. 5,6
1) The tongue can be compared to a little fire. The tongue is like a match, when out of control this little fire can set a forest up in a blaze. Washington Irving once said, “A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows sharper with constant use”. Don’t let your tongue be a tool in Satan’s demolition schemes. Be wise and let’s watch our mouth. This is a graphic illustration of how fatal the tongue can be. We know what destruction can come from a small match. The Bible tells of another small thing that can inflict great harm. It’s that “little member” known as the tongue. Be careful your tongue is not a tool in Satan’s demolition workshop.
#2) The Tongues can be like deadly poison vv. 7-8 too. Most deadly animals can be tamed, we see them on stages at circuses but the tongue hasn’t ever been tamed. It shoots its’ venom of deadly poison. This is even scientifically proven.
One doctor said it this way-There is not an organ or tissue in the human body the condition of which cannot be modified in one manner or another by means of words, that is to say, by way of cortex. Our bodies secrete enzymes that can be harmful to us when the tongue shoots it venom. This poison is gossip. Beware of gossiping in the church and being gossiping members. Don’t speak idle words and get into a gossip session.
****The church is the one place where we must edify one another with our lips not degrades one another. When this occurs the communion is affected. We forget how sacred the sanctuary of God is when we do this.
IV. The Contradictory character of the tongue. vv 3:9, 10

1. The tongue can be used for the highest calling (to bless our God) and it can be used for the lowest evil. We shouldn’t use one vocabulary or one tone of speaking at church and a different one at home or on the job. Like a spring of water, our mouths shouldn’t send forth fresh… and bitter from the same opening.
At times our speech is contradictory because we praise the Lord but then speak badly of others. Our old sinful nature opposes our new life in Christ. What comes out of our mouths shows us how much we need God’s help.

Our old “tongue” must go away. The only way to learn the new language of love is by making Jesus the Lord of our speech. When the Holy Spirit works in us, He gives us self-control to speak words that please the Father. May we surrender every word to Him! “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

2. Our speech should be consistently glorifying to God. Scripture tells us: Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. We need the Lord to help us have a wholesome tongue. — Psalms 141:3

Solomon spoke extensively on this subject teaching us to…Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Pr. 4:24 —The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. — Pr.10:31

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23

3. Our speech should bring joy and edification to others. A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Pr. 15:23 — We need to be dispenser of God’s grace with gracious speech.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. Ecc. 10:12

A few years ago, four-star General Peter Chiarelli (the No. 2 general in the US Army at that time) was mistaken for a waiter by a senior presidential advisor at a formal Washington dinner. As the general stood behind her in his dress uniform, the senior advisor asked him to get her a beverage. She then realized her mistake, and the general graciously eased her embarrassment by cheerfully refilling her glass and even inviting her to join his family sometime for dinner.

We are recipients of the most incredible free and unmerited favor of our heavenly fathers’ “grace” that God has provided through His Son, Jesus (Eph. 2:8). Because we have received grace, we are to show this grace in the way we treat others—for example, in the way we speak to them: Paul taught this “Grace” in our hearts ( is to be) pours out in our words and deeds.
(Col. 3:16-17).

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. — Colossians 4:6
The word gracious comes from the word grace, and it can mean an act or speech of kindness and courtesy.

Conclusion:
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14