Sermon Central
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Tongue Talkers
Contributed by Kenneth Jarman on Nov 26, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: their are four functions of the tongue to gauge us, to guide us, to gird us, and to guard us this sermon explains all four.
TONGUE TALKERS
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Let us pray!
You’re probably wondering what has tongue talkers got to do with the verse he just read. Well hang in there it’s all going to come together.
Turn with me to the Book of James chapter 3
James list four functions of the tongue in this chapter:
Function 1. The tongue is to gauge us:
1. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
Anyone who has been called of God to be an Apostle, a Prophet, an Evangelist, a Pastor or a teacher is not only responsible for themselves but also for the ones they will influence because of the position God has placed them in. If you are not sure of God’s calling then do not take the position of a teacher until God has placed you there. You will increase your liability of judgment if you do.
If God has not placed you in position of teaching then quit trying to teach others how to live. Start listening to the teacher God has given you and get your own life in order. Once that is done then God has something to work with. He can then start training you for the position he has planned for you in the Body of Christ.
Even as teachers called of God, we are not perfect; therefore we must depend on God’s help to properly teach His Word.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)
Without God’s help we could stumble, loose control of our teaching and loose control of the body of Christ, he has placed in our care.
Function 2. The tongue is to guide us:
3. Indeed we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles.
Just as the horse’s bit allows us to guide the horse and make it obey us so that we can turn their whole body. And the ship’s rudder allows us to turn such a large ship even in a great storm. Our tongues sets and guides the direction in our lives.
Like the spark on the kindling wood it gets things started. Whether good or bad.
When you wake up in the morning and get out of bed, do you jump up and say: Thank you Jesus for this wonderful day that you have given me, I ready to start out with a smile on my face and joy in my heart, because I want people to see you in me today. Or, do you get up and say something like this: Man, I feel like I just went to sleep and it’s time to get up already, I can tell right now this is going to be one of those days. Depending on which way you get up, what kind of day do you think you will have?
What word’s have you spoken that will take you in the direction you want to go in life. Where you go in life will depend on what you, your selves speak into your life.
Ask for God’s direction each and every day.
Bridle your tongue! Monitoring every word we speak may seem cumbersome at first, but it will serve to advance righteousness.
Function 3: the tongue is to gird us:
Gird means to:
Equip or endow
To prepare for action
To summon up our inner resources in preparation for action
6. And 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.
The true source of the unruly evil produced by the tongue is hell. At one end the tongue spits deadly poison; at the other end it is manipulated by wicked spirits. Therefore no man can tame it.
