The Untamed Tongue James 3:1-12 James 3:7-8 7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Barometer Atmospheric Pressure Thermometer Temperature Speedometer Velocity - speed Tongue Soul - Character

The Tongue is Important James 3:1-12 Heaven 1.Description 2. Character 3. Power Pro.6:16-19 Hell Tongue Soul - Character

The Description of the Tongue Fire James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire” Prov. 16:27 “and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” Prov. 26:20 “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. inflicts Pain is Destructive Fire

The Description of the Tongue Untamable James 3:8 “But the tongue can no man tame” Tamed = to reduce from a wild to a domestic state , to bring under control: harness” 1 Pet. 3:10 “For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” “bridling back the tongue”

The Description of the Tongue Unruly Evil James 3:8 “it is an unruly evil” Like a wild animal in a cage Can injure

The Description of the Tongue Poison James 3:8 “full of deadly poison” Poison = venom as emitted by serpents Fire is an open force Poison is subtle Describes the effects on the victims Slander Backbiting Gossip

Gossip Is like A Poison !

The Character of the Tongue Betrays condition of Heart “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matt. 12:34 Accent tells about geographical origin Matt. 26:73 “for your speech betrays you” Northerner Southerner

The Character of the Tongue Betrays condition of Heart Swearing = a profane heart Impure stories = a filthy heart Murmurings = a thankless heart Criticism = a jealous heart Slander = a hateful heart Heart Indicator

The Character of the Tongue Can Bless and Curse “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” James 3:9 Bless = speak well of Curse = to doom – bring evil upon men

Control Tongue Body The Power of the Tongue Jas. 3:2 “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Whole body = sins that body can commit Control tongue first !

Three illustrations The Power of the Tongue Horse = bridle Ship = rudder Fire = little can destroy much

The Untamed Tongue James 3:1-12 Can Destroy a person’s reputation Can Destroy the Happiness of others Can Destroy a congregation Can Destroy your soul

1 Peter 3:10-11 10. “For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 11. And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.”

The Untamed Tongue The Bridled Tongue James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” The Bridled Tongue

The Untamed Tongue Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249 evanscoc@bellsouth.net www.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning April 15, 2012