1. What No Man (or woman) Can do!

2. What No Man/Woman Can Do…. James 3:1-12 1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 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. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 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, whithersoever the governor listeth.

3. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: 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. 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:

4. can no man tame8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

5. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

6. 2 Things so Important to reflect upon # 1. No man (woman or man) can tame The tongue. Jas. 1:8 #2. When we bless God with our tongue And then curse men with our tongue… My brethren, these things ought not so to Be Jas. 1:10

7. Almost all of us need this sermon! Preachers Elders Deacons Teachers Husbands Wives Accountable children Mothers Fathers Grandparents Old, Young and all those in between!

8. “Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

9. 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.

10. Speak enough to fill 500 page book A Christian must learn Mouth Control Lip Control Word Control

11. - bit, rudder - fire, poisonous animal - fountain, fig

12. Power to Direct Responsibility of teachers Not for attention..Early converts desired to teach for the attention and influence.. They were not qualified to teach and did not have the right motive. Phil. 1:15 Rom. 16:17-18 - serve themselves 2 Tim. 2:2 “Faithful” “Able” Bit in mouth of horse Rudder on boat or ship Bit - Rudder

13. How do we control the tongue ??? The Heart is the Key ! Matthew 12:33-35 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” v. 34b 35. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”

14. Power to Destroy Fire Poisonous animal Fire begins with a small spark Animals can be tamed Our tongue can destroy by:  Lying Rev. 21:8  Profanity Simply put, profanity is “abusive, vulgar, or irreverent language” Eph. 4:29  Gossip Little Book: Whole page ITim.5:13  Murmuring ICor.10:10 Neither murmur  Unjust Criticism. Matt.7:7

15. I Tim. 5:19,20 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke Before all, that others also may fear. NKJV 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

16. I Tim. 5:19,20 NIV 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.

17. Jas. 3:8 “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” “Psalms 140:3 “They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison [is] under their lips.” “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” Eph. 4:29

18. Power to Delight Fountain, Fig Bless or Curse Words can refresh like a fountain  Spread the Gospel -Mtt. 28:18-20  Words of Encouragement- I Thess. 4:18  Defend the truth -John 8:32  Confess Christ - Matt. 10:32-33  Sing Praises -Eph. 5:19

19. It’s an inside job to Control !

21. Whisperer Secretly peddle slander / insinuations “Be sure not to use my name” Backbiter Slanderers, defamers Delight in destroying good name of others

22. What others say about you is important… ‘’good report from others’I Tim.3:7 What you say about others can bring you into God’s judgment! Mtt. 12:36-37

23. “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.” Prov. 21:23 NKJV “[He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.” Ps. 15:3 Prov. 6:16-19 - 7 things God hates (3out of 7)  A proud look  A lying tongue  Hands that shed innocent blood  A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations  Feet swift in running to mischielf  A False Witness that speaketh lies  One who sows discord among brethren How? Tongue slander

24. Matt. 12:36-37 36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

25. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29 Eph. 5:1-7 Mouth sins will keep us from heaven

26. “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” Proverbs 10:11 “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.” Proverbs 10:20,21

27. “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.” Proverbs 12:13,14 “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” Proverbs 12:18

28. Proverbs 13:3, 5 3. “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” 5. “A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame.”

29. Prov. 15:1-2 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”- Proverbs 15:23.

30. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” - Pro. 16:24. “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Prov. 21:23. “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Pro.22:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov. 25:11

32. Albert Einstein’s Theory A = X + Y + Z A = Success X = Work Y = Play Z = Keeping your mouth shut

33. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45

34. Ps. 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Col. 4:6 “Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

35. Do you control your tongue, or Does your tongue control you? Is your tongue your enemy or friend ?