The Power of Speech
Intro: James wrote to people who were having serious problems with what they said.
1. Our Words have the power to direct
James 3:1-4
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
Get control of your mouth by:
- Give your life totally away to Jesus Christ. Confer &Speak
Luke 12:12 'for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.' - Raise the level of God's truth inside you by learning God's truth & prayer
- Cultivate God given dreams for this life. (Love God & love people)
2. Our Words have the power to destroy
James 3:5-8
5Likewise the tongue is a small of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man. 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3. Our Words have the power to delight!
James 3:9-12
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
- Type #1-Proclaim God's Blessing at peoples' crossroads in life
- Type #2- Steady words of nourishment. over time...like a fig tree or grapevine..
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