Message Title: Taming the Tongue
Message Truth: The heart of the problem is a problem of the heart.
Message Text: James 3:1-12
The Tongue Has Power To…
1.Condemn (James 3:1)
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37
2.Control (James 3:2-5)
3.Corrupts (James 3:5-8)
4.Confuses (James 3:9-12)
What’s the Solution?
Seek and Pray for a Pure Heart
- Heart most used word-
Appearing 1000 times more than any other word for the inner self
- Heart is most misused word
- Heart is most Appropriate word
The heart is the center of motives, passions, the center of thought process “hidden control center”
What the physical heart is to the body for health, the spiritual heart is the soul for holiness. So goes the heart, so goes the man. It is the helm of the ship.
The heart is the governing center of the person. It describes the mind (what we know), desires (what we love), will (what we choose) choose to speak (words)
. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.” Luke 6:45
Proverbs 4:23 “From out of the heart flows the issues of life”
POINT: God shaped our hearts in such a way that our thinking functions properly only if our desires and will are right with God.
What do we need?
Salvation –New Heart
- Ezekiel 11:19: ”I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh”.
- Psalm 51:10: ”Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me”.
- Jeremiah 31:33: Referring to the new covenant, God declares, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts”.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17: ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
Prayer + Word=
1.Illuminated Heart
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-18
2.Undivided Heart
“Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11
3.Obedience
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phillipians 2:12-13
