Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray. (7:00 PM LHF time, Wed., Jan. 10, 2001)

Text: 3:1-12

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We 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.

"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or 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. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is 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.

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

James, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is again talking about what we can and do do with our tongues. It's interesting that this chapter, chapter 3, starts off with the statement that not many of us should be teachers, because those who teach will be judged more strictly. (The NIV says, "presume to be teachers," but presume is not really there.) This is a scary passage, especially for someone who is trying to teach. If you are never at fault in what you say, you can control your entire body. But the fact is that 'we all stumble in may ways.' (v2a)

James talks about how you can guide a large horse with a bit and bridle and how a great ship can be steered by a very small rudder (vv 3,4). He is talking about the tongue giving direction to the body, and by analogy, he is saying that if we can control what we say, we can also control what we do. But it is also a fact that with our tongues we can direct large numbers of people. If you say anything with enough persistence and enthusiasm, people will listen. Hitler led a whole nation to destruction with his tongue. The tongue can be set on fire by hell and the course of the life of its owner also set on fire (v6). Fire spreads. Many people may be influenced by what you say. Do not begin to speak without prayer. I will say it again. Do not begin to speak without prayer.

In verse 8 James says, "No man can tame the tongue." We praise God with our tongues and curse men. James asks, "Can both fresh water and salt water (sweet and bitter) come out of the same spring?" The obvious answer is, "Certainly not!" So then how can you possibly really praise God if you are cursing men? You can't. Do you complain about what men say or do? Are you in any way bitter? Then you will not be able to worship God. You won't be able to praise him. You may say the words and go through the motions, but God will not be praised.

Before I finish, I want to add one more comment. Back in chapter 1 verse 19, James tells us that 'everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.' I don't think I commented too much on how to listen when I talked about that verse a few weeks ago, but the fact is the devil has a way of misinterpreting the words of others to us in a way that will lead to maximum anger and trouble. Don't assume what you think you understood or what you think was implied by what someone has said is necessarily what that person meant -- especially if it will lead to anger. Be slow to speak.

Verse 8 says that no man can tame the tongue. But what no man can do, God is able to do. His purpose is to make us mature and complete, perfect men (and women). Come and pray to see his glory among us. Pray that we may control our tongues.

Come and let's pray for each other as well as for the whole church. Come and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Love them.

Love in Christ,
Dean

PS: If you absolutely can't make it to the prayer meeting, send your prayer requests back to me by e-mail and we'll pray for them.