Don’t Believe the Lie
James 3:1-12
- The magnitude of our words
Verses 1-2
Acts 20:26-27-“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
Hebrews 13:17-“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Proverbs 18:21-“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
- The power of our words
Verses 3-5
1 Peter 2:21-23-“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving [us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
Psalms 39:1-“I said, ‘I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.”
- The potential of our words
Verses 5-6
Proverbs 15:28-“The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.”
Proverbs 26:20-“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”
Psalms 64:3-“Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words.”
- The need to control our words
Verses 7-8
Psalms 141:3-“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Psalms 64-“Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation;
Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword,
And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
4 That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter;
They talk of laying snares secretly;
They say, “Who will see them?”
6 They devise iniquities:
“We have perfected a shrewd scheme.”
Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they shall be wounded.
8 So He will make them stumble over their own tongue;
All who see them shall flee away.
9 All men shall fear,
And shall declare the work of God;
For they shall wisely consider His doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him.
And all the upright in heart shall glory.”
- The need to be consistent with our words
Verses 9-12
Matthew 16:16-“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God..”
Matthew 26:74-75-“Then he began to [curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly.”
Matthew 7:18, 20-“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit…. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
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