How Do I Use My Tongue?
Well it’s a New Year, time for those resolutions! Perhaps as we come to our next test to prove our faith, we should seriously consider our tongues. For True Living Faith is demonstrated in our speech! Why? Because our tongues reveal what is in our hearts! Perhaps that is why James mentions the tongue in every chapter, showing up in all the other tests that God gives us. God gave us a tongue to communicate with, and our words can either hurt or heal, destroy or encourage and strengthen.
Did you know the first actual sin after the fall was a sin of the tongue in Genesis 3:12, when Adam actually slandered and accused God, blaming God for the sin? The wretchedness of man is in the tongue.
I thought it was fascinating that some studies say on an average men speak 7,000 words a day and women are chatter boxes speaking up to 20,000 words a day. No matter who we are or what we do all day long, we talk!
But that isn’t taking into account this digital age that has ushered in new avenues to speak our words. Facebook and Twitter, are platforms, where people freely express their views. About 2 billion people use Facebook a month, one-sixth of the world’s population—uses the platform every day. Often times with misinformation and speech that degrades, insults, or threatens people igniting violence.
The power of speech is one of the greatest powers God has given us, and James gives us six pictures of the tongue to show us its power. Let’s take a LOOK.
Last WEEK
We finished LOOKING at Chapter 2, about Partiality, and DEAD Faith versus LIVING Faith.
How did you respond to the Spirit as He spoke to you?
This WEEK
Our journey has us chewing on another 12 verses, James 3:1-12, again with a two-fold objective. We want to:
1. LOOK at the truths in James to answer the LIVE question: What comes from my tongue?
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Review the Big Picture 
In GODcha: Scan the Overview
Why Did James Write This Letter?
You should know this by now!
Keep his purpose in the forefront of your mind as you do your discovery.
What was James’ emphasis?
Before We Begin, Let’s Pray
O LORD, we hunger for Your Word of Truth, and do desire to understand it. Thank You that You have made Your Word clear. We want that understanding that we may live it and know the fullness of blessing and bring You honor in Your Son’s name. Thank you.
Let GODcha lead the way!
Go to the LEARN/LIVE Section
Open the Deeper Discovery
Scroll to the #10 LEARN Questions
#10. Ch 3, The next test of true faith will show in the tongue. What do you learn?
a. Why would teachers incur a stricter judgment?
b. What do the illustrations of a horse and ship teach you?
c. What do you understand about the consequences from the illustration of a tongue set on fire? (v1-12)
Now, what is repeated that helps you see what you will want to concentrate on to help you stay focused?
Let’s LOOK at What God Says About: 
The Tongue
Open the LOOK Section
Where does GODcha direct you to begin?
Always Begin LOOKING by READING
Read what God has to say in James 3:1-12, asking the 5W’s and H – who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
The only way to learn this critical skill – is to do it.
Try it. Give it your best shot and then come back for help.
Remember to focus on the nouns and verbs.
How did you do?
Let’s dive in and read together.
1 WHAT?
Let not many
of WHO?
of you
WHAT?
become teachers,
you WHO?
WHO is James addressing?
my brethren,
WHY not become teachers?
knowing that as such
WHO?
we (the brethren — James includes himself)
WHAT?
will incur
will incur WHAT?
a stricter judgment.
2 For WHO?
For we
we WHO?
all (the brethren —James too)
we all WHAT?
stumble
HOW do we all stumble?
in many ways.
If WHO?
If anyone
WHAT?
does not stumble
WHEN? HOW?
in what he says,
WHAT is he?
he is a perfect man,
being perfect,
WHAT is he able to do?
able to bridle
bridle WHAT?
the whole body as well.
(Think about the point James just made.)
WHAT is James illustration to prove his point?
3 Now if WHO?
Now if we (the brethren — James too)
WHAT?
put the bits
WHERE?
into the horses’ mouths
WHY?
so that they will obey us,
WHAT happens?
we direct
WHAT?
their entire body as well.
(Do you see the 
comparison? What is James’ point?)
WHAT is James next illustration?
4 WHAT?
Look
at WHAT?
at the ships also,
though WHAT?
though they (the ships)
are WHAT?
are so great
and
WHAT else are they?
are driven by strong winds,
they (the ships) WHAT?
are still directed
directed by WHAT?
by a very small rudder
directed WHERE?
to wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
(What is James point with this Comparison?)
So, WHAT does James 
conclude?
5 So also the tongue
is WHAT?
is a small part
of WHAT?
of the body,
and yet
WHAT?
it (the tongue)
WHAT?
boasts
boasts of WHAT?
of great things.
See WHAT?
See how great a forest
is WHAT?
is set aflame
HOW?
by WHAT?
by such a small fire!
6 And
WHAT?
the tongue
is WHAT?
is a fire,
the very WHAT?
the very world of iniquity;
WHAT?
the tongue
is WHAT?
is set
WHERE?
among our members
as WHAT?
as that which
defiles
defiles WHAT?
the entire body,
and
does WHAT?
sets on fire
WHAT?
the course of our life,
and
WHAT else?
is set on fire
HOW?
by hell.
(What is James’ point with this comparison?)
7 For WHAT?
every species
of WHAT?
of beasts
and
WHAT?
birds,
of WHAT?
of reptiles
and
WHAT?
creatures of the sea,
is WHAT?
is tamed
and
has WHAT?
has been tamed
HOW?
BY WHAT?
by the human race.
But
WHO?
no one
WHAT?
can tame
tame WHAT?
the tongue;
WHY?
it (the tongue)
is a restless evil
and
WHY else?
full of deadly poison.
(What is being 
contrasted?)
9 With WHAT?
With it (the tongue)
WHAT do we do?
we bless
bless WHO?
our Lord
and
WHO?
Father,
and
with WHAT?
with it (the tongue)
we WHAT?
we curse
curse WHO?
men,
men WHO WHAT?
who have been made
made HOW?
in the likeness
of WHO?
of God;
10 from WHAT?
from the same mouth
come WHAT?
come both blessing
and
WHAT else?
cursing.
My WHO?
My brethren,
these WHAT?
these things
(What things? Blessing and cursing)
WHAT?
ought not to be this way.
(Do you see the contrast?)
11 Does WHAT?
Does a fountain
WHAT?
send out
from WHERE?
from the same opening
WHAT?
both fresh
and
WHAT?
bitter water?
12 Can a WHAT?
Can a fig tree,
WHO?
my brethren,
can a fig tree
WHAT?
produce olives,
or
WHAT?
a vine
WHAT?
produce figs?
Nor
WHAT?
can salt water
WHAT?
produce fresh.
(What are the comparisons?)
Awesome!
You just read 12 verses of God’s holy Word.
You are developing the most vital skill there is to see God’s Word correctly and handle it accurately! I am so proud of you.
Shall We Call It a Day?
Mull over what we just read.
Perhaps read and re-read for clarity, and consider what God has said through James. May this text cause us to think about guarding our ways and not sinning with our tongues, (Psa 39:1)!
Reflect on all God said about the tongue.
Ponder the comparisons and contrasts.
Notes
Did you have questions?
Put them in your Notes.
Ask God to answer them.
He will!
Let’s Close in Prayer
Perhaps. . .
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, we seek to bless You with our praise today! We are so thankful for Your Word. That razor sharp two-edged sword that is able to discern our thoughts and intentions, that frees us, that cleanses and sanctifies us. May this Word that we just read slowly and with purpose make head way from our heads to our hearts. May we truly ponder and chew on what You are saying to us, about our tongues. Oh Father, we know and confess that we are a people with unclean lips! May Your holy Word renew our minds and transform us from the inside out! We ask this in Jesus name. Amen!
Next: we will dive in taking small bites to understand what God says about the tongue.
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