Am I able to control my tongue?
Yesterday
We saw how we ALL stumble… in what we ‘say’.
Today
Let’s dive into the contrast, if we don’t stumble in what we ‘say’.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Let’s Ask For Help!
Oh Lord, as we come to your Holy Word today, may we come humbly, desiring to hear what You are saying to us. Open our eyes to see and ears to hear. Help us truly grasp what You mean, renewing our minds, and transforming us to live in the light of what You show us. Thank you.
LOOK at What God Says
How does GODcha suggest to get under way?
Begin By Reading
Let’s read James 3:1-12 again, asking the 5W’s and H.
Remember you are learning the most critical skill there is to see God’s Word correctly!
Now focus on James 3:2.
What is true if one doesn’t stumble in what he says?
Unlock the Meaning
Let’s unlock ‘bridle’ that is Key.
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
1. First, do you remember what ‘stumble’ means?
James is talking about a continuous, habitual stumbling (falling into sin) with our words.
We see: This is usually reflecting a lifestyle.
2. Do you recall unlocking ‘perfect’ back in Chapter 1?
Perfect means complete, full, wanting in nothing.
Specifically of persons meaning…full–grown in mind and understanding.
It is one who has attained moral maturity, the goal for which he was intended, namely, to be a man obedient in Christ.
Let’s check out ‘bridle’.
Bridle, chalinagōgéō; To lead, direct or restrain. Figuratively, to restrain, govern or control.
TIP: Take the meanings back to the text.
“For we all stumble [continuously, habitually fall into sin] in many ways.
If anyone does not stumble [does not continuously fall into sin] in what he says,he is a perfect [complete; mature; obedient to Christ] man,
able to bridle [direct, control] the whole body as well.”
THINK and REASON: If someone is able to not continuously stumble in what they say:
They are perfect –
meaning mature, obedient to Christ.
Because they are perfect, mature –
this means they are able to control their tongue.
Because they are perfect, mature, able to control their tongue –
then
they can control the whole body.
THINK about the body:
Words usually lead to deeds of the body.
Understand:
All believers sin,
BUT
believers DO NOT continuously sin with an uncontrolled tongue.
Let’s scope out the Cross References for ‘perfect’.
Truth Explains Truth
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Hear God Speak!
1. Do you remember (Jam 1:4; 17; 25; 2:22)
We are to let endurance have its perfect result, so that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
2. Who didn’t sin with their mouth?
a. Jesus committed NO sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. (1Pe 2:22)
b. Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks. (Joh 7:46)
c. He made Him who knew NO sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2Co 5:21)
3. What does God say about believers being perfect?
a. We are to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. (Mat 5:48)
b. A transformed life proves what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:1-2)
c. We press on to become perfect. (Phil 3:12; Heb 6:1)
d. He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)
e. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1Pe 5:10)
What Can We Take Away
Sum it Up!
We LEARN:
We all stumble, fall into sin, in what we say.
In contrast:
Jesus is the only one who never sinned.
Jesus never sinned with His tongue.
We LEARN:
God has called us to be perfect.
NOT perfect like Christ who never sinned.
Perfect in the sense of a spiritual maturity, obedient to Christ.
We LEARN:
Perfection comes as we are transformed.
Transformation comes from a new mind (renewed mind).
Transformation is God’s perfect will for us.
Our transformation is proof that God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect.
Our renewed minds help us discern God’s will that is perfect.
We LEARN:
Our Responsibility: is to press on to become perfect (spiritually mature).
God’s Responsibility: is to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish us.
If we are perfect (spiritually mature), then we are able to control our tongue, not continuously stumble in what we say, able to bridle the whole body.
Listen and Respond!
LISTEN…
Am I perfect (maturing) able to bridle (control) my tongue?
What will I do to press on to be perfect, mature in Christ?
What will I do to bridle my tongue?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Aren’t you in awe of all that God has shown us from just this 1 verse?
Do you see what happens when you learn to engage with God for yourselves?
Isn’t it wonderful to stop and listen, and hear Him speak?
That’s It For Today!
Oh, how do you use your tongue?
God wants you to “consider what He is saying and let Him give you understanding in everything,” (2Ti 2:7).
Ponder and chew on all He has taught you.
Think about how you will press on to become perfect, to control your tongue, thus, the whole body, (Psa 15:28).
Journal What You Have LEARNED
Perhaps Note the Subject: of the tongue.
As we dig deeper, you can always come back and add later.
Jot these Cross References next to this verse in your hard bound Bible.
Let’s Close in Prayer
Perhaps…
DEAR FATHER, thank you for your Word! May we continue to examine ourselves and our tongues. For we see if we truly are Yours we are not to sin with our mouths, certainly not on a continuous basis! Oh Father, forgive us for our words. We want to control our tongues, we want our words to be godly, to have speech like You, Lord Jesus. We want to prove that our faith is genuine. Renew our minds today with these truths. Transform us in such a way that we would desire to be perfect, spiritually mature. That we will determine in our hearts to press on, hearing Your Words to becoming perfect. May that transformation deep within cause us to master our tongues. For if we can control our tongues, then You say we will be able to bridle, lead, direct, control the whole body and its impulses. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, our Lord! Amen!
I am so proud of you! Thank you for being faithful and diligent to hear God’s Word. For hungering for God and His Word of Truth!
Rest and worship the Lord!
In a couple of days we will dig into the POWER of the tongue.