The Christian and His Tongue

James 3:3-12

The Need to Understand the Tongue (verses 3-6)

• Speech Has Tremendous Power
• Speech Has Destructive Power

The Need to Control the Tongue (verses 7-8)

• James was not declaring an impossibility.
• James was leaving a challenge to put the tongue under control

The Need to Sanctify the Tongue (verses 9-12)

• Good and evil from one source
• Effect of inconsistency on credibility
• Bearing the right fruit through speech

Growing Stronger Together

1. Growing Together through Learning (Ephesians 4:14 – There will be no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. NIV)
2. Growing Together through Laboring (Ephesians 4:16 – From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. NIV)
3. Growing Together through Loving (Ephesians 4:15 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.)

We can UNITE without loving,but we cannot LOVE without uniting.

The Power of His Resurrection

1. It Proves the Validity of His Gospel. (I Corinthians 15:14; I Corinthians 15:51-55)
2. It Proves the Value of His work. (Romans 4:25)
3. It Proves His Promise of Life. (Romans 8:11; Romans 6:5)

Parable of the Foolish Builder

(Luke 6:46-49)

Characteristics of an Active Listener

• He Digs Deep into the Ground.
• He Builds on a Strong Foundation.
• He Is Stable in the Midst of Troubles.

Characteristics of a Passive Listener

• He listens, but not obeys.
• He knows the duties, but he does not perform them.
• He calls God, but he stops there.

God's Wonderful Provision

1. Universal Provision – He has many blessings that everyone, believer or not, enjoys. (Psalm 65:9-13)
2. Instrumental Provision – From time to time, he uses other people to provide for our needs. (Philippians 4:13-19)
3. Participative Provision – Under normal circumstances, our efforts are required to elicit God’s provision. God wants us to work; he does not tolerate indolence. (II Thessalonians 3:8-10)
4. Miraculous Provision – Under special circumstances, God can work beyond human limitations to provide our needs. (Exodus 16:13-15)

Joseph's Road to Prosperity

(Basing on the Life of Joseph the Dreamer)

1. Patience Brings Prosperity (He patiently endured the hardships caused by his brothers and Potephar.)
2. Purity Brings Prosperity (He refused the temptation of Potephar's wife and stood by God's standards.)
3. Planning Brings Prosperity (He laid out a concrete plan as soon as he knew a famine was on its way.)
4. Diligence Brings Prosperity (He did something to prepare for the upcoming famine. He gave his best while working for the Egyptian kingdom.)
5. Forgiveness Brings Prosperity (He accepted his brothers again despite what they did to him.)