CHAPTER 3

INTRO:

Maybe you've heard of Sigmund Freud.
He developed a theory that people were formed by evolution.
First, they were amoeba, then tadpoles, then frogs, then monkeys, then people.
Well, my Dad may have been a "swinger"; but it sure wasn't from a TREE!

Freud also believe he could, through verbal consultation, change people's
behavior.

Once, Freud was driving and had a flat on his tire, right in front of an
insane asylum.
He took off the nuts from the tire, and went to get the spare.
But he stepped wrong, and all the nuts fell into a sewer drain.

Suddenly a voice came from one of the windows in the asylum.
"There are 4 nuts on the lugs of each tire. Take 1 off each of the
good tires, and us the 3 to put on the spare. That way you'll have
enough to get to a repair shop and buy some more."

Freud said, "THAT'S AMAZING!"

Voice: "WHY? I may be crazy, but I ain't STUPID!"

VS 1
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

The word "masters" is plural and translated from the Greek didaskaloi.
It means teachers.

That word is basically the same as didaskalos (singular) in Matt. 10:24.

James is applying this statement to the church.
MANY desire to be teachers, but obviously, everyone doesn't receive that gift from God.

There is much injury done in the church when an ungifted "teacher" causes
disorder and confusion.

Now, the word "condemnation" is derived from the Greek krima.
It can mean both judgment and giving an account.

There is certainly a more rigid ACCOUNT for teachers to give to the LORD!

Teachers are the sharpeners of the present generation, and
the guiders of the future generation....or, SHOULD be.

We must be careful, when teaching (or preaching) in the church, that we are
presenting GOD'S TRUTH!

VSS 2-4
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man,
and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their
whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet
are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

The word "offend" is from the Greek ptaio, and means to sin, or fail.
We ALL sin! (Rom. 3:23, Is. 53:6)

Therefore, we should seek to MASTER the tongue!!
My Dad used to say, "Be sure the motor of your brain is running BEFORE you
engage the clutch on your tongue!"

The Scripture gives two examples:
a) Bridles control horses;
b) Rudders control ship directions.

So it is with a person!
If one can control the tongue, he/she can control the WHOLE BODY!

THEREFORE....

VSS 5-6
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great
a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that
it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Compared with bridles and rudders, the tongue is very LITTLE!
But, it SURE CAN ignite a GREAT FIRE!!

A LITTLE spark from an uncontrolled fire can burn a WHOLE FOREST!

((Mrs. Jones was a widow lady. In her church, they gained a new member.
He was a nice looking man. Now Mrs. Jones lived across the street from
Miss Smith, and the new young man, had just bought a house down the street
from both of them. One evening, Mrs. Jones noticed the new member's truck
parked in front of Miss Smith's house; and, it STAYED all night!!
So, next morning, she used her phone to inform ALL the lady members about it!!
In truth, the young man's alternator had stopped working. And he had to wait
until the next day to get a new one. But, Mrs. Jones was so busy GOSSIPPING
she didn't notice the new member WORKING on his truck the next day.
Sunday, that gossip was spread all over the church!
The new member never said a word!! He CONTROLLED his tongue and anger.
BUT -- his truck was parked in front of Mrs. Jones' house for TWO NIGHTS!!))

Gossip BITES! and it bites BACK!!

Lev. 19:19 says, "Thou shalt NOT go up and down as a talebearer among
thy people!!"

Be CAREFUL! Those who gossip TO you, will also gossip ABOUT you!

And "talebearers" can RUIN a whole church!!

(( "- 'Tis slander;
whose edge is sharper than the sword,
whose tongue outvenoms all the worms of the Nile,
whose breath rides on posting winds,
and doth belie all corners of the world!"
((W. Shakespeare in Cymbelina)) ))

VSS 9-12
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made
after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought
not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain
both yield salt water and fresh.

The Scripture says the tongue of men is TERRIBLY FORKED!
On one side we are blessing God.
On the other side we are cursing men.
And, may we be reminded, mankind is made in the "image" of GOD!!

NO ONE is without the NEED of salvation!!
AND, ANYONE can be saved, if they surrender to Jesus!

Christians, we have the SWEET water of Christ in our souls!
Let us not RUIN it by spitting out VENOM!
1Cor. 15:33 says, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners!"

One can graft wild grapes into a tame grape vine.
But one CANNOT get grape vines to produce figs!!
If PLANTS follow the will of God, so should WE!

In ALL things we are to be "Endeavouring to KEEP the unity of the SPIRIT
in the bond of PEACE!"

VSS 13-14
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good
conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

WOW!!
If Jesus is really IN you, then let it SHOW through conversation and actions!!

Circumstances happen!
But when things cause us to feel bitterness, strife, or even anger, that is NO EXCUSE
to "lie against the truth!"

((This example may cause me to receive some flak.
But I KNOW it to be TRUTH!
I'm old enough to remember snide and viscious remarks made about black people
in the 1940' and 1950's.

BUT - I remember ONE pastor, boldly preaching from the pulpit from Acts 17:26-27!
God has "made of ONE BLOOD all nations of men for to dwell on all the
face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds
of their habitation; That they should SEEK the LORD, if haply they might feel after
Him, and FIND Him, though He be not far from every one of us!"

AND, I remember, after that ONE sermon two things happened.
First, the pastor was asked to leave the church!!
BUT, second, MANY male members burned their white coats and hoods!!!))

People NEED the LORD!!!

Be WISE in CHRIST!
And, let the FRUIT of your mouth show you are ROOTED in the TRUE VINE!!

VSS 15-17
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy
to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Is. 5:20 says, "WOE unto them that call evil good, and good evil...!"

THAT kind of wisdom does NOT come from God!!
It comes from sinful, evil-infected minds!!

Remember James 1:5?
That Scripture says, "If ANY of you lack wisdom, let him ASK of God, that giveth
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given unto him."

When a government enacts a law that calls evil good, it's SIN!!
When a person, or news media, promotes envy, strife and prejudice it is SIN!!!

TRUE WISDOM comes "from ABOVE!" -- From GOD!!
And all one has to do is humble himself and ASK GOD!!

Take particular note of Vs 17, "But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, WITHOUT PARTIALITY, and WITHOUT HYPOCRISY!"

VS 18
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Godly wisdom exhibits virtues that foster peace and NOT division!!

TRUE wisdom, comes not from tongues, but from hearts that are surrendered
to God's eternal truths.

PRAY, STUDY, LEARN REAL TRUTH from God's WORD!

THEN, the REAL challenge.
Let God's WORD guide your mind and tongue; NOT your emotions!!