Blessings and Curses
James 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue.
It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
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We have some salt-water aquarium fans in our church. If I pour salt-water and fresh water into the aquarium, can I expect to go the faucet and get both? If I go to the ocean, I’m only going to get salt water. Can the same spring give me both?
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"He was a saint abroad and a devil at home." - John Bunyan |
James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs?
Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Neither can you use the same mouth to bless God and curse people, that’s what he’s saying.
Romans 3:13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
Jesus said, “Out of the heart the mouth speaks.” Whatever’s in your heart will eventually come out of your mouth. Paul knew this, and said that your throat is an open grave, a tomb, and nothing but nasty, filthy, stinking words are coming out because that’s what is in your heart. So if that’s what’s in my heart, where am I? What am I doing with this? What’s that say about my heart, if my mouth is an open grave? What conversations should you be having that you’re not having? What are you holding against other people that makes you want to give them the stink-eye every time they walk past? Do you avoid them if you see them in the store, bcause you don’t want to have that conversation? What shouldn’t you be saying that you are? What kind of filth is stirring around in your heart and mind that you’re hopgin the filter will catch most of?
Back in verse 2, James said we all stumble. So take heart, you’re not the only one struggling with what shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth, or what should be and isn’t. You’re not alone in this. Life and death is in the power of the tongue, and Jesus himself spoke about this.
When one becomes a Christian, there’s an expectancy that over time the way you talk will change. When I say “filthy mouth”, I’m not just talking about curse words – actually I’m not talking about curse words at all. Some of us are gifted at sarcasm, but we can take that to an extreme. Jesus was sarcastic at times. I’m not talking about just cussing. Those are words. I’m talking about the meaning behind words. Your words will change over time, but this is not an outward change where you’re trying to fit yourself into a mold or make yourself act in a certain way, in the hope that eventually that will make your thoughts and mind change. No, that’s backwards! That’s religion! That’s thinking you can do it under your own power. Faith in Jesus says my heart is changing, and out of that will flow words and actions of love. That’s what will come out because that’s what’s happening inside. Out of the heart the mouth speaks.
Why can I call you morons? Because Jesus called these religious people a den of vipers! Jesus called these people out! When Jesus encountered people who were lost and honestly trying to find their way, he showed complete love. The woman caught in the act of adultery, he didn’t condemn but told her to not do it again. When Jesus talked to the woman at the well, he knew her past and spoke words of love. But when Jesus spoke to religious people who were out to get him, we flipped the switch.
Back in verse 2, James said we all stumble. So take heart, you’re not the only one struggling with what shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth, or what should be and isn’t. You’re not alone in this. Life and death is in the power of the tongue, and Jesus himself spoke about this.
When one becomes a Christian, there’s an expectancy that over time the way you talk will change. When I say “filthy mouth”, I’m not just talking about curse words – actually I’m not talking about curse words at all. Some of us are gifted at sarcasm, but we can take that to an extreme. Jesus was sarcastic at times. I’m not talking about just cussing. Those are words. I’m talking about the meaning behind words. Your words will change over time, but this is not an outward change where you’re trying to fit yourself into a mold or make yourself act in a certain way, in the hope that eventually that will make your thoughts and mind change. No, that’s backwards! That’s religion! That’s thinking you can do it under your own power. Faith in Jesus says my heart is changing, and out of that will flow words and actions of love. That’s what will come out because that’s what’s happening inside. Out of the heart the mouth speaks.
Why can I call you morons? Because Jesus called these religious people a den of vipers! Jesus called these people out! When Jesus encountered people who were lost and honestly trying to find their way, he showed complete love. The woman caught in the act of adultery, he didn’t condemn but told her to not do it again. When Jesus talked to the woman at the well, he knew her past and spoke words of love. But when Jesus spoke to religious people who were out to get him, we flipped the switch.
Matthew 12:34-37 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil?
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good,
and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account
for every careless word they speak,
37 for by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned.”
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good,
and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account
for every careless word they speak,
37 for by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned.”
Every careless word! I’m going to be there a while. I’ve spoken a lot of careless words! The sinner’s mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Romans 3:14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
Romans 10:9-10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:9-10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
By our words we are justified. As condemned sinners, our mouths are silenced before the throne of God but as believers our mouths are opened to praise Jesus.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law,
so that every mouth may be stopped,
and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
Romans 15:6 that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
so that every mouth may be stopped,
and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
Romans 15:6 that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christians are those whose hearts have been changed by the power of God, a change which will be reflected in the words we choose. Before we were saved, Ephesians says we were in death! We lived in death, we were spiritually dead, and Paul says our throats were an open grave.
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world,
following the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh,
carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,
and were by nature children of wrath,
like the rest of mankind.
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world,
following the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh,
carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,
and were by nature children of wrath,
like the rest of mankind.
Hurt people hurt people. Blessed people bless people. So if we fill our hearts with the love of Christ, only truth and purity will come out of our mouths.
That’s why Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 to speak the truth away in love, put away lying, speak the truth with your neighbor, let no corrupt talk come out of your mouth, but only what is edifying.
That’s why Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 to speak the truth away in love, put away lying, speak the truth with your neighbor, let no corrupt talk come out of your mouth, but only what is edifying.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood,
let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor,
for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,
but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,
that it may give grace to those who hear.
let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor,
for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,
but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,
that it may give grace to those who hear.
Why? So you can give grace to people hearing your words, because there is power in your words. There is power for life. There is power for death, in your words.
1 Peter 3:15 in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,
always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
yet do it with gentleness and respect,
always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Use your words carefully, because you will be judged when you use them carelessly. Let the power of our words be used of God to manifest the power of our faith. That’s how we’re going to know. Jesus said by their fruits you will know your brothers and sisters in Christ, and one of those fruits is what’s coming out of your mouth. Don’t tell me you’re just a pessimist by nature, or a realist by nature. Bull! You have Christ in you, therefore you have hope in you, therefore you should be an optimist! You should be speaking words of love and encouragement – in truth.
Don’t sugarcoat your conversations, don’t think that if you just sprinkle some Jesus on top it will all be okay. Jesus was really direct – he called them a den of snakes to start the conversation! Be prepared to give a reason for why you love Jesus to anyone at any time. Our words should demonstrate the power of God’s grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that God will use our words lovingly, to use them gracefully, to use them as an instrument of His love and grace in our lives out to others. Faith will help you shut your mouth when you need to shut your mouth, but it will also help you open it and speak life into someone’s life. Blessed people bless people.
Father, some of us have issues. No, we all have issues, with what we say, how we say it, why we say it. This is a biggie. Our lips can encourage someone on to greatness or can absolutely demolish their hopes and dreams. With our lips we can let someone know they are loved or let them know that they are despised. We have hope in us through your spirit because of Your son. May we speak that hope, love, and truth plainly into others’ lives and lead them straight to You.
Don’t sugarcoat your conversations, don’t think that if you just sprinkle some Jesus on top it will all be okay. Jesus was really direct – he called them a den of snakes to start the conversation! Be prepared to give a reason for why you love Jesus to anyone at any time. Our words should demonstrate the power of God’s grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that God will use our words lovingly, to use them gracefully, to use them as an instrument of His love and grace in our lives out to others. Faith will help you shut your mouth when you need to shut your mouth, but it will also help you open it and speak life into someone’s life. Blessed people bless people.
Father, some of us have issues. No, we all have issues, with what we say, how we say it, why we say it. This is a biggie. Our lips can encourage someone on to greatness or can absolutely demolish their hopes and dreams. With our lips we can let someone know they are loved or let them know that they are despised. We have hope in us through your spirit because of Your son. May we speak that hope, love, and truth plainly into others’ lives and lead them straight to You.