Man can tame the tiger but not the tongue. He can harness a horse but not the tongue. He can bind a bear but not the tongue. Man has conquered almost every imaginable foe, but he cannot conquer the tongue. The tongue cannot be contained. The tongue is woefully erratic. Is there anything that can be done? Nothing can be done by any man or woman, but the God-Man, Jesus Christ, just may have the solution.
The tongue can accomplish great good. Yet, there is another side to the tongue, a chilling, horrible, monstrous side. James offered no whitewash but laid bare the lethal nature of the tongue. The tongue is a fire, an aggressive force, a wrecking ball, a cobra poised for the strike. Is there any way to tame the tongue? Check inside for info.
Would you like for someone to predict accurately the path your life will take and the successes and/or failures that will occur along that path? That’s exactly what happened in Genesis 49 when Jacob spoke over the lives of his sons. Did you know that God has a plan for your life and that your life today just may have a lot to do with your life tomorrow?
In his book, The Preaching Event, John Claypool wrote: Words make things happen. Words are like arrows or bullets being shot into a target. Words go out and do things. James also believed that words have power, thus, he addressed those who claimed to be teachers of the Bible. His words resonate even today. If you are a teacher, don’t miss this message. If you are not a teacher, keep listening – it just may change the way you hear
Abraham believed God; he trusted God – at least he said he did. Yet, did Abraham really believe God? Did Abraham genuinely trust God? He said that he had faith, but was it saving faith? We say that we believe God; that we trust God – at least we say we do. Yet, do we really believe God? Do we genuinely trust God? We say we have faith, but is it saving faith? Find out now.
James asked the question: What use is it . . . if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? He continued with a second question: Can that faith save him? Let’s make the sense of it a little more clear: Can “that kind of faith” save him? Allow me to offer an even more accurate translation: That kind of faith can’t save him, can it? Perhaps, it’s a good idea to determine the kind of faith we have.
Most of us have experienced at least one life-changing event, if not more, the kind of event that has hammered us for years and may still crush the spirit. If you are among those, there is hope in your hurt. Don’t miss this opportunity to find that hope. You may be moments away from cutting loose the past and enjoying the present.
Our treatment of others is to be based, not on external factors, but upon one factor and one factor only – a factor that James called the royal law. James presented this law as the ideal measure of Christian expression and action. Yet, is its practice to be considered as a realistic expectation? Let me think.
I have a distaste for the word religion. In fact, I object to the use of the term, especially when it comes to Christianity. Yet, James used the words religion and/or religious three times in two consecutive verses. Yikes! What do you think he meant? Is Christianity nothing more than a religion? Are you religious, and is being religious enough? I wonder. Do you?
Those who hear without doing, deceive themselves. Those who listen without acting, remain themselves. Those who enjoy the sermon without making application, cheat themselves.