James Condemned by the Tongue

 

James

Condemned by the Tongue

When we fail to bridle our tongue

When we fail to speak blessing, instead we curse

When we fail to speak in integrity when our words are not a clear “Yes or No”

God has to judge

He has to make a decision

He has to bless or condemn our words 

You and I cannot be free with our tongue because the tongue has the power of evil

We cannot have one language at church and another at home and work

  “Above All” James says do not place more or less importance on your words

Don’t categorize your speech or words, as some are heavenly and some are earthly,

Some matter, some don’t

All our speech and all our words matters

Don’t make light of your words

Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no,

or you will be condemned. James 5:12

 

 

Condemned by the Tongue

 

When I was a child, I thought being silent

and passive I could stay out of trouble.

 

As we get older many of us think

we can talk ourselves out of trouble.

 

James gives us two warnings in Chapter 5…

 

Don't grumble against each other,

brothers, or you will be judged.

The Judge is standing at the door!

James 5:9

 

James is talking to “Brothers”, Believers, Christians.

 

“The Judge is standing at the door” of the believer.

 

Verse 12 says…

 

“…Brothers… Let your "Yes" be yes,

and your "No," no,

 or you will be condemned.”

 

“Brothers… you will be condemned”

 

The word for judge and the word for

condemned are closely related in the Greek…

 

A decision and justice.

 

Is God still judging the believer

and bringing justice on the believer?

 

Doesn’t Jesus say?...

 

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word

and believes him who sent me has eternal life

 and will not be condemned;

he has crossed over from death to life.

John 5:24

 

Doesn’t Paul say?...

 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 Romans 8:1

 

We should consider 1 Corinthians 3:12-15…

 

 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

 

I don’t know about you…

 

 But I don’t want to be in a wood box or be

dressed like a scarecrow when I get near fire.

 

We might be saved, but burns hurt and scar.

 

As a boy I liked to play with fire.

 

One time, I took an oil can, one that had

a thumb pump that would release the oil.

 

I filled the can with gas and light the end. 

 

When I began to pump,

the flame shot out the end.

 

 I thought it was cool, until some

of the gas got on my hand and

the flame came back to get me.

 

My hand was on fire.

 

 I shook it, but that only made it worse.

 

I quickly ran to the outside faucet,

turned it on and put out the fire.

 

I was in pain and I knew I could not tell

anyone or I would be in more trouble.

 

The tongue is like a fire and you can get burnt.

 

One of the most sacred observances we as

believers get to participate in is Communion.

 

  Paul describes the seriousness of judging

ourselves when we observe the convent we

have through the body and the blood of Christ.

 

Christ sacrificed Himself for our sin

and we should never take that lightly.

 

Paul says…

 

For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

1 Corinthians 11:29-32

 

When we fail to bridle our tongue.

 

When we fail to speak blessing

 instead we curse.

 

When we fail to speak in integrity when

 our words are not a clear “Yes or No”.

 

God has to judge.

 

He has to make a decision.

 

He has to bless or condemn our words.

 

You and I cannot be free with our tongue

because the tongue has the power of evil.

 

We cannot have one language at church

and another at home and work.

 

  “Above All” James says do not place

more or less importance on your words.

 

Don’t categorize your speech or words as

some are heavenly and some are earthly…

 

Some matter, some don’t.

 

All our speech and all our words matters.

 

Don’t make light of your words.

 

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

 Matthew 12:36-37

 

God does not want us to continue speaking

with careless words after we become believers.

 

If we have committed our lives to Him,

 we are His children whom He loves

 

And He will discipline now, so we

will not be condemned with the world.

    

 Above all, my brothers, do not swear —

not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.

 

Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no,

or you will be condemned.

James 5:12

 

     

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 5:12 NIV

 

12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear — not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.