‘Words Do Matter’, part 4 James 3 & Selected Pastor Dave Martin, Cross Creek Community Church, July 27, 2014

Words Do Matter Matthew 12:36-37 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

I. The mouth speaks the content of the heart Mt 15:18-19 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander

I. The mouth speaks the content of the heart Mt 12:34b “… For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Eph 4:29-32 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Offenses Happen… Bitterness – we feel the hurt Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Offenses Happen… Bitterness – we feel the hurt Rage – smolder & burn inside Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Offenses Happen… Bitterness – we feel the hurt Rage – smolder & burn inside Anger – moves to the outside Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Offenses Happen… Bitterness – we feel the hurt Rage – smolder & burn inside Anger – moves to the outside Brawling – speak hash and loud Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Offenses Happen… Bitterness – we feel the hurt Rage – smolder & burn inside Anger – moves to the outside Brawling – speak hash and loud Slander – use of destructive words Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Offenses Happen… Bitterness – we feel the hurt Rage – smolder & burn inside Anger – moves to the outside Brawling – speak hash and loud Slander – use of destructive words Malice – desire to hurt Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Psalms 64:3 3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.

The Tongue is Powerful – Change your Heart James 3:1-5 1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal…

The Tongue is Powerful – Change your Heart James 3:1-5 … 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

The Tongue is Perverse – Guard your Words James 3:6-8 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

The Tongue is Polluted – Model your Consistency James 3:9-12 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

II. Right Heart = Right Thoughts, Right Talk, Right Lifestyle Romans 10:9-10 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Fruit that reveals your inner character and condition of your soul

A Wise Man is a Humble Man James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

A Wise Man is a Gracious Man James 3:14-16 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

A Wise Man is a Peaceable Man James 3:17 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

III. Be planting seeds of peace: Reap a harvest of righteousness James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Words Do Matter!