Teaching And Taming: Lessons from James 3:1-12 Jon Wright 19 th Nov 2006

Teachers: Key Scriptures James 3:1-2 - From the main scripture for today Rom 12:4-5 - The Kingdom has one body but many members Eph 4:11 - Some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers 1 Cor 12 - We are all different parts of one body

Tongue: James 3:3-12 Tongue is small but it’s influence is huge Can start fire - big raging fires Can be used for both blessing and cursing Your words can have effects for many years on others - different pathways chosen The words you say reflect what is inside, like a springs water

Springs: The water from a spring should be pure from the bottom to the top Springs can become contaminated Care must be taken to keep a spring pure God can cleanse our springs

Stumbling: We all stumble Satan tries to make the most of it and will try to make you doubt ‘If you are really a Christian would you really have said that’ We can ask for forgiveness God is the God of 2nd chances Tell Satan that God sent His son Jesus to die for your sins and he has no claim on you!

The Future: Make a decision that you want to change Ask God to reveal to you what areas He would like you to work on improving Ask the Holy Spirit for His help Stop cursing people - bless them instead Avoid areas/places where you are going to be contaminated/tempted, Praise the LORD ps 34:1, Ps 71:22-23, Ps 100:1- 5, Ps 103:1-5, Eph 1:3, Heb Jam 13:15!