James 3

Teach the word

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Those who teach God's word are accountable for what they say. Keep in the word, do not express opinions or be judgmental. You will be judged by your words. If you are a false teacher, you will receive a greater condemnation. Jesus said;

Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luke 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luke 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luke 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

If we serve the Lord according to his word, we will receive heavenly authority. If we are evil we will be judged as one who is evil. Serve faithfully in your calling. Already the Lord's fire of judgment is come.

1 Pet 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1 Pet 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1 Tim 1:3 ... that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Tim 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1 Tim 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Tim 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
1 Tim 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1 Tim 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1 Tim 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1 Tim 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1 Tim 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Pet 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Put a watch on your mouth, speak words that build up the hearer in truth. Always speak God's word from a heart of love. If we stumble we confess our sins and are restored.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Taming of the tongue

James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
James 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

As a bit controls the direction of a horse and the rudder guides the ship so the tongue has power for good or for evil. Someone commented, "I get angry, but it is over with quickly" so is a shotgun blast. The damage is done. We must give anger to our God. Not only does it hurt others, but it hurts ourselves. Speak words of love and encouragment. You are free now, Jesus has made you free.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

As a careless match burns a great forest, so a careless word inflicts a fiery dart from hell to anothers heart.

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

There is no truth in the childhood saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Yes anothers words do hurt, evil deeds follow the hurt of the tongue, bringing much confusion. But our Lord gives us love and peace and a sound mind.

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

James 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Only by becoming like our Lord Jesus Christ, can we tame an unruly tongue. Ask him and he will help you. Instead of swearing an oath, praise Jesus in all things. For we belong to him. He is a gentle and loving God.

Lord, be patient with your people as they become outwardly as you are to us inwardly. Help us to be people of light and truth speaking words that build another in faith, with hearts of love. Help us to forgive others as you forgave us all our sins.Amen

Watching our words

James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
James 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Cursing often comes from a past hurt that surfaces in time of stress, or a past way of reacting to stress. Remember these three things.

1. If you have believed in Jesus, God has forgiven all your sins and erased them from his memory

2. The devil uses the past memories stored in our mind to try to bring shame and accusations against you, recognize this. You are a forgiven child of God.

3. Hide God's word in your heart so that you will not sin against him. (Ps 119:11)

Jesus stands between us and the devil. When the devil accuses us to God, Jesus says, they are forgiven, because I have paid the price for their forgiveness and freedom. Isn't that great? Of course we will not sin willfully, we will serve him with all our hearts, for he loves us and has given us new life, everlasting life.

Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The devil will accuse you, but God does not. The Holy Spirit may convict you of sin and lead you to repentence, to turn from sin to God. The blood of Jesus washes away our sin, satan cannot cross the power of Jesus' blood , now we are children of God. We overcome by Jesus' blood and our testimonies. I once was lost in sin but now I am forgiven. Lord help me to give forth your word and your praises with a new song in my heart. Make me a source of blessings with no dark words, thank you Jesus.

Wisdom from God

James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

wisdom, sophia, full of intelligence, If any be wise, it is from knowing God and his word. Knowledge is a learned ability. We receive knowledge from studying and or doing something. Knowledge in practice brings skill. As a skilled craftsman working with his hands. The old testament tells of four young princes of Israel who were taken captive by another nation. God was with them. They were given knowledge and skill and also spiritual understanding. The wisdom of God is spiritual understanding.

Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Wisdom from below - bitter fruit

James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

The wisdom of the world is in the physical, and the fruit of the flesh is of the earth, sensual, devilish. The devil controls the world's ways. The fruit of the old person, before receiving Jesus, is bitter envying and strife in the heart. A life in darkness and lies. Jesus spoke to those who opposed him.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

We receive God's wisdom through prayer, from God's Bible and through his Holy Spirit of truth. God's wisdom is perfect understanding.

God's perfect wisdom

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Good fruit

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

The fruit of righteousness is sown...The seed of righteousness is the word of God, the fruit is love, the fruit of the spirit. It is possible to sow the word in strife and debate, but the fruit of God's spirit speaks God's word in his gentle spirit. It is sown in peace of them that make peace. God loves you, Jesus is God's love sent to bring us into fellowship with God. After receiving Jesus we receive his Holy Spirit of peace.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Where do we receive our wisdom? From the world? or from above? God's wisdom is perfect and eternal.

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Gary

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