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Evil Speech

Evil Speech. James 4:11-12 May 25, 2014. JAMES 4:11-12.

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Evil Speech

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  1. Evil Speech James 4:11-12 May 25, 2014

  2. JAMES 4:11-12 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

  3. THREE SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS 4:11–12 – Defaming or slanderous talk about a fellow Christian. 4:13-17 – Christians acting presumptuously 5:1-6 – The misuse of wealth. Two Themes • Human weakness and insecurity • Divine greatness and strength • If we are to live according to the wisdom from above, and to avoid the bad fruit of earthly wisdom, then what is required of us is to humble our hearts individually before God.

  4. Outline of the Text A command Against Evil Speech (4:11a) Self-Elevation Above the Law (4:11b) Self-Elevation Above God (4:12)

  5. 1. A Command Against Evil Speech 4:11a - Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. • Warning of the danger of corrosive and derogatory speech in the church. • “speak evil” = do not defame • The command here is actually forbidding any speech, whether it is true or false which runs down another person. • Fellow believers do not speak evil against one another.

  6. 2. Self-Elevation Above the Law 11b - The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. • When you speak against other believers, you are setting yourself above God’s law. • The Scriptures forbid judgementalism, a critical spirit that judges everything and everyone, running down with words.

  7. 3. Self-Elevation Above God 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? • A judgmental person sets himself up, not only above the Law, but above God! • God has the sovereign capacity to save and destroy.

  8. Deuteronomy 32:39 - 'See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. • 1 Samuel 2:6 - The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. • Job 40:7-9 - "Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

  9. Therefore: • Be careful with your words. • Allow the Holy Spirit to shape your desires and motives. • Seek the wisdom from above to tame the tongue. • Seek the strength that only the Lord can supply to truly change your words from slanderous and hurtful words to grace-filled words. • Allow the gospel to sanctify your words.

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