God said:

1. God said: • What • No Man • Can Do!

2. What No Man Can Do! • There are many things that we can do… • Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through • Christ which • strengtheneth • me. • The ‘all things’ is conditional…’all things that God wants us to do.’

3. There is One thing that No man can do! • What is it?

4. God said: • Tame • The • Tongue

5. The Untamed Tongue James 3:1-12 James 3:7-8 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: 8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

6. Barometer Atmospheric Pressure Thermometer Temperature Speedometer Velocity - speed Tongue Soul - Character

7. The Tongue is Important Heaven Pro.6:16-19 Hell Tongue Soul - Character

8. Let’s look this morningto three things about the tongue • James 3:1-12 • 1.Description • 2. Character • 3. Power

9. First, let us consider • A • Description • of • the • Tongue!

10. #1. The Description of the Tongue Fire James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire” Prov. 16:27 “and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” Prov. 26:20 “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. inflicts Pain. Burn Centers..80% of body is Destructive. Look at the States this year that have had so many fires! Fire

11. The Description of the Tongue Untamable James 3:8 “But the tongue can no man tame” Tamed = to reduce from a wild to a domestic state , to bring under control: harness” 1 Pet. 3:10 “For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” “bridling back the tongue”

12. The Description of the Tongue Unruly Evil James 3:8 “it is an unruly evil” Like a wild animal in a cage Can injure: Have you ever hurt someone by the misuse of your tongue???

13. The Description of the Tongue Poison James 3:8 “full of deadly poison” Poison = venom as emitted by serpents Fire is an open force Poison is subtle Describes the effects on the victims Slander Backbiting Gossip

14. Gossip Is like A Poison !

15. # 2 • Let us consider the • Character of the • Tongue

16. # 2 - The Character of the Tongue Betrays condition of Heart “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matt. 12:34 Accent tells about geographical origin Matt. 26:73 “for your speech betrays you” Northerner Southerner

17. # 2 -The Character of the Tongue Betrays condition of Heart • Swearing = a profane heart • Impure stories = a filthy heart • Murmurings = a thankless heart • Criticism = a jealous heart • Slander = a hateful heart Heart Indicator

18. The Character of the Tongue Can Bless and Curse “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” James 3:9 Bless = speak well of Curse = to doom – bring evil upon men

19. #3 Let us Consider • The • Power • Of • The • Tongue

20. #3. The Power of the Tongue Three illustrations Horse = bridle Ship = rudder Fire = little can destroy much

21. Think of what our tonguescan do! • The power of the tongue is seen in:

22. #3. The Power of the Tongue Tongue Body Control Jas. 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.” Whole body = sins that body can commit Control tongue first !

23. The Untamed Tongue Look at how powerful the tongue is by what it can do • Can Destroy a person’s reputation.Mt.5:16 • Can Destroy the Happiness of others • Eph. 4:32 • Can Destroy a congregation Eph.4:1-6 • Can Destroy your soul Mtt.12:36,37

24. 1 Peter 3:10-11 10. “For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 11. And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.”

25. The Untamed Tongue James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” The Bridled Tongue

26. Angry Words