James 3:8 - How To Tame The Tongue. Part 2

James 3:8 - How To Tame The Tongue. Part 2

James 3:8 (NKJV) But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly 
evil, full of deadly poison.  

  The words are an indication of that which is in the heart. 
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." But the words 
are more than an indication of character; they have power to react 
on the character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often 
under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to 
jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really 
believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived by 
their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at Satan's 
instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too 
proud to retract it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until 
they come to believe that they are. It is dangerous to utter a word 
of doubt, dangerous to question and criticize divine light. The 
habit of careless and irreverent criticism reacts upon the character, 
in fostering irreverence and unbelief. Many a man indulging this 
habit has gone on unconscious of danger, until he was ready to 
criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "Every idle 
word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day 
of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy 
words thou shalt be condemned."  {DA 323.1}   
  Then He added a warning to those who had been impressed by His 
words, who had heard Him gladly, but who had not surrendered themselves 
for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is not only by resistance 
but by neglect that the soul is destroyed. "When the unclean spirit 
is gone out of a man," said Jesus, "he walketh through dry places, 
seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my 
house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it 
empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself 
seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and 
dwell there."  {DA 323.2}   
  There were many in Christ's day, as there are today, over whom 
the control of Satan for the time seemed broken; through the grace 
of God they were set free from the evil spirits that had held 
dominion over the soul. They rejoiced in the love of God; but, like the 
stony-ground hearers of the parable, they did not abide in His love. They did 
not surrender themselves to God daily, that Christ might dwell in 
the heart; and when the evil spirit returned, with "seven other 
spirits more wicked than himself," they were wholly dominated by the 
power of evil.  {DA 323.3}   
  When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes 
possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never 
accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural 
element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes 
His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends 
that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept 
in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the 
assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of 
Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be 
under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that 
are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary 
for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness 
in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to 
ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate 
with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, 
and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is 
the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His 
righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist 
the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation 
to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part 
company with Satan; but WITHOUT A VITAL CONNECTION WITH GOD, THROUGH THE 
SURRENDER OF OURSELVES TO HIM MOMENT BY MOMENT, WE SHALL BE OVERCOME. 
WITHOUT A PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCE WITH CHRIST, AND A CONTINUAL COMMUNION, 
WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE ENEMY, AND SHALL DO HIS BIDDING IN THE 
END.  {DA 324.1}