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James 3:8 - We Need Christ For Speech Control.

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

INTRODUCTION

James uses strong metaphors to warn us about 
our speech. There is nothing good or bad, right 
or wrong, about our ability to speak - the 
tongue is simply a few ounces of muscle. But the 
tongue gives voice to the heart, and the heart is 
filled with plenty of things that may not be 
helpful to talk about. Although the bad news is that 
our negative words can be very powerful, the 
good news is that our positive words can be 
equally as powerful. We have an opportunity to bless 
and speak truth and affirmation into people's 
lives and to speak praises to God. When we use our 
mouths in those ways, we are exercising the 
powerful gift of speech in the manner God intended. 
[NIV Once A Day Bible re Jam. 3:1-12] 

If no human being can tame the tongue, why 
bother trying? Even though we may not achieve 
perfect control of our tongues, the Holy Spirit will 
help us learn self-control. Remember that we are 
not fighting the tongue's fire in our own 
strength. The Holy Spirit will give us increasing 
power to monitor and control what we say, so that 
when we are offended, the Spirit will remind us 
of God's love, and we won't react in a hateful 
manner. When we are criticized, the Spirit will heal 
the hurt and help us to not lash out. [Life 
Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

When Your Heart Changes, Your Talk Changes
   As God transforms your heart, the way you 
talk to others will begin to change. And that 
will bring more harmony to your relationships. 
Why? Because, in any relationship, most conflict 
is caused by the words you say and how you say 
them. 
   "It only takes a spark, remember, to set 
off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed 
word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech 
we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, 
throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up 
in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke 
right from the pit of hell" (James 3:5-6 The 
Message). 
   People respond differently to stress and 
pressure. When the pressure is on, what comes out in 
someones speech reveals what's really going on in 
their heart. 
   Under stress, kind people become kinder 
and patient people become more patient. Under 
stress, mean people become meaner, bullies become 
bigger bullies, angry people become angrier, and 
opinionated people become more opinionated. 
   Whatever is in your heart is going to 
spill out when you're under pressure. So the only 
way you can control what you say is to manage 
whats going on in your heart. How do you really 
feel about the people you interact with each day? 
Does social, economic, or political standing have 
any effect on how you see them? Do you give 
equal respect to everyone you meet? 
   Humility means thinking of yourself less 
and thinking more about the needs of others. It 
means you meet people on their own terms; you 
dont think you know it all. When you practice 
humility, you start seeing people as God created them: 
in his image, with great worth. 
   Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any 
unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what 
is helpful for building others up according to 
their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" 
(NIV). 
   Imagine what would happen if everyone in 
the church consistently saw people as God sees 
them. We would become known for being humble and 
kind and great listeners. We would have a lot 
more harmony in our relationships. And we also 
would show the world more of what Jesus is like! 
[Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/ re vss. 5-6] 

COMMENTARY

Taming the Tongue
   Curbing our tongue is a choice we make. 
But the fact that no person can tame the tongue 
means that only the Holy Spirit can free us from 
sinful talk, so we have to invite Him to do exactly 
that. We must acknowledge both our limitations and 
the fact that we need His help. Otherwise we 
will continue to start forest fires with our 
words. 
   James was not overstating the damage we 
do with our tongue. Bridling such a strong 
force calls for the power of the Holy Spirit, a 
power that is much stronger than our mere 
willpower. So invite Him - right now - to teach you to 
think before you speak, to call on Him when 
self-control seems out of reach, and to enable you to 
forgive those who, like you, struggle to subdue the 
poisonous tongue. 
   Surrender your words to the Holy Spirit 
and let Him transform them into instruments of 
grace. [Being Still With God Every Day by Henry 
Blackaby] 

Diligent heart-keeping is essential to a 
healthy growth in grace. The heart in its natural 
state is a habitation for unholy thoughts and 
sinful passions. When brought into subjection to 
Christ, it must be cleansed by the Spirit from all 
defilement. In the work of heart-keeping we must be 
instant in prayer, unwearied in petitioning the 
throne of grace for assistance.. The Saviour has 
told us to pray without ceasing. The Christian 
can not always be in the position of prayer, but 
his thoughts and desires can always be upward. 
They should cultivate a love for meditation, and 
cherish a spirit of devotion..3BC1157 

The heart must be renewed by divine grace, 
or it will be in vain to seek for purity of 
life. He who attempts to build up a noble, 
virtuous character independent of the grace of Christ 
is building his house upon the shifting sand. 
In the fierce storms of temptation it will 
surely be overthrown. Those who would not fall a 
prey to Satan's devices must guard well the 
avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, 
seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure 
thoughts. The mind should not be left to wander at 
random upon every subject that the adversary of 
souls may suggest This will require earnest 
prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided 
by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, 
which will attract the mind upward, and habituate 
it to dwell on pure and holy things. And we 
must give diligent study to the word of God.  
PP460 

To keep your heart in heaven, will give 
vigor to all your graces, and put life into all 
your duties. To discipline the mind to dwell upon 
heavenly things, will put life and earnestness into 
all our endeavors As exercise increases the 
appetite, and gives strength and healthy vigor to the 
body, so will devotional exercises bring an 
increase of grace and spiritual vigor. The affections 
should center upon God. Contemplate His greatness, 
His mercy and excellences. Let His goodness and 
love and perfection of character captivate your 
heart. 3BC1157 

As God works upon the heart by His Holy 
Spirit, man must cooperate with Him. The thoughts 
must be bound about, restricted, withdrawn from 
branching out and contemplating things that will only 
weaken and defile the soul.. By beholding we are 
to become changed, and as we meditate upon the 
perfections of our divine Model, we shall desire to 
become wholly transformed and renewed in the image 
of His purity. There will be a hungering and 
thirsting of soul to be made like Him whom we adore. 
The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more 
we shall speak of Him to others, and represent 
Him to the world. 3BC1145 

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   

ILLUSTRATION

   I enjoy watching NBC's Today Show as part 
of my morning routine. One day, I heard news 
anchor Craig Melvin share a story about riding the 
elevator at work with a colleague. After noticing the 
woman's round tummy, Melvin cheerfully asked her, 
"So when are you due?" Much to his dismay, she 
looked at him and replied, "I'm not pregnant." 
Mortified by his gaffe, Melvin quickly exited the 
elevator at the next stop - and it wasn't even his 
floor. 
   I chuckled at the story, but I could 
certainly relate. My mother often told me as a child, 
"Think before you speak." But I still fall short of 
always heeding that wise advice. How many times 
have I said something and immediately wished I 
could snatch back the words as soon as they left 
my mouth? An unkind comment about a colleague. 
Harsh criticism of my husband. Complaints about my 
life. Words that have hurt others and reflected 
badly on me as a Christian and, even worse, have 
not glorified God. 
   James, the brother of Jesus, does not 
mince words when he talks about the power of the 
tongue: "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil 
among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole 
body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, 
and is itself set on fire by hell" (James 3:6, 
NIV). Even King David asked the Lord to set a 
guard over his mouth, as we see in Psalm 141:3. 
And like David, I ask Jesus every day to be a 
guard over my mouth too. Barbranda Lumpkins Walls 
   Faith Step: Do some quick thinking before 
you speak. Before you make a comment, ask 
yourself, Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? 
[Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan re Psalm 141:3] 

ONE LINER

THE TONGUE IS THE INDICATOR OF THE PERSON.  
WHAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME IS WHAT WE LIVE.  
THE WORDS WE USE AND THE WORDS WE DON'T USE 
DEFINE WHAT WE ARE THINKING, FEELING, AND BECOMING. 
 [Karen Burton Mains; Time with God 
devotional SB re Mat.12:34] 

CLOSING PEARL

Have you ever watched an icicle form? Did 
you notice how the dripping water froze, one 
drop at a time, until the icicle was a foot long 
or more? If the water was clean, the icicle 
remained clear and sparkled brightly in the sun; but 
if the water was slightly muddy, the icicle 
looked cloudy, its beauty spoiled. Our character is 
formed in like manner. Each thought or feeling adds 
its influence. Each decision we make - both 
great and small - contributes its part. Everything 
we take into our minds and souls - impressions, 
experiences, images, or words - helps create our 
character. At all times, we must be aware of the 
"droplets" we allow to drip into our lives. Acts that 
develop habits of hate, falsehood, and evil-intent 
mar and eventually destroy us - but habits born 
of love, truth, and goodness silently mold and 
fashion us into the image of God. [God's Little 
Devotional Bible] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Proverbs 15:28 - The Grace of Thoughtful 
Speech. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2004/20040802-1413.html 

Colossians 4:6 - Speaking with Grace 
Seasoned with Salt. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180428-1514.html 

James 1:19 - Be Quick to Listen and Slow to 
Speak. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191103-1032.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE