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REAL FAITH FOR A REAL WORLD
CONTROLLED SPEECH
JAMES 3


James 3:1-2
1) Scripture does not necessarily give us an exhausted list of the gifts of God, but it does touch on quite a few. Take the time to look at Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 7:7; 12:1-31. Each of us, upon our salvation are given at least one spiritual gift and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to use this gift or our gifts for God’s glory. Do you see your particular gift in these passages? You might want to read Exodus 28:3 and Exodus 31:2-6. Surely, every good gift is from God (James 1:17). How do you plan to put to use the gift God has given? All of us need to remember the story of the talents (Matthew 25:13-29.)
2) Read Ephesians 4:8-13 and 1 Corinthians 14:12, based on these passages, what is the purpose of the gifts God has given to each of us?
3) 1 Corinthians 14:26 also speaks of using our gifts to strengthen God’s church—not for our own self-glorification. Even if you don’t see a particular gift that seems to fit you, what does 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 say we should all strive for?
4) James warns us not to all seek to be teachers because those that teach God’s Word are held to a strict accountability to God. Why do you suppose this is so? (See Numbers 20:7-12; Hosea 4:6; Malachi 2:7-9; Matthew 23:1-3; Matthew 23:13-15 and Romans 2:16-24.)
5) Is it limited to those who teach us? Who else might fail under this accountability? (See Hebrews 13:17.)
6) So, why teach the Word of God? (See Jeremiah 20:9; John 21:15-18; Acts 4:18-21.)
James 3:3-12
Have you ever had one of those weeks? Well, it started out with my Bible study (it was on pride and humility—spank, spank!) Then, here we are discussing the tongue. Talk about a whooping! Man, I’m black and blue! Hope God is gentle with you guys! Maybe it’s that accountability thing?
1) I think the verse that really stood out for me was vs. 2b—“If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man (or woman), able to keep his/her whole body in check.” Well, that pretty much left me in the dust. How about you?
2) As I was studying Scripture this week, I found that there are several ways to use our tongues for good and several ways to use our tongues for evil. Control is key! Is this do-able? Praise God--yes! By ourselves—most definitely no. The psalmist in Psalms 19:14 pleads that his words and even his thoughts be pleasing to God. We must seek God for His Holy Spirit power to guard our tongues (See Psalms 141:3.)
3) We are all aware of the ways we use our tongues for evil: Blaspheming, cursing, false teaching, lying, boasting, pride, gossiping, slander, etc., etc. Here is a sampling of the different ways we use our tongue for good (perhaps you can come up with a few of your own): No, you don’t have to look up each reference, but you may find it helpful to use during your quiet time with the Lord!

Blessing Confession
Genesis 12:1-3 Leviticus 5:5
Genesis 14:18-20 Ezra 10:1
Genesis 27:21-29 Nehemiah 1:5-10
Numbers 6:22-27 Psalms 32:5
Deuteronomy 10:8 (that’s us girls!) Proverbs 28:13
Romans 12:14 Romans 10:8-10
1 Corinthians 4:12 James 5:16
1 Peter 3:9 1 John 1:9

Praise Mercy Mercy Cont’d
Exodus 15:2 Mathew 5:7 Psalms 85:10
Deuteronomy 32:1-4 Matthew 9:9-13 Romans 12:8
2 Samuel 22:47 Matthew 18:33 Jude 1:22-23
1 Chronicles 16:9-12 Luke 10:29-37
Praise Cont’d
Psalms 22:3
Psalms 28:6 Healing/Restoring
Psalms 34:1 Exodus 15:26
Acts 11:18 Deuteronomy 32:39
2 Corinthians 1:3 Acts 3
Ephesians 1:3 1 Corinthians 12:28-30
Hebrews 13:15 James 5:16
1 Peter 1:3 1 Peter 2:24
1 Peter 2:9 Galatians 6:1
Revelation 5:13


Encouragement Hope
Acts 14:21-22 Romans 5:4-5
Acts 15:32 Romans 12:12
Romans 1:11-12 Romans 15:4
Romans 12:6-8 Romans 15:13
Colossians 2:2 1 Corinthians 13:13
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 2 Corinthians 1:7
1 Thessalonians 5:11 2 Corinthians 1:10
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Ephesians 1:18-23
2 Timothy 4:2 Ephesians 4:4-5
Titus 1:9 1 Timothy 4:9-10
Titus 2:6 1 Timothy 6:17
Hebrews 3:13 Titus 2:13
Hebrews 10:24-25 Hebrews 6:19
Isaiah 50:4 Hebrews 10:23
1 Peter 1:3-4
1 John 3:2-3
Colossians 1:27



Teaching/Preaching Instruction/Correction
Acts 4:1-3 1 Corinthians 14:26
Acts 5:42 Galatians 6:6
Acts 18:11 Ephesians 6:4
Colossians 1:28 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2
Colossians 3:16 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
2 Thessalonians 2:15 2 Thessalonians 3:14
1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 6:3-5
1 Timothy 4:1-11 2 Timothy 4:2-3
1 Timothy 6:3-5 Hebrews 6:1-2
2 Timothy 2:2 2 Timothy 3:16
Titus 2 2 Timothy 4:2
1 John 2:27
2 John 1:9-11
Romans 10:14-15
1 Corinthians 9:16
2 Corinthians 4:5
Galatians 1:8
Galatians 1:11-12
Philippians 1:18
1 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 4:2



Prayer/Intercession Rebuking
Romans 8:26-27 1 Timothy 5:20
Romans 10:1 2 Timothy 3:16
Romans 12:12 2 Timothy 4:2
Romans 15:30 Titus 1:10-16
Ephesians 6:18 Titus 2:15
Philippians 4:6 Revelation 3:19
Colossians 1:9-12
Colossians 4:2
1 Thessalonians 1:2 Witnessing
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Psalm 40:9-10
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 Isaiah 43:10
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Acts 1:8
1 Timothy 2:1-2 2 Corinthians 5:20
1 Timothy 2:8 1 Peter 3:15
Philemon 1:6 Matthew 9:36-38
James 5:13-16 John 4:35-38
1 Peter 3:7 Romans 10:15
1 Peter 4:7
1 John 5:16
3 John 1:2
Romans 8:34

4) Sometimes, perhaps most times, there is another alternative—silence! Listening and quietness definitely have their purpose and place. (See 1 Kings 19:11-12; Job 38-40:1-5; Psalms 31:18; Psalms 39:1-5; Psalms 85:8-9; Proverbs 17:28; Proverbs 23:12; Ecclesiastes 3:7; Jeremiah 8:14; and Zechariah 2:13 and of course, James 1:19-27.
5) Jesus was silent before His accusers. This was prophesized in Jeremiah 11:19-20 and fulfilled in Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:3-10 and in John 19:1-11.
6) Then, there are times when we should not be silent: (See Psalms 32:1-5; Proverbs 10:19; Jeremiah 20:8-9.)
7) And, there will be a time when Christ is not silent: (See 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 19:11-21!)

The book of Proverbs reveals that there are basically four types of tongues (or speech): 1) Controlled, caring, conniving and careless—the big C’s. Proverbs urges us to give special care to our words and how we use them. Try to include Proverbs into your daily devotion time—this is how we gain wisdom!

James 3:13-18
1) These passages focus on godly wisdom. Proverbs 1:1-7 opens by giving us wisdom’s purpose. Where does wisdom begin?
2) Proverbs 8:12-36 is wisdom actually speaking to us. What does verse 22 tell us?
3) Combine the godly wisdom and the control of our tongues and we will be mighty warriors for God. Talk about dynamite! Let’s all pray for God’s power to enable us to be more than conquerors in these areas (Romans 8:37!)