James 3:1-9. Tongues control our manner of life; teachings of scriptures direct the Spirit Church.

I am a retired pastor of the Church of God (Tennessee).
My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India
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Email: Pastor True Gospel

 

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A horse is directed by the bits we put on his mouth; a ship is controlled by the helm under the ship; a car is driven by the steering wheel; in the same way, our tongue controls our manner of life. This chapter appears to talk about the anatomy of the tongue, and how it plays a dominant part in our life. But actually, it is not the subject at all, even though it appears that way. Here, the tongue is the teaching of scriptures, and it refers to those who teach them also. And the body or life, which is driven by the tongue, is the body of Christ, which is the Spirit Church. It is important that we keep this in mind, as we study this chapter. So, in short, tongue is the manner of teaching the scripture, and the body is the Spirit church of God. 

1. Do not teach scripture unless it is revealed to you by God.

"James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." Masters are teachers, and they are also the leaders of a group. Jesus said in John 3:10, to Nicodemus, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" So, teachers are expected to know the revelation from God, and they must be eloquent to explain the subject. In general, teaching is a profession, and they teach for their livelihood. But scripture teaching is not a profession; but it is servitude for the Lord Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul tells in Philippians 3:17-19, "17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." That is, if we like to teach scriptures, we must do as apostle Paul and others have done, but do not do as the teachers of the world, teaching for their livelihood, money, profit, and fame; if we do, we will be the enemies of Christ, and our end will be destruction. So, we must not be as worldly teachers. Apostle James says that we shall receive the greater condemnation. Such teachers take scripture lesson as politics and philosophy, twist the scriptures, and teach theology, as Satan taught to Eve at the garden of Eden, and they were all destroyed. Apostle Peter tells in 2 Peter 2:1-3. "1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." So, there were and there will be false teachers and false preachers, teach heresies with the love of money, but not with the love of God and truth. Apostle Paul cautions believers in, "2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." He says that these preachers teach another Jesus; that is, they preach Satan as God. They preach another gospel, which is theology that is deception; they teach it in every church saying that we do not have to do what Jesus Christ tells us to do, but just say that we believe in him. At this point they are in deception, and they cannot receive the true Spirit of God. Then they impart to them the spirit of the devil, pretending as it is the spirit of God; and that is why, there are so much confusion in churches. The true holy Spirit will lead people in holiness and present them as chaste virgins to Jesus Christ. But false spirits show many kinds of manifestation to excite people and lead them toward the fantasy of the world. Do not learn from them, and reject them as soon as possible.

2. Here the word represents what we teach from Scripture.

"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." When we study or teach scripture, we must realize that it is not of the world, but it is of God. We must learn the word from the spirit of God, and it must be in its context. Many teachers make the word of God as theology. God warns them not to become teachers, but there are already many such teachers. God says that if we teach the truth and nothing but the truth of God, we will not offend the body of Christ, and then we are perfect servants of God. Then we will be guiding the body of Christ in the right way of the Lord with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. "Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." Spirit and flesh are not only different, but they are opposites. If we study and live by the word of God through the Spirit and truth, we will be of God. But if we study the word of God by our intelligence, by worldly wisdom, we will study theology, and will live for the flesh and for Satan, and then we will be under the law of sin and death. Jesus Christ says in "Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Our context is about teaching the word, and if we teach the word in truth, God will justify us; but if we teach theology, God will condemn us for our wrong teaching, of the doctrine of the deceiver, Satan.

3. Horses may obey us; and we may turn their whole body.

"3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body." It is a simple illustration of how we lead the horse in our way, by using bits to control them. In the context, the horse mouth is our teaching the word of God, and the horse is the Spirit Church of God, which is the body of Christ. Bits in horse's mouth are the truth and the Spirit of God, and they must control the Spirit Church, which is the horse. "1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." Here, apostle Paul tells another aspect of this as his own witness that as he teaches others, he controls his own body also that he may not become a castaway. He was successful, and we must also control our body. However, let us see the next verse. "4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth." In the previous verse it was a horse, and in this verse it is a ship, but the primary lesson is the same. However, from this example, let me bring another important point; here, the disciples could not control it, and they cried out to the Lord for help. "Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish." Jesus had to help them. "Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Here also, we need his Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body, since we alone will not be able to control it. A horse is relatively easier to control, than a ship caught in a great tempest in the sea. But with God, all things are possible. And God is looking forward to help you; so, please cry out to him for help.

4. Tongues are teachers in Church, they defile the whole body.

"5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" The chapter began with a great condemnation to the false preachers, who boast themselves with great things and stir up people with deception. This verse also reiterates the same thing. "2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." Apostle Peter also tells the same thing that they speak great things of swelling words of vanity, and so on. But if we are clean, we will escape from such self-boasting greedy preachers, but they will receive their punishment and will be damned at the end. "6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." It is so sad that such preachers fill Christian community, defile the so-called churches, since Christians wish to be hand in hand with the world. But if you desire to be with God and with his Spirit, cut off all affiliations with false preachers. "Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Apostle Paul tells us that such preachers serve the devil and themselves. We cannot keep fire in our lap and think that we are safe. We must get rid of them as quick as possible. "2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." Even though the verse is not considered as prophetic, it has come to pass, word to word; so also, the next portion, the swift destruction may also come to pass. Further proof is that the way of truth is evil spoken of, and the blatant lies are praised and preached as truth by theologians, and they are well accepted by most Christians.

5. They praise God; curse men after the similitude of God.

"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." It is real and possible in the nature, as well as it is possible in the spirit realm also, because we are all born as sinners, and some of us are born again and gradually grown even to the fullness of Jesus Christ. But nobody can convert the devil and those who sold themselves to Satan. They will be teaching deception and his people will be thinking that they are gaining grounds against the truth; but they bring damnation on themselves. They are the tongues with full of deadly poison. "Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." God tells us to reject them, but not to run after them. "Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Soon after his resurrection and ascension, the Lord Jesus Christ has cast Satan the devil, our of heaven, and destroyed his place there, so that, he will have no more access to heaven to accuse the brethren. But he was thrown to the world and God has given him power on earth, that is in the world. So, he will deceive people with more of his power. So, his people, the theologians also will have more power to deceive Christians, and at the same time they will identify themselves as men of God, while deceiving people. "2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." See, they will deceive people; but God will destroy them in the lake of fire. Apostle James says,"9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God." They will have double tongue, they will praise God for a show, and speak against those who follow God. They are of the world and of Satan. Jesus Christ says, "John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." They hate God and hate you also if you are of God. Apostle Paul says in "1 Corinthians 11:1, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." So also, let us follow Jesus and invite others to follow us as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ. The world may not like it. But God will bless you for doing it, and he will be with you.

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