James 3:1-12

Review

Your words are the Master Key to your life.  If you can master your words, you can master your whole life.

1.  The power of words.  (James 3:2, 5)

Words have power not only over the hearer but over the speaker.  (Proverbs 12:13)
Word have power to impart
Reckless words penetrate  (Proverbs 12:18)
Created in God’s image: the use of words.
We all need a word from the outside AND we need to express ourselves.
Words reveal who you are.  (James 3: 11,12)
You cannot know who you are by thinking alone.
Words direct you heart.   (a bit, a rudder)

2. Using Words

Use words to confess and to make promises.  (James 5:16)

3.  Healing our Tongue. (v.26)

James is not referring to taming the tongue by ­self-control. (v. 8)
What heals your tongue is praising the Father.

Use the words God gave you to declare. (I Cor. 11:23 / 2 Cor 1:3,4)

Conclusion

Acts 2:4 Tongues of fire, touched by heaven
versus
Matthew 16:23  A tongue touched by hell