James 3:5-8 (NKJV) Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
In the above Scripture, James could not emphasise enough the destructive power of words if we do not tame our tongue. He said the tongue is a fire that brings a world of iniquity or sin. It defiles the whole body as if it is set on fire by hell. This fire can spread very quickly if it stays untamed.
Ephesians 2:2-3 (NKJV) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
The tongue has deadly poison and is evil. Therefore, it can spit out poisonous words influenced by demonic spirits, which if not controlled, can be very destructive. This is consistent with what the Apostle Paul said, that when we once walked in darkness—in the flesh and its desires, we were under the influence of the prince of the power of the air. In other words, there is a spirit that works in the sons of disobedience, affecting the way we speak and behave. When we walk in the flesh, we don’t control what we say because we only think about ourselves, rather than how others will feel.
We have all been at the receiving end of harsh and unkind words. At times, we might even be guilty of speaking such words to others. However, we need to tame our tongue by changing what comes out of our mouths. Let’s not speak any unwholesome talk, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs and to benefit people (Ephesians 4:29).
James emphasised the need for us to have a real walk with God and live a transformed life instead of it being just a mere religion. A transformed life is living from the inside out and allowing the new creation to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to bridle our tongue and reign in the flesh. A transformed life will involve speaking and living differently from our old lifestyle. It should witness a change in our speech to one that is seasoned with salt and grace.
Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign (Session 4)
不羁的舌头
雅各书 3:5-8 这样，舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。看哪，最小的火能点着最大的树林！舌头就是火，在我们百体中舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来，并且是从地狱里点着的。各类的走兽、飞禽、昆虫、水族本来都可以制伏，也已经被人制伏了；唯独舌头，没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，满了害死人的毒气。
在上述经文中，雅各苦口婆心地强调了我们若不管好自己的舌头时言语的破坏力。他说舌头是火，带来罪恶的世界。它玷污了整个身体，就像被地狱点燃一样。如果不加以控制，火势会很快蔓延。
以弗所书 2:2-3 在其中，你们从前行事为人，是顺着这世界的潮流，顺着那空中势力的掌权者，就是现今在那些不信从的儿女里面做工的灵。我们从前也都生活在他们中间，生活在自己肉体的欲望里，行肉体和意念所愿的事。我们正如其他人，生来也是震怒之下的儿女。
舌头有剧毒，是邪恶的。 因此，它可以吐出受邪灵影响的毒语，如果不加以控制，破坏力非常大。 这与使徒保罗所说的一致，即当我们曾经行在黑暗中—肉体及其私欲中时，我们就受到空中掌权者的影响。 换句话说，有一个灵在悖逆之子的心里运行，影响着我们说话和行为的方式。 当我们行在血气中时，我们不控制自己所说的话，因为我们只考虑自己，而不考虑别人的感受。
我们都曾遭受过严厉和不友善的言语。 有时，我们甚至可能会因为自己向别人说出这样的话而感到内疚。然而，我们需要通过改变从自己嘴里出来的东西来驯服我们的舌头。 我们不要说任何有害的话，而是按着他们的需要说有益于造就别人、造福人的话（以弗所书4:29）。
雅各强调我们需要真正与神同行，活出一个转变了的生命，而不仅仅是一种宗教。 转变了的生命是由内而外的生活，让新造的人得到圣灵的力量，来约束我们的舌头，并在肉体中掌权。 转变的生命将包括与我们以前的生活方式不同的说话和生活方式。 它应该见证我们的言语转变为用盐和恩典调和的言语。
讲章系列：细胞小组运动（2305 第4部分）
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