MAN UP BIBLE SERIESBe All You Can Be

Lesson Eight

The Real World

Words have the power to build up or destroy and once they are said can never be taken back. We have all been destroyed by harsh words and have destroyed those we love the things we say. For men there is always the other side of the coin in that we can go for years without saying important words that can build up like; “I forgive you” or “I love you.” James 3 reminds us that the tongue is like a rudder of a ship that can steer you to the safe waters or crashing on the rocks of sin! James also reminds us that our words are like forest fire that can burn and destroy whole sections of our families and friends. We have all been “burned” by words and put downs that stay with us for a lifetime. Lets see how we can use words to Build God’s Kingdom in this lesson today!

The Real WordTaming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 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.7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Real Talk When you were a kid did you have someone who lifted you up with their encouraging words? How did that make you feel?

Is there someone in your life you need to lift up with words?

Develop a plan now on how to lift up your family and friends with your encouraging words:

• Cauterize our Lips. (Isa.6:5)• Specific Prayer about the words we say. (Jam. 4:11)• Discipline our Words - (Eph. 4:15)

Real StepsJames 3 reminds us that Words Hurt:• Gossip - (Prov.18:8) – Behind the back hurtful comments. Never to their face.• Innuendo – The things left unsaid. • Flattery – Say to their face what you would never say behind their backs.• Criticism - Fault finding is an epidemic.• Speaking down to people. “Holier than Thou attitudes.”

Our Words can also do so much good:• Brings the words of salvation to the world. (Rom. 10: 14,15)• Brings the message of holiness to the world. (John 17:17)• Brings the power of healing to the hurting. (2 Cor. 7: 5-7)• Lifts us up in worship. (Heb. 13:15)

Time To Close In closing today consider the words found in James 1: 25;

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” Yikes! Men, we have to be so careful with our words, especially if we do not communicate well or often to our children, families and friends. We may have a tendency to ‘Shut down” and not talk and this puts even more pressure on the few words we do share. The words in Proverbs still ring true today, “Who keeps the tongue keeps his soul.” In one of the scenes from the movie CONTACT we see that the first contact with other beings, they find us humans an interesting species so full of life, so complex, capable of so much good and so much evil. That is the way God made us and we have the responsibility to be so much more! What are you going to do with your words?

It is time to MAN UP!