2. JAMESCHAPTERTHREE
TONGUESWAGGINGBADLY

3. 1Not many of you
should make the claim
to be teachers, my
brothers.
Be aware that those
who teach will be held
to a higher level of
accountability.

4. 2We all make
mistakes in different
of ways but if a
person does not err in the way they speak
such a person is fully mature in every other
way.

5. 3We put bits into the
mouths of horses and
thus make their whole
bodies turn about.
4In the same way great
ships driven by strong
winds are turned about
by a very small rudder
according to the
impulse and will of the
person at the helm.

6. 5 In a similar way the
tongue is a very small part
of a body but is capable of
great influence. How large
a forest can be kindled by
such a small flame. 6The tongue is capable of
creating a fiery world of unrighteousness. It is
placed in our bodies with the capacity to be the
defiler of the whole body and can set on fire a
whole course of nature that is itself set ablaze by
hell.

7. 7We are able to bring all kinds of species under
control regardless of whether they fly in the air, walk
along the ground or swim in the sea. All of them
are being and have been subdued by humans, 8But
it seems that no one is able to subdue the human
tongue. It seems to be capable of un-restrained evil
and deadly poison.

8. 9It seems the same tongue is capable of blessing our
Lord and Father but also cursing men who are created
in his likeness. 10Is it possible that blessing and
cursing could come
from the same mouth?
11My brothers these
Things should never
happen. The same
spring of water doesn’t
flow fresh and bitter water 12A fig tree is not able to
produce olives or a grape vine produce figs. A salty
pool cannot also contain fresh water.

9. 13Who among you is
considered to have
great wisdom and
understanding? Let him
demonstrate it by his
good life and through
deeds that come from
humble wisdom.

10. 14If you only have bitter jealousy and self-interest
in your heart don’t boast about it and misrepresent
the truth by so doing. 15This is not the wisdom
that comes from above.
This is from the earth,
from natural humanity
and is demonic. 16Where
there is jealousy and
self-interest there is
disorder and every evil thing.

11. 17But wisdom from
above is first of all pure,
then peaceful, gentle,
humble and full of
mercy and of the fruits
of goodness, impartiality
and sincerity.
18It produces a harvest
of righteous for those
who make peace by
sowing peace.

12. THE REVELATION PROCESS
GOD SPEAKS
FROM HEAVEN
ABOUT A CURRENT
SITUATION
SPECIFIC
SUPERNATURAL
INTENTION IN
MIND
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and
do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth
and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the
eater so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it
shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that
which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I
sent it. Isaiah 55:10,11

13. JAMES WRITES A GENERAL LETTER TO
BELIEVERS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PLACES
JAMES SPEAKS
FROM GOD
TO A CURRENT
SITUATION
WITH A SPECIFIC
SUPERNATURAL
INTENTION IN
MIND
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings
James 1:1

14. CURRENT
1Not many of
you should
make the claim
to be teachers,
my brothers.
Be aware that
those who
teach will be
held to a higher
level of
accountability.
S/INTENT
- people will stop
seeking status
and/or power
- be aware of the
responsibility that
comes with
genuine anointing
from God
There are people
all over the place
who are
appointing
themselves as
teachers and
causing all kinds of
damage by what
they say.
WORD

15. CURRENT
2We all make
mistakes in
different of
ways but if a
person does
not err in the
way they speak
such a person
is fully mature
in every other
way.
S/INTENT
People will stop
seeking status
and/or power that
it comes when
they appoint
themselves as
teachers and be
aware of the
responsibility
brought by
anointing from
God
Self-assumed
teachers don’t
realize the fact
that speaking
legitimately and
redemptively
comes from prior
decisions you
have made to get
the rest of your
life in order.
WORD

16. CURRENT
3We put bits into
the mouths of
horses and thus
make their whole
bodies turn about.
4In the same way
great ships driven
by strong winds
are turned about
by a very small
rudder according
to the impulse and
will of the person
at the helm.
S/INTENT
People will begin
to exercise
restraint so that
the use of the
tongue can have
its God given
impact for God’s
loving purposes
not for human self
interest and
wickedness.
People don’t
realize how a
small tongue can
have such a big
effect.
WORD

17. CURRENT
5 In a similar way the
tongue is a very small
part of a body but is
capable of great
influence. How large
a forest can be
kindled by such a
small flame. 6The
tongue is capable of
creating a fiery world
of unright-eousness.
It is placed in our
bodies with the
capacity to be the
defiler of the whole
body and can set on
fire a whole course of
nature that is itself set
ablaze by hell.
S/INTENT
Same as before –
People will not
play with matches
in the grass on the
edge of a forest.
Same as before –
repetition denotes
emphasis.
Unmonitored
use/abuse of the
tongue can start
an uncontrolled
chain-reaction of
unrighteousness.
WORD

18. CURRENT
7We are able to
bring all kinds of
species under
control regardless
of whether they fly
in the air, walk
along the ground or
swim in the sea. All
of them are being
and have been
subdued by
humans, 8But it
seems that no one
is able to subdue
the human tongue.
It seems to be
capable of un-
restrained evil and
deadly poison.
S/INTENT
People of God will
take seriously the
matter of training
themselves with
respect of the way
they use their
tongues –
especially people
who are involved
in teaching others.
People are
unaware of the
high level maturity
needed to use
speech for good –
and that when it is
not working for
good it produces
unrestrained evil
and deadly
poison.
WORD

19. CURRENT
9It seems the same
tongue is capable of
blessing our Lord and
Father but also cursing
men who are created in
his likeness. 10Is it
possible that blessing
and cursing could come
from the same mouth?
11My brothers these
Things should never
happen. The same
spring of water doesn’t
flow fresh and bitter
water 12A fig tree is not
able to produce olives or
a grape vine produce
figs. A salty pool cannot
also contain fresh water.
S/INTENT
That people will
become aware
that this
inconsistency is a
warning that there
is something
wrong on the
inside that needs
to be
supernaturally
transformed.
People don’t see
the issue when
they use their
speech to worship
and pray on the
one hand and
then destroy
other people with
the same use of
speech.
WORD

20. CURRENT
13Who among
you is
considered to
have great
wisdom and
understanding?
Let him
demonstrate it
by his good life
and through
deeds that come
from humble
wisdom.
S/INTENT
That people will
begin to embrace
what God wants
to do with their
lifestyle issues as a
pathway to
gaining godly
wisdom.
People are prone
to think that if
they sound wise
they actually ARE
wise when
wisdom only
comes as the end
result of a process
of submitting to
God in other areas
of their lives.
WORD

21. CURRENT
14If you only have
bitter jealousy and
self-interest in your
heart don’t boast
about it and
misrepresent the
truth by so doing.
15This is not the
wisdom that comes
from above. This is
from the earth, from
natural humanity
and is demonic.
16Where there is
jealousy and self-
interest there is
disorder and every
evil thing.
S/INTENT
That people will
be clear about the
fruits of genuine
wisdom and those
of false human
wisdom and not
allow the two to
become confused.
People are
justifying self-
interest and
division while
claiming to be
wise – they don’t
realize that such
“wisdom” is
humanistic and by
nature demonic.
WORD

22. CURRENT
17But wisdom from
above is first of all
pure, then
peaceful, gentle,
humble and full of
mercy and of the
fruits of goodness,
impartiality and
sincerity. 18It
produces a
harvest of
righteous for those
who make peace
by sowing peace.
S/INTENT
That people will
look for the signs
that qualify
someone who
speaks as
speaking wisdom
from God.
People don’t know
the environment
or atmosphere
that genuine
wisdom flows
from and can’t tell
true godly wisdom
from false human
wisdom.
WORD

23. WHAT [DO YOU NEED] TO DO?
SO THAT GOD’S INTENTION CAN BE FULFILLED
WHO [COULD YOU] TO TELL?
SO THAT GOD’S KINGDOM CAN BE EXTENDED

24. HALLMARKS OF TEACHERS WITH
GODLY WISDOM
If you can
read this ~
thank a
teacher.

25. 1. STATUS CONSISTENCY They place no value in the status
that teaching sometimes attracts and are not concerned about
the attention, the power or the lack of it. They just want
people to learn and grow in God and are willing to serve them
to that end. They are also their hardest critics – always
wanting to see more of the shaping transformation of God and
are prepared to be accountable to God’s revealed character
and purpose.
2. LIFESTYLE CONSISTENCY Their words are measured and
managed because they have been working away at making
sure their lives and their words are consistent – because they
have been conscientious in allowing God’s word and Spirit to
shape their lives, the management of their speaking is the end
result of the management of their lifestyle not the beginning of
it.

26. 3. CONTEXTUAL CONSISTENCY What they say in worship, in
their teaching and when they are “on show” is the same as the
way they speak when they are in the presence of detractors and
adversaries. How they speak when they are pressed by
circumstances is consistent with how they speak when things are
going well because they have done the lifestyle “yards” and are
not unseated by those circumstances.
4. PROCESS CONSISTENCY Their lives are the product of a
humility in the presence of the Word of God. They have learned
to accept it, embrace it, allow it to have its impact and produce
its fruit in their lives. Because they have genuinely committed to
this process they are nor afraid to be vulnerable and don’t need
to put on a show.

27. 5. FRUIT-BEARING CONSISTENCYThe wisdom they have to share has come
from a series of character issues that are the product of the working of
the Holy Spirit:
a. Purity their lives are the product of substance that comes from a single
source, that being the nature of Jesus Christ. They are not the product of a different
new book, or the latest conference or of some prevailing set of opinions.
b. Peace they want to work in harmony with others and do not see themselves
as being in competition with anyone.
c. Responsive when they are in the company of other teachers or disciples they are
willing to listen rather than being filled with the importance of their own views and
opinions.
d. Merciful they are keen and willing to show compassion to people rather than
become self righteous judges and look down on others.
e. Impartial they treat everyone the same and teach everyone the same regardless
of friendship, status or preferences.
f. Sincere they hold their experience of Christ with full and complete sincerity.
They are not just doing a job or putting on a show.

28. HALLMARKS OF TEACHERS WITH
HUMAN/DEMONIC ‘WISDOM’

29. 1. STATUS CONSCIOUS They love the status and attention that being a
teacher attracts.
2. SEPARATION OF WORD AND LIFE They may well have fine sounding
words, but that’s all there is. They do not have the character and the
stories from that experience to demonstrate that they practice what they
preach. They often have a public image and a very different personal and
private image.
3. USE THEIR PROFESSION TO DESTROY They are not capable of
restraining the use of words that sow division, assassinate character and
destroy harmony. They promote and justify unrighteousness. They
destroy their own lives and those who they have influenced, both family,
associates and the people they have given teaching to. Evil multiplies
from their influence

30. 4. HOLY INCONSISTENCY They are capable of speaking, worshipping,
praying amazing and beautiful words that sound as though they honour
God, but then they can speak and act abusively toward people around
them and beyond them. They are able to speak in one way to tickle the
ears of one group and then contradict themselves when they are
speaking to another.
5. CHARACTER AND FRUIT They are competitive and derisory regarding
colleagues and other groups. They sow and justify division. They are self
serving and often ego-driven. In all of these cases they often know and
justify their unrighteous behaviour – sometimes their success provides a
cover for their lack of character.
6. WORLDLY WISDOM They draw much of their wisdom from the
philosophies and teachings of successful people who do not follow God.
As such this wisdom sounds good, but it does not lead to a dependence
on God nor does it glorify God. It glorifies the person. That’s why they
like following it..

31. WHAT [DO YOU NEED] TO DO?
SO THAT GOD’S INTENTION CAN BE FULFILLED
WHO [COULD YOU] TO TELL?
SO THAT GOD’S KINGDOM CAN BE EXTENDED

34. Dear scattered believers
I was going to write about people abusing their
use of speech, but since you have been
transformed by the Spirit and are mature this
letter will not be necessary.
Yours sincerely
James

35. The End
[for now]