God exists in the heavens, the eternal, everlasting Creator Jesus Christ our Lord

Sermon Title: The Tongue is a Fire, a Danger in Our Midst as the People of the Eternal Lord in beloved South Sudan. James 3:1–18
My dear brother and sister in Christ our Lord, greetings to you all in the fold of our living, eternal God, here in beloved South Sudan. On this blessed morning, by God’s grace to His chosen people from eternity, I trust you are well. Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord, I am pleased first to remind you of this grace from the Holy Bible, as you prepare to receive it in your eternal life spiritually, through faith and trust in the eternal Jesus Christ our Lord.
A brief note on the sermon theme: The tongue is a fire, a danger in our midst as the people of the eternal Lord in beloved South Sudan.
As the Bible states in James 3:1–12:
1. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
2. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindle!
6. 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.
7. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
12. Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear fig? Thus, no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Heavenly wisdom (James 3:13–18):
13. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
18. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Other references:
• Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
• Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
• Daniel 12:3: “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
Conclusion: Beloved brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Author: Elder in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Contact: WhatsApp: 0913360885 Email: johndour268@gmail.com