The Tongue Is a Fire, (PART 2)

 The Tongue Is a Fire, a World of Iniquity, and It Is Set on Fire by Hell (James 3:6)

Key Scripture: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

Key Scripture: “We have seen this day that God speaks with man .. the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire.” (Deuteronomy 5:24-26)

Key Scripture: “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)

Key Scripture: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Key Scripture: “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-10)

Key Scripture: “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 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. 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 .. defiles  the whole body, sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by hell. Every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue! It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren! These things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? No spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3:1-12)

Key Scripture: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and .. above it stood seraphim. .. So I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it and said, ‘Behold! This has touched your lips! Your iniquity has been taken away and your sin purged.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me!’ And He said, ‘Go!’” (Isaiah 6:1-13)

Key Scripture: “Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)

Key Scripture: “Blessed are the undefiled who walk in the law of the Lord, who keep his commandments, who seek him with their whole heart.” (Psalm 119:1-2)

Key Scripture: “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)

Key Scripture: “All Scripture is given by the inspiration (breath) of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Key Scripture: “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season! Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching!” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Key Scripture: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Key Scripture: “I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)

Key Scripture: “Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to [hear and understand] my word! You are of your father the Devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. .. He who is of God hears God’s words! You do not hear, because you are not of God.” (John 8:43-47)

Key Scripture: “I have given them Your Word. .. Your Word is Truth. Sanctify them by Your Truth.” (John 17:14-17) [Sanctification comes as we internalize and live by the Word.]

Key Scripture: “The Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Key Scriptures: “Son of man, eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. .. So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.” (Ezekiel 3:1-3) * “The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Psalm 19:9-10) * “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103) * “Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.” (Revelation 10:10)

Dr. John’s Bible Bites 2025