Wednesday Study Material
Nov 9, 2011
"Cost of a Christ Centered Life"
Consistency
James 3:7-12
1) God expects consistent obedience. 1 Peter 1:2
2) God expects consistent faithfulness. Psalm 101:6
3) God expects consistent follow-through on promises. Numbers 30:2
…
We are plagued with inconsistencies. We all have them. We all have different
trials where our inconsistencies show more than others. But there is one area
we all walk in inconsistence, that is the nature of the tongue.
4) God expects consistency in our tongue.
The tongue is the only creature that cannot be tamed. (v. 7)
The tongue cannot be completely tamed by any man. (v. 8)
The tongue is unruly. (v. 8)
The tongue is full of deadly poison. (v. 8)
With the knowledge of these truths, what are we to do about our inconsistent
tongue?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I. We need to have a heart checkup. Matthew 12:34
What is the abundance of your heart?
II. Ask yourself, are my words consistent? James 3:9-10
The tongue is used to bless and also to curse.
III. Ask yourself, are my deeds consistent?
One other problem we often see in people is an inconsistency between their
words and their deeds. Here the adage "Your actions speak so loudly I can't
hear a word you say" applies. Talk is cheap. Actions are not. By and large
a person's true nature is revealed in what he or she does. Actions do speak
more loudly than words, and thus our words and deeds need to be consistent.
IV. Ask; is my attitude toward God and people consistent?
Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31; Matthew 22:34-39
To love God is to love others.
To bless God is to bless others.
To honor God is to respect His creations.
We must be consistent in the use of our tongue. This is possible only when God's
wisdom controls our words and actions. Then our talk, our deeds, and our attitudes
will be consistently pleasing to God and others alike. Matthew 12:36-37