Faith with Works

1. HEALTHY FEAR

The fear of The Lord

Proverbs 9:10, NKJV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

James 1:19–22 NKJV
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 22Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Which is able / being powerful to”

δύναμαι — to be able, to have power. Related to δύναμις (dynamis, power). The Word is

not potentially powerful under the right conditions — it is, continuously and inherently, able.

Present tense: always able, constantly able.

James 1:23–25, NKJV
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

James 3:2–5, NKJV
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 kindles!

PRACTICE PATIENCE

“A patient person never complains or loses his temper.”

– Lonnie Schrader

Ephesians 4:25–27, NKJV
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

PRACTICE MERCY

James 1:21–25, NKJV
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

you cannot genuinely bless the Creator while cursing the creature made in His likeness.

Luke 6:37–38, NKJV
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:27–28, NKJV
But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

HOW TO TAME THE TONGUE

James 3:7–8 NKJV
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 similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Galatians 5:16–18, NKJV
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that •you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

James 3:7–8 delivers the sobering verdict: no man can tame the tongue.

However, the Holy Spirit can, and with his help we can keep this flesh under.

1 Corinthians 14:4 — “he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” — οἰκοδομεῖ (oikodomeō)

means to build up, to construct. Regular prayer in the Spirit literally builds something in the inner man that begins to govern the outer man — including the tongue.

The tongue is the last thing to be sanctified and the first thing that reveals whether it has been. Start praying in the Spirit every day. Get God-inside minded. And watch what happens to your words — because your words are telling everyone, including you, who is really governing your life.