James 3:9 "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God."

To bless our God and Father, as the Greek 'eulogia' means literally, "to speak well of" - "to praise," then to curse men made in the similitude of God - even more so, those recreated in Christ Jesus, is inconsistent and at variance with blessing the Creator. Cursing is contrary to the Spirit-filled tongue. The Holy Spirit controlled tongue praises God by extolling "the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:11 KJV). This includes the works of God's creation (Psalm 92:5 ), for His great government, His plan, His purpose, even the great salvation work through His Son.

Mary in the Spirit gave praise to God for the "great things" done for her (Luke 1:49 KJV). The spiritual tongue speaks of the greatness of Christ's holy conception and birth (Luke 1:46; Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:18 ); praises God for so great a Saviour (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:47; Acts 2:21 ). The anointed tongue of praise speaks of God's triumphant work of raising Jesus (Acts 2:24 ) and the great miracles, "wonders and signs, which God did by him" (Acts 2:22 KJV).

The tongue of praise extols the greatness of God for the supremacy of His reign (Psalm 66:3 ). Only from the tongue of the Spirit-filled can spring such magnifying of God. The natural accompaniment to such praising of God is the blessing of others in the sense of seeking the best for them. Irrespective of how we may be treated, the teaching of Jesus is emphatic:

Luke 6:28 "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."

This teaching was emphasised by Paul: (1 Corinthians 4:12 ),

Romans 12:14 "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."

To praise God the Creator, then turn and curse one whom he has created in His own similitude is evidence of a hypocritical inconsistency, revealing the perversity of a tongue out of control, that comes from a bitter heart and gives vent to vindictive hatred. No one can excuse or justify their double tongued venom by pointing to the curses that Paul invoked on anyone who would demean or distort, in an attempt to destroy the gospel of Christ, whether man or angel (Galatians 1:6-9 ). Paul spoke in defence of the one and only true gospel. He asserts that a different gospel, from whoever is the promoter, is a heresy worthy of eternal condemnation. Paul did not indulge is personal, rash, spiteful, nor self- indulgent curses; rather, he shows the terrible consequences of peddling error by speech and despicable conduct, but leaves such individuals to recognise themselves (1 Corinthians 5:1; 16:22; Galatians 1:8 ). Hardly can Paul's kind of forthright, telling it exactly as it is, be attributed to the kind of cursing James has in mind, which has its source in anger, jealousy, selfishness or rejection of others.

James 3:10 "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

The discordant double tongue is not to be practiced by members of God's family. It is an "ought not" for the children of grace. Blessing God and others is harmonious to life in Christ. The very badge of discipleship is love for one another (John 13:35 ). Failure to obey the way the Lord laid down for settling offences among brethren leads to inconsistent speech (Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3 ). Out of blessing is expected to flow "fervent love for one another", the issue of which will be covering of the offence on repentance, not the cursing of the offender (1 Peter 4:8 NKJV).

James 3:11,12 "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh."

James' illustration that you do not have fresh water and brackish water from the same spring, points to the double tongue being unnatural and downright deceitful. The question as to whether a fig tree can bear olives or a grapevine figs, establishes that according to the nature of a plant it produces after its own kind. So it is with our words; they reveal our true heart condition. Good words come out of a changed heart - bad words come out of a sinful nature. Our evil speech will indicate lack of renewal, or failure to appropriate the sufficiency of the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the available aiding power of the Holy Spirit.

Among brethren in Christ the double tongue should be something strange to us. Out of our spiritual well-being, we should be speaking health and life. There is a stark contrast between the mouth of the righteous and the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:11 "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."

Only God can cure the inconsistent tongue - He is the Lord who can make the bitter waters sweet, as He did the bitter water of Marah (Exodus 15:23-26 ). Marah's water only became sweet when the divinely revealed tree was cast into it. The Lord can still, through the cross, with all its mighty working, cleanse tongues making them praise God and bless all. The cleansed tongue, yielded to the control of the Holy Spirit, has numerous practical effects. Here is a concise list with a supporting Scriptural reference.

	It speaks SWEETNESS (Proverbs 16:24 ).
	It speaks HEALING (Proverbs 16:24 ).
	It speaks FITTINGLY (Proverbs 25:11 ).
	It speaks GRACIOUSLY (Ecclesiastes 10:12 ).
	It speaks INSPIRINGLY (Ecclesiastes 12:11 ).
	It speaks UNFORGETTABLY (Ecclesiastes 12:11 ).
	It speaks INSTRUCTION (Isaiah 50:4 ).
	It speaks SUSTAINMENT (Isaiah 50:4 ).
	It speaks CALM (Proverbs 15:1 ).
	It speaks GOODNESS (Isaiah 52:7 ).
	It speaks KINDNESS (Proverbs 12:25 ).
	It speaks WISDOM (Psalm 37:30 ).
	It speaks WITNESS (Acts 1:8 ).
	It speaks HOLY SPIRIT UTTERANCES (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14:2 ).
	It speaks PROPHECY (1 Corinthians 14:3 ).
	It speaks INTERPRETATION ( 1 Corinthians 14:13 ).
	It speaks SUPERNATURAL WISDOM (1 Corinthians 12:8 ).
	It speaks SUPERNATURAL KNOWLEDGE (1 Corinthians 12:8 ).
	It speaks SUPERNATURAL FAITH (1 Corinthians 12:9; 13:2 ).
	It speaks SPIRITUAL SONGS (Ephesians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 14:15 ).

In the fulness of the spirit the tongue is tamed, making it the instrument of righteousness and profitability.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

You are familiar with the inconsistency of the tongue. Can you give instances of the practical effects of a tongue cleansed and yielded to the Holy Spirit? (James 3:9-12 ).