EARTHLY, NATURAL, DEMONIC WISDOM

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In the last session we saw the direct connection between demonization and insanity. Today I want to examine the connection between demonization and your everyday life. There's one part of the body that is arguably the most uncontrollable of all. It's the tongue! In one of the earliest books written in the New Testament, James, like Proverbs of the Old Testament gives an extremely practical and challenging perspective on the tongue. In the third chapter James demonstrates the power of the tongue-the power to bring on depression or to encourage great contentment.

James offers 5 descriptors of the tongue: FIRST-The tongue is inconsequential, yet most important of all. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

SECOND-The tongue is influential. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire.

THIRD-The tongue is inflammable. And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by gehenna. Gehenna is the cursed garbarge pit just outside of Jerusalem. It was the place where babies were once sacrificed to Moloch. Jesus used gehenna to denote a place where people who are worthless deserve to live. Here James says that the tongue can be in such a state of pollution that it is as if it is set on fire by the cursed pit of gehenna.

FOURTH-The tongue is insubordinate. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

FIFTH-The tongue is inconsistent. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

James pictures two possible sources that energize and empower the tongue-earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. He defines each very specifically. Let's look at heavenly wisdom first. James says: But the wisdom from above is first pure peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Only in peace is the fruit of righteousness found-a tongue tied to heavenly wisdom is a seed sown in peace that will produce a Jesus-kind of lifestyle.

Now, let's check out earthly wisdom. James says: But if you have bitter jealousy [sharp & cutting words] and selfish ambition in your heart [divisive, factious, all about their own self-interest], do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

NOTE that "bitter jealousy" and "selfish ambition in your heart" become an earthly, putrid fountain for earthly wisdom. Then, note the flow out of this dirty fountain: · Earthly-limited to this planet-nothing from heaven. · Natural-soulish-the best humanity can do. · Demonic-from the pit of the most worthless place-gehenna!

THEN NOTE that an additional flow from this sort of fountain is "disorder" (restless confusion) and "every evil thing" (worthlessness-good-for-nothingness). Keep in mind that the ultimate flow from this fountain of earthly wisdom is a tongue that is out of control and dangerous, therefore it can destroy people!

The best of earthly and natural wisdom without God is wide open for demonic harassment, influence and control. Your tongue is the place of distribution of this earthly, natural and demonic wisdom.

So, a tongue-check is always in order to decipher what evil may be lurking in your heart. A tongue-check is really a heart-check! To tame your tongue, you must learn to love heavenly wisdom and learn to live by it. These are the Kingdom principles Jesus came to teach us how to live best. You sort of take on the role of being a gardener, learning to love the real productive plants and hate the weeds that threaten them. Maybe the lesson is that you must become tongue-tied; your tongue works best when tied to the heavenly wisdom under the control of Jesus. Oh, and note that the knot that ties the tongue is meekness-a quiet, controlled confidence in Him. James says: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness (or meekness) of wisdom.

Check it out for yourself. Check your heart by checking out your tongue!