Can You Control Your T’s?

March 20,2011

Introduction

 

            This morning we ask a question:  Can you control your t’s?  Several questions follow:  What T’s are you talking about?  How important are the “T’s”, and how difficult are the T’s to control?

 

            First of all What T’s are you talking about?  That’s perhaps the easiest, but here they are:  Our thoughts, our tongue, and our temper.  Now let’s skip to the last question, how difficult are the T’s to control?

 

(James 3:8-10 NKJV)   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.

 

Body

 

I.       How important are the T’s?

 

  1. What about our thoughts?

 

(Prov 23:7 NKJV)  For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

 

  1. The Bible often uses the word “heart” when it is talking about out thoughts.

 

(Mat 15:19 NKJV)  "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

 

  1. Jesus tells us how the tongue and thoughts are tied together.

 

(Mat 15:18-19 NKJV)  "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. {19} "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

 

II.    What determines our thoughts?

 

  1. Things that we see can definitely affect our desires.

 

1.      It can be a sexual attraction.

 

(Mat 5:27-28 NKJV)  "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' {28} "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

2.      Ladies can provoke lustful thoughts by their dress.

 

(1 Tim 2:9-10 NKJV)  in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, {10} but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

 

a.       How many ways can dress be immodest?

 

1)      Dresses or pants too short

2)      Dresses or pants too tight

3)      Tops that are cut too low

4)      Material that is too sheer

5)      Most women know the affect of all of these aspects of their clothing.

 

b.      We are not suggesting the extremes of the Muslim women.

 

  1. God must be in our thoughts.

 

1.      David made the importance of our thinking very clear to Solomon.

 

(1 Chr 28:9 NKJV)  "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

 

2.      David prayed for Israel to remember God always.

 

(1 Chr 29:18 NKJV)  "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.

 

3.      God is not in the thoughts of the wicked.

 

(Psa 10:4 NKJV)  The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

 

4.      David thought of the goodness of God.

 

(Psa 40:5 NKJV)  Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

 

5.      We need to be taught of God.

(Psa 94:11-12 NKJV)  The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile. {12} Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, And teach out of Your law,

 

6.      Our thoughts are very important.

 

(Prov 12:5 NKJV)  The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

 

III. What about our tongue?

 

  1. It is a mixed blessing.

 

(James 3:8-10 NKJV)   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.

 

  1. We must ask God to help us control our thoughts and our tongue.

 

1.      With it we bless our God and Father

 

a.       With the tongue we sing and pray and teach.

b.      With it we can encourage others in the way to live.

 

2.      We need to be careful because it can be very dangerous.

 

(James 3:5-6 NKJV)  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! {6} And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

 

a.       With our words, we can destroy relationships that will never be fully restored.

b.      We need to be careful not to start the fire that destroys.

 

IV. What about the third T, temper?

 

  1. Temper is not used in the NKJV but is found in the NIV.

 

(Prov 16:32 NIV)  Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

 

  1. The NKJV uses anger.

(Eph 4:26-27 NKJV)  "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, {27} nor give place to the devil.

 

1.      There is a place for anger, but we must keep it under control.

2.      We need to always keep God in our thoughts, and heart.

 

(Psa 10:4 NKJV)  The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

 

Conclusion

 

I.       Can you control your T’s

 

  1. James says no man can tame the tongue.

  2. We must have God to help us with our lives.

 

II.    Is your life under God’s control?

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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