JAMES

HOW TO BRIDLE OUR WHOLE BODY

Monday – February 23, 2026

Video link: https://youtu.be/_YeUjmF0N9Y

Greetings precious saints of God and others and welcome to our study of the Bible Book of James. A very practical, informative, and corrective Book. It is corrective if we come with ears to hear and eyes to see. I must warn you that pretty much the whole third chapter of James has to do with our mouths and the great good or evil it produces. Concerning correction or chastening listen to the Holy Spirit through the writer of the Bible Book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 12:11 (KJV)

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

I want the fruit of righteousness, what about you? Now let’s go to our primary text for today.

James 3:1-4 (ESV)

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.

4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

Right off the bat we find an admonition concerning teachers saying they will be judged (of God) with greater strictness. This is always a sobering verse to me for that is a large part of my calling, anointing. On the other hand, if that is what we are called to by God, I emphasize by God, we should embrace it wholeheartedly. With the Anointing we are well able. Perhaps this is one of the reasons you hear me speak so often of the traditions of men, the doctrines of demons, and sacred cows. I want zero of these in this Ministry. If you think you have detected a sacred cow, tradition of men, or doctrine of demons in this ministry, shoot off an email immediately to me.

Upon entering verse two we find a very inconvenient reality, an inconvenient truth. It is very important that we carefully weigh the words of our mouth. We choose the words that come out of our mouths and the thoughts that led to those words. I think of the following verse often and ask myself if the person I am talking about were here, would they be built up.

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

We have been well trained by the enemy and unfortunately by other Christians around us to just let fly what comes up in our thoughts. Unfortunately, it is frequently negative. It would not build up the person mentioned nor does it improve the view of the listener of that person. We must stop this! Now what is the payoff of controlling our mouth? The Holy Spirit through James the Just tells us this is a mature Christian (by earth standards) and one who can the direct the course of their whole body. Wow! Let’s look at this in the Amplified Bible.

James 3:2 (AMP)

2 For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.

It seems like it is well worth it to control our mouth. As I finish for today, I want to point out something we cannot miss. Did you notice and just skip over the phrase “able to control his whole body” giving it little thought. When we control our mouths, it changes our nature in the righteous direction and the health of our bodies. Isn’t this something worth getting serious about?

TAKE HOME:

1. If you are called of God to a place of authority, one or more of the five-fold Ministries be exceedingly careful to speak only the Truth (capitol T).
2. Our speech should always be uplifting to the hearer. When we stumble in speech, we must be quick to make things right.
3. Controlling our speech is a mark of maturity, gives us a Godly nature, and we control our whole bodies.  

Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow.  Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.

By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice

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