The Talmud relates:

There were two people whom Satan regularly incited, so that at every twilight period (on the eve of the Sabbath—Friday late afternoon) they fought with one another.  Rabbi Meir visited there and restrained them for three such twilight periods until he made peace between them.  He subsequently heard Satan say: “Woe, that Rabbi Meir has removed Satan from that house (the place where he was previously welcome)!  (Gittin 52a).

The Midrash states that the word “dispute” is an acronym for plague, wrath, affliction, curse, and conclusion; for ultimately strife brings destruction upon man.
 
The greater the stature of the disputant the greater the sin is.  This is why the Torah underscores the fact that those who joined Korach in his rebellion were “leaders of the assembly, those summoned for meeting, men of renown.”  (Numbers 16:2)
 
Sefer James identifies two types of wisdom:  The first is sensual devilish wisdom.  This type of wisdom incites strife.  The second type of Wisdom is from heaven and it evokes peace. 
 
There is an emphasis in the scriptures to engage in edifying communication.  To teach your mouth how to speak in a manner that builds and does not tear down.   This is called proper speech.  A man who is able to bridle his tongue is truly a man who can control all areas of his life.  His is a Tzadik—a righteous man.
 
Proper Speech has its roots in Wisdom that is from above.  Mishlei (Proverbs) 8:6 exhorts this principal, “Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.  For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing forward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge rather than choice gold.”
 
James states that, “Wisdom from above if first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  It is a fruit of righteousness that is sown by peace makers.”
 
Proverbs 15:2 ties both these passages together as it says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger.  The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright:  but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
 
We also learn in Proverbs 16:23 that, “the heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.”  Proper speech, eloquent speech, speech that edifies, speech that exhorts, speech that restores and builds does not just happen.  It must be self-taught.  You can read books about proper speech, but you must discipline your tongue to exercise right words. 
 
On the other hand, Sensual and Devilish Wisdom comes not forth from righteousness and when sown does not produce peace.  How does one recognize such wisdom?  Wisdom that descends not from above comes out of a vessel that has bitter envy and strife in its heart.  Such a vessel blesses God with his lips only to turn around and use those same lips to curse men, who are made after the image of God.
 
Where does war and infightings within the congregation come from?  It comes from the lusts that war in the members of the body.  The members of the body lust and have not;  they kill (with the tongue), and desire to have, and cannot obtain:  they fight and war, yet they have not because they ask not.  Then when they ask, they receive not because they ask amiss—so that their petition can be used for their own lusts.
 
Paul calls this spiritual adultery.  He pinpoints the source of these wars and infightings as friendship with the world, which is enmity with God.  Therefore he says, “whosoever is a friend of the world’s is the enemy of God.  What is his answer to solving the problem?  Submission.  James 4:7 reads, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts ye double minded.  Be afflicted and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and he shall lift you up.”
 
Now here it is, notice the first thing Paul tells us to do “to rid ourselves of Sensual Devilish Wisdom” is to submit to God and resist the devil.  It’s not just about submission and resistance.  It’s about whom we are submitting to and whom we are resisting. 
 
The Devil is the accuser of the brethren.  He is the source not only of all lies, but of all criticism, gossip, talebearing, and evil speaking.  Anything spoken that is contrary to God’s will or His word is Evil Speaking.  Anything spoken in doubt and unbelief is evil speaking.  More than once did a word, contrary to God’s will spoken by a Disciple cause Jesus to respond with rebuke.  When Peter rebuked the LORD for His plans to go to Jerusalem and be killed, Jesus turned around and rebuked Satan.  He said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan:  you are an offense to me:  for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”  Jesus then proceeded to tell his disciples what it would take to “not be a vessel used by Satan.”  He says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Here we see Jesus using the same antidote to devilish wisdom that James spoke of.  
 
In Matthew 17:17-21, Jesus addresses the issue of speaking words of unbelief.  A man whose son is a lunatic and sore vexed comes to Jesus and tells him that his disciples cannot cast the devil out of his son.  Jesus responds by saying that is because his generation was faithless and perverse.  When the disciples ask Jesus why they could not cast him out Jesus said, “Because of your unbelief.”  He further explains the following principal, “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall speak to this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall be removed; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Then he tells you how to get the kind of faith necessary to speak to a mountain:  “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
 
 In the story of the lunatic, Jesus makes the statement that he lived in a faithless and perverse generation.  Proverbs 15:4 teaches that “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life:  but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”  This passage leads us to understand not only that perversion causes a breakdown in relationships, but also that the perversion itself comes from misuse of the tongue.  We live in no less of a faithless and perverse generation today.    There are numerous examples in the scriptures of speech that caused a breach between men and man and God.  There are also examples of words that healed and brought faith. 
 
Paul challenges every believer to possess the ability to “prophecy.”  In this context the word “prophecy” means, “to speak with understanding unto edification.”  In other words, it is speaking forth the Word of God in a manner that builds the body of believers and does not tear them down.  You may say, “Well what about when they need correction, a good verbal whipping if you please.”   Please consider the following when contemplating the answer to that type of thinking.
 
Who is the body?  Is not the body the flesh and blood of Messiah himself?  Does he need a verbal whipping?  Yes, there are times of correction.  We see examples of that in the scriptures.  Jesus rebuked those who clung to Religious hierarchy when given the choice to cling to the Word.  Paul did likewise when he openly rebuked Peter.  Yet, neither example gives us the right to rebuke an entire congregation because we are inclined to discipline or rebuke an individual or several individuals.  What is fatherly correction?  Timothy is told that the Word was given to him for instruction in righteousness, correction, reproof and rebuke.  How to execute those things are also taught.  Jesus teaches us to go to our brother privately if there is a fault.  It is not until the manner has been addressed and there are at least two or three witnesses that it can be spoken of publicly.  Paul says to instruct with meekness those who oppose themselves considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  James says to confess our faults one to another and pray for one another so that we may be healed.  And in Proverbs the very heart of how to deal with iniquity is revealed; “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:  and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” 
 
This leads us to a conclusion summed up in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue:  and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”  If we just took the word “death” and considered what the writer is referring to we may conclude, “sin.”  Sin is that which leads to death as it is written, “the wages of sin are death.”  Life, on the other hand is always associated with righteousness or right-ness.  Both trees whether it be the tree of life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil produce fruit.  Our Words produce fruit; that fruit either brings forth life or death.
 
This leads us to the discussion of Sin and Temptation.  How often I have heard “the Devil” blamed for everything.  By now we should recognize that the tool Satan uses to do his dirty work is “Words.”  Words that incite strife and division are words that are rooted in lust.  In the 1st chapter of James we read that a man is blessed when he endures temptation.  The fruit of his victory may not be seen immediately but on the day when crowns are handed out in heaven—surely his name will be on the list!  In his concourse, James does not stop with the over-comer but continues to reveal the heart of one who yields to temptation.  He says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:  for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man; but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust is conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  (James 1:12-17)
 
Well, well, well! If God doesn’t tempt us, who does?  Do you remember the story of Job?  Job was a perfect and upright man; one that feared God and fled from evil. He had ten children and his substance was the greatest of all men of the east.  He daily interceded for his children through prayer and sacrifice. Yet, one day all that he had was gone—what happened?  Satan is what happened.  He came one day to present himself before the LORD with the sons of God.   And the LORD questioned his presence.  Satan told him that he had been going to and fro in the earth.  Oddly enough, the LORD didn’t ask Satan why—He must have known; because the next words He speaks are these, “have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and eschews evil?”  Satan answered the LORD saying, “Doesn’t Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his house, and around all that he has on every side?  You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.  But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
 
It’s obvious by the above passage that God was up for the challenge, of course knowing the heart of Job.  But God himself did not accept Satan’s challenge at face value.  He put the power of testing Job into the hands of Satan with one stipulation that Satan refrains from taking his life.  Thus the story of Jobs’ trial and triumph is endearing to all men, even today.  Yet, one of Jobs greatest battles during his trial was discerning whether the wisdom of his friends was coming from above or below.    
 
The passage in James brings us back to the same root acknowledged in sensual and devilish wisdom—lust.  Isn’t it strange though that lust is initiated with words and evidenced in attitudes and actions of those words?  If we continue reading chapter one of James we come across the golden rule of the tongue:  “Let every man be swift to hear and slow to speak, and slow to wrath (a work of the flesh).” 
 
This golden rule leads us to the answer of overcoming lust and sensual and devilish wisdom—The spirit of meekness (humility) and the receiving of the engrafted word; for this is able to save you soul. (James 1:20-27)  How does one receive the engrafted word with the spirit of meekness? 
 
Meekness is the combination of submission and humility.  Some say it is strength under control.  It definitely is associated with control.  Specifically, being willing to submit by laying aside all filthiness and naughtiness and to be yoked with the Word of God.  The first member of the body that needs to be brought under subjection is the “tongue.”
 
I have often heard it said, “see a man righteous in his deeds and you will see a man who speaks little.”  A man who speaks little, does much—a man who says much does little.  James advice for overcoming temptation is “to become a doer of the word.”  Let us read what he writes: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  for he beholding himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.  But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is in vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
 
There are two comments I would like to make from these verses.  Firstly, James connects not doing what you hear and not bridling the tongue with self-deception.  Have you ever wondered how children of God become deceived?  Have you ever said to someone that you were going to do this, this, and that only to find that you do not do any of it?  Have you ever said such and such to God and not done it?  It is such inconsistency between hearing, speaking and doing that puts one on the road to self-deception; even the deceiving of one’s own heart.  Jeremiah said, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”  (Jeremiah 17:9-10) Jesus addressed this very issue when he spoke to his followers about that attitude of the scribes and Pharisees who sat in Moses seat (this refers to their self-appointed authority to make laws as the Torah God’s Word and His Law came through Moses).  He said, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:  all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works:  for they say, and do not.”
 
Secondly, James points man away from the lusts of the flesh to the lusts of the Spirit. The perfect law of liberty (complete justification by faith through the redemptive work of the body and blood of Yeshua) is synonymous with the law of the grace and the law of the Spirit.  Notice what Paul writes in Galatians, does it not render the same conclusion as all of our previousnotations and scriptures?  “For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use it not for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other:  so that you cannot do the things that you would.  But if you be led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  In other words, “if you are obedient to God’s Spirit living inside of you—you will not sin and therefore enter into judgment.”
 
Thirdly, pure religion is known by its deeds not its words.  Yet, when James says that pure religion includes keeping oneself unspotted from the world, he seems to be opening up a can of worms.  We learned the spiritual adultery constitutes one becoming friends with the world.  Lust is basically the root of all covetousness and temptation.  It is a longing (especially for what is forbidden).  A craving.  It also means to set your heart upon.”  Lust is the tool that Satan uses to get you to fall from grace and sin.  Words are the vehicle by which lust is manifest.  Think about it!  How does Satan tempt you?  He uses words—words that appeal to the flesh.  King David makes the most revealing statement about how Satan works when he says, “Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”