WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.599 We exist to awaken this generation to new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.039 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.399 To find out more, go to awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:22.480 Awakening Church, it's great to be with you today. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:24.160 Welcome. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:31.120 And uh just as we're singing that song, I I want to begin our time a little bit differently. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:37.039 And so as you're watching, wherever you're watching, would you do this for me? 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:41.920 Would you take your hands and would you just hold them out in front of you? 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:43.759 Go ahead, go ahead and do it. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:51.280 And I just want us to have a time of recognizing and responding to the greatness of God. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:01:01.679 When the pain in our world is great, when the pain in your personal world is great, we have to fix our eyes on who God is. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:04.480 And I just want you to do this. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:08.719 I just want you to have this response, God, I can't. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:11.840 And then you fill in the blank of what you can't do. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:23.040 And it might be, you know, around your work, it might be around your family, it might be around your own mental health, it might be around the social injustice going around. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:25.040 God, I can't. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:27.599 And you fill that in. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:30.319 But you can't. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:32.560 God, I can't. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:35.519 I am not able. 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:42.239 But I am coming to the God who is able. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:53.760 The God who is actively at work right now, even in the middle of this storm. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:00.319 The God who cares, and the God who weeps with those who weep. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:10.719 And the God who shows up long after death had its way to bring resurrection. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:17.520 And so, God, we begin today with a fresh affirmation of we can't. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.800 In and of our own ability, we can't. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:26.879 And we declare by faith you can, and we lean into you. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:29.039 In Jesus' name. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:30.080 Amen. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.639 Well, we're in a series called Social Restoration. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:40.240 This is our third week, and we've been wrestling with this. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:47.520 How do we experience social restoration in such a socially divided nation? 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:59.439 How do we not just experience it, but how do we as followers of Jesus actually bring it about in the midst of social injustice and unrest? 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:19.199 Oh, we we begin with looking at phase one that there is a distinction or a distinctive mark of Christians, and that is this social distinction that social restoration begins when followers of Jesus embrace there is no social distinction. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:22.080 I said it last week and I'll say it again. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:28.400 Among followers of Jesus, there is to be no social distinction. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:35.759 There is to be no favoritism played, no prejudice outworking, no racism allowed among the people of God. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:38.159 It begins with us. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:43.840 And then last week we looked at phase two and social action. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:50.719 It says social restoration demands that followers of Jesus put their faith into social action. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:55.599 See, we want and we're looking for the government needs to be fixed. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:59.039 Politicians need to, you know, change or address. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.719 And certainly that's great. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:19.199 The solution, friends, is the church of Jesus Christ rising up and acting in faith in their Savior to bring hope and justice, to say enough is enough, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus to bring mercy and justice to those in need. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:24.079 It's when we say we're gonna live out our faith. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:29.040 No more mere talk, but we're gonna walk the walk. 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:41.360 This morning, we're looking at phase three, and James is then going to shift his attention to our words and then their power and look at social language. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:45.360 And if we look at social media, there's a lot of language going on, isn't there? 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.279 Oh my goodness. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:52.480 There is a lot of language, a lot of rhetoric, a lot of emotion. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.000 And it's just like this onslaught. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:11.279 And James is gonna say, actually, social restoration for us is when followers of Jesus, we actually have to pay careful, careful attention to our words and our language to bring about that restoration. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:14.639 We pick it up in James chapter 3, verse 1. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:19.920 If you got your Bibles, you can open it up or you can, you know, open up your app on your phone. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:21.759 And James begins this way. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:28.879 And if you remember, it's it's a people that have undergone uh their own like COVID uh moments. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:39.600 They've been persecuted, they've been disenfranchised, they're they're they're living in a world that's been turned upside down, and he's he's helping pastor them through this. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.120 And he says, This is a funny way to begin. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:45.759 Not many of you should become teachers. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:55.360 Oh, I think we can look at that uh on social media right now and go, hey, not many of you should become teachers. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:59.439 And in fact, the refrain today is we need more listeners than teachers. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.319 We need to be learners, don't we? 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:06.959 He says, Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:07.680 Why? 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:09.360 Now, this is interesting. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:15.600 Because you know that those who we who teach will be judged more strictly. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:22.399 That as a teacher, we're subject to greater or stricter judgment. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:27.360 Actually, before God, we give account for every careless word that comes out of our mouth. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:35.279 Words are many, sin is not far behind, the proverb says. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:39.040 And then we have more judgment with others. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.920 In fact, I know every time I get up to speak, uh I am being evaluated. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.360 You know, you might sit down later and go, well, what'd you think of the talk? 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:55.680 Or you might be sitting thinking right now, all right, I'm not so sure about this, Ingram. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.519 And we are under judgment and evaluation. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:09.439 And he says, Listen, not many of you should want to be teachers or those who are speaking out because there is this greater judgment that's going to come. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:12.160 Now, there was this desire to be a teacher. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:13.439 This desire, why? 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.560 Because there is honor, there's prestige, there was a platform. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:22.720 Today, so many of us have a platform that many never had even 15 years ago. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:28.879 Your Instagram page, by the way, you have to embrace you can either be a teacher or a learner. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:33.040 And most of us are wanting to be informers and teachers. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:39.920 He says, be on your guard because there is a stricter judgment for those of us that teach. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:44.079 By the way, every parent is a teacher. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:56.079 For us as parents, our role is to make sure that we shape our kids and help them understand Jesus and his ways, understand what he values and how to walk with him. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:00.000 Parents, you're going like, not many of us should become teachers. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:01.600 You're like, well, I guess I'm off the hook. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:03.120 You're not off the hook. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:07.920 You are the primary discipler of your kids. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.519 And you can't outsource that. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:17.519 And where we would say, we're gonna be the primary uh informers. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:26.480 For me, in this season, when we're wrestling with the the aftermath of all that's been going on with the evil of racism and Mr. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:33.120 Floyd's uh murder, it's brought up lots of conversations and moments with my kids. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:43.600 In fact, uh a couple weeks ago, just we've wanted I've wanted to watch movies that would help open our eyes and sat with uh one of my sons and we watched Just Mercy, great movie, by the way. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:44.960 I highly recommend it. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:51.120 And my son's heart breaking over the evil and injustice, and he's like, I'm angry, Dad. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.960 And I wanted to help him understand that's righteous anger. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:00.240 That's actually the right kind of anger that moves us to holy action. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:05.039 Well, now he goes on to say, we all stumble in many ways. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:09.600 Anyone who's never at fault in what they say is perfect. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:25.519 Like if you can keep a tight rein on your tongue, if you can be careful what you say, if if you never stumble in your words, he's gonna say, actually, your entire life would be perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:37.840 And here's what he's saying: when it comes to social restoration and our language, if we're gonna experience social restoration, believers in Christ, we have to watch our words. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:41.360 We have to be aware of our words. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:47.759 We have to be so careful about what we say and what we don't say, how we say it. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:52.879 Often communication isn't just what we say, isn't it? 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:54.879 True, but it's what was received. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:58.559 And we still defend things and go like, well, I didn't mean it. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:02.799 I do this in marriage, in my marriage, not in just any marriage, but my marriage. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:12.159 Uh I, you know, I'm like, well, I didn't mean it, but that's how it was received, and I gotta understand communication is bridging that gap. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:20.080 And we're called to be careful or watch our words, and he and he actually says this watch your words, why? 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:25.279 For they will guide, they direct your life. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:30.720 Well, I know this sounds obvious or a little like why would we ask this? 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.200 But what exactly are words? 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:35.039 What does that mean? 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:43.600 Well, one definition that I like says words are a communication whereby the mind finds its expression. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:45.360 I like that definition. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:48.960 It's a communication whereby the mind finds its expression. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.159 Here's the reason why. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:55.360 When we think about our words, we often think about them as detached. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:58.399 Like they're not a part of us, they're this abstract thing. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:00.720 And I say them and they're out there and they're this thing. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:04.320 And what he's saying is, no, no, no, your words are actually a part of you. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:07.679 There's something that came from inside of you, out of you. 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:10.879 And so it cannot be detached from you. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:19.120 And that's why we have to watch our words, because they actually not only come from inside of us, but they direct our life. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:22.480 So the question is, well, how do we watch our words? 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:31.679 I think this is so incredibly important, friends, in this season of our history as a nation and as followers of Jesus. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.519 Would you lean in in this moment? 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:41.039 Because we have to do this well and wisely to be, like we said last week, the light of the world. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:47.120 To be those agents who bring love and grace to our hurting and broken world. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.200 And so, how do we watch our words? 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:53.279 Well, before you speak, stop and think. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:57.440 I know it sounds like common sense, but it's not so common anymore. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:18.720 Before you speak, before you send that text, before you send that email, before you post on Instagram or Facebook that rant, before you make that phone call, stop and think. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:21.519 And I just want you to ask four questions. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:25.279 The first question, is it true? 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.279 Is it true? 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:29.039 Is it accurate? 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:33.919 You know, we live in a world today where it's like, well, I'm just speaking my truth. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:36.639 I just got to get this off my chest. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:42.799 Let's really wrestle with is this accurate to what's going on? 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:49.360 Um I I want you to sit down or sit with this just for a second. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:13:01.279 Because as followers of Jesus, before we speak, we actually have to do the work of really understanding what it is that we're regurgitating out to people. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:10.480 And what we do often is we take information in, not evaluating the source of it, and we just respond out in an emotional frenzy. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:13.679 And you have to stop and ask, is it true? 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:42.080 The New York Times early in April had this article posting about the onset of corona and how there's actually foreign countries that are not fans of the US that were uh uh posting disinformation and it was so widespread uh that that it was trying to create panic and distrust and going like, we actually have a lot of disinformation that we have to wrestle with. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.360 Where did this come from? 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.879 Is it really accurate? 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.559 Is it really true? 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:52.639 And then once we get to that, then we can go, okay, now I'm able to respond instead of just react. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:59.679 We have lots of reactors in our day today, and we have to be as followers of Jesus, responding wisely and well to the moment. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:01.120 So we ask, is it true? 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.440 Well, Ingram, I I once I figured out it's truth, it's my truth, I'm gonna say it. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.639 Well, no, no, no, hold on. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:08.320 There's one, there's another question. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.519 Not only is it true, is it helpful? 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:15.200 Is this helping the conversation? 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:18.320 Or is this harmful? 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:30.960 See, I can speak my truth to you, and it may be my truth, and it will not help the conversation, move things forward, bring about healing or restoration or justice. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:36.399 It may actually incite more harm and pain. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.159 Proverbs talks about this. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:44.320 A gentle word stir, a harsh word stirs up wrath, but a gentle word uh calms wrath. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:46.720 Like, like if we like, is it helpful? 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:49.120 And then the way I'm doing it, is it helpful? 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:52.080 And he says, okay, let's ask this question. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.440 Is it true? 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.440 Is it helpful? 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:02.000 Is what I'm about to say going to bring about uh the end result? 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.840 Is it gonna bring about reconciliation? 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:05.759 Is it gonna be bring about justice? 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.360 Is it gonna bring about healing? 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.000 Is it gonna bring about love and peace? 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:14.480 And then we gotta ask, not only is it true, is it helpful, but is it kind? 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:20.799 And you're like, Ingram, this isn't a time to be kind. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.440 Don't you know where we're living? 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.559 Kindness is dead. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.679 We gotta get to work. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:28.159 Well, hang on, you don't understand what kindness is. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.120 See, we've confused niceness and kindness. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.360 Dr. 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:35.519 Henry Cloud in his book Necessary Ending does a fantastic work on this. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:40.399 See, kindness doesn't mean I just say whatever is nice to you. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.519 Let me explain the difference. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:43.600 I'll give you a silly illustration, if you will. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.440 The silly illustration is this. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:50.320 Let's say we're out to dinner together, that we can do that, you know, is kind of awesome now. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.080 And whether you want to do that or not, I don't know. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.440 I'm not diving into that. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.759 Actually, I was walking with my buddy downtown uh the other day. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:07.039 Uh, it was actually on June 5th when all the restaurants outdoor were open, and a guy was wanting to film us and ask us, a news reporter, like how we felt about it. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:12.000 And I'm like, I don't really want to answer that because I know everyone has like different opinions. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:14.159 So don't worry about it. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:18.559 Let's just pretend like you're okay with it and you're out to dinner, okay? 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.720 And you have a piece of food in your teeth. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:28.320 If I'm nice to you and I look at you, I'm not gonna say anything about it. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:33.919 I'm gonna ignore it, I'm gonna let you go on your way because I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or feel bad. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:35.679 Oh, that's nice. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.240 But if I was kind, I go, excuse me, I'm so sorry. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:49.519 Hey, you got a little something here, you got it, you got a little parsley here, because I don't want you to walk around and smile and somebody else and be walking around with that on your face. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:55.200 See, kindness actually addresses things for the good of the other person. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:59.120 We have to ask the question is it true? 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.720 Is this accurate? 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.879 Is it helpful? 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.880 Am I adding to the conversation? 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:07.119 Am I am I building up? 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.480 Am I helping? 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:09.839 Is it kind? 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:16.640 Not just like I'm being nice to you and I don't want to address something, but is it really kind to you? 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.440 Is this gonna be uh for your best? 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:24.799 And then finally, and this is really important, have I truly listened? 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:30.240 Before you speak, stop and think. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.440 Have I truly listened? 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.559 Have I heard? 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:43.440 Have I taken time before I repost or before I rant to really hear where someone's coming from and what's going on in them. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:52.880 Friends, followers of Jesus, we have to become far better listeners than question answerers. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:18:00.400 I like how um David Augsburger, I think that's how you say his last name, said it. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.319 Here's why this is so important. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:18.480 He said, being heard is so close to being uh um loved that for the average person they are uh I can't even read my uh almost indistinguishable. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:21.200 Let me read it again because I couldn't even read my own writing there. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:28.880 Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:30.400 This is so important. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:36.559 Before I speak in, before I'm gonna lean in, before I'm gonna utter words, I'm gonna go, have I listened? 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:38.079 Have I really heard? 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:48.079 Not have I just figured out how to respond and what argument I have or what thoughts do I have, but but I want to understand where you're coming from. 00:18:48.640 --> 00:19:02.720 See, social restoration, it requires of us that we lean in and we watch our words and we ask the questions is it true, is it helpful, is it kind, or have I truly listened? 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:05.440 And I want to talk about what's at stake. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:08.720 Like, why do we have to be so careful with what we say? 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:32.799 And James actually is gonna unpack how words are so powerful that this would give us pause as we begin to engage with one another, as we begin to have dialogue with others we might disagree with, as we post, and as we begin to, you know, gather once again as a community in homes. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.720 Listen to what he says. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:37.200 He's gonna say that words are powerful. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:40.319 Now we know that already, but we need to be reminded of it. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:50.799 He says, We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn a whole animal, or take ships as an example. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:57.759 Although they're so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:02.480 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great bows. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:08.480 Here's what he's saying: saying, our words have directional force. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:13.680 Your words, my words, have directional force. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:23.519 The same way a bit in a horse and a rudder to a boat steers the horse, your words have directional force both in your life and in others' life. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:25.519 See, your words are powerful. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:32.400 Some of the words that we're saying to ourselves are directing the very course of your life. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.680 I'm no good. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.599 I'm a failure. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.960 I'll just never make it. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:44.240 This is impossible. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:47.200 It has directional force. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.799 And we've all experienced it. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:56.640 That someone's words in our life has had directional force, hasn't it? 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.559 Maybe it was a coach that offered encouragement. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:14.880 Maybe it was a mentor who spoke in or a parent that surrounded you, and the career path that you're on it was actually set in place by someone else's words. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:18.160 And it has directional force, both good and for bad. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:24.480 I was reminded of um a friend of mine who was wrestling whether he wanted to start uh his company or not. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:31.119 He's had this entrepreneurial spirit, and we sat down, we had this conversation, and it's like, man, what's the worst that can happen? 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.960 You're a really smart, gifted guy. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:35.440 You start this thing, it doesn't work, you're gonna go get a new job. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:37.119 You're young, go for it. 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:44.960 And he points back and he's go, Ryan, that conversation was the tipping point for me to start this business. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:48.000 See, your words, my words, they have directional force. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:51.759 We have to be careful because we got to recognize our words have directional force. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:58.240 The second thing, he's gonna go from bit to horses, he's gonna say, our words, and we know this, have destructive power. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:00.480 They cannot do Harm. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:03.680 He he talks about how a little spark. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:11.440 See, we we think of our words, you know, remember that definition of words as a communication by where the mind finds expression? 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:13.039 Like it's just a little thing. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.599 It's just a how I didn't even mean it. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.839 Wasn't that big of a deal. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:31.839 And James says, in the same way that a spark can move and turn a whole forest onto fire, our words can have the same impact. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.400 They actually can be so destructive. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:46.240 We got to be so careful because we recognize it might have just been an off-comment, and it can really, really create damage. 00:22:47.119 --> 00:23:03.599 I was thinking about this in my own life, and right before we started awakening, I was having breakfast with a friend, and we're talking about it, and there's obviously, yeah, I mean, when you start something, there's lots of insecurities, fears, all these sort of things, and we're talking about it. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:11.519 And he made this comment about my preaching and compared me to someone else. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:28.400 And it just caught me to the point where that conversation shaped the way I thought about my communication for years. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:31.119 I never felt good enough. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:37.359 Every time I got up to speak, I was desperately insecure, feeling like I just didn't have enough. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:44.640 And so then I started, instead of trying to communicate God's word, I was trying to get people to think well of me. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:54.559 Literally years, one conversation, and and it wasn't even something that he meant in that way, but it just pierced my heart. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:57.279 And we've all had that before. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:02.799 And unfortunately, we've done that before to others. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:04.799 He says, Why are we to be so careful? 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:08.640 Our words have directional force, our words have destructive power. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:13.279 And then he finally he says, our words are very difficult to control. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:22.480 And in fact, he says, we can tame animals, wild animals, and we've tamed all sorts of them, but you can't tame the tongue. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:26.559 Notice what he says in James chapter 3, uh, verse 7. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:32.480 He says, All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:35.359 But no human being can tame the tongue. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:38.400 It's a restless evil full of deadly poison. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.359 Wow. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:42.079 Trying to underscore the damage. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:46.720 See, we don't think a whole lot about this, but the damage that can be done. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:54.160 See, our words at James would say, in and of ourselves and in our own strength, it's not difficult. 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.519 It's actually impossible. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:25:03.119 We need the Spirit of God to transform us to be able to tame our tongue, not just our willpower. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:05.200 They're difficult to control. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:18.960 When I was a boy, and this shows up for us uh when we're little, we we start to develop, you know, better habits that where we can kind of cloak what we say, but then it spills out in different times. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:21.119 But I remember this when I was a boy. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:25.119 Um we were watching some movie, and it was like a spy movie. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:31.440 I the one image I can really remember was some guy with a rope climbing to sneak into uh this building. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.519 I I don't remember what the movie was. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:39.920 Um, and I remember I was completely unable to control my words. 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:48.400 And so my dad's a pastor, you know, and I grew up in this Christian home, and and I couldn't help but say the H word. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:48.960 I won't say it. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.960 I know we have kids in the room, so I'm not gonna say that. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:54.160 But I remember going, what the H is he doing? 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:56.880 My parents were like, What'd you just say? 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:00.880 And and then I said it again. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:09.359 And then and they said, Ryan, if you say that again, you're gonna go to your room, you're gonna go to bed early, you will miss out on the movie. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:13.440 And then something else happened in the movie, and and I'm like, what the? 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:16.480 I don't know where I learned this or anything, you know. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:18.559 I'll blame my older brothers, just kidding. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.920 Um, but and it and it just spilled out. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.519 I couldn't control it. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:32.480 And here's what we find is that little boy still has a hard time controlling his words. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:40.079 And you and I see, words are very difficult to control, and they're powerful. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:42.480 So then what do we do with them? 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:53.200 How do we become a people that bring restoration and healing in the words that we have because they're powerful and not destruction and harm? 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:57.359 Well, James is going to tell us first we have to repent. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.640 Oh boy. 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:03.200 Use the R word, not the H word, the R word. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:07.359 Repent for the incongruity of your words. 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.799 Notice what he says. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:16.960 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who've been made in God's likeness. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:21.039 Out of the same mouth comes praises and cursing. 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:24.079 My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:52.079 We actually, the first step for you, the first step for me is we repent of our incongruity, the dissonance, and where we sing songs, where we just worshiped and recognized that we yelled at our kids, where we just worshiped and we just talked about someone negatively, where we just worshiped and on Monday we we just slam our boss or our coworker or a spouse or friend or roommate. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.640 And we got to repent and own ours. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:57.200 See, it's easy to look at everybody else. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:00.640 It's easy to go, like, look at what they're doing and how they're doing it. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:04.480 This is not the invitation for you to evaluate everybody else's language. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.079 This is the invitation for you. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.880 That's the reason I changed uh the pronoun. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.799 All the other ones were R and we. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:14.720 I changed it to your because it is for you, for me. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.720 We're gonna repent. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:19.839 I say, God, this is not okay. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:21.359 This is not right. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:32.799 Years ago, um there was a high-profile pastor that stepped out of his ministry and he was doing some things that I didn't understand. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:38.400 And I remember sitting around a table with friends, and we're talking about it. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:44.640 And me and another buddy who were in ministry, we were so critical of his decisions. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.759 We don't know him. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:54.160 At that point, I had never met him, didn't know all the circumstances, and I just spoke so negatively and authoritative in that moment. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:29:06.480 And I remember driving home from hanging out with the friends, and the Holy Spirit, i.e., my wife, said to me, Ryan, that was not right. 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:12.000 The way you spoke about him, and you don't know, and it was so convicting. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:24.640 And I had to repent of my own brokenness where I can praise God and preach the gospel and then cut down someone who's preaching the gospel. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:27.920 Friends, that should not be. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:32.799 And I sent a text out to the friends and apologized and I asked for forgiveness. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:39.440 And the humor of God was a few months later, ended up doing and speaking a conference with this in person. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:44.960 It's just like God going like, see, pay attention. 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:47.200 See, we have to repent. 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.880 It begins right there. 00:29:49.200 --> 00:30:15.200 God, I'm sorry, because my words, as I worship you, I cannot cut down any other human, whether I agree with them or disagree with them, like them or dislike them, they are imagode, image-bearers of you, and so I will not have incongruity, I will not have dissonance, I will not praise you and curse them. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:17.519 And so, God, would you do the work in me? 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.480 So, what do we do? 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:22.880 We repent, and then we have to go to the root and address the fruit. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.559 This is what James says. 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:30.640 He says, In the same uh, sorry, uh, there we there we go. 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:35.279 Then he goes on, can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:40.640 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree uh bear olives or a grapevine bear frigs? 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:43.759 Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:46.960 He's going, you gotta get to the root of the issue. 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:50.559 If you don't like the fruit, you don't adjust externally. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:52.000 And that's what we try to do. 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:57.039 We try to just put a muzzle on our lips of like, I'm gonna try harder not to say this or say that. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:58.240 He says, No, no, no, no. 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.279 Go to the root. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.000 What's the root? 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:01.039 The heart. 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:05.359 He's actually talking about what Jesus talked about. 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:17.119 Luke chapter 6, verse 43, Jesus said, For there is no good tree which produces bad fruits, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:20.960 For each tree is known by its own fruit. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:26.240 For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick up grapes from briar bushes. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:31.359 The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth what is good. 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:35.680 The evil man, out of the evil treasure, brings forth what is evil. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:43.279 Now notice this, for his mouth speaks from that which his heart is filled. 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:46.480 You gotta go to the root. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:53.759 See what we do is we go, I just didn't mean it. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:57.039 Oops, it slipped down. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:07.039 Our words reveal what's in our heart. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.559 This is what Jesus is saying. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:10.640 This is what James is talking about. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:27.119 And if if our words are cutting, if our words are critical, if our words are putting down, if our words have an incongruity where we're worshiping God on one hand and we're putting down his image bearers on the other, he says you have to do heart work. 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:32.240 God, it's actually a heart issue. 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:35.519 It's not a words issue, it's a heart issue. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:50.480 That's why social restoration requires followers of Jesus to do the heart work, the heartwork, the work of the heart to bring about redemptive social language. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:33:14.000 See, for us to be a people where our words bring healing instead of hurt, where our words are not bringing hatred or discord or divisiveness or animosity, but where we're bringers of peace and justice and righteousness and grace, it begins in here, not out there. 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:19.839 See, we're wanting everything out there, and we need to adjust that. 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:31.920 And the invitation is I'm gonna repent for what the brokenness in my language, and God, it's revealing something in my heart, and so I'm gonna do the heart work. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:38.240 God, as David played, give me a clean heart, oh God. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:45.039 A prayer that I pray so often is, God, would you make me a man after your own heart? 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:54.720 If you just study the scriptures, you know, we taught this uh back in February, like guard your heart above all else, for from it flows the wellspring of life. 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:58.240 The scripture speaks immensely about your heart. 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.720 God, give me an undivided heart. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:08.480 And as you do that, what will flow out is the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of peace, the fruit of hope, the fruit of life. 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:15.360 Proverbs says this the tongue has the power of life and death. 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:18.800 Our words are powerful. 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:35.280 Jesus followed, your words are powerful, and we have the opportunity wherever we're at, whether it's online or in person, to bring life. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:39.840 And so in this moment, where are you at? 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:43.519 Where do you need to be? 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:47.760 It's not about other people and what they're saying and what they're posting. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.960 What about you? 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:56.880 And would you come before your heavenly father who's eager to respond to everyone who calls upon his name and says, God, I need you. 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:59.360 I recognize the dissonance of my words. 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:01.280 Would you, would you forgive me? 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:05.760 And then, God, I want to I want to be focused on what you're doing in me. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:12.159 Heavenly Father, create in me a clean heart, oh God. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:14.800 Create in me a clean heart. 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:18.320 Make me a person after your heart. 00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:30.159 God, I'm gonna watch over my heart, the interior of my life with all diligence, knowing that my words flow from that, and from that comes life or death. 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:43.440 Would you make us a people whose words, would you make us a church whose language and social language is that of hope and life and peace and justice. 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:46.079 In Jesus' name, amen.