WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:00.959 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:18.320 We're in our ninth week studying through the book of James, and today we're in chapter three, where James revisits a topic that he hit on back in chapter one, so he's repeating himself, so it means it must be something important to James, and it must mean something profound for our lives. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:22.879 So I'm gonna read sections of this passage and we'll make some sense of it. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:27.600 So let's reread what Sam just read, James 1, 3, 1 through 5a. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:35.200 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:38.479 So a little humbling moment for me right there, verse 2. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:47.439 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. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:53.280 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:54.880 Look at the ships also. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:03.439 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. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:09.280 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:16.319 So point number one is this words by us and to us guide our lives. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:18.799 Words by us and to us guide our lives. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:24.159 James uses this bridal metaphor back in James chapter one, and he reuses it again. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:25.920 So I'm gonna reuse my illustration. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.439 If you remember nine weeks ago, I said that my family went horseback riding. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:30.400 We don't know anything about horses. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:31.840 We have no business being on a horse. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:36.959 We know nothing about horses at all, but of course we just put our precious little child up on there. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:42.719 Our youngest, there's our youngest, and so all 60 pounds of her is on top of this massive, massive beast. 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:48.000 And we don't know anything about horses, but the the cowgirl guide comes by and to calm us all down. 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:49.280 As you can tell, we're freaking out. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:55.760 And says, Hey, hey, sweet little girl, um, the horse has a bit in its mouth. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:58.640 Those leather straps come up and around, right? 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:00.079 This is how horses work. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:01.680 And you can control the horse. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:03.439 Isn't that amazing? 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:08.319 That little girl can control that massive beast out of a bridle. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.560 And James says, that's the image. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:12.000 That's the image. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.159 And then he says, Oh, I got more images for you. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:15.520 And that's what James chapter 3 is. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:17.759 I got more images for you on this issue. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:21.520 And he says, the mouth is also like the rudder of a ship. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.479 Maybe you saw last week this picture on the news. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:27.039 So this is one of our aircraft carriers. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:28.560 This is the Gerald R. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:34.000 Ford aircraft carrier that last week it sailed into the Mediterranean to support Israel. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:37.120 This is the world's largest aircraft carrier. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.479 1,106 feet long. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:45.599 I'll be honest, when I see pictures of this, I'm singing proud to be American. 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:46.719 I'll pay more taxes. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:48.240 Let's build another one. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:48.800 Let's do it. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:49.759 Let's just keep. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:51.919 We can't have enough aircraft carriers. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:54.639 That's my position, that maybe whatever. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:55.919 Love it, right? 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:57.680 Huge ship though. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.319 Huge ship, massive ship, three football fields long. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.000 Three football fields. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:06.319 Sails across the world. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.680 And the entire time it is guided by a rudder. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:12.479 Here's a picture of an aircraft carrier rudder. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:19.439 It looks pretty big, but it's actually about 0.03 the length of the entire ship. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:24.479 And it, that small rudder, will guide that massive ship. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:28.879 And James says, your words seem small. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:38.080 But they have enormous power over your life and the life of people around you. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:42.240 Now James just keeps hammering away at this point, right? 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:48.400 So we have the bit on the horse, we got the ship and the rudder, and he's gonna keep hammering away his point. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:52.479 He brings in another metaphor for us, James 3, 5B through 12. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.000 How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:59.599 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:07.759 The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:17.120 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:21.120 It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:27.439 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:30.879 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.959 My brothers, these things ought not be so. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:40.560 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:45.360 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives or grapevine produce figs? 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:49.120 Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:53.759 So point number two is this there are words that hurt us. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.000 There are words that hurt us. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:58.720 James says our words can be like fire. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:00.000 Maybe you've been there, right? 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:03.680 Like you should have held your tongue and you didn't. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:08.399 Like because you were stressed or you were mad or you were upset and you just said that thing. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.040 You said that thing to the person you love? 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:14.639 Have you ever said something? 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:16.319 I said something last week. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:16.959 I said it. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.720 You don't need to know the story, but I said it. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:24.160 And 10 seconds later, I was like, I did that come, like, did that just come out of me? 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.279 Like, and what fire did I just start? 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:30.319 And now what fire do I need to go and try to put out? 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:35.839 A long time ago, at another church, so you don't have to look around at each other. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:37.360 A long time ago, another church. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:39.600 I always tell stories at other churches. 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:45.759 I was talking to a friend, and he said he was a child. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:47.920 He was standing at the bottom of the stairs. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:50.319 His dad was at the top of the stairs. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:51.839 And his dad looks down the stairs. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:53.759 He had done something to upset his dad. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:57.279 His dad looks down the stairs and points out. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:02.800 You are nothing but a coward. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.360 It could have been like 10 or 15 years. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:11.920 He was still living with that destructive fire inside of him. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.759 We can live too long guided by words that should have never been said. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:29.199 A good growth and grace question is what hurtful word spoken to you still holds harmful power over you. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.720 And we can turn that question around, because James would have us turn it around. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:40.399 That's holding power over somebody. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:48.160 See, we can spend our entire lives building a sense of self out of a wound caused by words spoken years ago. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:53.199 And we think we'll be destroyed if we move into that wound. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.879 How we feel about it, what it caused, what it's doing in our lives. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:03.839 But we won't be. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:05.360 We have to know. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:09.680 We have to know that God will meet us in that toxic word. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:12.319 And He will give us a new word. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:18.639 James lead us to contemplate our own words. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:26.000 Do people avoid us even slightly because our words distract or destroy? 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:29.279 Maybe just always negative. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.040 Maybe self-pity, maybe self-absorb. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:40.319 Or do people long to be in your presence? 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:44.800 Because your words are of grace and truth. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.199 And they just create life. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:58.319 Proverbs 16, 24 says, gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the body. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:00.560 Haven't you experienced that? 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:04.800 Point number three is this there are words that heal us. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:08.480 There are words that hurt us, and there are words that heal us. 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:16.319 About a year ago, our family had a major conversion, big transformation in the Masterson household. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:20.720 We had been eating rolled gold pretzels for years, reliable pretzel. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:23.439 It's a solid standard pretzel. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:26.560 And then you know what we had. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:28.079 You know what we had. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:29.439 Dots. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:31.680 That's exactly what we had. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:33.519 Unbelievable. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:34.799 Unbelievable. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:37.279 I didn't know a pretzel could improve. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.039 It's unbelievable. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.600 But they pre-coat them with butter. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:43.679 They bake them. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.399 Then a top secret seasoning. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:47.200 Top secret. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:49.120 But then they rebake them. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:50.720 And I can't get enough. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.279 No, we buy that big Costco bag. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:55.519 It just stays on the counter. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.600 I just keep circling by, right? 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:58.159 All day. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:08:59.519 Just circle by. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:00.720 So good. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:02.720 Gracious words are like that. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:05.360 You just can't get enough. 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:06.559 You keep circling by. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:11.759 You find yourself circling by a certain person at a party because you're like, I want to be around them. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.159 Those words are good words. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:15.679 Can't get enough. 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:19.200 It's like sweetness to the soul, help to the body. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.240 Yet, just a little evaluation on my words. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.759 A lot of times I barely listen. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:31.600 Kind of waiting, like waiting to talk, right? 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:32.960 We've all done it. 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:36.720 You're listening, but you're kind of waiting for your moment. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.639 Because I got a lot of opinions. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:45.679 I got opinions on all sorts of stuff, and I can't wait to share them about Fat Bear Week, about Israel, you know, Travis and Taylor. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:46.720 That's a big thing right now. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:48.000 I got opinions on that. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:49.840 I've got lots of theories. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.960 Just waiting to share my agenda. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:57.759 But gracious words are for the good of the other person. 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.440 You're actually thinking about the other person. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:04.960 Encouraging, loving, comforting. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:12.960 My wife says over and over in our family, to our children, but I think she's saying this to me, I think she's saying that to me. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.279 Is it true, necessary, and kind? 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.000 Is it true, necessary, and kind? 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:21.039 Because that's like honey, right? 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.200 We just can't get enough of that. 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:25.120 True, necessary, and kind. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.559 In John chapter 1, Jesus meets Peter. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.759 Remember this story? 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.080 First time Jesus meets Peter. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:38.000 Looks at him, Jesus looks at Peter and says, You are Simon, son of John, you will be called Cephas. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.080 Which means the rock. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.120 Solid leader. 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:43.120 This guy's gonna be a solid leader. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:46.799 But that's crazy because at this point, Peter has done nothing. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.879 He has proved nothing. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.480 He has no resume. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.679 He has no record. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.840 He has performed not at all. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:54.559 Nothing. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:56.879 And Jesus says, you're the rock. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:02.240 So this is a word spoken over Peter. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:03.919 Spoken into Peter. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.360 This is imputation. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.559 This is the word spoken. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:13.440 Something given to him he did not cause, he cannot maintain. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:19.600 Jesus deems Simon something long before he actually became that very thing. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:23.039 Now, at the end of Jesus' life, you remember the story? 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:27.120 Peter messes up, denies him three times. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:29.279 Not the rock. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:37.120 Then we read in John chapter 21 that Jesus pursues Peter in this mess that Peter's created. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:43.039 And Peter is probably waiting for some word of condemnation or some word of like, hey, you can do it. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:44.000 Get your act together. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:44.799 Be brave. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.000 Come on, man. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.960 That's not what Jesus does, right? 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.559 Jesus says, Simon, do you love me? 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.360 Then feed my sheep. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:51.919 Do you love me? 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:52.639 Then feed my sheep. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:53.279 Do you love me? 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:54.799 Then feed my sheep. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:12:01.279 It's interesting that later in the New Testament, when Peter is writing, he always introduces himself. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.600 He's become a force of faith at this point. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.039 And he always introduces himself as Simon Peter. 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:15.840 See, we slowly and perfectly become that which God has lavishly already deemed us to be. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:20.559 That is the power of God through imputation. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:25.679 God's word to us shapes who we are and how we live. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.360 Now, back to our speech. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:31.519 Jesus taught in Luke 6, 45, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:35.600 So out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths speak. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.759 Point number four is this. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:56.559 See, James says in verse 8 that no one can tame the tongue, which is really discouraging because he just told us how powerful the tongue is, and then he says, oh, by the way, it's super powerful. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:59.039 You can cause a lot of destruction. 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:02.960 And, verse 8, you're helpless. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.039 It's like, thanks, appreciate it, James. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:05.679 Thanks a lot. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.399 We appreciate that. 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.840 James does this, right? 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:12.080 Because James is always assuming the gospel and telling us the effects. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:16.000 He's not as thorough as Paul is on the outworkings of the gospel. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:23.120 But James hints at it in verses 11 and 12, because he says it's about the root. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.080 Right? 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.559 He takes his destruction, you can't tame it, but go to the root. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:31.360 The inner will affect the outer. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:42.559 Paul writes in Colossians 4, 6, let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:45.600 It's an amazing verse. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.039 Good tip. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:52.720 That on its own, we're all just horrible failures, right? 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.679 Horrible. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:54.960 We need more than that. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:58.480 Well, fortunately, Colossians 4 comes after Colossians 3. 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:00.559 And Colossians 3 is about how the Christian should live. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:14.559 And in chapter 2, it begins with the life we have only in Christ. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:23.279 Performance is over, pretending is not needed, because Jesus plus nothing equals everything. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:33.600 So the heart that wants to prove, wants to earn, wants to justify itself before God, wants to justify itself between each other, is at rest. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.399 Can come to a peace. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:52.960 And then we learn that the misuse of our words, that exhaustion of it, so often just reveals how we're trying to secure something for ourselves that Jesus has already deemed to us. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:15:02.240 Acceptance, justification, worth, value, security, love, position, meaning, affection, righteousness, forgiveness. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.879 Here's what God speaks to you in Christ. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:09.039 God says, in Christ, you are already forgiven and already righteous. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:13.360 God says in Christ you are accepted enough and at peace with Him. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.960 God says, in Christ, you have a friend and are worthy. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:21.200 God says, in Christ you are free from performance and welcomed into grace. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:25.360 God says in Christ you are lavishly loved and empowered to love. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:29.679 God says in Christ you are deemed godly and empowered toward godliness. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:33.519 God says in Christ you are safe and your heart has a home with him. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:44.639 As we rest in the lavishness of that goodness, of the promises of Jesus for us, what kind of healing, what kind of security and peace might that give us in the core of who we are? 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:49.519 And then James says, what might that do for our words? 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:54.480 This past Wednesday morning, I hiked up the back of Kennesaw Mountain. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:57.440 It was an amazing fall morning, kind of like this morning. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:01.759 Vest is on, crisp weather. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.000 I start the hike out. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.799 I put some AirPods in, shane and shane worship. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:08.000 I'm worshiping my way up this mountain. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.399 I'm gonna have literally I'm gonna have a religious mountaintop experience. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.240 I mean, this is an amazing fall morning. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:19.519 I got the worship going, I'm worshiping, I'm walking up this mountain, hiking in the beautiful woods, the leaves are changing along the way. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:23.120 I'm I'm so kind to the other hikers. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.639 You wouldn't even believe it. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:28.159 It is so over the top, as I'm in such a good mood. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:35.519 I'm at peace with myself and Jesus and the world, and I'm worshiping, and I'm like, good morning, good to see you, have a great day. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.480 Isn't it lovely? 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.279 Look at the leaves. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.879 I even said a God bless you. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:44.480 I mean, it was it was it was amazing the amount of sanctification that was going on. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.440 I get to the top, turn back around. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:52.240 On the way up, I got a little warm, so I took my took my vest off. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.320 I carefully folded it. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:56.639 I wanted to really communicate some I care for this vest. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:01.039 I carefully folded it and put it on a very particular rock along the trail. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.159 Put it there. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.200 Hike up. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.640 I'm coming back down. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.759 Good morning. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.119 Beautiful fall. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.079 Have a great day. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.599 So kind. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:10.400 So kind. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.200 It's unbelievable. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.559 You wouldn't even believe it. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:14.079 I get to the rock. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.559 No vest. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.319 Okay. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.920 Hike back up the trail a little bit. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:24.319 Maybe I ended up at the wrong rock, right? 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.440 First thought. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.880 I passed it. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.880 So walk back up. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.920 No, no, no, no. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.200 That's all the peace in me. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.319 It's gone. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.599 I ain't worshiping. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.440 Turn Shane Shane off, tell you that much. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.400 That's done. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:40.720 That's not what this morning's gonna be about. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:43.359 Come back to that rock. 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:44.720 It's gone. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:47.039 Somebody, somebody took my vest. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:57.680 20-year-old Patagonia hunter green vest with a big sky Montana patch in the upper left corner because I was once at a campfire and a spark flew out and burned a little hole right there. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:05.200 So if you're wearing that vest, I know. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:07.519 Start hiking back down. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.839 I'm passing other hikers. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:12.079 No good mornings. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.119 No, have a great day. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:17.440 The only thing is, did you steal my vest? 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.720 You got my vest? 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.759 Can open your backpack. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.640 Let me see. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.240 That's it. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.599 I mean, like all the kindness was gone. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:28.640 It was gone. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.839 I mean, forget it. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:39.680 All that was left was ignoring people, not welcoming people, and then just fire waiting if I see a dude wearing my vest. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.200 Right? 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:46.720 I mean, it's kind of a silly story, but think about that inner experience that results in outer behavior. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:51.920 I went from pouring out kindness to ignoring people really quick. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.480 Because I went from living in peace to living from a wound. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.079 Remember Peter? 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:08.079 Jesus pursues him while he's a mess, which is my only rescue that morning or any other time. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:14.160 I need God to love me in as much as my inability to be kind is as much as my ability when I am kind. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.079 Right? 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.480 Jesus shows up to Peter and he says, Do you love me? 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.440 Do you love me? 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.319 Do you love me? 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:22.799 I mean, why not blast Peter? 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:25.119 Why not just be like, hey man? 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.720 Be brave. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.640 Come on. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.319 Be brave, man. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:33.759 But Jesus goes after love. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:42.960 For the same reason that James takes us from our words to the root of a fig tree. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:53.839 And for the same reason that Paul births are encouraging words and the lavish promises that we have in Jesus. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:05.680 Because the more we rest in God's pursuit and word of approval over us and to us and in us, the more we speak loving words to others. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.880 Let's pray together. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:11.359 God, thank you for your grace and mercy to us. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:20.160 Forgive us for the ways that we have caused destructive fires in people's lives. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:25.920 Forgive us for the times that we have spoken too quickly and too harshly. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:35.599 Help us to remember that we are fully forgiven and fully righteous this morning, no matter what we have spoken. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:39.599 That you have spoken over us full forgiveness and full righteousness. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:49.279 And Jesus, may that word of acceptance and approval and justification be the defining power of our hearts. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:53.920 And may our words be encouraging others. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.720 In Jesus' name. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.200 Amen.