WEBVTT 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:12.640 Well, if you do not own a Bible, feel free to use that Black Pew Bible in front of you, and you are more than welcome to take that home with you if you don't own the Bible, so that you have a copy of God's Word. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:20.079 The big numbers are the chapters, and the smaller numbers are the verses, if you would like to follow along, and if you're not familiar with the Bible this morning. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:29.280 Well, this is one of those Sundays, friends, where we can't hide from some of the more convicting passages in the New Testament that speaks to us all. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:41.200 Some of you might be familiar with this story, but in 1631, there were two royal printers in London who were tasked with the responsibility of printing the King James Version of the Bible. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:01:00.320 They made a tragic omission in the publication of the King James Bible by leaving out one single word in the Seventh Commandment, producing what ended up becoming a widespread panic and controversy. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:07.599 Some term the Bible the wicked Bible, or some referred to it as the adulterer's Bible. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:09.200 What was the mistake? 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:18.959 Well, instead of the seventh commandment reading, Thou shalt not commit adultery, it said, Thou shalt commit adultery. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:30.319 It created such a panic that the king recalled every single copy to be destroyed and never printed thus far. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:36.560 But he also put a heavy fine on the printers as well. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:42.879 As a matter of fact, to this day, if you wanted to actually go see a physical copy of these uh prints, it'd be very hard to find. 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:47.840 You have to go to a very prestigious museum where there are a few copies remaining. 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:54.959 But that is a good example or a reminder, rather, of how powerful and consequential our words can be. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:02:02.159 Just one single word being said or removed can cause dramatic damage. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:07.680 James has been showing us so far what genuine faith really looks like. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:18.240 He encouraged us so far that real faith is expressed visibly in our actions, or rather, real faith does the word, so to speak, instead of just hearing the word. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:21.919 Real faith treats people without partiality. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.800 And now he says, real faith shows up in how you and I speak. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:35.199 Jesus already told us in Matthew that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:43.439 And James wants you and I to see that your tongue is spiritual evidence of what's going on in your heart. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.479 So let's all be prepared to be convicted this morning. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:47.280 You ready? 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:48.719 Everybody's okay? 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:50.159 Here we go. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:03:01.120 The one thing I want us to walk away focusing on this morning is this your speech tells the truth about your heart, so let Jesus govern your words. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:08.400 Your speech tells the truth about your heart, so let Jesus govern your words. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:17.680 Now, in our text this morning, as we begin chapter three, James turns the spotlight from being doers of the word and not showing partiality. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:27.439 Now he gives almost a third test of genuine Christian faith by focusing the spotlight on our tongues and the heart behind it. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:31.520 Let's start with verses one through two, and I want us to focus on this. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:38.400 You must feel the weight of teaching because teachers shape souls. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.960 You must feel the weight of teaching because teachers shape souls. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:45.280 Let's look at verses one and two. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:53.680 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.960 For we all stumble in many ways. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:05.039 If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:13.439 James starts with a very sober warning because teaching God's word is holy, sacred work. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:18.319 When you teach, you shape a lot of things in other people. 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:31.120 You shape their view of God, you shape their view of God's world, how they understand sin and suffering, how they understand their walk with Jesus, and that's why God holds teachers to a higher standard. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:36.480 Because your words can either feed God's people or mislead God's people. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:49.279 This is why James gives this stark warning not many should become teachers, my brothers, because teachers received a strict a stricter judgment. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:51.680 Here's a great example of this in the Old Testament. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:59.920 You can turn here if you like, but in Jeremiah chapter 23, God rebukes false prophets who misrepresented him. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:08.800 In Jeremiah 23, beginning in verse 16, he says this This is what the Lord of armies says. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:13.040 Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:14.800 They are deluding you. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:19.680 They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord's mouth. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:21.839 Jump down to verse 21. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.079 I did not send out these prophets, yet they ran. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:29.120 I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:40.160 If they had really stood in my counsel, they would have enabled my people to hear my words and would have turned them from their evil ways and their evil deeds. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:43.600 Notice the warning there. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:24.319 In 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 16, Paul encouraging young Timothy, a pastor in the ministry, he tells him, pay close attention to your life and your teaching. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:32.800 Persevere in these things, for in doing this, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:45.279 Paul carefully teaches Timothy that your teaching and how you lead your life actually has the capacity to be used by the Lord to lead people to salvation. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:49.839 Teaching is not a performance act, it's it's stewardship. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.120 Now I'm focusing on pastoral ministry right now. 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:58.639 Those who have been called into a local church to serve as a pastor, James has given this warning. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:04.160 So, with that being said, what kind of men should be the ones teaching in the life of a local church? 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:09.439 Whether it's a formal uh office of pastor or a deacon or ministry leader? 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:11.199 Well, here's a few. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:20.399 One, men who tremble and submit to the authority of the word, not men who stand over the Bible in judgment. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:32.560 Or men who study God's word for worship and not applause or for prestige in the church, or to be viewed as someone who knows a whole lot of Bible, but men who study for worship. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.759 Third, men who care for people. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:46.399 Not to want to stand up here and just teach you everything they studied, but who want to help you see the glory of Jesus in his word and to help you live it out to the glory of God. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:52.959 And men whose lives bleed, sound theology, prayer, character, and love. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:00.560 Not men who have poor character, but are very charismatic and gifted orators, and therefore we should let them preach and teach. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:19.600 I love my man Paul in 1 Timothy 1 5 when he says, Now the goal of our instruction, meaning his fellow ministry leaders that serve with him, now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:23.040 Every teacher in God's church should be able to say that. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:33.679 The aim of my teaching ministry, the reason I do this, the reason I study God's word to teach it to others is motivated by love. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:39.759 That comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:45.840 Wanting to help others know and love Jesus more in light of their comprehension of God's word. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:51.519 This is unfortunately something that has fallen on hard times. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:52.960 This isn't a recent issue. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:54.879 This has been an issue all throughout church history. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:09:01.440 I mean, even our Bibles address false prophets, false teachers, and so on and so forth, people leading uh others astray. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.919 But we need to guard the word of God in the life of a local church. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:12.879 We should be very slow and careful about who we let stand in a place of authority to teach God's word to others. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:17.919 This is why, even in no church is perfect, we can't perfectly uh prevent everything. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:27.759 But that's why even here at Redeemer, we would be very, very slow to ever prop somebody up as a formal uh leader, as an elder, a deacon, a Bible teacher. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:36.399 That's why we do things like the Redeemer Institute, where we say if you want to be a leader in the church, you have to start at least there, because that's six months of studying a theology of the church. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:46.399 What do we uh think about church ministry, preaching, teaching, everything you can think of to make sure when we look at the Bible and we say church and God's word, are we saying the same thing? 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:54.720 Before we put you up in a place of leadership, because once we do that as elders, what we're telling the whole congregation is go to that person to learn God's word. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:57.440 We are saying that they are safe. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:00.000 And we should do that, but we want to be careful. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:15.440 We want to train up and develop, just like Paul speaking to Timothy here, saying, pay close attention to your life and your teaching, persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:21.919 I am so grateful to the Lord for the privilege of getting to serve as a pastor in a local church. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:34.879 It just blows my mind that I have the privilege of spending hours every single week to study God's word, to stand up here and tell you all that I found in about 45 minutes or so, which is very hard. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:43.759 But that is a privilege to do that, to be able to say, in all humility, I don't have all the answers, but here's what I found. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:46.559 And I believe this will help you love Jesus too. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:11:01.519 Not so that you guys will follow me and say, I like going to that church because of that pastor, but no, I want to go to that church because that church helps me understand the Bible, which helps me love Jesus better because I desire to grow and to look more like him. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:07.679 And I'm not just talking about pastors, I'm talking about any man who has the privilege of serving their local church by teaching God's word. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.320 But let me talk to the sisters in the room as well. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:16.879 The Church of Jesus Christ desperately needs sound women who are sound in theology. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:36.720 We need sisters who can teach other women God's word, not women who just primarily read very fluffy devotionals or only read books on being a wife and a mother, but women who can stand up, open their Bibles, and explain to another sister in Christ, let me help you understand the doctrine of justification. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:42.799 Let me help you trace the theme of the overall theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:47.679 Let me help you, sister, understand what is the heart of the book of Ephesians. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:49.759 I the same goes for the men too. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:53.679 But women, I say this all the time, I won't get on my soapbox this morning. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.639 But be careful. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:12:01.679 There are so many books published towards you guys that are just pretty much in two streams be a wife, be a mom, or singleness. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.600 But there is so much more to study. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:08.399 Those things are good, but we don't have a shortage of books on those topics, is all I'm saying. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.559 But ask yourself this question. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:22.399 If the Apostle Paul wrote Redeemer Church a letter, or let's say he wrote the book of Hebrews to us, and we were reading chapter 5, verses 11 through 14. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.960 And as I read this, ask yourself, is Paul talking about me? 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:33.360 What I'm getting at here is so, yes, when it comes to formal church leaders, as James says, we must be careful. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:39.679 Not many should rush to become pastors and teachers of God's word, because it comes with a stricter judgment. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:45.679 But then there is this theme in the Bible, especially the New Testament, where all of us are a part of the royal priesthood. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:51.519 Every last one of us who's a disciple of Christ has a role and a responsibility to teach others. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:55.440 That is the Great Commission to help others know God's Word and to follow Him. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:56.960 But listen to this. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:02.320 If Hebrews 5 was written to us, would this apply to you? 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:13.279 When the author says in verse 11, We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:21.759 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God's revelation again. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.639 You need milk, not solid food. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:30.799 Not everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness because he is an infant. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:39.759 But solid food is for the mature, for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:44.799 Friends, may that never apply to us as Christ followers. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:14:01.360 I can't describe what is always the cause of this, but one thing that has always concerned me as a Christian, and I don't say this in some kind of self-righteous judgmental posture, but when you meet Christians who have been walking with Jesus for years and yet they're content with, I just I don't know the Bible. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.960 I don't know sound doctrine. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:09.840 If you ask me to disciple another young man or another young woman, I can't do that because I don't know sanctification. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:11.360 I can't articulate these things. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:17.360 And again, there's a category for those who are new to the faith and they're studying their word for the first time and they're learning and building their theology. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:23.120 But I'm talking about saints who have walked with Jesus for decades and yet are still unfamiliar with their Bibles. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.320 That just blows my mind. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:34.799 That means you're saying that Jesus put on human flesh and entered into history, lived for 33 years so that his perfect life could be attributed to you through your salvation. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:41.200 He hung on a cross half naked for six hours and shed his blood to purchase your soul so you could live for him for eternity. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:50.240 You can't dedicate this life on this side of heaven to know his word, which he blessed his church with, to know him and to live for his glory. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:52.000 That goes for men and women. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:59.600 Friends, let us never be those who profess belief in Jesus and yet sit on our hands and are content with not growing and maturing in the faith. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:04.480 The Bible, I say this charitably, the Bible has no category for that. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:12.399 No category for someone who is content with, I'll just cross the line to enter the faith, I'm in, and then I'm just gonna sit down. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:18.000 We are to persevere and to press on and to help others do the same. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:23.759 But again, James is given this warning about teaching and how it comes with stricter judgment. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:27.279 And he says in verse 2, for we all stumble in many ways. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:34.879 If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:39.759 There are no perfect teachers who never stumble in what they say. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:46.480 I can go back to when I first started teaching and preaching, and there are things I have said that I'm like, oh my Lord, I actually said that. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:51.519 I remember having a conversation with a buddy who was like, Can remember years ago you used to say this thing about marriage? 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.879 Where's that at in the Bible? 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.879 I'm like, that's nowhere in the Bible. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.720 You sure I said that? 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:00.159 No one is perfect. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:06.879 But I feel that James's warnings here are even more important in our current day and age. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:19.279 Because we live in a day where anyone with charisma, a camera, an internet connection, a social media platform can prop themselves up as a Bible teacher. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:29.120 Even when they might lack a church, they're connected to no church, they have no accountability, they don't have sound doctrine, they're not actually shepherding anyone. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:32.399 James would tell those types of people, hey, slow down. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:46.000 Because teaching is not a hobby you do in the life of a church, it's not content creation, it is being an ambassador on behalf of Christ and echoing his words to his people to help them follow Jesus. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:48.240 We got to be careful about this. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.320 And it's it's soul work. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:54.159 But why the why the stricter judgment according to James? 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:57.840 Well, because God takes teaching his word deadly serious. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:01.679 God takes teaching his word deadly serious. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:06.720 Because when you teach, you influence someone's spiritual direction. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:14.480 You influence their view of God, their understanding of suffering and how God operates in the midst of that. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:18.160 You help them understand the gospel and its implications. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:22.960 Therefore, if you mishandle God's words, you're mishandling God's people's souls. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:27.200 You can mislead people, and God never takes that lightly. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:33.279 Think about it in the Old Testament, if a false prophet misrepresented the Lord, what was the consequence? 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.880 Put them to death. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:35.519 Why? 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.440 Because God is just some mean judge? 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.640 No, because that's how serious He takes the holiness of His word. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:47.680 You say exactly what I told you to say, to who I told you to say it to, nothing more, nothing less. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:54.799 Faithful teaching leads people towards salvation, but careless teaching leads people away from it. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:04.319 Now, I am so grateful for how many uh faithful teachers we have and how we have access to so many faithful teachers just because of the advent of various media platforms. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:06.640 So I'm not trying to decry any of that. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.400 But in the same vein, I would say I wish we had less teachers today. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.400 Because there are so many voices out there. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:22.799 I mean, as a pastor, I have so many conversations with people in this church and just in my uh sphere of influence in general of I'm following this person and they said this, and I'm like, that's whack, stop listening to them. 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.960 I'm following this person and they said I should read this. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.400 That's whack, don't read that. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:30.960 It goes over and over again, but this is why we all have to be good Bereans. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:39.119 So even though we should be careful from platforming teachers too quickly, friends, you are still responsible for your faith. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:49.279 You are still that's why we are a congregational church, which means the congregation has the authority, I believe, according to the Bible, uh, in the category of church membership. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:58.720 So receiving people into the family and exercising church discipline for appointing your uh elders and deacons, but also for preserving what you believe as a church. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:09.519 Now, I'm not talking about like should you homeschool or not and you know, third-tier issues like that, but when we say we are a Christian Orthodox church, Redeemer Church has the authority to say this is what we believe. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:22.400 So if Pastor Cam came up there and up here and said, Hey guys, Jesus gave me a vision that I am the second coming of the Messiah, you have the authority to say that is not what we believe, because we know our Bibles and it does not teach that. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:25.440 So, Cam, change your theology or find a new church. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:34.480 So keep in mind, you are responsible for your faith to diligently study the scriptures so that you can spot a counterfeit when you hear it. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:47.680 But moving on to verses three through eight, my second point I want us to see is this you must see that your tongue has frightening power for direction and destruction. 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:49.839 Verses three through eight. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:51.519 Paul James continues. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:07.039 And consider ships, though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:12.799 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:18.559 Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest, and the tongue is a fire. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:24.160 The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:33.839 It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.440 Let's stop there. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:38.559 Now James widens the lens. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:44.559 So he starts out focusing on teachers in the church, and now he's addressing everybody. 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:49.680 He's saying, here's how your tongue shapes the direction of your life. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:51.599 And I love a good word picture. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.920 I love how he uses the picture of a ship or a horse. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.920 I don't know if you've ever been around a horse. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:00.000 I grew up in the iter city of Southern California. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:06.400 The first time I got around a horse is when I met my wife, whose family owned horses, and they are very large, powerful creatures. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:10.559 Actually, the one time I rode a horse was to propose to row. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:15.680 We went on horseback riding, and as soon as we got off, I'm like, I'm I'm never doing that again. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:18.640 I could have controlled, I understand what James is saying. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:21.039 I was trying, that horse is doing what he wanted. 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:30.720 But those are powerful creatures, very powerful, and yet just such a small bit in the horse's mouth can control it and direct it wherever you please. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:32.079 Same as a ship. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:43.599 Uh, where we lived in Southern California, we would sometimes go to Long Beach and you would see the Queen Mary, a very large vessel, but there's this very small rudder underneath the rear of the ship that steers that entire vessel. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:48.640 James is using this great uh picture to help us see the power of our tongues. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:52.880 A single sentence can shift the course of a relationship. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:56.799 A single word spoken can change the atmosphere in the room. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:01.519 A single sentence can destroy the unity in Life of a local church. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:05.759 Think of a steering wheel as you're driving 70 miles per hour on the highway. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:10.079 Just one abrupt left turn could change the course of your life forever. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:16.319 Your tongue, according to James, drives the direction of your relationships. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:22.480 But your tongue can also destroy and burn down everything you love. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.480 I mean, just look at the language. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.799 I appreciate James is just black and white. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.920 He he gets right at it. 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:30.880 James calls our tongues a fire. 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:39.039 Now, I grew up in Southern California, and what you're used to when you grow up in SoCal is every single year almost, the mountainsides are on fire. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:44.400 And what's interesting is it always tends to start with some small little fire. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:50.480 Someone threw a cigarette out their car window along the highway, and now almost a whole city is gone. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.440 It's amazing. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.240 Think about that. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.920 Water doesn't work that way. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:58.799 Like if you spill a cup of water on the ground, it's not going to turn to a flood and wipe out a town, right? 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:03.359 It has to be a deluge of rain or a lake boiling over or something. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:10.480 But fire can start with just one small spark and wipe out entire cities. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:15.599 James says that is the power and the influence of your speech. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:21.759 It can cause great destruction or it can cause great good and comfort. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:29.759 A reckless conversation can break trust, or sarcastic comment can lodge in someone's heart for years. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:33.519 A heated moment can crush someone who is already struggling. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:45.200 Think of Proverbs 12, 18, which says, There is one who speaks rashly like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:47.119 We all know that to be true. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.759 It's one of those Proverbs we don't got to do a whole lot of studying. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.720 We just read and say, Yep, I've been on the receiving end and I've been on the delivering end. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:02.559 There is one who speaks rashly like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:07.359 Friends, your words can stab as easily as they comfort. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:10.000 And that is the dilemma of our speech. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:17.920 We can say something to bring great comfort and joy to someone, and in the same sentence, speak words that will absolutely tear someone down. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:28.480 Many of you probably grew up and maybe had at least one bully in your life who maybe made fun of you and said mean and crude things to you. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:40.400 And maybe your teachers and your parents taught you to bravely stand up to that bully and look them in the eyes and say, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.720 Friends, that is a bold lie. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:46.240 There is no truth whatsoever. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.599 Some words hurt more than actions. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:59.200 Some of you, even now, can recall exact phrases spoken towards you that have caused you great harm. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:08.720 Maybe even when you were a child, words stick, words can shape, words can scar, words can linger. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:15.839 Even as I'm speaking, many of you can probably recall something that has been said to you that pierced like a sword. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:19.279 Maybe you can even still recall the tone of voice that it came in. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:25.200 And even if it happened many years ago, you still feel the residual effect, don't you? 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:28.160 Words have power. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:34.960 I can understand why James would use such strong language to say that our tongues are set on fire by hell. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.319 Oh my goodness. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:39.519 Is there hope for any of us if that is true? 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:52.240 Of what's residing in our hearts this very morning, even as we sing great worship songs like we just sang, and we can walk out these church doors and on the drive home say something that dishonors the Lord and someone made in God's image. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:56.400 That's how desperately we are in need of God's grace. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:04.400 And keep in mind, friends, James is writing to a group of Christians who are a part of a church worshiping the Lord together. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:19.039 So he is addressing a church body on how to use their tongues and how they lead their lives and live amongst each other, which means this has application not just for us individually, but even how we speak among each other as a faith family. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:28.720 So, for instance, you know, a common phrase in recent culture is you know, church hurt, where someone is hurt by someone in their church, whether it's a church leader or a church member. 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:34.559 And typically it stems back to what someone might have said to somebody. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:38.480 Yes, this happens even inside of churches. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:40.160 We should not be shocked. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:48.400 But let me say this Christians sin against each other, Christians sin against each other with their words. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.079 It's inevitable. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:56.960 If you are a Christian, you are also simultaneously a saint, sinner, and a sufferer. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:04.559 You will inevitably sin with your speech, even against those you love, because you're not perfect. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:08.799 Only one perfect was one person was perfect in his name was Jesus. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.240 So it is inevitable. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:12.880 But here's here's the charitable reminder. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:22.400 As believers, as disciples of Christ, we should never adopt a victim mentality or identity and run around, you know, like woe was me. 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:24.079 I was hurt by someone in the church. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:27.759 Someone sinned against me, excuse me, someone wounded me. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.920 Okay, that it's gonna happen. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:37.119 And I'm not talking about like grievous sins, okay, like a pastor doing something incredibly um, you know, immoral or something like that. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:47.680 I'm talking about living amongst other broken, fallen sinners who are trying to faithfully follow Jesus, who might say something that offends you, hurts you, they might gossip, they might slander. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.759 I've been a victim of all of these things. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:52.160 However, we are Christ followers. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:28:09.119 So we can acknowledge the hurts, but we can respond biblically, not with bitterness, not with withdrawal, not with self-pity, but we can strive with God's help to reflect Christ even when other sinners fail you, which they will do. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:14.400 I tell people often, conflict is an inevitable, therefore expect it. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:18.000 It is sinful, therefore reconcile it. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:22.400 So you, and it's also an opportunity, therefore you should seize it. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:26.799 If you understand that other people are inevitably going to sin against you, then guess what? 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:28.960 When they sin against you, it's not a surprise. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:34.799 You're not gonna sit there like, I can't believe you did what the Bible said, you probably will do, because you're a sinner like me. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:38.240 So again, I'm not trying to minimize anyone that has church hurt. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:46.000 If that's anyone's testimony in this room, you're a part of a church that maybe a leader did do something sinful towards you or someone gossiped and slandered about you. 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:49.680 I would say, you know what, I apologize that that's a part of your story. 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:57.200 Unfortunately, there are whack pastors, there are whack church members who don't really want to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:00.480 But that is no reason to write off the church as a whole. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:08.480 Yes, church hurt is real, but often I believe people confuse church hurt with I was hurt by a sinner in the church. 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:10.240 Those are two different things. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:14.240 Romans 12, 1 becomes your assignment when that happens, friends. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:17.839 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.440 That is a commandment. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:24.960 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:27.359 So keep that in mind. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:39.759 Even in a church like Redeemer, if you love this church, just know someone at some point is gonna say something that offends and hurts you, or they're not gonna say something you think they should say, and that offends you. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:42.640 The question is, as a Christ follower, what are you gonna do about it? 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:49.119 Are you gonna withdraw and just say, well, I'll just sit on the opposite side of the sanctuary on Sundays now just to avoid them? 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:52.400 Or I'll make sure I never am in their small group. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.279 No. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:59.839 You be a good disciple of Jesus and you go to them and you pursue reconciliation to the glory of God. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:04.559 But James is giving these strong warnings for a reason. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:08.640 And here's one I think we we gotta be careful with, guys: personality. 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:14.960 We have to stop hiding behind, well, that's just my personality. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.599 I'm I'm a straight shooter. 00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:19.920 I tell the truth, I tell it as it is. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.440 You don't want me to lie, do you? 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.559 So I just speak my mind. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:25.519 And if it hurts people and offends them, I mean that's their problem. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:27.119 No, that's your problem. 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:29.200 That is a sin issue. 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:33.759 That is the opposite of being others-centered, which the Bible teaches. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:39.839 That is the opposite of being humble, that is the opposite of being gracious and loving or Christ-like. 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:45.279 We can't hide behind, well, that's my personality, that's my culture, that's my upbringing, and my family. 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:46.640 We did this, we say this. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:52.079 Listen, if it's out of step with the gospel, it's sinful. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.440 Black and white. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:31:02.480 We can't hide behind our temperaments, our personalities, and excuse sin by saying, Well, this is just how I am wired. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:05.039 No, the fruit of the spirit applies to your life. 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:08.640 Personalities not in the Bible, but the fruits of the spirit are. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:14.400 Your words reveal the state of your heart, not just your mood or your personality. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:19.440 Your temperament never excuses hurting other people whom Jesus purchased on the cross. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:21.119 Point blank, period. 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:38.079 Ephesians 4 29, Paul warned, No, not just maybe a little bit, no foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:43.039 And when Paul is saying foul language, he's not just talking about four-letter words, friends. 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:45.039 That's how we modern Christians are thinking. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:51.839 No, he's saying anything that is demeaning and out of step with the character of a Christ follower is foul language. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.039 Here's a good test. 00:31:53.200 --> 00:32:00.880 If Jesus was over your home for dinner and you were hosting him, if you wouldn't say it in conversation with him, it probably falls in the category of foul language. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:04.960 No foul language should come from your mouth. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.599 Listen, I am preaching to myself this morning, okay? 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:09.839 I know it's getting a little quiet this morning. 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:18.640 I know in my own life, as a husband and a father, where I have caused the most harm to those I love dearly, has been with my words. 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:29.759 Whether it's what I say, the tone in which I have said it, or what I should have said, but failed to say, or even saying the right thing but in the wrong manner. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:32.880 We all stumble in our speech. 00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:47.279 Friends, your words, your speech is a megaphone for your heart, revealing what you crave, what you fear, what you worship, what you resent, what you doubt, and what you believe. 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:49.839 That's why we gotta be very biblical with our language. 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:53.519 I mean, James is really, he's he's getting he's stepping on our toes this morning. 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:57.680 We can't say things like, well, what I said, that doesn't represent who I really am. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.480 That was a mistake. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:05.359 No, that actually does exactly represent what's going on in your heart, because Jesus said, From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:12.319 This is why we all need to be praying, memorizing Psalm 141, verse 3 should be our prayer. 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:16.720 Lord, set a guard over my mouth. 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:20.319 Set a guard over my mouth. 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:20.799 Why? 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:22.000 Why do we need to pray like that? 00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:24.240 Because of what James is telling us. 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:35.200 And the tongue is a fire, it is a world of unrighteousness, and it is placed among our members, and it stains the whole body. 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:43.200 Verse 6 sets the course of life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:50.000 We all need to be praying, Lord, give me the spiritual ministry of keeping my behind quiet. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:54.640 Y'all know those moments when the spirit is like, don't, don't. 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:58.319 You're like, but they need to hear this, Lord. 00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.440 They need to hear it. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.240 No, they don't. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.759 Just be quiet. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.519 And then you let it out. 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:06.880 And then you're emailing your pastor saying you need prayer. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:12.400 But moving on to verses nine through twelve, my third point. 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:19.199 You must let Jesus reshape your heart so your words bless rather than curse. 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:24.159 You must let Jesus shape your heart so your words bless rather than curse. 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:26.320 Let's look down at verse nine. 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:30.400 With the tongue, this is the most convicting, friends. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:36.639 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God's likeness. 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:39.599 Blessing and cursing come out the same mouth. 00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:42.880 My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:47.039 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:49.599 Can a fig tree produce olives? 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:53.519 My brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? 00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:53.920 Uh-huh. 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:58.320 Neither can a salt water spring yield fresh water. 00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:04.320 So again, James is continuing, giving us these tests of true, genuine faith. 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:11.199 And he's focusing on genuine disciples of Jesus, speak like genuine disciples of Jesus. 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:14.159 And James is exposing our inconsistency. 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:20.159 We can praise God with our tongues and then wound people who are made in his image. 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:23.599 That's like a spring producing both fresh and salt water. 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:24.400 They don't mix. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:26.480 That makes no sense, James says. 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:35.440 And friends, this applies even to our lives in various forms, not just in what we audibly say, what you think in your heart and mind. 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:41.360 God knows every thought, every word you speak silently to yourself is never silent because God sees and hears. 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:46.559 Everything you post on social media, this is the one I think that trips up a lot of Christians. 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:52.960 Where there's like this compartmentalization of, well, my faith doesn't always apply to like how I carry myself online. 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:56.159 So I can bash this political figure I hate. 00:35:56.320 --> 00:36:05.840 I was going to Walmart the other day and I saw a woman park on the street and get out of her car and violently rip out a political sign for a candidate out of the thing and kick it down the street. 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:08.239 I'm like, sis, it is not that serious. 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:10.239 But we got to be careful. 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:19.360 God knows our thoughts, He knows every word we do speak, and He knows how we carry ourselves in every sphere of influence we find ourselves in. 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:25.519 So we need to be careful how we speak and what we type online, how we represent Christ. 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:30.960 So many pastors, I believe, have disqualified themselves from the ministry simply by what they say on Twitter. 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:34.800 Where it's like, so the fruits of the spirit just don't count if it's on Twitter or Facebook? 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.519 Is that how it works? 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.480 I'm confused. 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:39.920 No, it touches every fabric of our lives. 00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:46.000 And the good news is Jesus doesn't start by cleaning up your vocabulary when you're saved. 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:52.079 So when we come to faith in Christ, it isn't like Jesus gives you a to-do list and says, okay, don't do this, don't do that. 00:36:52.320 --> 00:37:07.280 He more gives you the motivation through the gospel and him transforming your soul and making you a new creation, which then sets you on a trajectory of, out of gratitude for what Jesus has done for me, I want to start looking like him by not doing A, B, and C. 00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:12.159 He starts by renewing your heart because he knows that's where it all begins. 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:14.320 He forgives your careless words. 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:26.320 And when the spring of your heart is purified, well, then the water that comes forth naturally also changes. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:28.320 And this is look, we all struggle with this. 00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:32.800 I remember when I first became a Christian, I still try to hang with all my friends in the hood. 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:39.760 And for good, I wanted to evangelize them, but I found myself getting caught up in when I was around them, I started slipping. 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:44.000 I would cuss again, I would talk about things that I knew I shouldn't be talking about. 00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:47.039