WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.480 Well, it's good to be with you again, and the opportunity and privilege to share God's 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:09.839 Word with you. 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:19.719 I discovered from my records that this time last year or thereabouts, I was here spouting 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:25.600 forth on the tongue, which is interesting, from the book of Proverbs. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:31.420 Of course, John kindly in his email reckoned I was becoming a specialist in the topic. 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:37.980 I probably am for all the wrong reasons, as I discovered. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:43.260 So I suppose it's interesting to work out just why on earth it comes round with this 00:00:43.260 --> 00:00:43.799 frequency. 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:50.420 Is it because your elders here reckon that this is a topic this church needs to hear frequently? 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:59.179 Well, they'd be right, not just from this church's perspective, but any church really 00:00:59.179 --> 00:01:05.599 needs to get their head round what we do with this muscle that flaps around between our gums, 00:01:05.740 --> 00:01:07.520 frequently letting us down. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:12.000 So it might have been that reason, but I suspect not. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:21.480 I think that the reason simply is that the Bible has a whole lot to say to us about the 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:28.640 tongue, the things we say, the things we articulate, the use that we put it to. 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:31.599 So I suspect that is the reason. 00:01:32.240 --> 00:01:36.840 And it's your misfortune that you've got me twice on the topic. 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:41.500 But hopefully we'll share some things this morning that are different. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:44.719 But I rather suspect you can't remember what I said last year anyway. 00:01:44.960 --> 00:01:46.780 So we're okay. 00:01:47.460 --> 00:01:50.079 James chapter 3 is our passage. 00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:52.820 Turn with it if you have a Bible. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:55.379 If not, I think the words are behind me. 00:01:56.580 --> 00:01:57.120 Almost. 00:01:57.520 --> 00:01:58.719 James chapter 3. 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:02.140 Let's read the first 12 verses together. 00:02:02.140 --> 00:02:10.560 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.780 will be judged more strictly. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:14.560 Ain't that the truth, John? 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:18.560 You'll all go home at lunchtime and work out how good I was. 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:21.139 You don't need to phone me up and tell me. 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:25.199 Verse 2 says, as Paul pointed out, 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:28.520 We all stumble in many ways. 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:36.740 If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he's a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:43.939 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 00:02:44.700 --> 00:02:46.520 Or take ships, as an example. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:53.120 Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder, 00:02:53.540 --> 00:02:55.520 wherever the pilot wants to go. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:03.340 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. 00:03:04.040 --> 00:03:08.160 Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:13.060 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. 00:03:13.219 --> 00:03:18.780 It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:22.340 and is itself set on fire by hell. 00:03:22.340 --> 00:03:29.580 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, creatures of the sea are being tamed, 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:32.379 and have been tamed by man. 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:35.500 But no man can tame the tongue. 00:03:36.539 --> 00:03:40.159 It's a restless evil full of deadly poison. 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:44.140 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:48.759 and with it we curse men who have been made in God's likeness. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:52.539 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:54.639 My brothers, this should not be. 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:59.239 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:04.139 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? 00:04:05.099 --> 00:04:08.899 Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. 00:04:09.459 --> 00:04:09.899 Amen. 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:12.919 God will bless his word to us. 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:16.759 I don't know if you read the books of Chuck Swindle at all. 00:04:16.979 --> 00:04:19.360 He's an American, but we can forgive him for that. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:22.620 He writes really accessible and interesting books, 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:25.819 and he always comes at them from an interesting perspective. 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:29.740 And one of his books is called Killing Giants Pulling Thorns. 00:04:29.919 --> 00:04:33.479 And in it he tells of an epitaph on a tombstone 00:04:33.479 --> 00:04:37.719 that he came across in a kirkyard or a churchyard in England. 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:38.860 And it said this, 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:42.720 Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, lies Arabella Young, 00:04:43.340 --> 00:04:46.360 who on the 24th of May began to hold her tongue. 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:50.600 Well, being told to hold your tongue, 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:55.060 it's usually advice that's reserved for children, isn't it? 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.040 But perhaps it ought not to be. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:02.900 Maybe there's a spiritual discipline hidden in amongst all that. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:05.979 I'm sure we can all reflect on occasions when, 00:05:06.659 --> 00:05:11.859 oh boy, we wish, we wish, we'd held our tongue. 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:15.979 Now, in the normal course of our life, 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:18.199 we say an awful lot. 00:05:18.299 --> 00:05:20.759 Now, somebody apparently, according to Google, 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:21.719 so it must be right, 00:05:21.859 --> 00:05:25.939 has estimated the number of words that we say. 00:05:26.379 --> 00:05:28.719 So, in an average 70 years for a bloke, 00:05:30.219 --> 00:05:32.000 308 million words. 00:05:32.899 --> 00:05:33.779 Apparently. 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:35.639 For a woman, 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:38.599 637 million. 00:05:39.739 --> 00:05:43.379 Now, I know you'll find that really hard to believe. 00:05:44.859 --> 00:05:46.459 So, it is perhaps inevitable, 00:05:46.599 --> 00:05:47.839 and amongst all of that stuff, 00:05:47.979 --> 00:05:50.639 we're going to say something wrong. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:54.979 We're going to allow our tongues to slip, 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:55.899 as we say. 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:58.859 Now, the psychologists estimate that for every thousand words, 00:05:59.859 --> 00:06:01.439 you'll make a couple of errors. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:05.219 So, at an average speed of talking, 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:07.719 that's 10 to 20 times a day 00:06:07.719 --> 00:06:10.040 when you'll say the wrong thing. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:14.639 Remember old George W. Bush? 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.279 He was great at this kind of thing, wasn't he? 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:18.360 He was great. 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:21.720 And had enormous fun trolling the internet. 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:23.360 And you can spend hours on this. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:23.920 Poor man. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:27.780 Families is where our nation finds hope, 00:06:28.420 --> 00:06:29.920 where wings take dream. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:35.360 They misunderstood me. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:38.280 And my personal favourite, 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:42.660 in addressing the sort of national association 00:06:42.660 --> 00:06:45.740 of primary school teachers in America, 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:47.620 he opens up by saying, 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:49.439 I'd like to spank all teachers. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:52.959 Poor man. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:55.439 Now, they're humorous. 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:57.040 Probably not all that important. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:58.959 And not the kind of thing 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:03.060 that this wise old pastor is highlighting for us. 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:06.399 Rather, he is highlighting the impact 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:07.840 that our tongues can have, 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:09.300 and the harm they can do 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:12.840 when we don't allow them to be under the control, 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:15.859 and the guidance and the direction of God's Spirit. 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:20.139 And in this one short letter, 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.479 he has repeated this warning several times. 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:25.279 So, back in chapter 1, 00:07:25.419 --> 00:07:27.699 you maybe remember in verse 19, 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:28.479 we read this. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:30.039 Dear brothers, take note of this. 00:07:30.679 --> 00:07:32.319 Everyone should be quick to listen, 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:34.099 slow to speak, 00:07:34.799 --> 00:07:36.399 and slow to become angry. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:38.259 That's good advice, isn't it? 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:39.019 Quick to listen, 00:07:39.859 --> 00:07:42.620 and slow to speak. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:45.179 Then, towards the end of the chapter, 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:46.039 verse 26, 00:07:46.139 --> 00:07:48.379 if anyone considers himself religious, 00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:52.039 and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, 00:07:52.719 --> 00:07:53.979 he deceives himself, 00:07:54.099 --> 00:07:55.379 his religion is worthless. 00:07:56.719 --> 00:07:58.939 So, there's a measure by which you can assess 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:02.219 whether your religion is worth anything. 00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:05.879 And it's the extent to which you accept or don't 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:08.120 a controlled tongue. 00:08:08.979 --> 00:08:10.879 Verse 12 of chapter 2, 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:14.699 speak and act as those who are going to be judged. 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:19.560 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged. 00:08:20.779 --> 00:08:22.600 In chapter 4, verse 11, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:25.040 brothers, don't slander one another. 00:08:25.219 --> 00:08:27.719 Whoever speaks against his brother or judges him, 00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:29.680 speaks against the law. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:31.920 And then in verse 9, 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:33.700 chapter 5, verse 9, 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:36.080 don't grumble against each other. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:39.440 James has a lot to say about the tongue. 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:41.980 It's a big deal for James. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:44.480 But as we've already said, 00:08:44.520 --> 00:08:45.940 if you check the Bible out, 00:08:46.060 --> 00:08:48.440 you'll find James not the only writer 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:52.200 who wants to tell us something about the tongue. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:54.540 We thought on Proverbs last year, 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:58.360 there's 150 verses or so in Proverbs 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:00.020 that Solomon's responsible for 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:01.879 that are all about the tongue or speaking 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:03.840 or lips or mouths. 00:09:06.139 --> 00:09:08.860 Isaiah, central to his testimony, 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:10.620 I am a man, he said, 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:13.299 of unclean lips. 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:16.299 Not I've got a terrible heart, 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.419 as black as pitch. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:20.960 I'm a man of unclean lips, he said. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.299 The Lord Jesus warns us 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:24.980 that one day we'll give an account 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:27.759 for every careless word 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:29.700 we've uttered. 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:32.159 The apostle Paul talks about the tongue. 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:33.200 Peter talks about it. 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:36.659 Even the apostle John talks about it. 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:38.920 So this is a big deal for James. 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:41.519 It's a big deal for God. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:45.379 And therefore, it ought to be a big deal for us. 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.639 Let me pick up two or three things in this passage 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:50.200 just as we go through it. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.259 I want to say, first of all, 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:54.159 there's something here about the tongue's influence 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:57.240 on the direction that our lives take. 00:09:57.339 --> 00:09:58.899 There's something about the influence 00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:00.439 on the direction. 00:10:01.199 --> 00:10:02.579 These verses three to five 00:10:02.579 --> 00:10:04.480 are all about direction, aren't they? 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:05.839 They're all about control 00:10:05.839 --> 00:10:07.579 and about impact. 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.519 And we are familiar with these metaphors 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.019 that James uses. 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:14.339 Horses, ships, fires. 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:18.079 I've only ever been on a horse once in my life. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:20.720 That's not an experience I want to repeat. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:23.940 It's a long time ago 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:25.240 and I can still remember it. 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:28.399 You go on these YF adventure weekends. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:30.940 I'm far too old for all of that now. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:33.680 But there's the obligatory horse riding 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:34.879 up there, up north. 00:10:35.040 --> 00:10:36.460 You know, and I was the biggest, 00:10:36.540 --> 00:10:37.680 so I got the biggest animal, 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:39.519 which I didn't think was entirely fair. 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:42.279 So I get on this thing rather nervously 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:43.700 and the girl says to me, 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:44.920 don't worry, it's very easy. 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:45.800 There's two controls. 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:46.639 Kick it to go. 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:48.040 Pull it to stop. 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:50.980 The kick it to go bit worked. 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:53.759 And it didn't go terribly fast, 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:54.980 fortunately, to begin with. 00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:55.860 Then all of a sudden, 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:57.919 it clearly smelt its stable 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:58.879 and it set off. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:00.860 And that's when I realized 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:02.899 that the pull it to stop bit 00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:03.899 wasn't quite working. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.199 I began to doubt the inerrancy 00:11:06.199 --> 00:11:07.279 of scripture here 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.079 because I could remember James saying 00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:10.799 the bridle will control the horse. 00:11:11.079 --> 00:11:11.819 No, it doesn't. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:12.620 No, it doesn't. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.419 Finally got to a stop all on its own. 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:19.079 But we get the picture, don't you? 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:20.500 There's this thing in a horse's mouth 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:21.740 that controls it. 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:23.500 Or there's a small thing 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:24.539 at the back of a ship 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:26.620 that steers it. 00:11:28.259 --> 00:11:30.279 Likewise, James is saying to us, 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:32.279 the tongue has a huge influence 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.959 to steer the course of your life. 00:11:35.599 --> 00:11:36.519 How you use it, 00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:38.599 the things you think and verbalize, 00:11:39.339 --> 00:11:40.000 says James, 00:11:40.099 --> 00:11:41.599 will play a significant part 00:11:41.599 --> 00:11:43.860 in the way your life goes. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:46.440 And if you control your tongue, 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:48.159 it can direct your whole life 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.460 into what is acceptable 00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:51.279 in God's sight. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:52.639 If you don't control it, 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:53.620 the implication is 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:54.240 that you're going to get 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.860 into a whole lot of trouble. 00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:58.940 You see, our tongue 00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:01.000 is more than just a muscle 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.919 that over time 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.419 we are able to control 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:04.919 so that it makes sounds 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.560 that people understand. 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:07.560 It goes deeper. 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:09.240 Its influence extends 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.820 to the very core of our beings 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:12.240 because before we speak, 00:12:12.520 --> 00:12:13.220 what we say 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:14.980 has come from our hearts, 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.720 our inner beings. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:20.580 It's so true, isn't it, 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:21.760 that especially if you're going 00:12:21.760 --> 00:12:23.080 to tick somebody off 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:24.760 or you're going to say something, 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:26.000 we often rehearse it, 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:26.500 don't we? 00:12:27.400 --> 00:12:28.260 I'm just going to give them 00:12:28.260 --> 00:12:28.960 a piece of my mind. 00:12:29.020 --> 00:12:29.800 I'm going to tell them this. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:30.620 I'm going to say this. 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.820 There's a commentator 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:36.000 called T.C. Baird. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:36.820 He put it nicely. 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:37.720 He said the tongue 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.680 is the hinge 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:40.580 on which everything 00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:43.020 in our personality turns. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.580 I think he's right. 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:48.260 Ultimately, James is saying here 00:12:48.260 --> 00:12:49.879 the tongue is a key factor 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:51.280 in living a kind of 00:12:51.280 --> 00:12:53.700 controlled, disciplined life. 00:12:54.020 --> 00:12:55.280 And if you let it loose, 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.620 it gets out of control. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:58.120 It will damage 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:01.060 just like a forest fire. 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:03.060 So there's something about 00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:04.660 the tongue's influence 00:13:04.660 --> 00:13:06.760 on the course of our life. 00:13:07.520 --> 00:13:08.800 the kind of people we are. 00:13:09.520 --> 00:13:10.760 But James goes a lot deeper 00:13:10.760 --> 00:13:11.920 than that because he 00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:13.879 also says to us this, 00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:16.460 the tongue here plays a part 00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:19.460 in your eternal future. 00:13:20.400 --> 00:13:21.260 That's quite interesting, 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:21.860 isn't it? 00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:24.720 Look at these verses 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:26.760 sort of six onwards. 00:13:28.020 --> 00:13:29.180 They're really severe 00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:29.940 in their warning. 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:31.540 He says the tongue's a fire, 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:33.680 a world of evil 00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:36.140 among the parts of the body. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.980 a world of evil 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:40.259 among the parts of the body. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:40.980 It's as if 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:43.779 all the sin and unrighteousness 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:45.220 you could possibly imagine 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:47.299 gets zeroed in 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:49.199 on what you say. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:53.820 We often concentrate 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:54.740 the things we do, 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.360 don't we? 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.580 James puts some emphasis 00:13:58.580 --> 00:14:00.100 here on the things we say. 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.360 I think he's right. 00:14:02.540 --> 00:14:03.720 Seems it's a tool 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.420 that we've got 00:14:04.420 --> 00:14:05.440 that too often 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.300 and too readily 00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:07.820 becomes at the disposal 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.840 of God's enemy. 00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.180 And it's more than 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:11.200 just the odd word. 00:14:11.660 --> 00:14:12.900 It's a world of evil, 00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:13.660 he says. 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:15.919 Then he says 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.799 it corrupts 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.919 the whole person. 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.439 It seems as if 00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:21.159 total havoc continues 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:22.740 and our whole personalities 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:24.219 get marked out 00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:25.620 by the things we say. 00:14:26.339 --> 00:14:27.019 It's almost as if 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:27.579 our lives 00:14:27.579 --> 00:14:29.000 get a stain on them 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.299 that 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:31.219 mark us out 00:14:31.219 --> 00:14:32.899 as certain kinds of people. 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.179 Whether it be 00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:35.199 critical people 00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:35.579 or 00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:37.059 flippant people 00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:37.679 or 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.419 obscenities, 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:40.600 whatever it might be, 00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:40.839 he says, 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.159 James, 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.360 it's marking us out, 00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:43.439 it's corrupting. 00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:46.039 But here's the rub 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.419 and here's the real warning. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:48.339 He goes on, 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:48.779 he says, 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:50.360 you know, 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:52.339 our whole life 00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:54.439 is destroyed. 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.339 The whole course 00:14:56.339 --> 00:14:57.000 of our life 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.259 is set on fire. 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.719 It's a blaze 00:15:00.719 --> 00:15:01.759 because of a failure 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.079 to master the tongue. 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:04.860 It's got this huge potential 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:05.699 it seems to be 00:15:05.699 --> 00:15:06.379 influential 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.579 right through 00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:08.699 our life 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:10.960 and to impact 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:11.460 us 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.680 and impact 00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:14.480 others. 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.440 So that's serious 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:19.800 stuff, 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:20.340 isn't it? 00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:21.500 A world of evil, 00:15:22.140 --> 00:15:23.180 the whole person, 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:24.560 a whole life, 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.280 but he's not finished 00:15:26.280 --> 00:15:26.740 yet. 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.540 And here's the 00:15:27.540 --> 00:15:28.580 real force 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.820 of the warning. 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:30.360 He says, 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.520 it's set on fire 00:15:31.520 --> 00:15:32.320 by hell 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.540 itself. 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:34.299 self. 00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:37.360 That's where the influence 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.159 comes from 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.439 and where destiny 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.819 is if it's not 00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:41.459 sorted, 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:42.899 set on fire 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.459 by hell. 00:15:43.719 --> 00:15:44.779 No one's really sure 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:45.959 what James was meaning 00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:47.199 by all of that. 00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:49.439 But he's certainly 00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:50.559 grabbing our attention, 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.279 isn't he? 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.480 It seems, 00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.279 of course, 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:57.480 very directly 00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.719 that if we fail 00:15:58.719 --> 00:16:00.519 while we are alive 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.399 to confess 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.120 the Lord Jesus 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.579 Christ 00:16:02.579 --> 00:16:03.000 as our 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.579 personal 00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:04.199 saviour, 00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:05.579 scripture is very 00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:06.279 clear about 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.100 our destiny 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:08.039 and maybe that's 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.779 something you've got 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:09.460 to sort out 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.019 this morning 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.879 before you say 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.259 anything else. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.759 Maybe you've got 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.579 to confess 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:16.460 that the Lord 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.340 Jesus Christ 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.500 is your Lord 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.759 and your saviour. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.179 But I think 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.639 there's something 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.379 else here. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.740 It's as if James 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.699 is saying to us 00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:27.360 here that there's 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:28.139 a danger that 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.079 hell's influence 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:29.899 will remain on 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.779 all of us 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:33.019 and will in 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.079 some way 00:16:34.079 --> 00:16:35.659 impact 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.740 on our 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.600 eternal future 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.240 if we don't 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.919 pay attention 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.399 to this. 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.039 Now that's not 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:41.699 to say if we're 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.120 a Christian 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.639 we'll lose 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.299 our salvation. 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:43.799 The Bible's 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.480 very clear about 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:44.740 that. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.459 But there's 00:16:45.459 --> 00:16:46.179 something also 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:47.039 that when we 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.139 stand before 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:48.539 the Lord 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.199 Jesus Christ 00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:50.059 we will be 00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:50.840 asked to give 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.360 an account 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.659 not for our 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.139 sins 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:55.159 but for the 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:55.759 rest of our 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.019 lives, 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:57.000 our service, 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:57.899 the kind of 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.600 people we have 00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:58.939 been, 00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:00.120 the way we 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:00.680 have helped 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.280 others, 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:01.960 the way we 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.620 have hindered 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:03.340 others. 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.700 I think James 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.299 is giving us 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.039 a very clear 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.940 warning here 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.080 however mysterious 00:17:09.080 --> 00:17:09.840 it appears 00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:11.000 of the real 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.680 influence of 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.700 evil that we've 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.140 got to be 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:16.460 careful and 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.360 watch out for. 00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:19.680 So there's 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.299 something about 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.400 the impact of 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:22.620 our tongues in 00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.400 terms of our 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.460 lives and the 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.080 direction. 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.200 There's something 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.640 about the fact 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.460 that our tongues 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.280 can play a 00:17:29.280 --> 00:17:29.960 part in our 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.980 eternal future. 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.200 I think the 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.720 third thing I 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.400 want to highlight 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.100 here is that 00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:34.720 our tongues 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.980 impact on the 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:37.040 lives of other 00:17:37.040 --> 00:17:37.500 people. 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.280 Of course they 00:17:38.280 --> 00:17:39.540 do because 00:17:39.540 --> 00:17:40.660 unless you're 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:41.060 prone to 00:17:41.060 --> 00:17:41.640 talking to 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.440 yourself and 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.100 you might be 00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:43.940 generally when 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:44.780 we talk it's 00:17:44.780 --> 00:17:45.500 because someone 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:47.300 else is around. 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.020 How much 00:17:50.020 --> 00:17:50.820 thought then do 00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:51.640 we really give 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.600 to what we 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.540 say? 00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.120 Now verse 00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:55.840 one and I bet 00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.440 you thought I was 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.299 skipping over it. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.140 I wasn't. 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.539 I want to go 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.220 back here. 00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:00.940 James very 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.360 rightly focuses 00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.640 on those he 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.600 says who 00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:05.799 presume to be 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.759 teachers. 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.880 Those who want 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:08.420 to set 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.700 themselves up 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:11.680 as those who 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.320 know more than 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:12.600 others. 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.340 Who want to 00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:14.019 teach. 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.180 Now I want to 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:16.820 say to you that 00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:18.320 platforms, this 00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.000 one included, 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.400 are not made 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:20.820 of wood. 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:22.820 They're made of 00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:23.559 very thin 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.160 ice. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.800 And as 00:18:25.800 --> 00:18:26.460 preachers we 00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.160 have to learn 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:27.700 to be very 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.800 good skaters. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.560 Because all 00:18:30.560 --> 00:18:31.320 the time we're 00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:31.940 skating on 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:32.580 very thin 00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:33.360 ice. 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.860 And I'm 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.240 acutely 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.120 conscious that 00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:36.880 I will say 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.640 things to you 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.300 this morning 00:18:38.300 --> 00:18:40.120 and doubtless 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.779 next week the 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.180 devil will have 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:41.700 a real good 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:42.340 go at me 00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.380 and do his 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.360 very best and 00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:44.800 he may well 00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:45.940 succeed in 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:46.600 demonstrating 00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:47.880 that actually I've 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.460 not got this 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.160 mastered any 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.560 better than 00:18:50.560 --> 00:18:51.340 anyone else 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.099 has. 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.740 Therefore I 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.099 hope you 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.720 pray for your 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.899 preachers and 00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:56.399 your teachers. 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.000 I hope this 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.199 week in your 00:18:58.199 --> 00:18:58.679 prayers you 00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.240 were mentioning 00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.639 me. 00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:01.419 I hope you'll 00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.199 pray for John 00:19:02.199 --> 00:19:03.019 and others who 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.619 occupy this 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.759 particular position. 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.659 Because as 00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:08.559 James says, 00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:09.980 I'll spend 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.699 more time in 00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:11.220 front of the 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.740 Lord giving 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.500 him an account 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.240 for what I 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.240 said from 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.500 platforms than 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.179 others will. 00:19:17.939 --> 00:19:18.299 And we need 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.039 to think about 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.359 that. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.779 Jesus was 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.359 very clear 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:21.719 about it. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.339 He talked 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.299 in the 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:23.759 Sermon on 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.119 the Mount 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:25.479 about the 00:19:25.479 --> 00:19:26.319 law and 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:26.639 how he 00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:27.199 hadn't come 00:19:27.199 --> 00:19:28.000 to abolish 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.419 it. 00:19:29.139 --> 00:19:29.500 He hadn't 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:29.919 come to 00:19:29.919 --> 00:19:30.599 stroke any 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.139 of it out. 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.599 He was 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.039 there to 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.799 fulfill it. 00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:33.359 And he 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:33.899 then said, 00:19:33.979 --> 00:19:34.279 look, if 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:35.479 anyone sets 00:19:35.479 --> 00:19:36.279 aside the 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:36.799 least of 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.679 these commandments 00:19:37.679 --> 00:19:39.299 or laws and 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.399 teaches others 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:41.219 to do it, 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.459 they'll be 00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:43.219 called least 00:19:43.219 --> 00:19:44.279 in the 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.819 kingdom of 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.199 heaven. 00:19:46.639 --> 00:19:47.419 So there's 00:19:47.419 --> 00:19:48.579 real warning 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.039 there for 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.379 those of 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.700 us who 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.279 preach and 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:50.680 teach. 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:51.819 And that 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.159 includes 00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:52.680 Sunday school 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.299 teachers, 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:54.279 it includes 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.839 home group 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.319 leaders, 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.319 it includes 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.180 youth leaders, 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.819 any position 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.420 where you 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.139 open up the 00:20:00.139 --> 00:20:00.720 word of God 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.440 and seek to 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.079 help and 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.079 instruct somebody 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:04.980 else, do 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.579 it with much 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:07.659 prayer and 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.839 great carefulness. 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.879 But James has 00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:10.359 all of us, 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.740 of course, 00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.359 in our 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.319 sights, in 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:12.879 his sights, 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.420 rather in 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.460 verses 9 to 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.619 11, and 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.180 he's talking 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.859 here about 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:18.059 inconsistency, 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.500 and that's 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:18.819 the real 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.220 message, 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:19.759 of course, 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:21.200 behind James's 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.940 letter, that 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:22.559 if we're being 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.500 honest, of 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:23.980 course we would 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.359 call it 00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.720 hypocrisy about 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.720 not living in a 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.539 truly consistent 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.519 way for Christ, 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.319 whether it's our 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.599 words or our 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.639 actions, not 00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.659 really mirroring 00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:34.740 the life that we 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.599 say we have. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:36.839 And of course 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.399 when you're 00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.839 inconsistent in 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.599 your Christian 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.539 life in some 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.019 way, shape, 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.220 or form, it 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.179 will not bear 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:43.620 fruit. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.980 We can't be 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.880 one thing and 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.680 expect another 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.100 thing. 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.799 We must be 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.460 what we say 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.019 we are and 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.759 we must say 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.660 what we 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.620 actually are. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.360 There has to 00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:54.840 be a 00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.500 consistency 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.640 there, especially 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.299 if we're to 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:57.980 ever make a 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.880 real impact on 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.759 our friends and 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.000 neighbours or 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.940 our colleagues. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:02.900 But there's 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.640 also a message 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.380 here for 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:06.680 churches, and 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:07.240 some would say 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.580 that's what this 00:21:08.580 --> 00:21:09.259 was all about 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.060 in James's 00:21:10.060 --> 00:21:11.340 mind, how we 00:21:11.340 --> 00:21:12.400 speak to each 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.700 other is at 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.480 the heart of 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.440 his concern. 00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:17.620 You know, we 00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:18.560 can raise our 00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.180 eyes to heaven, 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.780 as Paul was 00:21:19.780 --> 00:21:20.259 saying, in 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.920 praise and 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.000 blessing God. 00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:24.040 And then we're 00:21:24.040 --> 00:21:24.900 turning around and 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:25.640 we're looking for 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:27.060 the words to 00:21:27.060 --> 00:21:27.720 say to someone 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.640 else that will 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.600 defame them or 00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:30.519 denigrate them or 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.519 criticise them or 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.360 slander them or 00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.519 simply gossip about 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:33.720 them. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.519 And James said 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.480 that's not 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.540 right. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.700 And of course 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.519 in all of these 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.380 things must 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.880 lie the 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.520 condition of 00:21:43.520 --> 00:21:44.100 our hearts 00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:44.920 before God. 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:45.960 Because Jesus 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.560 says out of 00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.020 the abundance 00:21:47.020 --> 00:21:48.180 of our hearts 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.180 our mouth 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.840 speaks. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.880 What's inside 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.440 will come 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:52.820 out. 00:21:53.040 --> 00:21:53.540 It will have 00:21:53.540 --> 00:21:54.500 its impact 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:56.220 personally, 00:21:56.820 --> 00:21:57.880 perhaps lastingly 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.760 and certainly 00:21:58.760 --> 00:22:00.300 to others. 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.080 So what can we 00:22:03.080 --> 00:22:03.680 do about it? 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:04.900 What can we do 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:05.420 about it? 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.820 Well, James, 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.320 this master 00:22:09.320 --> 00:22:09.920 pastor, 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.400 recognises this 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:11.960 is really 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.380 difficult if 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.060 it's not 00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:15.160 impossible for 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:15.580 us. 00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:17.320 Twice over, 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.940 he points that 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.440 out. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.060 We're not 00:22:21.060 --> 00:22:21.920 perfect, he 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.780 says, able to 00:22:22.780 --> 00:22:23.460 keep our whole 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.300 body in check. 00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:25.120 We can tame the 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:26.160 wildest of animals, 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.560 he said. 00:22:26.600 --> 00:22:27.120 There was a picture 00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:27.840 in yesterday's 00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:29.180 times of a 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.080 73-year-old 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:31.000 Finnish man who's 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.019 been adopting 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.360 big brown bears 00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:34.340 all his life and 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:34.700 there was a 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.280 picture of him 00:22:35.280 --> 00:22:35.920 kissing this 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:37.519 great brown bear 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.039 and I thought, 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:39.839 poor, that 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.200 wouldn't have 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.639 been me. 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.039 But you can 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.440 tame the 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.000 wildest of 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.619 animals, says 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:44.879 James. 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.119 Do you know, 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.059 you can't tame 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.900 your tongue. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.279 You can't. 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.279 Only God 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:51.980 can. 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.740 And that's the 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:53.960 point. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.879 God can bring 00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.619 grace and 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.879 redemption to 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.500 hearts and 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.200 lives that 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.539 manifest such 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.200 things in the 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.240 things we say. 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.720 So maybe the 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.440 first thing is 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.500 simply to get 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.440 before God and 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.259 in the words of 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.720 Paul to 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:09.320 Romans, count 00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:10.440 yourself dead to 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.700 sin but alive to 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.460 Christ Jesus. 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.640 Don't let sin 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.320 reign in your 00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:15.779 mortal body such 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.380 that you obey 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.360 its evil desires. 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.240 Don't offer any 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.240 part of yourself to 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.779 sin as an 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.299 instrument of 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:20.740 righteousness. 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.019 Offer yourselves 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.460 to God. 00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:23.220 Give God your 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:23.620 tongue. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.000 Give him your 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.460 heart. 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.299 Give him your 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:30.620 tongue. 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:30.719 God. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.739 The psalmist put 00:23:34.739 --> 00:23:35.179 it this way. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.319 Set a guard over 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.139 my mouth. 00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.000 There's a good 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.419 prayer. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.500 First thing in 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:40.839 the morning. 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.399 Before you've 00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:43.179 kicked the cat, 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.699 kissed the wife 00:23:44.699 --> 00:23:45.779 or kissed the 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.239 cat and kicked 00:23:46.239 --> 00:23:46.599 the wife, 00:23:46.699 --> 00:23:47.359 whichever way it 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:47.639 comes. 00:23:49.739 --> 00:23:50.619 Guard my 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.239 mouth. 00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:54.500 And then last 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.579 year I shared 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.059 with you Alan 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.919 Redpath's little 00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.899 acrostic thing. 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.619 So I'll share it 00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:00.559 again on the 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.139 basis you've 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:02.119 possibly forgotten. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.440 Alan Redpath 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.879 said whenever he 00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.839 was going to 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.359 say something, 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:07.899 he used the 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:08.279 little word 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.740 think. 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.639 Is what I'm 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.220 about to say 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:11.659 true? 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.599 Is it 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:13.980 helpful? 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.779 Is it 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.539 inspiring? 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.879 Is it 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.319 necessary? 00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:20.960 And is it 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.419 kind? 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.679 True, 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.299 helpful, 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:24.940 inspiring, 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.579 necessary, 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:26.240 kind. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.539 Once you've 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:27.899 gone through 00:24:27.899 --> 00:24:28.359 that little 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:28.819 list, 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:30.539 people have 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.059 arrived at a 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.639 decision whether 00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:32.179 what you want 00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:32.679 to say is 00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:33.139 really what 00:24:33.139 --> 00:24:34.500 you want to 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:34.779 say. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.980 And I guess we 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.639 need to remember 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.500 that when we 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.419 speak at all, 00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:40.679 God is the 00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.579 one who's also 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.579 listening. 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.299 May God bless 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.720 his word to 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.799 us and encourage 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.679 us and help us 00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.799 in the week. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.480 thank you. 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.500 Thank you. 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:49.519 Thank you.