WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:05.799 Well, good evening everyone. My name is Jonathan, as I said before, and I'll be taking us through this passage. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:10.040 Let me just pray for us before we begin. 00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:18.140 God and Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the truth that we can find in it. 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:25.539 We pray that you'll bless the reading of it tonight, and we pray that the Holy Spirit will work within each one of us. 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:28.480 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.039 So tonight we're in James. We're continuing our series. 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:38.159 It'd be great if you could keep it open in front of you and refer to it as we go down. 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:44.200 Now, we've had a year of delays, and one of the things delayed is the Olympics. 00:00:44.519 --> 00:00:47.719 Now, this is coming supposedly in a few weeks' time. 00:00:48.460 --> 00:00:50.859 And one of the events I always find amazing is the hurdles. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:56.579 They basically run these extreme athletes. They run full pelt. 00:00:56.579 --> 00:01:03.839 They run basically as fast as the people who don't have the hurdles, and they clear them just by millimeters, it seems. 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:07.219 And yet when it does go wrong, it goes catastrophically wrong. 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:10.319 They trip, they fall, and they are out. They're done. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:14.680 And you know, we're going to see tonight that our tongue causes us to do the same. 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:19.680 Our tongue causes us to trip, and it causes us to fall. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:24.060 So a bit of background in case you've not been here, or it's been a few weeks. 00:01:24.240 --> 00:01:25.760 Well, we are in James. 00:01:26.440 --> 00:01:28.740 It is named after the author of this book. 00:01:29.300 --> 00:01:30.520 He was Jesus' brother. 00:01:31.380 --> 00:01:34.060 He was also the leader of the church in Jerusalem. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:38.500 And it's only written about 10 or 20 years after Jesus' death. 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:41.760 His audience is the early church. 00:01:42.320 --> 00:01:44.340 Now, these would predominantly be Jewish people, 00:01:44.340 --> 00:01:48.659 or people from the Jewish faith who have believed in the Lord Jesus. 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:53.300 Now, at this time, they were following an oral gospel. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:58.540 They were passing the good news of Jesus by mainly word of mouth. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:01.700 And this was causing some issues. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:06.140 This was causing problems in the church, and that is what James is writing to address. 00:02:07.180 --> 00:02:10.020 We've had in the last couple of weeks, we've had testing. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:12.040 We've had listening and doing. 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:15.159 We've had favoritism, showing favorites. 00:02:15.760 --> 00:02:17.000 We've had faith in deeds. 00:02:17.540 --> 00:02:21.280 And last week, we saw that the dangers of claiming to be a Christian, 00:02:21.820 --> 00:02:23.760 and yet not living it out in what we do. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:26.540 And this week, we're going to go a step further, 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:28.700 and we're going to see the dangers of our tongue, 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:33.320 and the destructive power of it, but also the good that it can do. 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:39.299 So, as I've said, our main theme tonight is the tongue, 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:40.819 or taming the tongue. 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:41.939 You might have that in your Bible. 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:46.379 It might be a heading, and we'll see shortly why that might be a slightly false heading, 00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:48.159 taming the tongue. 00:02:49.079 --> 00:02:51.659 Now, the tongue is mentioned five times elsewhere, 00:02:51.959 --> 00:02:54.120 outside of this passage in this book. 00:02:55.620 --> 00:02:59.479 It is one of the key wrongs that James is trying to address in this church. 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:03.479 It is one of the key themes throughout James, 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:06.479 and it is mentioned and implied throughout. 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:10.879 And we're going to look tonight at this passage in three parts. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:16.560 We're firstly going to look at tripped by the tongue in verses 1 to 6. 00:03:16.859 --> 00:03:18.099 Tripped by the tongue. 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:22.079 We're then going to look at the untamable tongue. 00:03:23.299 --> 00:03:25.839 The untamable tongue in 7 to 8. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:29.860 And then we're going to look at the two-way tongue in 9 to 12. 00:03:30.140 --> 00:03:31.560 The two-way tongue. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:36.480 So we're going to start in 1 to 6 with tripped by the tongue. 00:03:38.860 --> 00:03:42.599 Now, in verse 1, we almost tripped straight away. 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:45.659 This verse seems almost random. 00:03:45.980 --> 00:03:47.120 It seems out of place. 00:03:47.819 --> 00:03:50.439 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:54.640 because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:57.000 Now, this here is a warning. 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:03.179 You could almost say it's a conclusion or a summary to this chapter, this section. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:06.659 You know, in the context, like I was mentioning before, 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:10.139 these were people of Jewish background, 00:04:10.359 --> 00:04:13.799 and it was very easy to teach in the synagogue if you so desired. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:16.659 We see that where Peter and Jesus in the New Testament, 00:04:16.919 --> 00:04:18.399 they went and taught in the synagogue. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:22.379 And this caused problems of false teaching. 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:27.359 But we see here that those teaching, 00:04:27.779 --> 00:04:30.560 they are not above the things that they are teaching about. 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:35.319 They are not above the things that we see in this passage, 00:04:35.479 --> 00:04:36.879 or anywhere else for that matter. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:41.839 But they are, in fact, more accountable because of the undertaking they have. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:45.719 And what I want us to take from this is that 00:04:45.719 --> 00:04:49.000 I'm speaking to myself here tonight as much as anyone else. 00:04:50.119 --> 00:04:53.259 I've been massively challenged the last few weeks in what I've been studying, 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:56.279 the dangers of the tongue and what it can do, 00:04:56.679 --> 00:04:57.639 both good and bad. 00:05:00.019 --> 00:05:02.500 And so this applies to us all, so it is important. 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:05.060 Verse 2. 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.740 As Neil said, we all stumble in many ways. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.399 You know, my wife gave me permission to tell this story, 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:16.519 but she once ran the hurdles, but ran it the wrong direction. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.759 Now, the hurdles are designed so if you hit them, they fall with you. 00:05:21.139 --> 00:05:25.319 And if you run the other way, you really do fall flat on your face. 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:28.699 Now, we do all stumble. 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:30.480 We do all fail. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:34.800 If we're honest with ourselves, we know this to be true. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.340 I don't have to convince you of this. 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:41.680 In the previous section, we saw the importance of our works. 00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:45.920 Saying we are one thing doesn't make it true or good. 00:05:46.020 --> 00:05:47.819 We are to live out what we claim to be. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:49.740 But we do all fail. 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:51.480 We do all stumble. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:53.220 We do all sin. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:55.400 And especially with our tongue. 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:59.280 Our tongue is more like the steeplechase hurdle, if you've seen that. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:02.099 It's a really big hurdle on a longer distance race. 00:06:02.159 --> 00:06:05.079 And it's got a big pool of water after it. 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:07.239 And you know, it really does slow them down. 00:06:07.799 --> 00:06:08.959 Every one of them stumbles. 00:06:09.139 --> 00:06:11.000 Every one of them loses their stride. 00:06:12.239 --> 00:06:13.039 And that is our tongue. 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:18.000 Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:20.439 able to keep their whole body in check. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:25.860 Our tongue is our most difficult and most common source of stumbling. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:29.719 And that is why it is so important and emphasized here. 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:37.440 We see the disastrous effects that it can have in verses 3 to 6. 00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:42.780 We have these illustrations that small things can cause big effects. 00:06:42.779 --> 00:06:46.699 We have the bits in the mouth of the horses. 00:06:48.739 --> 00:06:51.399 We have these rudders on these great big ships. 00:06:52.619 --> 00:06:55.739 And we have these sparks that cause forest fires. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:00.299 Big things, small things, cause a big effect. 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:04.319 And maybe a more modern day example might be the butterfly effect. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:09.339 It's a sci-fi theory or concept that if you were to go back in time, 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:11.240 even if you were to step on a butterfly, 00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:13.300 that could change the course of history. 00:07:16.719 --> 00:07:20.399 Now what we say can have far-reaching consequences. 00:07:22.219 --> 00:07:25.680 You know, interestingly, horses, ships, and fires, 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:28.420 these things can all be used for good. 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:30.920 But they can also be used for bad. 00:07:32.039 --> 00:07:34.079 They can be used for peace or war. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:38.219 Horses, ships, and fires can be used for travel, 00:07:38.579 --> 00:07:40.019 for commerce, for industry. 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:43.800 They can also be used for destruction and death. 00:07:45.719 --> 00:07:48.500 Now remember here that they were sharing an oral gospel. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:49.719 This was word to mouth. 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:52.399 So how important were the words that they were using? 00:07:53.659 --> 00:07:55.939 It was so easy for others to be led astray. 00:07:56.719 --> 00:07:58.439 There was factions in this church. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:01.920 People were following one person over another. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:05.160 You know, a challenge for us is, 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:11.160 are we fueling or causing conflict in the church? 00:08:12.280 --> 00:08:16.300 By what we say, may it be gossip, slander, 00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:18.939 maybe straight lies. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:22.780 Are we causing or fueling conflict within the church? 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:26.679 You know, we can be so thankful of the Bible. 00:08:27.299 --> 00:08:28.619 We have it in our hands. 00:08:28.719 --> 00:08:29.839 We can refer to it. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:36.299 But this doesn't allow us to be sloppy with our words. 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:40.339 It doesn't allow us to be sloppy when we are sharing the good news of Jesus 00:08:40.339 --> 00:08:43.120 or when teaching from God's word. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:46.159 Just because we have the Bible, we can't be sloppy. 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:51.159 But it does allow others who are hearing to go and read for themselves, 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:52.480 and I encourage you to do it. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:56.039 Please be reading up and checking up on what I'm saying 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:57.740 and what anyone else is saying. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:00.000 Go home and study these things. 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:05.980 You know, UCCF, which is a Christian Union umbrella organization, 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:08.360 they've got a great resource called Uncover. 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:12.860 And it's such a practical way for people to read the Bible for themselves, 00:09:13.180 --> 00:09:15.800 to find out whether the claims of Jesus are true. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:18.259 And that's what I encourage you to do. 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:26.240 Our words and actions can cause others to disregard the gospel. 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.800 Our words and actions can cause others to disregard the gospel. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.399 Is there hypocrisy between what we are saying and what we are doing? 00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:41.000 Are we having a detrimental effect on our witness 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:42.980 because of what comes out of our mouth? 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:50.700 Or maybe not quite as serious, but still serious enough. 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:52.600 Are we giving a false gospel? 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:56.600 Are we watering down what the Bible says? 00:09:58.460 --> 00:10:00.639 We were warned of this just a couple of weeks ago. 00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:02.720 And we've been looking in Job. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:05.379 Alistair has been taking us through and then Archie this morning. 00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:11.279 We see that the Christian life doesn't lead to happiness, prosperity and joy. 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:14.960 The Christian life is hard. 00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:19.500 So we aren't to water down what the Bible says in order to make us seem attractive, 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:24.559 to encourage people to come to Jesus or to make professions of faith. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:30.359 Our words are important and they cause big effects. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:37.959 In verse 5 we have a specific danger named the danger of pride, 00:10:38.119 --> 00:10:39.959 which is a major misuse of the tongue. 00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:41.819 It says, 00:10:41.820 --> 00:10:51.300 This might be bigging ourselves up to be something we're not. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:57.100 We may be bending the truth innocently enough just to make our story sound funnier. 00:10:58.800 --> 00:11:00.540 You know, in the business world or elsewhere, 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:02.640 you hear it's a dog-eat-dog world. 00:11:03.400 --> 00:11:07.300 Are we putting ourselves above others and putting others down in order to succeed? 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:10.299 Are we paying lip service? 00:11:10.979 --> 00:11:15.919 Are we joining in in the banter culture that puts others down for cheap laughs? 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:21.059 And you know these things are serious. 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:23.639 We see that in verse 6. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.379 The strong language used. 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:30.659 The seriousness of the dangers of the tongue and the effects it can have. 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:33.399 In verse 6, 00:11:33.579 --> 00:11:37.539 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:40.139 It corrupts the whole body, 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.120 sets the whole course of one's life on fire, 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:46.100 and is itself set on fire by hell. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:49.899 In that verse alone we have fire three times. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:53.459 World of evil corrupts hell. 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.740 These things are serious. 00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:58.199 Our tongue is a danger. 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:01.000 You know, I was thinking of the phrase, 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:04.160 Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.840 But how untrue is that phrase? 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:07.820 Bones heal. 00:12:08.180 --> 00:12:10.200 Our skin heals over itself, 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:13.000 and yet words sometimes go deepest and hurt the most. 00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:17.200 And nowadays we've got the dangers of online as well. 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:20.180 We've got online bullying, 00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:21.480 trolling of people. 00:12:21.800 --> 00:12:23.060 We've got WhatsApp groups. 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.900 Do we throw things into groups 00:12:24.900 --> 00:12:26.640 and not think about their consequences? 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:31.460 Small things can have big effects. 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:36.620 So we've seen the dangers of our tongue. 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:38.840 The small part it is, 00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:40.500 and yet the dangers it can cause. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.439 And now we're moving into our second section. 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:45.299 We're going to look at the tamable tongue, 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:47.259 or as I've described it, 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:49.259 the untamable tongue. 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:55.019 In verse 7 we see that all kinds of animals, 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:57.000 birds, reptiles, and sea creatures 00:12:57.000 --> 00:13:00.580 are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind. 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.159 We know this to be true. 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:04.580 We've seen circuses, 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:06.799 or maybe we've seen videos of such things. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.480 We've seen elephants dancing. 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:11.139 Maybe we've seen snake charming. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.600 That one always amazes me. 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:13.659 Brave people. 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:17.539 I've seen YouTube videos of guys in South Africa 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:19.539 that have befended wild lions 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:20.939 and can go and play with them. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.480 You know, just the other day at work, 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:26.219 we actually had a hawk that came down, 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:28.339 and the idea was that it would fly around 00:13:28.339 --> 00:13:29.740 and scare off the seagulls. 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:31.579 It worked for about five minutes, 00:13:31.719 --> 00:13:34.699 but it was amazing to see this thing fly around, 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:35.480 and it could have gone. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:36.559 It was away, 00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:39.559 and yet it came back to its handler. 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:43.819 Mankind can tame many beasts, 00:13:44.739 --> 00:13:45.500 and yet, verse 8, 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.299 no human being can tame the tongue. 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.219 Is that right? 00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:52.579 Surely. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:55.500 If we can tame hawks, elephants, snakes, 00:13:56.099 --> 00:13:57.459 something that is part of us, 00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.959 we have no control over it? 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:03.179 Well, the tongue is the outward showing of the heart. 00:14:04.339 --> 00:14:06.179 The tongue speaks the heart. 00:14:06.699 --> 00:14:07.959 It shows what is inside. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.580 The tongue is not some separate entity 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:12.440 that we can't be responsible for, 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:15.160 but it shows us who we are. 00:14:17.400 --> 00:14:18.100 You know, interestingly, 00:14:18.780 --> 00:14:21.800 just to get a sense of the meaning of this word, 00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:22.220 tamed, 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.860 it's only elsewhere used in Mark 5, 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:30.740 when Jesus goes and he heals demon-possessed legion 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.139 who lived among the tombs, 00:14:32.280 --> 00:14:33.580 who couldn't be shackled, 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.840 who was described as wild. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.980 So it speaks of control. 00:14:38.180 --> 00:14:39.840 It speaks of having dominion over, 00:14:40.920 --> 00:14:42.300 taming the tongue. 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.600 As we see at the end of 8, 00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:46.860 it is a restless evil. 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:48.940 It is full of deadly poison. 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:52.860 The tongue can assassinate characters, 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.840 and it can poison minds. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.519 Words destroy. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:56.379 Words hurt. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:59.820 You know, this is all very bleak, 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.500 and this is all very serious. 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.919 So it is all lost. 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.759 Do we have no hope? 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.059 But this is the point. 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:08.000 These things are unattainable. 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:09.799 We cannot tame the tongue. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:15.820 Never having fault in what we say is unattainable. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.759 No chance. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:17.980 It won't happen. 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.639 The rudder is broken. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:22.700 It is putting us off course. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:25.840 The bit in the mouth of the horse is squint, 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.420 and we can't get it to go straight. 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.780 The spark is away. 00:15:30.680 --> 00:15:31.860 The forest is ablaze, 00:15:31.900 --> 00:15:32.840 and we can't put it out. 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.300 We can't do it, 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.759 so we need God's grace. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.540 Well, what does that mean? 00:15:39.640 --> 00:15:41.460 Well, there was one who never stumbled, 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:44.259 who was never at fault in what he said, 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:46.439 and he was never corrupted. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.019 Jesus lived that life of perfection. 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.399 He was fully God, 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.240 and yet fully man. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.139 He was so like us, 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:56.379 and yet he was so different. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.860 You know, imagine never saying the wrong thing, 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:03.620 never wishing you could have taken that thing back, 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.259 never speaking out of turn. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:08.480 Jesus lived that perfect life. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.620 He was then killed. 00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:12.879 He took that punishment that we deserved. 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.159 And he rose again, 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.779 and he ascended back to heaven. 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:21.559 I can't say it better than two of the hymns 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:22.720 that we've had tonight, 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.379 and two of the verses in them. 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:26.500 He took my sins and my sorrows. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:29.299 He made them his very own. 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:32.059 He bore the burden to Calvary. 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.019 He suffered and died for me. 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.879 We're going to sing after. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.899 My chains are gone. 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.600 I've been set free. 00:16:40.439 --> 00:16:42.620 My God, my Savior, has ransomed me. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:45.620 And like a flood, his mercy reigns. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:47.399 Unending love. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.320 Amazing grace. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:55.820 So we've seen that we can be tripped by the tongue. 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:59.120 We have seen that it is untamable. 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:01.440 And now we're going to look at the two-way tongue 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:04.400 in the last four verses of the chapter. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:09.360 We see the two-way tongue 00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:11.780 in these illustrations of contrast. 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.740 There's six of them in these verses. 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:17.320 We have praising and cursing. 00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:21.060 We have fresh water and salt water. 00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:22.720 We have trees and their fruit. 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:28.140 You know, if we have been made right before God, 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:31.920 then our talk should reflect our fear, 00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:34.000 our reverential awe of him. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:40.120 We can use our words and our vocal cords 00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:42.200 when we're allowed to, to praise our God. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.340 Not just on a Sunday, 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:48.420 not just when the person up the front says to do so, 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:52.160 but what are we talking about before and after the service? 00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:54.460 What are we talking about on a Saturday night, 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.600 on a Monday morning? 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:57.679 What are we using our words to do? 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:01.259 Are we giving God the glory? 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.379 And these things are difficult. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.299 Don't get me wrong. 00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:07.240 I've really toiled with these things 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.240 over the last couple of weeks. 00:18:09.219 --> 00:18:11.579 But the remedy is to pray in wisdom, 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:16.819 to pray earnestly for these things. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:20.559 These things are unattainable, 00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:21.819 to tame our tongue fully, 00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:23.639 but we are to strive for these things, 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:25.620 strive for holiness. 00:18:29.520 --> 00:18:30.860 You know, these last few weeks, 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:32.620 I've found myself checking myself 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.780 before saying things. 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.259 But I have to admit as well, 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.820 there's times I've looked back and thought, 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.740 why did I say that? 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:39.640 I wish I could take that back. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:44.460 But you know, good words can do so much good. 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.640 We heard from Proverbs 16, 24, 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:50.259 gracious words are a honeycomb, 00:18:51.020 --> 00:18:54.520 sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:58.220 How good are those words? 00:18:58.340 --> 00:19:00.040 Gracious words are a honeycomb, 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.420 sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.700 We have that sense of nourishment. 00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:10.180 We have that from the fruit mentioned in verse 12. 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:14.160 We can be built up from other people's words 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:16.160 and we can build others up. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.480 Not in an egotistical way, 00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:20.460 but we can build each other up in our faiths. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.779 We can encourage one another. 00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:24.660 How great would it be if we came in 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:26.400 and when we saw each other, 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:28.759 we encourage one another on a weekly basis. 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:31.660 Or even randomly during the week, 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.940 sending each other messages 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.519 just to encourage one another, 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.180 to build one another up. 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:39.420 Rather than idle talk. 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:42.259 You know, do we just talk about the football, 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.059 the easy things, 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:44.559 what's going on at work this week? 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:48.059 Or do we try and encourage one another? 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:51.400 Or worse, do we have destructive talk 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:52.859 like mentioned at the beginning? 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.779 Gossip, slander and lies. 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:59.619 Instead, we can be praising our God 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:01.460 and building one another up. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.920 Finally, in 11 and 12, 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.759 we have our one or the other section. 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:12.940 We have this fresh water and salt water. 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.960 We have fig trees bearing olives, 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.960 grapevines bearing figs, 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:19.319 a salt spring producing fresh water. 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:22.180 As James says, 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.240 my brothers and sisters, 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.319 this should not be 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.159 out of the same mouth 00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:27.559 come praise and cursing. 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:30.519 Our identity has changed. 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:33.159 If we have accepted Jesus, 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.659 if we have him in our lives, 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.599 then we have been changed. 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:38.319 Our identity has been changed. 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:39.299 Not because of us, 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.419 not because of who we are, 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.439 but because of who he is 00:20:42.439 --> 00:20:44.679 and because of what he has done. 00:20:45.399 --> 00:20:46.819 We have been made new. 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:50.039 We have a new beginning 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.579 and we should be different now. 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:53.619 You know, 00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:55.119 I used to play rugby at school 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.779 and when I left, 00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:58.500 I changed and I started playing football 00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.559 and I've done so since. 00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:01.759 But you know, 00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:04.299 during playing football, 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.439 when the ball came to me, 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.379 if I picked it up 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.220 and started running, 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.079 it would make no sense. 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.500 People would be quite angry 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.319 and then they'd probably 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:14.099 see the funny side of it later, 00:21:14.199 --> 00:21:15.399 but it wouldn't make any sense. 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:18.360 The rules have changed. 00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.500 It's different now. 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.920 We need to live 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:23.420 by the new way of doing things. 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.860 We can't stick with the old. 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.420 You know, to sum up, 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.860 we've seen the many dangers 00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.600 of the tongue. 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.900 We've seen how we can be 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:36.500 so easily tripped by it. 00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:40.680 I've named some of these things 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.519 and yet we need to flee 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.540 from these pitfalls. 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.799 But we probably all have 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.720 our go-to issues, 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.460 the things that, 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.799 when we look at it, 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.680 we probably know 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.799 that we struggle with. 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:53.599 And it affects us all. 00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:58.539 It's also not just in person nowadays. 00:21:58.859 --> 00:22:00.399 We need to be so wary of that. 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:04.039 We can't tame our tongue. 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.259 It's unattainable. 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:09.420 And yet Jesus has taken our place. 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:12.500 He was never at fault 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.339 in what he said. 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.559 Because of that, 00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:18.099 we can have our identity changed. 00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.720 If we are Christians, 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.180 we are now in Christ. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.940 We can use our tongue for good, 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:25.159 for so much good. 00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.740 And it is a struggle, 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:32.039 but we can pray. 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.359 Pray earnestly. 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.899 Ask for help from our God 00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:36.480 and strive for holiness. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:39.980 In the next sections, 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.819 in the coming weeks, 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.559 we're going to look at 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.019 fighting, 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:42.819 quarrels, 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:43.839 slander, 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.440 and boasting. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.380 You know, 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.380 these are heart matters 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.940 and they are exposed 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.940 in our actions, 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:50.900 but especially 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:51.900 in our words. 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:54.800 my prayer as we leave 00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.580 is that we would take 00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.700 these things seriously, 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.500 the serious language 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.460 that was in this passage. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.220 Perhaps we can do 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.140 a self-assessment 00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:04.080 over the next week 00:23:04.080 --> 00:23:05.920 of what we are using 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.720 our tongue for. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:06.759 prayer. 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.759 My prayer is that 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.579 we check ourselves 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:11.460 and that we are slow 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.000 to speak 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.759 and that we speak 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.380 in wisdom. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.640 How great would it be 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.400 to be witnesses 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.779 to fellow Christians 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:21.039 and unbelievers alike 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.180 by our words, 00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:25.059 to build one another up, 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.519 to praise our God 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.360 and to give him 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:28.980 the glory. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.680 Let me pray for us 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.660 as we finish. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.720 God and Father, 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.259 we thank you 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.019 for your word. 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.160 We thank you 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:44.460 for all that we can 00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.160 glean from it. 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:47.140 We pray for these things 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:48.259 that we have looked at tonight. 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.000 We pray that you'll 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.279 continue to speak to us 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.380 as we go away from here, 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.839 as we get distracted 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.799 by the things 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.680 in our weeks. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.600 But we pray that we will 00:23:58.600 --> 00:23:59.480 think on these things, 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:00.940 that you will continue 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:02.259 to work in us 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.819 and that all of this 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:05.279 will be for your glory. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.019 And we pray all these things 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.160 in the name of Jesus. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.440 Amen.