WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.460 So James chapter 3, and I believe that I said verses 1 to 12 to the crew at the back, 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:14.060 but I'm going to read verses 1 to 14, just a touch longer. 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:15.500 Let's read God's Word together. 00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:20.120 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, 00:00:20.940 --> 00:00:24.100 because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:26.539 We all stumble in many ways. 00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:33.339 If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:38.920 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:41.320 Or take ships as an example. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:47.640 Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:51.439 they are steered by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot wants to go. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:56.280 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:01.280 Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:06.060 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:07.859 It corrupts the whole person. 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:14.400 It sets the whole course of his life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell. 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:21.299 All kinds of animals, birds, and reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man. 00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:23.579 But no man can tame the tongue. 00:01:23.579 --> 00:01:26.459 It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:32.599 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God's likeness. 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:35.819 Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. 00:01:36.539 --> 00:01:38.439 My brothers, this should not be. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.299 Can both fresh and salt water flow from the same spring? 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:46.840 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? 00:01:47.299 --> 00:01:49.700 Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:52.399 Who is wise and understanding among you? 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:57.140 Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done and the humility that comes from wisdom. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:04.159 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.439 This is God's holy word. 00:02:06.899 --> 00:02:11.879 Before we come and think about it together, we're going to sing one more time to prepare our hearts. 00:02:11.979 --> 00:02:15.060 A classic hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy. 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:16.759 So let's sing to the Holy God together. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:18.539 Let's stand and we'll sing. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:41.599 Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:52.799 Early in the morning, a song I'll rise to you. 00:02:52.799 --> 00:03:03.099 Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty. 00:03:03.099 --> 00:03:12.699 God in three persons, blessed Trinity. 00:03:14.799 --> 00:03:25.659 Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, all the saints adore you. 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:36.359 Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea. 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:47.139 Cherubim and seraphim falling down before you. 00:03:47.139 --> 00:04:17.120 Holy, Holy, holy, holy, holy. 00:04:17.139 --> 00:04:23.899 Glide by sin your glory may not see. 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:29.680 You alone are holy. 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:35.579 There is none beside you. 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:44.479 Perfect in power, in love and purity. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:05:14.460 Holy, holy, holy, holy. 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:19.120 merciful and mighty. 00:05:20.219 --> 00:05:29.599 God in three persons, blessed Trinity. 00:05:33.159 --> 00:05:34.000 Please be seated. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:41.860 Tonight, we're looking at texts that are all about the life of wisdom. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.300 And that's specific to one area in the text that we read. 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:49.860 And that's the wisdom surrounding the way that we speak our tongues. 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:57.240 And the reason, one of the reasons for looking at a subject like this is because we believe that the gospel changes all of who we are. 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:01.040 And so it first changes our relationship with God. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:10.439 But then the gospel makes a claim on our lives that we're to actually bow the knee, bow the heart in every aspect of who we are, including our speech and all other things. 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:16.560 And so we read from the actual list of the seven deadly sins from the book of Proverbs. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.800 From Proverbs chapter six. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:24.839 And this is seven areas of life that we're called to put away, to be new selves in. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:26.000 Just a reminder. 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:29.500 This is what we read, that there are seven things the Lord hates. 00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:32.040 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.540 Hands that shed innocent blood. 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:36.700 Devising wicked plans. 00:06:36.840 --> 00:06:37.740 Feet that run to evil. 00:06:37.900 --> 00:06:40.160 A false witness that breathes out lies. 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:42.680 And a one who says discord among brothers. 00:06:43.580 --> 00:06:50.280 Now you can take those seven sins and you can translate them, whittle them down if you will, into five. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:56.379 And they are pride, anger, unnecessary violence, quarreling. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:04.400 But then the fifth, and I don't know if you caught it when we read it, but out of the seven things that the Lord hates, according to Proverbs six. 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:07.720 Two of them appear to be the exact same. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.100 And two of them are the lying tongue and a false witness that breathes lies. 00:07:15.200 --> 00:07:22.060 And that means that at least God is very serious about the sins of speech. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:26.580 He mentions it twice in the seven deadly sins here in Proverbs six. 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:32.859 And the reason he mentions it twice is because one of those refers to false witness. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:35.579 Breathing lies in the midst of the courtroom. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.919 That's a judicial term in Hebrew. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.899 So it's saying that God hates it when people lie in the court. 00:07:41.539 --> 00:07:44.099 But then also the second time is just normal life. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:50.240 So whether you're in the courtroom or whether you're living life, he addresses here the sin of lying. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:08:00.699 Now, in Proverbs, the word that gets used, a Hebrew word, a distinct Hebrew word that gets used to describe the sins of speech is the word deceit. 00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:05.939 It's the word that shows up four or five times across the book of Proverbs and a few times in the New Testament. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:12.600 And it's correspondent to refer to the sins, all the different ways that we can be sinful with the way we speak. 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:22.000 But more precisely, deceit is the word that speaks of the condition of the human heart that stands underneath sinful speech. 00:08:22.700 --> 00:08:27.120 So deceit, when Jesus says out of the heart, the mouth speaks. 00:08:27.700 --> 00:08:30.740 The mouth speaks sinful speech whenever the heart is full of deceit. 00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:35.340 Deceit's the term that describes the condition of the heart that produces sinful speech. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:42.440 And so let's think together this evening from Proverbs and James three about this problem and how to deal with it. 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:45.080 So we're going to see first the power of deceit. 00:08:45.400 --> 00:08:48.240 Secondly, the origin of speech. 00:08:48.420 --> 00:08:50.640 And finally, the wise tongue. 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:53.520 So first, the power of deceit. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:09:05.800 Proverbs 12, 17 says that when people speak rashly to one another, that it's like a sword thrust to the gut. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:15.699 So it literally says that rash words, words that are spoken improperly to each other, are like taking a sword and jabbing it right in the gut of the next person. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:16.679 It's a mortal wound. 00:09:17.719 --> 00:09:23.439 And then vice versa or reciprocally speaking truth in love is like medicine. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:26.039 It's like putting a balm on a person's soul. 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:36.439 And so when you look across the book of Proverbs, one of the things you see very quickly is that the main idea is that deceitful speech can kill. 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:38.799 It can wound. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:40.860 It can be a mortal wound on somebody's soul. 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:41.719 It can destroy. 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:46.459 And that speech that is full of love and righteousness brings life. 00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:48.719 It's like medicine to a person. 00:09:49.079 --> 00:09:52.419 Now, it's not difficult to imagine why this is the case. 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:52.819 Imagine. 00:09:53.979 --> 00:09:56.839 You don't even have to imagine because you've seen it play out. 00:09:57.439 --> 00:10:08.620 In real life, imagine that you see a witness in the courtroom and that witness breathes out lies like we read about in Proverbs 6 towards another person. 00:10:09.319 --> 00:10:11.199 And they breathe out so much corruption. 00:10:11.339 --> 00:10:21.259 They breathe out so many false statements that the guilty one goes free or that the innocent one gets put into prison for life. 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:23.580 And that's a grave injustice. 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:24.200 It's evil. 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:24.799 It's wicked. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:34.179 And Proverbs is a text that was originally written to young men, actually, to royal boys that were being trained to rule the land. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:39.600 And so Proverbs over and over again is saying young men, but it's, of course, for everybody. 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:40.399 It's God's word. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:42.559 Everybody never lie. 00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:43.819 Never lie. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:44.700 Why? 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:54.060 Because when we lie and we lie and we let little lies carry on and carry on, little lies become big lies and big lies become courtroom lies. 00:10:54.540 --> 00:10:58.700 And courtroom lies produce immense injustices in the land. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:07.820 And so the writer says that a harsh lie, a harsh word, a rash word has the power of death. 00:11:08.020 --> 00:11:11.020 It wields the power for grave injustice. 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:12.280 It can kill. 00:11:12.400 --> 00:11:16.460 But on the opposite side, words can also at the same time give life. 00:11:17.300 --> 00:11:20.660 Now, the New Testament has a chapter devoted to this. 00:11:21.140 --> 00:11:21.860 And we read it. 00:11:22.180 --> 00:11:23.379 James chapter 3. 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:24.680 Very famous. 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:35.259 And in James chapter 3, James gives us three illustrations, verse 3 to 5, for how powerful our speech really is. 00:11:35.719 --> 00:11:39.539 It's always wonderful when the Bible gives the preacher the illustration. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.219 So that means there's ten minutes saved. 00:11:42.319 --> 00:11:43.439 I don't have to think of an illustration. 00:11:43.719 --> 00:11:44.120 It's right here. 00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:44.819 There's three of them. 00:11:45.179 --> 00:11:46.779 Verses 3 to 5, James 3. 00:11:47.099 --> 00:11:47.919 Did you see them? 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:51.939 He says the tongue is small, but it can do great things. 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:52.839 It's very powerful. 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:55.259 And here's how he explains it the first way. 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:57.120 It's like the rudder of a ship. 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:01.740 You know, you think about the great ocean liners that park out in the Firth of Forth. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:03.800 Some of those things are absolutely massive. 00:12:04.540 --> 00:12:08.000 And they have very, relative to their size, they have very small rudders. 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:10.259 And the rudder can, of course, steer the entire thing. 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:17.540 And what it's hinting at there is that your speech, the way you speak, is so powerful to you 00:12:17.539 --> 00:12:21.419 that it has the power actually to reshape your own heart. 00:12:22.079 --> 00:12:24.299 That when you speak lies all the time, you become a liar. 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:28.199 That speech actually shapes our plastic hearts. 00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:29.159 We are moldable. 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.799 It changes the soul. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:38.159 The second illustration is that our speech, our tongues, are like a bit in the mouth of a horse. 00:12:38.319 --> 00:12:41.959 You know, bits are little metal poles that you stick in the mouth of a horse. 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:47.080 And you can control a horse of 20 hands, which is horse talk for a very big horse, 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.019 with just a tiny little piece of metal. 00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:53.620 And that's what your tongue can do to your own soul. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:56.139 But thirdly and finally, this is the most important. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:05.440 He says that, verse 5, that the tongue has the power of a fire, that it begins like a spark. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:10.420 I think he's thinking of there in this first century culture of a simple campfire, 00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:16.440 you know, casting a little flint and building a small fire. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:20.360 Now, my family and I went camping two Fridays ago. 00:13:20.900 --> 00:13:21.660 This is our first. 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.760 I have four small children. 00:13:22.920 --> 00:13:26.000 This is our first ever family camping outing. 00:13:26.140 --> 00:13:27.780 I've always been a big camper. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.400 Going with children is a different thing, I learned. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:39.220 And we went two Fridays ago, and I bought a flat pack little grill slash campfire set. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.740 You can put charcoal in it. 00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.779 You can put wood in it. 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:44.980 And if you've ever done this, you have done this. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.000 Of course you've done this. 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.059 You've gone camping. 00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:47.959 You've been out in the woods. 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:49.919 And you've built a little fire somewhere. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:53.819 And you know that when you're in a public place, it's not private land. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:54.539 It's not your land. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.000 What do you do with it? 00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:56.899 You know, you're vigilant. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.199 You watch it closely. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.680 You clear the brush. 00:14:00.920 --> 00:14:04.680 You know that you do not want what could happen happen. 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:07.160 And you know what James says. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:12.200 He says a small campfire can all of a sudden, it can get out of control. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:13.100 And it can become what? 00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:13.940 A forest fire. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.220 And a forest fire can become a city fire. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:18.180 And a city fire can mean the nation burns. 00:14:19.280 --> 00:14:21.320 And he says that's the power of speech. 00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:23.700 In other words, you see what he's saying? 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:30.160 He's saying that when a fire is treated appropriately, it's light in the midst of darkness. 00:14:30.520 --> 00:14:33.240 You know, it's warmth in the midst of Scottish cold winters. 00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:36.460 It's food when you need it, right? 00:14:36.780 --> 00:14:42.120 But when you let it get to the wrong place, when it goes too far, it burns down the nation. 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:44.660 And that's the power of human speech. 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:48.559 It's the instrument of death and life at the same time. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:50.980 It has immense potential all in one. 00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:57.179 And so I think James here is working from a very important proverb that we read that says it all. 00:14:57.339 --> 00:14:59.019 Proverbs 18, 21. 00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:01.719 Proverbs 18, 21 says, 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:06.419 In the tongue is the power of life and of death. 00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:08.679 Now let me ask you tonight. 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:17.799 Did you know that your speech can minister life or death to other human beings? 00:15:18.979 --> 00:15:23.139 That in your tongue, in the gift of speech that God has given you, 00:15:23.699 --> 00:15:31.360 that you have such immense power to give a mortal wound or to be a balm that heals the soul? 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:35.759 And so the second question then, the diagnostic we have to have tonight is, 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:37.659 What are you doing with your speech? 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:41.120 What are you doing with this gift that God has given you, 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.480 that he's given you to wield in a very specific way? 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:48.519 Now, oh boy, the Gospels is very clear. 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:50.919 Jesus spoke about this very clearly. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:53.960 He gave us the final word about our words. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.879 Matthew 12, 36, 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:58.460 I tell you, on the day of judgment, 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:03.799 every person will give an account for every careless word that they've spoken. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:06.399 For by your words you will be justified, 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:09.120 and by your words you will be condemned. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.419 Oh, careless speakers, 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.139 what are we to do with ourselves? 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.279 Now, secondly, 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:21.779 secondly, the origin of speech. 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:26.259 We've seen already that our words are very powerful, 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.919 that they can minister death, 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.959 they can minister life, 00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:33.600 but the question underneath that is why. 00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:35.839 In other words, 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.819 what is it about human speech that makes speech so powerful? 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:44.319 Why is it that this is the case, 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:47.059 that our words are ministers of death and of life? 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:49.079 What is it that makes our speech so powerful? 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:51.379 And I think James hints at it for us here, 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:53.120 in chapter 3, verse 9. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.240 In chapter 3, verse 9, 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:54.700 he says, 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.259 we use our mouths to, 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:56.879 on the one hand, 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.779 bless God. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.879 He's talking about hypocrisy here. 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:01.019 We bless God on the one hand, 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:01.460 but then he says, 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.139 we turn the next day, 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.740 and we curse our neighbor. 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:07.000 We speak ill of our neighbor. 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:07.640 We gossip. 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.559 Who has been made, 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.220 and here it is, 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:10.759 he says, 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:14.299 we curse our neighbor who has been made in the image of God. 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.640 Now, immediately, 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:17.839 we know what James is thinking about. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:18.599 You know, 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.920 where is James taking us? 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.960 Where is James reading? 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.680 What is James reading as he writes this? 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:25.420 He's thinking about Genesis chapter 1. 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.920 He's taking us back to the very beginning, 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:28.079 to the first page. 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.160 And he, in other words, 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:32.600 is trying to help us to think about our speech 00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:34.299 in the light of creation. 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.980 Because he tells us, 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.380 the issue in our speech 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:38.940 is that we curse people made 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:40.340 in the image of God. 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.660 And do you see what he's doing? 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:43.279 He's asking you the question, 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:43.960 well, 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:45.340 what is the image of God? 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:47.399 Why is it so serious 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:49.019 to talk poorly of others, 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:50.119 to gossip, 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.819 to slander, 00:17:50.959 --> 00:17:52.220 to speak with spite, 00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:53.500 or flattery, 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:55.480 to lie to your neighbor? 00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.720 Why is it so serious? 00:17:57.439 --> 00:17:57.919 And he says, 00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:59.079 it's serious because 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:00.679 they are in the image of God. 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:03.059 So he's connecting speech, 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.139 our words, 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.500 directly to the image of God. 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:06.819 What's the connection? 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.339 Here it is. 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:11.099 The first thing we read about God 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:12.379 in the Bible, 00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:13.299 on page one, 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:16.720 is that God is the great speaker. 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:19.639 He creates the world by word. 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.000 He opens his mouth. 00:18:21.199 --> 00:18:22.459 The very first thing that he does 00:18:22.459 --> 00:18:23.919 is he speaks word, 00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.939 and out of nothing comes something. 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.279 Creation ex nihilo. 00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.439 Creation from nothing. 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:31.959 There is something by speech. 00:18:32.899 --> 00:18:35.159 And so when you get to Genesis 1, 26 to 28, 00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:36.059 you've got to say, 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.720 well, what does it mean then for me 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:39.880 to be the image of God? 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.160 You are the image of God. 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:41.900 What does it mean? 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.700 It means so much. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:45.960 But one of the things it must mean 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:48.779 is that I am distinguished 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:50.360 from the animal kingdom 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:52.720 because God has made me a speaker 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.759 like he is. 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:55.779 God speaks, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:58.319 and from nothing there comes something. 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.400 And then he turns and says, 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.620 and I give to you, humanity, 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.200 the gift of words, 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.220 the gift of speech. 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.940 Why do you think God has decided 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.920 to communicate his revelation to us 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:09.240 by way of word and not image? 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.860 Because words, speech, 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:13.480 it's so critical from the beginning. 00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:15.100 He is the divine speaker, 00:19:15.560 --> 00:19:18.039 and we're like him in that we speak. 00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:18.680 And so, 00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:23.920 that means that we image God 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.740 as the image of God 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:28.200 when we speak words that give life, 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:32.220 and we desecrate and sin 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:34.120 against the very image of God 00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.600 and fail to image God 00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:37.160 when we speak words 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.440 that minister death to other people. 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:42.519 That's why our words are so serious, 00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:44.700 because we have been made to speak 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.720 like God speaks. 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.840 It's who God is, 00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:47.880 a great speaker. 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:48.680 Now, 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.360 there's, again, 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:52.360 an illustration of this in the Bible. 00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.840 I don't have to come up with an illustration. 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:56.159 There's a perfect illustration 00:19:56.159 --> 00:19:57.079 in the Old Testament. 00:19:58.139 --> 00:20:00.399 In the Old Testament, 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:01.799 the Hebrew Bible, 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:04.859 the Bible that Jesus Christ read from, 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:07.480 has a name in Hebrew 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:10.299 that in English is called the Tanakh. 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:12.959 And it had three parts to it. 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:14.939 It's our Old Testament as we have it. 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.179 But in it, 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.899 the writings were a section, 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.679 and they were a group of books 00:20:19.679 --> 00:20:20.599 grouped together, 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.740 like the Psalms, 00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.539 Proverbs, 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.439 Ecclesiastes, 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.100 these books of wisdom. 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:25.539 You know, 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:26.559 we know these books 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.340 as books of wisdom. 00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:28.519 But there were also 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.720 four other books 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.580 in that section 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:31.600 of the Old Testament. 00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:33.559 And those books 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.420 were meant 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.779 and given to us 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:37.640 as illustrations 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.420 of what it means 00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.420 to live the wise life. 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.080 There were two 00:20:41.080 --> 00:20:42.180 about men 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.180 and two about women. 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.559 So when you read 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.240 through Proverbs, 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:45.980 you read through 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.860 Ecclesiastes 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.840 and books like it, 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.500 the Psalms, 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.660 what it means 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.700 to live the wise life, 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.519 the life of worship, 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.360 and you say, 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:52.539 well, 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.819 I need to see 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:55.159 that lived out. 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.359 The Old Testament 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:57.000 gives you that. 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.759 Who are they? 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:58.920 Two female, 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.220 Ruth and Esther. 00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:01.579 Two male, 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.799 Daniel and Job. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:04.339 And in each of those, 00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:04.899 there's also 00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:06.619 an anti-wisdom character, 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.539 or many. 00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.359 Now, 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:08.920 the greatest, 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:09.659 or the worst, 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.339 you should say, 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.700 of the anti-wisdom characters 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.700 in all of the Old Testament, 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.240 I think, 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.879 is the great king, 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:15.920 Nebuchadnezzar. 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.619 The king of the world. 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.019 You know, 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.859 the most powerful man 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.460 who ever lived 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.139 in some senses. 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:22.320 And at the height 00:21:22.320 --> 00:21:22.960 of his power, 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.220 Daniel chapter 4, 00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:26.400 he goes out to his balcony 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:28.160 and he opens his mouth. 00:21:28.280 --> 00:21:28.860 He speaks. 00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.060 And remember what he said? 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.220 He says, 00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:33.259 Is this not Babylon the great, 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.420 which I myself 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.040 have built 00:21:35.040 --> 00:21:36.160 as a royal residence 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.820 by the might of my power 00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:39.180 and because of the glory 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.180 of my majesty? 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:42.080 And the text tells us 00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:42.880 that by the words 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.580 of his mouth, 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:45.320 he was driven away 00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:46.640 from humankind 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.019 to dwell with the beast, 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.400 to eat grass 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.160 like the cattle, 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.500 to grow hair 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.220 like a bird, 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.180 to grow nails 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:54.860 as long as birds' claws. 00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:55.980 Now look, 00:21:56.080 --> 00:21:56.940 what's going on? 00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.900 James chapter 3, 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.440 verse 7, 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.460 is he wrestling 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:03.500 with that Old Testament text? 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.840 When in James 3, 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.480 verse 7, 00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:06.060 he says, 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.560 Every animal, 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:07.960 bird, 00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:08.500 reptile, 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.539 creature of the sea, 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.500 we've tamed him. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.140 We've put him in pens. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.960 We can tame any beast, 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.880 even lions, 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.279 but we cannot tame 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.279 the beast of the tongue. 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.119 And you see, 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.279 Nebuchadnezzar, 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.519 he spoke, 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:25.779 he spoke lies 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.660 and deceit 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.500 and pride 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.880 and he flattered himself 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:30.880 full of selfish ambition, 00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:32.180 exactly what James 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.759 refers to in James 3, 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.220 14, 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.839 and immediately God said, 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.279 I will give you 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.380 what you are. 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:40.200 And he sent him away 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.059 to be like a beast. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.279 You see what he's saying? 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:45.400 If the image of God 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.819 is to speak words 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.279 that are instruments of life, 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.660 then it's opposite. 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.279 You know, 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:53.059 when we speak words of death, 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.259 like Nebuchadnezzar, 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.660 we become beastly. 00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.500 Our beastly speech, 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.460 it dehumanizes. 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:02.039 It dehumanizes the speaker. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.980 It dehumanizes the receiver. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.200 Just think about it. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:05.480 When you, 00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:08.720 a situation we've all been in, 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.440 how many of us 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.720 have been in here this week, 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:11.900 in this situation, 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.480 we've turned to a friend 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:16.440 to talk about another friend. 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:19.360 And we did it behind their back 00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:21.660 and we spoke accurately of them. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.380 You know, 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.740 it's not that we told lies. 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:25.319 We said things that were true, 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.700 but we did it 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:28.259 with the worst motivations, 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.900 selfish ambitions. 00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:31.200 What do we call that? 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.060 We call that gossip. 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.600 And in that moment, 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.840 what we're doing is we're saying 00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.960 that person is less 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.320 the image of God than I am. 00:23:38.300 --> 00:23:39.460 We're cutting them down. 00:23:39.580 --> 00:23:40.480 And the Bible 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.880 subtly, 00:23:42.060 --> 00:23:43.080 theologically hints 00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:43.840 over and over again 00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:45.060 that our sinful speech 00:23:45.060 --> 00:23:46.940 is dehumanizing 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.660 because it desecrates 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.780 the image of God, 00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:50.940 which is to be 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:52.600 a life-giving speaker 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.740 because God 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:55.580 is life-giving speaker. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:56.340 Now, 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:59.320 back to Matthew 12, 36. 00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:02.280 Jesus Christ again says, 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:05.180 anybody who has ever spoken 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:06.340 a careless word 00:24:06.340 --> 00:24:07.660 will be judged 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:09.860 for every careless word 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:11.040 on the day of judgment. 00:24:14.540 --> 00:24:16.220 And maybe there are 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.040 a few of you 00:24:17.040 --> 00:24:19.040 who have not spoken 00:24:19.040 --> 00:24:19.860 a careless word 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:21.019 in the last 12 hours. 00:24:21.280 --> 00:24:22.180 Maybe you're like me. 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.840 And even this afternoon, 00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.900 you struggled. 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.080 You struggled 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:27.100 with careless speech. 00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:29.040 What are we to do? 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.420 And it's no coincidence 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:31.980 at all 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.759 that when you open up 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.759 the Gospel of John, 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.759 John chapter 1, 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.180 the first three words 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.399 are, 00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:39.299 in the beginning, 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:40.819 Genesis 1, 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.839 and the next is, 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.599 the Word. 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.059 The Word. 00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:46.619 You see that 00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:48.319 John's connecting us 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.700 also back to Genesis 1 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.220 and saying, 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:50.839 what do you do 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.859 with your sinful speech? 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:54.059 You see that God 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.819 has spoken. 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:57.200 that the Word 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.139 has gone forth, 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:58.939 that the Word, 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.119 the Logos Himself, 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.319 the very speech 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.039 of God 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.639 is God the Son 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.740 made incarnate. 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.339 And that means 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.139 that if He is 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:08.200 the Logos of God, 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.419 the speech of God, 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.559 the Word of God 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.659 into this world, 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.679 this broken world, 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:15.059 broken by our nasty words, 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.559 He must be 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.700 the instrument of life. 00:25:18.659 --> 00:25:19.779 He must create life. 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.480 He has to. 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.419 He's the Word Himself. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:23.920 And how does He do it? 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.640 How does He do it? 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.900 How does He create life 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.740 for us that have, 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.700 for those of us 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.340 who have wielded 00:25:30.340 --> 00:25:31.840 our mouths unto death, 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.800 what does Jesus Christ 00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:34.160 do for us? 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:35.779 And here it is. 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.720 You can go to one place. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.360 Isaiah 53. 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.360 Isaiah 53 says that 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:44.240 when the Messiah comes, 00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:48.640 when the very speech of God, 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.720 the Creator Himself, 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:50.680 comes to the world, 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:53.360 He will be, 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.019 in our eyes, 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.620 so dehumanized. 00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:58.920 It's said that 00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.620 He would be 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:01.620 so disfigured 00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:03.060 by suffering 00:26:03.060 --> 00:26:04.800 that we would see Him 00:26:04.800 --> 00:26:05.440 like an animal. 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.120 That He would be 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:07.880 like a sheep, 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.500 a lamb, 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:10.700 led to the slaughter 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:12.440 for us. 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:14.160 That the very speech of God, 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.120 the communication of God, 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:16.300 the Creator Himself, 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.980 would go all the way 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.820 to dehumanizing death 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.439 for us, 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.919 that at the cross, 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.319 at the cross, 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.819 the very word of God 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.579 heard nothing 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:27.480 but divine silence 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.200 from His Father. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.119 He was forsaken. 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.200 And you see, 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.839 that means that 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.700 at the cross, 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.259 oh boy, 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.299 Jesus' words, 00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:35.359 Matthew 12, 36, 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.039 come true, 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.659 that every word 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:38.559 will be judged. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.159 It was, 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:39.980 it was, 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:41.099 tonight. 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.359 It was judged. 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:44.639 In other words, 00:26:44.919 --> 00:26:45.460 have your, 00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.619 you can ask this question, 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.859 James says 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:50.500 that our words 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.220 have the power 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.899 to set a hellfire. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.200 He uses the word 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.679 Gehenna 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:55.700 from the Gospels, 00:26:55.919 --> 00:26:56.940 Jesus' word for hell. 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.579 Have your words 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.339 ever set 00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.159 not just a fire 00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:01.000 but a hellfire? 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:02.980 Look, 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.159 if you are in 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:05.220 Christ Jesus tonight, 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.339 then the answer is yes. 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:09.019 you set 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.879 the hellfire 00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:11.539 by which 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.319 He was burned. 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.799 And here in that, 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.819 not only the pronouncement 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.359 of judgment 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:17.419 over our sinful speech 00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:18.099 but the fact that 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.980 Jesus Christ says, 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:19.839 this is how much 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.299 I love you. 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.579 This is how much 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.179 I love you. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.819 This is how much 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.419 I want you. 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.019 This is how much 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:26.019 I want to give you 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.779 the balm 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.339 that ultimately 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.059 will heal you. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.659 That will change 00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:31.679 the heart of deceit 00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.839 into the heart of flesh. 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.099 Jesus Christ 00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:35.939 at the cross says, 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.360 your speech 00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:38.640 is that serious 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:40.259 and my love 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.620 for you 00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:41.240 is this big. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.100 That I would go 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.400 all the way 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.180 to the point of death. 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.559 Dehumanizing death 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.180 like a lamb 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.940 led to the slaughter 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:48.259 to deal with 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.080 this great problem 00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:49.799 that we have, 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.779 our sinful speech. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.180 And so, 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.380 tonight, 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.500 what are you to do 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.080 with yourself? 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.039 The first thing 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.960 Jesus says is 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.580 do nothing. 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.640 Do nothing. 00:27:58.840 --> 00:27:59.320 Receive. 00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.100 Receive 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.779 the work 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.519 of Christ 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.960 for every careless 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.500 word that you've 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.019 ever spoken. 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.519 And that you, 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.359 tonight, 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.299 by faith, 00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.379 believe tonight 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.019 you're forgiven. 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.879 You're forgiven 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.740 for every word. 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.900 Every word that you 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.980 spoke in the past. 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.319 Every word that's 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.539 dehumanizing and harmful 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.299 that you will speak 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:15.920 in the future. 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.440 It's glory. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.099 It's glory. 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.019 It's beauty. 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.839 It's the message 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.359 of hope. 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:21.779 It's the message 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.339 of the gospel. 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.400 Now, thirdly and finally, 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.619 how then should we live? 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:28.500 We've got to say 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.059 something then 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.219 about growing 00:28:30.219 --> 00:28:31.059 in this area 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.859 of our lives 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:33.079 because that's exactly 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:34.000 what God calls us 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:35.059 to here in James 3. 00:28:36.199 --> 00:28:37.039 And so, 00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:37.479 lastly, 00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.219 let's consider 00:28:38.219 --> 00:28:39.019 the wise tongue 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.659 very briefly. 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:42.000 There is a matrix 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.799 for righteous speech 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.699 across the Old 00:28:44.699 --> 00:28:45.359 and New Testament, 00:28:45.479 --> 00:28:46.099 a framework 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:47.059 for how to think 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.500 about it. 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:49.000 What does it look like 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:50.379 to be a holy speaker, 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.359 to be a good speaker, 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.099 to be a person 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:53.139 who speaks words 00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:53.659 of life? 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:55.980 And the framework 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.680 that we get 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.580 all the time 00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:58.480 over and over again, 00:28:58.560 --> 00:29:00.060 it's in Ephesians 4.15, 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.960 verse 25, 00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:02.200 1 John 1, 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.820 John 14 to 17, 00:29:04.040 --> 00:29:04.900 and right here 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:06.779 in James 3.14, 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.680 he says that 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.440 the key ingredients 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:11.540 are that we always 00:29:11.540 --> 00:29:13.400 combine truth 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:14.720 with love, 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.980 never one without the other. 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.259 And that's, 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.720 it's critical. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.180 You know, 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.640 you can say, 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.160 what does it mean 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.900 to not lie 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:25.000 and it's a little 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.720 too simplistic 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.700 in the eyes 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.120 of Scripture 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.620 to say, 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:27.980 well, 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.340 it just means 00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:28.980 to tell the truth. 00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:30.940 Actually, 00:29:31.080 --> 00:29:31.780 righteous speech 00:29:31.780 --> 00:29:32.620 is more than that. 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.160 Righteous speech 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.820 is more than that. 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.720 Righteous speech 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.660 is not just the way 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.259 you would speak 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:38.280 in the courtroom 00:29:38.280 --> 00:29:40.220 as if you were saying, 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:40.380 look, 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:40.880 I'm going to tell you 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:42.080 exactly as it was recorded 00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:42.800 on my iPhone. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.140 No, 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:44.180 it's more than that. 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.940 And I can show you this 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.480 by a simple question. 00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.560 Let me ask you, 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.160 those of you 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:50.720 who are married, 00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:51.960 but this works for anybody, 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:53.700 husbands and wives, 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:56.299 have you ever spoke 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.440 accurately 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.980 the truth 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:01.200 to your spouse 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.840 at the wrong time 00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.860 and in the wrong way? 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.340 Oh boy, 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:06.840 you have. 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.340 Friends, 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.360 have you ever spoken 00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:10.019 to your friend 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.720 the truth 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:12.620 in the wrong time, 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.160 at the wrong time 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.740 and the wrong way 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.819 with the wrong motivation 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:16.120 and then later 00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:16.680 you defend yourself 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:16.819 and say, 00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:17.539 I was just telling you 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.100 the truth. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.519 It was just the truth. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:19.799 No, 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.420 God says, 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:20.720 no, 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.279 that is not 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.099 righteous speech. 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.599 And James makes 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.460 very clear here 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.259 in James 3, 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.299 12 to 14 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:29.639 that truth 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.460 is not enough, 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.180 but actually 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.160 the greatest question 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:33.720 is why am I saying 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.740 the things that I'm saying? 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:35.859 And he says, 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.839 so if you say anything 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.539 that's motivated 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.819 by selfish ambition, 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.759 then it becomes untruth. 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.220 In other words, 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.559 it's not God glorifying, 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.400 it's not righteous, 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.420 it might be accurate, 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:46.160 but it's not the truth 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:46.900 with a capital T, 00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.820 it's not righteousness, 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.740 it's not the way of Christ, 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:51.240 it's not true truth, 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.720 if you will. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.200 Let me give you 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.100 just a couple examples 00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:55.500 and we'll close. 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.880 Have you ever 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:58.880 spoken accurately 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.500 to a friend 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.660 about another friend, 00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.840 but you did it 00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:04.820 for selfish ambitions? 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.259 That's gossip. 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.340 You know, 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.000 have you ever spoken 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.560 accurately 00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:10.759 directly to a person 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.780 and said exactly 00:31:11.780 --> 00:31:12.280 what you think 00:31:12.280 --> 00:31:13.140 their problem is, 00:31:13.320 --> 00:31:14.240 but you did it 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.200 for selfish ambition? 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.720 That's spite. 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:17.940 It's a wound. 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.920 It's a word that kills. 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.519 Have you ever 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:21.580 spoken about yourself 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.620 to other people 00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.380 accurately, 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.740 but with the motivation 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.640 of selfish ambition? 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:28.019 That's boasting. 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.720 That's pride. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.900 You say we can speak 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.980 true words 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:32.279 that are at the same time 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.039 sinful words. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.240 But the matrix 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.360 always across the Bible 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:36.640 is that truth 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.940 be unified 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:39.380 to love. 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.759 One last example, 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.100 a striking example 00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:43.880 from Proverbs 27, 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:45.059 verse 6. 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.860 It's one of my favorites. 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.980 Wounds from a friend 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.080 are faithful, 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.720 but an enemy 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.799 multiplies kisses. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.200 Wounds from a friend 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.220 are faithful, 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.559 but an enemy 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.680 multiplies kisses. 00:31:59.180 --> 00:31:59.900 You see what it's saying? 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.980 That when you have 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.380 a friend, 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.120 a true friend, 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.400 they will speak 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.420 words to you, 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:05.180 truth, 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.580 in love, 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.600 that wounds you. 00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:08.559 You know, 00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:09.719 it's not the sword, 00:32:10.219 --> 00:32:11.699 the dagger that kills 00:32:11.699 --> 00:32:13.039 by the way of a mortal wound. 00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:15.019 It's the surgeon's scalpel. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:16.519 A true friend will cut you 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.539 with the surgeon's scalpel. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.139 We'll say, 00:32:18.219 --> 00:32:18.339 look, 00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:19.039 this is what I think 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.980 is going on in your life 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.000 and I love you enough 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.819 to tell you 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:23.779 so that you might be healed 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.639 and grow. 00:32:25.199 --> 00:32:26.059 But an enemy, 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:27.240 the enemy comes up 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.839 and kisses you 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.839 on the cheek all the time. 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.519 What's it talking about? 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.959 The sin of flattery. 00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:34.400 Flattery is a form 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.940 of deceitful lying. 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.900 It comes and praises 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:39.120 a person all the time. 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.140 But look, 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:41.259 none of you are that great. 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.299 I'm not that great. 00:32:42.380 --> 00:32:43.180 We're not that great. 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.500 We can't be flattered. 00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:46.100 It's not true. 00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.100 It's a lie. 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.140 We're not that great. 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:50.200 An enemy multiplies 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:51.180 kisses on our cheek, 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:51.920 but a true friend 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:53.180 tells the truth in love. 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.019 You see, 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.380 truth without love 00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:56.019 is spite, 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:58.079 but love without truth 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.299 is flattery. 00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:00.680 And neither of them 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:01.319 are really love. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.019 Now, lastly, 00:33:03.100 --> 00:33:03.600 let me leave you 00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.279 with three thoughts. 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:06.059 And I'll rattle these off 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:07.319 in 30 seconds each. 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:08.740 Three thoughts 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.600 to walk away with. 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:09.920 One, 00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.259 remember, 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:13.200 your speech 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.039 can be forgiven. 00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:17.380 If you are a believer 00:33:17.380 --> 00:33:18.600 in Jesus Christ tonight, 00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.319 it has been. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:21.680 Jesus Christ went to hellfire 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.539 for your speech. 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.920 And that's an invitation. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.340 But look, 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.079 that means, 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.279 that means then 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.700 that you've got to be willing 00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.779 to turn around 00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:32.119 and forgive the speech 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:32.619 of others. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.539 And so, 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.160 the Christian life 00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:36.359 cannot be one marked 00:33:36.359 --> 00:33:39.279 by harboring speech wounds. 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:40.680 Wounds from the past 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.440 or the way people 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:42.160 have spoken to us. 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:43.220 We've got to be, 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.379 Christ says, 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:46.680 take this gospel of grace 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.220 and then go 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.200 and live like it too. 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:49.339 And so, 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.359 we've got to be people 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:51.460 that are so motivated 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.000 by Jesus 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.779 that we forgive 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.619 sinful speech. 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.460 Number one. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:54.960 Number two. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:57.840 Number two is, 00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:59.120 at the same time, 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.180 at the same time, 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.059 it's very important 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.720 that we go forth 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.000 from here 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:03.220 remembering how serious 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.299 our words are. 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.819 John Webster, 00:34:06.100 --> 00:34:06.740 one of the great 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.980 British theologians 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:09.240 of the past generation. 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.559 Many of you 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.119 will know 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.000 of John Webster. 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.400 John died 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.519 just a few years ago. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.559 He was a theologian 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.300 at St. Andrews. 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.720 He wrote a wonderful essay 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:19.079 about speech 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.980 in the Bible 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.820 and in theology. 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:21.720 And this is what 00:34:21.720 --> 00:34:22.599 he says about it. 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:24.639 He says that 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:27.380 what is said 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:29.059 may not be unsaid. 00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:31.659 Speech sets up meaning 00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:32.339 in this world 00:34:32.339 --> 00:34:33.219 which may never 00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:34.440 be retracted. 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:36.199 Our words can be 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:36.860 recanted, 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.519 withdrawn, 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.339 renounced, 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:38.960 forgiven, 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.380 but they cannot 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:41.519 be unsaid. 00:34:42.319 --> 00:34:43.279 Because that which 00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:44.219 has been said 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:45.159 is irreversible. 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.860 If I am called 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:47.960 a fool by someone, 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.719 I am now the one 00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.319 who has once 00:34:50.319 --> 00:34:51.079 been called a fool. 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.259 And the someone 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:53.300 who called me a fool 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:54.240 is now the person 00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:55.420 who once called me a fool. 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.620 And the world 00:34:56.620 --> 00:34:57.560 is now a place 00:34:57.560 --> 00:34:58.600 in which that someone 00:34:58.600 --> 00:34:59.920 once called me a fool. 00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.200 And so a fool 00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:02.120 I will be. 00:35:03.560 --> 00:35:04.080 And you see 00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:04.540 what he's saying? 00:35:04.600 --> 00:35:05.100 He's saying that 00:35:05.100 --> 00:35:05.740 yes, your words 00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:06.340 can be forgiven, 00:35:06.560 --> 00:35:07.480 but the Christian 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.460 has to be more serious 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:09.160 about our speech 00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:09.920 than anybody else. 00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.980 Because words 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:14.000 can have serious 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.660 consequences 00:35:14.660 --> 00:35:15.580 for all of life. 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.640 They're very serious 00:35:16.640 --> 00:35:17.320 because we're 00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:18.440 made to speak 00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:19.340 like God speaks. 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:20.640 Lastly, 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:23.980 walking in step 00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:24.759 with the Spirit 00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.199 here 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:27.299 creates a real paradox. 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.460 It's the last thing. 00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.299 Maybe you caught it. 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:30.759 It comes up 00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.659 all across the Old 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.239 and New Testament 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:33.179 when the Bible 00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.139 talks about speech. 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:35.119 It's one of the 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:35.679 difficult things 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.639 to know what to do with. 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.819 Jesus says, 00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.920 out of the heart 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:41.279 the mouth speaks. 00:35:42.339 --> 00:35:42.940 In other words, 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:43.440 Jesus says 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.119 ever and ever again 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.980 like Proverbs 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.920 and like James 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:47.139 that you're going 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.819 to speak 00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:48.319 in accordance 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.019 with the condition 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.620 of your heart. 00:35:51.120 --> 00:35:52.220 But then at the same time 00:35:52.220 --> 00:35:52.840 the Bible comes 00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:53.160 and says 00:35:53.160 --> 00:35:53.880 stop speaking 00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:54.380 like that. 00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:56.039 You see the paradox? 00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.039 It says 00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:57.940 you can't help 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.559 but speak 00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.600 according to the condition 00:35:59.600 --> 00:36:00.180 of your heart 00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:02.900 and stop doing it. 00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:05.380 And there's a paradox 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.539 a relationship there 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:08.059 and it's because 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:09.059 the Bible understands 00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.580 number one 00:36:09.580 --> 00:36:10.740 that when you're in Christ 00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:11.940 you have the Holy Spirit 00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:13.160 you have the X factor there. 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:13.600 You know, 00:36:13.640 --> 00:36:14.840 you have the Holy Spirit 00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:15.920 who can do the work. 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:17.720 But at the same time 00:36:17.720 --> 00:36:18.800 there's work for us 00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:19.400 to do here. 00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:20.460 We're called to grow. 00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.260 And here it is. 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:24.599 When we decide 00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:25.639 to be conscious 00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:27.460 of our particular 00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.340 sin patterns 00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:28.840 when it comes 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:29.539 to our words 00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:29.820 you know, 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.480 what do you struggle 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.180 with particularly? 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:32.460 Is it gossip? 00:36:32.700 --> 00:36:33.380 Is it slander? 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.420 Is it slanting? 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.079 Is it exaggeration? 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.400 Is it lies? 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.340 Is it small lies 00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:39.159 or big lies? 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:41.639 Whatever it may be 00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:42.300 are you conscious 00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:42.800 of it? 00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:43.880 Of your sinful 00:36:43.880 --> 00:36:44.599 speech patterns? 00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:45.539 And then the Bible 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:46.119 comes and says 00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:46.319 look, 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.699 here's why you've 00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:48.380 got to put it away. 00:36:49.279 --> 00:36:50.179 Because it's true 00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:51.259 that our souls 00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.219 are what we call 00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:53.000 plastic. 00:36:53.219 --> 00:36:54.420 Not in a material sense 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.000 but in the sense 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:56.219 that they're malleable. 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:58.099 That we can change. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:36:58.719 That the more 00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.599 we speak truth 00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:00.279 the more we become 00:37:00.279 --> 00:37:00.940 truth speakers. 00:37:01.839 --> 00:37:03.019 And when you speak lies 00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:04.380 you become a liar 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.239 more and more. 00:37:06.299 --> 00:37:06.559 You see, 00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.360 out of the heart 00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.219 the mouth speaks 00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:09.079 but also whatever 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:10.039 the mouth speaks 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:11.000 the heart becomes. 00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:12.860 And so it works 00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:13.619 both ways. 00:37:13.619 --> 00:37:15.039 And so in the power 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:15.880 of the Holy Spirit 00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:16.819 the Bible says 00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.539 how do you grow? 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:18.859 Well, 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:20.159 in prayer 00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:21.639 you stop lying. 00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:23.339 You say 00:37:23.339 --> 00:37:24.639 I'm going to fight this 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:25.500 nail and tooth. 00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.199 I'm going to put away 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:26.900 the little lies 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.960 that I'm addicted to. 00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.299 And then all of a sudden 00:37:29.299 --> 00:37:30.279 your soul changes. 00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:31.739 And all of a sudden 00:37:31.739 --> 00:37:32.579 you love the truth 00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.639 and desire changes 00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:34.659 and you're reshaped. 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:36.619 And that's how it works. 00:37:36.799 --> 00:37:37.799 That's how growth works 00:37:37.799 --> 00:37:39.159 in the Christian life. 00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:40.719 And so I can 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.699 leave you with this 00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:42.259 last word 00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:42.940 and it's this. 00:37:43.640 --> 00:37:44.400 We need 00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.860 counter habits 00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:48.720 to our sinful speech 00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:49.900 our sinful patterns. 00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:51.220 And here's the greatest 00:37:51.220 --> 00:37:51.760 counter habit 00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:52.500 you can take away. 00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:55.480 Swim in the river 00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:57.420 bathe in the waters 00:37:57.420 --> 00:38:00.540 of the speech himself. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:02.840 How do you grow? 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:05.000 Bathe yourself 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.020 in the word. 00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:08.240 The speech of God. 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:08.859 Jesus. 00:38:09.459 --> 00:38:10.419 Meditate on him 00:38:10.419 --> 00:38:12.559 and his very speech 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.359 we have here. 00:38:14.399 --> 00:38:15.219 And in it 00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:15.819 your soul 00:38:15.819 --> 00:38:16.699 will be transformed. 00:38:16.899 --> 00:38:17.539 You'll learn 00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:18.579 the habits 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:19.559 of righteous speech. 00:38:20.439 --> 00:38:21.319 Let's pray together 00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:22.299 and ask God 00:38:22.299 --> 00:38:23.379 to give us these hearts. 00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:23.799 Father, 00:38:23.899 --> 00:38:24.559 we pray now 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:26.119 that you would change us 00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:26.859 as speakers. 00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:27.819 We give thanks 00:38:27.819 --> 00:38:28.779 that you've given us 00:38:28.779 --> 00:38:30.539 the power of speech. 00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:31.359 We give thanks 00:38:31.359 --> 00:38:32.039 that we have been 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:33.159 differentiated from the 00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:33.899 animal kingdom 00:38:33.899 --> 00:38:34.619 in this way. 00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:36.920 and we pray now, 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.139 Lord, 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:38.000 that you would forgive 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:38.859 and forget 00:38:38.859 --> 00:38:40.259 the many sins 00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:41.099 that we have spoken 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.480 through which we have spoken. 00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.739 And we give thanks 00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:45.519 that you have 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.119 in Jesus. 00:38:46.259 --> 00:38:46.799 We give thanks 00:38:46.799 --> 00:38:47.539 that it is true 00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:48.199 that our sins 00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:49.239 are cast away 00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:50.980 as far as the east 00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:51.859 is from the west 00:38:51.859 --> 00:38:53.779 because hellfire 00:38:53.779 --> 00:38:54.900 was set to Christ 00:38:54.900 --> 00:38:55.619 at the cross 00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:57.099 and he did not 00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:57.699 stay dead. 00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.799 And so in the power 00:38:59.799 --> 00:39:00.259 of Jesus 00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:01.780 we rest 00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:03.740 in the forgiveness 00:39:03.740 --> 00:39:04.840 for our sins 00:39:04.840 --> 00:39:06.900 and now send us 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:07.560 from this place 00:39:07.560 --> 00:39:09.180 as new selves, 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:10.080 new speakers, 00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:11.080 speakers that are 00:39:11.080 --> 00:39:13.060 birthed by Jesus, 00:39:13.240 --> 00:39:14.540 regenerated by the Spirit, 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:15.460 given life 00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:16.640 to speak words 00:39:16.640 --> 00:39:17.340 of life. 00:39:18.100 --> 00:39:18.660 So help us 00:39:18.660 --> 00:39:19.220 in this battle, 00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:19.460 Lord, 00:39:19.520 --> 00:39:20.720 we pray and we ask 00:39:20.720 --> 00:39:22.300 in Christ's name. 00:39:23.020 --> 00:39:23.340 Amen. 00:39:24.620 --> 00:39:25.860 Let's respond 00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:26.780 to God's word 00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:28.020 by singing together. 00:39:28.200 --> 00:39:28.620 We're going 00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:30.559 to sing the hymn, 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:32.339 I heard the voice 00:39:32.339 --> 00:39:33.440 of Jesus say, 00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.400 let's hear the voice 00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:34.859 of Christ 00:39:34.859 --> 00:39:35.659 in prayer 00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:36.559 as we sing this, 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.739 the words of this hymn 00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:38.159 to God. 00:39:38.259 --> 00:39:39.079 So let's stand together 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.019 and we'll sing.