We should turn back to James
chapter 3 and after the service if we could have some help getting
the back set up for the marriage of Donald and Maggie. Everybody's
excited about that. James chapter 3. Let me read
these two verses again. My brethren. I don't have my speaker on. Anybody
know where it's at? I guess I just need to be conscious
of not walking away from the fulcrum. My brethren, be not many masters,
knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For
in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word,
the same is a perfect man. and able also to bridle the whole
body. Now, James 3 is a very unique
chapter. It's the chapter on the tongue. We would all do well, beginning
here, to read it very often. The chapter on the tongue, the
muscle in our mouth that demonstrates what's in our hearts. Out of
the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. Now this muscle
can be used for such good, preaching the gospel, praising God, giving a word in season to him
that's weary. words of encouragement and blessing
to those who hear them. And this muscle can be used for
such evil. Look in verse 5 of the same chapter. Even so the tongue is a little
member and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter, a
forest, just a little fire kindles Now look at James' description
of the tongue, and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members,
that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course
of nature, and is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beast,
and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is
tame. and have been tamed of mankind, but the tongue can no
man tame." Have you ever been able to tame your tongue? Have you ever said with David
in Psalm 39, 1, I'll take heed that I sin not with my tongue? I don't know how many resolves
I've made. How successful have I been? The tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil. An uncontrollable evil is what
the word means. Full of deadly poison. Now what a description of my
tongue. He's talking about my tongue.
He's talking about his own tongue. What words can come from the tongue
that are destructive? A false gospel. A false gospel
that's spoken, that's not the truth. Slanderous words. Words of gossip and lies and
flattery. What an evil thing. The wise
man said in Proverbs 18, 21, death and life are in the power of the tongue. The Lord said, by your words,
you'll be justified. And by your words, you'll be
condemned. What a powerful statement. Now James begins with the tongue
of the teacher. My brethren, Be not many masters
or teachers. Now, like I said, in religion,
what you do when somebody starts coming to church, make them a
teacher to keep them coming, give them something to do to
keep them going. But James doesn't speak like that at all. He says,
do not aspire to be a teacher. We have way too many of them. Paul spake in First Timothy 1,
of those who desire to be teachers of the law, understanding neither
what they say nor whereof they affirm. They want to be teachers,
but they have no business teaching, and we have way too much of that.
Someone who is a teacher has greater accountability, and if
wrong, will be judged more severely. Don't aspire. to being a teacher. Now, the Lord has taught us to
pray for him to send forth labors into his harvest, hadn't he?
Remember there in Matthew chapter 9 where he looked at the people
as a sheep without a shepherd and he said, you pray to the
Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labors into his harvest. If God has sent a man, I want
to hear what he has to say, don't you? I desperately want to hear
what he has to say because he has a message that actually comes
from the Lord himself. There is such a thing as God
calling a man to teach and to preach. But aspiring to teach
when I've not been sent by God is not a good thing. We have
way too much of that. And all we do is put ourselves
in the position of greater condemnation and greater accountability. Don't
desire, don't aspire to be a teacher. Now, I love preaching the gospel. I love being a teacher. I believe
the Lord has called me to it. I don't have any question the
Lord's called me to it. I love it. That being said, I wouldn't wish it on anybody.
And I wouldn't advise anybody to do it. Now, if the Lord's
in it, wonderful. But don't aspire. James says this. Don't aspire
to be a teacher because all you're going to do is put yourself in
the state of greater accountability and greater condemnation. So
don't aspire to be a teacher. And here's why. Look what he
says in verse two. And I don't think a truer statement has ever
been made. In many things, we offend all. Now, don't you just know that
that's so? In many things, we all offend. We all sin. We all stumble. And James is including himself.
when he says, in many things we offend all. We are all sinful, weak, flawed,
contradictory men and women. Amen? So it is. Here is the testimony of every
believer. This is David's testimony. This
is the way David, the man after God's own heart, described himself
more than any other way. He said, I'm poor and needy. In many things, we offend all. I'm poor. Right now, I don't
have anything to bring to the table. I don't have anything
to recommend me to God that I've done. I'm poor. I have nothing.
I'm completely dependent upon the charity of God. I'm completely
dependent upon the mercy of Christ. I'm poor. I don't have, right
now, right now, I don't have anything that I would bring to
God other than let me be found in Christ. Right now, that's
all I have. I don't have anything else. I'm
poor. And oh, what needs I have. I need God's mercy. I need to have my sins forgiven. I need for God to make me righteous. These are things that I'm absolutely
powerless to do. I need for God to give me a heart,
a new heart, a clean heart that believes the gospel. that looks
to Christ only, that repents, that loves. I need Him to do
that for me. I need this. I need for God to turn me. If
He doesn't turn me, I won't be turned. I need God to cause me
to do His will. I need God to put a hedge around
me. I need Him to let me not even be tempted. I need Him to
deliver me from evil. Oh, the great needs that I have. I have nothing. I need everything. Now that's the testimony of every
believer. James said, in many things we
offend all. Do you believe this about yourself?
When you hear this description, in many things we offend all,
do you think, that's me. That's me. Do you feel qualified
to be a teacher? Do you feel qualified to sit
in judgment on anybody over anything. In many things, we offend all. Look what James said in James
1.19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak. slow to wrath, slow to pop off
in anger at what God says in his word. Turn with me to the
book of Ecclesiastes for a moment. Chapter five. Ecclesiastes chapter five, verse
one. Keep thy foot when thou goest
to the house of God, And be more ready to hear than to give the
sacrifice of fools. For they do not consider that
they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and
let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God.
For God is in heaven, and you are upon the earth. Therefore,
let thy words be few. Now this is the attitude I'm
to have in the house of God. I want to hear. I want to hear. Now, notice what James says in
verse two, for many things we offend all. If any man offend
not in word, the same is a perfect man. A mature man is what that
means. and able also to bridle the whole
body, if any man offend not in word. Now, as a man grows in
grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
it ought to affect his speech, shouldn't it? If any man offend
not in word. Look what James 1.26 says. If
any man among you seems to be religious, and bridles not his
tongue." Now what that's a reference to,
more than anything else, is boasting, bragging on your works, saying
things contrary to the gospel. If any man seems, appears to
be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his
own heart, this man's religion is vain. Now, there are two ways,
I think this is interesting, there's two ways not to offend
by word. You know what the first way is? Keep your mouth shut. I love
what Jack Shanks said many years ago. Never lose an opportunity
to shut up Let me read you some scriptures Proverbs chapter 17 verses 27
and 28 he that hath knowledge Spareth his words even a fool
when he holdeth his peace, is counted a wise man. And he that
shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. I love
that scripture. I mean, even an idiot, if he
keeps his mouth closed, people think there must be something
to it. Deep, deep waters in there. Listen to this scripture. Proverbs
10, 19. In the multitude of words, there wanteth not sin. But he that refraineth his lips
is wise. Proverbs 12, 13, the wicked is
snared by the transgression of his lips. Proverbs 13, 3, he
that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life. But he that openeth
wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 15, 2, the tongue of
the wise useth knowledge of the right. But the mouth of fools
poureth out foolishness. Proverbs 15.4 A wholesome tongue
is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Proverbs 15.28 The heart of the
righteous studieth to answer, but the mouth of the wicked poureth
out foolishness. Proverbs 18, 7, a fool's mouth
is his destruction and his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs
21, 23, whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul
from troubles. The wise man said in Ecclesiastes
chapter 3, verse 7, there's a time to speak and there is a time
to speak. And there's a time to keep silence. I wish I'd learned that. Think
of all the words that you said that you wish you didn't say. A whole lot of them, aren't there? Hurtful words, thoughtless words,
hateful words, Self-promoting words that you knew that's what
it was as soon as you said it. Slanderous words. Lying words. Flattering words. Ignorant words. When you didn't have the knowledge
to make the statement you made. Erroneous words. As I said, is
it any wonder that David said, I'll take heed to my ways that
I sin not with my tongue. I'll keep my mouth with a bridle
while the wicked is before me. But if you go on reading in that
psalm, he said, I couldn't, I couldn't keep it down. I exploded. Now remember, he is speaking
of the tongue of the teacher. What damaged the wrong teaching?
can do when the wrong words are said. Turn with me for a moment
to Matthew chapter 12. These are the words of the Lord
Jesus. You know, this just makes me
feel bad. Thank God my standing before
God isn't based upon how well I can hold my tongue. But I'd
like to learn to hold it, wouldn't you? I'd like to learn nothing
but gracious words to come out of it. But look what our Lord
says in Matthew chapter 12. Beginning in verse 33. Either make the tree good, and
its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit
corrupt. For the tree is known by its
fruit. O generation of vipers, how can
you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh. A good man, out of the good treasure
of the heart, bringeth forth good things. And an evil man
out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things. Now, a good man, you know who
that man is? That's the man who God has saved. That's the man
who believes the gospel. He's still got an evil nature.
You know that as well as I do. But this is the man that God
has saved. You know what's in his heart?
The gospel. Words contrary to the gospel
are not going to come out of his heart because he hates anything
that's contrary to the gospel. He loves the gospel of God's
grace. He wants Christ to get all the glory. He wants none
to go to man. That's in his heart. And he despises
any words that would come out that would be contrary to the
gospel. Good things come out of his mouth.
Things like Christ is all. Things like God forbid that I
should glory save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Good things, the words of the
gospel. But an evil man, out of the evil
treasure of his heart, evil things will come out. Somebody says,
do they really believe all the things you said? Yeah, they do.
Yeah, they do. If it comes out, yep, that's
what they believe. They believe that. An evil man, out of the
evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth evil things. Verse 36, but I say unto you, By thy words thou shalt be justified
and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Somebody who believes justification, you really believe that what
Christ did actually put away your sins and justified you. It's going to come out in your
speech. It's going to be obvious that that's what you really believe.
Christ is the only righteousness you have. You really believe
He was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification.
You really believe He's all in salvation. You really believe
the great glorious truth of justification by grace, justification by blood,
justification by faith. You believe the glorious truth.
That's the central truth of Scripture. This is what glorifies Christ. I love the way he said regarding
that man who beat on his breast, God be merciful to me, the sinner. And Christ said, I say unto you,
that man went down to his house justified rather than the other. Your words will line up with
that. And if you don't believe that
by your words, what you say is the index of your heart. What
I say is the index of my heart. What do I believe? What do I
say? Well, that's what I believe. You come hear me preach? What's
he saying? That is what he believes. I believe that Christ is my justification
before God. I really believe that, and I
dare not believe anything else. By your words, you'll be justified. By your words, you give man glory.
You give the flesh glory. By your words, you will be condemned. Would you turn with me to 1 Corinthians
chapter 3? This passage of scripture was
a blessing to consider. Now, I want my words to be gold, silver, and precious
stones. The words that come from this
place, and not words of wood, hay, and stubble. Now in 1 Corinthians
chapter 3, Paul is talking about the ministry. That's the main
subject. He said, I have laid the foundation,
and another man buildeth thereon, but let every man take heed how
he buildeth thereon. And what that building is, is
words. Words. Now let's read this chapter. 1 Corinthians chapter 3. And I, brethren, could not speak
unto you as unto spiritual, he's talking about what he had
to say, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I fed
you with milk, not with meat, for hitherto you were not able
to bear it. Neither yet now are you able, for you're yet carnal,
yet just like unbelievers. For where is there among you
envying and strife and divisions? Are you not carnal and walk as
men, walk as lost men? Were these people saved? Yes,
they were. Yes, they were. He calls them brethren. And he
says, you're acting just like unbelievers. And they were. And it was seen in this envy,
this strife, this division. And here's where it was at. They
were preacher worshipers. For while one saith, I am of
Apollos, of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is
Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord
gave to every man? I planted, and Apollos watered,
but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth
anything, neither he that watereth." He's nothing. It's God that gives
the increase. Don't look to men. Now he that
planteth and he that watereth are one. And every man shall
receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are
laborers together with God. You're God's husbandry. You're
God's building. According to the grace of God
which is given to me as a wise master builder, I've laid the
foundation. And another builds thereon. But
let every man take heed how he builds thereon. For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. If any
man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made
manifest. For the day shall declare it,
and it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which
is built thereon, he shall receive reward. If any man's work shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved,
yet so as by fire. Now what in the world does that
mean? There's one foundation, Christ
Jesus the Lord. He's the only foundation. Man preaches the gospel when
he preaches Christ as the only foundation. He's all you got. Now he talks about these men
using wood, hay, and stubble, gold, silver, and precious stones. Now I can tell you exactly what
wood, hay, and stubble is. It's all this preaching that
tells you how to live. It's all this preaching that
tells you what you need to do in order to get better. It's
all this preaching. It's all this how-to preaching. All it is, is wood, hay, and
stubble. How to get a church to grow? Wood, hay, and stubble. How to improve your life? Wood, hay, and stubble. Anything, listen to this statement
very carefully, anything that causes you to look anywhere but
Christ alone is wood, hay, and stubble. Now if in this message
All you get is, man, I need to watch my tongue. That is wood, hay, and stow. If that's all you get out of
it, the job of the preacher is to call upon men to look to Jesus
Christ only, all the time, as everything in their salvation,
no matter what the circumstance. That is gold, silver, and precious
stones. And that person who looks to
Christ, you know, I think of this, well, what should I do? Look to Christ? Or what if, look to the Lord
Jesus Christ? Well, how can I look to Christ? Let us run with patience the
race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and the
finisher of our faith. Look to Christ. Rest in Him. All this other stuff, there's
really nothing to it. You get, well, I'm going to make
sure I never speak bad about anybody else again. I hope you
don't. I hope you don't. I hope I don't. I hope I don't. Make it your goal. These things
riding to you that you should not, we ought not sin. Will your
lack of speaking bad make you feel better about yourself? Well,
you've missed it all together. Our only salvation is in Christ
Jesus, looking to Him only. Now, I want to have a tongue
that speaks words of encouragement and words of grace and that glorifies
God. But my hope is not in my speech. It's in Him representing me before
the Father and really believing that everything God requires
of me, He looks to Him for. Now that's what lasts, isn't
it? Gold, silver and precious stones. The picture is permanence. Life is short and soon will pass. All that's done for Christ shall
last. Bologna. Life is short and soon
will pass. All that's done by Christ will
last. That's gold, silver, and precious
stone. And I know this, the more I look
to Him, the more I'll desire to be like Him. I'm just sure
of that. The more I look to him only.
When I start looking to myself for anything, I start going down. I start going south. I look to
him. That's what lasts. That's not
what is going to be burned up in the fire. Now, what about
this man who uses wood, hay, and stubble? He'll be saved so
as by fire. You know what that means? That
means all of his converts weren't saved. He's going to see them
all burned up and what he did using wood hanging stubble was
a complete waste of time. All burned up. He'll be saved,
yet so as by fire. Now, will that man have a lower
position in glory than the man who used gold, silver, and precious
stones? No. You see, I have one reason
to be in glory. Christ. Only. What about that man who suffers
loss? He has one reason for being in
glory. Christ only. Don't aspire to teach. Remember,
in many things, in many things, we offend all. If a man to offend not in words,
His words are the words of the gospel, not words of salvation
by works, not boasting in his own works. You know, your brother,
I want you to think about how you struggle personally with
your sin. Your brother struggles just as
much as you do. He's in the same place, exactly. So don't pretend to be something
you're not, like you don't have that kind of struggle. You're
brothers just like you. Don't give boastful words that
aren't true. May the Lord enable us to be
like our Master, meek and lowly in heart. May we know when to
be silent, and may our words be the words of life. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's blessed
name that we might be enabled by your
grace to not offend with our tongue Lord, that is impossible
for us. We're so weak. We're so sinful.
We're so aware of it. But Lord, we ask for grace that
we might be privileged to not sin with our tongue. We know when to be silent and
when to speak your word. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.