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Really.
I don't have a scripture, but I'd like to read one version.
Turned in the book of James.
OK.
Capricornia.
March 1.
My brethren.
Be not many masters knowing that we shall receive the greater condominium. Now if I understand it correctly, this should be not many features.
Knowing that, we shall be seen to greater combination.
00:05:53
I said I did not have the scripture before me and I didn't.
Yeah, but I made this first. I was just wondering if this chapter is going to be exhausted.
I did not have a scripture ready.
It was just that first.
I remember some time ago, Brother ******** Conference years ago, I said, you know, we were so very old men on the practical Book of games.
Well, I I'm in favor of getting some practical medicine from James Chapter 3.
Pretty good. OK, after three of our squats, my brethren, he has many masses known that we shall receive the great condemnation for many things. We offend all. If any man offend not in words. That thing is perfect for me, a perfect man, and it will also drive the whole body. Behold, if you put this in the voice of narrow that they may obey us and adjourn about their whole body.
Behold also the ship is so made me so great and I really can't win yet but they turned about their small helm with us. However, the government is Even so the communism member and both did great things. Behold how great matter a little fire England.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, so that the sun among our members, that it defies the whole body, and set upon fire the force of nature. And they set on fire of hell for every kind of being inferred and serpent.
And The thing is, the seed is tanks and has been changed in mankind.
But the tongue had no maintain. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
There with next we God even the father and there with cursing men which I made after the military thought as the thing matters with his blessing cursing my brethren. These things fought in October Eve that's a fountain pen fought the same place 3/4 and dinner and the six three my brother Allah Terry either of the vine thick.
So it knows happening Turkey or so forth and fresh.
Who is the wise man and then docked among you that he shall have a good conversation his words with him, but if he has a bit of MDA in striking my heart. Lorry not lying up against the truth. This missile descended nothing about but his birthday eventual beverage. So we're ending and drive Is there a confusion and every evil word, but the wisdom that is from above is true and pure of.
That's feasible, gentle and easy to be treated full of Arsene and good fruits and with that cash outing and last hypocrisy and the fruit of righteousness is so repeat of them that make Jesus.
Teachers knowing that we shall exceed the greater condemnation for judgment. And so as far as background is concerned, James.
Uh, it was one of the fossils as well, no doubt that had remembrance of a lot of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 23 and verse 8, the Lord said in verse 7, the pharmacy is described.
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They love the uppermost cruel and the thief, and the chief seats in the synagogue, and greens in the market, and they call them men, Rabbi, rabbi, or nature beyond equal Rabbi. For one is your Master, King of Christ, and your all brethren. And so there was a tendency on this part, and the Lord solemnly refused these that were in the place of teaching and leadership in Israel. And the condemnation was not that they were teaching the word of God.
That was all well and good, but they were, they were teaching me what they weren't doing at all. Their lives were not banging up at all what they were teaching. And what a solemn thing then for even those of us who are believers and who do have opportunity from time to time and teaching at the Word. And that's why I think my brother mentioned this at the beginning. What a solemn responsibility that there is for those of us now who may take part this afternoon.
An acknowledge or exhort, uh, those are the last bus assembled here after a walk before the Lord, a walk in separation to guard her own tongue and to deliver his honor and glory. Our own lives are pulled into consistency. All our strong things that taking such a position, what's going to happen in the day of the judgment seat of Christ that we can receive a greater as of our condemnation, not condemnation actually, but judgment, a loss of reward.
Things will be burned up and won't be profitable at all for reboot.
And it and it occurs to me that it would be nice to turn the Romans 12 over.
Or two.
Be sure to speak out for everybody. All right, I'll do that. I understand.
Let us turn to Romans chapter 12, uh for two verses.
Or beginning at verse 2.
DNA conform to this world as Romans 12/2 well be transformed.
By the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Well, I say through the grace given unto me, that every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than the author.
But the thing soberly, according to God had dealt every man the measure of faith. Now I call this attention to this that before the third verse, we read it in the second, be not conformed to this world. And you can think of many things in which you could be informed of this world. That's, that's quite an exercise and a good one of yours. And, uh, everything around would tend to make us conform. But the word here is be not conformed, be transformed.
We're a new, uh, new, uh, we have new life. I mean, it has been transformed, but isn't it striking that the first one, uh, along that line that you mentioned is, is this? I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is pneumonia, not to think of himself more highly than they ought to think. Now that's striking. In fact, other things aren't pointed out. This is certainly the characteristic of the world alumni, to want oneself to put oneself forward.
To be important, in fact, I'll give you courses in it.
And you can have special colleges for that. I think there are places where they specialize on it. That's the order of the day. Men shall be lovers of their own selves. But we're to be transformed. Now I, I, I want to say this, that as we read this third chapter of James, I was struck with how much it said about the time. I'm sure you were all. Now this is the inspired word of God. Men doubt it. At one time they had trouble thinking about practical things. I think, uh, and putting them on, putting some of these things alongside of the grace that we.
That we received. But isn't it striking? There's so much is said about the tongue.
But we have gone through beloved days in which the tongue has been very badly used and it's caused anguish amongst us and still many.
So it isn't a a vain thing to be exercised about, is it? How we speak? What the Spirit is?
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We're thinking in that thinking of teachers.
When Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus.
And now how the Lord told him that he must be born again? Nicodemus said. How can these things be?
He said, Art thou a teacher in Israel? Knoweth not these things. Now I I think a demon says that no one is Ezekiel 3625.
He would have known that.
There's this aspect about teaching.
In the First Epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 14, we are told to let the prophets speak at 2 by threes, and let the others gut. Part of the thought of judgment in our chapter is that one speaking may be judged by his brethren, as the rest is true of what he brings in.
So there is the responsibility of the individual who speaks to open up the word of God to the Saint speaks the mind of God, and he speak Peter double that he should speak of the Oracle of God. But it is not just the seed leading the blind. The seed must be the seeding and the things of God. And those who hear the word of God ministered must be discerned as the truth of what they're being taught.
Paul the apostle says in the Bereans, they are more noble than the fence of the knightings, in that they search the Scriptures daily to see whether or not these things are so. Let us not put the test, but the apostle was teaching, but so that their faith might rest upon the word of God, and not on the word of some learned brother or some peace. So when one seeks to take the place of instructing, there is a responsibility to be instructed to search the Scriptures so that their faith might rest upon the word of God and have.
A connection with God through faith.
Rather than rest simply on the word man. So that aspect of of receiving greater judgment is if I do not speak the truth, I may very well be thought the task by my dear reverend who has judged what I said did not commend itself of their hearts and consciousness here at all.
Doesn't it go beyond that Brother Gul too, that not only is it a question of whether what I teach is true or not, but I believe here that I I think it also includes the thought that if I set forth God's truth, I'm expected first of all to walk in that truth and that I bring judgment on myself.
Perhaps I mistake this first verse that I would I would think that it also brings before us the responsibility that if I am one, who?
Knows God's truth. God is going to hold me especially responsible for how I live that truth. And I believe there's where we fall down. Not so much in the accuracy of what we say, although I feel very strongly with you, brother, that that's very, very important. But Mr. Begg used to warn us about being as clear as ice and just as cold.
In our teaching and in order to warm our hearts and make us walk in there, the truth is just ministered as in.
You might minister and as you might lecture in a college classroom, uh, is not what God intends for us. And uh, there's, there's to be the, the life. But I think we had a verse brought before us in Woodbridge in the last fellowship meeting that was very instructive. Umm, I'll know as my teaching and manner of life. And I believe those two things go together. And if they don't go together, we invite judgment upon ourselves. Would you think it also includes that rather you don't aspirin. That's very true.
Doctrine, however pure, will not keep the seats going on with the crate. It is affection for Christ, and occupation with this person, and the translating of the life of Christ into the life, that enables 1 to go on with God, and failure to produce those certainly encourage the government of God against any who take the position of teaching these things, and not walking past that which you seek that forth.
Yes, I think that's right.
James is writing this thing to the 12 tribes. So his specific ministry then is for the 12 tribes and the Jewish believers. But that's why every once in a while too, in the fiscal game, you'll find some hard things because it wants to strike at the conscience because his, his, the scope is why it goes beyond just believers. And I anticipate some of those who are just taking a mere profession at the time, but uh, with chapter, uh, or verse one.
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Just let me read a few verses for background enrollment chapter 2 The apostle Paul when he says in Romans chapter 2 and verse seven, Please and behold, thou art called a Jew, and rested in the law, and maketh by boast of God, and knoweth his will, and approve us. The things that are more excellent being instructed out of the law, and are confident that thou myself are a guy of a blind, a light of them which are in darkness.
And the structure of the foolish, a teacher of these which has to form the knowledge and have the truth in the law. Now therefore, which teaches another teacheth hell not myself thou that preaches the man should not steal the fast steal. If I want to tell you and admire you, according to Ephesians, as a Christian you have no business to steal whatsoever. And then I steal by working 8 hours a day.
And uh, stealing time from my employer and not giving him a full 8 hours. There's a way of stealing, you know, that uh, isn't just necessarily filtering something we can steal another way. It says here that thou, that saith the man, you're not commit adultery, but thou commit adultery. Thou of course idol, thou, thou commit standulation. How many idols do we have? We know that idolatry is wrong, but as uh, as parents.
Sometimes do we put our children?
And they're interested and what they wanna do before obedience to the Lord of God. Can we set up our children in pilots sometimes or, uh, or as many work, has our job become an idol to us? That it, it controls everything of where we're gonna move. What we're gonna do it. It just has sway over us. Well, as I say, there's, there's a position of those at that time. And as I say, it can apply to us even now that we can say these things are wrong, but we're gonna teach them. Let's allow that the brethren as they look it up, by the grace of God, I'm just gonna be filled. We all the same in many ways, that's great.
But let's find a brief of God and give her that if we're gonna send forth these things that ask the Lord to give us praise to be consistent for the Lord.
You see beautiful consistency in the life of Christ, don't we? I was thinking again in this second verse. It says in many things we offend all we all offend which we have to say. We put our we can see, I can see myself in this verse, in this part of the verse. But then he goes on, if any man offend not in Word the same as a perfect man, he will also survive on the whole body. Well, I think of the Lord Jesus.
As the perfect man.
And I think 2 of that is the opening of the book of Acts is in right there in the first chapter of Acts. How, uh, the Lord Jesus.
Uh, just verse one, the former treatise have I made oath Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach. We go in reverse here. We like to teach, but we're not always willing to do and have the mind of God. And I believe that there's a very lovely thought in connection with the, the, uh, the, my, the tongue is brought into subjection.
The time of the index of the heart, isn't it what is in this heart of mine comes out and it may be that which would be displeasing to the Lord. It says that the same is the perfect match and Abel also to rital the whole body. So I believe we see I see in this day the direction the Spirit of God directing our thoughts to the person of Christ who is the perfect one. If we want to see perfection, we should be living right now and.
But I thought of the the verse that says he won't begin to do and to teach.
Dear brother Charlie, that makes me think of John chapter 8 and verse 25. I just like to turn to that and that connection. I believe that this verse shows beautifully what you're what you're referring to in John 825. We need then said that unto him, who art thou?
And Jesus said unto them even the same.
That I said unto you from the beginning, and the new translation puts it even better. Does someone have it to have anything to read it in the new translation? And because it's a beautiful thought, Who art thou? And Jesus said to them all together that which I also saith. Now I say, this is beautiful, and I don't think any of us attained to this.
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I would like to and the and the more we know him.
And the closer we are to him, the more will attain to him. But he was all together that what she said, we are not. We say something, but our lives don't back it up. Isn't it beautiful to think of one who was all together what he said beautiful. I think too, just going over to the 17th of Matthew, uh, there's a verse there that so my soul has always been exceedingly collected and precious to see if you were already seeing John, the perfections of the, of the Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of, of this company.
Most people who he could have said, well, you're all there. There's all, there's something wrong with all of it. But he didn't do that. Uh, just notice, uh, Matthew 17, umm, well, verse 26, Peter says unto him of strangers and they were asked, you know, who should be, should we take, could use the custom and so on. And, uh, but then I, he said that here's, that's the most streaming Jesus said to him, then the children are free. Ah, but did he say, because I'm free, I, I just, I'll ride over this.
Oh, no Notice 1St 27 notwithstanding less we should offend them. Them. Who are they?
Bunch of spinners, who all of them were, uh, who, unless we should offend them, rolled out to the sea and cast in a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up. And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money, and take and give unto him for me and thee he would not offend even this motley that might take through our crowd here.
Well, I I think this is a sole blessing and precious to see that the Lord Jesus bearing the gains and says about not off spending our Lord Jesus Christ did not offend. He spoke the truth reached the conscience.
But he did not offend.
I'd like to suggest that a very pressured burger that I mentioned two weeks ago in the special meeting in Woodbridge. And I think that it's very appropriate again to read a few this afternoon at the gospel of my look at chapter 10. Something very, very precious we find there to clear up ourselves of all the evil that is mentioned in this chapter 3 of James. Listen to this version we hear.
Very precious indeed.
Press 39 investigate behind that Jesus finds a place of refugees on my sea of rest in the House of Bethany of these two systems and abroad. She said that she had a sister Mary, which also seated Jesus tree and hear his word. You know this is a wonderful thing with all the people of God.
See the genius of feet and dearly hurt. Now Martha, she was compelled because of that in verse 41.
Uh #40 and so the Lord has automatically and Jesus said and said and said unto God, Martha, Martha, thou art careful in trouble about many things, but one thing is gentle. And Mary had chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her as to be at the feet of the save into life again. And that's what will clear up on this evil that we have in this chapter 3 has to be at the fruit of the Lord Jesus and lying for him.
What I want, the whole thing I can do in that every time, three times, these little merry three times with the people of Jesus and she has very little to say, but she was there to listen to the weight of God. And then when she was on trouble, she went to say, no, the flower would have been here, my brother would have been alive and the road then. So we've got to do that. And then you'll find in chapter 12 for the gospel of a John that she's at the feet of Jesus to worship him. And you hear very, very little things of this woman saying what a lesson we can run for them.
Might point out to this and verse 2 umm about how to change I wish does not mean.
Talking about another line of food when we're talking about the Lord himself being faithful and speaking the truth of God and the Pharisees were upset with what you said or something like that. Well is the Lord going to keep on offending them by not getting the truth to God. No brother, we are responsible for God. Suppose I have some friends I look at them too and I'm telling look at word of God said that you are a Sinner. You have your religion but it won't sing you. You need to democracy. You need to bloodshed on the cross. Kelly and then his offended.
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They must be offended. We are responsible for the faithful for the proof of God just as the Lord of Jesus and then we'll breathe offense. But what we're dealing with in our text here is this fact that.
I can cut people's fingers on it too. I can wield it in such a way that in my manner, in my spirit and my abuse of the Christian living that I can do a lot of harm and damage. And that's clearly what the all are guilty in some sway, even some kind of independence recently. And I just struck my heart to know that sometimes when we we speak about the open brethren, they say, oh, he's an open breath.
You know, there's, there's nothing in the heart behind that. Oh, he's a chaos thing. He's in the KLC. And so there's a tall on the earth, you know, and uh, we may have to be be careful. Now, the reason why I said it is, uh, Brian's fiance, uh, she's just been recently gathered in another city, but I get you, particularly here. But anyway, someone came to her and said to her and offended her that all that group of people that you just come from, they're evil. That's Reformed Church. So I know that's an evil much. It's good to get delighted.
Well, almost double the girl right away.
And so as I say this type of thing, we must be careful of the truth of God. We stand for, we give out. And if people are offended, they're offended. What our manner is and our harshness, our criticism, our talk, finding of our tongue, the other person.
That's why this official is practical, isn't it? It's practical because it implies to my, myself as to my umm, you might say my attitude and my what I say what comes out of me, it might offend not what comes on the Word of God. I think that's a very important point, Mr. Greenhouse, but we have to be careful, Brother Charles, I'm sure you agree with this to, umm, distinguish between what's our opinion and what is the word of God.
Uh, we can weaken a point and we often do by mingling our opinion with the word of God. Uh, just talking with his brother last evening on the phone and he mentioned a very good word of ministry that had been given in his local assembly. But he said, you know, the brother weakened it because he added his opinion and with it, and he said it just took the edge right off it. And I think we have to be very careful about that.
We can be dogmatic when it comes to God's fundamental truths. We ought to insist upon them. There's no leeway in those things. But when we, uh, are expressing a spiritual judgment, it ought to be presented that way in humility to our brethren. And let the Spirit of God, uh, uh, either give approval or disapproval in the hearts of our brethren. But we ought to be very careful not to pronounce as if we're pronouncing the word of God when it's just our opinion.
And I think we, we, uh, need to remember that this second verse, I enjoy the way it is in the new translation. It says we all.
Often offend. And I think if we just let that verse stand and speak to our hearts, it'll have its effect in our souls. We all think how often often?
We all often offend if there's anybody who does it well, that man is a perfect man. He's able to control the whole body.
But, uh, I think none of us would take that position with me.
There's a positive truth in first Peter 411 and I think, uh, we might look at, uh, what we've been thinking about is mostly negative, uh, but uh, we need some positive truth too.
There we read first Peter 4, verse 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the articles of God.
Uh, if any man minister, let him do so as of the ability which God give it. Uh, this is very important. What comes next that God.
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And all things may be glorified.
Now why are we saying something?
It'd be good to ask ourselves to set somebody straight merely.
It would be a good thing to be exercised to speak for as As for God. That's what that means. I mean, is God's mouthpiece now? That's a responsibility. It's a heavy responsibility. You have to know something about what God has said in his Word, don't you?
Now permit me just refer to one other positive statement that's I think 1St Corinthians 14 May occur several times there, but it it it still fits in with what we have that I think it would would not be.
I missed a turn to it.
You know, I don't know just what version I want, but it's not, it's where we find that when we speak, we should speak to Ediform. Somebody could help me on that?
Well, verse 12, for instance, Even so, E or as much as your zealous spiritual gifts seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church and we all know that it means building up.
You know, if we can take a little time before we make a, a, a remark that ask ourselves, is this really building up?
That would have a good positive effect on the. Is this really building up or is it showing that I have quite a bit of knowledge?
I'm making a display of it is that would search us a little and I think it would.
Wonderfully help to obey what we had here today is to be in the good of what's happening and praying.
I'm glad that you brought up a positive aspect of how we speak. Our Slector speech always even briefed, seized with salt that you may know how you'll have to answer every man if one is exercised before God. It is wholly conversation that that particular point is matter of life. I know, but if his speech is such that it was with grease, and it is seasoned with that holy separateness to God.
That was guard against some of these negative things that we have had before us, then we have discernment as to how to answer those with whom we come in contact. Glad you're speaking always the great and respect of what brother little pointed up as to the Lord Jesus. Neither was God found in his mouth. Pharisees and Spanish invaded the Lord, seeking to trap him in his speech. That's why I said man. Never a man's faith like this man.
They sent to inquire him, and while they came back with nothing, because he did not give them an occasion, because his speech was not his style, he never baited his enemies, though they sought us to ensnare enemies. Speech and him was no dial. So we had that exercise out that would be staying weighed in the presence of gone and holy separately, said god.com. Then we know how we ought to answer every man, and then again we get they might minister grace to its theory. What does it sound like?
When you say this or that, the administrative race edifying that my brother pointed out that your speech is always great.
It's interesting here throughout these persons, 345 and six Hou a a practical. This really is, isn't it? And I, I noticed in the language here, it says, uh, we, we put bits in horses and mouse. Who does and does that? They obey us and they do. I mean, we see these huge creatures that weigh tongues and, and they're controlled by man and.
Umm, and then it says in that they may invest and return about their whole body and pull on the left and they go left, pull right, they go right and so on. And he goes on with this, uh, there's a ship, this tremendous car, uh, uh, huge ships are controlled by some man. They have a rudder, they have a, a steerage and they, they go and they, they're controlled. But what is interesting here for me is as we go down through these verses.
Man then takes over and he assumes the fact that because he can control the creatures.
00:40:01
So now he's superior even to God. And so he, he excels or seeks to excel in him with his own views and his own company allows his tongues to take him away. And I pray that, that it says in verse not to skip verses, but umm, uh, verse seven. For every kind of beast, birds, serpent, things in the sea is chained and have been gained of mankind, that is man, but the tongue.
Can know.
Man paints. Now you come to the other side of it. Who can contain the tongue? Only God can, only God can. But man we, I, I say, man I, I have to confess many times, I say things that are not very pleasant perhaps. And perhaps we have many things. We all have in many ways. And so how neat one is to be in the presence of God about this and see.
The lessons that we find in the person's Christ and I believe that is very important to me at least a tongues and no man's mansion. And I can't I can't do it either. Only in the measured width. Price is my object. And before my soul, as I've been occupied with the the graces and the the gentleness and the meekness and the loveliness of Christ, then it will fall out because the tongue is the index of the heart, my heart.
Is filled with Christ. Christ is going to come out.
In so many different ways. Why is it, brethren, that we can?
Put on a fair show in the meetings, uh, public meetings and get in a care meeting and we forget all about some of these things.
Uh, I don't know about some of the other brother. Maybe we shouldn't even mention it to the sisters that happens. But I'm sure they know it that we get in a care meeting sometimes with one another. And we, we have a couple of young brothers in our meeting that stopped coming because they were so stumbled over how brother spoke with one another. Shame on us.
Shame on it.
I was thinking before when we were talking about the, umm, the reason that we open our mouth.
Of a remark I read is the ministry. I forget who it was. It says the very worst thing that I can do is to speak well of Christ so that others might speak, think well of me.
Speak well of Christ so that others might think well of me. That's a very serious thing, and I've been impressed with that as I thought about it. How subtle our hearts are, and we ought to examine ourselves. Why am I saying this? Is it gratifying the people of God?
Is it for glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ, or as has been pointed out, is it so that we might, uh, so the perhaps the same point. He knows a little bit about the word, uh, or he can put it nicely or whatever. Our hearts are very, very, very subtle. And may the Lord put a, a, a, a.
A check mark on us not only in our public meetings. Sometimes we can be able quite nicely that way, speak very civilly to one another in public meetings. But what about when the sisters aren't there and we're together in the care meeting? These things apply there too. Don't think. Checks and balances. There are many checks in the scriptures, but we don't like the balance. We don't like to go on to a It was a dear brother among us many years ago we were speaking to some of the young people about.
About, you know, does your brother know you're a Christian? You know, uh, very Simply put, uh, we go to meeting and they say, well, here they are. They're faithful at meeting and they talk so well, the Lord, but he said, does your wife know you're a Christian? What is your attitude toward her when you're not with your brother in the home, at the school, wherever you are? Does your, does your teacher know you're a Christian? Does your boss know you're a Christian?
Finally, he said, there's your dogs know you're a Christian and I believe that was a, to me that searched something, uh, because there are those that they, they owe tree an animal who I don't believe that's crazy to the Lord either. And so, uh, the testimony of Christianity. Umm, I'm, I'm, I'm not Italian, but I know that in Italianities they Louis Hodge two faces. This is something like that. Do a hunch, do a fudge. Yeah. Face. In other words, I face one way and then I turn around, I face the other way, which is not.
00:45:05
The thing that the Christian should be doing, and I mean James brings that thought output.
The Lord wants more, is our perfect essential, and He always spoke because to live in the presence of God. And if we cultivate that we don't have too much problem as to how to speak, cultivate the habit of living in the present God.
I know the evil that I find. I'm going to go to the president.
It's big fighting.
That's one of the most worst people that believer can do go around speaking against another members of the Bible Christ from the back. That's evil. That's evil brethren put it down another brothers tell her to go and speak to the brother and bring testimony as to what you want to give the accusation. They go around big Biden and that's one of the greatest evil that we have among the assembly that our people have gone. That's one of the greatest evil that we have and that is some of the other people that they do that too. We can refer me first.
That's wrong.
Meg, Mike.
Jesus said every idle word that man shall speak, He shall give account thereof on the day of judgment, and we will read James. We find so much, don't we, that is parallel to the book of Proverbs. It's sort of like the Proverbs of the New Testament. And in the book of Proverbs we get so much about the tongue says there that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. It says that he the cheapest his mouth and his tongue cheapest his soul from trouble.
And it says it's probably 25 and 15. I think this verse applied particularly to what we're talking about. It says that a soft tongue break at the bone. My father had told me some time ago, I was kind of surprised he's not saved. And the background that I come from, they're not Christians in the country that he came from happens to be the most purely atheistic country in the world. But from his descendants, he could say that one of their proverbs that was circulated among them was that the tongue has no bones in it.
But it breaks bones. And uh, I find just in my own experience, I'm sure we can all testify to this, but one of the most simplistic ways of satisfying our flesh is to speak evil of somebody or something. Put somebody down, we'll find it out. There will be satisfying to us. If we have a grudge against somebody, it's very common for us to just follow off at them, to shout at them, to get angry with them. And what we're doing, ironically, is we are satisfying our own life.
In a very deceptive thing.
And we have to really be on God that we not do that. Now in the first chapter says that the wrath of man work is not the righteousness of God. And it said right after the verse it says let everything in be swifty here, slow to speak and float around. And as it tells us in this chapter that the tongue you have no man came. And I have said that the Scripture says that no man can tame the tongue, but it doesn't say that we can't tie our tongue. And I think if we put that into practice by tying our tongue.
We would find that we would keep our soul from troubles. And, uh, you know, we read of a, there was a man in early Christianity named John Chrysostom and he had a nickname known as golden mouth or golden tongue. And as a brother used as bringing out about, uh, uh, creation speech and about words and what comes from our lips. And then with the man that, uh, so exalted Christ, I don't know much about him, but he's especially known for his sermons and how he.
Uh, extol the person of Christ and delivered Christian doctrine and so on. But how nice it would be if we could turn that title, so to speak, without tongues that they're golden in the sense that it brings good news that it's, uh, used properly. And of course it may be offense at the time, the system in Luke 4 when Jesus opened up the book of Isaiah, and he refers to that portion and says, this day is description fulfilling your ears. And and it says here they wanted at the gracious word that proceeded out of his mouth.
And right after that it says they thought to push multiple brow of the hill. They wanted to kill him. And there he goes on to talk about, uh, there were many widows in the days of Elijah, but to nothing did, uh, Elijah go but to uh, the woman of erectile, which was a non Israeliteish woman and so on. But in all his speech, he was always gracious. And if we're gracious in our speech, then we've got nothing to be ashamed of. We have nothing to regret. And if we're, so to speak, try to push us over the browsing hill, if, if our speech is gracious, then we can be thankful that we have not spoken in a fleshly way.
00:50:11
In 1911.
Or actually, they just turned it off.
So at the end of the chapter.
MMM the 29 first Matthew 1129. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me from making low end hearts. I need to find rest unto your souls. I've heard, I believe it could be translated. Learn from me and I like that. Now forever in the light of what the area has been telling us, isn't this lovely to think of it?
It isn't so much, I just wanted to say this, it's not on my heart. Uh, at some time. Here's the remark that the answer to this is not to shut up and say nothing.
He did half my word. Let him speak my word faithfully is scripture, isn't it? There's a balance of these things and a word that he's spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. The same book that this is the reason why he showed us that thing is going to be beautiful. And here we find how you can learn.
Take my yoga pile and learn from me. It won't learn in the universities.
God, they providentially put you in touch with a very fine Christian. Happy, lovely.
But, uh, here's where you learn. Learn from me.
I mean, that's important then too, is that for the Gary that you're saying that verse in the first chapter, James and verse, umm, verse 20. Umm, well, verse 19, really. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear. And as our brother John is saying, that doesn't mean that, uh, swift to hear that I just listen and I say nothing and I share nothing with my brother. Uh, that isn't what it means. He's swift to hear.
Uh, uh, uh, let every man be swift to hear, slow to see and slower. That doesn't mean he doesn't say anything, but to share that which God has given and that which would be for edification. Uh, I know some, uh, go, we can go to the balance. We have a in balance. So we either, we do a lot of talking and we say nothing. And I believe that the Spirit of God would direct us to he occupy Christ to be swift to hear.
Glad to hear what my brother had to say, but also slow to speak, uh, not to take all the meeting and started a lot of other failures to tell us or don't take all the meeting or and slow particularly slowly rat. So I think there's a balance there that we need and the Spirit of God through the word of God, bring that down to us.
He's gonna sell them bread and that's the remedy.
Uh, what we have on this third chapter of the game is occupation with a person of the Lord Jesus Christ, because there may say, I know that is not a man to directly stand. We need the help of the Lord Jesus. Without me you can't do nothing.
And when we speak the well of the Lord Jesus, we need to be very, very careful to think that the man has an evil heart. What is speaking well only he feels that the person of the Lord Jesus is precious to him, and he wants to say something about him. Brethren, we need to be very, very careful not to judge that that man is speaking in the French. You need to be very comfortable over breakfast.
How do I know then what I have? I don't think they are thousands of the heart. The mouth speaketh when I'm speaking. When you're speaking well of the Lord Jesus, I can tell. When you are so the person of the Lord Jesus, I can tell below the people. God, if you're in the flesh, I'm afraid that you're not able to do that the way you're supposed to do.
We just learned, uh, we're reminded that in Nazareth in the fourth of loop. And even that company that showed its spirit later had to recognize the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. I think the danger is more on the part of the speaker than it is on the part of the hearer. And that's the exact. I just couldn't help it. It was wonder, it was wonderful.
00:55:17
They wondered at the gracious words they proceeded out of his mouth.
We have six of these tennis jacket versus 1:00 to 12:00. I know we're not in my classroom, but just up alert here versus 1 to 12 is the tongue. I'll break that down in a minute. But any verses 13 and 18, we have a contrast between earthquake and heavenly wings out of the city. When one is characterized by a wisdom that comes from selfishness and wisdom that comes from what we're going to burst it again, Don.
1:00 to 12:00 is the tongue, and 13 to 18 is a contrast between earthly and heavenly wisdom.
Now going back to verses 1 to 12, now we see in verses one and two in the courses of a controlled tongue the importance of it that we take the place now do it in our lives and there's a greater condemnation or judgment and that is a multitude of words that one of my sins until we get an offense and we have to be curled. So the importance of a controlled comes in verses 345 and six. We have the need for the control of the comp. There are two illustrations given up here.
And that is, I'm a horse with a big foot in his mouth and a horse, a big, strong animal, but with a little thick, it can't be controlled. And also with this great big ship, there's a little helm and one of those little things in comparison to the size of the other. But what does it come in comparison with the Y? Just a little member. But look what Patrick Henry did with his tongue. He can start off a whole revolution. So mistake. I know. What a fire, what a forest fire from it.
OK, so much acres and acres can be burned and how old is that increase is a starter and a hearty from a word that's spoken improperly to to run down nobody's character. And so in verses 7 and eight, the difficulty in controlling the tongue the difficulty it can't be done humanly speaking by talking here God can hear. And then finally the verses 9:10 and 11:00.
The incontestency of an undeniable company. This talks that on Lord's Day morning. I praise and my God the Father and the Lord Jesus and then I turn it on around and I call that man a black man a dirty name or that video slurred against that Puerto Rican because he just was sick. You know I'll be smiled. They're perceived as blessing and cursing. Why don't not make sure nothing you can have inconsistency like that. The human son is capable of it.
Well, dear brother, I thank God that the God has given us the Holy Spirit.
The way you're gone, thank God, the buddy should get that. God has given us the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. That's the one that he's going to straight us up. We're not going to be able to do it ourselves. That's the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. So whom? And Nicole is like Mary, to be at the feet of Jesus and to lie for him.
Does this help us to understand the 1St Corinthians 10 verse 29? He has eaten and drank it, and I'm looking man, and eat it and drink his judgment for himself, not for bringing the Lord's body.
The same principle, isn't it?
Apostle Paul warns him in the epistle proved relations in the fight and devour one another takes heed lest he not consumed one of another.
The proverb teaches us that where there is no fuel, the fire goes out. So therefore where there's no tail, there Sprite seated. It's an angry man that stirred up strength. Well, anger, we thought, in fifth population.
It's one of those works of the flesh that are manifested so very much instruction for us. He very practical verses that we had before us.
But Don's pointed out the.
Something in the last few verses. Maybe we should spend some time then on Speaking of the wisdom that comes from above. And that's what She's not so attractive. It comes from ourselves.
01:00:16
I think it's important to see that when we have wisdom used here.
And knowledge.
It's in the sense that we have it in Proverbs, isn't it? That is, it's not human wisdom that we're talking about. That's brought out very clearly in these verses. It's not knowledge of facts, it's knowledge of God, isn't it? And so those two things.
Then have to be manifested who is a wise man and a dude with knowledge among you.
11 shove. I like that about James.
It's true, somebody mentioned earlier that, uh, uh, dear Martin Luther was so taken with the wonderful truth of justification by faith that when he came to the book of James, he says it's an epistle of straw. And we can understand that, brethren, because, uh, that dear man took hold of justification by faith after centuries of darkness on it. And he, he just didn't see what James was saying.
James is saying let me see it, let me see it and God, that's the Spirit of God saying that to it. Do you have wisdom, you have knowledge, Let him show out of a good conversation. His works with meekness of wisdom. I just believe we should never take the edge off of what the ministry of James.
Let it have its effect. It's a unique abysmal brother Don mentioned earlier. And I think it's important to remember because.
Helps to put it in perspective that it's the only New Testament, uh, epistle written to, umm, to the nation at large, the nation of Israel. It's not written to a Christian assembly, is it? And, uh, yet it has so much for us. And we can perhaps get a little worried that maybe if we follow what James has to say and, and, uh, let it have its effect and maybe we'll weaken something. The apostle Paul in no way.
No way they stand together, they even the Spirit of God. If you notice they use some of the same illustrations to prove different aspects of the truth of God. Rahat.
Uh, Paul uses that in the fourth of Romans, uh, and in the, uh, or in the, uh, 11Th and vapors, uh, I believe it's the apostle Paul. And here, uh, James uses the same thing, Abraham in the fourth of Romans. And in, uh, Hebrews 11, the apostle Paul uses, James uses it too, but there's a different ministry there. And the Spirit of God gives us this book.
And when you're in James, let James have something to say is the, uh, the thought of **** out of a well, here's why. A wise man and dude with knowledge among you, let him show out of a good conversation. His works with meekness and wisdom. It's a quick conversation. Is that the matter of life? Perfect. The more than just talking, it's the it's our whole manner of language brought in view there, isn't it?
And it's interesting, as you pointed out, to show out of a good conversation that is not so much what we say, but what we show, that is what our what our whole matter of life is.
I believe, as you say, that's a very, very important verse. In James chapter 4. You have a very important verse. Even from James and James chapter four, we have a very precious verse to encourage our hearts.
They say there in verse six would be given more grace wherefore he say God resisted the proud and give a gaze to the humble. This is a wonderful verse in this context. It means that if finally lies that the things that they are in the third chapter I'm failing and death and I humble myself maybe with the guy he said then to do that, which I suppose to do. Isn't it so brilliant. That's what I'm saying today it's James.
We give it long age and then you repeat it again long age. So that means that the client reached that third chapter. And I know by consciously touched by the grace of God, I can humble myself. And he gave it more grace. That's the only way that we can get deliverance.
01:05:04
If the answer is Christ the Brother.
Interesting too that it that brings out here in as far as you know, we're not going to finish the old chapters, but it says, uh, it speaks in verse, umm, 14. If you have bitter envy and strife.
In your heart, where does this begin? Right down here. Right here is where it begins. I may not even say it, but if it's there and it's coddled or it isn't judged and it's going to come out, I believe that's really James probing the heart down deep and so forth to see because what is the purpose? Why has the Lord saved us? Why has He delivered us? He wants us to bear fruit for His glory doesn't bear fruit for Him in this world that we're in.
At the very moment that we're saved, I'm sure.
Yeah, there's one here that it's just got saved. You're all ready for glory right now. That you're a youngest one here if you own the dog, that you're a Sinner. You've accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior. You're already you're fit for glory right now. But why has the Lord left told us here for many years, some here perhaps over 80 and all these years, many years, why, that we might have testimony to the person of Christ.
That God may have the glory that belongs to him and I believe that it searches it reaches down and the the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than I need to write story dividing of Thunder, even souls dirty so on. It's a search engine that I think it's really more than just the searching of outwardly, but searching up inwardly as if you have better enemy and strike in your heart glory not in why not against the truth. And then he says that that kind of wisdom he told us where it comes from.
If wisdom descends not from above.
It's not it's not goggling at all. It says it's earthly sensual evolution. What I'd like to make one comment 01 Comment on verse 17. I suppose I saw this no longer a little bit. It's it's that's a lovely verse, isn't it? Wisdom that is from his first.
Pure non visible.
Gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. What's on my heart is this is that we can, we can become a specialist in one of these things.
Uh, and at least we're in this one aspect of this and, and emphasize and forget the rest. I'm thinking particularly that we've had.
A great deal from people, uh, from some that have lived enough to get no further than fewer.
Now, I don't, uh, think we better forget about periods first in this reckoning here, right here, isn't it? And let me, let me be clear as to my thoughts. We don't want to slide on and think about peaceable. We can become specialists on any part of this person. We like to be. But one of the things that I think that we need to learn is that we have to have the whole line of God full. We spoke to the Ephesians elders. I have not.
Shown to declare unto you the whole castle of God.
He didn't have to have one side of the truth, did he?
And so I believe it's very important that we see that indeed it has all these boxes.
And if and if it's just a case of emphasizing one side of things, whether it be the extremist right here, we're concerned with truth and holiness and we don't care about anything else much. I mean, I say that, but, but that's the effect of it that could produce, uh, and that, uh, such a thing as, as it's monstrous in our behavior. On the other hand, if all we think about is peace.
We can do this honor to the name of our Lord. I'm just saying that, beloved, we need to, and I mean all of this Scripture and have it all there about us.
Earthly wisdom is not subject to the Word of God. Earthly wisdom is a person.
1St man in the flash earthly wisdom is characterized and that as a food office and the exhibition are bad. They caused heavily and umm, it involves in in uh, division, contention, friction and uh, it's very practical word. I think our hearts and Deuteronomy 4 verses 5 and six. It says I'll just speaking to the children of Israel. Of course, the word of God, Behold, I have talked to you statically judgment even as the Lord my God commanded me that he should do so in the lands of the existence.
01:10:31
Keep therefore and do that for this is your wisdom and your understanding and the sight of the nation which shall hear all these statues and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. Now I I think the practical application of this thing. What is our business. Oh, to hear the word of God, to read it and to make it good in our own souls to pray that by the Spirit of God He will apply to the heart that can always remember. In fact, on the way up by Harry Haymo again and he emphasizing the importance of you can know a lot of truth.
But until you practice the truth, it's not yours. Until you put it into practice and live it. And then in John 14, the Lord says, if you love me, keep my word. And what is the what is the reward for that? Oh, what?
What more could we want in this thing? What are we going to have? Eternity. We're going to have the Lord Jesus Christ before us, the full revelation of all that God is and that fullness of joy. Well, what can we have now in the sea before we get there? This is your wisdom of keeping His work and having the pleasantness of that community with the Father and with the Son. What can be compared with?
Perhaps as we read this chapter.
Get into the presence of the word and we say, oh I lack wisdom. What do I do about it? Well the 1St chapter James tells us it says.
In verse five, if any of you lack with this, let him ask of God who giveth freely.
Give it to all men liberally and upgrade it. Not OK.
It shall be given it. So it's a very practical thing. And if I feel the lack of wisdom in my soul, yes, I'm going to get it out of the Word of God. That's where it comes from. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and uh, wisdom is the principal thing.
With all I get and get wisdom with knowledge and knowledge and knowledge of God. But how do I get it? Just come to him and ask. God gives it liberally.
Freely.
His heart desires to give us with second of Proverbs says he layeth up sound wisdom. He layeth it up. He's put it away long ago for us thousands of years ago, God laid aside wisdom using one servant and another or and it's all there. And we come to him and we ask. He'll give it to us and he won't say to you, and I'm tired of your asking. Don't come and ask anymore.
The upright it's not. He'll never say to you. I'm tired of talking to you about it. I'm tired of giving you wisdom.
Come to them every day and seek wisdom for the past. I'm sure that's what our blessed Lord Jesus did when he was here as a dependent man because their little glimpses of it and of course you see it in his life, but we see that a long while before it was day he was out praying and before he chose the apostles, we find that he spent the whole night in prayer. And uh, God gives.
Liberally do I see how the Lord Jesus was Wisdom himself, but even He as a dependent man came and sought monk daily guidance as a dependent man for his past. We can't do any better than that, brother. That's another lovely thought and the thought of him being a true man in this world.
But a dependent man, he truly he was truly God. We know that.
But in many, many cases, we read where as man, as a true man, he was in prayer before God, He was a dependent man. And as I read this 17th verse, can't you see if you read it? Let's read it and think about the Lord Jesus Christ.
01:15:03
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure. Was there any man in this world more pure than that blessed man? Not one. That's the wisdom from above. He came in this world displaying the wisdom that was from above. Peaceable, gentle.
Easy to be in, treated or ready to yield.
Full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality, without hypocrisy.
When I read this verse, I think that one person, one man, the Lord Jesus Christ, who stop it. Is there any greater standard than that has got anything greater than nothing? Nothing.
We are so much in contrast with that when we measure ourselves for the for the person of the Lord Jesus and all the quality, beauty, perfection.
Dear brother, what should I say about myself?
Oh wretched man, very much who shall deliver me from this body of sins? Well then concludes, thanks be unto God, which did giveth of the victory to our Lord Jesus Christ, and as the secret.
That's the bomb, that's the Lord Jesus dear people are young. I think about myself, my I've been more occupied with investor remedy less than bond. We can't do it ourselves. Impossible. It is Christ that has got to do he's going his beauty, his voice is doing for us and to even know caring for us for that very quickness for this course. I sanctify myself that they might be sanctified by thy voice.
And I went through so this is wonderful as occupation with a person of the Lord Jesus that is going to bring about the deliverance from what we have on this chapter that sometimes we are guilty of.
Could we have a word on the last verse before we close the meeting? It's a little perhaps, uh, obscure, uh, when we first read it. And I think it would be nice not to leave it obscure. Perhaps some brother has light from the Lord that might want to share that with us.
Let's start again, football. Practical righteousness bears fruit of peace for those who make peace. I think that clears up the thought, but Amen.
You're just enjoying that note.
Me again, practical righteousness.
There's the fruit of peace for those who make peace.
We are enjoying and the division of the Romans and these followers of that which makes E brother Richardson take my brother hail up hurting, say many times to not introduce anything into the assembly of the family either. For that matter, if he serves the peace except for the glory of Christ and practical righteousness bears fruit.
These were those invasions.
I was enjoying an easel 7 this week and it never struck me this worse, and I think it well applied to what we're reading here. I don't want to have the last word on the chapter, but it certainly seems to fit in likely UH-71 of Hebrew says for this. Now kids of that Kingdom of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, whom also Abraham gave a 10th pot of all. Notice this first being by interpretation, king of righteousness.
And after that also king of Salem, which is king of peace. There you got them two to get the two together, the king of righteousness, which first of all is being interpreted, the king of righteousness, just what we got in our chapter. But what does real righteousness produce? It will produce peacefulness. And someone who really has righteousness won't allow the wrath of man to work it out. He'll throw it in a peaceful way, and the fruit of it will be that, a peaceful way.
So there ought not to be any strength when it comes to it. The truth will defend itself. If the Lord gives me a measure of it and it's righteous, I can be thankful for it, and I can sow it in peace, and then God will do the rest. It will bring forth the peace, the fruit of righteousness.
Actually, that's a good last word.
01:20:05
Thank God What's going on?
Shall be saying you're #38 in the appendix.
#38 in the offensive one and the Lord's Day and the favour. But here we have tonight. I believe that it's very applicable that we think of it. Let's just say, listen, 38 in the end, at the end of the day, in the back of the book.
Nsnoise.
The 2nd and 5th verses of 200 and 6.
Oh, then teach by gathered Saints, O Lord, to worship in my fear.
Thinking particularly of these last designs, and let Thy grace mold every word that meets.
Thy holy here verses 2:00 and 5:00.
26 Thy God, let's let me go out of the door.
And have to make any sense.
Lord, and I pray in the world.
Oh.