Ep. 49: Marks of a Mature Christian Pt 9

Hi, I just want to thank you for continuing to follow us as we have been studying the epistle of James on spiritual maturity. My wife and I spend a lot of time preparing for this and we just are thrilled that you want to dig deeper into the Greek language. Why don’t you join us as we open it up in chapter three of the epistle to James? Hi there, it’s tom and Vicky Mahairas again with it’s all greek to me. And this week we’re going into the marks of a mature christian in having power over his tongue and we’ve already covered uh the impatient through testing and practicing the truth. But now its power over the tongue. So Vicky, that’s a that’s a little uh piece of meat right in our mouth, our mouth, our words, all of that that we constantly have trouble with. And so we’re gonna go into it and see what, how this tongue gets us in trouble and what we can say about it. What do you want to say starting out here? I want to go right into the beginning of our scripture here because this is from James, chapter 31 through 18 having power of our tongue. And it was a problem back then because it was written in the scripture, way back then that there was a major problem with the tongue. And James, James is exhorting all believers in chapter one. He says verse 19 this, you know, my beloved brethren be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. And it goes on to say for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God and it kind of mm Summarizes it with if anyone thinks themselves to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart. This man’s religion is worthless. So already we had in Chapter 12 cautions and warnings about the tongue. And now in chapter two, it also says it remember, so speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty, so speak. So it’s not just what you believe, but it’s also what you say and it’s also what you do. And these were already Leading up to Chapter three where we’re gonna look at the exhortation that he gives us the precautions and the warnings concerning the tongue. Let not many of you become teachers did ask close my brethren knowing that as such, you will encourage stricter judgment crema. This is the evidence of a mature or perfect chelios man. Yeah. So, uh, right off the bat. Right right away in this chapter. He identifies the teachers, the teachers that are actually speaking that this is a big warning because they will be judged with a stricter mahalo, a bigger judgment. This is an evidence of a mature man who’s able to really know how to speak. And again in verse to go ahead Ricky for we all stumble still in many ways that is the word to stumble in greek If anyone does not stumble Patil in what he says low most he is a perfect dell leo’s which is translated mature. He is a tellus man, a mature man, able to bridle Kalina, whoa. Yellow toe long, big fat word in greek. Halina was a something you put uh in your mouth like a bridal that would then lead the rest of the horse or whatever the direction yellow toe comes from agua, which means to go. So the bridal which is actually helping uh the horse to go lead with the bridle the whole body as well. It gives us as an illustration, but it also is applicable to people that if we could put a bridle on our mouth, control what we say, then it will lead us in the right path, direction by control. So I hope that was clear. And then there are other passages in the old testament that we’re going to go through concerning the importance of having total control of our mouth, of our words of our tongue. And uh the fact that you know, I constantly think of the thoughts, Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart as the sama said, be acceptable in thy sight. O Lord, my God and my redeemer. But let’s look at these verses that we identified right here in proverbs 6, 16 through 19 Vicky. There are six things which the Lord Hates. Yes seven which are an abomination to him, haughty eyes. Here’s the second one is about our tongue. A lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood, heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil. Here’s number two about the tongue, a false witness who utters lies. And number three about the tongue and one who spreads strife among brothers. So three of the six things that the Lord hates has to do with our mouth and how we speak. It’s amazing. That’s a lot. But it all comes from inside the heart. A heart that devises wicked plans, that is heart speaks out of the abundance, the mountains, the abundance of the heart. That is correct. Uh in World War Two, loose ships, loose lips rather sink ships. Let’s try that again. Loose lips, sink ships, meaning that the secrets were to be secret, and not just blurt it out and given to others. When there are many words. Transgression is unavoidable. But he who restrains his lips is wise. The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut off. Look at how many scripture verses, a gentle Faraoni, Moss wise answer turns away wrath, But harsh words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable. But the mouth of the Fool spouts folly First four, a soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit. So you see the importance of the tongue. The mouth and the words that come out of our mouth. It really spoke about. You know, life a tongue gives life. It brings forth great fruit people can eat from the words of our mouth. A soothing tongue. Yeah, you can become stronger. We can feed into other people courage and and praise. And instead of critical words and things that tear that person down. But perversion. And it says it crushes the spirit. You can crush somebody with your words, you can crush somebody with what you say. So you have to be careful that what comes out of your mouth has really been approved by God. And and really that your spirit, your heart of love is speaking to them. Let’s go to the next one. Matthew 7 24. Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. Ah And this is an important thing that Jesus spoke words that you could rely on. You build your life on. Let’s go to the next thought. He had proverbs 1219. Truthful lips will be established forever but a lying tongue. It’s only for a moment. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. But those who deal faithfully are his delight, incredible scripture versus death. And life are in the power of the tongue problems 18 21 probably one of the most famous versus having to do with life and death and how the tongue can provide life or death based on what you say based on orders. You give one dictator, one general 11 decision that’s made in Washington, D. C. In the White House has heard across the globe. It’s amazing. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it Will eat its fruit, Proverbs 21 6. The getting of treasure by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor. The pursuit of death. He who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his life from trouble, the bible says And concerning teachers because it did identify that many should not become teachers. Let’s see what the Bible says about teachers. Matthew 10 to a disciple is not above his teacher nor a slave above his master Matthew 23, but do not be called rabbi. For one is your teacher and you are all brothers. I think we can maybe God has given somebody the gift of teaching and you can become haughty thinking. It’s your gift. But it says it’s from God, you know, that gives us gifts to be teachers or preachers or servants or whatever and that we’re not to bring that attention to ourselves because really only one is the teacher and that is the great teacher, the master teacher, The Lord, Jesus Christ and then Romans 2 21. You therefore who teach another. Do you not teach yourself? You preach that one should not steal. Do you steal? In other words, a teacher is supposed to actually practice what he’s teaching and God has appointed in the church. First Corinthians 12 28 1st apostles, second prophets and then teachers third then miracles and gifts of healing helps administrations, various kinds of tongues and so forth. In the early church Ephesians 4 11 and he gave some as apostles and prophets and some as evangelists and pastors and teachers. It’s interesting in this verse that the pastors and teachers is connected to that person, That same person has to be who is the pastor, teacher of a flock. And he gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists. But this fourth category is the same person who has the ability to be both the pastor which is the heart and the shepherd. Also the teacher, which is the information and inspiration and knowledge towards that person, titus first timothy rather 27 for this I was appointed paul said a preacher and an apostle, I am telling the truth. I’m not lying as a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth. I love that verse because it was to be for everyone, not just the jews, but also for the gentiles and he says I’m telling the truth, I’m not lying as if there’s gonna be something that is a lie there. No, but he has to emphasize this because it’s such a big truth that he was to go to every single person as a preacher, as an apostle and as a teacher to let them know that jesus christ died on the cross was buried and rose again from the dead for them. It actually calls, it says that he is the and electron the actual uh, sacrifice or payment that was made in place of instead of and for every single person in that particular verse, it just in in verse six, it said that and then in verse seven and followed it with this uh, scripture that we just read the fact that he was appointed a preacher and apostle and I’m telling you the truth meaning that wow, it’s a big truth to teach. But this is what God has told me to teach that is for every single person on this planet. Wow. Um, okay Vicky that’s repeating it there on the first part, Matthew 12 35 you brood of vipers, how can you being evil speak what is good for the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. He repeats that many times. That was the lord, jesus christ I know in the old and new testament is the same. So he understood that what the mouth was speaking was coming not just from the head but from the heart. It was, it was really intended to hurt luke 6 45. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good and the evil man out of the treasure brings forth that which is evil for his mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. Now the tongue, it has a lot of scripture here, Song 34 16. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. And then in first Peter 38 through 12 is probably the most powerful passage dealing with husband and wife relationships. You’ll notice that later on in this, it says, If you want to desire to life, you want to love and see good days and you want to have peace. This is what you have to do. And I’m gonna have Vicki to read that and then we’ll comment on it together to sum up, Let all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit, not returning evil for evil, but giving a blessing instead for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing for the one who desires to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it. So, this is the thing Ephesians. I often use Ephesians five when dealing with problems that Vicki and I have had, I have said something which she has said something, I have to get away pray. But this passage has been so powerful because it actually identifies and quotes from the old testament as well that if you want to love life and see good days and you want to have peace. You have to refrain your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking God, this is so important. It’s not just for a teacher or a preacher, but just for living in a home to have the right kind of relationship with your wife, with your husband, with your Children, with your relatives. It really affects the way that they will go, the way that week will go that way, that life will go the way your relationship will go. So it’s very important that we identify these particular words too. And it’s a summary because first on top it spoke to the woman and uh concerning sarah. And then it also talked about the man and what he was to do. And because if you don’t treat your wife right, God won’t even listen to your praying, uh it talks about that. So what else do you want to say about this? As we close this portion of this? Uh Well, we were we got in the beginning part about a bridal in our mouth and we have to think of the Holy spirit. He’s he’s bridling us. But are we listening to his voice? He doesn’t put something metal in our mouth to turn us in the right direction where we should go. But we can hear his voice, his still small voice in our spirit. I know when I’m about to say something and the Lord says no. And uh sometimes I still want to say it, but I don’t. But I know that when we listen to God’s spirit, we will be so blessed because we’re going to see fruit all around us and we’ll be able to eat that fruit of life. Yes, we’ll have life, we’ll have peace. We’re going to have joy, good days and good days. Hey man, we’re looking at the marks of a spiritual believer and how we can really get a hold of our tongue. We looked at um in uh the epistle of James, the first chapter patient and testing, practicing the truth in chapter two. And now that we have power over our tongue. So important because when the tongue is out of control, the whole life, the whole body is going in the wrong direction it tells us. But what I want to do is make a connection between the meditation of my heart and the words of my mouth. Because what’s going on inside is coming out. And I thought a great passage of scripture that I could actually unpack for us is really one of the most important ones found in the new testament in romans Chapter 10, beginning with verse eight and on defining and explaining the gospel. So as we look at Romans chapter 10, verse eight through 13, we read these words. But what does it say? The word is near you in your mouth. And in your heart that is the word of faith, which we are preaching. That if you confess with your mouth, jesus as Lord, and you believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. You see the the confession with the mouth, the belief in the heart. They’re connected. And it’s not enough that you say something. You must believe it. It’s not enough also that you believe it and never let it come out. People won’t know what is going on. And this passage is given to us from the old testament. We’ll see that from Deuteronomy chapter 32. But let’s look at verse 10, for with the heart, a person believes resulting in righteousness and with the mouth he confesses resulting in salvation. For the scripture, says, whoever believes in him will not be disappointed. Now. This passage of scripture is so beautiful because it connects the mouth and the heart. Like I said, it’s quoting the old testament, but it’s giving us this new testament truth, for there is no distinction between jew and greek. It’s making it clear that there is no distinction Consistent with Chapter two of the book of James Pro so po limp CIA. There’s no separating of people because of race or religious background or social status or financial ability. It says here abounding in riches for all who call upon him for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved Romans 10 8 through 13. Here we’re gonna define the righteousness on the basis of faith. In verse six, the message of salvation intentionally is in the sovereignty section, romans nine through 11. Remember the Book of romans is the first three chapters identify sin and then you have chapter four which is the foundation of salvation. Then you have chapter five, which is the results of salvation and then sanctification 67 and eight. And then nine is the sovereignty section, Which is nine. The past of the of the Jews. The president of the Jews is 10 right here and then 11 is the future and here in this sovereignty section. Uh it gives us insights for the jew and for the greek using Israel as a picture of salvation. Now this is the important part of the connecting this passenger scripture with the mouth and the heart. It’s really talking about Salvation, the Gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So in Deuteronomy 30 verse 11 through 14 were given these words for there is for this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven. Then you should say who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make it make us hear it, that we may observe it, nor is it beyond the sea, That you should say, who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it. That we may observe it. But the word here it is, that is quoted in romans 10. The word is very near you in your mouth and in your heart, that is that you may observe it. Deuteronomy 30 verse 11 through 14. Now the death burial and resurrection are typified are exemplified in the nation of Israel. There are 10 biblical prophecies that were fulfilled with the nation of Israel. Number one, Jacob’s descendants would regain control of Israel. Number two, Israel would be brought back to life. Israel would be born in one day. Israel would be re established as a United Nations. The second, Israel would be more impressive than the first. I’m going quickly because I just want to show you the illustration Number six Ezekiel predicted, when Israel would be re established, People of Israel would return to their own land. No seven. Number 8, God would watch over the people of Israel. And of course all the references are there, No nine, Israel’s army would be disproportionately powerful And number 10, the fortunes of the people of Israel would be restored. These were prophecies all throughout the old testament. They are fulfilled in modern day Israel and the the whole reason for this was that God had given us many illustrations in the old testament Like Abraham with Isaac. He would sacrifice Isaac nope. He stopped right there. And the the RAM was caught in the thicket. There are many illustrations throughout the old testament of how God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life. And and uh Jesus died was buried. Rose again, Israel. The very nation is a picture of the death, the burial and the resurrection of jesus christ in these prophecies. And God is telling us this that the word of faith which we are preaching, that’s romans chapter 10 verse eight that word is rima. It is a specific, a specific precise message, focusing and zooming in on the specific word of faith, the specificity of the word of faith concerning the gospel. This is found in romans 10 10 and john 1 12 through 13, but as many as received him to them, he gave the right to become the Children of God. Even to those who believe on his name who are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And then we confess with our mouth, you confess with your mouth that jesus, the man is Lord, the God of the universe. Can you confess that? Have you confess that the man jesus as it says in first john chapter four that you have to confess that he came in the flesh that the messiah literally came in the flesh that the God of the universe, The logos from eternity past in john chapter one and verse one became a man in verse 14, the logos became flesh and dwelt among us. Have you believe that this is what this is talking about, jesus, The man is Lord the God of the Universe, Philippians two one through 11 1st, john 41 through six, His sinless humanity and his sovereign deity. This is who jesus is. You have to confess it with your mouth, but more than that you have to believe it in your heart. Do you believe it in your heart? That jesus christ, the man is God in the flesh that he went to the cross and bled and died on the cross was buried and rose again from the dead. All in the plan of the tri um God the Father the Son and the Holy spirit believe in your heart. He died on the cross for our sins as a substitute and a sacrifice romans 58, He was buried for three days and he rose bodily flesh and bones from the dead. And then the prayer and this is a prayer, you can pray right now pray this. Father God, thank you for loving me, Jesus, Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins and rising from the dead and if you’ve never done this, this is the time to do it. Father God, thank you for loving me, Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins and for rising from the dead, please forgive me, please forgive all my sins come into my heart and save me. And then in jesus name you’re asking, jesus, you’re talking to jesus, the one who died for you was buried and rose again and now, is that the right hand of the majesty on high. And then of course there’s a mission plan in that same chapter. Uh the call on verse 13, whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, We believe on the Lord. We hear about the Lord in verse 14, we go for the Lord, someone needs to preach. It says the church the commission that if if if they’re not sent there, they have to go in order for some other people to hear. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the glad tidings, that’s where the rubber meets the road. When the church people leave the buildings and go out and share the gospel of jesus christ, the people that have not heard. And then in verse 17 it closes with these words, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the rema again, the very specific message that he died for my sins that he was buried that he arose again, very specific here. This is how we come to Christ and this is how we come to faith in Jesus Christ. We confess with our mouth that jesus christ is Lord and we believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead and today if you hear his voice and he’s touching your heart, just open your heart and say father God, thank you for loving me, jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me. I confess with my mouth I’m a sinner. I believe in my heart, did you rose again from the dead? Please forgive me and come and save me today. Very simple to do that. And if you have done that, share that with someone else, God bless you until next time. It’s all greek to me.