Greg Laurie - Talk This Way

January 9, 2025 | 27:29

Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Talk This Way | January 9, 2025
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: you know, during worship, you've got your hands
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  • In your pockets or your arms are folded, you're not singing even
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  • Though we put lyrics on screens and we encourage you to worship
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  • And look at someone with their hands lifted up,
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  • You say, "fanatic."
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  • And then you go to the football game and you pant your face
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  • In the colors of your team.
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  • And when your team scores a touchdown, you flip out,
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  • Screaming, yelling, setting yourself on fire, everything.
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  • And then you look at someone who lifts one hand to the lord
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  • And you call 'em a fanatic.
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  • Come on now, you have passion for other things, right?
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins ♪♪
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  • Greg: our words really matter, what we say impacts people.
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  • What others say to us affects us in a great way.
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  • It's been said, "sticks and stones may break my bones
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  • But words will never hurt me."
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  • Actually, that's not true.
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  • Words really can hurt you.
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  • You can be deeply wounded by words, can't you?
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  • Some of us remember maybe in our childhood
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  • That something was said to us.
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  • It could have been by a parent, it could have been a teacher
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  • Or somebody else.
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  • They told you, "you're unattractive, you're overweight,
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  • You're a failure, you'll never amount to anything" and we
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  • Sort of carried that with us even into our adult years.
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  • Then again, someone might have said to us, "i see potential
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  • In you, i think you're special, i believe in you,"
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  • And then those words of encouragement carried us on.
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  • Maybe they were words from a parent and grandparent,
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  • A teacher, a coach, a pastor.
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  • Words matter.
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  • Proverbs 18:21 says, "death and life are in the power of
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  • The tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
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  • Even the president of the united states needs encouragement.
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  • I read a story about abraham lincoln,
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  • Who many regard as our greatest president.
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  • But he was in the ford theatre and tragically was assassinated,
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  • But when they were recovering items from his clothing,
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  • They found some spectacles, his wallet,
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  • And a little newspaper clipping that was old and folded over,
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  • And on it, it said, "abraham lincoln is one of the greatest
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  • Statesmen of our time."
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  • So even president lincoln would pull that out of his pocket
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  • Every now and then and read it because he needed
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  • A word of encouragement.
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  • Proverbs 25 verse 11 says, "the right word at the right
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  • Time is like precious gold set in silver."
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  • And i would add to that fact the wrong word at the wrong
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  • Time can be devastating.
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  • We've all heard stories of young people who've literally
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  • Taken their own lives because they were bullied online.
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  • Or people said horrible and cruel things to them after they
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  • Posted a picture or something else.
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  • Let me just say young people, if you post something and people
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  • Hate on you, "these people don't matter.
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  • Who cares?
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  • They live in their mother's basement," okay?
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  • They don't even use a real names.
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  • Who cares with some random person says about you.
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  • But anyway, but it shows the power of words.
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  • Don't listen to their words, listen to the words of god
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  • Who loves you and not the words of people who don't.
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  • By the way, one of my greatest pleasures in life, i've told you
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  • This before, is to block people.
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  • Not just delete comments, block people.
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  • I love it.
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  • You know, they come in with this hateful vitriol in their posts,
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  • I say, "goodbye."
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  • I wish i could do it in real life.
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  • Wouldn't that be cool?
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  • Just block and they disappear. i don't know, okay.
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  • More people have died by words than any weapon
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  • Ever devised by man.
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  • I mean, think about this.
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  • Dedicated to god our words can be a powerful force for good,
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  • Left unchecked and especially when yielded to the enemy,
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  • The devil, our words can do great harm.
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  • So let's see what the bible says about our words in our tongue.
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  • James chapter 3 verse 1.
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  • I'm reading down to verse seven.
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  • This is the new living translation.
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  • "dear brothers and sisters."
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  • I would underline that, i'll come back to it.
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  • "dear brothers and sisters."
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  • Or another way to translate it.
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  • Dear fellow christians,
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  • So these words are addressed to believers.
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  • He goes on, "not many of you should become teachers
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  • In the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
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  • Indeed, we all make mistakes for if we could control our tongues,
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  • We would be perfect and we could also control ourselves
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  • In every other way.
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  • We can make large horses go wherever they want by means
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  • Of a small bit in their mouth.
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  • And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever
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  • The pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.
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  • In the same way," writes james, "the tongue is a small thing
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  • And it makes grand speeches.
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  • But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.
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  • And among all the parts of the body,
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  • The tongue is a flame of fire.
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  • It's a whole world of wickedness corrupting
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  • Your entire body.
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  • It can be set on fire or set your whole life on fire,
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  • And it is set on fire by hell itself.
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  • People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles,
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  • And fish, but no one can tame the tongue.
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  • It's restless and evil, full of deadly poison."
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  • We'll stop there.
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  • So what do we learn about the tongue?
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  • Point number one if you're taking notes,
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  • What you say reveals who you are.
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  • What you say reveals who you are.
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  • Verse 2, "if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect
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  • And control ourselves in every other way."
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  • In many ways, the tongue or your words is a barometer
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  • Of your spiritual maturity.
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  • Socrates once said to a young student, quote,
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  • "speak friend, so i might see you," end quote.
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  • Effectively, socrates are saying,
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  • "speak and i'll be able to evaluate you."
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  • If your life is transformed as a follower of jesus and your words
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  • Will be transformed as well.
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  • The reality of your faith is demonstrated in what you say
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  • And also in what you don't say.
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  • Jesus says, "a good person produces good things from
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  • The treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces
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  • Evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
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  • What you say flows from what is in your heart."
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  • So whatever is in your heart will ultimately
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  • Come out in your words.
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  • And the fact of the matter is, is one day we will be judged
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  • By what we said according to the scripture.
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  • Matthew 15:19, jesus says, "every careless word that people
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  • Speak, they'll give an accounting of it for it
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  • In the day of judgment.
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  • For by your words you will be justified, and by your words
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  • You will be condemned."
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  • In fact, the first sin committed after the fall
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  • Was a sin of the tongue.
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  • When questioned about eating the forbidden fruit, adam quickly
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  • Blames god and says, "well, it's the woman you gave me."
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  • Effectively slandering god.
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  • Now i asked you to underline this first.
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  • Let me return to it.
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  • Notice that james is directing these words to christians,
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  • "dear brothers and sisters."
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  • You know, christians may pride themselves in the fact that they
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  • Don't do certain things anymore.
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  • "oh, i don't do those sins any longer, i'm a christian now."
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  • Fantastic, you would never think of assassinating somebody
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  • Now that you're a christian, but would you assassinate
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  • Their character over sunday brunch?
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  • You would never think of putting a knife in someone but would you
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  • Put a knife into someone through the blade of slander
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  • As you stab them in the back.
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  • See, this is a problem with christians.
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  • We like to talk and we like to make it sound spiritual
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  • When it isn't spiritual at all,
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  • Bringing me to point number two; we need to control what we say.
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  • The bible says that, "let every man be quick to listen,
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  • Slow to speak and slow to anger."
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  • But the reality is we're often quick to speak
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  • And slow to listen and quick to anger as well.
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  • But we need to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
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  • By the way, there are inside and outside thoughts,
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  • Did you know that?
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  • Some things are best left unsaid?
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  • You think them, but that doesn't mean you should say them.
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  • And other things need to be said as well.
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  • Verse 6, "a tongue is set on fire by hell."
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  • James is telling us the uncontrolled tongue
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  • Has a direct pipeline to hell.
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  • One word foolishly spoken can be set fire by the devil.
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  • One rumor, one lie.
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  • Mountain climbers say that "the vibration of one whisper
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  • Can bring down an avalanche."
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  • Number three; our words used right can do so much good.
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  • Just one word said can alter the course of your life.
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  • A judge with one word or one statement can decide
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  • Your guilt or your innocence.
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  • Point number four; our words used wrongly
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  • Can do so much damage.
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  • They can do so much damage.
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  • Look at verse 5, "the tongue is a small thing."
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  • Think about this.
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  • This mere two ounce slab of mucus membrane can do so much
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  • Evil or good depending on who it's controlled by.
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  • As an example for evil, think of adolf hitler.
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  • This man through his demonic rhetoric sent a nation to ruin.
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  • His words were responsible for the death of 6 million jewish
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  • People in the holocaust and many christians were sent to those
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  • Concentration camps as well.
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  • Truly as james says in verse 6, hitler's tongue was set on fire
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  • By hell itself.
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  • But now contrast him with another person who used
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  • His words well, billy graham, a farm boy born
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  • In charlotte, north carolina.
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  • He aspired to be a baseball player one day and god put his
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  • Hand on billy and through his preaching around the world,
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  • Millions of people changed their eternal destiny.
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  • Indeed, death and life are in the power of the tongue.
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  • And i ask you, who is your tongue dedicated to?
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  • There are many ways we can use our words to hurt others.
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  • One is through gossip and back biting.
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  • Gossip, the very word hisses.
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  • Gossip like a snake, right?
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  • So sneaky.
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  • We can make it sound like it is important
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  • But it's so destructive.
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  • Proverbs 20 verse 19 says that "gossip betrays the confidence.
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  • Avoid a man who talks too much."
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  • How practical is that?
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  • Gossip is like junk food.
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  • You know it's bad but you eat it anyway.
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  • In fact, a translation of proverbs 26:22 that's modern,
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  • Puts it this way; "listening to gossip
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  • Is like eating cheap candy.
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  • Do you want junk like that in your belly?"
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  • What a great translation.
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  • So when i go to the movie, i like to get milk duds and
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  • Popcorn and i don't know what's going on and i don't know if
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  • You've noticed this, but a lot of movie theaters, if not most,
  • 00:12:01.487 --> 00:12:05.191
  • Are not carrying milk duds anymore.
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  • What is going on?
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  • I love milk duds.
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  • That's the only time i eat candy.
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  • I don't really eat candy at all but when i get that popcorn,
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  • I want some milk duds.
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  • I think maybe 'cause they stick to everything, i'm not really
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  • Sure but the other day i was at the drugstore
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  • And i saw they had milk duds.
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  • I haven't seen milk duds anywhere and i bought like
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  • Four boxes of 'em.
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  • And they're really big boxes too.
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  • I came home, cathe said,
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  • "well, why did you buy all those milk duds?"
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  • I said, "'cause i can't find them anywhere."
  • 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:36.188
  • She said, "you shouldn't have bought them,
  • 00:12:36.188 --> 00:12:37.990
  • You're gonna eat them."
  • 00:12:37.990 --> 00:12:39.325
  • "no, i won't, i won't eat that many."
  • 00:12:39.325 --> 00:12:42.128
  • And then that night, who's making popcorn and milk duds?
  • 00:12:42.128 --> 00:12:44.730
  • Cathe. she's the one eating them.
  • 00:12:44.730 --> 00:12:48.134
  • But i had some too.
  • 00:12:48.134 --> 00:12:49.468
  • But you don't feel good after you eat candy, do you?
  • 00:12:49.468 --> 00:12:52.138
  • It's good going down and that's what gossip is like.
  • 00:12:52.138 --> 00:12:55.608
  • Gossip will often veil itself in acceptable ways with phrases
  • 00:12:55.608 --> 00:13:00.513
  • Like, "have you heard" or "did you know?
  • 00:13:00.513 --> 00:13:03.983
  • Or how about this?
  • 00:13:03.983 --> 00:13:05.384
  • "i don't know if this is true but," okay, hold on.
  • 00:13:05.384 --> 00:13:07.820
  • If any statement you make begins with the words, "i don't know if
  • 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:12.291
  • This is true" stop and don't make that statement because
  • 00:13:12.291 --> 00:13:16.228
  • You don't know how devastating that could be.
  • 00:13:16.228 --> 00:13:19.265
  • But we rationalize it and say spiritual things like this.
  • 00:13:19.265 --> 00:13:23.602
  • "i'm only telling you this so you can pray."
  • 00:13:23.602 --> 00:13:28.374
  • Oh, shut up.
  • 00:13:28.374 --> 00:13:30.242
  • You're gossiping.
  • 00:13:30.242 --> 00:13:32.144
  • Don't give me this "so you can pray" business.
  • 00:13:32.144 --> 00:13:35.047
  • "no, i just, that's the only reason i'm sharing it."
  • 00:13:35.047 --> 00:13:38.017
  • No, here's another way we can gossip
  • 00:13:38.017 --> 00:13:41.453
  • Through innuendo, innuendo.
  • 00:13:41.453 --> 00:13:45.024
  • A cousin of gossip is innuendo.
  • 00:13:45.024 --> 00:13:47.993
  • That's where you don't say it exactly but you imply it.
  • 00:13:47.993 --> 00:13:52.164
  • Then there is a subtle misuse of our words in flattery,
  • 00:13:52.164 --> 00:13:56.302
  • Flattering.
  • 00:13:56.302 --> 00:13:58.037
  • Flattery is really lying, why?
  • 00:13:58.037 --> 00:14:00.372
  • Because when i flatter somebody,
  • 00:14:00.372 --> 00:14:02.408
  • I'm basically telling them a lie.
  • 00:14:02.408 --> 00:14:04.376
  • Gossip is saying behind a person's back what they
  • 00:14:04.376 --> 00:14:06.846
  • Would never say to their face, flattery is saying to a person's
  • 00:14:06.846 --> 00:14:09.815
  • Face what they would never say behind their back.
  • 00:14:09.815 --> 00:14:13.118
  • Does that make sense?
  • 00:14:13.118 --> 00:14:14.920
  • So gossip, i say it behind your back.
  • 00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:17.189
  • I would never say it to your face
  • 00:14:17.189 --> 00:14:18.991
  • Or ask you if it's even true.
  • 00:14:18.991 --> 00:14:20.860
  • Flattery, oh, i'll say it to your face but if someone
  • 00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:24.163
  • Ask me about you, i would never say that behind your back.
  • 00:14:24.163 --> 00:14:27.466
  • Number five; if you can control your tongues,
  • 00:14:27.466 --> 00:14:30.836
  • It's a sign of spiritual maturity.
  • 00:14:30.836 --> 00:14:33.672
  • Look at verse 2.
  • 00:14:33.672 --> 00:14:35.274
  • "if we control our tongues, we would be perfect and control
  • 00:14:35.274 --> 00:14:37.977
  • Ourselves in every other way."
  • 00:14:37.977 --> 00:14:40.813
  • The word perfect here means full grown.
  • 00:14:40.813 --> 00:14:42.948
  • So it's not meaning flawlessly perfect, but what it means
  • 00:14:42.948 --> 00:14:46.685
  • Is you're mature.
  • 00:14:46.685 --> 00:14:48.254
  • If you can control your words, it's a sign of maturity.
  • 00:14:48.254 --> 00:14:51.991
  • I heard about a little boy that went to a pastor's house
  • 00:14:51.991 --> 00:14:54.693
  • Who was doing some carpentry.
  • 00:14:54.693 --> 00:14:56.528
  • Little guy just standing there staring at the pastors.
  • 00:14:56.528 --> 00:14:59.064
  • He was working away finally the minister turned and said,
  • 00:14:59.064 --> 00:15:02.735
  • "sonny, you're trying to pick up some tips on carpentry."
  • 00:15:02.735 --> 00:15:05.537
  • The little guy said, "no, i just wanna see what a preacher
  • 00:15:05.537 --> 00:15:08.507
  • Says when he hits his thumb with a hammer."
  • 00:15:08.507 --> 00:15:13.212
  • And i think there are people who are not believers who are
  • 00:15:13.212 --> 00:15:15.781
  • Watching us maybe in some ways hoping that we will
  • 00:15:15.781 --> 00:15:20.486
  • Do something wrong, so we wanna be very careful.
  • 00:15:20.486 --> 00:15:24.089
  • And by the way, some of the greatest saints in the bible
  • 00:15:24.089 --> 00:15:26.625
  • Had trouble with what they said.
  • 00:15:26.625 --> 00:15:29.028
  • Job is a good example.
  • 00:15:29.028 --> 00:15:31.030
  • God himself said, "if job's a perfect and upright man,
  • 00:15:31.030 --> 00:15:34.266
  • And he fears god and shuns evil."
  • 00:15:34.266 --> 00:15:36.201
  • But yet at the end of job's book he writes in chapter 40 verse 4
  • 00:15:36.201 --> 00:15:40.306
  • To the lord, he says, "i'm unworthy.
  • 00:15:40.306 --> 00:15:43.075
  • How can i reply to you?
  • 00:15:43.075 --> 00:15:44.677
  • I put my hand over my mouth."
  • 00:15:44.677 --> 00:15:46.779
  • I wish more people would put their hand over their mouth.
  • 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:49.882
  • One of the greatest uses of our words
  • 00:15:49.882 --> 00:15:53.218
  • Is to proclaim the word of god.
  • 00:15:53.218 --> 00:15:56.288
  • But with that comes great responsibility.
  • 00:15:56.288 --> 00:15:58.557
  • Look at verse 3, "dear brothers and sisters,
  • 00:15:58.557 --> 00:16:00.826
  • Not many of you should become teachers in the church,
  • 00:16:00.826 --> 00:16:03.796
  • For we who teach will be judged more strictly."
  • 00:16:03.796 --> 00:16:07.566
  • Now, james is not wanting to discourage us
  • 00:16:07.566 --> 00:16:10.703
  • From sharing our biblical insights.
  • 00:16:10.703 --> 00:16:12.838
  • Fact of the matter is you should share the things you discover
  • 00:16:12.838 --> 00:16:16.775
  • In the word with others.
  • 00:16:16.775 --> 00:16:19.044
  • 1 corinthians 14:26 says, "hey, brothers and sisters,
  • 00:16:19.044 --> 00:16:22.314
  • When you come together, each one of you has a song
  • 00:16:22.314 --> 00:16:24.850
  • Or a word of instruction."
  • 00:16:24.850 --> 00:16:26.251
  • So it's awesome to say, "i just read this in the word today
  • 00:16:26.251 --> 00:16:29.054
  • And this verse really spoke to me."
  • 00:16:29.054 --> 00:16:30.689
  • Great, do that. james is not discouraging that.
  • 00:16:30.689 --> 00:16:34.159
  • But what he is saying is, when you share,
  • 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:37.596
  • When you speak for god, you know, be prepared.
  • 00:16:37.596 --> 00:16:40.199
  • There's responsibility that comes with that.
  • 00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:42.634
  • I remember the first time i shared in a public setting,
  • 00:16:42.634 --> 00:16:47.573
  • It was a small group of believers.
  • 00:16:47.573 --> 00:16:49.842
  • I was still in high school.
  • 00:16:49.842 --> 00:16:51.577
  • They were in high school and different people were sharing
  • 00:16:51.577 --> 00:16:55.047
  • Things they read in the bible and i'd read something
  • 00:16:55.047 --> 00:16:57.416
  • That morning and i was thinking, "should i share this?
  • 00:16:57.416 --> 00:16:59.852
  • My heart is beating."
  • 00:16:59.852 --> 00:17:01.353
  • You know that feeling?
  • 00:17:01.353 --> 00:17:03.222
  • Finally i said, "hey, i read something in the bible today."
  • 00:17:03.222 --> 00:17:06.458
  • My voice was all shaking.
  • 00:17:06.458 --> 00:17:08.794
  • After i was done, then people went, "oh, that's great."
  • 00:17:08.794 --> 00:17:10.863
  • And then the lord started opening doors for me to speak.
  • 00:17:10.863 --> 00:17:15.701
  • I never aspired to be a speaker, or a preacher, or a communicator
  • 00:17:15.701 --> 00:17:20.272
  • Like that, i was a more behind the scenes kind of a person
  • 00:17:20.272 --> 00:17:24.109
  • But as i began to do that more i realized there's
  • 00:17:24.109 --> 00:17:28.647
  • A responsibility that comes with this.
  • 00:17:28.647 --> 00:17:31.583
  • 1 timothy 3:1 says, "it's a trustworthy statement if a man
  • 00:17:31.583 --> 00:17:35.020
  • Aspires to the role of overseer (or a preacher/ teacher).
  • 00:17:35.020 --> 00:17:38.223
  • It's a fine work he desires to do."
  • 00:17:38.223 --> 00:17:41.326
  • So it's a good thing.
  • 00:17:41.326 --> 00:17:42.694
  • If god has called you to do this sort of thing, that's great.
  • 00:17:42.694 --> 00:17:45.397
  • Make sure you're prepared.
  • 00:17:45.397 --> 00:17:47.433
  • And when i stand up, i wanna be prepared and be able to back up
  • 00:17:47.433 --> 00:17:51.303
  • What i say by the scripture.
  • 00:17:51.303 --> 00:17:54.339
  • That's why the bible says, "study to show yourself
  • 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:57.142
  • Approved unto god.
  • 00:17:57.142 --> 00:17:58.477
  • A workman that does not need to be ashamed,
  • 00:17:58.477 --> 00:18:00.312
  • Rightly dividing the word of truth."
  • 00:18:00.312 --> 00:18:02.748
  • You know, people have asked me, what is it like to stand up
  • 00:18:02.748 --> 00:18:05.017
  • In a stadium and speak to a huge group of people?
  • 00:18:05.017 --> 00:18:08.554
  • Is it fun?
  • 00:18:08.554 --> 00:18:10.722
  • I wouldn't use the word fun, i would use the word pressure
  • 00:18:10.722 --> 00:18:16.195
  • And responsibility 'cause i feel when i get up there,
  • 00:18:16.195 --> 00:18:19.998
  • I'm speaking for god, i take that very seriously.
  • 00:18:19.998 --> 00:18:23.268
  • I don't wanna say the wrong thing, i wanna say the right
  • 00:18:23.268 --> 00:18:26.438
  • Thing because god has not called me to be some kind
  • 00:18:26.438 --> 00:18:29.808
  • Of a political pundit, he's not called me to be a social
  • 00:18:29.808 --> 00:18:33.312
  • Commentator, he's not called me to be a life coach
  • 00:18:33.312 --> 00:18:37.616
  • Or a standup comic, though i'm incredibly funny at times.
  • 00:18:37.616 --> 00:18:42.121
  • Not today so much, and i'm joking.
  • 00:18:42.121 --> 00:18:45.591
  • But the fact is, i'm called to declare the word of god and the
  • 00:18:45.591 --> 00:18:51.196
  • Scripture says, "when we stand to speak in 1 peter 4:11, "we
  • 00:18:51.196 --> 00:18:55.467
  • Should do so as one who speaks the very words of god."
  • 00:18:55.467 --> 00:18:58.337
  • It's a sacred responsibility and i take it very seriously
  • 00:18:58.337 --> 00:19:02.541
  • And we all should.
  • 00:19:02.541 --> 00:19:04.209
  • Bringing me to my next point.
  • 00:19:04.209 --> 00:19:05.944
  • Number seven; use your words to build up, not to tear down.
  • 00:19:05.944 --> 00:19:10.883
  • Use your words to build up, not to tear down.
  • 00:19:10.883 --> 00:19:13.519
  • Verse 8 of james 3.
  • 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.454
  • The tongue is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
  • 00:19:15.454 --> 00:19:19.758
  • Sometimes it praises our lord and father, sometimes it curses
  • 00:19:19.758 --> 00:19:22.995
  • Those who've been made in the image of god.
  • 00:19:22.995 --> 00:19:26.632
  • How important encouragement is.
  • 00:19:26.632 --> 00:19:29.501
  • Have you ever had a word of encouragement
  • 00:19:29.501 --> 00:19:31.370
  • Just change things for you?
  • 00:19:31.370 --> 00:19:33.438
  • Maybe you're feeling down, "oh, no one appreciates what i do.
  • 00:19:33.438 --> 00:19:37.776
  • No one notices, no one cares."
  • 00:19:37.776 --> 00:19:40.245
  • And then maybe a letter arrives that was written, you know,
  • 00:19:40.245 --> 00:19:42.981
  • Three days ago and you open it up, someone encourages you.
  • 00:19:42.981 --> 00:19:46.585
  • Or they shoot you a text, or someone says something to you,
  • 00:19:46.585 --> 00:19:49.588
  • Say, "thank you, i really needed that."
  • 00:19:49.588 --> 00:19:52.724
  • Proverbs 25:25 says, "good news from far away as like cold water
  • 00:19:52.724 --> 00:19:57.629
  • To the thirsty."
  • 00:19:57.629 --> 00:19:59.898
  • I think one of the greatest needs in the church today
  • 00:19:59.898 --> 00:20:03.802
  • And in the world today, is for us to encourage one another.
  • 00:20:03.802 --> 00:20:08.574
  • Not discourage one another,
  • 00:20:08.574 --> 00:20:11.810
  • Not biding and devouring one another.
  • 00:20:11.810 --> 00:20:15.447
  • In fact, hebrews tells us that "we should not forsake the
  • 00:20:15.447 --> 00:20:19.885
  • Assembling of ourselves together as a manner of some is,
  • 00:20:19.885 --> 00:20:23.088
  • But instead exhorting or encouraging one another
  • 00:20:23.088 --> 00:20:26.992
  • So much more as we see the day of the lord approaching."
  • 00:20:26.992 --> 00:20:31.496
  • The problem is some people don't know how to pay a compliment.
  • 00:20:31.496 --> 00:20:35.100
  • They insult you while they compliment you.
  • 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:38.470
  • Do you know what i'm talking about?
  • 00:20:38.470 --> 00:20:39.805
  • It's called a compli-sult.
  • 00:20:39.805 --> 00:20:42.874
  • It's meant to encourage but actually it discourages you.
  • 00:20:42.874 --> 00:20:48.313
  • Example, you know, you show up at their house and they say,
  • 00:20:48.313 --> 00:20:51.750
  • "whoa, you're on time."
  • 00:20:51.750 --> 00:20:53.452
  • "okay, so you're basically saying,
  • 00:20:53.452 --> 00:20:56.722
  • I'm late the rest of the time."
  • 00:20:56.722 --> 00:20:59.391
  • Or how about this one?
  • 00:20:59.391 --> 00:21:00.792
  • "you're a great driver for a woman."
  • 00:21:00.792 --> 00:21:03.495
  • What?
  • 00:21:03.495 --> 00:21:04.896
  • How about this one?
  • 00:21:04.896 --> 00:21:06.798
  • "you look so good when you wear makeup."
  • 00:21:06.798 --> 00:21:09.368
  • "what? what are you saying?"
  • 00:21:09.368 --> 00:21:12.271
  • You basically look bad most of the time, but yeah.
  • 00:21:12.271 --> 00:21:15.340
  • "oh, you sure clean up good."
  • 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:17.209
  • That's a variation of it.
  • 00:21:17.209 --> 00:21:18.877
  • "you're so pretty.
  • 00:21:18.877 --> 00:21:20.746
  • Why are you still single?"
  • 00:21:20.746 --> 00:21:22.481
  • What? is that really helpful?
  • 00:21:22.481 --> 00:21:24.349
  • Or how about this one? "you look good for your age."
  • 00:21:24.349 --> 00:21:28.487
  • I've heard that a few times.
  • 00:21:28.487 --> 00:21:30.522
  • Recently i went to the tailor.
  • 00:21:30.522 --> 00:21:32.224
  • I was wearing a suit and i needed
  • 00:21:32.224 --> 00:21:35.027
  • To have some alterations done.
  • 00:21:35.027 --> 00:21:37.529
  • I would like to say to take it in, it was the opposite.
  • 00:21:37.529 --> 00:21:40.732
  • And so we're chitchatting and i've known this guy
  • 00:21:40.732 --> 00:21:44.102
  • For a while and he says, "well, what's new?"
  • 00:21:44.102 --> 00:21:46.672
  • "well, i turned 70."
  • 00:21:46.672 --> 00:21:48.006
  • He said, "what?
  • 00:21:48.006 --> 00:21:49.541
  • You turned 70?"
  • 00:21:49.541 --> 00:21:51.310
  • And like, "well, i didn't say i died."
  • 00:21:51.310 --> 00:21:53.645
  • I mean, and then he said, "well, you look good for your age."
  • 00:21:53.645 --> 00:21:57.049
  • I mean, i'd call you at like 68 or something.
  • 00:21:57.049 --> 00:21:59.751
  • All right, whatever.
  • 00:21:59.751 --> 00:22:03.221
  • Compli-sults, we don't mean them.
  • 00:22:03.221 --> 00:22:06.091
  • I think some people think they have the gift of criticism,
  • 00:22:06.091 --> 00:22:09.361
  • It's not a gift.
  • 00:22:09.361 --> 00:22:11.663
  • Number eight; we should use our words to praise god.
  • 00:22:11.663 --> 00:22:16.134
  • Why did god give us this tongue?
  • 00:22:16.134 --> 00:22:18.503
  • Why did god give us the ability to verbally communicate?
  • 00:22:18.503 --> 00:22:22.174
  • One of the reasons is so we could use it to bring glory
  • 00:22:22.174 --> 00:22:26.845
  • To the lord.
  • 00:22:26.845 --> 00:22:28.880
  • I love the words of david when he says, "my lips shall praise
  • 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:31.616
  • Thee thus will i bless thee.
  • 00:22:31.616 --> 00:22:34.486
  • I'll lift up my hands and to your name."
  • 00:22:34.486 --> 00:22:37.122
  • You need to express your praise to god verbally.
  • 00:22:37.122 --> 00:22:40.959
  • Just as you need to express your affirmation of people.
  • 00:22:40.959 --> 00:22:44.629
  • Guys, it's not enough to look at your wife and think, "i sure
  • 00:22:44.629 --> 00:22:49.368
  • Love her and she looks beautiful today."
  • 00:22:49.368 --> 00:22:51.670
  • She's not a mind reader.
  • 00:22:51.670 --> 00:22:54.039
  • Tell her, same for you girls too.
  • 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.774
  • Tell your husband you appreciate them.
  • 00:22:55.774 --> 00:22:57.909
  • Tell your parents you appreciate them.
  • 00:22:57.909 --> 00:22:59.978
  • Tell your children how much you love them, encourage them.
  • 00:22:59.978 --> 00:23:03.415
  • Verbalize these things and we need to verbalize
  • 00:23:03.415 --> 00:23:06.852
  • Our praise to god.
  • 00:23:06.852 --> 00:23:08.653
  • Hebrews 13:15 says, "let us offer continually the sacrifice
  • 00:23:08.653 --> 00:23:13.191
  • Of praise to god."
  • 00:23:13.191 --> 00:23:15.794
  • Now some people say, "i can't do that."
  • 00:23:15.794 --> 00:23:18.330
  • You know, during worship, you've got your hands in your pockets
  • 00:23:18.330 --> 00:23:20.866
  • Or your arms are folded.
  • 00:23:20.866 --> 00:23:23.068
  • You're not singing even though we put lyrics on screens
  • 00:23:23.068 --> 00:23:26.605
  • And we encourage you to worship and look at someone
  • 00:23:26.605 --> 00:23:29.107
  • With their hands lifted up.
  • 00:23:29.107 --> 00:23:30.442
  • You say, "fanatic."
  • 00:23:30.442 --> 00:23:32.444
  • And then you go to the football game and you paint your face
  • 00:23:32.444 --> 00:23:36.181
  • In the colors of your team.
  • 00:23:36.181 --> 00:23:38.683
  • And when your team scores a touchdown, you flip out,
  • 00:23:38.683 --> 00:23:42.654
  • Screaming, yelling, setting yourself on fire, everything.
  • 00:23:42.654 --> 00:23:46.825
  • And then you look at someone who lifts one hand to the lord
  • 00:23:46.825 --> 00:23:49.261
  • And you call him a fanatic?
  • 00:23:49.261 --> 00:23:51.563
  • Come on now.
  • 00:23:51.563 --> 00:23:52.998
  • You have passion for other things, right?
  • 00:23:52.998 --> 00:23:57.536
  • You should not have equal passion for christ, you should
  • 00:24:00.038 --> 00:24:02.941
  • Have greater passion for christ than your team, right?
  • 00:24:02.941 --> 00:24:07.045
  • So use your words to praise god.
  • 00:24:07.045 --> 00:24:10.282
  • Number nine; use your tongue,
  • 00:24:10.282 --> 00:24:13.485
  • Use your words to preach the gospel.
  • 00:24:13.485 --> 00:24:16.288
  • The primary way god has chosen to bring non-believers to faith
  • 00:24:16.288 --> 00:24:20.192
  • Is through the verbal articulation of the gospel.
  • 00:24:20.192 --> 00:24:24.963
  • We all know the great commission.
  • 00:24:24.963 --> 00:24:26.965
  • It's go into all the world and be a good example, right?
  • 00:24:26.965 --> 00:24:30.836
  • That's not what it is. you know what it is?
  • 00:24:30.836 --> 00:24:33.805
  • Go into all the world and do what?
  • 00:24:33.805 --> 00:24:36.041
  • Thank you.
  • 00:24:36.041 --> 00:24:37.409
  • And by the way, to preach doesn't mean you have to yell.
  • 00:24:37.409 --> 00:24:39.845
  • It can be soft.
  • 00:24:39.845 --> 00:24:41.913
  • You can speak softly, you can tweet it, you can type it,
  • 00:24:41.913 --> 00:24:44.783
  • You can post it, you can text it, you can share it
  • 00:24:44.783 --> 00:24:47.419
  • Conversationally but it's verbal articulation of the gospel.
  • 00:24:47.419 --> 00:24:52.157
  • Now, i'm not saying we should not go be a good example
  • 00:24:52.157 --> 00:24:55.694
  • Because the fact of the matter is, is when i'm a good example,
  • 00:24:55.694 --> 00:24:58.396
  • It in effect earns me the right to verbally articulate
  • 00:24:58.396 --> 00:25:02.400
  • What i believe and help a person to believe as well.
  • 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:06.238
  • But in romans 10:14, paul writes, "how can they call on
  • 00:25:06.238 --> 00:25:09.541
  • Him unless they believe in him?
  • 00:25:09.541 --> 00:25:11.109
  • How can they believe in him if they've never heard about him?
  • 00:25:11.109 --> 00:25:15.146
  • And how could they hear about him unless someone tells them?"
  • 00:25:15.146 --> 00:25:20.151
  • You wanna use your words in your tongue
  • 00:25:20.151 --> 00:25:22.821
  • For the ultimate good--?
  • 00:25:22.821 --> 00:25:24.256
  • Use it to praise god and use it to tell others about jesus.
  • 00:25:24.256 --> 00:25:29.160
  • And number 10 and lastly; use your words to confess your sin.
  • 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:34.699
  • Use your words to confess your sin.
  • 00:25:34.699 --> 00:25:37.068
  • The bible says, "if we say we have no sin, we deceive
  • 00:25:37.068 --> 00:25:40.305
  • Ourselves and the truth is not in us, but if we will confess
  • 00:25:40.305 --> 00:25:44.676
  • Our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin
  • 00:25:44.676 --> 00:25:49.180
  • And cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
  • 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:53.251
  • Greg: have you watched the news lately?
  • 00:25:57.122 --> 00:25:58.623
  • It seems like the world is coming apart.
  • 00:25:58.623 --> 00:26:01.560
  • War in the middle east, instability all around us.
  • 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:05.597
  • And i'm telling you right now, the bible predicted these things
  • 00:26:05.597 --> 00:26:08.967
  • Would happen in the last days.
  • 00:26:08.967 --> 00:26:10.869
  • But here's what you need to remember.
  • 00:26:10.869 --> 00:26:12.637
  • Jesus said, "when you see these things begin to happen, look up,
  • 00:26:12.637 --> 00:26:17.042
  • For your redemption is drawing near."
  • 00:26:17.042 --> 00:26:19.044
  • He didn't say, "freak out."
  • 00:26:19.044 --> 00:26:20.478
  • He said, "look up."
  • 00:26:20.478 --> 00:26:22.881
  • I want you to know that i've read the last page of the bible,
  • 00:26:22.881 --> 00:26:25.884
  • And we win in the end.
  • 00:26:25.884 --> 00:26:27.619
  • We need hope in this crazy, hopeless world, in this world
  • 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:31.556
  • Of chaos and confusion.
  • 00:26:31.556 --> 00:26:33.325
  • Jesus christ has everything you're looking for
  • 00:26:33.325 --> 00:26:37.062
  • In a relationship with him.
  • 00:26:37.062 --> 00:26:39.464
  • I encourage you to call out to the lord and ask him
  • 00:26:39.464 --> 00:26:43.535
  • To come into your life.
  • 00:26:43.535 --> 00:26:45.203
  • Let me send you, at no charge, a bible to help you get started
  • 00:26:45.203 --> 00:26:50.275
  • In your new relationship with christ.
  • 00:26:50.275 --> 00:26:53.812
  • Greg: i'm excited to announce that here at harvest
  • 00:26:57.882 --> 00:27:00.218
  • We partnered with our friends at freewill.
  • 00:27:00.218 --> 00:27:03.722
  • Freewill is an easy to use estate planning tool
  • 00:27:03.722 --> 00:27:06.524
  • That allows you to make planned gifts to organizations
  • 00:27:06.524 --> 00:27:09.728
  • Of your choice.
  • 00:27:09.728 --> 00:27:11.196
  • It's a creative opportunity to support the work we're doing
  • 00:27:11.196 --> 00:27:14.432
  • Here at harvest ministries.
  • 00:27:14.432 --> 00:27:16.134
  • So as you make your plans, i hope you'll consider
  • 00:27:16.134 --> 00:27:19.004
  • Investing in this ministry so we can continue
  • 00:27:19.004 --> 00:27:22.040
  • To preach the gospel and teach the word of god
  • 00:27:22.040 --> 00:27:24.676
  • For years to come.
  • 00:27:24.676 --> 00:27:26.011
  • You can learn more at freewill.com/harvest.
  • 00:27:26.011 --> 00:27:29.948