Struggling to answer someone's questions about your faith, Pastor Greg Laurie recommends a great book to help. You know, I remember the first time that I shared my faith; I was so young, and I was challenged by an atheist. I did not have a clue as to what I should say, and I wish I'd had a copy of this book by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler, and the title of it is "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist." And we want to send you this book for your gift of any size, available at. Harvest dot org. Gossip.
There is something very tantalizing when someone comes up says, "Hey, have you heard the latest?" I don't even know if this is true, but stop. If your sentence begins like that, do not say what you're about to say today. Pastor Greg Laurie brings some good biblical counsel about what we say and what we choose not to say. Valuable insight on taming our tongues. A true mark of spiritual growth is controlling what you say.
This is the day when the lost are found. This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. We've all been wounded by something someone said to us, and if we're candid, we probably all admit we've said some things that may have hurt someone else. Once those careless words leave our mouths, there's just no getting them back.
How can we control our tongues? How can we keep that tiger in the cage? Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to some specific counsel in the book of James. Today's message is a featured part of our brand new series, "Walk This Way." So, a number of years ago, I was in Virginia, and a friend of mine, Mel Graham, actually, he's nephew of Billy Graham, has a cabin there, and he invited Kathy and I to stay in his cabin, which seemed like a lot of fun. It was very cold, and there was some snow out there, and he said, "Now, here's the problem with this cabin: there's no central heating." We use a fireplace and a pot-belly stove to heat it, so you have to keep the fire going all day and night long.
Well, listen, I'm from California, okay?
So, I have a gas flame in my fireplace, and my experience is turn on the gas or get a duraflam log at the market, right?
So I said, honestly, I hate to admit this, I don't know how to build a fire. He says, well, you start with kindling. I said, okay, where do Buy that," he says. "You don't buy it. You go pick it up off the ground." I said, "Okay, what does that look like?" So he he took this California boy out and we're tromping through the forest, picking up little sticks and different things, you know, kindling.
And he showed me how to build a fire, and we built a very nice fire. And then he said, "Okay, so now when it fills with ash, you scoop it out and you put it in the metal bucket. You keep it on this concrete surface. And when the bucket is filled, you need to give it some time to cool down. You don't want to throw burning embers out.
You then you." Throw it out, okay.
So I said, "Okay, got it." So the next night it was getting really cold, and the buckets were full of ash. And I thought, "Okay, I'll just throw out the old ash." And I put some more logs on the fire. Went outside and I flung this bucket, and it's like everything went into slow motion. Because much to my shock, it was filled with burning embers, and they were going into dried leaves, and they went here, there, and literally immediately, little fires are. Oh no!
And so I. I jumped over this side. I'm literally picking up burning embers with my hands and throwing them up on the gravel driveway, trying to stop a forest fire. I'm yelling out, "Kathy, Kathy, help me!" So, we couldn't find a hose, and I found a bucket, like the smallest bucket I've ever seen. I'd fill it with water, run over, run over.
Oh my gosh, I must had a heart attack. I literally thought I was going to burn the whole forest down, so all night I kept waking up and looking out the window, hoping to not see a fire. Thankfully, one did not start, but I learned the truth of what James says in James chapter three, verse five: "The tongue is a small thing and makes grand speeches, but a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire." So let's see what the Bible says about our words in James chapter three, starting at verse one, and I'm reading from the New Living Translation. Dear brothers and sisters. Not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Indeed, we all make mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could control also ourselves in every other way. We can make large horses go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth, and a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, verse five. The tongue is a small thing, and it makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It's a world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it's set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue.
It's restless and evil and full of deadly poison.
Okay, we'll stop there.
So, what do we learn about the tongue? What do we learn about the words from James? If you're taking notes, here's point number one: What you say reveals who you are. What you say reveals who you are. Verse two.
If you could control your tongues, you would be perfect, and you would control yourself in every other way. The tongue is really a barometer of Christian maturity.
Socrates once said to a young student, "Quote: Speak, friend, that I might see you." End quote. You know, we evaluate a person by what they say, and if your life is really transformed by Jesus Christ, your words will be transformed as well. Your faith will impact you in what you say and what you don't say. Jesus said in Luke chapter six, a good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
So, what we say is so important because ultimately the Bible teaches that we will be judged by our words. Jesus said in Matthew fifteen nineteen, "Every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of in the day of judgment. For by your word you will be justified, and by your word you will be condemned." In fact, the first sin committed after the fall was a sin of the words. When Adam effectively slandered God, and he said, "Lord, this isn't my fault. It's the woman you gave me." You're responsible for what has happened, so it was a sin of the words.
And notice in verse one, James addresses his words to Christians, dear brothers and sisters. This message of the misuse of our words is directed specifically. Toward followers of Jesus Christ.
Now we may pride ourselves as Christians in the fact that we don't do certain sinful things anymore, and that's a good thing. But at the same time, we can also be responsible for doing other things with our words. We would never think of having someone we don't like assassinated, but we would assassinate their character over Sunday brunch. We would never think of pulling out a knife and stabbing someone, but we would think nothing of taking the blade of slander and stabbing someone in the back.
So we need to control what we say. The Bible says that every man be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. But we're usually the opposite, right? We're quick to speak, you know. I don't want to listen.
I don't even want to hear the rest of what you're saying. I just want to say what I want to say, and maybe what I'm saying isn't even based on truth, but I'm going to say it anyway. And so we're told to control this. Number two, we need to control what we say. We need to control what we say.
The tongue is like a bit in a horse's mouth. I mean, it's amazing thing. How many of you ride horses, Richard?
Well, it's amazing. You get on the back of this incredible animal, and and with your reins and with the bit in the mouth of the horse, he will go where you want him to go. You can actually control a whole team of horses in the same way. We managed to team all kinds of animals. Verse seven, people have managed to team animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.
No one can team the tongue. Years ago, I went to the Rose Parade—the only time, in fact—and I remember seeing a guy riding a buffalo down the street. I mean, that's a big animal, the buffalo.
So, man, this guy with a bit in the mouth of the buffalo was able to control it. And you think of the fact that we can tame killer whales. We can tame crocodiles. We can tame tigers. All these animals can be controlled, but we can't control our tongue, or can we?
It's set on fire by hell. Verse six says, "A single match from a cigarette or a campfire that hasn't been put out can start a forest fire." You remember the words of the great theologian Smokey the Bear, who reminded us all: "Only you can prevent." Forest fires. Mountain climbers have told us that the vibration of one whisper can bring down an avalanche. Bringing me to point number three, our words used right can do so much good. Our words used right can do so much good.
Just one statement can set the course of your life. Single word of a judge. Can condemn or pardon you, saying "I do" to a partner for life means marriage. Also, saying "I won't" to the temptation of an extramarital affair can save that marriage from destruction. And most importantly, saying "I will" to Jesus Christ can change your eternal destiny.
Number four, our words used wrongly can do so much damage. Think about one single man from history, Adolf Hitler, with his demonic rhetoric that he gave to the nation of Germany, and effectively started World War II. And not only was his nation destroyed in so many ways by his rhetoric. But also over six million Jewish people lost their lives in the Holocaust, and many Christians were put to death at this time as well. One man dedicating his tongue to the devil, but now we take another man in contrast: Billy Graham, our farm boy in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Who aspired to be a baseball player one day, but the call of God came to him, and he dedicated his words to God. And the result is millions and millions of people have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
So it just reminds us, death and life are in the power of the tongue. Who have you dedicated your tongue to? Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. Have you downloaded the Harvest Plus app yet? This is something you need to get on your phone or your tablet or even on your television set.
It's full of messages that I've given and others. It has all the movies that we have done over the years, like Johnny Cash, "A Redemption of an American Icon," Steve McQueen, "The Salvation of an American Icon," A Rush of Hope, and many more, as well as my sermons, as well as. Our brand new podcast and our radio show, while the list just goes on and on, and the best thing of all, it's free. Download it now for your device and start enjoying this library of spiritual resources right there at your fingertips to watch or listen to on demand. It's called Harvest Plus, so download it now.
You'll love it.
Well, we're talking about the destructive potential of our words today, as Pastor Gray continues our message in the book of James called "Talk This Way." There is many ways that we can use our words to hurt others. One is through gossip and backbiting. Gossip and backbiting. Proverbs twenty verse nineteen says that gossip betrays the confidence, so avoid a man who talks too much. We're also told in Proverbs twenty six twenty two, modern translation: Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy.
Do you want junk like that in your belly? That's a great translation. And I don't need a lot of candy, but when I go to a movie, I like to eat milk duds with my popcorn. And I don't know what's going on. And if anyone who owns theaters is listening out there.
Bring the milk duds back. What's going on? They're not anywhere now. They're not in any theaters. And I went to a movie recently, and there were no milk duds.
And you know, I don't feel good after I eat milk duds, but I must have milk duds with the popcorn. I was in the drugstore the other day, and they actually had milk duds, and I bought like four boxes of them. And I brought them home. Kathy says, "What are you doing?" I said, "Well, I can't find milk tuds anywhere." I was so excited, so I wanted to stock up. These were big, extra large boxes.
Okay, she says, "You shouldn't have bought them." But that night, she made some popcorn. She was eating the milk tuds. Why are you eating them if they're so bad? But, but you know, the problem is you can't just eat one.
Well, I'll have one more.
Well, I'll have two more. I'll have five more. That's gossip. There's something very tantalizing. When someone comes up and says, "Hey, have you heard the latest?" I don't even know if this is true, but stop.
If your sentence begins like that, do not say what you're about to say. I don't know if this is true, but no, don't continue on. Or I wouldn't tell you this, but I know it won't go any further. And we rationalize this kind of gossip, and we'll say, "Well, I'm telling you this so you'll pray." Shut up! You know why you're telling them that, and you know why you're listening to that.
And yes, gossip is a sin. Here's another way we can use our words to hurt others: innuendo. The cousin of gossip is innuendo. That's where you don't say it, but you imply it. Then there's a more subtle misuse of our words through flattery.
Flattery. In Proverbs six twenty three, the Bible tells us that if we keep His word, He'll keep us from the immoral person and the flattering tongue of the seductress. Listen to this: gossip is saying behind a person's back what you would never say to their face. Flattery is saying to a person's face what you would never say behind their back. Let me say that again.
Gossip is saying behind a person's back what you would never say to their face. Flattery is saying to a person's face what you would never say behind their back. These are us misusing our words. Point number five: If you control your tongues, it's a sign of spiritual maturity. Again, if we would control our tongues, we would be perfect, and the word perfect means full grown.
A true mark of spiritual growth is controlling what you say. Heard about a little boy that went over to a pastor's house while the pastor was doing some carpentry, and the little guy's just standing there watching the pastor work away. And finally, the pastor looks over him and says, "Well, son, are you here to pick up some carpentry tips?" And the little guy says, "No, I just want to know what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer." (Laughter) You know, I think a lot of people are watching us. What are you going to say? What are you going to do?
You're the follower of Jesus, and and they're not rooting for us necessarily.
So we want to be careful. But let's be honest: even some of the greatest men of God failed, specifically in the area of what they said. Job is a good example. God called Job blameless and upright. But Job had trouble controlling his tongue, as revealed in the final chapter of his book.
When he says in Job forty verse four, "I'm unworthy. How can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth." Isaiah was a great prophet of the Lord. Then Isaiah six, he had a vision of glory. He says, "I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne.
He was high and lifted up, and his glory filled the temple. And the angels cried, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.'" So, what was the reaction of Isaiah to all of this? He said, "And I said, 'Woe to me! I'm undone. I'm a man of unclean lips.'" As he saw God in His glory, he saw himself in his own sinfulness, and the thing he specifically became aware of was his words.
One man who seemed to have more trouble with what he said was than any other was Simon Peter. I mean, Peter was the kind of guy, and you know, a guy like this or a girl like this, and you might be a person like this. You always speak your mind. By the way, did you know there are inside thoughts and outside thoughts?
Some things are better left unsaid, but we just blurt out whatever comes under my. We just blurt it out, and that was Peter. One of the best illustrations of this is on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John went with Jesus. They fell asleep, and they woke up to see this sight.
There on the mountain stands Jesus, surrounded by Moses and Elijah. What a sacred, holy moment! And Peter decides to say a few words, and he stands up and says, "It's good we are here." I wonder if Moses turned to Jesus and said, "Who's that?" Yeah, he's with me. And then Peter is not done. He says, "Let's build three tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." And I love the commentary in the Gospel that says Peter said this because he did not know what to say.
You ever had a moment like that? You want to say something, you don't know what to say, and you end up saying the lamest thing of all time. There's an old proverb. It's not in the Bible, but it's a pretty good one. It says, "Better to be silent." And be thought a fool than to open your mouth and dispel all doubt.
You know, you might be impressed with a certain person. I like this person, and then they talk, and I don't like that person. I should have kept their mouths shut. There was another instance with Peter and Jesus at a place called Caesarea Philippi, and Jesus was with the disciples, and he says, "Who do people say that I am?" And one responded, "Well, some say that you are Elijah resurrected.
Some say you are a prophet of the Lord." And he says, "Well, who do you say that I am?" Peter says, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus said, "Peter, flesh and blood did not reveal that to you. You didn't think that up on your own, buddy. And you are Peter, and upon this rock I'll build my church." Now, by the way, Jesus was not saying he was going to build his church on Peter. He was saying he was going to build his church on this statement of Peter that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and then Jesus goes on and says, "The Son of Man, speaking of himself, is going to be betrayed, it'll be crucified, and I'll rise again on the third day." And Peter, who probably thought he was on some kind of roll because of what he just said, began to rebuke Jesus repeatedly, and the Lord had to turn to him and say, "Get behind me, Satan! For you're offending me." So, in one moment, he speaks a statement given to him from heaven, and a few moments later, he literally gives a statement from hell.
That's how the words that we use work. If we would just pause before we speak. Good practical counsel today from Pastor Greg Laurie, based in the first chapter of James. Glad you're along here on a new beginning for our new series called Walk This Way. And Pastor Greg will have a final comment from today's message in just a moment.
You know, Pastor Greg, our mission here at Harvest Ministries and a New Beginning is knowing Him and making Him known. Yeah, we are all about showing people how to come to know God, how to come into a relationship with God. That's right.
Someone can enter into that kind of relationship today, can't they? They can, and it's so simple. And I think because it's so simple, people think, "Oh, it can't be that easy." Well, look, Jesus did all the heavy lifting. He carried the cross for you. He died on that cross that he carried.
This isn't about what you do; it's about what he's done. But here's what the Bible says: Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
So let's just say that you're caught in a riptide out in the ocean and you need help, and there's a lifeguard at the stand, and they see you. You've got to call out to them and let them know you need saving. And the same is true when it comes to eternal life. Jesus. Is ready to save you.
Will you call out to him? You say, "Well, okay. How do I do that?" You do it through prayer, and prayer is just talking to God.
So, listen. I'd like to lead you in a simple prayer, and if you pray this prayer after me. I believe God will hear it and answer it, and Christ will come to live inside of you. Thousands of people have prayed a prayer like this over the years that we've been doing this radio broadcast, and have seen their life change. There is no power or magic in a prayer; it's all about your commitment to Christ.
But this is a way to call on the name of the Lord in this prayer.
So, if you want Jesus to come into your life and forgive you of your sin, if you want to know that you'll go to heaven when you die, if you want to fill that big hole in your heart, just pray this prayer after me. You could pray it out loud if you like, pray it in the quietness of your heart. But pray these words if you would, Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner, but I know that you're the Savior, who died on the cross for my sin. I am sorry for my sin, and I turn from it now, and I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
Be my Savior and my Lord, be my God and my friend. Thanks for hearing this prayer, in answering this prayer, in Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Listen, if you just prayed that prayer. I want you to know that God has heard you and has answered it. The Bible says, "These things we write to you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
That you may know, it's yours now. God has given it to you because it's the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord." Congratulations. And welcome to the family of God. Yeah, yeah, that's right. And listen, we want to help you get started in this new relationship with the Lord.
Would you let us send you something? It's free of charge. It's Pastor Greg's New Believers Bible. Scores of people have read this edition of God's Word. New believers love the study helps written just for them, and they appreciate that it's in an easy to understand translation.
We'll send it to you today. Just ask for the New Believers Bible. When you call one eight hundred eight two one three three hundred, you can call any time one eight hundred eight two one three three zero zero, or write a new beginning box four thousand, Riverside California nine two five one four, or go online to harvest dot org.
Well, Pastor Greg, let me let me read a listener comment that we recently received. It goes: I have been a Harvest partner for many years now, and see the impact you've made on many people who've become Christians. I am in awe. I thank the Lord for the continued successful ministry of Harvest on a daily basis. Thank you, Pastor Greg, for being used by God to change my life and redirect my paths.
Your example of Christianity has been so consistent. Isn't that encouraging that she says those nice things, but also that she believes enough in this ministry to become a harvest partner? What is a harvest partner?
Well, a harvest partner is somebody that gives to our ministry. On a regular basis, even on a monthly basis, and what I really appreciate about this listener, and if that person happens to be listening, let me just say to you personally, thank you so much. But what I really appreciated was when she said, "I've been doing it for years," and you know what? I also want to say this to this person, or any person that supports us in this way. You share in the fruit of what we are doing.
There's an interesting story in the life of David, where he was going against his enemy with his army. They were tired from battle, and a bunch of them said, "We just can't go into battle." And his army was already relatively small. They said, "We're going to have to sit this one out." Well, the remaining soldiers went into battle. The Lord blessed, and they were victorious. And when they returned with the spoils.
Of the battle, those who had fought said, "Don't give any to those people that sat this out." Well, the fact is, those folks who had sat it out on this occasion had fought in previous battles, and David said, "Hey, no, those that tarry by this stuff—that's King James. Those that hang out by our our possessions share in this as well." And you know. The the reward, the blessing, goes to all those who participate. It goes to all of us that believe in the power of the gospel.
So when you give your part of the team, you're making it possible for us to reach more people with the gospel.
So would you Terry, by the stuff to put it in King James vernacular? Would you invest in our ministry, and then we pray that you will share. And the reward of what God is doing, as well as Paul said, it's fruit to your account, spiritual fruit to your account, laying up for yourself treasures in heaven.
So prayerfully consider becoming. A harvest partner today. Yeah, that's right, and we can take your call right now. It's a twenty-four-seven phone number: one eight hundred eight two one thirty-three hundred. Again, one eight hundred eight two one three three zero zero, or write us at a new beginning, box four thousand, Riverside, California, nine two five one four, or just go online to harvest dot org.
Well, next time, more insight on how we can keep our faith on fire and keep our tongues under control. But before we go, Pastor Greg has this final comment for us.
Now, I've told this to you before, but I want you to think about it. Think an acronym, T H I N K, before you speak. Before you post, before you tweet, before you communicate, run it through this grid right now. T is it true? What you are about to say is it true, and are you sure it's true?
Number two, will it help?
Sometimes something's true, but you don't need to say it. Wow, you look overweight. Is that true? Yes. Is that helpful to the person?
I don't think so. Think about how will affect the person you're saying it to. Is it true? Will it help? Is it inspiring?
Is it going to bring someone down or is it going to lift them up? And is it necessary? Do you need to say this? Could it be better left unsaid? And lastly, K, is it kind?
Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
You say, Greg. If I were to apply that principle to what I say, I would basically say nothing. Hallelujah. Let it be.
