Jesus is Listening

Notes
Transcript

Jesus is Listening

As we continue this series Jesus is _______.
Tonight’s message is Jesus is Listening.
When are times God is listening to you?
Is it only when you are praying?
Singing to Him?
No I believe that’s not the case...
Jesus hears everything we say and even think
We spend so much time talking...
1/5 of your life you are talking
= 50 page book a day
= 132 books of 200 pages
What do you words reveal about your heart?
Imagine if you could get your hands on this book.... the book of all the words you speak.
Who would be your main character?
What’s the plot, storyline?
Wish some parts could be changes?
Who would you let read it?
Parents?
Pastor?
God?
Psalm 139:4 CSB
Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.
Psalm 139:4 The Message
You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.
God knows my words and thoughts
Matthew 15:18–19 CSB
But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
Prayer
Play video - Speak Slow/Speak life
James 3:1–12 CSB
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body. 3 Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies. 4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. 10 Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
James 3:2 CSB
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.
VS 2. James makes it clear that we all make mistakes. We stumble with our mouths/actions.
Especially our mouths.
But James also makes it very clear that if we were able to control our tongue.... we would be mature.....
Meaning perfect, flawless....
David Platt puts it like - “The man who is able to bridle his tongue perfectly would able be able to “control his whole body”, refrain from all sins. No part of us is in a more slippery place than the tongue. I think that’s why God has given us teeth and a mouth—teeth to cage in that deadly weapon, and a mouth to close it in.
James gives us a visual to help us understand the power of the tongue.... I need that… I need to visualize things.
James 3:3 CSB
3 Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.
(vs3) A large horse-controlled by a bit...
Something so small can tame, control an animal so large and strong.
James 3:4 CSB
4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
(vs 4)A huge ship-controlled by a rudder
We’ve been to Jamaica/Mexico
We would see cruise ships coming in.
They were so massive…I don’t know how they even float?
But that huge ship’s direction is controlled by the rudder
Now both of these illustration can have positive/negative effects.
James 3:5 CSB
5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest.
(vs 5)Great forest fire-started by a spark
All it takes is a spark..
Something so small can make such a huge impact.
The Ranch Fire, the largest wildfire in California history in terms of acres burned, was caused by a spark or hot metal fragment that came from a hammer driving a metal stake into the ground, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
California fire explodes in size, is now largest in state history The Ranch Fire started in late July north of the community of Upper Lake and burned 410,203 acres in Colusa, Glenn, Lake and Mendocino counties, CAL FIRE said. The blaze destroyed 280 structures and resulted in one firefighter death and three firefighter injuries.
“After a meticulous and thorough investigation, CAL FIRE has determined that the Ranch Fire was caused by a spark or hot metal fragment landing in a receptive fuel bed,” the news release said.
The tongue is the same way… it can destroy so much...
James 3:6 CSB
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
(vs 6) Out of all the body parts you have this is the most dangerous
The tongue is a flame of fire....
What does fire do?
It can burn you.
Blister you
Hurts
(vs 6b) Your tongue is in a whole world by itself that corrupts the body..
Your tongue can/will ruin your image
What are some ways we use our tongue in a negative way?
slander
Psalm 101:5 CSB
5 I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor; I cannot tolerate anyone with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart.
2. Lying
Ephesians 4:25 CSB
25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
3. Gossip
Proverbs 11:13 CSB
13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
4. Boasting
Proverbs 27:2 CSB
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
5. Complaining
Philippians 2:14 CSB
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing,
6. Cursing
Romans 12:14 CSB
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
7. Discouraging
Ephesians 4:29 CSB
29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
8. Dirty Jokes
Ephesians 5:4 CSB
4 Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.
9. Not doing what you said you would do.
James 5:12 CSB
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.
10. Outbursts of anger
Galatians 5:20 CSB
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,
f. All of these things can give us a negative image.
Especially as a Christian
It can literally set your whole life on fire
Change everything.
Lose friends
Not be trusted
James 3:6 CSB
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
(Vs 6c) “Set on fire by hell itself”
Your tongue can be satanic....
A part of your body can be used for Satan and his mission to destroy everyone.
This word hell is translated Gehenna in Greek.
References a place outside of Jerusalem where trash was burned around the clock
It is also called the Valley of Hinnom.
A place pagan people would sacrifice their children.
James 3:7 CSB
7 Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind,
(vs 7) Every animal can be tamed
Like the horse
Elephants with a stake
James 3:8 CSB
8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
(vs 8) But no one can tame the tongue...
Only Jesus can!
(Vs 8b) Tongue is restless and evil, full of poison
Romans 3:13 CSB
13 Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
James 3:9 CSB
9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.
(vs 9) We praise God with same mouth we curse our brother/sister with.
How can blessings and curses come from the same mouth?
James gives us so more examples/illustration.
Spring water—>fresh water & bitter water
Fig tree —> Figs or olives?
Grapevine —> grapes or figs?
Salty spring—> salt water or fresh water
Words of praise and cursing cant come from the same source.
Matthew 12:36 CSB
36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.
Every idle word....
This should scare you…it does me
So how do i fix it?
Toothpaste illustration
Have you ever squeezed toothpaste out of a tube?
Can you get it back in?
No, what you say you can’t take back...
Only way to fix it is to give it to Jesus.
You can’t control the tongue
The issue is not just the tongue…its connected to your heart..
Matthew 15:18 CSB
18 But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person.
The words you speak come straight from the heart
You have a heart issue…
You’re allowing Satan to control your heart/motives
Luke 6:45 CSB
45 A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
A good person produces good things
Evil person produces evil things
Your words are an overflow of your heart.
The book we mentioned earlier...
Good/bad?
Encouraging/degrading?
Based on your words alone will people know you are a Christian?
Closing
Get your heart right with Jesus
surrender to Him
Everything
Words
Actions
Everything
Jesus is always listening
every idle word
Be encouraging
Remember something so small can make a huge impact.
Use it for the Glory of God!
Use it in a positive way
Be cautious of what you say
Consider the fire you can spread
T—>Truthful
H—>Helpful
I—> Inspiring
N—> Necessary
K—> Kind
This week
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