Are You On Fire?

James: A Christian's Guide To Living From Jesus  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Good morning. What a beautiful day we have outside this morning. I love spring time. The trees are budding and have leaves coming on them....the grass is turning green, birds are chirpping....it is daylight past 7 pm just a wonderful time of year.
Friday night Melody and Stephanie and I got in the truck and headed to Springfield Mo for Winter Jam.... Tony and Jamie and Liberty and Isaac were going to try to meet us there and we spend the evening worshipping Jesus well that was our plan anyway, Jesus was still worshipped just not as we had planned.
Melody and Stephanie and I headed out about 4 pm and drove straight to the arena where doors were to open at 6 pm. We got there about 6, paid for parking and got in a long line and moved inch by inch for the next hour or so. We were holding the doors to the arena waiting to pay and get in when we heard the dreaded words.....sorry folks we are sold out....we have reached capacity.
No winter jam for us. There was a day I would have been very upset and very disappointed but I had a strong feeling from God that the right people were inside and that someone was going to accept Jesus tonight as a result of them being inside and us being outside. Praise the Lord
I had been texting with Tony so I texted him and let him know that the show was sold out and they were not letting anyone else in and we were going to get something to eat and head home
He was bummed we didnt get a chance to see each other but said they had already eaten and planned to do something fun with the kids and head back but he desired that he could say hi in person.
God granted Tony that desire because as we were driving away I see Tony and his family walking on the sidewalk and we stopped and talked for a minute.
Praise Jesus!
Then Melody and Stephanie and I found a neat place to eat and got to spend a few hours fellowshipping together and the 4 hours in the vehicle were full of fellowship.....great conversation and worship to praise and worship music
Praise Jesus!
You see we had a plan but God had a different plan and it was better. We learned what to do next time for Winter Jam and in the process grew closer together and closer to God
That is why God desires for His children to make excuses to fellowship together. It brings Him glory. I praise the Lord for Friday night and look so forward to many more!!!!!
Let’s Pray
START RECORDING
This morning we continue with our James: A Christian’s Guide To Living From Jesus with the message Are you on fire?. Start turning to James 3:1-12 if you would in your Bible, a pew Bible or on your phone or tablet or device
Controlling the tongue is so hard....actually humanly impossible for us to do on our own.....it is only done through the Holy Spirit in our lives
Your tongue can lead to eternal life with Jesus or eternal separation from Jesus in hell.
Your tongue can heal or kill
Your tongue can build up or tear down
Your tongue can bring people together or drive them apart
Tongues are small compared to the rest of our bodies but huge in terms of impact in the good or evil they do
This morning we are going to read all 12 verses then walk through them together

James 3:1–12

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My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
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1. Not Many Should Be Teachers vs 1-2

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James 3:1–2

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“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”
Not many should be teachers
I believe God has called teachers here to CCC
I know some of you have fought or are still fighting that calling and truths like this are part of that fight and struggle
As teachers we agree to and open ourselves up for greater condemnation.
That is very true
Why
Because teachers can offend and mislead many people
You and I are human so we will offend but I believe that it comes down to the heart
God created us
God knows we will make mistakes
You should take teaching very seriously
it is a calling
it is very important
it has eternal impact
If you are a teacher it takes time and sacrifice
You have to spend time praying and seeking God’s message
You spend time praying for God’s will for those to be present to hear God’s message
You spend time praying for your students and their spiritual growth
you have to spend time studying....preparing....maybe even rehearsing
You also commit to being here every Sunday to teach....to lead....and to love
You also understand you must walk with Jesus.....walk in His ways....live what you teach
You also must seek God for the words to say
None of our teachers here would ever intentionally mislead you
None of our teachers here are wolves in sheep’s clothing
None of our teachers here are false teachers
Do we make mistakes absolutely
We are human
But no one purposely attempts to mislead or distort the Gospel!!!!
As humans we can want to teach for the wrong reason
I want to challenge the teachers here to be aware of that
To be very aware as it is easy to offend.....not worrying about the truth offending because that is between them and God but worrying about our deliverance....our tone....our emotions.....our careless words offending.
Each and every teacher here, except maybe the high school Sunday school teacher are amazing , that guy is a bum.....
and all are doing it for the right reasons with the right hearts!
God is growing our dear brothers and sisters through the teaching ministry here at CCC and the Holy Spirit is teaching through our teachers and that is the heart of the teaching ministry!!!!!!

2. Power Of The Tongue vs 3-8

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James 3:3–8

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“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
James is very clear here
Your tongue my tongue are small but powerful
You control a horse by a bit in its mouth
You control a huge ship with a very small rudder in comparison to the ship
Your tongue is small but boasts great power and things
Your tongue praises and glorifies God or the enemy....those are the only two choices by the way
This scripture also points out the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity…Iniquity comes from a Greek noun that means injustice, morally wrongfulness, unrighteousness
That is what the tongue is full of when it is not controlled by the Holy Spirit
Your tongue spews poison when left alone
Your tongue sets the world and you and those around you on fire with the fires of hell without Jesus and the Holy Spirit in control
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Proverbs 26:20

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“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
The tongue can keep strife and dissension and hurt and hard feelings going or it can be silenced or only speak God and good and be edifying and put the fire out
You know this to be true. How many times have you looked back on a situation and thought....if I would have just shut up things would have been so much better however you just had to keep going
you just had to keep proving you were right and they were wrong
you just had to keep arguing and all that resulted was hurt feelings and a broken relationship
that my friends is the sin of pride.....pride refuses to stop.....pride says you are right prove it to them....pride always takes you much further than you are willing to go on your own
Your words matter

Proverbs 16:27

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“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: And in his lips there is as a burning fire.”
Are you digging up evil?
Are your lips a burning fire?
You have a choice with your tongue
Let it be controlled by you.....your flesh.....your evil desires.....pride.......sin and the world and satan
or
Let it be controlled by the Holy Spirit producing good fruit and edifying those around you by speaking truth in grace and love and mercy
Are you godly or ungodly......what does the fruit of you tongue say????????

3. Communication Comes From The Heart vs 9-12

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I want to spend the rest of this morning here. This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of the tongue and how it effects you and those around you

Ephesians 4:29–32

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“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Corrupt comes from a Greek adjective meaning rotten…worthless....bad…corrupt
Communication comes from a Greek noun meaning something said including the thought
Let no rotten…worthless…bad…corrupt speech or thoughts proceed out of your mouth
I have to admit this past week and a half or two weeks I have fought and failed here
I am awaiting news about a different position at school and have been for about 2 weeks and have not been handling that by giving it to God but trying to handle it on my own.....I thought I had given it to God but when I have been examining my fruit in this area i realized
I had been aggressive in words and tone and emotions
I had not been ministering grace unto all those who hear me I had allowed bitterness and wrath and anger to take root in my life
I had chosen to view other situations from an emotional....wordly…point of view not a Godly…Bible centered point of view
I had not been kind to others
I had not been tenderhearted
I had not been forgiving others as I should
Now many of you would say pastor we never saw that.....most would be correct because most of this was in my head because of my heart.....some boiled over into life and I have apologized to those folks but my heart was for sure there
My heart was not ministering grace
My heart was full of bitterness and wrath and anger......
that my friends is just as much a sin as doing it
I want to publicly confess and apologize and repent from those actions
I got with God this weekend and confessed to Him and repented of my sin and I must do the same with you if you were hurt or offended by me in the past couple of weeks I am deeply sorry and would love the opportunity to talk with you one on one and apologize for my actions
It all really comes down to the heart
Last week we looked at faith without works is dead faith
But we can get so focused on works and thinking works results in faith that we miss the truth......thinking works results in faith is the opposite of the gospel....the opposite of truth
Works come from faith and faith from a true heart relationship with Jesus
You surrender your tongue because you love Jesus and realize what the cross meant and how much it cost Jesus to die and pay your sin debt
To make a way for you to heaven and eternal life when you deserve hell and eternal separation from God for your sin
You don’t fight to control your tongue to prove your faith.....no friends.....you fight to control you tongue because of your faith
You met Jesus and left changed
You met Jesus and left redeemed
You met Jesus and left a blood bought child of the King of Kings
You met Jesus and left a co-heir with Him
You met Jesus and you repented of your sin and became cleansed and forgiven and free!!!!!!
It is because of that fact....that meeting......that change in you that you control your tongue because you realize the corrupt communication
the bitterness
the wrath
the anger
the clamour.....brawling....fighting with others
the evil speaking.....slandering.....lying about others
You realize those are what you died to when you met and accepted Jesus
Following Jesus is a day by day
moment by moment decision

Luke 9:23–27

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“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.”
If you come after Jesus you must take up your cross daily
Die to you daily
Die to your emotions
Die to your being right to be offended
Die to your preferences
Die to your thoughts and beliefs
Die to your comfort
and you replace that all with living from Jesus and adopting Jesus and through Jesus you have peace and His thoughts and His beliefs
You must die to you....all of you....DAILY

2 Corinthians 10:3–5

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“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
Die to you
You feel the war in the flesh but you do not fight the war in the flesh.....
You try to fight the war in the flesh when you become offended
when you become upset
when you allow emotions to control your thoughts and words and actions
when you believe lies instead of the truth of Jesus
You are to fight by surrendering to God who does the fighting for you
Our weapons are spiritual......they are beyond your bitterness
beyond your wrath
beyond your anger
beyond your brawling and fighting
beyond your slander and lying
beyond your emotions and feelings
beyond your comfort zone and abilities
Church we have to get this......as we grow here at CCC the enemy will attack here
He has already attacked here through emotions and hurts and pain and being offended and feeling left out or not cared for
Shame on us for ever allowing someone to feel unwanted or unloved or unvalued but also shame on the Christian who allows their emotions and thoughts and wrath and anger to drive wedges between Jesus bride the church
I want you to understand that.......this is big......this is something we as Christians need to understand.......you get mad at another Christian.....maybe you were sick or injured and no one came to visit....again shame on us if that is the case......no one brought meals.......you missed several weeks and got no texts, no calls, no visits....again shame on us if that is the case........someone lied about you.....someone sat in your seat.....someone didn’t personally invite you to worship night....someone didnt come and ask you to serve or help......whatever is the case......you are mad at people but react to God......I am never going back to that church or church in general because of this.......you are rejecting Jesus and His bride because you are mad that a Christian sinned against you.......your sin and my sin sent Jesus to the cross......He didnt say Father let them die in their sin.......I am never going to back there again......I refuse to be with those people......No He said your will be done and mounted the cross for you and for me
Go to people......if your brother or sister sins against you go to them
If you feel left out or unwanted that is never our intention as a church body come to me
It is not a sin to feel left out or unwanted but it moves to a sin when you dont handle that biblically and talk to someone instead you get bitter, full of wrath and anger, look to clamour and slander.....that is of the devil my friends not of Jesus
The battle is spiritual…we feel in the physical but we must take those untrue thoughts captive and deal with them as Christians.....give them to Jesus and cast away our self..die to ourselves
This happens throughout a church by the way and all it results in is allowing the enemy to destroy you and your Christian family and church
Gary and Tommie I am so sorry that I allowed these things to impact our ministry this past week
I am sorry that I allowed the enemy to plant seeds of dissent in my mind and not taking those captive and making them obey the Word of God and instead allowing myself to be upset and emotional....shame on me
I love you two brothers!

James 3:9–12

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“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”
You can’t be one person on Sunday and someone different the rest of the week
You have to be dead to you and alive through Christ 24/7/365
Period End of story!
Look at the scripture
You bless God with your mouth and then turn around and curse those that God created in His own image
What?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
Shame on you
Shame on me
That ought not so to be.......that is unacceptable
that is sin
that pulls you away from God
That destroys relationships
That undermines unity and peace
Shame on us
You are either salt water…lost…headed to hell
or
fresh water..repented…redeemed…forgiven and free
If salt water consistently comes out of your mouth
if the first thing you think and say is negative
if you complain and murmur and grumble
if you are full of bitterness and wrath and anger
then you better clear your stage
You better get on your knees and get with God!!!!!
Your fruit
your works
your motives
why you do what you do all show where you stand
Your control of your tongue shows maturity in Christ
Your struggle to control your tongue shows your changed heart
An unwillingness to change or even attempt to change and control your tongue shows a heart far from God
An unwillingness or lack of desire to be in God’s Word also shows a heart far from God
That usually follows someone who doesnt allow the Holy Spirit to control their tongues
You will hear things like it is too hard to read
I struggle to understand
I dont have time
I dont have a desire
Listen if that is you, you are much closer to the devil than God and you need to get with God and give that to Him
Ask Him to change your heart
Ask Him to give you a burning desire to be in His word
Ask Him to give you a all consuming thirst that can only be quenched by His Word!
This is serious friends.
Are you set on eternal fire by your tongue?
Where do you stand?
STOP RECORDING
Invitation Jesus at the center
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