July 17, 2025 • 26 mins
A study in the book of James.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to K Wave's Pastor Spotlight featuring the Bible teaching
of our local Southern California pastors. This week we are
pleased to bring you the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor
Brian Sumner. Brian is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel
Pacific Coast in Westminster. Skateboarding fans remember him as longtime
pro skater for Tony Hawk. Since coming to faith in Christ,
(00:25):
Pastor Brian.
Brian has traveled the world using this platform to share
the good news of Jesus Christ. For the last 17
years in ministry, Pastor Brian has preached in local churches,
taught at conferences, and led mission trips and outreaches. He
is looking forward to welcoming you this next Sunday at
Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast in Westminster. And now with today's study,
(00:49):
here's Pastor Brian Sumner.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
And if you were with us last time, you may
remember that James unpacked faith versus wax. What is a
profit a man if he says he has faith but
does not have a wax can such faith save him?
Well today James deep dives into our tongue, our speech,
and really how.
It reveals the condition of our heart reveals what's inside
(01:14):
of us as we know out of the abundance of
the heart, the mouth speaks, and that what is coming
out of us reveals what's inside, be that when we're frustrated, angry, hateful,
or even to bless and speak life over someone.
And James uses these 1st 12 verses of the chapter
to deal with the tongue, and I gotta tell you,
(01:34):
being 45, I am familiar with these old fashioned doctors
I used to go to as a kid you didn't
just Google your symptoms in the other room, but instead,
as they began.
To examine you, where would they start with the tongue
they consider the health, the color, the texture, and James
also starts here aiming to test a person's spiritual health,
(01:55):
gauging how we are doing and the fruit we are bearing.
James 3:1, my brethren, let not many of you become
teachers knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment, for
we all stumbled in many things. If anyone does not
stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also
to bridle the whole body.
(02:16):
Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they may
obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also
at ships, although they are so large and are driven
by fierce winds, they are tamed by a very small
rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so, the tongue is
a little member and boasts great things. See how great
(02:36):
a foreign
First a little fire kindles and the tongue is a fire,
a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among
our members that defiles the whole body and sets on
fire the course of nature, and it is set on
fire by hell for every kind of beast and bed
of reptile and creature of the sea is tamed and
has been tamed by mankind.
(02:58):
But no one can tame the tongue. It is an
unruly evil full of deadly poison with it we bless
our God and Father, and with it we curse men
who have been made in the similitude of God out
of the same mouth perceive blessing and cursing my brethren.
These things ought not to be so. There's a spring
(03:18):
sent forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening.
Can a fig tree, my brethren.
Bear olives or a grapevine bear figs. The snow spring
yields both salt water and fresh so it sounds like
the mouth is the indicator of the state of man's
heart that what comes out of us says a lot
about what's inside of us. This is backed up with
(03:39):
the rest of scripture. If we think back to God's
own people like Isaiah the prophet, we see this amazing
encounter Isaiah has in Isaiah 6 where he sees the
Lord sitting.
On a throne, high and lifted up, and the train
of his robe fills the temple, and there's angels crying out, holy, holy, holy,
and we see the posts of the door are shaken
(04:00):
as God speaks. And how does Isaiah respond? Isaiah says,
woe is me, for I am undone, because I am
a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the
midst of a people of unclean lips. Isaiah shook, stand.
Standing before the Lord in awe struck wonder and of
all the things he could have said about himself or
even mankind, he says, I am a man of unclean
(04:24):
lips or a people of unclean lips. Even Peter, who
knew Jesus was the Messiah, aiming to follow him, as
Jesus is explaining in Matthew 16:21 that he must go
to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and
chief priests and scribes, even.
and be killed and be raised the third day. How
(04:44):
does Peter respond? He should be saying hallelujah praise the
Lord's salvation, but instead we read. Then Peter took him
aside and began to rebuke him, saying, for be it
from you, Lord, this shall not happen to you. But
Jesus turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan.
You are an offense to me, for you are not
mindful of the things of God but the things of men.
(05:07):
So even Peter in aiming to follow Jesus, follow God's plan,
had to learn what James is writing to us about.
And with this in mind, in James 3:1, we read,
my brethren, that not many of you become teachers knowing
that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Maybe I should have picked up a different verse today
(05:28):
right as I'm the one here aiming to teach you
and a teacher is someone who has said yes to preaching,
yes to teaching, being willing to step into this role.
This is someone who feels called to dig into God's word,
share with others, namely you.
And so is God saying then that no one should teach?
Of course not, as it wouldn't make sense that he himself,
(05:49):
the Bible says, gave the office of teacher or pastor
in Ephesians 4, even telling Peter to feed my sheep.
The point is that there were those God was calling
to actually be teachers to enter a life of ministry
eagerly wanting to see God at work and his people
who would pastor, shepherd, tend the flock faithfully.
(06:09):
But then there were those who wanted to be teachers
viewing it as a profession wanted to direct people to
be some kind of fisher of men for their own
gain for their own influence, power or control. Haven't we
seen this with the cults and the radicals and the
deceptive pastors where people end up drinking the Kool-Aid, waiting
for the spaceship in purple Nikes or the Jonestown Massacre,
(06:32):
even David Koresh in Waco, and it isn't always this extreme.
It can just be people wanting a platform or pulpit
for their own agenda's sake. But let me ask you this,
whose pulpit is this? Whose platform? Who's worship team, who's preacher,
who's church, wow.
Amazing, right? But scary. Someone wants to come up here
(06:55):
preach to you playing games, guys, I'll tell you I
have had dreams, well, nightmares that it's Sunday morning and
it's time to preach, but I didn't study all week
and I'm about to come up here and just wing it.
I'm just gonna say whatever with no respect for you,
for the word for souls, or for God.
Am I gonna give an account for this? Yes, this
(07:17):
is the worst job in the world to have if
you were trying to play games. In fact, Charles Spurgeon
says do anything else aside from preaching if you can,
and you have to realize too that we have a
responsibility to teach what the word says, not what we want.
I mean, what if out of fear I shy away
from verses on sin, then you know what? You will
have a very low view of sin. Or instead, I
(07:39):
burden us never pointing to grace or mercy, but as
though we are always under the law. Or what if
I focus on being so much like the whale that
God's kingdom is nowhere to be seen.
Especially now where pastors can view it as a business,
being an entrepreneur, yet what was Jesus's issue with the
Pharisees and religious leaders it's that they didn't shepherd they
(08:01):
didn't tend, didn't take care of, but left them a
sheep without a shepherd as a teacher. This is a
warning to view this office with high regard, to handle
it with care, as the Bible says to whom much
is given, much is expected.
And the counter that, preachers are already the most judged
person in the church, meaning you hear of a church,
(08:23):
you show up, you gauge the building, the people, the worship,
and then sit under this teaching for 40 minutes. So
please listeners have grace and mercy for those who pastor
over you. Amen. And verse 2, for we, that's you too.
All stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble
(08:44):
in word, he is a perfect man.
And stumble or offending here is a sinning against God,
which is why we're all in this position to begin with, right?
The word implies that everyone fails to do what is right.
So for you, how are those early mornings or when
someone is testing or pushing or challenging you? What about
(09:04):
when your favorite team loses in fact what about when
your kids are often just kids? He says if anyone
does not stumble and where he is a perfect man
able also to bridle the whole body and how this
is written implies that while no one is perfect.
The spiritually mature should be gaining more control over their tongue.
(09:25):
That if I can really control my tongue as a
master myself, how will my prayer life be? How will
my acts of service or battles with sin? He's not
saying you will never struggle, but that we should be maturing, growing,
becoming more disciplined.
And when he says also able to bridle the whole
body this is to begin to take control as the
(09:46):
bridle itself is the harness that goes over the horse's
head holding the bit in the horse's mouth. The reins
are then attached to the bit. I know the horse
is giant able to cause all kinds of harm the bra.
idle, the reins and the bit will be used to
control and it's no different for us. I have a
good friend who was raised with horses his whole life,
(10:07):
and one day up close to a horse, it kicked,
shattering most of his face, needing reconstruction, just like what
can happen to us when we don't have control. Indeed,
we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us,
and we turn their whole body.
He's talking about the bits that are just that this
tiny piece that sits in the horse's mouth to navigate
(10:30):
and lead and how amazing that something this small can
control this giant animal, this animal that humans can ride
on in races or into battle, God's version of a
car if you like, often worth millions of dollars for
its power and ability, yet a simple bit can control
this beast.
Look also at ships he goes on. Although they are
(10:51):
so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are
turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts
great things, and this is just as easy to understand
as you consider the size of a ship, the weight
of a ship, the Queen Elizabeth, 83,000 tons at the
(11:12):
rudder is only 140, but is able to steer the
whole ship.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
You're listening to Kwave's Pastor Spotlight featuring Pastor Brian Sumner
of Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast in Westminster. For information about
Pastor Bryan's church, visit CCPC.org. Let's get back to our
study for today. Here's Pastor Brian Sumner.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
The captain can simply turn the wheel, nudging the rudder,
and then it can move hundreds if not thousands of
people or all sorts of cargo across the world. You
know if the rudder is not controlled, the ship can
sink hitting an iceberg. I expect you pay to the
Titanic and think about that for just a moment, that
for all the parts of the body, just how small
(11:59):
the tongue is in comparison, yet it gives us the
most trouble.
And if I were to ask you, well, how do
we stop this? what would you say? A vow of
silence never speak? is that what God has for us?
If that was the case, how would we preach? Our
people here? How would the gospel go forth? How would
we encourage, speak life, sing praises to gods.
(12:21):
Well, the idea is the same for horses and ships.
We don't teach that horse obedience or show it the
way by leaving it in the barn. It lands obedience
through practice, intentionality by training on a ship. We don't
land a steer by leaving it in the dark, and
it's the same for us. Only the problem is we
are the ones riding the horse, pulling the reins, controlling
(12:44):
the bit, steering the ship when it should be who God.
The Bible says seek first the kingdom of heaven to
lean not on your own understanding but in all your
ways acknowledge Him, and that your word is a lamp
unto my feet. So it's not withdrawing, it's not selling
the horse that was sailing again. It's instead maturing, growing,
(13:05):
being led by the spirit of God. verse 5 tells us,
see how great a forest a little fire kindles.
And living close to the mountains or canyons as we do,
we are all familiar with the smallest of fires even
now the smallest spark can quickly build and grow flames
suddenly overtaking houses that will be lost, wildfire that will die,
(13:28):
and there's a fear for lives all kinds of firemen
and helicopters rescue services working like crazy to quench all
because of this tiny spark.
And is the tongue not the same? Does it not
also be many torch many hit many? How many of
us are sitting here still wounded by what was said?
Oh you're too this or you're too that based on
(13:51):
looks on mindset and confidence on ability? How many people
are living so bound by what someone else has said?
It's not just how we talk. Social media is an
easy place for us to blast, oppose others, disagree, mock,
even condemn.
We can go after people over politics, hobbies, preferences, doctrinal matters,
(14:13):
but Psalm 1413 set a guard, O Lord, over my
mouth keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 34:13.
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Ecclesiastes 5:6, do not let your mouth cause your flesh
to sin.
Ephesians 4:29. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
(14:38):
but what is good for necessary edification that it may
impart grace to the hearers. And James goes on verse 6,
and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
The tongue is so set among our members that it
defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course
of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.
(14:58):
And as I read that I can't help but think
about this from every area of our lives, how fast
is it a fight breaking out in the house because
of our tongue, leading to some deep marriage fellowship as
they call it and then the whole day is changed.
The kids get involved and the house is a flame
with the vision or is it the kids leaving the
(15:19):
house to go somewhere based on where we get food
on the way or who chooses what to watch.
On the headsets in the car before long insults are
thrown and someone is baptized in McDonald's fries. What about
the nation? Is nothing off limits? Is that what politics
have done just blasting the opposite side, unpacking each other's junk,
deceiving the masses with propaganda agendas, guilt and shame for
(15:43):
one's own purposes?
Even within the church, and I mean our own body,
the actual body of Christ, as we just read, that
is so set among our members that defiles the whole body.
I mean, how often do we see the vision in
the church where the tongue is so set among our members?
And we do need to call out false teachers or
(16:03):
those looking for gain, but how much division can be
over things that shouldn't divide? Do you speak in tongues
or not? Believe in election? What do you mean election?
How do you understand the end times to play out?
Is there anyone who has it all together when the
Bible itself says we know in part, but if we
agree on who Christ is, why he died, our need
for forgiveness, is it a big deal where people vary?
(16:26):
It's more important that the world sees us agreeing on
the many things, so they see us as the body, amen,
all pointing to redemption in Christ, but we also have
to personalize this and consider our own pride, judgment, and
offense coming from this fire of a tongue because the
file here means pollute or contaminate, meaning a simple word
(16:48):
and negative point of view, not only pollutes our thinking
but those around.
Because you may come to church looking like the Waltons,
but if so and so doesn't greet us or something
is lost in translation or you get triggered, you may
end up looking like the warriors because one of the
biggest things we've seen the enemy use these past few
decades is church hurt people getting offended and rather than
(17:09):
aiming to restore relationships instead they flee, take that pain
somewhere else getting more bitter.
And he said the tongue sets on fire the course
of nature, and this is just fact that while nature
though it's under the curse, is aiming to live sustain,
carry on, what is the curse doing bringing death, pain
(17:29):
and hurt even saying the tongue is set on fire
by hell.
And while we are believers, so it's so casual to
bring up the term hell, and though we know it's
bad to gossip or slander, the judgment is bad, we
have to realize that hell itself is the place that
Satan and his minions will inherit.
The Matthew 25:41 says there's an everlasting fire prepared for
(17:54):
the devil and his angels, and if this is the
place they end up and sadly all who die without
believing Jesus died for our sins, then what James is
saying is that when we use our tongue cursing, opposing, judging,
condemning is not the fire that sets.
To the light hell? Are we not acting how Satan
did who rebelled, cursed God, curses us, and is out
(18:17):
to steal, kill and destroy? Who am I acting more
like when I speak death rather than life? We even
heard how Jesus responded to Peter saying, Get behind me, Satan,
as you are an offense to me, for you are
not mindful of the things of God but the things.
Of men. Proverbs 18:21 says, death and life are in
the power of the tongue, and those who love it
(18:38):
will eat its fruit, meaning what we speak, we will
eat of its fruit. Verse 7 reads, For every kind
of beast and bed of reptile and creature of the
sea is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
I mean we've taken over this whale that have dominion,
we've gone into distant lands capturing animals and tamed them, lions,
(19:00):
tigers and bears. I mean even crocodiles, elephants, even killer
whales at SeaWorld, or kind of.
But you can go to the zoo to see animals
who are civil somewhat or a circus where lions stand
on platforms or even that guy up north. Have you
seen that guy with his pet, Wolverine? I mean, do
you know what wolverines do? They kill everything and for
(19:22):
no reason, but the tongue, God is literally saying that
even though every beast can be tamed, that there's still
no hope for your own tongue.
But no man can tame the tongue. Verse 8 reads.
It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. James
has likened it to evil and even his reference to
(19:42):
deadly poison. What beast is it that spews a deadly poison?
The serpent. Didn't this all begin because of some deadly poison,
specifically simple words, simple deception, simple dishonesty.
And how easily can we spew the same deadly poison?
For us to hear someone bashing someone who was wrong
does and join in or agree. That's what a drop
(20:05):
of poison does. It poisons. This speaking as a serpent.
And who can help us with this? Only God. First
Peter 4 and 8 and above all things, have fervent
love for one another, for love will cover a multitude
of sins, be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
(20:25):
How is it we want all the grace in the
world from others, but if someone wrongs us, we release
the hounds of hell. And if we do have something
against someone or someone does have something against us, what
are we to do? Matthew 5:23. Therefore, if you bring
your gift to the altar and remember that your brother
has something against you, leave your gift there before the
(20:47):
altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your
brother and then come and offer your gift.
And this wasn't just the altar. This was in Jerusalem
where many had journeyed days towards. So God, you're saying
I should leave the altar, Jerusalem, journey back to my
brother or sister, fix the scenario and come back. Matthew 18:15. Moreover,
(21:12):
if your brother sins against you, go and tell him
his fault between you and him alone.
That means between you and him, not 5 other people,
not everyone else, just you and them. Why? If he
hears you, you have gained your brother. The whole goal
is restoration, reconciliation, so the body is in unity and
(21:34):
can function. But if not, and they don't want to restore,
repent and receive, Luke tells us in 17.
and 3, take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins
against you, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him.
So yes, God wants reconciliation, but he also wants accountability,
leading to repentance. Verse 9, with it, that's the tongue.
(21:58):
We bless our God and Father, and with it we
kiss men who have been made in the similitude of God.
So we bless God, the giver of life who spoke
us into existence, breathed each and every one of us,
but at the same time we kiss our fellow man
also made in God's image. James is calling out the
hypocrisy out of the same mouth perceive blessings and cursings,
(22:22):
my brethren, these things ought not be so. I just
think about that. How many lives will be changed if
we truly live this out, blessing God, preaching truth, not
cursing fellow men.
Psalm 59, for there is no faithfulness in their mouth.
The inward part is destruction. Psalm 524. You love all
(22:43):
devouring words, you deceitful tongue. Romans 3:13. The throat is
an open tomb with their tongues. They have practiced the seat.
The poison of ass under their lips and even in
the way the tongue is used.
I mean, God has given us so much food for
thought here in his word, and then James gives us
three simple illustrations from nature meant to emphasize the order
(23:07):
of how things should be.
He says in verse 11, does a spring send forth
fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a
fig tree, my brethren, bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? Again, no.
The no spring yields both salt, water and fresh, and
the idea is simple.
(23:28):
That as we look at nature we see springs bearing
fresh or bitter water, figs bearing figs, olives bearing olives.
So how can someone made in the image of God
kiss those also made in the image of God? Aren't
we warned that a good tree bears good fruit and
a bad tree bad fruit? And so in closing, let
me ask us, do we have control of the tongue
(23:50):
or do we need help? Do we expect others to
speak life while we speak death? Do we justify openly
criticizing others?
Do we always tell the truth, or can we aim
to be more honest?
But most importantly, here, have you heard the good news
that Jesus died in our place and we can be
forgiven of every sin? Romans 10:9 says, If you confess
(24:12):
with your mouth, the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised him from the dead, you
will be saved. Do you believe? Have you confessed, repented?
Are you saved? God bless you today. I'll see you
at Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast this Sunday 10 a.m. in
Jesus name. Amen.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Thank you for being with us here on Kwave's Pastor Spotlight.
Our featured Bible teacher all this week has been Pastor
Brian Sumner. We hope you've been blessed and encouraged by
Pastor Brian's teaching from God's word. Pastor Brian is the
senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast. The church is
conveniently located at 6400 Westminster Boulevard in Westminster, about one
(24:55):
block east of.
4:05 in Westminster worship service times every week are 10 a.m.
Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesday nights. Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast
is a consistent Bible believing, spirit-filled church focused on feeding
the sheep and reaching the lost. As Calvary Chapel, they
are dedicated to worship, prayer, the word, and life on mission.
(25:18):
They encourage one another to
Answer the savior's call to go into all the world
and make disciples, preaching and teaching the gospel. Come and
check out their Friday night skate nights for the whole family,
featuring their on-site newly built spine mini ramp and street obstacles.
For more information on visiting Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast, visit
(25:39):
their website at CCPC.org. That's CCPC.
Dot org. Join us right here at the same time
Monday for another time of growing in the grace and
knowledge of Jesus Christ here on Pastor Spotlight. Next week
we'll be featuring the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Aguilar,
(25:59):
senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Life in Huntington Beach. We
hope you'll join us. Pastor Spotlight is a production of
Kwave Radio.
Welcome to K Wave's Pastor Spotlight featuring the Bible teaching
of our local Southern California pastors. This week we are
pleased to bring you the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor
Brian Sumner. Brian is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel
Pacific Coast in Westminster. Skateboarding fans remember him as longtime
pro skater for Tony Hawk. Since coming to faith in Christ,
(00:25):
Pastor Brian.
Brian has traveled the world using this platform to share
the good news of Jesus Christ. For the last 17
years in ministry, Pastor Brian has preached in local churches,
taught at conferences, and led mission trips and outreaches. He
is looking forward to welcoming you this next Sunday at
Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast in Westminster. And now with today's study,
(00:49):
here's Pastor Brian Sumner.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
And if you were with us last time, you may
remember that James unpacked faith versus wax. What is a
profit a man if he says he has faith but
does not have a wax can such faith save him?
Well today James deep dives into our tongue, our speech,
and really how.
It reveals the condition of our heart reveals what's inside
(01:14):
of us as we know out of the abundance of
the heart, the mouth speaks, and that what is coming
out of us reveals what's inside, be that when we're frustrated, angry, hateful,
or even to bless and speak life over someone.
And James uses these 1st 12 verses of the chapter
to deal with the tongue, and I gotta tell you,
(01:34):
being 45, I am familiar with these old fashioned doctors
I used to go to as a kid you didn't
just Google your symptoms in the other room, but instead,
as they began.
To examine you, where would they start with the tongue
they consider the health, the color, the texture, and James
also starts here aiming to test a person's spiritual health,
(01:55):
gauging how we are doing and the fruit we are bearing.
James 3:1, my brethren, let not many of you become
teachers knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment, for
we all stumbled in many things. If anyone does not
stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also
to bridle the whole body.
(02:16):
Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they may
obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also
at ships, although they are so large and are driven
by fierce winds, they are tamed by a very small
rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so, the tongue is
a little member and boasts great things. See how great
(02:36):
a foreign
First a little fire kindles and the tongue is a fire,
a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among
our members that defiles the whole body and sets on
fire the course of nature, and it is set on
fire by hell for every kind of beast and bed
of reptile and creature of the sea is tamed and
has been tamed by mankind.
(02:58):
But no one can tame the tongue. It is an
unruly evil full of deadly poison with it we bless
our God and Father, and with it we curse men
who have been made in the similitude of God out
of the same mouth perceive blessing and cursing my brethren.
These things ought not to be so. There's a spring
(03:18):
sent forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening.
Can a fig tree, my brethren.
Bear olives or a grapevine bear figs. The snow spring
yields both salt water and fresh so it sounds like
the mouth is the indicator of the state of man's
heart that what comes out of us says a lot
about what's inside of us. This is backed up with
(03:39):
the rest of scripture. If we think back to God's
own people like Isaiah the prophet, we see this amazing
encounter Isaiah has in Isaiah 6 where he sees the
Lord sitting.
On a throne, high and lifted up, and the train
of his robe fills the temple, and there's angels crying out, holy, holy, holy,
and we see the posts of the door are shaken
(04:00):
as God speaks. And how does Isaiah respond? Isaiah says,
woe is me, for I am undone, because I am
a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the
midst of a people of unclean lips. Isaiah shook, stand.
Standing before the Lord in awe struck wonder and of
all the things he could have said about himself or
even mankind, he says, I am a man of unclean
(04:24):
lips or a people of unclean lips. Even Peter, who
knew Jesus was the Messiah, aiming to follow him, as
Jesus is explaining in Matthew 16:21 that he must go
to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and
chief priests and scribes, even.
and be killed and be raised the third day. How
(04:44):
does Peter respond? He should be saying hallelujah praise the
Lord's salvation, but instead we read. Then Peter took him
aside and began to rebuke him, saying, for be it
from you, Lord, this shall not happen to you. But
Jesus turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan.
You are an offense to me, for you are not
mindful of the things of God but the things of men.
(05:07):
So even Peter in aiming to follow Jesus, follow God's plan,
had to learn what James is writing to us about.
And with this in mind, in James 3:1, we read,
my brethren, that not many of you become teachers knowing
that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Maybe I should have picked up a different verse today
(05:28):
right as I'm the one here aiming to teach you
and a teacher is someone who has said yes to preaching,
yes to teaching, being willing to step into this role.
This is someone who feels called to dig into God's word,
share with others, namely you.
And so is God saying then that no one should teach?
Of course not, as it wouldn't make sense that he himself,
(05:49):
the Bible says, gave the office of teacher or pastor
in Ephesians 4, even telling Peter to feed my sheep.
The point is that there were those God was calling
to actually be teachers to enter a life of ministry
eagerly wanting to see God at work and his people
who would pastor, shepherd, tend the flock faithfully.
(06:09):
But then there were those who wanted to be teachers
viewing it as a profession wanted to direct people to
be some kind of fisher of men for their own
gain for their own influence, power or control. Haven't we
seen this with the cults and the radicals and the
deceptive pastors where people end up drinking the Kool-Aid, waiting
for the spaceship in purple Nikes or the Jonestown Massacre,
(06:32):
even David Koresh in Waco, and it isn't always this extreme.
It can just be people wanting a platform or pulpit
for their own agenda's sake. But let me ask you this,
whose pulpit is this? Whose platform? Who's worship team, who's preacher,
who's church, wow.
Amazing, right? But scary. Someone wants to come up here
(06:55):
preach to you playing games, guys, I'll tell you I
have had dreams, well, nightmares that it's Sunday morning and
it's time to preach, but I didn't study all week
and I'm about to come up here and just wing it.
I'm just gonna say whatever with no respect for you,
for the word for souls, or for God.
Am I gonna give an account for this? Yes, this
(07:17):
is the worst job in the world to have if
you were trying to play games. In fact, Charles Spurgeon
says do anything else aside from preaching if you can,
and you have to realize too that we have a
responsibility to teach what the word says, not what we want.
I mean, what if out of fear I shy away
from verses on sin, then you know what? You will
have a very low view of sin. Or instead, I
(07:39):
burden us never pointing to grace or mercy, but as
though we are always under the law. Or what if
I focus on being so much like the whale that
God's kingdom is nowhere to be seen.
Especially now where pastors can view it as a business,
being an entrepreneur, yet what was Jesus's issue with the
Pharisees and religious leaders it's that they didn't shepherd they
(08:01):
didn't tend, didn't take care of, but left them a
sheep without a shepherd as a teacher. This is a
warning to view this office with high regard, to handle
it with care, as the Bible says to whom much
is given, much is expected.
And the counter that, preachers are already the most judged
person in the church, meaning you hear of a church,
(08:23):
you show up, you gauge the building, the people, the worship,
and then sit under this teaching for 40 minutes. So
please listeners have grace and mercy for those who pastor
over you. Amen. And verse 2, for we, that's you too.
All stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble
(08:44):
in word, he is a perfect man.
And stumble or offending here is a sinning against God,
which is why we're all in this position to begin with, right?
The word implies that everyone fails to do what is right.
So for you, how are those early mornings or when
someone is testing or pushing or challenging you? What about
(09:04):
when your favorite team loses in fact what about when
your kids are often just kids? He says if anyone
does not stumble and where he is a perfect man
able also to bridle the whole body and how this
is written implies that while no one is perfect.
The spiritually mature should be gaining more control over their tongue.
(09:25):
That if I can really control my tongue as a
master myself, how will my prayer life be? How will
my acts of service or battles with sin? He's not
saying you will never struggle, but that we should be maturing, growing,
becoming more disciplined.
And when he says also able to bridle the whole
body this is to begin to take control as the
(09:46):
bridle itself is the harness that goes over the horse's
head holding the bit in the horse's mouth. The reins
are then attached to the bit. I know the horse
is giant able to cause all kinds of harm the bra.
idle, the reins and the bit will be used to
control and it's no different for us. I have a
good friend who was raised with horses his whole life,
(10:07):
and one day up close to a horse, it kicked,
shattering most of his face, needing reconstruction, just like what
can happen to us when we don't have control. Indeed,
we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us,
and we turn their whole body.
He's talking about the bits that are just that this
tiny piece that sits in the horse's mouth to navigate
(10:30):
and lead and how amazing that something this small can
control this giant animal, this animal that humans can ride
on in races or into battle, God's version of a
car if you like, often worth millions of dollars for
its power and ability, yet a simple bit can control
this beast.
Look also at ships he goes on. Although they are
(10:51):
so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are
turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts
great things, and this is just as easy to understand
as you consider the size of a ship, the weight
of a ship, the Queen Elizabeth, 83,000 tons at the
(11:12):
rudder is only 140, but is able to steer the
whole ship.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
You're listening to Kwave's Pastor Spotlight featuring Pastor Brian Sumner
of Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast in Westminster. For information about
Pastor Bryan's church, visit CCPC.org. Let's get back to our
study for today. Here's Pastor Brian Sumner.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
The captain can simply turn the wheel, nudging the rudder,
and then it can move hundreds if not thousands of
people or all sorts of cargo across the world. You
know if the rudder is not controlled, the ship can
sink hitting an iceberg. I expect you pay to the
Titanic and think about that for just a moment, that
for all the parts of the body, just how small
(11:59):
the tongue is in comparison, yet it gives us the
most trouble.
And if I were to ask you, well, how do
we stop this? what would you say? A vow of
silence never speak? is that what God has for us?
If that was the case, how would we preach? Our
people here? How would the gospel go forth? How would
we encourage, speak life, sing praises to gods.
(12:21):
Well, the idea is the same for horses and ships.
We don't teach that horse obedience or show it the
way by leaving it in the barn. It lands obedience
through practice, intentionality by training on a ship. We don't
land a steer by leaving it in the dark, and
it's the same for us. Only the problem is we
are the ones riding the horse, pulling the reins, controlling
(12:44):
the bit, steering the ship when it should be who God.
The Bible says seek first the kingdom of heaven to
lean not on your own understanding but in all your
ways acknowledge Him, and that your word is a lamp
unto my feet. So it's not withdrawing, it's not selling
the horse that was sailing again. It's instead maturing, growing,
(13:05):
being led by the spirit of God. verse 5 tells us,
see how great a forest a little fire kindles.
And living close to the mountains or canyons as we do,
we are all familiar with the smallest of fires even
now the smallest spark can quickly build and grow flames
suddenly overtaking houses that will be lost, wildfire that will die,
(13:28):
and there's a fear for lives all kinds of firemen
and helicopters rescue services working like crazy to quench all
because of this tiny spark.
And is the tongue not the same? Does it not
also be many torch many hit many? How many of
us are sitting here still wounded by what was said?
Oh you're too this or you're too that based on
(13:51):
looks on mindset and confidence on ability? How many people
are living so bound by what someone else has said?
It's not just how we talk. Social media is an
easy place for us to blast, oppose others, disagree, mock,
even condemn.
We can go after people over politics, hobbies, preferences, doctrinal matters,
(14:13):
but Psalm 1413 set a guard, O Lord, over my
mouth keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 34:13.
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Ecclesiastes 5:6, do not let your mouth cause your flesh
to sin.
Ephesians 4:29. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
(14:38):
but what is good for necessary edification that it may
impart grace to the hearers. And James goes on verse 6,
and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
The tongue is so set among our members that it
defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course
of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.
(14:58):
And as I read that I can't help but think
about this from every area of our lives, how fast
is it a fight breaking out in the house because
of our tongue, leading to some deep marriage fellowship as
they call it and then the whole day is changed.
The kids get involved and the house is a flame
with the vision or is it the kids leaving the
(15:19):
house to go somewhere based on where we get food
on the way or who chooses what to watch.
On the headsets in the car before long insults are
thrown and someone is baptized in McDonald's fries. What about
the nation? Is nothing off limits? Is that what politics
have done just blasting the opposite side, unpacking each other's junk,
deceiving the masses with propaganda agendas, guilt and shame for
(15:43):
one's own purposes?
Even within the church, and I mean our own body,
the actual body of Christ, as we just read, that
is so set among our members that defiles the whole body.
I mean, how often do we see the vision in
the church where the tongue is so set among our members?
And we do need to call out false teachers or
(16:03):
those looking for gain, but how much division can be
over things that shouldn't divide? Do you speak in tongues
or not? Believe in election? What do you mean election?
How do you understand the end times to play out?
Is there anyone who has it all together when the
Bible itself says we know in part, but if we
agree on who Christ is, why he died, our need
for forgiveness, is it a big deal where people vary?
(16:26):
It's more important that the world sees us agreeing on
the many things, so they see us as the body, amen,
all pointing to redemption in Christ, but we also have
to personalize this and consider our own pride, judgment, and
offense coming from this fire of a tongue because the
file here means pollute or contaminate, meaning a simple word
(16:48):
and negative point of view, not only pollutes our thinking
but those around.
Because you may come to church looking like the Waltons,
but if so and so doesn't greet us or something
is lost in translation or you get triggered, you may
end up looking like the warriors because one of the
biggest things we've seen the enemy use these past few
decades is church hurt people getting offended and rather than
(17:09):
aiming to restore relationships instead they flee, take that pain
somewhere else getting more bitter.
And he said the tongue sets on fire the course
of nature, and this is just fact that while nature
though it's under the curse, is aiming to live sustain,
carry on, what is the curse doing bringing death, pain
(17:29):
and hurt even saying the tongue is set on fire
by hell.
And while we are believers, so it's so casual to
bring up the term hell, and though we know it's
bad to gossip or slander, the judgment is bad, we
have to realize that hell itself is the place that
Satan and his minions will inherit.
The Matthew 25:41 says there's an everlasting fire prepared for
(17:54):
the devil and his angels, and if this is the
place they end up and sadly all who die without
believing Jesus died for our sins, then what James is
saying is that when we use our tongue cursing, opposing, judging,
condemning is not the fire that sets.
To the light hell? Are we not acting how Satan
did who rebelled, cursed God, curses us, and is out
(18:17):
to steal, kill and destroy? Who am I acting more
like when I speak death rather than life? We even
heard how Jesus responded to Peter saying, Get behind me, Satan,
as you are an offense to me, for you are
not mindful of the things of God but the things.
Of men. Proverbs 18:21 says, death and life are in
the power of the tongue, and those who love it
(18:38):
will eat its fruit, meaning what we speak, we will
eat of its fruit. Verse 7 reads, For every kind
of beast and bed of reptile and creature of the
sea is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
I mean we've taken over this whale that have dominion,
we've gone into distant lands capturing animals and tamed them, lions,
(19:00):
tigers and bears. I mean even crocodiles, elephants, even killer
whales at SeaWorld, or kind of.
But you can go to the zoo to see animals
who are civil somewhat or a circus where lions stand
on platforms or even that guy up north. Have you
seen that guy with his pet, Wolverine? I mean, do
you know what wolverines do? They kill everything and for
(19:22):
no reason, but the tongue, God is literally saying that
even though every beast can be tamed, that there's still
no hope for your own tongue.
But no man can tame the tongue. Verse 8 reads.
It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. James
has likened it to evil and even his reference to
(19:42):
deadly poison. What beast is it that spews a deadly poison?
The serpent. Didn't this all begin because of some deadly poison,
specifically simple words, simple deception, simple dishonesty.
And how easily can we spew the same deadly poison?
For us to hear someone bashing someone who was wrong
does and join in or agree. That's what a drop
(20:05):
of poison does. It poisons. This speaking as a serpent.
And who can help us with this? Only God. First
Peter 4 and 8 and above all things, have fervent
love for one another, for love will cover a multitude
of sins, be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
(20:25):
How is it we want all the grace in the
world from others, but if someone wrongs us, we release
the hounds of hell. And if we do have something
against someone or someone does have something against us, what
are we to do? Matthew 5:23. Therefore, if you bring
your gift to the altar and remember that your brother
has something against you, leave your gift there before the
(20:47):
altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your
brother and then come and offer your gift.
And this wasn't just the altar. This was in Jerusalem
where many had journeyed days towards. So God, you're saying
I should leave the altar, Jerusalem, journey back to my
brother or sister, fix the scenario and come back. Matthew 18:15. Moreover,
(21:12):
if your brother sins against you, go and tell him
his fault between you and him alone.
That means between you and him, not 5 other people,
not everyone else, just you and them. Why? If he
hears you, you have gained your brother. The whole goal
is restoration, reconciliation, so the body is in unity and
(21:34):
can function. But if not, and they don't want to restore,
repent and receive, Luke tells us in 17.
and 3, take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins
against you, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him.
So yes, God wants reconciliation, but he also wants accountability,
leading to repentance. Verse 9, with it, that's the tongue.
(21:58):
We bless our God and Father, and with it we
kiss men who have been made in the similitude of God.
So we bless God, the giver of life who spoke
us into existence, breathed each and every one of us,
but at the same time we kiss our fellow man
also made in God's image. James is calling out the
hypocrisy out of the same mouth perceive blessings and cursings,
(22:22):
my brethren, these things ought not be so. I just
think about that. How many lives will be changed if
we truly live this out, blessing God, preaching truth, not
cursing fellow men.
Psalm 59, for there is no faithfulness in their mouth.
The inward part is destruction. Psalm 524. You love all
(22:43):
devouring words, you deceitful tongue. Romans 3:13. The throat is
an open tomb with their tongues. They have practiced the seat.
The poison of ass under their lips and even in
the way the tongue is used.
I mean, God has given us so much food for
thought here in his word, and then James gives us
three simple illustrations from nature meant to emphasize the order
(23:07):
of how things should be.
He says in verse 11, does a spring send forth
fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a
fig tree, my brethren, bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? Again, no.
The no spring yields both salt, water and fresh, and
the idea is simple.
(23:28):
That as we look at nature we see springs bearing
fresh or bitter water, figs bearing figs, olives bearing olives.
So how can someone made in the image of God
kiss those also made in the image of God? Aren't
we warned that a good tree bears good fruit and
a bad tree bad fruit? And so in closing, let
me ask us, do we have control of the tongue
(23:50):
or do we need help? Do we expect others to
speak life while we speak death? Do we justify openly
criticizing others?
Do we always tell the truth, or can we aim
to be more honest?
But most importantly, here, have you heard the good news
that Jesus died in our place and we can be
forgiven of every sin? Romans 10:9 says, If you confess
(24:12):
with your mouth, the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised him from the dead, you
will be saved. Do you believe? Have you confessed, repented?
Are you saved? God bless you today. I'll see you
at Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast this Sunday 10 a.m. in
Jesus name. Amen.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Thank you for being with us here on Kwave's Pastor Spotlight.
Our featured Bible teacher all this week has been Pastor
Brian Sumner. We hope you've been blessed and encouraged by
Pastor Brian's teaching from God's word. Pastor Brian is the
senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast. The church is
conveniently located at 6400 Westminster Boulevard in Westminster, about one
(24:55):
block east of.
4:05 in Westminster worship service times every week are 10 a.m.
Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesday nights. Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast
is a consistent Bible believing, spirit-filled church focused on feeding
the sheep and reaching the lost. As Calvary Chapel, they
are dedicated to worship, prayer, the word, and life on mission.
(25:18):
They encourage one another to
Answer the savior's call to go into all the world
and make disciples, preaching and teaching the gospel. Come and
check out their Friday night skate nights for the whole family,
featuring their on-site newly built spine mini ramp and street obstacles.
For more information on visiting Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast, visit
(25:39):
their website at CCPC.org. That's CCPC.
Dot org. Join us right here at the same time
Monday for another time of growing in the grace and
knowledge of Jesus Christ here on Pastor Spotlight. Next week
we'll be featuring the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Aguilar,
(25:59):
senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Life in Huntington Beach. We
hope you'll join us. Pastor Spotlight is a production of
Kwave Radio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.