SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

24th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NOVEMBER 15, 2020.

Title: “Seeking God’s Guidance”

Text: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:9-10).

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:9-14.

God’s guidance is available, and we ought to trust it.  However, as with other ready resources from God, we need to ask, seek, and knock.  To do so clarifies and confirms our openness to do God’s will.  It sharpens and quickens our desires. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

There are many good reasons why believers ought to seek God’s guidance.  However, the one that claimed the apostle Paul’s attention as he evaluated the church at Colossae is sufficient reason to seek God’s guidance.  Doctrinal compromise and weak Christian conduct would be the result without God’s guidance. Pagan philosophy and Jewish legalism were being mixed with Christian beliefs by some religious teachers at Colossae. The result was supposed to be a superior Christianity.  Instead, it was inferior.

Our text is Paul’s prayer of concern that the church avoid doctrinal compromise by seeking God’s guidance and strengthening Christian practices. Our text features three major requests. Learn with me this morning Paul’s request in seeking God’s guidance.  

The first request Paul makes in his prayer of concern is that the church “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.”  Religious knowledge and knowledge of God’s will are not necessarily the same. Much religious knowledge is not only in conflict with God’s will but can destroy God’s work in the world. We have seen that happen in some of the cults of our day.  Paul’s prayer request confirms a need for a particular religious knowledge, the knowledge of God’s will.  Let’s remember that such knowledge can be divided into three categories: God’s ultimate will, God’s intentional will, and God’s permissive will.

God’s ultimate will is the will of God that is irresistible, unconditional, and inevitable.  Regardless of human responses, his plan will unfold.  We need the knowledge that God is sovereign over the universe and that his goal will prevail.  Those who do his will voluntarily will live with him eternally.  Those who disobey will spend eternity separated from him. This portion of our knowledge of God’s will may be labeled his “ultimate will.”  

God’s intentional will. God’s plan for our lives is determined by our choices.  He grants us the right to say yes or no in the doing of his will.  Not only do we choose whether we receive Christ as Savior and Lord, but we choose the degree of our development. God’s desire is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Further, he desires for his people to be sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3).  He intends that we know his will and do it.  This knowledge of his will is marked “intentional will.”

God’s permissive will. We can choose to disregard God’s will or to follow it.  God permits events or circumstances to occur that may serve as discipline.  Also, experiences or circumstances not of our own personal making work to test our faith.  This is referred to as God’s “permissive will.” 

We must be filled with the knowledge of God’s will so that we can avoid doctrinal compromise and strengthen our Christian walk.

The second prayer of Paul was that the church function in the practice of God’s will “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” The knowledge of God should always lead to “wisdom” or insight, to the perception of spiritual values and of goals that make the doing of his will primary. That knowledge also leads to “spiritual understanding,” or the ability to apply the principles we receive.

The result is that we “walk worthy of the Lord.” Our conduct is not only freed from practices of wrongdoing but is filled with the exercise of right-doing.  A three year old son was proudly wearing one of his father’s World War II ribbons of honor when mealtime came.  The dad noticed it and said to his son, “What act of bravery did you perform to get that?” The little boy said, I didn’t get into trouble for thirty minutes.” The smiling mother explained that she offered the ribbon as a reward if the boy would stay out of the kitchen while she worked on the new recipe.  So the father hugged his son and said, “Good job!” The boy put on his best grin and replied, “ I am a good boy; I stayed out of trouble.” But staying out of trouble is not enough for those who seek and discover the knowledge of God’s will. We are to stay in the truth as the way of life.

Many of the practices of God’s will do not seem to have a chapter and verse from the Bible as a point of reference.  Rather, we stay in the truth by applying biblical principles that express wisdom and spiritual understanding.

As I always point out to all of us, we will have to make some decisions in our lives that have to do with godly wisdom. Some answers to life’s situations will not be found in scripture. We have to raise questions regarding those situations. Will it bring glory to God? Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Will it enslave me? Will it defile my body?” Will it damage my influence on others? Does it create doubt about doing the will of God in my life? 

Paul’s last prayer was that the church focus on fully pleasing the Lord by “being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”  Pleasing people is important, especially when we love them. Pleasing the Lord is important, but doing so is difficult when there is competition between pleasing people and pleasing God.

We talk about peer pressure on young people. Who can blame them for wanting to be acceptable to their associates? Adults want to be acceptable too. They are strongly tempted to make compromises of Christian principles in the presence of pressure from employers and from friends, as well as from an uncommitted spouse.  Seeking God’s guidance means striving to please God regardless of the cost to business, friendship, and even family relationships. It is the only way to increase knowledge of God.

I was asked by a friend “Why do you want to go to Kansas when you could stay here and be useful in pastoral ministry as you would be there?” It was true that many of my friends would be closer. It was true that the distance for thanksgiving or Christmas would be short. But usefulness and place of service were not my biggest priorities. God’s will for me was the most important issue in my life as it is now. I believed God wanted me in Kansas. 

The commitment to seek God’s guidance is as important as seeking to be saved. Has this prayer been answered in your life? The missionary apostle prayed it for a church trouble over its understanding of God’s will. We, too, need to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, function in the practice of his will, and focus on fully pleasing the Lord in doing his will.  Perhaps the most important decision to be made in response to this prayer is to decide to please God above all others. To do so will make you a student wanting to know his will and a servant desiring to obey his will. God bless you all.   

SERMON​ BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

23rd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST/Walton UMC, Walton, Kansas.

November 8, 2020.

Title:​ ​“The Poison of​ ​Unforgiveness”

Text:​ ​Matthew​ ​18:21-35

21.​ ​Then​ ​Peter​ ​came​ ​to​ ​Jesus​ ​and​ ​asked,​ ​“Lord,​ ​how​ ​many​ ​times​ ​shall​ ​I​ ​forgave​ ​my brother​ ​or​ ​sister​ ​who​ ​has​ ​sins​ ​against​ ​me?​ ​Up​ ​to​ ​seven​ ​times?”​ ​22.​ ​Jesus​ ​answered,​ ​“I tell​ ​you,​ ​not​ ​seven​ ​times​ ​but​ ​seventy​ ​times.​ ​23.​ ​Therefore,​ ​the​ ​kingdom​ ​of​ ​heaven​ ​is​ ​like a​ ​king​ ​who​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​settle​ ​accounts​ ​with​ ​his​ ​servants.​ ​​ ​24.​ ​As​ ​he​ ​began​ ​the​ ​settlement, a​ ​man​ ​who​ ​owed​ ​him​ ​ten​ ​thousand​ ​bags​ ​of​ ​gold​ ​was​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​him.​ ​​ ​25.​ ​Since​ ​he​ ​was not​ ​able​ ​to​ ​pay,​ ​the​ ​master​ ​ordered​ ​that​ ​he​ ​and​ ​his​ ​wife​ ​and​ ​his​ ​children​ ​and​ ​all​ ​that​ ​he had​ ​be​ ​sold​ ​to​ ​repay​ ​the​ ​debt.​ ​​ ​26.​ ​“At​ ​this​ ​the​ ​servant​ ​fell​ ​on​ ​his​ ​knees​ ​before​ ​him.​ ​‘Be patient​ ​with​ ​me,’​ ​he​ ​begged,’and​ ​i​ ​will​ ​pay​ ​back​ ​everything.’​ ​​ ​27.​ ​​ ​The​ ​servant’s​ ​master took​ ​pity​ ​on​ ​him,​ ​cancelled​ ​the​ ​debt​ ​and​ ​let​ ​him​ ​go.​ ​28.​ ​“But​ ​when​ ​that​ ​servant​ ​went​ ​out, he​ ​found​ ​one​ ​of​ ​his​ ​fellow​ ​servant​ ​who​ ​owed​ ​him​ ​a​ ​hundred​ ​silver​ ​coins.​ ​​ ​He​ ​grabbed him​ ​and​ ​began​ ​to​ ​choke​ ​him.​ ​‘Pay​ ​back​ ​what​ ​you​ ​owe​ ​me!’​ ​he​ ​demanded.​ ​29.​ ​“His fellow​ ​servant​ ​fell​ ​to​ ​his​ ​knees​ ​and​ ​begged​ ​him,​ ​‘Be​ ​patient​ ​with​ ​me,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​will​ ​pay​ ​it back.’​ ​30.​ ​“But​ ​he​ ​refused.​ ​​ ​Instead,​ ​he​ ​went​ ​off​ ​and​ ​had​ ​the​ ​man​ ​thrown​ ​into​ ​prison until​ ​he​ ​could​ ​pay​ ​the​ ​debt.​ ​​ ​31.​ ​​ ​When​ ​the​ ​other​ ​servant​ ​saw​ ​what​ ​had​ ​happened,​ ​they were​ ​outraged​ ​and​ ​went​ ​and​ ​told​ ​their​ ​master​ ​everything​ ​that​ ​had​ ​happened.​ ​32.​ ​​ ​“Then the​ ​master​ ​called​ ​the​ ​servant​ ​in.​ ​‘You​ ​wicked​ ​servant,’​ ​he​ ​said,​ ​‘I​ ​cancelled​ ​all​ ​that​ ​debt of​ ​yours​ ​because​ ​you​ ​begged​ ​me​ ​to.​ ​33.​ ​​ ​Shouldn’t​ ​you​ ​have​ ​had​ ​mercy​ ​on​ ​your​ ​fellow servant​ ​just​ ​as​ ​I​ ​had​ ​on​ ​you?​ ​​ ​34.​ ​In​ ​anger​ ​his​ ​master​ ​handed​ ​him​ ​over​ ​to​ ​the​ ​jailers​ ​to be​ ​tortured,​ ​until​ ​he​ ​should​ ​pay​ ​back​ ​all​ ​he​ ​owed.​ ​​ ​35.​ ​​ ​“This​ ​is​ ​how​ ​my​ ​heavenly​ ​father will​ ​treat​ ​each​ ​of​ ​you​ ​unless​ ​you​ ​forgive​ ​your​ ​brother​ ​or​ ​sister​ ​from​ ​your​ ​heart.”

The​ ​story​ ​is​ ​told​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Christian​ ​lawyer​ ​who​ ​reads​ ​his​ ​bible​ ​on​ ​a​ ​regular​ ​basis.​ ​​ ​After reading​ ​some​ ​scriptures​ ​that​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​forgiveness,​ ​he​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​seventeen​ ​of his​ ​clients​ ​who​ ​owed​ ​him​ ​some​ ​money.​ ​The​ ​lawyer​ ​drafted​ ​the​ ​letters​ ​and​ ​explained​ ​the biblical​ ​basis,​ ​for​ ​sending​ ​out​ ​the​ ​letters,​ ​for​ ​the​ ​cancellation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​debts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​clients. The​ ​lawyer​ ​sent​ ​out​ ​certified​ ​letters​ ​to​ ​his​ ​clients,​ ​forgiving​ ​them​ ​of​ ​all​ ​their​ ​debts. Sixteen​ ​of​ ​the​ ​clients​ ​refused​ ​to​ ​signed​ ​the​ ​letter,​ ​fearing​ ​that​ ​the​ ​lawyer​ ​was​ ​suing​ ​them for​ ​the​ ​money​ ​they​ ​owed.​ ​One​ ​by​ ​one,​ ​the​ ​letters​ ​were​ ​returned​ ​by​ ​the​ ​postal​ ​service, unsigned,​ ​undelivered.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​them​ ​opened​ ​the​ ​letter​ ​and​ ​signed​ ​it​ ​and​ ​received​ ​the debt​ ​cancellation​ ​with​ ​great​ ​relief.​ ​​ ​In​ ​our​ ​world​ ​today,​ ​many​ ​Christians​ ​are​ ​faced​ ​with the​ ​painful​ ​decision​ ​of​ ​forgiving​ ​others​ ​who​ ​have​ ​offended​ ​them.​ ​​ ​Why​ ​is​ ​that​ ​so?​ ​​ ​Is​ ​it that​ ​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​a​ ​difficult​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​accomplish?​ ​​ ​Is​ ​there​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​reprisal​ ​from​ ​others? Do​ ​we​ ​comprise​ ​justice​ ​when​ ​we​ ​forgive?​ ​​ ​What​ ​does​ ​it​ ​mean​ ​for​ ​a​ ​person​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​the man​ ​who​ ​took​ ​the​ ​live​ ​of​ ​a​ ​family​ ​member?​ ​Are​ ​we​ ​compromising​ ​justice​ ​and accountability?​ ​​ ​Is​ ​it​ ​because​ ​of​ ​fear,​ ​or​ ​hurt,​ ​or​ ​pain?​ ​Or​ ​are​ ​we​ ​too​ ​prideful​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​for forgiveness,​ ​when​ ​we​ ​hurt​ ​others? 

Forgiveness​ ​is​ ​a​ ​difficult​ ​deed​ ​to​ ​accomplish.​ ​​ ​Sometimes​, ​people​ ​who​ ​offend​ ​us​ ​have no​ ​remorse,​ ​for​ ​the​ ​hurt​ ​that​ ​they​ ​caused​ ​us.​ ​​ ​Sometimes​ ​we​ ​are​ ​fearful​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that people​ ​who​ ​hurt​ ​us​ ​will​ ​come​ ​again​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​us.​ ​​ ​Pride​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​factor​ ​in​ ​people​ ​not asking​ ​for​ ​forgiveness.​ ​​ ​Give​ ​and​ ​take,​ ​God​ ​has​ ​called​ ​us​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​those​ ​who​ ​hurt​ ​us. It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​divine​ ​command.​ ​​ ​It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​for​ ​us​ ​to​ ​listen​ ​to​ ​God’s​ ​word,​ ​and​ ​what​ ​He​ ​says about​ ​forgiving​ ​others.​ ​God​ ​is​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​cancel​ ​every​ ​debt​ ​we​ ​owe.​ ​But​ ​we​ ​refused​, ​to open​ ​the​ ​letters​ ​of​ ​scripture​ ​to​ ​us on forgiveness. ​ ​We​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​ride​ ​with​ ​the​ ​sin​ ​of​ ​unforgiveness. Let​ ​us​ ​consider​ ​this​ ​divine​ ​summon​ ​from​ ​God,​ ​to​ ​forgive,​ ​so​ ​that​ ​we​ ​can​ ​receive forgiveness​ ​ourselves.​ ​​ ​We​ ​will​ ​look​ ​at​ ​what​ ​forgiveness​ ​is,​ ​the​ ​origin​ ​of​ ​forgiveness, and​ ​the​ ​consequences​ ​of​ ​not​ ​forgiving​ ​others.

In the​ ​first​ ​few​ ​chapters​ ​of​ ​the​ ​book​ ​of​ ​Amos,​ ​one​ ​can​ ​see​ ​that​ ​Jewish​ ​culture​ ​demanded that​ ​a​ ​person​ ​forgive​ ​three​ ​times.​ ​​ ​On​ ​the​ ​fourth​ ​count,​ ​a​ ​person​ ​was​ ​not​ ​forgiven.​ ​​ ​It was​ ​Rabbinic​ ​teachings,​ ​glean​ ​from​ ​the​ ​8th​ ​century​ ​prophet​ Amos, ​that​ ​a​ ​person​ ​be​ ​forgiven three​ ​times.​ ​​ ​So​ ​in​ ​the​ ​passage​ ​of​ ​scripture,​ ​Peter​ ​gets​ ​the​ ​confidence,​ ​that​ ​he​ ​would​ ​be commended,​ ​if​ ​he​ ​made​ ​that​ ​seven​ ​times.​ ​​ ​But​ ​Jesus​ ​in​ ​his​ ​answer,​ ​demanded​ ​that​ ​a person​ ​be​ ​forgiven​ ​seventy​ ​times​ ​seven.​ ​​ ​This​ ​simply​ ​tells​ ​us​ ​that​ ​there​ ​should​ ​be​ ​no limited​ ​to​ ​forgiveness.​ ​​ ​In​ ​essence,​ ​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​a​ ​big​ ​deal.​ ​​ ​What​ ​is​ ​forgiveness?

I​ ​want​ ​you​ ​to​ ​forget​ ​about​ ​every​ ​other​ ​word​ ​on​ ​your​ ​mind​ ​this​ ​morning​ ​and​ ​reflect​ ​on​ ​the word​ ​forgiveness.​ ​​ ​When​ ​we​ ​understand​ ​what​ ​forgiveness​ ​is,​ ​then​ ​we​ ​will​ ​understand what​ ​unforgiveness​ ​is. According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Greater​ ​Good​ ​Magazine,​ ​psychologist​ ​generally​ ​define​ ​forgiveness​ ​as “a​ ​conscious,​ ​deliberate attempt,​ ​to​ ​release​ ​feelings​ ​of​ ​resentment​ ​or​ ​vengeance​ ​toward​ ​a person,​ ​or​ ​group​ ​who​ ​has​ ​harmed​ ​you,​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​whether​ ​they​ ​actually​ ​deserve​ ​your forgiveness.”​ ​​ ​If​ ​this​ ​is​ ​true,​ ​then​ ​forgiveness​ ​means​ ​to​ ​allow​ ​ourselves​ ​to​ ​let​ ​go​ ​negative thoughts​ ​of​ ​bitterness,​ ​and​ ​resentment​ ​toward​ ​another​ ​person.​ ​​ ​It​ ​is​ ​to​ ​let​ ​go​ ​the​ ​thought to do​ ​something​ ​to​ ​someone,​ ​for​ ​what​ ​that​ ​person​ ​did​ ​to​ ​us.​ ​​ ​It​ ​does​ ​not​ ​mean​ ​to​ ​forget about​ ​what​ ​someone​ ​did​ ​to​ ​us.​ ​​ ​It​ ​does​ ​not​ ​mean​ ​that​ ​we​ ​condone​ ​it​, ​when​ ​people​ ​hurt us.​ ​​ ​As​ ​humans,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​always​ ​recall​ ​what​ ​a​ ​person​ ​did​ ​to​ ​us,​ ​but​ ​when​ ​we​ ​forgive them,​ ​we​ ​let​ ​go​ ​the​ ​bitterness.​ ​We​ ​also​ ​let​ ​go​ ​the​ ​mindset​ ​to​ ​harm​ ​the​ ​person​ ​in​ ​words, thoughts​ ​or​ ​deeds.​ ​​ ​The​ ​Greek​ ​word​ ​for​ ​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​aphesis,​ ​in​ ​English​ ​is​ ​release​ ​or let​ ​go. 

In​ ​1​ ​Samuel​ ​24:1-15,​ ​the​ ​record​ ​tells​ ​us​ ​that​ ​David​ ​had​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​revenge, against​ ​all​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​King​ ​Saul​ ​did​ to ​him.​ ​​ ​Saul​ ​sought​ ​to​ ​kill​ ​David,​ ​by​ ​taking​ ​three thousand​ ​of​ ​his​ ​young​ ​men.​ ​​ ​As​ ​Saul​ ​went​ ​into​ ​a​ ​cave​ ​near​ ​the​ ​sheep​ ​pens​ ​to​ ​ease himself,​ ​David​ ​had​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​kill​ ​him.​ ​​ ​David​ ​did​ ​not​ ​kill​ ​Saul,​ ​but​ ​cut​ ​a​ ​piece​ ​of cloth​ ​from​ ​Saul’s​ ​robe.​ ​​ ​In​ ​verse​ ​12​ ​of​ ​1​ ​Samuel​ ​24,​ ​David​ ​told​ ​Saul,​ ​“May​ ​the​ ​Lord judge​ ​between​ ​you​ ​and​ ​me.​ ​​ ​And​ ​may​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​avenge​ ​the​ ​wrongs​ ​you​ ​have​ ​done​ ​to me,​ ​but​ ​my​ ​hands​ ​will​ ​not​ ​touch​ ​you.”​ ​​ ​David​ ​had​ ​the​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​kill​ ​Saul,​ ​for​ ​the​ ​hurt​ ​he caused​ ​him,​ ​but​ ​David​ ​forgave​ ​Saul.​ ​​ ​David​ ​let​ ​go​ ​the​ ​bitterness,​ ​resentment,​ ​and release​ ​Saul.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​for​ ​us​ ​Christians​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​that​ ​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​just,​ ​when​ ​we leave​ ​those​ ​who​ ​hurt​ ​us​ ​with​ ​God.​ ​​ ​David​ ​made​ ​an​ ​oath​ ​not​ ​to​ ​touch​ ​the​ ​descendants of​ ​Saul,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​sign​ ​of​ ​forgiveness.​ ​​ ​Here​ ​David​ ​realised​ ​that​ ​forgiveness​ ​comes​ ​from​ ​God, that​ ​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​a​ ​divine. In​ ​our​ ​the​ ​passage​ ​under​ ​consideration,​ ​one​ ​can​ ​see​ ​that​ ​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​divine.​ ​​

 ​In​ ​this parable​ ​of​ ​the​ ​unmerciful​ ​servant,​ ​Jesus​ ​clearly​ ​points​ ​out​ ​that​ ​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​a​ ​must.​ ​​ ​In this​ ​parable,​ ​Jesus​ ​metaphorically​ ​talks​ ​about​ ​the​ ​kingdom​ ​of​ ​heaven​ ​being​ ​like​ ​a​ ​king who​ ​settles​ ​account​ ​with​ ​his​ ​servant.​ ​​ ​Forgiveness​ ​is​ ​an​ ​issue​ ​between​ ​Christian​ ​and God.​ ​​ ​God​ ​commands​ ​us​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​because​ ​He​ ​forgave​ ​us.​ ​In​ ​verse​ ​22,​ ​Jesus​ ​tells Peter​ ​that​ ​forgiveness​ ​has​ ​no​ ​limit.​ ​​ ​In​ ​Matthew​ ​5:46,​ ​God​ ​urges​ ​us​ ​to​ ​love​ ​our​ ​enemies, and​ ​pray​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​do​ ​harm​ ​to​ ​us​.​ ​​ ​Doctor​ ​Luke​ ​says​ ​the​ ​same thing​ ​in​ ​Luke​ ​6:27-28,​ ​​ ​He​ ​urges​ ​us​ ​to​ ​love​ ​those​ ​who​ ​curse​ ​us.​ ​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​very​ ​hard thing​ ​for​ ​us,​ ​I​ ​must​ ​assume.​ ​​ ​The​ ​core​ ​of​ ​the​ ​matter​ ​is​ ​our​ ​love​ ​for​ ​God.​ ​​ ​If​ ​we​ ​love​ ​God, we​ ​ought​ ​to​ ​do​ ​exactly​ ​what​ ​God​ ​wants​ ​us​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​​ ​God​ ​does​ ​not​ ​give​ ​us​ ​an​ ​option,​ ​when it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​forgiving​ ​people​ ​who​ ​hurt​ ​us.​ ​​ ​God​ ​is​ ​clear​ ​on​ ​this​ ​subject.​ ​​ ​No​ ​Christian​ ​is allowed​ ​the​ ​luxury​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​grudge​ ​in​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​heart​ ​for​ ​others.​ ​​ ​God​ ​does​ ​not​ ​want​ ​us to​ ​even​ ​be​ ​angry,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​person​ ​who​ ​hurt​ ​us​ ​for​ ​a​ ​day.​ ​​ ​God​ ​does​ ​not​ ​want​ ​us​ ​to​ ​even speak​ ​evil​ ​or​ ​slander the​ ​name​ ​of​ ​the​ ​person​ ​who​ ​hurts​ ​us.​ ​​ ​Seriously?​ ​Yes,​ ​God​ ​wants us​ ​to​ ​even​ ​initiate​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​restoring​ ​all​ ​relationships​ ​that​ ​has​ ​been​ ​broken.​ ​​ ​If​ ​you will​ ​take​ ​a​ ​ride​ ​with​ ​unforgiveness,​ ​there​ ​would​ ​be​ ​consequences.​ ​​ 

​In​ ​Genesis​ ​45:4-8, Joseph​ ​having​ ​endure​ ​prison​ ​and​ ​a​ ​life​ ​of​ ​slavery,​ ​forgave​ ​his​ ​brothers​, ​who​ ​had​ ​come to​ ​beg​ ​for​ ​food.​ ​​ ​How​ ​many​ ​of​ ​us​ ​today​ ​will​ ​pardon​ ​a​ ​human​ ​trafficker,​ ​who​ ​sold​ ​us​ ​into sexual​ ​slavery​ ​or​ ​forced​ ​labor?​ ​How​ ​many​ ​of​ ​us​ ​will​ ​forgive​ ​a​ ​person​ ​who​ ​took​ ​the​ ​life​ ​of our​ ​love​ ​one?​ ​​ ​But​ ​I​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​the​ ​truth,​ ​God​ ​knows​ ​who​ ​molested​ ​you,​ ​God​ ​knows​ ​who rape​ ​you,​ ​God​ ​knows​ ​who​ ​stabbed​ ​you​ ​in​ ​the​ ​back,​ ​gossip​ ​about​ ​you,​ ​robbed​ ​you.​ ​​ ​He God​ ​said​ ​in​ ​his​ ​word,​ ​that​ ​vengeance​ ​is​ ​His​ ​to​ ​repay​ ​and​ ​not​ ​ours.​ ​​ ​All​ ​God​ ​is​ ​telling us here​ ​is,​ ​“In​ ​anger​ ​do​ ​not​ ​sin.​ ​Do​ ​not​ ​let​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​go​ ​down​ ​on​ ​your​ ​wrath.”​ ​Ephesian​ ​4:26 Our​ ​inability​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​has​ ​consequences. In​ ​verse​ ​32-35,​ ​Jesus​ ​Christ​ ​informs​ ​us,​ ​that​ ​the​ ​unmerciful​ ​servant​ ​was​ ​turned​ ​over​ ​to the​ ​jailers,​ ​who​ ​tortured​ ​him​ ​till​ ​he​ ​paid​ ​his​ ​debt.​ ​​ ​Christ​ ​likened​ ​this​ ​to​ ​how​ ​God​ ​is​ ​going to​ ​treat​ ​people​, ​who​ ​refused​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​from​ ​their​ ​heart.​ ​​ ​In​ ​the​ ​Beatitudes,​ ​Jesus​ ​says, “Blessed​ ​are​ ​the​ ​merciful,​ ​for​ ​they​ ​shall​ ​be​ ​shown​ ​mercy.​ ​​ ​Matthew​ ​6:14-15​ ​repeats​ ​the same​ ​command​ ​from​ ​God:​ ​“For​ ​if​ ​you​ ​forgive​ ​other​ ​people​ ​when​ ​they​ ​sin​ ​against​ ​you, your​ ​heavenly​ ​father​ ​will​ ​also​ ​forgive​ ​you.​ ​​ ​But​ ​if​ ​you​ ​do​ ​not​ ​forgive​ ​others​ ​their​ ​sins,​ ​your father​ ​will​ ​not​ ​forgive​ ​your​ ​sins.”​ ​​ ​The​ consequences​ ​for​ ​our​ ​inability​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​is​ ​that God​ ​is​ ​not​ ​going​ ​to forgive​ ​us.​ ​​ ​It​ ​is​ ​even​ ​mentioned​ ​in​ ​scripture​ ​that​ ​before​ ​you​ ​bring​ ​your offerings​ ​to​ ​God,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​consider​ ​reconciling​ ​with​ ​people​ ​who​ ​you​ ​have​ ​quarreled​ ​with. It​ ​spells​ ​it​ ​out​ that ​people​ ​must​ ​make​ ​peace,​ ​with​ ​those​ ​with​ ​whom​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​problem,​ ​before you​ ​come​ ​to​ ​the​ ​altar.​ ​​ ​It​ ​does​ ​not​ ​only​ ​involve​ ​bring​ ​your​ ​offering,​ ​but​ ​praying​ ​to​ ​God.​ ​​ ​If we​ ​do​ ​not​ ​forgive​ ​and​ ​keep​ ​malice​ ​in​ ​our​ ​heart​ ​for​ ​someone​ ​else,​ ​God​ ​will​ ​not​ ​answer our​ ​prayers.​ ​​ 

​In​ ​the​ ​resurrection​ ​narrative,​ ​Jesus​ ​Christ​ ​on​ ​the​ ​day​ ​he​ ​died​ ​on​ ​the​ ​cross, asked​ ​God​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​the​ ​folks​ ​who were​ ​killing​ ​him.​ ​​ ​They​ ​were​ ​casting​ ​lots​ ​for​ ​Jesus’​ ​garment, while​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​praying​ ​for​ ​them.​ ​John​ ​23:33-34​ ​​ ​Stephen​ ​prayed​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who stoning​ ​him.​ ​He prayed, even​ ​as​ ​they​ ​were​ ​stoning​ ​him.​ ​​ ​Acts​ ​7:58-60​ ​​ ​All​ ​of​ ​these​ ​actions,​ ​shows the​ ​significance​ ​attached​ ​by​ ​Christ​ ​and​ ​the​ ​apostles,​ ​on​ ​forgiving​ ​those​ ​who​ ​hurt​ ​us. This​ ​is​ ​important​ ​because​ our ​inability​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​health​ ​issues. This​ ​is​ ​not​ ​a​ ​professional​ ​advice.​ ​​ ​It​ ​is​ ​an​ ​opinion​ ​of​ ​mine​ ​based​ ​on​ ​reading​ ​reports​ ​from researchers.​ ​​ ​According​ ​the​ ​Forgiveness​ ​Project,​ ​researchers​ ​have​ ​proven,​ ​that​ ​continue anger​ ​and​ ​hatred​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​chronic​ ​anxiety.​ ​It​ ​further​ ​explains​ ​that​ ​chronic​ ​anxiety​ ​can produce​ ​more​ ​adrenaline​ ​and​ ​cortisol​ ​the​ ​body​ ​needs.​ ​​ ​These​ ​things​ ​can​ ​deplete​ ​the natural​ ​killer​ ​cells​ ​the​ ​body​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​fight​ ​cancers.​ ​​ ​We​ ​will​ ​all​ ​agree​ ​that​ ​anger​ ​causes our​ ​blood​ ​pressure​ ​to​ ​rise.​ ​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​not​ ​healthy.​ ​​ ​It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​for​ ​us,​ ​to​ ​do​ ​away​ ​with bitterness,​ ​resentment,​ ​malice,​ ​as​ ​these​ ​things​ ​will​ ​prove​ ​bad​ ​for​ ​our​ ​health.​ ​​ ​Our inability​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​will​ ​deprive​ ​us​ ​of​ ​blessing​ ​from​ ​God.   Church, let us be a church of forgiveness.

SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

22ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NOVEMBER 1, 2020.

Title: “Who shall separate us from God’s love?”

Text: 35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword” 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35,37-38, ASV).  

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:31-39.

When I first came to the United States for school, I met a friend who took me to his house.  He showed me around and introduced me to his beautiful wife. He took me to the daycare they both owned.  His wife displayed a great amount of love for him. Two years later, I ran into this friend at the neighborhood Walmart. His countenance was different. I inquired about how he was doing? He informed me that his wife left him and his wife had taken everything. She told him she did not want him anymore.

Many of us remember the story of the hymn writer, George Matheson. He was engaged to be married when it was discovered that he was going blind. The woman he was to marry broke the engagement because she did not want to be married to a blind man. It was then that he wrote that hymn, O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life l owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer fuller be.

On the other hand we often hear amazing stories of love – the love of a husband for his wife, or of a wife’s love for her husband; the love of some parent for his child, or the love of some person who has stood by his friend in some special time of need. Military history gives us heroic instances where one soldier will risk his life, or actually give his life, in order to save a comrade.

But wherever we find outstanding illustrations of love, there is nothing that can begin to compare with the love that God has for His people, and this is the same love that our Lord manifested when He died for us. The Apostle Paul expressed this in Romans 8 as he was carefully explaining the bond of love between the believers and Christ. It’s the usual portion for you and I, as followers of Christ, in the carrying out of our gospel duties to run into many troubles. But that none of these troubles are able to dissolve the union between them and Christ. (v35-36). And though the troubles are many, they will not slip but will overcome, yes more than overcome. (v37). So Paul is asking, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Like a mountain climber ascending a dangerous precipice behind his guide, secured only by a rope, the Christian walks through life secured by the stout cord of God’s love. Because the way is treacherous, any believer may often slip and fall. But a disciple of Jesus Christ is secure, because every Christian is bound to God by a gracious, unchanging, eternal, and indestructible love.  Who shall separate us from this love of Christ?

Paul was not speaking here about our love for Christ, but about Christ’s love for us. Our love can fluctuate, and if we look at ourselves, we can find little ground for peace. It is Christ’s love for us in which we find peace regarding our salvation. 

The word “separate” is found in verse 35, and we will see it again in verse 39. It is the verb used by Paul in I Cor. 7:10, II, and in connection with divorce. So the implication here is: What can cause Christ to depart from us so that our relationship would be broken and He would love us no longer? 

Paul then mentioned several things which often perplex the people of God when they may have expected different experiences when they first were saved. Paul lists about ten things that would interfere with our love for Christ. Paul asked, “Shall tribulation, anguish, or persecution, death,…?  For the sake of time, let us consider one of these things, tribulation. “Tribulation” is really pressure, pressure that is caused by affliction of any kind. It may be in the circumstances of our lives, or some special trial that comes to us. 

I listened to the story of a COVID 19 survival. She spent 91 days in the hospital after contracting COVID 19 on a flight from Atlanta. She had to be intubated. She was on a ventilator for 65 of those 91 days. After her release from the hospital, she is struggling with scarred lungs, liver damage, weakened muscles, and significant hair loss. She said, “I can’t even recognize myself, but I thanked Christ who died for me  and I love the Lord.”

Tribulation could not separate this lady from the love of Christ because she knows the depth of Christ’s love for her and what it cost Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2). It did not cost him a few bruises, but his life. Tribulation could not separate her because she knew she did nothing to deserve it.

Perhaps you or your family member have gone through or experienced a similar situation. Perhaps you have been abused as a child, or lost your job, deprived of a husband or a wife, or other family members. It may be that you have gone through severe illness. Whatever the issues have been, Paul tells us that nothing so severe shall separate us from the love of God.

Chuck Colson told the story of a group of American prisoners of war during World War II, who were made to do hard labor in a prison camp. Each had a shovel and would dig all day, then come in and give an account of his tool in the evening. One evening 20 prisoners were lined up by the guard and the shovels were counted. The guard counted nineteen shovels and turned in rage on the 20 prisoners demanding to know which one did not bring his shovel back. No one responded. The guard took out his gun and said that he would shoot five men if the guilty prisoner did not step forward. After a moment of tense silence, a 19-year-old soldier almost the age of my daughter stepped forward with his head bowed down. The guard grabbed him, took him to the side and shot him in the head, and turned to warn the others that they better be more careful than he was. When he left, the men counted the shovels and there were 20. The guard had miscounted. And the boy had given his life for his friends.

Can you imagine the emotions that must have filled their hearts as they knelt down over his body? In the five or ten seconds of silence, the boy had weighed his whole future in the balance, a future wife, an education, a new truck, children, a career, fishing with his dad, and he chose death so that others might live. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” To love is to choose suffering for the sake of another.

Paul wrote our text to a church that would soon go through persecution.  This hypothetical situation Paul was speaking about would soon turn into painful realities.  This text confirms God’s profound love for us all.  No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, we can never be lost to God’s love.  Our suffering or uncertainties should not drive us away from God, but help us to identify with him further.  It should allow his love to reach us and heal us. God bless you all.

SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

15th SUNDAY OF PENTECOST

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020.

Title: “What is the Golden Rule?”

Text: “So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-12

I am sure that all of us have shopped at J.C.Penney at some time or the other, but I want to tell you something that you probably didn’t know about this store. It used to be known as “the Golden Rule store”. In fact, when Mr. Penney first started, his first several stores were called that.  Mr. Penney did not like to use the word “employee.” He called those that worked for him, “Associates”. He treated them just as well as he would like to be treated, too. He was able to take a general store in 1902, and build it into a multi-billion dollar business, because he actually lived under the Golden Rule.

Mr. Penny tried his best to always treat people like he wanted to be treated. He treated them with love, respect, kindness, understanding and encouragement.Do you try to treat others in your life like this – or not? Our normal instinct is to think that we would be nicer to others if they would show these attributes to us, isn’t it? But, that’s the Problem. Jesus didn’t say, “Treat people with the same respect that they treat you.” He said, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do to them.”

We should let the words of Jesus Christ dwell in us as the guiding principles for the abundant life in the here and now.  Only as we take seriously his teachings can we hope to experience the changes He sought to bring about in the lives of His followers.  The words of our text have been called the Golden Rule. It calls for action on the second of the greatest commandments, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  It is only a summary statement of all that Jesus said about our treatment of our fellow humans, but it expressly says that it covers all that the law and the prophets taught about the matter.  In this one verse our Lord gives us a great guiding principle that would settle a hundred different points of difference that constantly arise to upset human relationships.

The critics of Jesus have collected the great savings of other religious leaders and have come to the conclusion that Jesus made no distinctive contribution to this Golden Rule.  The great Hebrew master Hillel said, “Do not do thy neighbor what is hateful to thyself.”  The great Greek philosopher Socrates said, “What stirs your anger when done to you by others, that do not to others.”  Yet another great mind, Aristotle said, “We should bear ourselves towards others so we would desire they should bear themselves towards us.”  The great Chinese teacher Confucius gave what someone has called the Silver Rule.  He said, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”  There is one radical difference between the Golden Rule enunciated by Jesus and the above guidelines articulated by some of the world’s greatest teachers.  The Golden Rule of Jesus is positive and active while their statements are negative and passive.  While they would say, “Stand still, do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you,” Jesus approaches the matter from a positive and creative standpoint.  Jesus says that we should “go and do what we would have others do to us.”

The significance of the Golden Rule is that it presents a challenge.  The challenge of Matthew 7:12 is based on the great truth of God’s goodness expressed in verse 11: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  It is based on the fact that God is good, and He showers on us the best of heaven. Even so, you are to give good things to your neighbors.  We cannot expect to receive the good gifts of God if we do not serve as a channel through which His merry and grace flow out to bless the hearts and lives of others.  We are to treat our fellow human beings as we desire to be treated by our heavenly father.  Pious talk and righteous looks will accomplish nothing if we do not treat our fellow humans in terms of what is right and generous.  We must be absolutely sure that we do not let the conduct of others determine our treatment of them, but rather we must let God’s treatment of us determine the manner in which we relate ourselves to others.

In order to teach His disciples how to make practical the Golden Rule, Jesus Christ demonstrated what He taught.  Jesus demonstrated that His love for his disciples was unmerited.  You see church, we live in a performance oriented society in which people come to a feeling of personal worth because of their performance.  This makes it difficult for us to understand unmerited love.  Jesus loved His disciples not because they were lovely, but because He was loving.  The source of His love was in His own heart and in His relationship with the Father God.  His love was not pulled out of Him toward them because they were exceedingly lovely.  Jesus’ love was unmerited in that He took the initiative in manifesting  goodwill toward others.  This is the kind of love we are to demonstrate toward others.

Jesus manifested divine love in different ways to different people.  There was no stereotyped manner by which he expressed God’s love.  He could talk to a public figure like the Pharisee Nicodemus under the curtain of darkness. He could approach a hated publican like Zacchaeus on a city street filled with community citizens.  He could stoop down and write in the sand, refusing to look upon the shame of a woman who had been accused of adultery.  Our Lord in tenderness could bless and pray for children.  His love was always expressed in an appropriate manner.  As His followers, we must seek to appropriately manifest our concern for others.

Jesus thought of success and greatness not in terms of mere noble sentiments, but in terms of deeds of kindness and helpfulness to the unfortunate .  He was a worker, a servant who ministered to the needs of people.  At a time when Peter wanted to stay on the mountaintop, our Lord insisted that they depart from the place of spiritual ecstasy and move down into the valley of human need because there were suffering at the foot of the mountain.  Our Lord calls us not into the sheltered cloister to spend our total time in prayer, but rather He calls us into the fields that are ready unto harvest to be His laborers.  

Jesus demonstrated this love and the Golden Rule through forgiveness.  On the cross of Calvary, Jesus demonstrated in practice what he had taught by precept.  He had insisted on His disciples practicing forgiveness toward those who mistreated them even to the point of forgiving seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22).  Jesus believed in forgiveness that was free, full, and forever.  Genuine Christian love does not harbor hate and carry a grudge.  Genuine Christian love will manifest itself in forgiveness.

Jesus continued to love even when His disciples were unloveable in their responses to Him and in their treatment of others.  Paul was able to rejoice greatly joined in singing a doxology of praise to the permanence of God’s great love revealed in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38-39).

There is a story of a young boy who had been invited to attend a friend’s birthday party and was eagerly awaiting the day he could go. On that day, however, there was a near blizzard outside, and his father thought it was too dangerous for him to walk the short three blocks to his friends house, and it was much too dangerous to drive the boy. The little boy reacted with tears and begged his father to let him go. Finally, the father recanted and gave his permission. The boy bundled himself up and started walking down the street. The wind and snow blew so hard against him that what should have only taken 10 minutes took nearly an hour.  Finally, the boy got to the house. As he rang the doorbell, he looked back to see the shadowy figure of his father disappearing into the snow. His father had followed every footstep to make sure the boy was safe.

It is all about sacrifice, isn’t it? When we are able to sacrifice what we want; what we need; what we think; so that we can freely give to someone else what they want or need, we have proven ourselves successful as a Christian.

In demonstrating the Golden Rule, Jesus saw life as an opportunity to serve, to help, and to minister.  He saw it as a goblet to be emptied rather than a vessel to be filled.  His sacrificial life and His substitutionary death on the cross illustrate the great truth He expressed when He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).

In a world filled with hate and torn by strife, modern followers of Jesus are urged to love each other by the same measure with which Christ loved his disciples.  The love Jesus commands is not a shallow emotional kind of love.  Instead, it could be defined as a persistent, unbreakable spirit of good will that is always devoted to the highest good of others.  

Note that in this commandment Jesus moves beyond the measure of love listed in the second great commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). In this condensation of the commandments that are concerned with our relationship to others, Jesus declares that the measure of love we have for ourselves is the measure by which we are to love our neighbors.  In the new commandment, Jesus declares that His disciples are to love each other, “even as I have loved you.” 

Finally, the commandment to love is Jesus’ foremost command to His disciples.  Love is the supreme gift of the Spirit.  Only as we let the Holy Spirit do His work within our innermost being can we fully respond to this commandment of our Lord (Romans 5:5)  Paul declares love to be the greatest of all the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13).  Because of Jesus’ command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, each of us needs to relate to each other in terms of love even as Jesus has loved us. God bless you!

SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

13TH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST

SEPTEMBER 6, 2020

Title: The Terror of the Tongue.

Text: “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” (James 3:6).

Scripture Reading: James 3:1-12.

James had a great deal to say about the tongue.  In fact, he devoted an entire section of his letter to it.  Even so, he was not introducing a new thought.  He spoke about the tongue earlier when he warned that we must be “swift to hear, slow to speak” (1:19).  In that same context, he exhorted us to “bridle” our tongues (1:26), suggesting that they often have the tendency to run ahead of our thoughts.  Even though there are many references to the tongue throughout the Bible, James spoke more strongly about its danger than other Bible writers. Proverbs 13:3 admonishes us that “those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”  This morning, let us learn together, the power of the tongue.

Let it be clear that James spoke of the power of the tongue, both from the standpoint of good and evil. In verses chapter 3 verses 2-5, James used three illustrations to prove the power of the tongue.  In the first illustration, James drew a parallel between the horse and the human body.  In verse 3, James points out that a horse unrestrained, seeks to satisfy its physical needs.  It is an illogical being.  If it is to accomplish anything useful, anything nor merely for the satisfaction of its own desires, it must be directed by a logical being, a thinking person. So it is with the human body.  Human cannot direct themselves, for if they do, they will seek satisfaction of self instead of seeking the glory of God, which is the specific purpose for which they were created.  What do we do to harness a horse? We make use of a bit and bridle.  By controlling its tongue, we can control the whole body.  The horse does not bridle itself, it must be bridled by someone else.  Likewise, people cannot control themselves.  They must defer to a greater power.

The second illustration James used has to do with greatest ships.  We see that in verse 4. James did not know anything about the great ocean-going vessels of our day, but even in his day there were ships that could be described as ‘great.’  How were the movements of these great vessels controlled, even under the most adverse conditions? “By a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs” (RSV).  The points of these first two illustrations are made in verse 5: “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.”  That is, in relation to the other members of the body, the tongue is little.  But it can achieve great results. This is not an empty boast.  The tongue can sway people to violence or move them to the highest and noblest action,

The third illustration is found in the fire (verse 5).  “How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire.” James contrasted the smallness of a spark with the greatness of the fire that can result.

James spoke of the vicious nature of the tongue in chapter 3 verses 6-8.  First James said that “the tongue is a fire.” We know that fire under control can be a great blessing.  With controlled fire, people can overcome the cold, cook their food, and drive the engines of industry.  But fire out of control leaves desolation and tragedy in its wake.  So the tongue, like fire out of control, scorches and consumes!

James then said that the tongue is “a world of iniquity.” The word translated “world” here  (cosmos) also means “ornament,” or decoration.” The good and sanctified tongue will condemn unrighteousness, but the evil tongue will complement and “decorate” it, making it appear as if it were righteous.  James concluded this metaphor by saying that the tongue that does this “is set on fire of hell.” That is, the uncontrolled fire of the tongue is fed by the never-dying flames of hell.

James pointed out that the tongue is wild and untamable (verse 7-8).  A person may control the tongue, but it must be ever kept under careful guard; the leash can never be removed from it. 

In verses 9-12 of chapter three, James spoke about the inconsistency of the tongue.  The tongue is notoriously inconsistent.  With it we bless God and curse others who are made in God’s image. He was saying that it is abnormal and inappropriate to bless God in prayer and praise yet speak evil of members of God’s family.

In verse 11-12, James illustrated the inconsistency of the tongue with two figures drawn from nature.  The first is the figure of a fountain of water. Is it possible for a “salt spring to produce fresh water’? The second figure concerns fruit. “Can a fig tree…yield olives or a grapevine figs?” That likeness produces likeness is a law of nature.  Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” 

An unbeliever hired a professing Christian to paint his house.  He knew that this Christian could pray beautiful prayers and could quote a great deal of Scripture.  But when it came to painting, he didn’t fill the nail holes with putty like he was supposed to, and he didn’t paint the tops of the doors, where none could see them.  The non-Christian later said, “Now I know that his prayers and his piety don’t mean much.  I prefer Christians who will fill up the nail holes and paint the tops of the doors!” What we say must be backed up with actions. You see church, with the tongue Caesar sent armies to war and Adolf Hitler incited mass genecide. These two men used their tongues and brought much evil upon humankind. But, with the tongue John Wesley preached to millions. Winston Churchill inspired a nation to stand firm and Billy Graham brought millions to faith in Christ.  What are you using your tongue for? Master your tongue or it will master your life, ruin your reputation, and destroy your relationships. If you want to look to master your tongue, learn from James chapter three. Stay bless and God bless you all!