Jms 1.19-25
James - A Faith That Works • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 38:24
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INTRO
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
PRAYER
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MESSAGE
Receive The Word Humbly
Receive The Word Humbly
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
To Change our Talk
Quick to Hear
quick to hear the word of God
quick to hear good counsel
quick to hear from your neighbor
Peter on the mount of transfiguration…
Samuel as a young boy…
He who has ear ot hear… Jesus
Slow to Speak
not just talk slowly
slow to pronounce judgements / speak presumptuously
cause offense or give defense
David pronounced judgement over himself to Nathan
The Letter of James 3.1. An Exhortation on Speech (1:19–21)
For James, the wise and perfect person—which is what the messianic community was advised about in 1:4–5—is one who controls his tongue by not cursing others (3:1–12), who lives with gentleness (3:13), and who avoids strife (3:14). Such a person brings justice (1:20) and peace (3:18). Pointed verbal jabs produce a community at war against itself (4:1–3, 11–12).
Slow to Anger
perception / reality - does the situation really deserve anger?
Your anger does not produce righteousness !!
4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
We may even be rightly angry over the things we see in this world… But!!
Moses looses his temper and strikes the rock
To Change our Walk
THEREFORE / Instead !!
Put off the old filth / Put on Christlikeness
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
receive the word humbly … implanted word
which is able to save your soul !!
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary 2. To Effect a Change in Our Walk (1:21–22)
Some people study the Bible devotionally, others study it doctrinally, some study it analytically, some study it synthetically, and still others study it homiletically.
Nearly all of these ways or reasons for studying the Bible have their place. But over all of them James writes the words, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Bible study is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. The Bible calls for a response.
Review The Word Continually
Review The Word Continually
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If you are only a hearer you are deceived
Two men on a road trip...
Shortcut??
Road closed… Do not enter… Danger Ahead… sailed right over the edge into the ravine 10 ft below
Real faith is a faith that works!
The Letter of James (3.2. An Exhortation on Hearing and Doing (1:22–25))
the word of Simeon, son of Rabban Gamaliel, who said,
“There are four sorts among those who go to the study house:” synagog
1. he who goes but does not carry out [what he learns]—he has at least the reward for the going.
2. He who practices but does not go [to study]—he has at least the reward for the doing.
3. He who both goes and practices—he is truly pious.
4. He who neither goes nor practices—he is truly wicked.
Johnathan = David… Follow him no matter what…Did not do so, died Philistines
[ IF ] …
Mirror gazing
First Century Mirrors …
we can look really good on the outside but inside we are dead
when we look a the mirror it tells the truth, something we need to fix?
How is he looking at the mirror?
intently or hasty
Remember what you look like.
This was Israels issue also
3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.
39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.
4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
Remember WHO you look too
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The glance saves but the gaze sanctifies !!!
The fiery serpent in the days of moses / the cross of Christ
Remember what you receive
It is not enough to hear the word sometimes or once in a while we must feed on it. Oh how we should feed our souls as often as we feed our stomach.
Obey The Word Wholeheartedly
Obey The Word Wholeheartedly
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Control The Tongue - [3.1-12; 4.11-12]
worthless = idolatry
What you say matters !!
How you say it matters !!
Concern for The Helpless - [2.1-13, 15-16; 5.1-6]
This has always been true of God !!
22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.
29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. 12 “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Jesus did not come for the HOLY, but for the helpless
To whom much has been given much will be required !!
Contrast The World - [4.4-10]
This was Jesus COMMAND…
This is what the disciples understood
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Live your identity!!
This is what the world needs !!
CLOSE
Group Questions
Group Questions
Was there anything that stood out to you from this weeks message? What and why did that stick with you?
What role should God’s Word play in our pursuit of Christlikeness?
Why do you think so many professing Christians struggle to find time for God’s Word? Is it a problem of discipline or desire? Or both?
What does it say about our hearts that we often find it difficult to listen instead of expressing our opinion?
How does a heart bent on sin affect the way we receive God’s Word? How have you seen this play out in your own life?
Explain this statement: the Word that requires obedience empowers obedience.
Outside of corporate worship, how does Scripture influence the way you think and live? What are some specific ways you could grow in this area?
Why is it deceptive to hear God’s Word and not obey it?
Can you think of people you know who profess to follow Christ but show no evidence of being saved? How might you approach them with wisdom and boldness?
List some areas of your life where you’ve said you’re willing to obey, but you’re not actively obeying. How will you move forward in these areas?
How is James’s call for obedience different from an attempt to earn a right standing before God—that is, works-righteousness?