James wrote the truth regardless of the
cost. That alone is a lesson that each of us should learn.
Zechariah 8:16
“These are the things you must do:
Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your
gates.”
We know the Bible is the true Word of
God. We spend time learning God's teachings. We need to stand up for
what it teaches, regardless of the cost. That means voting for people
who will support Christian values, taking a stand on Biblical values,
and even showing our family and friends the truth when they are
heading down the wrong path. James was stoned to death for speaking
the truth., but he did it regardless of the consequences. Persecution
is going to happen and we need to speak the truth no matter what. Not
always easy and not always fun, but speaking the truth is something
we need to do.
Let's see what else James has for us
today.
James 1:19-20
“19 My dearly loved
brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to
speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man’s anger does not accomplish
God’s righteousness.”
'Quick to hear, slow to
speak, and slow to anger.' there are so many applications to these
words. It is the right way to deal with our family and friends or
people we work with, that irate customer, and that rude person on the
road.
Proverbs 10:19
“When there are many
words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is
wise.”
We are going to have
disagreements with other people, there is no way around it. Even
amongst believers we are going to disagree now and again. James is
telling us to simply be quiet and let the other person speak. Here
their opinion, think it through, and then together calmly come up
with a solution.
Lot's of different
applications in our daily lives, but how about when studying God's
Word.
Quick to hear - We need
to be quick to listen to God's Words, think about them, study them,
and understand them.
Slow to speak, and slow to
anger – only after we fully understand what God's Word is teaching
us should we speak. We do not want to spout off something when we do
not fully understand it.
Our jumping to conclusions or becoming angry because we do not understand something only causes problems for us as individuals and reflects poorly on all Christians. Think about that Westboro church. They obviously do not understand scripture and have jumped to the conclusion that they can stand on the corner being angry and shouting hateful things at people they do not agree with. Not sure where they find that in scripture, I see the opposite.
Do I agree with them that
this country is falling deeper into sin? Yes. The difference is I
remember that somewhere in the Good Book, Jesus told us to love God
and to love others. When I see Westboro on TV I do not see love, I
see an angry group of people. Are they accomplishing God's
righteousness? Absolutely not.
We are to be thoughtful
listeners to others and study God's Word so we can respond as God
would want us, in Love.
James 1:21
“Therefore, ridding
yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted
word, which is able to save you.”
If we do what it says in
the last 2 verses and study God's word, listen to others, and think
about our response before we speak that is one step in getting rid of
the junk in our lives. If you listen to others and consider what they
are saying are you going to get in as many arguments? If you study
what God's Word is telling you and learn how to apply it to your
life, are you going to make better choices?
Ephesians 1:13
“13 When you heard the
message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed
in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
God's Word will save you
if you know it and apply it to your life!
James 1:22-25
“22 But be doers of the
word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone
is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at
his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and
immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But the one who looks
intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is
not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will
be blessed in what he does.”
'be doers of the word and
not hearers only' – these words are a reminder of something Jesus
told us.
Matthew 7:24-27
“24
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them
will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The
rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that
house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the
rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act
on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that
house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”
James started out in this
section telling us to be quick to hear and slow to speak. Now he is
telling us to not get so bogged down in thinking and
understanding that we don't act on what we have learned. Coming to
church is Great! It helps us to learn about God's Word as we discuss
our readings in Sunday School and hear what is shared from the
pulpit. The question is what are we going to do with it.
“Let’s
pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant
in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m
interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to
travel abroad and stay there until a new branch office gets
established. I make all the arrangements to take my family and move
to Europe for six to eight months. And I leave you in charge of the
busy stateside organization. I tell you that I will write you
regularly and give you directions and instructions. I leave and you
stay. Months pass. A flow of letters are mailed from Europe and
received by you at the national headquarters. I spell out all my
expectations.
Finally, I
return. Soon after my arrival, I drive down to the office and I am
stunned. Grass and weeds have grown up high. A few windows along the
street are broken. I walk into the Receptionist’s room. She is
doing her nails, chewing gum and listening to her favorite disco
station. I look around and notice the wastebaskets are overflowing.
The carpet hasn’t been vacuumed for weeks, and nobody seems
concerned that the owner has returned. I asked about your whereabouts
and someone in the crowded lounge area points down the hall and
yells, "I think he’s down there." Disturbed, I move in
that direction and bump into you as you are finishing a chess game
with our sales manager. I ask you to step into my office, which has
been temporarily turned into a television room for watching afternoon
soap operas.
"What in
the world is going on, man?" "What do you mean?"
"Well, look at this place! Didn’t you get any of my letters?"
"Letters? Oh yes! Sure! I got every one of them. As a matter of
fact, we have had a letter study every Friday since you left. We have
even divided the personnel into small groups to discuss many of the
things you wrote. Some of the things were really interesting. You
will be pleased to know that a few of us have actually committed to
memory some of your sentences and paragraphs. One or two memorized an
entire letter or two - Great stuff in those letters."
"OK. You got my letters. You studied them and meditated on them; discussed and even memorized them. But what did you do about them?" "Do? We didn’t do anything about them." (Improving Your Serve, Chuck Swindoll)”
Matthew 28:19-20
“19
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And
remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus
clearly gave us more
to do that to study His words and the teachings of His followers. We
are supposed to put our faith into action. Ok, so what does that mean
for each of us sitting here are we all supposed to head off to other
parts of the world to share the gospel? No. Each of us are gifted in
different ways.
For
some of us it will be giving where we can. We have been blessed with
finances and we can give to the different missions offerings. Our
gifts support missions locally and around the world.
Some
have been called to serve in the missions field and go off and spread
the gospel to places that most of us would only dream of or be scared
to visit.
Each
and every single one of us are called to spread the gospel. Most of
us will not go on long term missions trips. For most of us, being a
'doer' of the Word means we are living it daily and sharing God's
Love and amazing gift with everyone we know. That is what each of us
here this morning have been called to do. Share God's Love and
amazing gift!
Romans
2:13
“For
the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of
the law will be declared righteous.”
When
your judgment day comes and Jesus asks you what you did, how are you
going to answer?
James
1:26-29
“26
If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then
his religion is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and
undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by
the world.”
The
outward actions or rituals are really useless. God does not care if
you only come to church in your Sunday best. He is more interested in
your heart. Your heart is what truly guides your words and actions.
If your words are used to lift yourself up at the expense of another,
your heart is not where God wants it.
God
is looking for our actions and our character to be pure and to honor
Him.
1 John 3:10
“This
is how God's children – and the devil's children – are made
evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially
the one who does not love his brother.”
If
you are loving others your actions show it. James is not telling us
that to be truly pure we have to literally serve orphans and widows,
but that our actions show our character. If we are being 'doers' of
the Word people will be able to see it.
If
someone were to look at the things you do, are they going to know
that you are a Christian?
What
can we take home from the second half of James chapter 1?
We
need to listen more, listen to what we learn in God's Word and listen
to others. Their will be less conflict in our lives.
We
need to make sure that we let God's Word drive us to action! Yes, we
need to spend time to learn what God wants from us, but we also need
to make sure we are doing the things that He has called us to do.
Mainly to Love God, Love Others, be His witnesses, and make
disciples. Knowing God's Word should lead us to be doers.
Love
is a verb! Let it grow into actions that show that love to others!
Thank you for reading and may the Lord Bless you immensely!
Robert
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