The Engrafted Word - Part 3

Pastors Speaking About Their Campmeetings

After the revival had concluded, the three pastors were discussing the results with one another.

The Methodist minister said, "The revival worked out great for us! We gained four new families."

The Baptist preacher said, "We did better than that! We gained six new families."

The Pentecostal pastor said, "Well, we did even better than that! We got rid of our 10 biggest troublemakers!"

Let’s open to James 1:19

Faith that Works Part 3: The Engrafted Word - James 1:19-27

As we see in the Parable of the Sower, it is not enough for the seed to fall on the ground, it must fall into the prepared ground that has been plowed, watered, and made ready for it to take root.

James 1:19–21 NKJV

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Rabbi Simeon, the son of Rabbi Gamaliel from Acts, says this, which encapsulates our entire teaching, in the Mishnah:

The Mishnah Abot

Simeon his son says,

(1) “All my life I grew up among the sages, and I found nothing better for a person [the body] than silence.

(2) “And not the learning is the main thing but the doing.

(3) “And whoever talks too much causes sin

Listening helps us not react out of emotion

Proverbs 13:3 NKJV

3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 29:20 NKJV

20 Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Unchecked Anger Prohibited

Leviticus 19:17 NKJV

17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.

Emotions are not the truth, but just an interpretation of the truth

Other information can change our perspective and even our emotions.

Matthew 5:21–22 NKJV

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

The Progression of Anger:

1. Anger/Offense

2. Insult/Bitterness

3. Slander/Murder of the Heart

What happens when we leave things unchecked:

James 1:14 NKJV

14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

The sin of Cain:

Genesis 4:5 NKJV

5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Let the Word of God change you by putting it into action

What is the Implanted Word?

Ezekiel 36:26–27 NKJV

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

The “Law” required what it could not give.

“Grace” gives that which it requires.

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What the Implanted Word Causes

Galatians 5:24–25 NKJV

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Engrafted into the death of Christ, we derive a secret energy from it, as the shoot does from the root.

Timothy George

How do we deal with difficult situations?

1. Listen to what others have to say

2. Take time off to think through your feelings

3. Come back and seek reconciliation

The Word will teach you to do the right thing, even when it feels wrong

Exodus 23:4–5 NKJV

4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.

We are called to uphold righteousness and justice, just like our God

Hosea 12:6 NKJV

6 So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.

Jesus calls us to even love our enemies

Being Doers of the Word

James 1:22–25 NKJV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

The blessed are those who act on what they know, rather than being one who forgets what they’ve heard

Love is not just words but actions

Luke 11:28 NKJV

28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Knowing the Word is not remotely close to “doing” it

The Procrastinator's Deception

“I meant to do it” equals “me doing it”. A feelings-based theology, that is divorced from concrete actions.

“I really am going to conquer my problem with procrastinating. You just wait and see.”

The deceiving power of thinking that action (behavior) is not necessary

It sounds like an oxymoron, but the law of God sets us free!

Psalm 19:7–11 NKJV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

Jesus died for us breaking the Law, and set us free to obey Him from the heart:

Galatians 5:1 NKJV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Continually Looking into the Word

The point of James’ metaphor is that we need to constantly be looking into the Word (in his context it was the law and prophets), and continually seek to model our lives in alignment to that plumbline.

The “doer” knows how to study the law of liberty

We have the choice to look and walk away unchanged, or choose to continually look and wash the stains of sin, brokenness, and iniquity away.

Two Areas to Learn Obedience:

1. Keeping your tongue pure is the first line of obedience

James 1:26 NKJV

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

David says it this way:

Psalm 34:12–14 NKJV

12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Jesus warns us of the coming judgment, based on our words:

Matthew 12:36 NKJV

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

2. The second line of obedience, is to bring God’s justice to those who are oppressed

James 1:27 NKJV

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Our words and justice for the needy come together

Proverbs 31:9 NKJV

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

What does the Lord require of us?

Micah 6:6–8 NKJV

6 With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Lord, give me what you are requiring of me.

Augustine of Hippo

AMEN!