Holy Moments: The Power of Works in a World of Judgment

Reading of the Word

James 2:1-7; 14-17

James 2:1–7 NASB 2020

My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: did God not choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you have been called?

James 2:14–17 NASB 2020

What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Unholy Moments: Favoritism at It’s Worst

The story of two different men:

One who is dressed very elegantly

Gives him all the attention

Gives him the best place to sit

This person is honored

Another who is dressed in dirty clothes

Puts him in a place where he will not even be able to interact with the others.

Do this with the most evil intentions in their minds

It was the practice of the rich to pull into the courts and prisons those who did not pay them, even when they were so poor as to have to borrow at the creditors’ exorbitant rates in order barely to exist.

This person is humiliated

This is the pollution of the world. It has already infiltrated the church. We need to change that!

Many churches have already been there and done this. I bet those who had this done to them will never step in the door of a church again.

God shows no favoritism. He has everyone on His mind.

Often, it is those who don’t have much in the world that are the most open to allowing God to work through them. Look at the disciples.

With a few notable exceptions, the first Christians came from among the socially poor: not the poverty-stricken class of slaves and beggars but the great mass of people one step above them—artisans, farmers, fishermen and so on. God chose to reach the world not from the top down but from the bottom up.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 6: Hebrews–Revelation 1. The Dependence of Partiality upon Uncharitable Judging (2:1–4)

The vertical (toward God) and horizontal (toward men) dimensions of one’s religious existence must both be properly adjusted.

Judgment creates division.

This world has perfected the art of discrimination.

Prejudice, class warfare, racial discrimination, economic status

The integrity of the church is at stake.

Faith without works is a slap in the face to the Gospel and our salvation found in Christ.

Christ died not for a certain group but for ALL.

treating ‘people in different ways according to their outward appearance’ (gnb) or their worldly advantages. To do so is not simply to fail to conform to a desired ‘religious’ pattern of behaviour. It is to deny our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Breaking Down the Holy Moment

Let’s review what a holy moment is and then we can break it down.

“A Holy Moment is a single moment in which you open yourself to God. You make yourself available to Him. You set aside persona preferences and self-interest, and for one moment you do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do.”

“A Holy Moment is a single moment.”

It isn’t a day, week, or month but just one moment in time.

God can work through twenty minutes or 10 seconds to minister to hearts.

“…in which you open yourself up to God.”

Often we open ourselves up to God is some areas and remain closed in others.

Holy Moments with God allow us to, by faith, open ourselves up totally to God.

“You make yourself available to Him.”

When we make ourselves available to God, amazing things happen!

God doesn’t want the qualified but wants the one who will make themselves available to Him.

“You set aside personal preference.”

There is nothing wrong with personal preferences. But when we force our preference on others and try to force certain outcomes or preferences, we become self-serving and blind as to what is best.

Example: Choice of music in worship service; translation of Bible we use

We must set aside our preferences so that we can see what the best preferences are through the eyes of God.

“You set aside…self-interest.”

We cling to self-interest because we believe if we don’t look out for ourselves that nobody else will.

This in essence says “God will not take care of me, so I have to take care of myself.”

Set your self-interest aside. God always has your best interest in mind. When you do even for a moment, you will discover safety and refuge in God and your trust in God will grow.

“…and for one moment…”

One moment can change anything.

Take one moment at a time. One day at a time. These moment strung together shows the harmony of God moving in your life.

“…you do…”

Holy Moments are not passive but active.

We must do our part so God can do His.

We must make the decision to choose them.

“…what you prayerfully believe…”

Prayer-guided action is powerful!

We can never rely too much on the Holy Spirit. He wants to coach, mentor, advise, and guide every moment of your life.

“God is calling you to do.”

Often, having Holy Moments with God reveals His will for you.

When we listen to the voice of God, we live amazing lives full of the goodness of God.

Holy Moments: Examples That Give Us Guidance

There are so many things that we cannot change in this troubled world. When we focus on the negative our energy is quickly drained. We become anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted, because it is demoralizing to feel helpless. But we are not helpless.” (Holy Moments, pg.41)

Holy Moments with God show us the good we can do for His glory.

In our text, James stresses this point to the max.

We are called to be Jesus to the world.

Instead of just going through the motions of Christianity and pushing responsibility of ministering to people onto others, many times God is calling putting that responsibility on you!

The conclusion of this matter is that faith must be united with works in a vital way in order for faith itself to be alive. Easy “believism” is not genuine faith. Only faith which works is alive and genuine.

Holy Moments are practical and can be applied to our lives.

Even those areas that matter the most to us: Health, Marriage and Family, Work, Spirituality, Home Life, Finances, Friendships, Recreation, Community, Personal Growth.

God wants to be involved in every area of your life so that you lack for nothing!

A couple of examples of Holy Moments that are in the book this series in based upon.

John Miller discovered that his neighbor three houses down had broken his leg. He had never met this neighbor, but on Saturday when he was mowing his lawn, he noticed the lawn three houses down was getting a little long. So, when he was finished mowing his own, he went down and mowed his neighbor’s lawn. That was a Holy Moment.

Lillian Lopez illustration. pg. 45-46

When we filled out the cards for the prisoners for Christmas…that was a Holy Moment.

As we plan to minister to our community…these are Holy Moments.

Everyday as I repeat the words “Jesus I trust in You”, these are Holy Moments.

Praying before making a decision is a Holy Moment.

Encouraging someone, coaching someone, praising someone, affirming someone…these are Holy Moments.

Taking your spouse’s car and filling it with gas. That’s a Holy Moment.

Holy Moments: The Test of Love

A Holy Moment is an an act of generosity.

James tells us that faith without works is dead and useless.

If we have faith but do not exercise it, what good is it to us or others? He asks that question in vs. 14-16

James 2:14–16 NASB 2020

What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

This is the ultimate test of our faith.

Can we be nonjudgmental and allow our works to show our faith?

The big argument in the protestant tradition has been based upon others who put immense concentration on works instead of faith. But there is supposed to be a balance. They go hand in hand with each other.

John 15:5 NASB 2020

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15:8 NASB 2020

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Dead faith means no faith at all. If something is dead, it no longer exists.

We need to be dead to this world, not dead in our faith. The only way this can happen is if we do things that shows the faith that exists within us.

The conclusion of this matter is that faith must be united with works in a vital way in order for faith itself to be alive. Easy “believism” is not genuine faith. Only faith which works is alive and genuine.

To Sum it Up:

God calls us to Holy Moments. As we serve and love Him, He will minister to us so that we can have all we need to be able to glorify Him in all we do.

Conclusion

God calls us to encounter Him through Holy Moments in our lives. He wants not just bits as pieces of us but all of us. This is not easy but is possible by faith in Christ. It is when we give our all to Him that we get all that God offers and we can share all that He is to the world.

This is your faith. USE IT! SHOW IT TO OTHERS!

Do things to glorify God. Allow Him to use you and minister to your heart as you serve and love Him.