The WORTHLESS DOER!
Notes
Transcript
James 1:26-27
Intro:
James 1:26-27
Intro:
Last week… Not just hearers of the word but Doers also!!! verse 22…
It is a delusion to think that you can be a hearer of God’s word without doing anything!
Man looking in mirror analolgy!
James 1:26–27 (ESV)
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 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.
Now James shifts to another deception…
False Religous works!
Vocab
Saying right words or phrases… brother, saved, redeemed, fellowship, born again, what are some others?
Social behaviors
as long as you dont have sex before marriage, or dont drink or smoke, as long as you drest modesty and dont have to many tatoos… dont hang out with the wrong crowd..
Religious Worship
carrying bible, praying long prayers, never miss church, know all the worship songs… etc…
NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE BAD… YET all of them are outward and cannot show the heart of a person!
Some james gives us in these two verses types of religion that are acceptable to God!
so what james is about to give us is 3 outward signs
Control your tongue! James 1:26
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
What are some ways we can sin with our tongue?
Why should we control our tongue?
Matthew 12:34 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Matthew 15:18 “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
THE TONGUE REVEALS WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE!
DON’T be DECEIVED!!!
James mentioned ealier that we should not be hearers only but DOERS of the word… however this also has a warning!
2. Care for the less fortunate!
James 1:27 (ESV)
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction…
The orphans and widows were the most helpless people in the jewish society…
James uses them to show that the heart that truly loves God will be seeking to help all those who are less fortunate!
What is the use of being religous, coming to church, worshiping with your hands raised if you arent being the hands and feet of Jesus! Lets read Isaiah 1:11-17
“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.
“When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
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.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
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.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
Its not about how we look on the outside… it our hearts!!!
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
What does this mean?
3. Live a life set apart from this world!
James 1:27 (ESV)
…. to keep oneself unstained from the world.
1. Is the world dirty?
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!
Our world is evil and opposed to God! separate yourself!
2. Why do we need to be separated from the world?
3. How do we live a life set apart?
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
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.
What is acceptable religion?
3 points… from the sermon
Close.. .Dont be the worthless doer!!!