Obedience In Action

Obedience In Action

Living a Faith That Works

James 1:21-27

Introduction:

2 weeks ago, we had an amazing time in the Lord conversating about being connected to that power source. In our conversation I referred to us as being F.A.T believers, Faith, Available, and Teachable. Then on last week our discussion focused on the power that our choices have in our lives and how if we make the wrong choice, it can set us on a path of destruction and ruin, but if we make the right choice, it can set us on a path towards destiny that God ordained for us is His purpose. Which leads us to our topic of conversation today as we continue this journey to “Thrive In 2025”.

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, I have a question to ask this afternoon. Can we operate in a spirit of honesty today? How many times have we heard a powerful sermon, nodded our heads in agreement, stood on our feet, waved our hands, shouted Hallelujah, Amen and Praise the Lord. Only to walk out of the church doors unchanged? My brothers and sisters we may find ourselves to be inspired for a moment, but by Monday morning and for some of us by Sunday evening and evening some still after the benediction, you and I find ourselves right back to our same old routines.

God in His infinite wisdom uses a brother by the name of James to give us a stern warning that this faith walk that we are on isn’t just about hearing His word only. My brothers and sisters it’s about doing it. To make his point James paints a powerful picture, someone looking into the mirror sees their own reflection and then instantaneously forgets what they look like. In other words, they had a chance to respond but didn’t act on it.

(James.1:22) says: “But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].”

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends may I suggest to you today that God is not looking for passive believers. He is calling us to be active in our obedience to Him and His word. God just doesn’t want us to come to worship every Sunday hear the word of Almighty God preached just to get happy and feel good. He wants us to hear the word of the Almighty God preached get happy, feel good about it our convicted by it, challenged by it, so that we can no feel obligated to be obedient to what it says be living it out daily. In other words, putting our “Obedience in Action” and “Living a Faith That Works.”

That why the bible says (James.2:14) “What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient – genuine faith produces good works.]”

(James.2:17) “So too, faith, it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].”

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, God does not want us to be inoperative and ineffective. His desire in for us to be active and effective by applying and living His word out daily. So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ I would like to point out 3 things that stand out in the text to help us put our “Obedience in Action” and the first is this.

Receiving The Word Humbly (v.21-22)

“So, get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.

My brothers and sisters the first way that we put our obedience to God in action is to receive His word with a humble spirit. One of the things that God despises most is a prideful spirit. Whenever we come before the Lord our God we must do so in a spirit of humility, ladies and gentlemen our Heavenly father loves a humble spirit.

(Ps.37:11) But the humble will [at last] inherit the land and will delight in the abundant prosperity and peace.

Notice there are two actions that we must take:

1. Removing what’s sinful in our lives (get rid of not just some but all moral filth).

2. Receiving God’s word with humility.

James is painting a picture of weeding a garden. Before you can plant something good, you must pull out the weeds. If our hearts are full of pride, sin, or distractions, the word of God will not take root.

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends the question then becomes; What’s hindering you?

Is there pride that keeps you from listening?

Is there sin that’s blocking you from obeying?

Are you too distracted by the world to let the Word of God transform you?

Let’s follow Jesus’ example, He didn’t just know God’s word; He lived it perfectly. (Phil.2:8) He humbled Himself before the Father, obeyed even unto death, and showed us the power of surrendered obedience.

Reflecting Through Action (vv.23-25)

“For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in the mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. (vv.23-24)

My brothers and sisters James then gives us an illustration of a person who looks in a mirror at themselves but immediately forget what they look like. Here’s the point; Hearing without doing leads to self-deception.

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends; The Bible is our spiritual mirror. When we read the word of God, it reflects who we are. It exposes sin, reveals, truth, and shows us God’s will. But if you and I walk away unchanged, we’re missing the point and failing to make the mark.

Jesus is the ultimate doer of the word.

Jesus didn’t just teach about loving enemies; He forgave those that crucified Him. (Lk.23:34) “And Jesus was saying “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves.

Jesus didn’t just say “serve the least of these”; He washed the feet of His disciples (John.13:12-17) “So when He had washed their feet and put on His [outer] robe and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is who I am. 14 So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well. 15 For I gave you [this as] an example, so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you. 16 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].

Jesus didn’t just preach repentance: He laid down His life to make it possible. (Rom.5:8) “But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

My brothers and sisters I have questions to ask; What’s your reflection?

When you read the Bible, do you apply it?

When God convicts you, do you respond?

When the Holy Spirit nudges you to act, do you obey?

We are encouraged by the Word of God to live be the law of liberty. (James.1:25) “But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].

In other words, obedience to God isn’t a burden, but a blessing. My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, when we do His Word that is when we find true freedom.

Religion in Practice(vv.26-27)

“Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.”

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, James is now defining true religion. It’s not about appearances; it’s about real-life obedience. God is not impressed with our lip service no He is looking for “Obedience in Action”.

God is looking for: Self-control (guarding our speech)

God is looking for: Compassion (caring for the vulnerable)

God is looking for: Holiness (staying unstained by the world)

Jesus is the perfect example of Pure Religion; He healed the sick, touched the untouchables, and cared for the broken (Mat.9:35-36)” Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages [in Galilee], teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness [His words and His works reflecting His Messiahship]. 36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus defended the widow, the orphan, and the oppressed (Lk.4:18-19) ““The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah), Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), 19 to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].”

Jesus lived in the world but was not of the world (John.17:14-16) “I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

The question is are you living a religion that pleases God?

How do you speak? Are your words life giving or destructive?

Do you actively care for those in need? Widows, orphans, the marginalized?

Are you living distinct from the world, or blending in with culture?

Jesus is calling us to real genuine authentic Christianity. Not just listening. Not just attending church. But living out a life that is pleasing to Him. Living out our faith through active obedience. A life leading to spending eternity with Him after hearing Him say well done thou good and faithful servant.

Conclusion: Living a Faith That Works

Let’s go back to the mirror illustration. Imagine if you woke up, looked in the mirror, saw your face was dirty and your eyes were crusty, and then did nothing about it. Would that make any sense?

In the same way, if we read God’s Word, see our spiritual condition, and do nothing to change, we’re fooling ourselves.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:24 (AMP): “So, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock.”

True faith isn’t just hearing—it’s acting. It’s obeying. It’s living out God’s Word in daily life.

Call to Action: Obedience in Action

Receive the Word humbly—let God’s truth take root in your heart.

Reflect the Word through action—don’t just hear; obey.

Live a faith that serves—let your religion be real, compassionate, and pure.

Are you ready to put your faith into action?

Closing: Obedience in Action – A Faith That Moves

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, the time for passive faith is over.

It’s time to move from hearing to doing.

From sitting to serving.

From knowing to living.

A faith that only listens is empty.

A faith that only talks is shallow.

A faith that only feels is temporary.

But a faith that obeys? That’s real. That’s lasting. That’s powerful.

Jesus didn’t call us to admire the Word—He called us to apply it.

He didn’t ask us to study the mirror—He asked us to reflect His image.

He didn’t command us to be spiritual spectators—He commissioned us to be active disciples.

So today, let’s make a decision:

To receive the Word with humility.

To reflect the Word through action.

To live the Word in everyday obedience.

Because true faith is not just believed—it is lived.

True faith is not just spoken—it is shown.

True faith is not just learned—it is loved and lived out loud.

So go.

Live what you believe.

Walk in obedience.

Be doers of the Word.

And watch how God moves through a faith that truly works.

Amen!