Just Do It - Invitation

Turn your Bibles to .

Lord willing, on Sunday in our class on prayer, we are going to do a lesson titled, “Just pray it.” We will talk about the idea that one of the best places to begin with prayer is just doing it and trying to make a habit of it. If we believe prayer can accomplish things and God is capable of doing far exceedingly beyond anything we can ask or even think of, then we just need to pray.

For our invitation today, I would like to talk about about this principle in other areas of our live - the “just do it” principle.

In the book of James , James is trying to encourage and challenge his brothers and sisters to have a faith that works - a faith that is practical - a faith that changes their lives. This is brought out in a couple passages I would like to look at for a moment. First, in ch1, James talks about the importance of the word in our lives. He talks about how we need to be quick to listen and to remove sin from our lives that can get in the way of the word getting planted into our hearts and bringing forth fruit. He tells them at the end of verse 21 that this word is able to save their souls.

Let’s look at what he says next in verse 22:

“22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (, ESV)

The word is able to save you, but James shows here that there is a condition that must be met - you must do what it says. Just hearing it is not good enough. James says at the end of verse 25 that it is the doer who is blessed by the Lord. If we are hearing but not doing it, then we are deceiving ourselves if we think that the word is gong to save our souls. If you hear what God wants you to do, just do it.

This idea is also in ch2, where James talks about how our faith needs to be something that is seen. It is not good enough to just say, “I believe something” if our actions do not show that we really believe it. James asks in 2:14:

“14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” (, ESV)

James gives the answer to this question in the passage, showing that demons have more faith than you if you claim to believe something but it doesn’t impact your life or affect your actions in any way. Your faith is dead.

So what I would like to encourage you to think about this evening is this: are there things that you know that Christians should be doing that you are neglecting? May you be deceiving yourself into thinking that even when you neglect these things that God is pleased?

Does God want his people to be hospitable? Do you believe this? Then why are you delaying? Just do it!

Do you believe that people you see on a daily basis are lost and are in need of the gospel? Do you believe that this gospel is the power of God to salvation? If you believe these things, why aren’t you opening up your mouth, showing your concern for their soul? Just do it!

Do you believe that Bible study and prayer are important, but you don’t take the time to get into your Bible or to pray? Just do it!

Do you believe that God exists and that He sent His Son Jesus to die for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus was raised from the grave and ascended to His throne at the right hand of God to rule as king? If so, then why delay when your king gives you His instructions? Just do what He says!

If you believe these things, and you know that Jesus offers you eternal life, and you have put off being baptized into Christ and giving your life to Jesus, why are you delaying to do what is right? Do you really believe that God’s word is true? Then just do it! Be a doer of the word!

If there is anything we can do to help you apply the “just do it” principle to your life, why don’t you make your need known as together we stand and sing?