Acid Tests That Expose The Genuineness of The Christian

Acid Tests That Expose The Genuineness of The Christian James 1:19-27

James 1:19–27 NLT

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

INTRODUCTION:

*Acid Test

I- RESPONSE TO ANGER (James 1:19-20).

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

A- A Principle to Remember: Letting anger take control of you never results in godliness.

(Ephesians 4:26-27)

New Living Translation Chapter 4

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”* Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

1- Human anger a dangerous thing.

One of the most potent examples concerning the danger of human anger is found in Numbers chapter 22. The prophet Balaam had been approached by Balak, the enemy of Israel, seeking to secure a curse against God’s people.

While Balaam was in route to meet Balak, God sent an angel to get Balaam’s attention and convey instructions regarding his meeting with Balak. Three times the angel blocked the road. Three times Balaam’s donkey did his best to avoid the angel and his retribution against his master. Three times Balaam beat his donkey. Verse 27 states, “in a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.” the third time.

The effects of human rage on the mind of the prophet are potently underscored in the conversation between Balaam and his donkey, Found in verses 28 and following.

“ 28 Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.

29 “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”

30 “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?”

“No,” Balaam admitted.

31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.

32 “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. 33 Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”

34 Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.”

35 But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.”

Is not it amazing that the prophet could not see the angel, while the donkey could. The donkey was attempting to save the prophets life, but, the prophet could only respond in anger. Even when the donkey began to speak audibly, Balaam’s anger clouded his mind to the point that he did not recognize a supernatural event as it was occurring. He even confessed that he was angry enough to kill his faithful donkey. He was angry because he felt that the donkey made him look like a fool in front of the other men. It was only when the angel supernaturally opened the prophets spiritual vision that he was able to see the angel, and realized what he had done.

When we allow anger control our actions, we can never expect the outcome to be positive. We can definitely accept the fact that it will lead to sin, and not righteousness.

a- It has its basis in the wrong motives.

(1) Anger is usually based on a perceived threat to our personal well-being Or honor.

(2) Anger is usually based in self-righteousness, not God’s righteousness.

b- It is often misdirected.

(1) Anger is often misdirected toward a perceived enemy, who is not actually our enemy.

(2) We must always remember that our true enemy is Satan.

(3) Anger often carries over into relationships where anger is not warranted. It spills over onto those that we do not wish to hurt And you have no wish to hurt us.

c- It is usually disproportionate to the situation.

(1) This is especially true when anger has been buried for a time, and the feelings have been reignited in on the situation.

(2) We then fly into a fit of rage that has intensified beyond the warrant of the Present situation.

d- It usually takes control of the personality.

(1) unresolved anger continues to grow until it consumes one’s entire personality.

(2) Unresolved anger forms the root of bitterness, against which we are warned by God’s word.

(Hebrews 12:15)

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12

Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.

2- Human anger is disruptive to accomplishing God’s will and promoting godliness.

a- It NEVER produces God’s type of righteousness.

(1) Back to the example of Balaam. As long as he allowed his anger to control him, he failed to see beyond the donkey’s actions and recognize his own error. As long as he was Reacting in anger, he could not receive God’s direction from the angel. His inability to receive the Angels directions prevented him from accomplishing God’s purpose.

B- A practice to employ:

1- Be quick to listen

2- Be slow to speak

3- Be slow to get angry

Employing these principles takes a conscious effort and a yielding to the Holy Spirit.

II- REPLICATION OF GODLY STANDARDS (JAMES 1:21-25).

21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.

24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

A- There are some things you must forsake.

1- Anything that defiles you.

a- What defiles a person?

(1) The old carnal way of living must be forsaken.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.256 ῥυπαρία, ας

ῥυπαρία, ας f: a state of moral impurity and filth—‘moral impurity, moral filth, filthiness.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

(Ephesians 4:21-24)

New Living Translation Chapter 4

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

(2) The evil that harms self and others

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.105 κακία, ας

κακίαa, ας f: the quality of wickedness, with the implication of that which is harmful and damaging—‘wickedness, evil, badness.’

B- There is something you need to receive.

1- What is to be received?

a- The word of God.

(1) The Bible must be regarded as God’s word, not man’s!

(a) The Jews exchanged God’s word for their traditions (Mark 7:13).

(2) God’s message must be seen as exactly that… Not merely a man’s sermon!

(1 Thessalonians 2:13)

New Living Translation Chapter 2

13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

2- How is it to be received?

a- With meekness (πραΰτητι)

(1) a gentle, teachable spirit.

(2) Not with rebellion.

b- Engrafted (ἔμφυτον) into your life.

(1) Through the new birth

(2) imagery of a limb grafted into a plant.

C- failure to obey the word of God after you hear it produces self-deception. (James 1:22 – 25)

1- There is a difference between hearers and doers of God’s word.

a- Hearers:

(1) hear a good sermon, but not God’s message for them.

(2) Find interesting Scriptures, but not God’s instructions for their life

b- Doers:

(1) hear God’s message and act upon it

(2) Read God’s instructions, and follow them.

2- Hearing without doing produces self-deception.

a- Deception that he is spiritual when he is actually carnal.

b- Deception that he is right with God when he is not.

c- Deception that he is a teacher, when he needs to be taught.

d- Deception that he understands the word when he does not.

D- Obedience to the word produces blessings (James 1:25).

1- The blessing of abiding in Christ (intimacy).

2- The blessing of assurance.

3- The blessing of fellowship.

4- The blessing of fruit bearing.

III- RESTRAINT OF THE TONGUE (JAMES 1:26).

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

A- How do you use your tongue?

1- Control of the tongue is vital to real Christianity.

a- Your language should set you apart from the world.

*

(1) The way you speak of others should set you apart from the world.

(2) The way you speak to others should set you apart from the world.

IV- REFOCUS OF LIFE OUT AND UP (James 1:27).

27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

A- How do you respond to those who were in need?

1- The love of Jesus should be displayed in your life.

2- You should respond to those who are in need.

B- How are you related to the world?

1- Are you in the world, or is the world and you?

a- 1 of the greatest hindrances to the cause of Christ is worldly Christians.

CONCLUSION:

Acid Tests That Expose The Genuineness of The Christian

I- RESPONSE TO ANGER (James 1:19-20).

II- REPLICATION OF GODLY STANDARDS (JAMES 1:21-25).

III- RESTRAINT OF THE TONGUE (JAMES 1:26).

IV- REFOCUS OF LIFE OUT AND UP (James 1:27).