James # 5 James 1-19 thru 1-27
We've been on the book of James, so I want a pickup where we were last time.
I) James 1:19-20.
A) In verse 19 James says “Wherefore, my beloved brethren.”
1) The word “WHEREFORE” reveals to us that what James is about to say is of importance.
a) He says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
(i) So often we say things without thinking about what we're saying. Things that might hurt someone else or things that are not godly like foolish and immoral jesting.
(ii) The Word says we would be much better off by BEING SLOW TO SPEAK.
b) He also says in that verse that we should BE QUICK TO LISTEN.
(i) Develop the quality of being a listener.
c) In the same verse he says, "Be slow to wrath." The Word “WRATH” in this verse means, “ANGER AND TEMPER.”
d) Anger and temper does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
B) James 1:21.
1) The words “Filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness” basically mean, “Filth and Evil.”
C) The last part of this verse says, “Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
1) The word “SOULS” usually refers to the mind.
a) Our spirit is already saved, our mind is in a process of being saved or renewed and that only comes through our reading and meditation on the Word of God.
2) But the Word “SOUL” in this verse can also mean “LIFE.”
a) And the word “SAVED” is the Greek word “SOZO” which refers to the promises of God.
b) As we received the engrafted Word of God, that Word is able to bring about the promises of God.
3) Never underestimate the power in the Word of God.
a) (Hebrews 4:12) says that the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.
D) Either way you want to look at (James 1:21) it is still vitally important that we get our minds renewed to the Word of God.
1) (Romans 12:2) says, "Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
a) As we get our minds renewed to the Word of God, God's plan for our lives begins to unfold before us.
(i) We begin to see what God wants us to do right now.
(ii) Now, very rarely, does He show you what you're going to be doing in ten years from now.
b) Many times people have a desire to be operating in some kind of ministry gift, whether it's an usher or an Apostle.
(i) But don't worry about positions. When it's God's timing He'll open the doors, not you.
2) Now when we get our minds renewed to the Word of God not only does God's plans for our life begin to unfold, but as we renew our minds to the Word it causes faith to grow inside you.
a) And of course, it's faith in God's Word that will bring about his promises and blessings in your life.
II) James 1:22.
A) It is not enough to just hear the Word and receive it, but the hearer must also put it into action in their lives and walk in obedience to it.
1) He goes on to say that those who are only hearers of the Word are deceiving themselves.
a) This word "DECEIVING" literally means "To cheat or deceive by false reasoning."
2) The deception comes by thinking that you have done all their is to do by hearing the Word, but in actuality, hearing the Word is only the beginning. You must be a doer of the Word.
B) James 1:23-24.
1) James says here that the man who listens to the Word only and does nothing is like the man who glances at his face in a mirror and forgets what he saw.
a) The picture that James is trying to get across here is that a man who hearers the Word only is like a man who sees himself in the mirror and doesn't give it another thought the rest of the day.
C) James 1:25.
1) Now when James says in this verse "LOOKETH INTO" it literally means "TO INTENTLY LOOK or TO STOOP DOWN AND HAVE A CLOSE LOOK."
2) Now James says that those who look intently into the Word and continues in it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Word, this man will be blessed in all he does.
a) The blessings of God come when you're a doer of the Word.
3) It's interesting that James refers to the Word as "The Perfect Law of Liberty."
a) That almost sounds like the contradiction.
b) "Law" refers to bondage and restrictions where "Liberty" refers to freedom.
(i) But that's not so with God His perfect law produces true freedom.
(ii) Jesus said in (JOHN 8:31-32), "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
(iii) True freedom from bondage and from oppression of the enemy comes by being a doer of the Word.
III) James 1:26.
A) Those who are truly religious, meaning truly serving God, are ones that control their tongue.
1) But those that don't control the tongue are deceiving themselves.
2) James says their religion is in vain. That's a little blind to us.
a) What he literally is saying is that the works you do for the Lord are empty and goes without reward if you can't control your tongue.
b) We'll get into that a little more when we get into James chapter 3.
B) James 1:27.
1) God wants us to do good works but he also wants us to live a holy life before Him.
2) He says in (1 Peter 1:16) "Be ye holy for I am holy."
W. O. L. C. C. Thursday, March 19, 1998