Are We Listening to God?

Introduction

Good morning and welcome back!

And to all those who are listening online, welcome to you as well.

If you will this morning, start turning to James 1.

I know that we have been studying James on Sunday evenings in our worship service, taking an “evening with James,” but I have strongly felt the Lord leading me to continue this series this morning and to pick up where we left off last Sunday night.

And just as a refresher, two weeks ago on Sunday night, we began this series talking about trials and tribulations and how we can still find the peace of God even in the trials and tribulations that we will all face in life.

It is through our trust and dependence on God that we can achieve this.

Then last Sunday night we turned our attent to temptation and we talked about how temptation was different from trials and tribulations.

Trials and tribulations will come to us all as normal parts of life and living in a fallen world.

However, temptation is something that is bred from within us or offered to us by Satan.

And we also talked about how sometimes we get confused about trials and tribulations and temptation thinking they are the same thing when they are not.

Temptation, when we give in to it can lead to trials and tribulations but all trial and tribulation is not a result of temptation.

And the thing about temptation is we do have the power to resist.

And that power comes from the Holy Spirit.

We have to though choose to use that power.

And if we do not, temptation as we looked at last week, eventually turns to sin, and sin, will lead to spiritual death and separation from God.

And James is discussing these things because he wants the people he is writing to, to really understand the difference between the two.

He wants them to know how they relate, but also wants them to know how they differ.

And the reason is so they will know how to discern what is temptation from the flesh or from the devil, and what is trial and tribulation as part of everyday life.

And that is important because now, James is going to turn his attention to getting them to move into a place of actually doing something.

He is now going to challenge them to start thinking about and start participating in the Great Commission, which is what we are going to talk about this morning.

First James is going to tell them how to prepare themselves.

Then he is going to tell them what to do.

And finally, he is going to give them some brief instruction in some things to watch out for—some pitfalls if you will.

And he is going to be doing that in the context of verses 19-27 of James 1, which is what we will be looking at this morning.

But I am going to start with the meat of the passage to show us the main point of what James is getting to, and then we will back up and really break it down.

Starting in verse 22, James has this to say . . .

Scripture Focus

James 1:22–25 NIV - Anglicised

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Be Quiet and Listen (vs 19-21)

Now, right up front we see that James is going to be telling them to get to work and to do what God tells them to do.

No beating around the bush, get to it.

But like I said, he is going to spend a little time though telling them how to prepare and how to do.

And we see that starting to play out in verse 19, where James writes . . .

James 1:19 NIV - Anglicised

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

And there it is, one of the main formulas for being right with God.

First we need to all be quick to listen—but to who?

First to God, that small still voice, that feeling you know that God is speaking to you.

Second, to God’s Word—Do we read it?

Let’s take it a step further, do we study it?

There is a difference between reading and studying.

We read the newspaper (well sometimes—not many exist today)

We read Facebook or Twitter.

However, when we study something we go deeper.

We try to find the meaning behind the words on the screen or paper.

We try to understand the context in which they were written.

Studying God’s Word is an active pursuit that we have to consciously choose to do.

And we may only study one small passage a day or a week, but it is important to actually study, because God will reveal things to us in His Word.

Now, that isn’t to say we can’t gain understanding by just reading, but it is only surface level and really we will miss much more than we ever gain.

So, are we listening to God, to God’s Word?

Are we listening to those around us who are our mentors in the faith?

Those who have walked the walk and can talk to the talk.

Those who have been around and not only seen the triumphs but also have made some mistakes along the way as well.

Those we would consider wise.

So, are we quick to listen?

Or are we quick to speak?

Quick to offer our opinion and our idea on everything.

Are we like Job’s friends, who thought they knew it all, and knew why Job was suffering the way he did, when in reality they really didn’t know what they were talking about.

Not because they didn’t care, but because they didn’t take the time to listen.

So, we need to listen first and listen often, and be slow to speak and only speak after we have really listened to God.

And the third one he mentions here, we would think it may not really go along.

He says we should be slow to become angry.

What does anger have to do with listening and speaking?

Everything.

If we are driven by anger and emotion, we tend to be very reactive.

We tend to act without thinking.

And we tend to make mistakes and stick our foot in our mouth, which James will get to later.

But we need to be slow and deliberate about everything we do, and never be ruled by anger or emotion.

And when we feel anger building up, the best thing to do is take a step back and breathe.

Don’t make rash and quick decisions— breathe and also try to see the other person’s perspective.

That is how we actually protect our witness and the witness of the Church.

And that’s why James says . . .

James 1:20 NIV - Anglicised

for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Which also leads to James’ next point, which is that we should . . .

James 1:21 NIV - Anglicised

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Reason being—moral filth and evil (or sin) clouds everything and destroys our judgment.

We become people ruled by the flesh and not ruled by the Spirit.

We accept the ways of the world and end up rejecting the ways of God.

We need to be pure and blameless, always striving to be the best we can be according to God’s will and God’s way.

But we only can understand that when we are quick to listen and slow to speak.

Do What God Tells You (vs 22-25)

And then James goes on here to get to the real meat of the passage.

Starting in verse 22, he says . . .

James 1:22 NIV - Anglicised

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

And I know that we have covered this ground many, many times in the past, but we have got to let this sink in and become who we are.

We have a lot of good people.

A lot of church going people.

A lot of people who consider themselves born again believers in Jesus Christ, but they do not do what the Word of God says.

And how can we be Christians if we are not willing to be obedient to God?

The Holy Spirit who transforms us at our salvation, changes our heart to where we desire to be obedient to God.

So, where does this conflict come into play?

Well, it’s when God’s Word stands in opposition to the world and the way the world views things.

The world says “right” but God says “wrong,” and this causes great conflict inside of us.

We want to “fit in” but at the same time we want to honor God, so what we do is we compromise within ourselves.

We listen to God’s Word.

We think it is a “good idea.”

We may even publically agree with it.

But we never engage in it.

A key thing is God’s Command to go and do.

To go and do something.

To take on a role in the ministry of the Church.

We will listen and think it’s a good idea.

We will agree and think that somebody should.

But we never put ourselves out there and say, “that’s what God’s calling me to do, I’m going to step out in faith and do it.”

We are good at listening but bad at doing.

And James says when we are like that all we are doing is deceiving ourselves.

James 1:22 NIV - Anglicised

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

And there is not really much more that can be said about that.

We have to do what God’s Word says to do.

Here is how James breaks this down.

Starting in verse 23, he says . . .

James 1:23–24 NIV - Anglicised

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

We hear it, agree with it, but if we don’t do it, by the time we get from our pew to the car, we have forgotten all about it.

However,

James 1:25 NIV - Anglicised

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Blessed—why?

Because that person is being obedient to God.

Remember, God told Saul through Samuel that obedience is better than sacrifice—any sacrifice.

You can give all you have to the church, but if you are not being obedient to God, it is pointless.

It is an empty offering.

So, what it boils down to is, are we being obedient to God?

Are we doing what God says?

We are the only ones that can answer that question.

Exercise Some Self Control (vs 26-27)

Now, with that answered James moves on and sort of back just a little bit.

Remember we talked about being slow to anger and how that keeps us from putting our foot in our mouth?

Well, now James addresses this.

And the reason he is addressing it, is because we can even do and be obedient to God, but if we’ve got a bad attitude and run our mouths, then we ruin our witness.

We could spend 20 years working for God, but in the worlds eyes, one mistake ruins it all.

Now, that’s not what we would consider “fair” but that’s just the reality of how the world works.

And the best thing is to try to avoid it at all costs.

So, James says this . . .

James 1:26 NIV - Anglicised

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Worthless because your witness for God has been completely ruined by your mouth.

And then he goes on . . .

James 1:27 NIV - Anglicised

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

And the main thing behind this is this.

Notice that James is contrasting talk with actions.

And what he is really saying is let your actions speak to who you are and who you belong to.

The reality is, we should not have to say a thing for people to know that we are Christians.

Our actions and how we live our lives should be what determines that and what people actually see.

Altar/Challenge

Which brings us to the end this morning.

What do people see in us?

Do they see someone who listens intently to God?

Do they see someone who is obedient to God?

Do they see someone who’s actions speak positively of God?

Or do they see someone who talks the talk but can’t walk the walk?

Someone who thinks Christianity is a good idea but and working for the Lord is a good idea, but just for someone else?

All they have to do is say a prayer of forgiveness and sit on a pew the rest of their lives?

Do people see someone who reacts out of anger and sticks their foot in their mouth?

Or do they see someone who doesn’t say much but is obedient to God, an example for others?

What do people see in us this morning?

That is something only you and God know for sure, so spend some time this morning reflecting on that, as we pray.