Do You See What I See? (Part IV)

OPENING

Please turn in your bible to James 1:19

Recap

We are continuing our series “Do You See What I See?”

It is a study through the book of James in which we are determining if we are seeing things the same way God does.

Week 1 - People

Week 2 - Faith

Week 3 - Trials

1984

Before I tell you what our topic for today is I want to tell you of a book I have been reading lately.

The book is called “1984.” Has anyone read it?

It was written in 1949 by George Orwell.

It tells the story of a man who lives in a time where a totalitarian government controls everything.

The novel examines the role of truth and facts within politics and the way in which the government manipulated them.

This is where the term “Big Brother is watching” came from.

There was a part of the story that really interested me.

The government in this story had an entire department that’s purpose was to change history to fit their narrative.

They would edit parts out of books that went against their narrative.

They were literally erasing history.

They would also change the meanings of words.

This is so dangerous because it’s difficult to know what’s true if words no longer have meaning.

Happening Today

Unfortunately, I do believe this is happening today.

There are current dictionaries that are changing the definitions of words to fit a narrative.

This is extremely dangerous.

It’s dangerous because it alters what Truth is.

We have to know what is true.

The reality is that Truth never changes.

Christians, this is why we have to know God’s Word.

Today’s Topic

And that bring me to our topic for today.

Today we are going to look at how James tells us to view God’s Word.

There is nothing more important to the Christian today than God’s Word.

It is our standard by which we live our lives.

It shows exactly who God is.

It tells us how to live holy lives.

Without God’s Word, we can’t grow closer to God.

“God’s Word never changes, but it does change us.”

“You can’t do the will of God if you don’t know the Word of God.”

“We should not bend God’s Word to fit our lives - we must bend our lives to fit God’s Word.”

The epistle of James has often been compared to the book of Proverbs in that it gives us practical wisdom on how to live.

James gives us very specific instruction when it comes to how we view God’s Word.

This is what I want to talk about today.

I believe that James breaks it down into three steps.

These three steps are what make up my main point for today.

MAIN POINT: Accept, Apply, Live By

Following these three steps will help you to see God’s Word correctly.

If you don’t mind, would you please stand with me as we read from God’s Word.

James 1:19-27

19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror.

24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.

25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

PRAYER

1. ACCEPT GOD’S WORD

I have a confession I want to make before we dive into our first point.

My favorite Youtube videos to watch lately have been Black Friday videos.

Where people storm in and fight over items that are on sale.

People get so angry with one another.

I saw a grown lady take a toy from a child which lead to two mothers fighting over a child’s toy.

These people struggle with anger.

QUESTION: Is there anything that makes you angry?

Losing to the team up north in football.

For me, it’s when we seat belt gets stuck. Drives me crazy.

Have you noticed that everyone is angry nowadays?

People literally hate each other.

And it’s over things that aren’t that important.

I imagine there are people in this room who struggle with anger.

QUESTION: How many people in this room have children?

See there’s a bunch of angry people right there.

Anger is obviously not one of the fruits of the spirit.

It’s not a characteristic that should define a Christian.

I used to work at a Christian bookstore and I was amazed at how easily Christians would get angry.

What’s crazy is that it was the Pastors who were the worst.

Look at what James tells us.

James 1:19-20

19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

Jesus was a perfect example of this.

Jesus was a great listener. He was quick to listen.

When you read about Jesus, there are many times when he would ask questions and listen to their answers.

He was not quick to anger.

If you’re like me, sometimes it’s hard to listen and not respond.

Especially when you think you’re right.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “God gave us two ears and only one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak?”

SIDE NOTE: I do think many people read this passage and think it’s only talking about getting angry with others.

I believe this passage also refers to hearing God’s Word.

QUESTION: Did you know that listening to God’s Word can cause people to get angry?

The Bible instructs us to change things in our lives and sometimes people don’t like to hear about things they need to change.

STORY: Dad helping me with my pitching.

He kept correcting me and I didn’t like it.

His instruction actually caused me to get angry.

So…I threw the ball at him at hard as I could.

The problem was he wasn’t looking when I threw it.

He had coached me too well.

It was a brilliant throw that hit him right in the inner leg.

This happens to people spiritually.

QUESTION: Anyone in here ever been to Church and heard a sermon that felt like it was being preached directly to you?

We all have.

You’re sitting there and you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

You either respond by changing your ways.

Or you get angry and ignore the Word of God.

You try to explain away why the Bible is wrong and you are right.

The Bible instructs us to change so that we can grow closer to God.

This is not something that we should get angry at.

Accepting God’s Word means that you may need to hear some things from Scripture that might not be easy to hear.

It may mean you need to make some changes in your life.

It may mean that you need to confess and repent of some sin.

Sin keeps you from growing closer to God.

Don’t be mad at God when He wants you to change something.

Don’t get angry at God’s Word. Accept it.

2. APPLY GOD’S WORD

James 1:22-25

22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror.

24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.

25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

The way that we apply God’s Word is by....wait for it…Doing it.

It’s not enough to hear God’s Word.

You have to apply what you hear and learn.

EXAMPLE: Imagine that my wife is standing right here and she tells me about a problem that she is having with me.

In a lot of marriages listening is the most difficult thing.

Not me. (Remember it’s gift gifting)

I can listen. I’m great at it.

My problem is doing something after I listen.

If your spouse tells you a problem they are having with you, you should want to change it.

It’s not good to just listen and then do nothing.

This is what James is talking about.

People hear from God through his Word, but then they don’t apply it.

They are hearers and not doers.

Many Christians are great at this.

They come to church all the time.

They listen to sermons, not just from our church, but also from other pastors.

They are part of Bible Studies where they are learning and hearing God’s Word.

But sadly…that’s as far as it goes.

They don’t do anything with it?

QUESTION: Is that you?

Do you hear Pastor preach every week but do nothing with what you have learned?

My favorite compliment I get after I preach is NOT,

“You did a great job.”

“Your stories were really funny.”

It’s “Your message today helped me see some things that I need to change in my life.”

James tells us not to only hear God’s Word but to actually do something with it.

I’m not saying that being a hearer is bad.

You must first be a hearer before you can be a doer.

But being a hearer is not enough.

Remember the analogy that James used to describe this person.

He compared this person to someone who looks in the mirror, notices something, but then walks away.

STORY: I gave a speech in middle school.

I had practiced a lot because I was really nervous.

I thought things were going pretty well, but then something weird happened.

As I spoke, the kids started laughing during my speech.

It wasn’t a funny speech so I was confused.

After finishing, I went into the bathroom and noticed something as I walked past the mirror.

I found out why they were laughing.

My zipper was unzipped.

It’s ruined me.

I checked my zipper six times before I walked out.

When I noticed the problem, guess what I did?

I zipped my zipper.

How crazy would it have been if I noticed the problem and just said, hmmm. And then walked away.

It would be madness.

This is exactly what James says a Hearer does.

In this analogy, the Mirror is God’s Word. The Bible.

Whenever you look in a mirror, the mirror shows you what you look like.

And sometimes when you see yourself, the mirror helps you notice things you need to change.

If your hair is messed up, you get your comb.

If you have food in your teeth, you get out the floss.

You don’t just notice something that needs fixed and walk away.

When you read the Bible, it’s a spiritual mirror that shows you yourself.

It’s a problem when you look in this spiritual mirror and do nothing.

This is going to sound crazy, but I’m sure you will remember it.

Some of you here today need to zip up your spiritual zipper.

There is something in your life that the Bible is clearly telling you to change.

QUESTION: Are you going to make the change, or walk away with your zipper down?

We have to Apply God’s Word to our lives.

We can’t just hear it and do nothing with it.

3. LIVE BY GOD’S WORD

JAMES 1:26-27

26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James tells us three ways to live by God’s Word.

Watch what you say.

Serve others in need.

Keep oneself unstained from the world.

1. Watch What You Say

The first one is pretty simple so I won’t spend much time on it.

I’m amazed at the lack of self-control people have today when it comes to what they say.

The worst place for this is online.

It’s funny the courage a person has when they can type something and not have to look that person in the eyes.

ADVICE: Be careful what you post online.

One of the fruits of the spirt is self-control and we are living in a time where few people have self-control.

Being a doer of the Word means that you have control over the words that come out of your mouth.

Your words should bring life.

They should point people towards Jesus.

Not away.

2. Serve Others In Need

Verse 27 tells us that we are to “watch over widows and orphans” in their distress.

QUESTION: Why do you think James chooses widows and orphans as those who we are to look after?

Because they have no one.

When this letter was written, it was unusual for women to work outside the house.

The husbands were the income earners.

When a husband died, many widows had no means of income.

Stats on Orphans

Orphans are obviously in need of care.

This is still the case today.

According to fostercare2.org

There are currently over 500,000 children in the foster care system.

Almost 80% of inmates incarcerated in our prisons have spent time in foster care.

40-50% of former foster youth become homeless within 18 months after leaving care.

Only 1-3% graduate from college.

They are diagnosed with PTSD at six times the general population and double the rate of veterans returning from war.

Eight of ten (81%) foster care males have been arrested compared to 17% of their peers who were not in foster care.

If you are looking for a way to become a doer of the Word, let’s start here.

Let’s start with the orphan children right under our noses.

Think of the positive impact we can have on this country if we simply show the love of Christ to our orphans.

If we claim to pro-life, that should also include outside of the womb.

What can you do to help orphans?

The Forgotten Initiative. Brittany Clark.

QUESTION: Who are the people in need that you can serve?

3. Keep Oneself Unstained From the World

We live in a time where it is not that hard to look different from the world.

It’s easy

We should not look like the rest of the world.

We will look different if we are doers of God’s Word.