Faith in Action 2

Faith that Hears and Obey

Faith in Action 2

We are in the middle of a series entitled Faith in action

from the book of James

the theme of the book of James is Grow up A practical book Pointing out that genuine faith, produces fruit. James in his book points out to three types of faith

Dead faith, without works, demonic faith, believing the same way demons do , dynamic Faith.

Throughout this series we will look into different aspects of a dynamic faith, faith in action.

Last week

Faith that endures

An enduring faith needs to be tested.

By temptations, and trials

If you need Ask God for wisdom, He will give to you freely

Know that everything good comes from our Heavenly Father

Today

Faith that Hears and Obey

Let’s pray

Jas 1:19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

Jas 1:20 for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].

1 Anger does not produce righteousness

Many people are angry today, about different things

Anger is an emotion given to us by our Heavenly father, is a very powerful emotion, if used appropriately will move us to bring what is right into situation, will move us to protect others and to stand against evil. If miss used is all about selfishness.

Anger is a secondary emotion, we don’t just become angry, we first feel hurt, then we respond in anger, make us feel powerful and in control, definitely not a Godly anger.

The word tells us to be angry and don’t sin

Eph 4:26 BE ANGRY [at sin--at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], YET DO NOT SIN; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down.

Be angry at sin, take God’s side, If we can take anything home from this morning, always align yourself on God’s side, you definitely don’t want Him against you, He is the only person in this entire Universe who loves you unconditionally with all His heart, knowing fully well who we are.

Earlier in this chapter we spoke about temptations being necessary to expose our hearts, in the middle of temptation and trials we have the opportunity to make things right before God or yield to the flesh and sin, but when we see evil in our lives we need to take action.

Jas 1:21 So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.

Is very important that we always keep our hearts clean, a heart filled with sin is our sentence of death.

Pro 20:9 Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"?

No one

1Jn 1:8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.]

1Jn 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].

We need to Confess our sins, agree with God, and ask for His forgiveness, He will forgive and cleanse us.

2 Doers of the word

Jas 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God's precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].

Jas 1:23 For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror;

THE WORD OF God show us who we are, is like a mirror In front of us, when we see it we need to do something about it.

Jas 1:24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like.

Jas 1:25 But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].

Be a doer put the word into practice,

The word of God is powerful and very practical, its anointing allows us to discern in between the lines,

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

we may read in the bible something like “do not steal”, but the Spirit of God takes the word, and shows us the exact place to apply it,

For example, what we hear is do you remember George and of course you do, He is reminding you of George, with vivid colors, you didn’t pay him the amount you owed, would you call him apologize and pay what you owe. None of this was written in the scriptures, it became alive and personal just for you by the Spirit of God,

now is important that we obey or our hearts will become harder , every time we chose to disobey, less we will be able to hear from God, He will not force Himself on you, He is a gentlemen.

I remember sometime after I became a Christian, it became clear to me that I needed to repent for all my sins, not only say forgive me for all my sins, and make things right.

I was here in Hawaii and I remember hearing God asking me to go on a trip with Him, He was taking me back to Brazil, and the purpose was to make things right, people who I had offended I needed to go back and ask their forgiveness, property I had destroyed I went to repay them, even though I didn’t have any money, I took responsibility and offer to repay even if would take a few years to repay everything. By the grace of God everyone forgave me, and release me from paying back, a insurance company that I lied to, they no longer existed, but I tried to make right.

After that I could walk every, with no guilt, I was good with man and God, your heavenly Father wants to set you free.

Jas 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religion is worthless (futile, barren).

What we speak over others and ourselves is very important, the conviction of speaking kindly to others usually comes before we begin to speak kindly to ourselves.

Sometimes the names we use to reprimand ourselves, for missing something are not encouraging and most time very critical.

I remember the many times I would call my self stupid or other names. Cursing my self, setting my self in a path contrary to God’s will for my life.

God is always for me he encourages me, strengths me, gives me a bright future to look for. The only one who wants to discourage me

Is satan and for him to do that, I need to agree with him.

We need to begin to agree with God about who we are, and what he wants for us.

3 Pure Religion

Jas 1:27 Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.

Those in our society who are week and vulnerable we need to take care of them.

Psa 1:1 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.

Faith in Action Hears and Obeys

Getting rid of selfish Anger, it does not produce righteousness

Being a doer of the word of God

Practicing a pure religion,

To have a dynamic faith, faith in action, we need to make Jesus the Lord of our lives

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Joh 3:16

To receive Jesus, we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, and ask Him to be your Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner,

I’m sorry for my sins,

I’m willing to turn away from my sins.

I receive Christ as my savior,

I confess him as Lord

from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,

in the fellowship of his church,

In Jesus name. Amen!

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:25 In the same manner Healso took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Heb 9:14 dead works, acts, sins

E mau aku ka loko maika’i o ka Haku, Iesu Kristo; me ke aloha a ke Akua, a me ka launa pu ‘ana mai o ka Uhane Hemolele ia ‘olua, a me makou apau. Amene.