A Religion for Today’s Living
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. {deed: or, doing}
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
This epistle of James is one of the most instructive writings in the New Testament. it presents an admirable summary of the practical duties of all believers.
Verses (1-11), tell how to apply to God under troubles, and how to behave in prosperous and in adverse circumstances.
(12-18) explains to look upon all evil as proceeding from ourselves, and all good from God.
And in our reading (19-21)The duty of watching against a rash temper, and of receiving the word of God with meekness. Pulling for my Text verse 27 and speaking from the idea of our religion and what it is.
James 1:27a Pure religion and undefiled before God and 1:27 c to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Barnes - And undefiled before God and the Father. That which God sees to be pure and undefiled, or which should be pure without stain.
Is this. This is religion such as God approves to show that religion will lead to a holy life
1. Personal Religion
2. Purifying Religion
3. Positive Religion
4. Productive Religion
1. Personal Religion
CHICAGO (Reuters) – April 30, 2006 A study of more than 1,800 patients who underwent heart bypass surgery has failed to show that prayers specially organized for their recovery had any impact, researchers said on Thursday.
In fact, the study found some of the patients who knew they were being prayed for did worse than others who were only told they might be prayed for -- though those who did the study said they could not explain why.
The patients in the study at six U.S. hospitals included 604 who were actually prayed for after being told they might or might not be; another 597 patients who were not prayed for after being told they might or might not be; and a group of 601 who were prayed for and told they would be the subject of such prayer.
The praying was done by members of three Christian groups in monasteries and elsewhere -- two Catholic and one Protestant -- who were given written prayers and the first name and initial of the last name of the prayer subjects. The prayers started on the eve of or day of surgery and lasted for two weeks.
Among the first group -- who were prayed for but only told they might be -- 52 percent had post-surgical complications compared to 51 percent in the second group, the ones who were not prayed for though told they might be. In the third group, who knew they were being prayed for, 59 percent had complications.
After 30 days, however, the death rates and incidence of major complications was about the same across all three groups, said the study published in the American Heart Journal.
COMPLICATIONS AFTER SURGERY
"Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on whether complications occurred (and) patients who were certain that intercessors would pray for them had a higher rate of complications than patients who were uncertain but did receive intercessory prayer," the study said.
There is "no clear explanation" for the latter finding, it added.
The study -- called the largest of its kind -- was designed only to try to measure the impact of intercessory prayer on heart surgery patients, an intervention that some earlier reports had showed seemed to be beneficial.
"Our study was never intended to address the existence of God or the presence or absence of intelligent design in the universe" or to compare the efficacy of one prayer form over another, said the Rev. Dean Marek, director of chaplain services at the Mayo Clinic, one of the authors.
It takes a personal relationship with God to understand that prayer works. I would love for them to interview some people from some of our circles to see if prayer works. The times when the physical need is met, the financial need has been met or whatever. If the ones doing the study just understood that prayer is letting God have his way and not us getting our way….maybe the research would have a different result. This is another way the media is undermining the Christian World in saying……God is not real.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. {again: or, from above}
a. Many in today’s world profess religion but have never experienced a spiritual and personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
b. We must be “born again” through repentance and faith. When God forgives our sins, He receives us into the family of God
Lu 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Lu 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? {sinners: or, debtors}
Lu 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Until a person experiences a personal conversion, they will not understand how our religion is such a personal religion. There are all principles that we live by and the Bible tells us to do. But, each of our relationships with God are different. Its like if some of you men would try to wear my shirt or I wear your shirt….either would not fit us. The same is with our relationship with Jesus….it’s a personal relationship, or a personal religion.
We not only have a personal Religion, it is also a Purifying Religion
2. Purifying Religion
Water, whether cloudy or clear, that has been exposed to the air for a few days should be boiled vigorously for 10 minutes to kill bacteria.
Some kinds of "Liquid Chlorine Bleach" can be used. Check the label; it should contain 5.25% hypochlorite to be effective in killing bacteria. Add to water using an eye dropper in the amount indicated below. Stir. Wait 30 minutes before drinking.
Amount of Water Amount of Bleach If water is Clear Amount of Bleach If water is Cloudy
1 gallon
5 gallons 8 drops
1/2 teaspoon 16 drops
1 teaspoon
Let me spiritualize this:
A person who doesn’t know Jesus has been exposed to the air of the “world” for to many days. The need for purification becomes stronger when the “holy spirit” deals with their heart and shows them their need. Remedy: One drop of Blood will cleanse a lifetime of sin. Total Surrender is all that is needed this remedy is affective in killing all the worldly bacteria, and this can keep you purified for your lifetime just by continually doing God’s will.
H.C. VanWormer states, Christ came to establish his kingdom in the Hearts of men. His main objective was the baptism with the Holy Ghost which purifies the heart—the purging of his followers. Matt 3:11b …he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
ACC - Christ’s religion was to be a spiritual religion, and was to have its seat in the heart. Outward precepts, however well they might describe, could not produce inward spirituality.
“1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
c. Many Christians have never totally committed their lives to Jesus Christ. They falter because they persist in having their own way.
d. We must surrender our will unreservedly to God’s will. Doing so brings cleansing and the presence of the Holy Spirit
1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have a personal, purifying religion, but it is also a very positive religion.
3. Positive Religion
Newton’s tombstone reads, "John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy." But a far greater testimony outlives Newton in the most famous of the hundreds of hymns he wrote:
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s Praise,
Than when we first begun.
According to an article in U.S. News and World Report 9/3/2001, called "How to Make Yourself Happy" researchers have found correlations between faith and optimism and good health.
Religions can create communities of people who support each other. There are many religious organizations that engage in charitable activities. Religions can help people leave a life of crime and drugs and turn to a good life. The families of religious people are more likely to stay together than the families of secular people. Religious couples are more likely to have children than non-religious couples.
1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
e. There is a lack of sureness in today’s religion. Many are vague and uncertain about their spiritual state. They declare, “I guess so,” or “I hope so”
f. We can be positive, for we “know [in whom we] have believed.” No argument can refute the “I know,” or “I have” response
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. {believed: or, trusted}
Along with having a purifying religion we have a very powerful religion
4. Powerful Religion
James 1:27
to keep himself unspotted from the world. From my experience…..my religion is very powerful in keeping me clean from the world, my desires are Godly desires and I do not hunger after the world and its thinking.
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
g. Modern religions who make no claims concerning its power to save, sanctify, and sustain. It is a powerless religion.
h. The need is for a religion with power—God’s power. He is able to forgive sins, cleanse hearts, heal the sick, and “keep that which [we] have committed unto him…”
5. Productive Religion
James 1:27 b visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
i. Many Christians fail to work diligently for God. Some are unconcerned; some are neglectful. Others are spiritually lazy.
j. We must be about the Master’s business. Jesus is coming soon. We should pray for the needs of others, assist the less fortunate, and share Christ with the unsaved
Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. {power...: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you}
What is your religion to you today? I trust it is one which keeps you pure, and you should be positive about what Your God is doing. It is a very personal and most of all when you hook into the God of our religion you have all the power which you would ever need, for any circumstance, any problem, any trial, and any battle. Plug into Heaven’s Power Source today and you will make it through.
