Every one of us has desires. We have wants. I might be for a new
house. Maybe it's a new job. Maybe you want your spouse to take
you out on a date. We could spend the rest of the night listing the
things that each of us want.
Have you every thought about what God wants from you? To many times we
operate our lives based upon what we want when all the time God is waiting
patiently for us to ask what He wants from us.
In verses 26 and 27 of the first chapter of James, we can see just what
it is that God wants from each of us.
James 1:26-27
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight
rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27
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.
I. God wants us to control our tongues.
vs. 26
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight
rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
TWO JESTERS ON ERRAND
There is a story in the Jewish Talmud about a king who sent two jesters
on an errand. In instructing them, he said, Foolish Simon, go and
bring me back the best thing in the world. And you Silly John, go and find
for me the worst thing in the world.
Both clowns were back in short order, each carrying a package.
Simon bowed low and grinned. Behold, Sire, the best thing in the
world. His package contained a tongue.
John snickered and quickly unwrapped his bundle. The worst thing
in the world, Sire. Another tongue!
A. We can use the tongue in many ways.
1. We can use it to praise God.
2. We can use it to curse God.
3. WE can use it to encourage people.
4. We can use it to build people up.
5. We can use it to tear people down.
B. Peter best illustrates this point.
Luke 9:18-20 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples
were with him, he asked them, Who do the crowds say I am?
19 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and
still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to
life.
20 But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I
am?
Peter answered, The Christ of God.
1. Hear Peter is Confessing who Jesus is.
2. With the same tongue, he is denying
Christ. Luke 22:54-62
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the
high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a
fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat
down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight.
She looked closely at him and said, This man was with him.
57 But he denied it. Woman, I don't know him, he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, You also are one
of them.
Man, I am not! Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, Certainly this fellow was
with him, for he is a Galilean I don't know what you're talking
about! Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord
turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the
Lord had spoken to him: Before the rooster crows today, you will
disown me three times. 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
C. We must control our tongues.
1. Since James tells us to keep a tight reign on our tongue tells us that
it is possible.
2. However, it doesn't start with the mouth, it starts with the
heart.
3. The reigns are used to control horses. Horses don't natually
want to follow where they are led to go. Before they will go, the must be
broken. This is the same with our tongues. Our old nature must be broken
so that the new nature can use to tongue as an instrument of praise.
God wants us to control our tongue.
II. God wants us to comfort those that are in need.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their
distress.
A. We have a responsibility to help those
in need
B. It doesn't mean just to orphans and widows. We are to help
others unselfishly. If you see someone with a flat tire on the way to
church, stop and help. Don't worry if you get your clothes dirty.
God would rather you miss church and show someone some love and
compassion.
C. The Good Samaritan best illustrates this point.
III. God wants us to be clean as we walk in this world.
to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
A. This is the doctrine of seperation.
1. Some people have some funny ideas as
to what the teaching is about.
2. Some say that if a Christian doesn't believe everything like you
do, they are in error and you are to stay away from them.
3. Some say that we are to draw away from the world. It is hard to reach
the world if you are not in the world.
4. We are to be in the world and have an impact on our world and not let
our world have a negative impact on us.
5. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedngo best illustrate this point.
