Belief that Behaves
Victory Temple A/G
PO Box 911 Waco, tx 76703
Pastor Danny Williams
James 1:19-25
Tonight we are going to look at the third test James puts to the believer.
The first was his response to trials (1:2-12)
The second was his response to temptation (1:13-18)
The third is his response to the truth reveled in the word of God. (1:19-25)
Look at somebody and tell them (third time is a charm)
When a true disciple looks at the word of God, there is an affection for truth and a desire in his heart to obey it.
And that must be the first place you start.
One of the most reliable measuring devises of genuine salvation is that Hunger for God’s word.
Just as a new born baby doesn’t need to be taught to hunger for its mothers milk,
The newborn child of God doesn’t have to be taught to hunger for God’s word.
It is always a struggle however to keep the Saints hungry for the word.
Because, if you don’t they will starve themselves to death in denial that they have enough.
Now we are up to Vs. 19…. Where James begins to deal with our willingness to receive the word with submission.
This you know, My beloved brethern
Refers back to the truths expressed in the previous text,
But by addressing his reader’s as My beloved brethern indicates his deep concern and compassion for them.
You say, Pastor why is that important to know?
Because, I don’t believe God has anointed us to minister, If we have no compassion for the people we minister to…….
Because, if you don’t have any compassion, you don’t have any ministry.
And the only way you can have compassion is to get a revelation, of what it feels like to be the other person.
SEE: when you get a revelation of what it feels like to be the other person, you feel differently.
So, all of the sudden you have compassion about something that other people are impatient with.
And people tell you what you ought to do, but God has given you a grace to minister to them on another level.
Because God has empowered you for that purpose…..
And don’t let people make you frustrated with thing your not frustrated with.
Because they are your beloved brethren.
Now the second half of the verse James gives us three important commands.
Vs. 19 let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Notice he said every man, that includes the wo-man also…..
All of us.
Be quick to hear…
Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Question???
How many of you know that you learn by listening, not speaking?
But Hear what?
What God is saying about your life, your trials and your temptation.
When your in trouble search for encouragement,
When in confusion search for wisdom,
when tempted search out God’s standard’s of purity and righteousness for power to resist.
I want to tell you that the Word of God is your only source for deliverance from temptation and trials.
Not, Opra, or Sally Jessie and surely not Jerry Springer….
James is saying the Word of God is the first place you go to hear why your in a trial or temptation. Not the Last.
Maybe if you went to God first you wouldn’t have to get on the telephone and ask everyone else…..
Secondly the believer who willfully receives the word of God with submission must.
2. be Slow to speak,,,,,,
You cannot listen closely while you are talking, or even when you are thinking about talking.
After all you have two ears and one mouth,,,,, that what was done on purpose…
For us to use our ears twice as much as we use our mouth…….
Be slow to speak… what does he mean? He means when you go to God and hear,,,,, don’t argue over what you find out…..
Because, when a person is under stress they often want to talk…
But we cannot really hear God’s words when our minds are own our own thoughts.
When you go to God or the man or woman of God, about what you are facing it is time to pick up what the Holy Spirit wants to say.
The primary Idea is that, whenever the time does come to speak, what you will say should be carefully thought out.
And that is very important especially when you are speaking for the Lord.
And I want to Give you a quick way to know if it is God,
If your word tear’s up more that it build’s up it is not God.
That’s why, you can’t let just any body teach you the word of God.
Because, he should never say any thing in God’s name that is not reflected form His word.
Be careful who you let Tell you what God say’s………
Amen!!!!!
Thirdly the believer must be
3. SLOW to Wrath
……why?
Because Anger is a very natural emotion that is in an all but automatic response…..
When people go through a trial they tend to Get mad…….
Why am I going through this?
Why would he want you to be slow to anger?
Because, if God is doing something, you are getting mad at the wrong person.
And If you are speaking and all that happens is wrath it is not God either….
Who do we know that?
Look at
Vs. 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God…
It does not accomplish what is right in God’s eyes.
In other words God is not impressed with your temper tantrums.
Have you ever seen a child through a temper tantrum?
Wanananan I want the candy……
My father use to tell me, I’ll give you something to cry about….
What my dad meant was he was not impressed by my anger,, and neither is God..
Because, anger is not going to get you where you want to Go…
Now lets look at the Reception of scripture
James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and the Overflow of wickedness, (KJ says superfluity of naughtiness,) and receive with meekness the implanted (or KJ says engrafted word), which is able to save your souls.
Get the weeds out of your life so the implanted word will grow.
Two weeds he talks about
1. Filthiness: which means: any sort of moral defilement or impurity.
Like wax in your ears, which impairs hearing,
But the thing about filthiness is that most people don’t clean it out they Just hide it their magazines and videos from the kids.
But they are not hidden from God…….
Secondly is
2. wickedness: meaning moral evil, ( deliberate, and determined)
It might be in the heart along time before, showing up.
But look at the last half of vs. 21 “and receive with meekness (humility) the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Meekness: is not weakness but power under control, it is inward grace
Engrafted word; it has been planted into our hearts at the time of salvation
And So James says here that the word you hear will bring salvation.
To preserve your life…..
Vs. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Verse 22 shows us the Reaction to the word.
He says
It is better to do more with less , that less than more……
A lot of people want more bible teaching but they are doing nothing with what they have already learned…
But James gives us an Illustration,
Vs. 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:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
He deals with men and mirrors.
He says when a person come to church and hears the word and does nothing, with what he has heard, he is like a man who looks in the mirror and does nothing..
And notice he didn’t say a women…
Why?
Because, women don’t do that.
Women always do something when they look in a mirror
Illistration:
All the ladies get your purses.
All ladies with a compact with a mirror pull it out,,,,
Now all the men pull out your wallets,,,, everyman with a mirror in his wallet stand up…..
See my point……
Women, make sure that if they can’t be in front of mirrors they at least have one with them.
Because men glance at mirrors and women gaze at mirrors
God is says when you look at my word I demands a gaze when it comes to his word.
Because, God wants you to look at his word and tell you what he sees.
Your mirror is the word of God, not other Christians.
Lastly, tonight
Vs. 25 But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Church::::
Many Christians just want to be tourist when if comes to the word of God.
But God wants you to look intently, Don’t treat this word lightly,
Because he says it is the perfect law, or perfect in every detail.
Notice what kind of law, the law of liberty…….
Many of us want to audit the Christian life, that means you want the information but you don’t want the work.
People audit the a course when the want the data with out the responsibility of the test or the maintaining of the Grade…/
But understand when you audit a course you don’t get credit for it.
Some of you have been at VTAG for years and you are auditing members
You audit every sermon.
You have audited every worship service.
And I want to tell you if you audit the word of God it will not be a credit on your account of the next spiritual level.
In order for the word of God to work you must be enrolled in the course.
In other words you need to come and learn but be prepared to do Homework.
To graduate….
You cannot audit the Christian life,,, it must be lived
Now I want to be fair tonight!!!!!!!!
Some are auditing,,, but others are on cruise control…..
You Set your own speed,,,,,,,,,, when you don’t want the hassle of brakes or accelerators,,,,
Let me make this ride easy….
You don’t want to go faster or slower,,, you want to stay like you are………
Just cruising ,,,,,,,,,,,
But God wants you to be a race car ,,,,,and there are no cruise controls on a race car…….
Because race cars are only interested in one thing ,,,, the finish line……..
Close:
Stop being a victim and be a victor,,,,,,,,
make this moment real
Ask God what changes he wants you to make……
Ask God to show you his heart…..
