When we started our series on the book of James back on the first Sunday of May, we played some Bible trivia. Especially surrounding the book of James. Well, back by popular demand, or just because I enjoy it. . .we have Bible trivia round two. On your message outline you will find a number of Bible facts. Some of which have the actual fact missing. Take 60 seconds, and take your best shot at filling in the gaps.
Okay, here we go, what do we know about the Bible. . .
Number of books in the Bible: 66
Chapters: 1,189
Verses: 31,101
Words: 783,137
Number of promises given in the Bible: 1,260
Commands: 6,468
Predictions: over 8,000
Fulfilled prophecy: 3,268 verses
Unfulfilled prophecy: 3,140
Longest name: Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1)
Longest verse: Esther 8:9 (78 words)
Shortest verse: John 11:35 (2 words: "Jesus wept").
Shortest chapter (by number of words): Psalm 117 (by number of words)
Longest book: Psalms (150 chapters)
Shortest book (by number of words): 3 John
Longest chapter: Psalm 119 (176 verses)
Number of times the word "God" appears: 3,358
Number of times the word "Lord" appears: 7,736
Number of different authors: 40
Number of languages the Bible has been translated into: over 1,200
Why would I open a sermon on James 1:19-27 with Bible trivia? Well, if you have been preparing for our times together, and reading ahead in the book of James, you probably have a pretty good idea. But if not, you are about to find out. Turn with me to James Chapter 1, verse 19 (read through verse 20).
Now, I would venture to say that in a group of people this size, with the number of years of church life that are represented, and the number of sermons that have been heard, some of you may have heard those verses preached before. But you may not have heard the connection that James is making.
I myself have heard sermons on being swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Some of those sermons were actually in church, and not from my mother or my wife. Usually, they are messages that are being tied to relationships with other people. Makes sense. Sounds like good advice. Be quick to listen to people, slow and thoughtful in your responses, and don’t get easily angered. Good Christian wisdom.
However, human relationships are not necessarily what James is pointing us to in this passage. Look at the next verse, verse 21, what word does it start with? Therefore. This is that magic word that ties what was just said to what is about to be said. Verse 21 (read).
When James talks about being swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. . .he is talking in regards to what? What are we to be swift to hear, slow to speak in regards to, and slow to anger at? The Word. The Word of God.
How do we know? Well, let’s break this down. The word James uses there for “word” is logos. Used almost 300 times in the New Testament. Often with this divine sense attached to it. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In Acts, more than 20 times it is followed by the words, “of God” or “of the Lord.” The word of God. The word of the Lord.
It becomes even clearer when there is that distinct indication that we are not just talking about any word. . .but the word. Verse 22 (read through 24).
James isn’t talking about just any word, any conversation, any spoken thought. He is talking about “the” word. It gets even clearer in verse 25 (read). The perfect law of liberty. We know there is only one perfect law that is freeing. . .God’s. That is the word James is referring to.
Last week I mentioned briefly this idea of knowing the desires of God. If we are going to match our desires to God’s desires, we have to get in the word. That is right where James takes us next. Flowing through this first chapter he says, “If you want to be victorious over temptation, knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from God, knowing that you need to match your desires to God’s desires for you. . .So then, be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. . .and receive the word which can save your souls.”
Three points and a poem for you today. First, James says you need to. . .
A. RECEIVE THE WORD
James says to be “swift to hear.” When James wrote verse 19, I don’t think he was talking about our willingness to speak and not listen to other people. He was talking about our willingness to speak and not listen to God. Don’t miss his point. We need to be more interested in hearing what God has to say to us than telling Him what we think! We need to hear the Word of God.
People are much more interested in talking to God than listening to Him. Statistics bear that out. According to George Barna, renowned Christian pollster, in a given week about 37% of Americans will read their Bible. 37% will listen to God through His word. But 85% will pray. Quick to speak, but slow to listen.
Have you ever noticed in a church service? Doesn’t always happen this way, but often does. People are very respectful not to interrupt when someone is praying. When someone is praying, all activity will stop, everyone will grow quiet, and most all movement will cease. But as soon as we end the prayer, turn in our Bibles, and start reading the Word of God. . .often chaos once again ensues. People will start whispering again, people will get up to use the restroom, activity kicks back in again. It’s just the Word of God. We are quick to speak, but slow to listen. Respectful when we are talking, but not so much so when it is God we are to hear from.
James writes in verse 21 “Receive with meekness the implanted word.” Circle that word “receive.” This word is a hospitality term which literally means “to openly welcome the word.” To say, “Come on in.” James says, “If we’re going to benefit from the word of God, then we must welcome the word of God into our lives.”
How do we do that, how do we receive the Word of God? Well, a couple ways. First. . .
1. We Must Remain Calm.
Probably not what you were expecting, but James says to be “slow to become angry.” A calm and peaceful attitude will allow us to be more receptive to God’s Word. If you’re relaxed, people can communicate with you more.
And it is interesting to note that the anger spoken of here is anger toward God’s word and the one who is speaking God’s word. Some people when they need correction in their lives don’t appreciate or welcome the word of God that brings that correction.
So James says we have to be slow to anger. Slow to wrath. Because often when we reflect on the Word, it may drive us to anger. Especially if it is coming from one of those preacher guys. One of those men that like to stand up front, talk about the word of God, and act like he knows what God is trying to say to my life. That is when we have to be slow to anger.
You see, many people are unwilling to get into the Word because they don’t want to be chastened. Reprimanded. We don’t want to be convicted. It’s not pleasant to be confronted with the fact that we are not living up to our potential, so we avoid the subject all together and find ways to miss worship, to bypass Bible reading and to be busy when Bible study is going on. It is by an act of the will that we choose not to accept the Word of God into our life. Because we know that when we receive it, it makes us angry. Or at the very least, extremely uncomfortable.
One pastor of a highly effective church noted that whenever the church’s growth curve quickens, he knows its time for a series of “hard truth” messages. He says, “I figure they have underestimated what the Christian faith requires. I find that after a four or five-week series of these tough messages, out attendance drops by several hundred people. It’s not that I don’t love those people or don’t want our ministry to influence them. I simply don’t want people coming here because it’s the hot church in town or for other inappropriate reasons. If they’re serious about growing in Christ, we’ll do everything humanly possible to support them. But they need to count the cost of discipleship.”
Imagine that. Attendance drops by a couple hundred, because the pastor preaches the word of God. Some people simply do not want to receive the word.
Another thing to know about the word James uses for anger, is that it means a seething anger that only you and God know about. It is not really a blow up kind of anger, out on the surface. But a clam up kind of anger. Arms crossed, mind thinking, “Well, we’ll just see about that pastor.” An anger that causes people to be upset, bitter and resentful. An anger that causes people to vote by withholding their finances, withholding their ministry gifting and time, withholding their energy to move the church forward.
James is saying, “Don’t get upset with God’s word and His messenger; don’t get bitter at God’s word or His messenger. Don’t resent God’s word or His Messenger. Be blessed by it, benefit from it. Be slow to anger as you receive it.”
I don’t know if you have noticed this in your own life, but we don’t hear much when we’re angry, upset, bitter, or resentful. Those attitudes and emotions are barriers that keep us from hearing God’s word.
So let me ask you something, what is your emotional state when you come to church on Sunday morning? Do you come with a calm attitude? Do you come already angry at someone in the family or with something being done at the church? Are you prepared to receive the word?
James says there is more than not getting angry to receiving the Word of God. He also says. . .
2. We Must Be Clean
Verse 21 (read) This is kind of funny. . .and kind of gross. . .but the “filth” that he says you’ve got to get rid of is a Greek word that was utilized for “ear wax.” Funny how that works, isn’t it. That filth in your life, that sin, those evil behaviors or attitudes in your life keep you from receiving God’s Word in your life. That filth keeps you from hearing God’s Word like ear wax.
So how do we receive the word of God? We stay calm, don’t get angry, clear out the filth in our lives, the ear wax, and become quick to listen to what God has to say. We must be clean to hear from God’s word. James goes on. Not only do you need to receive the Word, but you need to. . .
B. REFLECT ON THE WORD
One writer put it like this, “There are a lot of Christians who mark their Bibles, but there are all too few who let their Bible mark them.”
It is so easy to hear a Word from God and say “Yeah, I hear that, and I accept that as true,” and that is the end of it. But to reflect on God’s Word, to allow God’s Word to dwell in you, and grow within you, and swell within you until it motivates you to do something that is a challenge. James says that we become motivated to change by reflecting on, looking into the mirror of God’s Word. (Read v. 23-25)
Now there are two ways of looking into the mirror of God’s Word. Sometimes we do this in a very superficial way. We read a chapter, check it off, had our “quiet time” and are proud of our accomplishment. Then we quickly move from the listening to the talking phase of our conversation with God and start praying. When we do that we are only glancing in the mirror. The quick check as you leave a public restroom. “Yea, everything looks okay, here we go.”
But reflecting in the mirror of God’s word should be more than that. When we read God’s Word, it is the time for God and us to consider who He is and who we are. You don’t do that in a glance. It takes some inspection, some pondering. At a personal level.
Take a look at this picture. Now, if I just put that picture up there. You probably wouldn’t think much of it. But if I put this second picture up there, and say, “Now, find 11 differences in the two pictures.” I bet you look a little closer don’t you.
That’s the kind of inspection, reflection we are to give the mirror of God’s word. Not just a passing glance, but a probing. An examination. A thorough looking over. Here is the description of what we should look like, here is who we really are, what are the differences in the two pictures?
I know from my own experience, that is especially a challenge for seminarians and people in ministry. We do all kinds of reflecting and looking at God’s word. . .but for other purposes. To write a paper. To plumb some deep theological or historical depth. To prepare a sermon. We might even right off or count class study as our personal devotions. But what about reflecting on God’s Word for the purpose of looking into the mirror and allowing it to speak to who we are?
That is one of the reasons I read through the Bible every year. I get plenty of Bible study in my preparation to do my job, but there needs to be that separate part of my Bible reading. That personal time of reflection, and listening to what God would say to me. Reflecting in the mirror of God’s Word for my life.
A preacher and a soap manufacturer were walking down the street one day. As they walked they noticed how wrongly people were treating each other. The streets were filled with corruption. So the soap manufacturer looked at the preacher and said, “Preacher, that Bible you preach must not be any good, it’s not helping anyone. Look at all the filth and corruption.”
The preacher didn’t say anything, he just kept walking. After awhile they came up on some children that were dirty and nasty. It looked as though they hadn’t taken a bath in weeks. The preacher looked at the soap manufacturer and said, “That soap you make must not be any good. Look how filthy and dirty these children are.”
The soap manufacturer replied, “Soap doesn’t work unless you use it.”
“That’s right,” said the preacher. “Neither does the Bible.”
Hear this today. It doesn’t matter how many Bible verses you can quote from memory, in how many different versions, including the original language. It doesn’t matter how much Bible you know. Unless you are willing to personally reflect on what it means to your daily life, it will not benefit you at all. It does no good to be able to answer the questions of who wrote it, who they were writing it to, and what it meant for that audience. . .if you can’t answer the question, what does this mean for me? You have to be willing to reflect on God’s word as a mirror for your life.
Third, James says we need to. . .
C. RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
Verse 22 (read).
We are deceiving ourselves when we hear the word and we don’t apply the word to correct the problem. When we hear the word week after week but don’t allow the word to change us. Just gaining content will not make us spiritually mature. A test of maturity is not how much you know, but how you practice what you know. Did you hear that? A test of maturity is not how much you know, but how you practice what you know.
How many of you would allow a doctor to operate on you? What if he said, “Don’t worry I have read all the books on how to do this procedure.” You ask, “How many time have you practiced this procedure?” He answers you, “Oh this is the first time.” Maybe even adds, “But I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.” How comfortable are you going to feel with that doctor?
And yet, we all have to start somewhere. Don’t we?
Let James give us a couple good, practical places to start responding to God’s Word. First he says, if you want to respond to God’s word, and be a doer of the word. . .
1. Control Your Tongue
Verse 26 (read). One of the ways you can know if you are a doer of the word is you have self control over your words. We’ll explore further what James has to say about the tongue when we get to chapter 3.
A second way. . .
2. Care for Others
Verse 27 (read 27a). Help the helpless. Show some social concern, a caring heart.
Over the past month or so, I had the opportunity to attend two wonderful banquets. The first was the 20th anniversary of the AA Pregnancy Help Center here in Lexington. Birthed by four women and Pastor Wayne Smith at Southland Christian Church back in the mid-80s. This organization has done a phenomenal job of not just being opposed to abortion, but doing something to actually help those facing the possibility of abortion.
Then a couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the annual Salvation Army Recognition luncheon. I found myself moved to tears as we watched a slide show of changed lives. Hundreds of children who would have slept in a park or under a bridge were it not for the Salvation Army’s efforts in downtown Lexington.
James says, that’s pure and undefiled religion. Caring for the orphans, the widows. Those in trouble. I hope we can stretch ourselves beyond change in baby bottles and yard sales to consistently connect with a social ministry to those in need. That’s true religion.
One more. . .
3. Live Without Compromise
(read 27b)
Back to what we talked about last week, and are seeing a theme in this letter. Holiness. Changing our desires to those of God, avoiding those baits of temptation, and having victory over sin. That’s responding to the Word. Allowing it to change us. Living without compromise.
I hope when you pass by your Bible this week. When you see it on your nightstand, or your book shelf. You will ask yourself: Am I open to receiving the word? Have I spent some time reflecting in the mirror of God’s word? What has been my response this week to the life changing revelations of God’s word?
I said at the beginning three points, and a poem. So here is your poem –
The Gospel is written a chapter a day
By deeds that you do and by words that you say.
Men read what you say, whether faithless or true.
Say, what is the Gospel according to you?
Let’s pray.
