Series: Momma Says… (James)[#4]
YOU CAN TALK THE TALK BUT CAN YOU WALK THE WALK?
James 1:19-25
Introduction:
[For this sermon, don’t comb your hair, make sure your clothes don’t match, etc…]
Talk is cheap. It is easy to tell people things; but to prove it, that is a different story. Christianity is the same way. You can tell everyone how spiritual you are, but to prove it is different. Momma says…, “You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk”?
In order to walk the walk you must…
Watch Your Mouth
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…” (James 1:19).
There is a reason we have 2 ears and 1 mouth. We ought to listen twice as much as we talk.
If you are always talking and never listening:
1. You may miss out on God’s direction. God speaks to us in many ways and one of those is through other believers.
2. You may miss out on the facts and say things that you wished you would not have said.
3. You may miss out on growing as a believer. We help one another grow; but people don’t like “know it alls” and will stop talking to you.
In order to walk the walk you must…
Watch Your Temper
“…and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19b-20).
Notice how not listening can lead to anger. If you are one of those that “blows up” easily, you need to think before you react.
When you get mad and throw a fit:
1. You may hurt your walk with God.
2. You may hurt other’s walk with God.
3. You may keep others from having a walk with God.
In order to walk the walk you must…
Watch Your Step
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (James 1:21).
Some of you may be struggling with being able to walk the walk because you are always falling down. If you don’t watch your step you will walk into things or fall down.
To watch your step:
1. You must get rid of all moral filth and evil.
2. You must stop imitating the world.
3. You must accept the Word of God which has been planted in you. The Word can save you. It’s up to you.
In order to walk the walk you must…
Watch Your Back
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).
I don’t know if you noticed a few things about my attire and appearance today; but it seems that I forgot to look in the mirror. Guess what? I went into the Men’s Room before Worship Service and looked into the mirror and then came on into service without making any changes. Now does that make sense? Of course not, but neither does listening to the Word of God and then not making the necessary changes in your life.
To watch your back:
1. You need to remember what you have heard today. This is God’s Word! If you are not going to use it to improve your walk with the Master, then why bother?
2. You need to remember what the Holy Spirit has burdened you with during this sermon. Don’t leave here burdened today and forget it by the time you get into your car.
3. You need to remember that you will be blessed by God when you are obedient to His Word. Don’t you want to please the Father?
Conclusion:
You can talk about your walk with God all day long; but what God blesses is your obedient walk not your big talk. The question is, “Are you going to remember how God has spoken to you through this message today? And are you going to remember your commitment to the necessary changes in your life?
