WEDNESDAY MESSAGE - James 1:19-27
INTRODUCTION: Throughout his epistle, James wants to show us what true faith looks like-in particular, how it is outwardly demonstrated in our lives. In tonight's study, 1:19-27, James will talk about his overall theme for his entire epistle: practical Christianity is mandated by the Word of God and is characterized by truly "hearing" it and purposefully obeying what it says. It's not enough to merely listen to God's Word and deceive ourselves (i.e., I've heard a lot of verses and read some of it, and that should make me right with God). He confronts with the hard questions: (1) What are the characteristics of a person who has real faith? (2) What is the evidence, the fruit?
Read James 1:19-20 - SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, AND SLOW TO ANGER
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
v. 19: " Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" - While James alludes to Jewish wisdom in this verse (Prov. 10:19), being "quick to hear and slow to speak" is a great piece of advice. In fact, people hunger for someone to listen to them. The famous TV psychologist, the late Dr. Joyce Brothers, once said, "Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery." If we truly want to influence people, we should carefully listen to them, and when they are finished, ask any questions needed to clarify our understanding. Then you can tell them where you are in agreement with them and where you might not agree. In any case, they will appreciate the fact that you listened to them and believe you want to understand them. Anger is more complicated: James isn't saying that all human anger is sinful, but a lack of self-control that brings a quick-tempered, thoughtless response will result in damage to relationships and hurt to others that usually makes the problem worse. Even if our anger is morally righteous, our speech should still be measured and controlled. The famous humorist, Will Rogers, said, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." Funny but true.
TRUTH 1: If we truly want to influence people-in either their faith or their Christian walk-we should carefully listen to them. So, we should carefully listen to them for starters, and when they are finished, ask any questions needed to clear up our understanding of what they said. Next, we can tell them the areas in which we agree with them, followed by the areas where we might not agree. Whatever your position is, they will still appreciate the fact that you "heard them out" and believe you are genuinely trying to understand them.
v. 20: "for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" - Even when our anger is directed at some kind of wrongdoing, if we speak angry words that only serve to produce antagonism and resentment, it certainly doesn't reflect the righteousness of god. We aren't God, and human anger expressed to others is a manifestation of the flesh.
TRUTH 2: Even if our anger is morally and biblically righteous, our speech should still be measured and controlled. In our secular human society, we Christians have a lot to be angry about. But even when our anger is directed toward some kind of wrongdoing and we allow ourselves to respond with angry words that just produce more antagonism and resentment, it certainly doesn't reflect the righteousness of god. We need to remember that we aren't God, and our human anger expressed to others is a manifestation of our flesh.
Read James 1:21-22 - BE DOERS OF THE WORD
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
v. 21: "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" - "Therefore" connects vv. 19-20, making intem-perate speech and anger a form of filthiness and wickedness. The word "put away" (Gk. apotithemi) means to renounce or disown something, a reasoned decision as apposed to a knee-jerk reaction. After that, the next step is to fill the void left by anger by receiving the implanted word with a humble attitude. James main point is that God's Word is not only the agent of our salvation-"save your souls"-but also the instrument of our sanctification, the outward evidence and the spiritual fruit.
v. 22: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" - A familiar and often quoted verse. Merely hearing God's Word is not enough. Even studying and comprehending large parts of the Bible-mere scholarship-is inadequate: it must be applied and practiced just as Jesus taught: "Blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11:28. Those who merely hear God's Word but fail to live it are deluding themselves. They imagine they have a solid relation-ship with God but their lifestyle doesn't show it. In the final judgment, they will have failed the test.
TRUTH 3: Merely hearing God's Word is not enough. Even studying and comprehending large parts of the Bible-mere scholarship-is inadequate: it must be applied and practiced just as Jesus taught. Those who merely hear God's Word but fail to live it are fooling themselves. They imagine they have a solid relationship with God but their lifestyle doesn't show it.
Read James 1:23-27 - BLESSINGS FOR DOERS OF THE WORD
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
vv. 23-24: "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. " - The term "natural face" (Gk. to prosopon tes geneseos autou) literally means his birth face, in this context, his reborn face as a follower of Jesus. This person starts his day looking at his face, depicting his identity as a child of God but then proceeds into the turmoil of daily life, gets caught up in the concerns of the world, and forgets his godly identity. In doing this, he is failing to live according to his new spiritual character-he isn't a doer of the Word because he isn't living it.
v. 25a: "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres" - This verse shows the other side of the coin: the person who (1) hears the Word, (2) remembers it, and (3) lives it out in his life. Although James wrote this letter to a largely Jewish audience, the "perfect law, the law of liberty," doesn't refer to Mosaic Law-keeping but OT Law as it has been interpreted and fulfilled in Christ. Keeping the Law was an impossible situation, but Christ set us free by subjecting us to the rule of grace rather than the rule of law. "Perseveres" (Gk. parameno) lit. means stays with it.
v. 25b: "being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing" - The word for "acts" (Gk. poietes) is the same for "works," and pictures the outward life of a person who acts in obedience to God's Word by performing good works-deeds that benefit others.
TRUTH 4: As doers of the Word, our obedience to God will evidenced by good works. A "doer" of the Word can be defined as: a person who (1) hears the Word, (2) remembers it, and (3) lives it out in his life. Good works may be defined as unselfish deeds that benefit others, and when we do this, we assured of God's blessings.
v. 26: If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" - The word for "religious" (Gk. thréskos) also mean devout. A bridle places a bit in a horse's mouth that guides the animal's entire body. So, a person who tries to appear as a devout Christian but can't keep his mouth under control is worthless, a fake. This isn't just the intemperate speech covered in vv. 19-20 but extends to gossip and slander. James doesn't use the word hypocrite, but it comes to mind. A hypocrite is a pretender, a person who appears to be someone other than he or she really is.
TRUTH 5: A person who claims to be a devout Christian but can't keep his mouth under control is a fake. This isn't just the hot-tempered speech discussed in vv. 19-20 but extends to gossip and slander. I like the old saying: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything. Prov. 20:19 [NIV] says, "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much."
v. 27a: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction" - We Baptists usually avoid the term "religion," which is simply defined as a belief system. James is saying that our devotion and loyalty to God is evidenced by good works for people who are unable to provide for themselves. Widows and orphans are good examples, but many others today are also in need. This is what Christ expects from us-compassion for others. v. 27b: "and to keep oneself unstained from the world" - The word for "unstained" (Gk. aspilos) means without blemish or spot, which pertains to our moral conduct. Since Christ was without blemish or spot, we are called to walk in His moral footsteps. But at the same time, we live in a world that's opposed to God and often under demonic influences-a world that tempts us to think thoughts and performs acts that threaten to undo us and separate us from God. While God loves this world and sent his Son to save it (Jn. 3:16), the world won't be fully redeemed until Christ comes again. Meanwhile, we need to resist the pull of the world toward those things that would dishonor us and compromise out witness for Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: LORD GOD, our Father and Creator of all things seen and unseen, we come before You this evening with humble and grateful hearts, thanking You and praising You for Your love, mercy, and undeserved grace toward us. We thank and praise You for the countless blessings you give to us each day of our lives, but we thank You most of all that You loved us enough to send Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross so that we may be forgiven of our sins and spend eternity in heaven with You. We also thank You giving us the Bible as a guide for the way we should live our lives on a day-to-day basis. It contains all the answers that we will ever need. I pray, Dear God, that the people here tonight will be being strengthened and encouraged by hearing the power and truth of your World...that we will heed what James says about being doers of the Word and not just people who hear it and go on as usual. This can be challenging, Lord, to battle against all the worldly influences and distractions that bombard us every day. So I ask, Dear Lord, for myself and anyone here, that You will use Your Spirit and power to guide and encourage each one of us to be a people who not only hear Your Word but remember it and strive daily to live it out in our lives so that we will be effective witnesses for You and Your kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray these things, AMEN.
WEDNESDAY MESSAGE - James 1:19-27
Read James 1:19-20 - SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, AND SLOW TO ANGER
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
TRUTH 1: If we truly want to influence people-in either their faith or their Christian walk-we should carefully __________ to them. So, we should carefully listen to them for starters, and when they are finished, ask any questions needed to clear up our understanding of what they said. Next, we can tell them the areas in which we agree with them, followed by the areas where we might not agree. Whatever your position is, they will still appreciate the fact that you "heard them out" and believe you are genuinely trying to understand them.
TRUTH 2: Even if our anger is morally and biblically righteous, our speech should still be _____________ and ______________. In our secular human society, we Christians have a lot to be angry about. But even when our anger is directed toward some kind of wrongdoing and we allow ourselves to respond with angry words that just produce more antagonism and resentment, it certainly doesn't reflect the righteousness of god. We need to remember that we aren't God, and our human anger expressed to others is a manifestation of our flesh.
Read James 1:21-22 - BE DOERS OF THE WORD
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
TRUTH 3: Merely hearing God's Word is not ___________. Even studying and comprehending large parts of the Bible-mere scholarship-is inadequate: it must be applied and practiced just as Jesus taught. Those who merely hear God's Word but fail to live it are fooling themselves. They imagine they have a solid relationship with God but their lifestyle doesn't show it.
Read James 1:23-27 - BLESSINGS FOR DOERS OF THE WORD
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
TRUTH 4: As doers of the Word, our obedience to God will evidenced by ________ ________. A "doer" of the Word can be defined as: a person who (1) hears the Word, (2) remembers it, and (3) lives it out in his life. Good works may be defined as unselfish deeds that benefit others, and when we do this, we assured of God's blessings.
TRUTH 5: A person who claims to be a devout Christian but can't keep his mouth under control is a __________. This isn't just the hot-tempered speech discussed in vv. 19-20 but extends to gossip and slander. I like the old saying: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything. Prov. 20:19 [NIV] says, "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much."
