HEARING & DOING JAMES 1:19-27
May 25, 2015
HEARING & DOINGJAMES 1:19-27
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 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 1:19 - 21
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
JAMES 1:22 - 24
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
JAMES 1:25
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their 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.
JAMES 1:26 - 27
Christians are called to be attentive to God’s
Word, careful in speech, and obedient in showing mercy.
….that we might be a kind of firstfruits
of all he created.
V18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Be quick to hear, slow to
speak1
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 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 1:19 - 21
Even a fish wouldn’t get into trouble if
he kept his mouth shut.
QUICK
TO HEAR
SLOW TO
SPEAKHuman anger
does not produce the righteousness
God desires
Christianity…is founded on the blood of
Christ, who is a slain lamb. It is sealed by the Spirit of
Christ, who descended like a dove. Both are emblems of
meek humility. Should a meek religion be defended by our
anger? THOMAS MANTON
QUICK
TO HEAR
SLOW TO
SPEAK Listening to God is life-changing and
life-saving
More than a social virtue….
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you
are not of God.
JOHN 8:47
The nearer you are, the clearer
He is
REVELATION 1:10,12
“Write what you see in a book…” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me…
EXODUS 3:3-5
“I will turn aside to see this great sight…” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
2Be doers, not just hearers
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
JAMES 1:22 - 24
JAMES 1:23
If anyone is a hearer and a “not-doer”…. It is like
looking into a mirror and forgetting what you see.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom (law of liberty) , and continues in it (perseveres) —not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
JAMES 1:25
LAW OFLIBERTY
This is my commandment:
Love each other in the same way I have loved
you.JOHN 15:12
GALATIANS 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this
way you fulfil the law of Christ.
LAW OFLIBERTY
JAMES 1:25
Look intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom and continue in it (persevere)…
LAW OFLIBERTY
Be pure, be genuine3
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their 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.
JAMES 1:26-27
LUKE 11:41-44
Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?......For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herd gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes but do not neglect the more important things.
JEREMIAH 22:1-3
Listen to what the LORD had said: “I, the LORD, command you to do what is just and right. Protect the person who is being cheated from the one who is cheating him. Do not mistreat or oppress aliens, orphans, or widows; and do not kill innocent people in this holy place.”
Hear and ObeyPreach and
PracticeLove and Serve
•How can I hear God’s voice today?•Am I in danger of selective hearing?•Why is it difficult to practice what I preach?
DISCUSS