Sploxa Series - Doing Faith! [partthree]

Today, our wonderful Pastor Keely concluded and finished off her outstanding mini series on James 1. After the past 2 weeks, we have finally gotten to the last 8 verses of the chapter. James 1:19-21. Here's what I got from the sermon.

¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹Therefore, 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.

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But 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.

²⁶If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion 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.
james1:19-27

Like last week, we split up the section into 3 separate parts. Verses 19-21, 22-25, and 26-27. Throughout the sermon we cut it down and broke it down and applied it to our own lives. Here's how it went, and what I learnt.

James 1:19-21
- (19) James first, grabs the attention of the group, signaling that it is an important message and that they/YOU need to pay attention.
- the main point he starts with is that we must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. When we talk too much, we cannot listen.
- when we read the scripture, LISTEN, don't speak, LISTEN. Also, be slow to anger or frustrations so you can take in what God wants you to learn.
- we need to learn to approach the scripture with a humble and clean heart.
- the more anger, the more talking, the less listening.
- (20) if we do not obey these commands, it will bring a life God doesn't desire.
- (21) therefore we should get rid of all of our sinful nature and accept his Word that will save us.
- we must learn to SUBMIT ourselves to the word.
- submissions = willingness of the heart, respect.
- so, submit to the word of God out of RESPECT.

James 1:22-25
- (22) "Do what it says". We must not just LISTEN to the word, but ACT upon it.
- we as Christians are RESPONSIBLE to act on the Word of God. Put what you profess into practice.
- (23) Analogy: mirror - to study yourself, and get to know yourself. bible - to study God and learn about God.
- (24) We cannot simply just look away and COMPLETELY forget about it.
- (25) a TRUE christian; remains faithful, true to what you've listened to, not a double-minded person and constantly "looks in the mirror".
- in verse 25, the "perfect law" refers to the law of Moses.
- the law of Moses is the will for our lives, it gives us freedom but is impossible to achieve. So how does it work?

LAW - if we keep it, we can have a relationship with God, but it was impossible. God knew, so...
JESUS CHRIST - he sent his son to SAVE us from the law.
REACTION - out of LOVE, we choose to keep those laws because we love and respect our God.
understandable?

James 1:26-27
- (26) we must keep a rein on our tongue. We cannot have unrighteousness and righteousness come out of the same mouth.
- allow fruitful things, encouragement, and holy things to come out of your mouth.
- (27) religious things (ex. missions) should be done out of LOVE.
- motivated by LOVE.
- we should achieve genuine faith so we can avoid pollution from the world into us.

Conclusion of James 1

1. It isnt enough to just LISTEN, ACT upon it. What separates you from non-believers?
2. It isnt just enough to ACT, our HEART must be in the right place. We should act out of LOVE.
3. What fuels your faith? Motivation of LOVE and GOD.

SUB it,
Smij Nahc † [do it out of LOVE.]
God Bless You ♥