Text: James 1:19-27Text: James 1:19-27

= Uniqueness of Christianity:= Uniqueness of Christianity: Hebrews 3:7-8 - So, as the Hebrews 3:7-8 - So, as the

Holy Spirit saysHoly Spirit says: : “Today, if “Today, if you hear his voice,you hear his voice, do not do not harden your hearts.harden your hearts.

1Cor 12:1-2 - Now about the 1Cor 12:1-2 - Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were somehow or other you were influenced and influenced and led astray to led astray to mute idols.mute idols.

Topic: Accept the words Topic: Accept the words planted in youplanted in you

= Christians in Progress: = Christians in Progress: James 1:19-20 - My dear James 1:19-20 - My dear

brothers and sisters, take note brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be of this: Everyone should be quick to quick to listenlisten, slow to , slow to speakspeak and slow to and slow to become angrybecome angry, , for man’s anger does not for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life bring about the righteous life that God desires.that God desires.

James 1:21James 1:21 - Therefore, get - Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and evil that is so prevalent and humbly humbly acceptaccept the word the word planted in you, which can planted in you, which can save you.save you.

Rev. 1:3 - Blessed is the one Rev. 1:3 - Blessed is the one who who readsreads the words of this the words of this prophecy, and blessed are prophecy, and blessed are those who those who hearhear it and it and take to take to heartheart what is written in it. what is written in it.

Rev. 1:3 - God blesses the one Rev. 1:3 - God blesses the one who who readsreads the words of this the words of this prophecy to the church, and he prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who blesses all who listenlisten to its to its message and message and obeyobey what it what it says. NLT.says. NLT.

James 1:21bJames 1:21b - H - Humbly umbly acceptaccept the word planted in the word planted in you, which can save you.you, which can save you.

How Can We Live with the How Can We Live with the Words of God in this Words of God in this

world? world?

1. Deal with 1. Deal with DeceptionDeception in in LifeLife

Vs. 22 - Do not merely listen Vs. 22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it saysyourselves. Do what it says

= How does ‘Merely Listening = How does ‘Merely Listening to the Word’ Become an to the Word’ Become an Act of Deceiving Oneself? Act of Deceiving Oneself?

Vs. 22 - Do not merely listen to Vs. 22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so the word, and so deceive deceive yourselves.yourselves. Do what it says Do what it says (But be doers of the word, and (But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. NKV)yourselves. NKV)

(1) Receiving God’s Words is (1) Receiving God’s Words is to be followed by to be followed by DoingDoing. .

2Cor 11:3 - But I am afraid 2Cor 11:3 - But I am afraid that that just as Eve wasjust as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s deceived by the serpent’s cunning,cunning, your minds may your minds may somehow be led astray from somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.devotion to Christ.

(2) Disobedient Christians are (2) Disobedient Christians are All in certain kind of All in certain kind of DeceptionDeception..

2Cor 11:3 - But I am afraid 2Cor 11:3 - But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow minds may somehow be be led led astrayastray from your sincere and from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.pure devotion to Christ.

= How does the Deception = How does the Deception Work in the Life of Work in the Life of Christians? Christians?

James 1:13-14 - When tempted, James 1:13-14 - When tempted, no one should say, “God is no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, tempted when, by his own by his own evil evil desiredesire,, he is dragged away and he is dragged away and enticed.enticed.

Vs. 21 - Therefore, get rid of Vs. 21 - Therefore, get rid of all all moral filth and the evilmoral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and that is so prevalent and humbly accept humbly accept the word the word planted in youplanted in you, which can , which can save you.save you.

= How Can We Handle the = How Can We Handle the issue of Deception in life? issue of Deception in life?

Vs. 22 - Do not Vs. 22 - Do not merely merely listenlisten to the word, and to the word, and so so deceivedeceive yourselves. Do what yourselves. Do what it saysit says

John 14:23-24 - Jesus replied, John 14:23-24 - Jesus replied, “If anyone “If anyone lovesloves me me, he will , he will obeyobey my teaching.my teaching. My Father My Father will love him, and we will come will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with to him and make our home with him. him. He who He who does not love medoes not love me will will not obey not obey my teachingmy teaching.. These words you hear are not These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. Father who sent me.

1Cor. 13:71Cor. 13:7 - Love never - Love never gives gives up,up, never never loses faithloses faith, is , is always always hopefulhopeful, and , and endures endures throughthrough every circumstance. every circumstance.

2. Deal with 2. Deal with ForgettingForgetting in in LifeLife

Vs. 23-24 - Anyone who listens to Vs. 23-24 - Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, … goes away face in a mirror and, … goes away and and immediately forgetsimmediately forgets what he what he looks like.looks like.

= What are the Problem of = What are the Problem of the Hearers (not Doers) of the Hearers (not Doers) of the words of God?the words of God?

Vs 23 - Anyone who listens to Vs 23 - Anyone who listens to the word but the word but does not do what it does not do what it sayssays is like a man who is like a man who looks at looks at his face in a mirrorhis face in a mirror and, after and, after looking at himself, goes away looking at himself, goes away and and immediately forgets what immediately forgets what he looks like.he looks like.

(1) They Know their Look in a (1) They Know their Look in a MirrorMirror

Vs 23 - Anyone who listens to Vs 23 - Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what the word but does not do what it says is like it says is like a man who looks a man who looks at his face in a at his face in a mirrormirror

(2) They Don’t Know their (2) They Don’t Know their Look in Look in Life.Life.

Vs 24 - after looking at Vs 24 - after looking at himself, goes away and himself, goes away and immediately immediately forgetsforgets what he what he looks like.looks like.

(3) They are Spiritual (3) They are Spiritual BlindsBlinds to to themselves in Life.themselves in Life.

Mt. 23:1-3 - Then Jesus said to Mt. 23:1-3 - Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be seat. So you must be careful to careful to do everything they tell youdo everything they tell you. But . But do not do what they do,do not do what they do, for they for they do not practice what they do not practice what they preach.preach.

Mt. 23:13,16 - “Woe to you, Mt. 23:13,16 - “Woe to you, teachers of the law and teachers of the law and Pharisees, you Pharisees, you hypocrites!”hypocrites!” “Woe to you, “Woe to you, blindblind guides!” guides!”

= How Does the Words of = How Does the Words of God Lead Us to Beautify God Lead Us to Beautify Us? Us?

1Timothy 1:9-10 - And I want 1Timothy 1:9-10 - And I want women to be modest in their women to be modest in their appearance. They should appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate wear decent and appropriate clothing and clothing and notnot draw draw attention to themselves attention to themselves byby

the waythe way they fix their hair or they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For expensive clothes. For women who claim to be women who claim to be devoted to God should devoted to God should make make themselves attractive themselves attractive by the by the good things good things they do.they do. NLT NLT

3. Deal with 3. Deal with DoingDoing in Life in Life

Vs. 25 - But the man who looks Vs. 25 - But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he do this, not forgetting what he has heard, has heard, but doing itbut doing it

= How is Doing Different = How is Doing Different from Deceiving and from Deceiving and Forgetting? Forgetting?

(1) Carefulness(1) Carefulness Vs. 25 - But the man who Vs. 25 - But the man who

looks looks intentlyintently into the into the perfect lawperfect law that gives that gives freedom, and continues to do freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he will be blessed in what he does.does.

(2) (2) ContinuityContinuity Vs. 25 - But the man who Vs. 25 - But the man who

looks intently into the perfect looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and law that gives freedom, and continuescontinues to do this to do this, not , not forgetting what he has heard, forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.blessed in what he does.

(3) Contemplation(3) Contemplation Vs. 25 - But the man who Vs. 25 - But the man who

looks intently into the perfect looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, continues to do this, not not forgettingforgetting what he has what he has heard,heard, but doing it—he will be but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.blessed in what he does.

(4) (4) CompletionCompletion Vs. 25 - But the man who Vs. 25 - But the man who

looks intently into the perfect looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, forgetting what he has heard, but but doingdoing it—he will be it—he will be blessed in what he does.blessed in what he does.

= How Can We Make = How Can We Make Christianity Acceptable to Christianity Acceptable to God as Pure and God as Pure and Faultless? Faultless?

(1) Care for Your (1) Care for Your TongueTongue. . Vs. 26 - If anyone considers Vs. 26 - If anyone considers

himself religious and yet does himself religious and yet does not not keep a tight rein on his keep a tight rein on his tongue,tongue, he deceives himself he deceives himself and and his religion is worthless.his religion is worthless.

Mt. 12:36-37 - But I tell you Mt. 12:36-37 - But I tell you that men will have to give that men will have to give account on the day of account on the day of judgment for judgment for every careless every careless wordword they have spoken they have spoken. For . For by your by your wordswords you will be you will be acquitted, and acquitted, and by your by your wordswords you will be condemned.”you will be condemned.”

Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but out of your mouths, but only only what is helpful for what is helpful for building building others upothers up according to their according to their needs, that needs, that it may it may benefitbenefit those who listen.those who listen.

(2) Care for the (2) Care for the NeedyNeedyVs. 27 - Religion that God our Vs. 27 - Religion that God our

Father accepts as pure and Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to faultless is this: to look after look after orphans and widowsorphans and widows in their in their distressdistress and to keep oneself and to keep oneself from being polluted by the from being polluted by the world. world.

(3) Care for (3) Care for YourselfYourselfVs. 27 - Religion that God our Vs. 27 - Religion that God our

Father accepts as pure and Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their orphans and widows in their distressdistress and to and to keep oneselfkeep oneself from being polluted by the from being polluted by the world.world.

Eph 5:1-2 – Be imitators of Eph 5:1-2 – Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly God, therefore, as dearly loved children and loved children and live a life live a life of love,of love, just as just as ChristChrist loved loved us and us and gave himself up for us gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. sacrifice to God.

Ps 40:6-8Ps 40:6-8 - You take no delight - You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. in sacrifices or offerings. Now Now that you have made me listen, that you have made me listen, I I finally understandfinally understand— you don’t — you don’t require burnt offerings or sin require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, “Look, I offerings. Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: me in the Scriptures: I take joy I take joy in doing your will, my God,in doing your will, my God, for  for your instructions are written on your instructions are written on my heart.” NLT.my heart.” NLT.

How Can We Live with the How Can We Live with the Words of God in this world? Words of God in this world?

Deal WithDeal With DeceptionDeception in life in life ForgettingForgetting in life. in life. DoingDoing in life. in life.