What Do You See? Volume 1
What is stopping you from obeying God?
I was recently blessed to have the opportunity to preach at Life Point Church in Washington, PA and I am fortunate to call Life Point Church my home. Not just because I believe the Word is being preached there, but because when I told Pastor Aaron McGuire that I felt God had given me something for Life Point, he opened his pulpit for me to present what I felt God was saying.
What I preached to Life Point was definitely for those people there, but it’s also something for all believers throughout the body of Christ who seek to do the will of God. And just as I brought the word of God to Life Point, I bring the word of God to you…
What I bring to you today, is a word of encouragement. I want to inspire you with courage, spirit, and hope; I want to attempt to persuade, or urge, you into good works; I want to spur you on, or stimulate you; and I want to give you help, or foster you into becoming who God has called you to be. But, what I bring to you today will step on toes.
There will be those who will read this who will feel encouraged because they see themselves growing spiritually and maturing. But, to those who are not growing, what I will say will make you feel uncomfortable. If you find yourself offended by my words here, please know and understand this: I don’t speak my own words, but rather from the scriptures, the written word of God. This word of God is the same word which revealed salvation to you while you were still a sinner, it’s the same word of God that brings life and hope to millions of people around the world, and it’s the same word of God all Christians claim to follow and obey.
Paul exhorts us in his epistle to the Thessalonians:
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
The writer of Hebrews goes further:
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. — Hebrews 10:19-25
As these passages show us, we are to encourage each other and build each other up as we see the day of our Lord’s return drawing near. God has not destined us for wrath, but to salvation. So let us hold fast, without wavering, our confession and stir one another up to love and good works. With this purpose I write to you today.
I want to encourage my fellow brothers and sisters to hold fast their confession because whether Christ returns or we die before He comes, the Day of the Lord is coming.
At the time of this writing, I am 37-years-old and according to the average lifespan I am only a year or two away from the halfway point in my life. The question I ask myself is: What have I done in my life to reach those who need to be reached? How have I passed on what I know to be true about God? I feel an urgency now, more than ever, to share with people what they NEED to hear. But, what they need to hear and what they want to hear are two different things.
As I get into my main point, I want you to be honest with yourself and answer these questions:
What did your pastor preach last week?
What did you do in response to what was preached?
Our main text today, is James 1:16-27. Now, the book of James is, basically, a how-to guide for believers. The entire letter consists of a series of self-tests by which you can measure the genuineness of your faith.
James begins with the test of trials and follows it up with the test of temptation. The third test is how you respond to the Word of God. How a believer responds to trials, how you respond to temptation, and how you respond to the Word of God are all indicators that measure your faith.
The book of James is very similar to what we experience when we go to the doctor for a check-up. When you go in for a check-up, the doctor will generally check your weight, your blood pressure, they’ll pull out the stethoscope and listen to your heart and lungs… and they do this to get a general understanding of the overall state of your health. The book of James, and its series of tests, shows us, as believers, the general state of the overall health of our faith.
It is well established throughout scripture that the mark, the identifying marker, of someone who actually follows Christ hears the Word of God and produces fruit. The word James uses for the “Word” of God is the “Logos” of God. The Logos in Greek refers to something spoken or thought; it’s the entire communication process. Jesus, Himself, in John 1 is referred to as the Logos. So, when I say “hears the Word of God and produces fruit,” I am not referring only to the hearing of scripture, although scripture is certainly included. I am referring to someone who hears, listens, to and for God in all of His forms of communication. And, a believer’s response to the Word of God is critical to their walk with Him.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. — James 1:16-18
We are saved and born again by the Logos Word of God so we are obligated to continue in that which saved us. Peter tells us we have been born again, not of seed which is perishing but imperishable, by the word of God. We already know the word is alive and sharper than any two-edged sword.
The word is the beginning of our salvation experience and becomes the focal point of the rest of our spiritual walk. The word of God brings about the new birth and continues to feed the believer as they grow and mature. Our new man is dependent on the Word of Truth, and just like children and vegetables, we may not always like what we are being fed, but if we continue to have a need to fill ourselves with the word, that is evidence of a new birth. If someone claims to be a Christian but has no true desire or hunger for the word, there is no evidence of a new birth.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. — James 1:19-21
James makes two critical points so you can measure the genuineness of your salvation.
You can know they health of your faith by your reception of the word.
You can further know the health of your faith by your reaction to the word.
James tells us to “receive the word with meekness.” What does that mean?
In Mark 4, Jesus tells a story about a sower going out into a field and casting seed. Some of the seed falls on hard ground and nothing is grown. Some of the seed falls on stony ground and, though the seed grows up immediately, no fruit is produced and the seed dies. Some of the seed falls on ground with weeds and what is grown gets choked out by the weeds. Finally, some of the seed falls on good ground and the ground produces thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold.
Later on, in the passage, Jesus clearly tells us the seed is the word and the grounds are different types of people. In that parable, the seed (the word) is the same; how the grounds (people) received the word is different. So, the key to that parable, and the keyword in James is “Receive.”
The Greek word “Receive” in James is: Dechomai, which means “to receive by deliberate and ready reception of what is offered.”
How you receive the word determines what you get out of the word. Those who come to hear the word who are not deliberately ready to receive what is offered will not receive what God intends for them to receive.
The word you hear is like a radio station, but if you don’t deliberately, intentionally, turn to the right station you cannot receive the transmission.
The sign of healthy, living faith is manifested by your desire to receive the word properly and obey it. If you receive the word properly, your faith is real and alive and you have a connection with the living God. Through that connection there is a flow of life-sustaining love and power, and through that connection you are empowered to respond to the word of God. Your response and reception keeps that connection with God alive. At the same time, we also need to cultivate that relationship. No one has ever planted a garden and expected to consistently grow food by planting seed and walking away.
A right response to the word involves three things: Submission, Purity, and Humility.
Receiving the Word with Submission
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then… — James 1:18-19
Because you know the miraculous power the word has to save you, change you, and transform you into a new creation (the second birth); let it (the word) continue to work in your life.
We surrendered ourselves to the word for salvation, but if we want to continue to grow and mature we must continue to surrender, submit, to the word.
This brings to mind one of the most beloved and quoted scriptures of Christians today:
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; — Philippians 1:6
God is faithful, the word is faithful to complete that which it started but you must submit yourselves, and continually submit yourselves, to the process.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. — James 1:19
If we were to take this verse out of context, we might be led to believe James is giving general wisdom on how to be a good listener. But, if you follow James’ thought, we see he is saying that because the word of truth saved us, be quick to hear more of it.
The word “quick” in Greek means to be prompt or ready to hear it.
In Mark 4, the good ground was the ready ground. All the other grounds were too hard, to rocky, or had too many thorns; but, the good ground had been prepared to receive the seed.
The word “hear” in Greek means to give audience to. The idea is to learn by hearing as if by listening to a teacher. Be quick every time you have the opportunity to give audience to the word of God.
That means every time you can sit in a seat and hear the word of God preached, you’re there. Every time you have the opportunity to study, not just read, but study the word of God, you’re there.
True gospel-preaching churches do not open their doors on Sunday mornings because the pastors love to hear themselves speak. They open their doors so we have the opportunity to give audience to the word of God.
How spoiled are we in the United States, with the freedoms we have to gather and hear the word of God preached, the freedom to read the Bible without restrictions when so many men, women, and children are murdered around the world for doing what we can so easily take for granted?
I challenge you to look at your response to the word. How quick are you to hear the word preached? Is it something you truly hunger for; or is it something you endure? Are you sitting in a seat soaking in what is being spoken, or are you sitting there checking your watch wondering if the pastor is going to get done on time so you can get your good deed out of the way and get to what you actually want to do?
Show me a life that has no desire at all to hear the word of God and I’ll show you a person who shows no evidence of true salvation.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. — James 1:19
James not only says to be quick to hear, but he adds that we should be slow to speak. And since we are following his train of thought, we know he’s talking about in our reception of the word, we should be slow to speak. In our reception, just as quick as we are to hear, we should be just as slow to preach.
But why would James say that?
James is warning us that, unless we are prepared for the responsibility of speaking on behalf of God and His word, we should be slow to preach. People who are quick to speak, or pushed into a position to preach the word of God will be accountable not only for what they say, when measured up against their own life, but accountable for what they lead others to believe.
You do not have to be perfect to preach the word, but if your lifestyle does not math what you preach, you will close the hearts and minds of those you are preaching to because they will see and know they life you live when you’re not preaching. The slowness to preach or speak does not spring forth from the attitude of not wanting to be held accountable but from a desire not to misrepresent the word of God.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. — James 1:19
The final thing added by James here, is: “slow to wrath.” This word “wrath” in the Greek means a deep-seated resentment. It’s not a sudden outburst. This is the type of anger and resentment that boils and brews on the inside of you.
When the word of truth is presented, especially when it challenges someone to change, people can sometimes resent the word of God and become hostile to it because it convicts them of their lifestyle.
for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. — James 1:20
The purpose of preaching is to produce the righteousness of God in the people of God. The purpose of preaching the word of God is to make you right with God. The word of God cannot produce the righteousness of God within you if you are angry and resentful toward it.
Someone who is truly saved by the word of God desires to hear the word of God at every opportunity, speaks the word when prepared to, and is never hostile, resentful, or rebellious against it or the one who preaches it.
Receiving the Word with Purity
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. — James 1:21
Wickedness will stop the Word of God from producing righteousness in your heart and life. Before the word can grow to maturity, you must lay aside all filthiness and the overflow —that word in Greek is “perisseia”—the residue or remains of wickedness left over after your conversion.
When you come to Christ, you come just as you are. You come to Him in filthy, ratty clothes but, He accepts you just as you are. And, just as Paul says in Ephesians, you take off the old man and put on the new man, you must take off the old dirty clothes, lay them aside, and put on new fresh clothes.
Before you can receive with meekness the implanted word, you must first lay aside the thing that is stopping you from receiving it.
Jesus says in Mark 4:24:
…“Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides. — Mark 4:24 (Amplified)
The more you lay off, the more word you will receive. The more word you receive, the more ability you will have to respond. The more you respond, the more you lay off, a continuous repeating cycle.
Receive the Word with Meekness
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. — James 1:21
Be humble when you hear the word, come humble knowing that you come to learn something. Come with a teachable spirit, no resentment, no anger, and no pride.
I really like the way James words this instruction here. He says receive with meekness the implanted word. The word was already planted at salvation. It’s already there. It’s rooted in your heart, it’s the lifeblood of your new life, but the power and effect the word has is dependent on your willingness to do something with it.
Why should you hear? Why should you receive with meekness? Because by allowing that implanted word to grow and mature, it is able to save your soul.
Another powerful point here is James says “is able to save.” James doesn’t say it “saved” your soul.
I know what you’re thinking. “But if I received the seed at salvation, don’t I already have salvation?” Well, yes, in one sense. You received salvation but you haven’t received all that salvation entails yet.
When you put your faith in Christ, He implants you with the word and you are saved from the penalty of sin. The implanted word, at the point of salvation, continues to show its power to save you from the power of sin. You are no longer a slave to sin. And the implanted word will save you in the future when Christ removes you from this reality where sin exists.
This is how we receive the word of God correctly. We are to receive with submission, purity, and humility. And, from that foundation of receiving correctly, we are to do something about it.
What Do You See, Volume II will go into how we are to respond, but for now, let me leave you with some questions:
Are you receiving properly when you come to hear?
Is the deepest desire of your heart to hear the word and do something with it?
Or, do you hear the word to check off a weekly to-do-list?