James 1 : 26-27 Sermon #11August 12, 2012
James 1:26-27(KJV)
26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Praise the Lord!
This is our 12th Sermon in James. I know it says 11 but sermon 5 was in 2 parts so if you do the math---- 12
I love the way James writes.
· He is an encourager of the Brethren---2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
· He is an instructor of the Brethren---4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
· He is a Spiritual leader of the Brethren---5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
· He is a guide to the brethren---6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,
· He is the stern deliverer of the fatal truth to all those who insist on deceiving themselves.--- 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Notice this all came in the first 7 verses of Chapter 1.
James continues with his instructions for the Brethren.
Of whom I pray we all are.
Remember what Paul wrote by the Spirit to Timothy.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
James cuts away all the wrapping and gets right to the meat.
I have many times pictured James feverishly writing out of love and compassion for his brethren, with all the urgency of reaching them before they stumble and fall.
Making a list of corrections that need to be immediately applied for health and well being.
Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth;
2 Corinthians 13:5
5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Paul exhorted the brethren to test themselves; James is giving us the test to take!
Hold yourselves up to the Word!
· Compare yourselves to the actions we are encouraged to take.
· Check to see if you fully understand the instructions.
· Ask of God for understanding and desire and commitment.
· Believe there is a better promise in true discipleship.
· And fear turning to the right or to the left of the path that James has laid out for the Brethren to follow.
26If anyone among you thinks he is religious,
And does not hold himself up to the pure and Holy teachings in the Word of God, he is deceiving himself.
· If anyone 6-----is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
· If anyone8--- is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
· 7--- let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
------
Oh-- how we have created a religious code of honor that does not allow brethren to direct, reproof or correct each other by the scriptures. Are we not our Brothers keeper?
Even Paul admonished Peter and the Brethren at Antioch.
Galatians 2:11-14--11But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Why are the guidelines written for us in the Holy Scriptures and yet we fail to apply them to ourselves, our children and our Church family?
Yes,--- If we truly love each other as Brothers and Sisters in Christ should we not want to help each other correct the hypocrisy that James is warning us against?
The word Hypocrite means---An actor, one who plays a part; one who feigns to be other or better than he is; a false pretender to virtue and piety; a sanctimonious fraud.
Oh-- how easy it is for each one of us to instantly draw your pointed fingers and begin naming names but I dare say not one finger would point at self and one’s own name would not be on your list.
And so you see you have immediately proven your hypocrisy for the Word of God says:
Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1
And
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5
Let me assure you James is still instructing all who will listen,
22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
So James is really telling us,
There is a hypocrite worse than one attempting to deceive
Others-- and that is a hypocrite attempting to deceive himself.
Telling yourself you are doing the best you can and then attaching God’s name to it is a self imposed and useless religion.
26b and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, No matter how well rehearsed or how well memorized without a love for Christ and the Word of God in your Heart you will deceive, no one; even oneself.
Luke 6:45
45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
For ----26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
This is to say ----put your religion where your mouth is!
Don’t tell me how Holy and Pious and Sanctimonious you are!
And please don’t try to convince yourselves of the same.
this one’s religion is useless.
You’re not fooling anyone especially God—who knows all things.
Your words and your actions must be the same in Christ!
What does the Bible say about our relationships with our wives and husbands?
What does it say about raising Godly and obedient children?
What does it say about Honoring your Father and Mother?
What does it say about Praise and Worship and Sacrifice to God?
What does it say about Faith in Jesus Christ?
What does it say about Walking in the Spirit?
What does it say about Religion?
22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
James has just revealed 2 of the most difficult things for a hypocrite to do.
Orphans and widows are the most needy and least able to pay or repay in any way for any kindness, provision or maintenance.
The Hypocrite may put on a show of concern and care but will not remain when no one is looking.
His heart has no love for anyone but himself.
and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
The world is ready to hurl its mud at you at every moment.
The wagging tongues are ready to defile the Bride of Christ, the Church, the Children of God even when they do nothing wrong.
We have seen what Satan’s children are capable of. We read it in the papers and hear on the news; Condemnation for following and adhering to the Word of God.
Yet the only thing that keeps us clean, the only thing that makes us walk through this world unspotted is Jesus Christ.
No matter what the world says against you, if you are doers of the word, and not hearers only, nothing will stick.
A hypocrite will deny Christ to avoid or dodge what is being thrown. He will soil himself to keep from being soiled by others.
Some will say—“I would never deny Christ” but
· Denying Christ is as simple as not being doers of the Word. All of the Word!
We bemoan Peter for denying Jesus 3 times before the Roosters Crow and yet we deny Him on a daily basis.
------Jesus is the Word. ------
John 1:1&14---1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
If you refuse to follow the word, you are denying Christ!
If you only follow parts of the word, you are denying Christ!
If you do not make Godly changes in your life, in your relationships and your family you are still denying Christ!
Please understand; if you are a follower of Jesus, you must be a follower of the Word. They are one in the same!
Even Peter was forgiven and restored to fellowship and service when he chose to confess his love and loyalty to Christ; the Living Word of God.
James wants us to understand that our mouths will even try to deceive our own hearts into a false relationship with Jesus Christ.
But our actions, our relationships, even our children will expose the truth no matter what we say,
to ourselves and to others!
26If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and proclaims his belief to others, but is not a doer of the word.
This one has denied Christ, his religion is useless, and he has deceived his own heart.
Let’s Pray;
Our most gracious Heavenly Father as we close this sermon today we thank you for your word that encourages, teaches, leads, guides and convicts those who read your word and desire to come closer to you. We ask Father that hypocrisy would fall away from the church. That we would be holy in your sight in word and deed. Open our eyes to the truth that we would fear denying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Guide us into a daily testing of ourselves, that (we) may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
In the Name of Jesus we Pray---AMEN!