James 1:18-21
Intro: Picture with me a man standing on a wooden platform, elevated so that a crowd of thousands of people could see and hear him. The crowd is chanting in unison, “Bring the book! Bring the book!” The man – Ezra; the place – Jerusalem; the date – 425 BC; the occasion – the completion of the rebuilding of the walls around the city; the purpose – to listen to the reading of God’s word. The people are crying out, pleading with Ezra to read from the word of God. The scroll is brought: Ezra opens it and reads. And he reads on and on, from the light of early morning until the heat of midday. Never such reading. Never such listening. It is as if they have never heard it before. As if it is a new book. As if what it had to say is of vital importance to their existence. It is a good thing to say, “Bring the Book!”
- This book is the very word of God.
- Just think, God wants to communicate with you! The Living God, the Creator of all things desires to reveal is mind to you.
- If that is the case, then this book is of great value to you and me. Are we listening?
- God is the most effective communicator in all the universe, and yet it is possible that his message doesn’t get through to us.
- 1:18, James tells us that the word has life-giving power. It is by God’s word that we are made new. Paul refers to this as a new creation. John refers to it as the new birth; born again; born from above. God’s word has the power to produce in us the glorious life of Christ.
- “Of his own will . . .” Think of that: it is God’s initiative to communicate with you and to share his will with you and give you his life. His desire is that you know and do his will.
- 1:19, if that’s the case, “Take note of this, my dear brothers & sisters . . .”
- Two important responses: “Listen!” (1:19-21) and “Obey!” (1:22-25).
- Main point of the passage: “We must clear the way to receive God’s word in our lives.”
- 1:19-21, emphasizes the importance of hearing and receiving God’s word.
- Since God’s word is so important to our life and maturity, James exhorts us to maintain 3 qualities in order to receive God’s word: 1. Sensitivity; 2. Submissiveness; 3. Set Apart.
1. Sensitivity to His Truth (1:19)
- If we are going to receive God’s word then we must “be quick to hear and slow to speak.”
- We must have an attitude of eagerness; a readiness to hear God’s voice.
- I remember those moments when I played organized basketball. It was a critical time in the game. A timeout was called, and we made our way back to the bench to listen to what the coach wanted us to do. Despite all the noise, the stress of the situation, the physical exhaustion I felt, I was focused on hearing the coach’s voice; understanding his plan for my life. I only spoke when I was asked to. My goal was to listen.
- We should be quick to hear what God has to say.
- Matthew 13:13, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Why do you speak in parables?” Couldn’t you just be a little bit more clear about what you are trying to say? Jesus answered by describing the tragic condition of some people’s lives: “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Some people are dull of hearing. They only hear what they want to hear. They are not sensitive to listen to what God has to say.
- That’s why Jesus pleaded with people repeatedly: “He who has ears, let him hear!”
- Jesus said the problem is more than an auditory deficiency, it is a heart problem; a spiritual issue.
- Matthew 13:15, “For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’”
- Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and listen and follow me.” (John 10:27)
- I have marvelled and grieved over the years at how individuals have been dull to the life-giving, liberating truth of God’s word simply because they are tuned into themselves.
- People find comfort in talking to themselves, repeating to themselves only what they want to hear; listening to the same faulty message about themselves and their world.
- James exhorts, “if you want to hear the truth, stop talking and listen; be sensitive to God’s voice!”
2. Submissiveness to His Purposes (1:19-20)
- “Slow to anger.”
- Aristotle said, “Anger is desire with grief.”
- Anger is the emotional response that we experience when our expectations are frustrated and blocked. It’s the result of not getting things my way. When my demands for life are unmet, I get angry.
- An example from the life of Jesus (Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus began to reveal to his disciples the purpose for his life: suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. Peter grabbed him and pulled him aside and rebuked him: “Never Lord! This shall never happen to you (or us)!” Peter was angry. “This isn’t what happens to good people. That’s not the way it’s supposed to turn out! This has nothing to do with the plans I have for you Lord.” He completely missed the part about the resurrection, the glorious end of the story!
- Jesus revealed the reason for his anger: “You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Jesus referred to Peter’s response as Satanic; in full opposition to the will of God.
- That’s sobering, isn’t it!? “Peter, you are so full of your own agenda and expectations and are resistant to the will of God. You are working for the enemy!”
- (vs.20) James reinforces this truth: “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
- You and I cannot live right by doing our own thing. It will only result in frustration and resentment. An angry heart is not fertile soil for righteousness to grow. The righteousness that James mentions here is conformity to the right ways of God. Jesus called it the “Kingdom of God.” The good and perfect rule of God in our lives. “Seek first the kingdom of God!”
- Is it possible that you can’t hear the word of God because you are holding your own agenda so tightly. Examine your responses to the people and circumstances of your life. Is there frustration, anger, and resentment? Your expectations have been denied and you’re angry with the person who has withheld what was so important to you.
- We need to cultivate a willingness to hold our personal expectations tentatively; the humility to acknowledge that life isn’t about us and our vision is limited when it comes to the future and God’s sovereign purposes in all things.
- We need to cultivate the Christ virtue of submissiveness. This is a virtue of the life that trusts in God: his ways are good and glorious. The same attitude that Jesus lived and died: “Not my will but yours be done!”
- Since he has done it, we too are raised to a life that is full of the righteousness and goodness of God’s perfect purposes.
- James exhorts us that if we desire to hear God’s word, we need to be sensitive to his truth and submissive to his purposes.
3. Set Apart from Sin (1:21)
- “Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness!” “Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent!”
- The Scriptures describe the ways of our world as filth, a pollution of that which is intended to be clean and pure. And this filthiness is rampant, prevailing, unchecked. Wickedness is pressing forward, but you, Child of Purity, stand apart from it, stand up against it, and You will hear the voice of God.
- James uses a vivid illustration here: “Receive with meekness the implanted word.” Our lives are like a garden. When left to itself, the soil will only produce weeds. When we ignore the voice of God, we are left to the relentless influence of the sin of this world. “Rampant wickedness” describes a garden that is overgrown with weeds. God comes to speak his word into the soil of our hearts, but it is overrun with sin.
- What must we do?
- Start pulling weeds! Confess sin. Agree with God about the filthiness of sin that has controlled your life. Repent! Forsake It! Turn your back on your sinful ways! Pull out of your life the ways of the world!
- Humbly accept God’s Word! Humility and meekness are the opposite of anger. It’s comes from the realization that my way is not THE way. It’s a desire to receive the Lord’s way; to say, “YES!” to God and accept his will, and do it.
- The result? The word of truth “is able to save your souls.”
- James is writing to Believers, those who are the followers of Christ and have staked their lives upon his saving grace. Those who are being saved from the destructive influence of sin and its filth. So, when he writes about our souls being saved, he referring to the redeeming effect of God’s word to make us like Jesus Christ, whole and complete; transformed into the likeness of Jesus. That is what God’s word is able to do for those who receive, trust and obey him.
- The question is: are you ready and willing to clear the way for God’s word in your life?
- Be encouraged, that is God working in your life: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13-14) “and so work out your salvation with fear and trembling!”
Are you sensitive to his truth?
Are you submissive to his purposes?
Are you set apart from sin? - Someone asked William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, the secret of his success for helping so many people. He remained silent for a few moments as he pondered the question. Finally, with tear-filled eyes, he said, “There have been men with greater brains or opportunities than I, but I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was.” You and I may never be a William Booth, but each of us can, in response to God’s grace and mercy in saving us, give him our all.