Worldwide Outreach Teaching School

Gospel Lesson

www.WorldwideOTS.org

Title:   Growing Trust – Listening and Doing                              1-21-07

Scripture:  James 1:19-27

James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be

quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  21 Therefore, 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. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 1:25 But 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. 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion 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.

雅各書 1章19節　我親愛的弟兄們，這是你們所知道的。但你們各人要快快的聽，慢慢的說，慢慢的動怒，20　因為人的怒氣並不成就神的義。21　所以，你們要脫去一切的污穢和盈餘的邪惡，存溫柔的心領受那所栽種的道，就是能救你們靈魂的道。22　只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。23　因為聽道而不行道的，就像人對著鏡子看自己本來的面目，24　看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。25　惟有詳細察看那全備、使人自由之律法的，並且時常如此，這人既不是聽了就忘，乃是實在行出來，就在他所行的事上必然得福。26　若有人自以為虔誠，卻不勒住他的舌頭，反欺哄自己的心，這人的虔誠是虛的。27　在神我們的父面前，那清潔沒有玷污的虔誠，就是看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦，並且保守自己不沾染世俗。”

A.     Preface:

James was one of several brothers of Christ, (Matthew 13:55 & Galatians1:19) this James was an author of the letter of James and leader of the elders in the Jerusalem church. Paul called James a “pillar” of the church (Gal. 2:9).  James is called an apostle but was not one of the Twelve.

As leader of the Jerusalem church, James wrote as pastor to instruct and encourage his people in the face of their difficulties.  Its emphasis on vital Christianity, characterized by good deeds and a faith that works, (FAITH + A CONSISTENT LIFESTYLE)

B.     Commentary:

1.      James suggested us not talk too much and listen too little, I think if we talked more than listen you are not earning knowledge, also showing that you are more important than others. Therefore, it’s smart to follow verse 19, it saying, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

When someone hurts you, the best way is to cry out to the Lord, talk to God not to be angry, because anger doesn’t help you, but it hurts yourself.  “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (你們蒙了重生，不是由於能壞的種子，乃是由於不能壞的種子，是藉著神活潑常存的道。(1 Peter彼前 1:23).” 

2.      We, as Christians, have the future salvation which can save us that is the vital important value more than anything, it’s worthless to be angry or argue about.  ‘Therefore, 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.’(James 1:21)

3.      The best way is to act out, (living out) what we have learned from bible, the words of God.  So verse 22 of James saying, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James explained, ‘if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds, can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do (James 2:14-18).’

4.      I like Pastor Evan Chen’s illustrated the mirror.  It is for me to look at myself.  I am not supposed to take a mirror to look at the others, they may run away.  The biggest temptation facing us is that we did not look at the mirror often, so we forgot what we look like.  Like the scripture saying, “…after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”   We read the bible, follow the perfect law and continue to do right, not forgetting what we have heard, but doing it — we will be blessed in what we do. (1:25)

C.     Conclusions:

Pastor Chen concludes two kinds of trusts:

1.      I am listening God’s words but not doing His comments:  As Romans 7:18 saying, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. [Or my flesh] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” 因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我 (羅馬書7:18).

2.      I do what it says:  I am not forgetting what I have heard, but doing it, I will be blessed in what I do.

Final Thought: We must believe that God has His purpose for us.  We follow directions.  Then, we will have blessing.

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D.     Questions:

1.  Describes: “slow to become angry” to you? To others?

1.      What exactly is the ‘righteous life that God desires? (Vv,20,27)

2.      Think of one failed and one successful relationship you have.  What would change if verses 19 and 20 are applied with each regularly?

3.      What from God’s Word here will you put into action?

4.      Write your final thought or feedback: