Faith and Action
Golden Text: Be ye doers of the word, and not hears only, deceiving
                      your own selves.--- James 1:22
Date: September 14, 2003
Text: James 1:22-27; 2:8-9, 14-17; 5:13-16

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like
unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his
tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
James 1:27 Pure 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 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are
convinced of the law as transgressors.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,
and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and
filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to
the
body; what doth it profit?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him
sing psalms.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth
much.

Introduction:

      In our lesson for today, James is teaching the church that faith and
works can't be separated. James says that if we have faith, we must have
actions
that support and demonstrate our confession of faith. There is an old saying
that says, "actions speak louder than words", therefore no matter how much
or how loud we profess that we have faith, our actions must prove that we
have faith. We must be a living epistle that others can read about our faith
by watching our actions or works in the service of the Lord. James says,
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith
without
thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works", (Jam 2:18).

      Our lesson comes from three portions of scripture, James chapters 1, 2
and 5. These three portions of scripture also speak to how we prove that we
have faith, how we serve our neighbors in love and how we share our faith
with the sick. The way a man treats his neighbor is one of the best ways to
measure
the quality of that man's faith. A man with little faith will do little for
his neighbor but a man with great faith will do great things for his
neighbor.
A man that has great faith will give a starving man his last morsel of food
that he needs for the nourishment of his own body. He is able to do this
because
he has faith in God and knows that God will provide for his every need.

      James is encouraging us not to allow our faith to become a lazy faith.
A saint with lazy faith has no motivation to serve and is just satisfied
with
attending church. He is not interested in becoming a part of God's living
church that serves with compassion both God and man. Paul wrote concerning
our
service to one another, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty;
only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one
another",
(Gal 5:13).


Verse by Verse Exposition

Faith in Action. (James 1:22-27; 2:8-9, 14-17; 5:13-16)

Watch My Faith in Action. (James 1:22-27)
The Golden Text. (James 1:22)

Verses 22-24

      "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves", (vs. 22). Most of us have been guilty of just hearing peoples'
words
when they talk to us. The old folks use to warn us by saying, "boy don't let
my words go in one ear and out the other", meaning that you better listen
to what I am saying and learn something from it. James is saying the same
thing, church don't just hear the gospel but listen to what the gospel is
saying
and allow the gospel to have an effect upon your behavior. Spiritually seek
to understand what the gospel is saying and receive it gladly.

      "A doer of the word" is a believer who loves God with all of his
heart, mind, soul and strength. The doer of the word doesn't doubt the word
of God
but has all faith in the word of God. The doer of the word will follow peace
with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. The doer
of the word is obedient to the word and dedicates his life to the service of
the Lord and to the carrying of the gospel.

      "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a
man beholding his natural face in a glass", (vs. 23)---"For he beholdeth
himself,
and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was",
(vs. 24). James teaches that a man who hears the gospel and takes no action
because
of what he heard is a man in error. He has based his salvation upon the bare
profession of his Christian faith. Therefore, he pays no mind to the gospel
which tells him what he must do and how he looks. He is like a man that
looks in the gospel mirror and sees a reflection of his true self. This man
after
seeing his face, after seeing the blotches and pimples, after seeing the gap
in his teeth and his big nose he puts the mirror down. He saw all of his
imperfections
in the gospel mirror but paid them no mind and went merrily along his way.
The gospel mirror shows every man the error of his ways and there are many
who
turn the gospel mirror over, lays it down and goes merrily along their way
as if they have no blemishes or imperfections that need clearing up.

Verses 25-27

      "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall
be blessed in his deed", (vs. 25). Those of us who now make up the church
have heard and looked into the gospel have found that its words of promise
are
true. We have been saved by the power of the gospel and have come to know
Jesus Christ as our savior. We stand fast in this gospel and can't be moved
away
from it by the false teachings of Satan. We know that in Christ, " we live,
and move, and have our being".

      We have not been forgetful hearers but we have become doers of God's
word. We have allowed the word of God to change us by rebirth of the Holy
Ghost.
We have been made new creatures in Christ and the old things of life have
passed away and we are now new creatures in Christ. We have not forgotten
what
we use to be but are forever thankful to God for the change he has made in
us. We are now doers of God's word which enables us to do his work of
carrying
the gospel to all men. We are laborers with Christ and we are blessed by
this work of love.

      "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his
tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain", (vs. 26).
When
men take more effort to look and to sound religious these men have a
religion is vain, that has no blood of our righteous Savior. They can't
control their
tongues and are always ready to tell of the faults and short comings of
others; this is a sign that their religion is vain. Men with a slandering
tongue
don't have a humble and gracious heart. True religion teaches us to do
everything as in the presence of the Lord. These men are full of self
deceit, therefore
they are deceiving their own hearts and their religion is vain, meaning
their religion produces no profit or produces nothing for God's kingdom.

      "Pure 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", (vs. 27). James now describes to us what pure and undefiled
religion is.
True and undefiled religion leads us to do everything as though we were in
the company of the Lord, true religion requires us to be unspotted by the
world,
true religion tells us that our love for others be unfeigned and charitable.
True religion causes us to work by love and faith which purifies the heart,
subdues our carnal lust and obeys the commands of God.

Beware of Favoritism. (James 2:8-9)

Verses 8-9

      "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well", (vs. 8). James is quoting a part
of
Lev 19:18 which says, "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against
the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I
am
the LORD". The latter part of this verse is known as the royal law or
sovereign law of God because it is the highest law that governs our
relationship
with each other and it is binding. This law means that our goal is to meet
the physical health and spiritual well-being of our neighbors with the same
intensity as we do for ourselves. If all men would follow this law and not
deviated from it, most of the problems we have in this world and with each
other
would be solved. It would solve the problem of war, I wouldn't shoot my self
or drop a bomb on my self therefore I wouldn't do these things to you who
are my neighbors.

      Bush wants to spend 87 billon dollars on his various war efforts in
the middle east, can you imagine what 87 billion dollars would do for our
educational
systems. Our old raggedy schools could be torn down and rebuilt and every
child could be guaranteed a college education. All of the war effort money
being
spent in Europe, Asia, Africa and other place could then be used for free
medical care, etc, etc. Although something like this will never come about
world
wide in this church age, but we must love our neighbors as we love our self
on an individual and personal basis.

      "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced
of the law as transgressors", (vs. 9). James talks to his readers about
having
respect of person or showing favoritism because they were guilty of this
sin. The showing of favor for one individual above another makes a person a
violator
of the law. The law says, "Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye
shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the
face
of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you,
bring it unto me, and I will hear it", (Deut 1:17).

      A man who has respect of persons is accused of sin by the law and it
convicts them of it. The law pronounces a verdict of guilty, it curses them
and
passes a sentence of condemnation and death upon them. Therefore, we are
warned not to commit this sin and fall under its convictions by the law.

Faith Without Works Is Dead. (James 2:14-17)

Verses 14-17

      "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? can faith save him", (vs. 14)? The important phrase in this
verse is "though a man say he hath faith" helps us to interpret it. James
isn't saying that the man has faith but that the man claims he has faith.
This
man continually lacks any external evidence of the faith he claims to have
because he doesn't have "works". He demonstrates no "works" of righteousness
that conforms to God's word. Mainly he demonstrates no works of compassion.
Therefore, his claimed faith which is a false illusion can't save him. A
saving
faith results in good works.

      "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food", (vs.
15)--"And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and
filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body;
what doth it profit", (vs. 16)? When we know that a fellow believer is
without
food and clothing and fail to provide those necessities to him, we have no
compassion and our lack of effort to provide the things this man needs
offends
God. Instead we share with that person beautiful words of charity and no one
profits. The brother and sister are still hungry and naked and we have
broken
the supreme law of God "thou shall love thy neighbor, as thy self". When
this is done, Paul tells us what we have become, "Though I speak with the
tongues
of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass,
or a tinkling cymbal.

      "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone", (vs. 17).
We must demonstrate that we have faith by doing works that provides service
to God and to man. If a man doesn't have works his faith is dead.

Faith Meets Specific Needs. (James 5:13-16)

Verses 13-16

      "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing
psalms", (vs. 13). In James' day a majority of the believers were poor and
afflicted
but today a majority of believers earn a sufficient income to provide their
basic needs. However, we are still afflicted with many disease and James
tells
us what has to be done to bring a cure. First let him pray to God in the
name of Jesus. Sickness will bring a man closer to God when he knows that
there
is no other help for him. We can bring our sicknesses before the throne of
God and lay them at his feet. Jesus said on one occasion, "cast all of your
cares upon me because I care for you".

      Then James asked, is any merry? Which meaning, are there any believers
that don't have iniquity in their heart and spirit and have a good frame of
mind and doubt not the power of God. Then James says, let him sing psalms,
meaning let him be inwardly joyful and express his joy outwardly by singing
songs of praise unto God. This is also a warning to us; we should not go
into the company of the sick to pray for them if we are troubled in our
heart
and mind. Negative feelings hinder prayer.

      "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord",
(vs.
14). Sickness is another condition where prayer is needed and concerning
such prayer James gives us detailed instructions. The bodies of the
believers
are constantly afflicted with a variety of sicknesses. James says, the sick
person should call for the elders of the church to pray for them.

      The elders are the leaders of the church who shepherd or assist in
shepherding the church. They are men of long and good standing in the
church. They
must be sound in their faith and are confident that their prayers are heard
by God. Then they must pray over the sick anointing them with oil ( a
medicine
in biblical times) for the recovery of their health. Prayer is the more
important of the two ministries performed by elders. Anointing with oil is a
secondary
action. However, the power in the prayer and the anointing comes in the name
of Jesus who gives the elder his authority and power.

      "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him", (vs.
15).
James now gives the assurance to the sick that the prayer of the righteous
will raise him up from his sick bed and make him well. If persistent sin was
what caused him to be sick and God was using the sickness as a means of
discipline, God would forgive the sin. But remember that not all sickness is
caused
by sin. That's why James says, "if he have committed sin".

      "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much
",
(vs. 16). There is a saying "that confession is good for the soul" this
verse sets the parameters or limits of our confession of faults or sins.
When we
have offended one another, in order to clear the slate, James tells us to
confess the sins that we have committed against one another. As example,
lying
and carrying gossip is a sin against our brother, we are instructed to come
before our brother and confess to him what we did against him.

      After this has been done the process of healing the wound can take
place by forgiveness and praying one for the another. The one who was
offended
must pray for strength to forgive and forget the offense done against him.
He must also pray for the strength of his brother not to commit that offence
again. The one who did the offending must pray to God for his forgiveness
and promise not to offend his brother anymore. Then he must pray for his
brother
to receive strength to forgive him.

      God heareth not a sinners prayer, therefore you can't let just anyone
pray for you because God only hears the prayers of the man who has been
justified
by Christ and has received the righteousness of Christ. This man has
authority with God and his prayers will cause the blessing of God to flow
upon his
people.

Conclusions:

1. We demonstrate our faith by our works in the service of God and our
neighbors.
2. An unrighteous man can be identified by his unbridled tongue.
3. We demonstrate pure religion by visiting the fatherless and widows in
their
    affliction.
4. If we loved our neighbors as we love ourself the world would be a more
pleasant.
5. We must not show favoritism.
6. Words of charity don't help a naked and starving man.
7. We must been in a good frame of mind when we go to pray for others.
8. Sin can cause sickness.
9. It is the prayer of faith that raise the sick
10. We must confess our faults before those we offended and pray for each
other.


To get out of a hard situation,
try a soft answer.
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.
YBIC, Thomas And YSIC, Linda.
twilliamson2@...
pofm@...