WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.980 After a couple week break from the book of James, we're back to our verse by verse exposition. 00:00:05.780 --> 00:00:11.620 And today's text is James chapter one verses 19 through 21. 00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:14.560 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.359 The first 18 verses of James in this way. 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:37.780 I think the kids have more energy for fussing than less. 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:40.519 This is what Zach said of the first 18 verses. 00:00:40.519 --> 00:00:48.600 What James is saying then is that the trials themselves are good because they are from God who is good. 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:54.480 And these trials produce in us good, which is for our good. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:59.760 And then he added, that is a pretty decent summary of James one, one through 18. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.819 I asked Zach for a summary this week and he actually copied and pasted it out of his notes. 00:01:05.819 --> 00:01:10.500 And included in his notes was, that is a pretty decent summary of James. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:12.359 I agree. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:21.740 That is a good summary of the first 18 verses of the book of James, which brings us to verse 19, 20, and 21. 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:27.420 Before I read it, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:30.579 It's written for his glory and our good. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:37.599 And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:01:37.960 --> 00:01:40.960 James 1, 19 and following. 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:44.540 Know this, my beloved brothers. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:51.040 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:56.340 For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:01:57.440 --> 00:02:08.420 Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:18.339 Now, it would seem at first appearance that James is beginning already to kind of shotgun commands out together. 00:02:19.119 --> 00:02:29.319 Perhaps you've already looked at verse 19 and 20 and seen the relationship between the two of them and then wondered how verse 21 connects to the rest of it. 00:02:29.399 --> 00:02:33.679 I hope this morning to show you this as we study it together. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:38.080 Our outline for our study of today's text will be as follows. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:40.360 I will repeat these for your note taking. 00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:46.599 Number one, James teaches us how to receive the word. 00:02:47.580 --> 00:02:52.580 Number two, James gives us a reason to receive the word. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:58.020 Number three, James commands us to receive the word. 00:02:58.200 --> 00:03:00.780 So how a reason and a command. 00:03:00.780 --> 00:03:08.560 So first, James teaches us how to receive the word. 00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:13.819 I believe that James is making this very specific point. 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:24.020 It has some broader implication and we'll talk briefly about that broader implication, but a very specific point because of the final verse of the previous section of this letter. 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:40.020 He says in verse 18 of his own will, God of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:41.300 Right. 00:03:41.540 --> 00:03:43.040 He brought us forth. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:50.639 This Greek phrase can also be used of giving birth, a child being brought forth from the wound. 00:03:50.739 --> 00:03:58.259 But we know that James isn't talking about the first birth in this case because we see the means by which we're brought forth. 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:00.620 He's talking about the second birth. 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:01.060 Right. 00:04:01.139 --> 00:04:12.099 Us becoming Christians, being born again because the means by which is by the word of truth of his own will. 00:04:12.179 --> 00:04:15.979 He brought us forth by the word of truth. 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:16.500 Right. 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:19.800 We are utterly lost in our sin. 00:04:20.219 --> 00:04:22.039 We are enemies of God. 00:04:22.039 --> 00:04:30.819 And it is by the word of Christ employed by the spirit of Christ speaking into our hearts that we are made new. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:37.439 We are made capable of believing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:37.860 Right. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:39.860 This is the doctrine of regeneration. 00:04:40.579 --> 00:04:40.719 Right. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:47.300 We are made alive spiritually speaking once dead now alive. 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:58.960 We have categorically shifted, not changed simply in degree, not made a little better, but made entirely different than who we once were. 00:04:59.580 --> 00:05:04.780 So it's in that context that he then moves on to verse 19. 00:05:04.880 --> 00:05:08.300 It would seem like such a random transition, but it's not at all. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:14.180 All he says in verse 19, know this, my beloved brothers. 00:05:14.400 --> 00:05:14.500 Right. 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:19.680 So he is addressing those within the church, those that he can call brothers. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:25.400 And even more than that, those who are called beloved. 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:28.960 You hear me use this title for you. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:29.280 Right. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:33.060 As I'm addressing Christians in our fellowship together. 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:36.040 And I do this because I want you to know that I love you. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:40.800 I often say this before I say difficult things you may catch. 00:05:41.340 --> 00:05:48.560 But more than that, I say it because I want you to be reminded that God loves you in Christ. 00:05:48.700 --> 00:05:50.600 God loves you. 00:05:51.140 --> 00:05:53.460 This word is very significant. 00:05:53.459 --> 00:05:57.180 We see a record in Matthew chapter three in verse 17. 00:05:57.180 --> 00:06:12.579 After Jesus is baptized, the spirit descends on him like a dove and a voice from heaven says, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. 00:06:12.579 --> 00:06:20.560 This title given to Christ beloved is transferred to us when we believe in Jesus. 00:06:20.740 --> 00:06:20.899 Right. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:24.419 His righteousness is given to us. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:28.360 His penalty for our sin is taken by him. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:30.579 We are called beloved. 00:06:31.339 --> 00:06:32.399 James does this here. 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:35.539 Many of the other biblical writers do it as well. 00:06:35.540 --> 00:06:43.000 It's why I use the phrase because I want you to be reminded that God loves you immensely in Christ. 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:43.300 Right. 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:45.540 So this is who he's talking to. 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:50.140 Know this, my beloved brothers. 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:59.920 Now, according to Robert Gundry, who's a contemporary New Testament Greek scholar, the beginning of verse 19 could also be translated. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:09.580 And in fact, in the Greek, it more specifically is translated, be knowledgeable, my beloved brothers. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:15.040 Now, all of our English translations have some weaknesses at some point. 00:07:15.080 --> 00:07:20.040 And I have a massive amount of respect for the people who have labored to put together these translations for us. 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:24.720 I always want to be so careful that I don't sound like I know best because I don't. 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:25.920 I am not a Bible translator. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:29.120 I'm very weak in Greek. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.480 However, Robert Gundry is not. 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:34.259 And I really like his work that he does here. 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:47.639 Be knowledgeable, my beloved brothers, which I think is appropriate for the flow of where we came from in verse 18 and on into the rest of the verse. 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:55.459 It might help us understand the reasoning that James is following as he's about to say some very specific things. 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:59.139 The specific point that James is making is this. 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:08.620 If you are to be knowledgeable, you will need to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. 00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:18.120 I believe that what James is doing is giving them instruction as to how to gather around the word. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:24.939 You remember when he writes this letter, they have the Old Testament scriptures, which would have been open to them on the Lord's day. 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:30.519 These believers would not have had copies themselves the way we have copies in such abundance of the scripture. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:39.639 They would have come together each week and had somebody open to them, the scrolls open to them, the scripture and give explanation of it. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:48.819 Things like this letter, right, that have now been canonized would have been brought to them for them to hear the instruction of the word. 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:55.620 And there must have been some measure of chaos in the meetings of these Jewish Christians. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:59.680 And James means to correct that chaos for their good. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:07.660 James, in the entirety of his letter, is very concerned about the words that these Christians were speaking. 00:09:08.260 --> 00:09:10.020 This letter would have been read in its entirety. 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:13.600 And I know that we tend to piecemeal it off, and I think it's worth the attention that we give it. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:22.540 But I would say to you, make the practice when we're studying a book of the scripture to read through it on the regular and sort of pick up these themes, right? 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.360 James really is thoughtful. 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:29.639 He's really thinking about and helping correct the way that they speak. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:35.659 He seems to really understand what Jesus said, which is recorded for us in Luke chapter 6 and verse 45. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:40.240 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:44.480 And the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil. 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:49.980 For out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:55.620 Look with me just briefly beyond verse 19 at the rest of our letter, right? 00:09:55.659 --> 00:10:01.159 We're instructed to be quick to hear and slow to speak and slow to anger. 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:03.159 But look at some other places in the text. 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:04.120 You may flip with me. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:04.840 It's okay. 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.680 I'll try to keep you with me. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:18.579 If not, verse 26 of chapter 1, if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 00:10:19.819 --> 00:10:25.239 In chapter 3, beginning in verse 2 and following, I'll read a number of verses here. 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:55.220 He says, 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:58.840 For the tongue is set ablaze by such a small fire. 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:02.740 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:10.919 The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life and set on fire by hell. 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:16.480 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:19.799 But no human being can tame the tongue. 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:23.120 It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:27.940 With it we bless our Lord and Father and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:31.039 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:35.019 My brothers, these things ought not be so. 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:36.460 Strong words. 00:11:36.560 --> 00:11:39.060 Something is happening in the life of this fellowship, right? 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:47.679 These are some really intense words that he is using to bring correction to the way these Christians are using their tongue. 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:50.959 Down in verse 14 of chapter 3, he says, 00:11:51.119 --> 00:11:54.179 Do not boast and be false to the truth. 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:56.419 In chapter 4, in verse 11, he says, 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:59.799 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:02.919 And then in verse 13 through 15, he says, 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.839 Come now, you who say. 00:12:04.939 --> 00:12:07.879 And he talks about people who make boastful claims about the future. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:09.279 And then in verse 15, he says, 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:14.179 Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. 00:12:14.839 --> 00:12:17.620 In chapter 5, in verse 9, he says, 00:12:17.699 --> 00:12:20.459 Do not grumble against one another, brothers. 00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:21.639 And then in verse 12, 00:12:21.780 --> 00:12:29.040 My brothers, do not swear, but let your yes be yes and your no be no. 00:12:29.900 --> 00:12:31.320 So he has a lot to say. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:37.660 He's being very mindful of how it is that we speak to one another. 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:42.160 So he gives three progressive instructions. 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:45.420 They build upon one another. 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:46.340 He says, 00:12:46.780 --> 00:12:49.600 First, let every person be quick. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:51.080 To hear. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:56.700 You can think more good listeners. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:01.879 And beloved, we have become very poor listeners. 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:07.759 There are few of us that really take in anything substantive on a regular basis 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:12.879 and take the time to really understand it and apply it. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:18.200 And this should not be so with us and God's word. 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:23.720 There's a lot of stuff in this world that you have all of the Lord's permission to ignore, 00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:27.100 but not God's word. 00:13:27.520 --> 00:13:32.720 God's word is the very sustenance for those who have believed in Christ. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:37.879 Why have we become such poor listeners? 00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:40.460 Just a couple of thoughts of mine. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.500 One, I think that we are so busy. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.779 We are just busy. 00:13:44.920 --> 00:13:48.420 We have filled up so much of our time. 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:49.860 And some of this is unavoidable. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:51.560 Just a lot of it's expected of us. 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:53.360 We have a lot going on. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:59.240 And very few of us have nighttime hours where nothing can be accomplished but sitting by the fire. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:03.259 We have things to do all the time. 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:08.259 But perhaps we don't need to be quite as busy as we are. 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:16.460 Maybe there are some things in our life that we could do away with that feel so necessary but really aren't. 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:21.700 I think that we are on information overload. 00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:26.100 There is so much information coming our way so often. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:30.340 And I don't know about you, but I feel the pressure to know it all. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:36.960 I feel like I ought to be able to pick up every single thing that's coming my way and process it and know it. 00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:39.440 And it is utterly impossible. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.280 I am finite. 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:43.060 I have a limited amount of hours in the day. 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:47.279 I have limited brain capacity if this surprises you. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:15:01.099 I just have only so much bandwidth in my day to know things, to process information, to even read all of the reading that is out there that can be done. 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:08.539 Another reason I think we've become such poor listeners is that our world is full of dumb entertainment. 00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:12.939 Just absolutely stupid things to consume. 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:18.179 And there are times that it's okay for our brains to disconnect and for us just to relax. 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:21.619 But I cannot believe the proliferation of reality TV. 00:15:21.859 --> 00:15:26.679 That is the evidence that our culture is just getting stupider and stupider. 00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:32.519 We take in stuff that is just so unfruitful. 00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:37.919 And if you watch shows these days, they cut scene to scene to scene to scene to scene to scene. 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:42.079 You can't watch a conversation in a TV show, right? 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:48.639 Like the plot thickening place you need to be in a TV show without it cutting scene, scene, scene, scene, scene, scene, scene. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:54.519 Like a single camera just hardly exists anymore with a couple of people standing around having a conversation. 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.100 Why? 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:58.539 Because we can't pay attention. 00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:04.699 Creators of these shows know to keep people engaged in what these people are saying. 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:08.179 They have to cut the scene, cut the scene, cut the scene, cut the scene. 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:14.899 And so as we watch and consume such dumb entertainment, we are becoming dumber. 00:16:15.239 --> 00:16:18.579 We're becoming poor listeners. 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.500 So what can we do about this? 00:16:21.719 --> 00:16:24.099 Some things we can affect and change. 00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:26.059 Some things we can't. 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.599 There's a couple of ideas for you. 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:32.339 Number one, we need to discipline ourselves to read God's word. 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:37.740 It needs to become a habit in our lives that we take it up and we read it, right? 00:16:37.780 --> 00:16:40.300 We make the effort to read it. 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:47.600 And I think that we're often driven by our emotions and we read God's word and we don't feel the thing we wanted to feel when we read God's word. 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:51.060 And so we tend to not do it, right? 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:55.259 We don't get the gains that we were hoping for when we opened it up, right? 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:59.360 Discipline yourself to open his word and to read it, right? 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:01.220 To think deeply about it. 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:06.759 I can promise you that you will get better at this if you will discipline yourself to do it. 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:12.360 Secondly, make time for meditation. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.700 It's one thing to read God's word. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:16.539 It's another thing to think upon it, right? 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.799 To really have it sink down deep within you, right? 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:25.059 To take the time to think about what it means and what it means for you. 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:29.660 The application for your life in that day and the days to come. 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:32.519 To really consider it. 00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:37.820 You will not meditate well if your phone is in your pocket. 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.120 At least I don't meditate well. 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:42.120 Did you know that we can walk away from our phones? 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:47.019 Young people, I lived in a day where our house had a phone. 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.539 There was the phone. 00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:50.619 It was a phone. 00:17:50.979 --> 00:17:52.979 And now everybody has their phone. 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:56.559 People don't need to get a hold of you on their whim. 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:59.359 It is okay for you to turn your phone off. 00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:00.859 It's okay to walk away from it. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.879 There's this great thing called do not disturb. 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:05.619 You can shut your phone up. 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:14.199 If you find yourself when you're opening up God's word impulsively having to pick up something and look at something, you need to discipline yourself away from this. 00:18:15.179 --> 00:18:19.019 Watch how technology is affecting your soul. 00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:24.500 Is it beginning to control you or are you using it as a tool for the glory of God? 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.619 So make time. 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:28.500 Carve out space for meditation. 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:35.759 Third, read the word and listen to sermons prayerfully. 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:39.779 Ask God to help you as you do this. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.140 Lord, help me be attentive. 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.880 I am finite. 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:46.339 I am easily distracted. 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:49.259 Technology is rewiring my brain. 00:18:49.259 --> 00:19:03.160 Lord, help me as I open up your word to take it in carefully, to be shaped by it as I listen to a sermon, to be undistracted, to pay careful attention to what is being said. 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:07.119 And I believe that the Lord will faithfully answer that prayer. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:11.220 Similarly, prepare for the Lord's day. 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:18.839 Take some time as you gather with God's people to prepare yourself to come and to gather with God's people. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:25.180 We quite by design start our members gathering at 10 o'clock. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:29.259 And we start the public gathering of our church at 11 o'clock. 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:34.420 You've got hours on Sunday morning to prepare yourself to come together. 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.140 But I get it. 00:19:36.620 --> 00:19:39.339 Our household can be in a flurry on Sunday morning. 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:47.039 Perhaps it's a great work of the devil that everything that can go wrong seems to go wrong on Sunday morning. 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:56.259 When all of our three boys were little, little, they inevitably would wake up way earlier than we wanted them to every day of the week. 00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:58.740 You'd want them to sleep until a certain time. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.839 You'd want them to give you quiet time in the morning and they would wake up. 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:04.179 Except for Sunday. 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:09.259 Sunday seemed to be the day that they wanted to sleep and sleep and sleep and sleep. 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:12.059 And when you disturbed them, they would wake up grumpy, right? 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:18.119 Something seems to happen on Sunday morning as we're coming to do this very, very important thing to do. 00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:21.059 And we can't prevent every diaper blowout. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:27.159 But we can prepare ourselves the day before better than we typically do. 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:32.700 We ought not stay up late on Saturday nights. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.540 Stay up late on Friday. 00:20:35.040 --> 00:20:39.960 Prepare yourself on Saturday to come together with God's people. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.600 You will be less distracted. 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:47.759 You'll pay more careful attention if you are less tired on Sunday morning. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:50.800 You'll be less likely to fall asleep. 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:56.299 Think about what you need to bring when you come together with God's people and the word is open to you. 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:58.220 Maybe you benefit from note taking. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.839 Perhaps you don't. 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:04.220 I'd suggest to you that you would all be better listeners if you listened with a pen in your hand. 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:12.779 To do a better job through thinking about what's being said and writing down things that need to be thought about later on. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:14.759 You can do very practical things. 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:18.339 Prepare yourself to be quick to hear. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:25.519 And lastly, just quickly, think about limiting your exposure to visual and to print media. 00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:29.700 These things are changing the way we think. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.680 Be quick to hear. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:35.160 Become a good listener. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:39.660 Second, in this progressive instructions, right? 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:46.200 If we're going to be good listeners, we're going to tend to be slow to speak. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:52.980 We're going to take things in and we're going to process things and we're not going to respond quite as quickly. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:57.320 These early gatherings of the church were not very structured. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:07.300 And it would seem that the teaching of the word would be regularly interrupted by those being slow to hear and quick to speak. 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.460 I think that James is correcting that here. 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:12.660 Our times together are more structured. 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:19.759 And I doubt that any of you would feel the liberty to interrupt a sermon, to ask a question or make a rebuttal. 00:22:19.840 --> 00:22:21.840 I would encourage you not to do that. 00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:30.900 But I would like to encourage you to quiet your inner dialogue. 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:34.200 You tend to talk to yourself as you're listening. 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:46.759 I cannot count the times that I've had someone ask me a clarifying question, come up and say, hey, you said this, but did you mean when I offered the clarification during the sermon? 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:52.299 When I would make a statement and the next thing I would say is, I am not saying this. 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.940 Or I am clarifying it right then. 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.660 But the brain gets stuck. 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:58.539 They hear a sentence and they go, wait, could that be fully true? 00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:05.319 And they didn't stop and listen, really listen to the clarifying points that are being made. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:08.599 None of us are going to do this perfectly, so please ask clarifying questions. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:17.299 But it's the thing that we ought to work at doing, slowing down our inner dialogue, really listening to what is being said. 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:23.700 The contemporary pastor Kent Hughes in his commentary on James cites a rabbinical saying. 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.359 I really like this. 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:33.480 This is the reason why we have two ears and only one mouth, that we may hear more and speak less. 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:38.079 The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction. 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:45.460 But the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth to hedge it in and keep it within proper bounds. 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:51.980 So, be quick to hear and be slow to speak. 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:55.440 And then he adds to that, be slow to anger. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:58.500 Now, remember, I think that these things are progressive. 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:06.759 If you are a good hearer and a careful speaker, you're going to tend to also be slow to anger. 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:15.299 It is probable that what was taking place in these churches is one man would listen carefully to what was being taught and would interpret the teaching. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:19.839 And then another would become angry at the interrupt the teaching and the other become angry at the interruption. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.440 And then another would get angry. 00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:24.859 Pride would begin to reign in their fellowship instead of humility. 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:28.000 And soon, no one would be profiting from the word. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.940 Or perhaps you sat in a Bible study that goes that way. 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:35.319 Like one guy trying to outclass the other guy with his knowledge of the word. 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:42.440 And it typically becomes very unhelpful as pride takes over in that fellowship. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:47.259 An angry spirit is never a teachable spirit. 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:49.039 It's a proud spirit. 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:57.559 It says, I know what the truth is rather than taking, listening, being slow to respond. 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:07.899 Solomon writes in Proverbs 29 and verse 11, a fool gives full vent to a spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:15.460 And in Proverbs 16 and verse 32, whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty. 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:20.480 And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:23.440 We want to be wise people. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:28.900 We want to be mighty people by being slow to anger. 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:33.700 Now, I previously stated that I believe that James is making this very specific point. 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:37.480 But the implication is broader and we shouldn't lose it this morning. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:43.539 We ought to always be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger as we gather with the church. 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:49.759 But we also ought to always be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger in general. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:26:05.700 Oh, what trouble this world would be spared if we would all just slow down a bit, really seek to understand another's position and respond kindly with carefully articulated truth. 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:12.680 James would be appalled by the behavior of Christians on social media in our day. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:17.779 I think he would say, I wrote a letter about this. 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:27.019 I am grateful that he is fully enthralled with the glory of Christ and is spared knowing just how vitriolic we have become. 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:32.779 I think he is enraptured right now with the glories of Christ and doesn't care what's going on here. 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:36.619 But I think our Lord and Savior cares very much. 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.279 And so should we. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:45.940 Beloved, it should not be so amongst us that we would not be careful in the way that we speak to one another. 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:52.279 And I want to make a further application specifically for husbands. 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:57.100 Peter writes in 1 Peter chapter 3 in verse 7. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:02.860 Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:08.420 You could also read that as according to knowledge. 00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:19.220 Showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel since they are heirs with you of the grace of life so that your prayers may not be hindered. 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:26.220 Listen to James chapter 1 in verse 19 with Robert Gundry's translation of the opening phrase. 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:30.279 Be knowledgeable, my beloved brothers. 00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:36.779 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:45.680 Husbands, we have very little, if ever, any space for becoming angry with our wives. 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:50.460 Our wives are precious vessels. 00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:53.059 They're given to us as a gift. 00:27:54.059 --> 00:28:02.259 How dare we be slow to hear and quick to speak and become angry with our wives? 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:04.519 I am guilty of this. 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:07.299 Many of you have known me a long time. 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:10.099 And I have been at times an angry person. 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:14.819 Typically a brooding, slow, kind of simmering anger. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:20.680 But at times it would boil out and it would always boil out on my wife. 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.299 It was wrong. 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:25.640 It was unkind toward her for me to do so. 00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:35.380 I went to a counseling conference where a guy said very boldly, and this will be a really bad example of being a good listener because I was a bad listener in this moment. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:42.180 But he said very boldly, if you show me what worries you or what makes you angry, I'll show you your idols. 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.880 He just said it matter-of-factly. 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:46.540 So in my mind I went, oh, I've got to see if that's true or not. 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:56.879 So I took the time in that counseling conference, while he said, I'm sure, a bunch of wonderful things following that, but I listed out things that make me angry. 00:28:57.059 --> 00:29:01.460 And prior to that, a man had also said that we tend to use disguising words for anger. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:07.159 So I was writing out things that made me angry or frustrated me and really thinking about it. 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:09.399 Lord, is this idolatry in my life? 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:12.960 Is there a way that this is sin in my life? 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:21.299 Things that I had justified, thought that I was right for being angry about, and again, and again, and again, and again. 00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:22.920 I wadded it up and threw it away. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.819 I probably should have kept it and pulled it out. 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:29.539 These are the things, the way that I was sinning and being angry. 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:34.319 And there is no space for this in the life of a Christian husband. 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:37.460 Should not be so. 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.079 All right. 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.559 Back to the primary point. 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:44.519 James teaches us how to receive the word. 00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:49.179 We'll be quick to hear and slow to speak and slow to anger. 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:52.539 And then he gives us a reason to receive the word. 00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:53.679 Why we should be doing this. 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:59.940 He says in verse 20, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:03.859 The anger of man is self-righteous. 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:06.480 It is self-justifying. 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:11.799 It is self-serving and does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:17.579 We ought not be characterized by the anger of man. 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:19.440 It takes two forms. 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:21.400 We all need to recognize this. 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:25.539 Usually when we see the word anger, we think of like hot, vented anger. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:25.920 Right? 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.960 We think of yelling. 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.400 Right? 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:30.019 We think of road rage type of anger. 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.360 Right? 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:33.019 A fist through doors kind of anger. 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:34.480 And that is anger, to be sure. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:40.480 But many of us miss smoldering, bitter anger. 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:45.079 And as I mentioned, we use all kinds of words to disguise it. 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:47.440 My go-to word has been frustrated. 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:50.039 I'm frustrated by something. 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.779 Something is frustrating to me. 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.940 It is the thing that is making me angry. 00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:56.460 It is one in the same. 00:30:57.120 --> 00:31:00.860 And we don't have time to explore anger in totality today. 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.839 I wish we did. 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:06.279 But I want you to hear that we are far too angry. 00:31:06.959 --> 00:31:09.119 Far too often. 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:12.399 And it needs to be explored in your life. 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:17.079 You could probably think across this past week at something that made you angry. 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:25.299 And if it's sin, and it probably is, we need to repent and live lives that are pleasing to our Lord. 00:31:26.179 --> 00:31:28.119 Now, there isn't such thing as righteous anger. 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:30.619 Anger can be holy. 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:38.539 Anger that is produced in us by God for the sake of others and his glory. 00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:42.559 We celebrate Veterans Day this week. 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:49.599 I am glad that we have had men go places and be angry for the right things. 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:53.279 You don't fight well unless you have anger. 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.639 You must. 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:58.980 To destroy something else, you must be angry at that something. 00:31:59.459 --> 00:32:02.159 There are times for this kind of thing. 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:13.159 If I ever caught somebody beating a toddler in a parking lot, you better believe my anger would burn and it would be righteous anger to stop what's happening to this child. 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.519 Right? 00:32:13.580 --> 00:32:14.840 There's times for this. 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:15.660 Right? 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:18.500 For the sake of others and for the glory of God. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:21.779 But this is not the typical anger that we experience. 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.120 Right? 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:30.080 The typical anger we experience is when somebody pulls out in front of us and heaven forbid we have to get on our brakes a little bit and slow down from our busy day. 00:32:30.300 --> 00:32:30.580 Right? 00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:34.359 That kind of anger is self-serving. 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:39.079 It's self-righteous like you've never pulled out in front of somebody before. 00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:39.619 Right? 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:43.619 It says that this entire world revolves around you and your schedule. 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:49.740 Everyone on the road should know that you overslept your alarm and you need to get to work on time. 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:50.220 Right? 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.299 It's about you. 00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:52.819 It's about self-service. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:56.000 Most of our anger is that way. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:33:04.019 What we typically experience is the anger of man that does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:08.819 And this is the reason that James gives us to receive the word. 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:14.000 We need God's word to work in us to live lives that are pleasing to him. 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:19.220 This is why we need to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. 00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:23.099 So thirdly and lastly, James commands us to receive the word. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.259 Right? 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.440 He gets more emphatic. 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:34.380 He says, verse 21, therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:37.080 Anger is just one sin. 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:43.840 So James now expands his point by saying, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness. 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.100 Right? 00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:46.059 And that's the negative command of verse 21. 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:49.440 He's saying you need to stop doing some things. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:56.460 Things like these things are getting in the way of your receipt of God's word. 00:33:57.940 --> 00:34:02.380 Jesus says in John chapter eight and verse 37 in a rebuke of the Pharisees. 00:34:03.100 --> 00:34:03.259 Right? 00:34:03.340 --> 00:34:04.380 And hear this carefully. 00:34:05.340 --> 00:34:08.139 The Pharisees were people of the word. 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.880 We would say that as a church. 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.900 We are people of the word. 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.099 Right? 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:12.200 Right? 00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:15.160 The Pharisees knew the scripture. 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:15.660 Right? 00:34:15.660 --> 00:34:16.820 They studied it daily. 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:20.019 They took much pain in studying the scripture. 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:24.000 They memorized great lengths of the text. 00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.260 Right? 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:26.119 All of this was self-righteous activity. 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:28.880 They were pretty good at it. 00:34:29.160 --> 00:34:31.059 And Jesus says this in a rebuke of the Pharisees. 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:32.039 John 8, 37. 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:34.980 I know that you are offspring of Abraham. 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:37.159 Yet you seek to kill me. 00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:37.860 Why? 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.559 Why are they looking to kill the Christ? 00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:45.820 Because my word finds no place in you. 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:50.019 They were so full of self-righteousness. 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:52.719 They were so full of their activity. 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:55.519 That there was no place in their hearts. 00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:58.519 For the word of God to take root. 00:34:58.940 --> 00:35:01.300 And bring forth fruit in their lives. 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.840 As I think about this. 00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:06.639 I'm drawn to the parable of the sower. 00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.619 Mark chapter 4. 00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:08.699 Beginning in verse 3. 00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:09.980 Jesus says, listen. 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:12.800 Behold, a sower went out to sow. 00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.800 And I love this parable. 00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:16.239 Because Jesus explains it. 00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:18.519 It's always nice when he says exactly what he means. 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.380 In the parable. 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:21.539 So further in Mark chapter 4. 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:23.199 He tells exactly what's going on. 00:35:23.279 --> 00:35:25.279 So the sower was out to sow. 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:27.199 And what is the sower sowing? 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:29.079 He's sowing the word. 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.820 He's sowing the truth. 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:34.779 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path. 00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:37.559 And the birds came and devoured it. 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:41.880 And he tells us later that this is Satan coming and taking away the word. 00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:45.940 I would suggest to you that this is people hearing the truth. 00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:50.139 But then competitive lowercase truths come in. 00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:53.819 And they ceased to believe what they should believe is true. 00:35:54.879 --> 00:35:58.239 Other seeds fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. 00:35:58.599 --> 00:36:02.400 And immediately it sprang up since it had no depth of soil. 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:05.579 And when the sun rose, it was scorched. 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:08.639 And since it had no root, it withered away. 00:36:09.339 --> 00:36:13.059 So there are people who seem to believe the truth. 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:15.519 They give outward expression of that. 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:17.539 He says that it doesn't have roots. 00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:18.659 It springs up immediately. 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:21.219 You see people receiving the word with joy. 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:24.320 Seeming to make credible professions of faith in Jesus Christ. 00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:32.539 But when, he tells us later, tribulation, trouble, or persecution, direct opposition to the gospel arises. 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:34.840 It withers away. 00:36:35.259 --> 00:36:37.960 The word does not have root in their life. 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:42.360 Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it. 00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:44.900 And it yielded no grain. 00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:51.220 Jesus tells us later that these thorns are the cares and the riches of the world. 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:58.119 This Christianity is not promising to me the things that I wanted it to promise to me. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:00.360 And they produce no fruit. 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:05.099 But then, and this is who we want to be. 00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:16.519 Other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding 30-fold and 60-fold and 100-fold. 00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:24.299 People who are fruitful, who are putting away filthiness and rampant wickedness, 00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:31.599 who are being quick to hear and slow to speak and slow to anger because we take in the word. 00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:39.079 And Jesus ends this parable by saying, he who has ears to hear, let him hear. 00:37:40.799 --> 00:37:44.860 So he drives the point home with the positive command of verse 21. 00:37:45.239 --> 00:37:51.400 Receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:58.740 And there's a juxtaposed posture here to the man who is slow to hear and quick to speak and quick to anger. 00:37:59.300 --> 00:38:04.119 But the proud man, he says, receive with meekness. 00:38:04.619 --> 00:38:07.940 Which is a bridled strength. 00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:11.460 Meekness is an expression of humility. 00:38:12.180 --> 00:38:17.940 It says, I need to quiet myself and I need to listen to the word. 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:22.780 Beloved, we have the word implanted in us, right? 00:38:22.820 --> 00:38:29.240 If you have believed in Christ, he has worked this great thing in you. 00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:35.260 But we must put away our sin and receive the word. 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:38.280 This is an activity for us to be about. 00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:43.039 We must continually make room for it in our hearts. 00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:51.719 It is the word of Christ employed powerfully by the spirit of Christ that will save our souls, right? 00:38:51.759 --> 00:38:55.440 That will see us through to the end. 00:38:57.099 --> 00:39:05.279 So James is careful here to teach us how to receive the word, to give us a reason that we ought to receive the word. 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:09.159 And a command to receive the word. 00:39:09.159 --> 00:39:13.460 May we be a people who receive the word. 00:39:13.899 --> 00:39:19.819 A people who are shaped by the word for our good and for the glory of our great God. 00:39:20.279 --> 00:39:21.059 Let's pray together. 00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:21.059