SBC Messengers Enthusiastically Support Moore’s Resolution on Adoption

Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-15

 

Proposition: Believers are to evangelize and disciple their children in the ways of the Lord in order that they may become sons and daughters of God.

 

Introduction:

1.)    January 2005 – The day we bring Lucas home  and thinking, “what do I do now?”

2.)    This is a feeling many parents feel/

3.)    What do we do?

4.)    There is an alarming trend today of youth statistics: 9 out 11

5.)    How can this be?

 

As we look at the text set before us today, we begin to understand that the task of raising children and the formation of their spiritual lives is the responsibility of the parents, more specifically, of dads. Moses, as he begins a series of farewell addresses, reminds the Israelites of their history, commands, and expectations. The most important command was to love God completely with everything that they are. Our Lord would expand on this great command by adding that in addition to loving God completely we should love ourselves correctly and others compassionately. There is a sermon on our website that deals with these 3 ideas and how they relate. The point of our text today, though, is that Israel should teach these things to their children. The point is clear for us as well, we should teach these things to our children with the hopes that they will comes to know the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior in order that they may truly know God the Father who made them for His glory. The idea is that of treasuring him above all things for he is the greatest treasure one can find.

 

The sad truth for us to face today is that we have substituted our duties at home to be replaced by a pastor, teacher, children’s minister, or youth pastor and thus we perhaps find an underlying reason for why we lose so many students after they graduate.

 

Edwards: “Family education and order are some of the chief menas of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove ineffectual.”

 

Spurgeon: “…ministers, and Sabbath school teachers were never meant to be substitutes for mother’s tears and father’s prayers.”

 

Indeed, if we are to impact our culture with the gospel, it doesn’t start with more gadgets, programs, or resources. It begins with Fathers teaching their children the gospel, instructing their children to be disciples, and to lay the groundwork for spiritual foundations in their lives.

 

Transition: Dads, this morning I want to highlight 3 areas that I believe our text gives us as the primary reason for our responsibility as Fathers. I believe he intends our homes to…

 

 

 

 

1.)    Our Homes are to be the Center of Evangelism: vs. 6: 4-7

EXEGESIS: In this passage, Moses shares with Israel the paramount command they are to remember. He shares with them the nature of God (Shema) and the way they were to respond. The response required is that of total love for God. It would be this devotion to their God that they would then teach their children. It would be out of the overflow of their relationship with God that would communicate to their children the most important relationship of all: their relationship with God. It would model before their children what it means to have a relationship with their creator. By sharing this through their lives, it would allow them the opportunity to share with their children the truth of the gospel. The word teaching used here is of sharpening.

 

APPLICATION: Ditto for us. Evangelism is the sharing of the good news that Jesus Christ has died for our sins, been raised from the dead thus showing the Father’s approval and our imputed righteousness, and the truth that he has loved us before we loves him. The gospel should drive our lives. It should fill our hearts thus making teaching it the most natural thing we do. When we live out the great command to love God completely it becomes the most effective evangelism tool you have as a parent. It is so because no matter what you are doing, your heart is full of gratitude for your deliverance from bondage: sin.

 

2.)    Our Homes are to be the Center of Spiritual Formation: vs. 6:7-9

EXEGESIS: Moses gives 3 instructions for the Fathers here: teach diligently, bind, and write. By teaching diligently the idea is that of sharpening a sword in order to make an incisive cut. That is, Moses tells the Fathers, to be direct and decisive. This speaks of boldness and consistency. Moses then tells them to bind these instructions as a sign on their hands and frontlets on their eyes. The hands speak of action and it shows that the natural action of your life should be that modeling a living faith and a growing conformity to Christ. The frontlets on the head speak of the attitude and that the perpetual attitude of their lives should be of holiness and godliness. Then  Moses tells them to write these instructions on their doorposts and gates. The doorpost speaks of their home and the privacy of their homes. The gates speak of that public domain where laws were discussed and treated. There is to be no separation of the sacred and secular. The goal of a convert is for them to become disciples.

 

APPLICATION: The application is clear for us this morning. We must carefully yet boldly teach the truths of the faith as we live it out each day. We must be consistent to model the truth we teach. Our actions always speak louder than words so we must, as if naturally tattooed; bind the instruction to our lives. Our attitudes must reflect that of Christ. Our private and public lives must reflect the same thing. The watch care for the souls of our children have been entrusted to us. Paul teaches us in Ephesians that we are to not provoke our children but to instruct them into holiness and godliness.

 

 

3.)    Our Homes are to be the Center of the Spiritual Foundation: vs. 10-15

EXEGESIS: Moses, who would not be entering the promised land, instructed the Fathers to beware, lest when they enter the land of promise and find such good things that they do not forget the redemptive work of the Lord nor his ways, covenant, wisdom, or commands. Even more important was that their foundation be sure in order their children, who did not see the great deliverance from Egypt or works in the desert wandering, stay true to that which they have been instructed. God created people for his glory and a strong foundation built on the gospel and nurtured through godly instruction will serve to lay a foundation for the future.

 

APPLICATION: Listen, one day our kids will leave home and be on their own. Even before then, they will grow in their independence and it is imperative for them to have a strong foundation upon which to make their choices. Our responsibility is to live a life of worship and service before them, as already seen earlier, and to pray without ceasing that they will have a strong Biblical foundation.

 

Conclusion: Now listen, all of this cannot be done without you first having an authentic walk with Jesus Christ. Your children see the real you and perhaps you need to spend some time in confession and repentance to make things right.

 

Absolutely none of this can be done without a true relationship with Christ.

 

To be the Father Moses talked about here, you must be dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I prepare for our next Lord’s day, I do so with the holiday of Father’s Day on my mind. As a father, I have found that my most vital, yet difficult, responsibility is the teaching of my children. My prayer for them since their conception is that they may be filled with a hunger and thrist for righteousness. Not a righteousness of their own making but the imputed righteousness of our Lord Jesus through his perfect work at the cross and the glorious ressurection by the Father. I wanted to share an article dealing with the priority of the Family, specifically the Fathers, of being the primary teacher/instruction of Godliness is his children. Please enjoy this articles from the website www.cbmw.org. This is the Center for Biblical Mahood and Womanhood:

Family Worship

David Prince

 

I was doing some personal study on the verses that deal with taking up the cross to follow the Lord when I ran across this article. I believe the author does a masterful job detailing the necessity of the cross in the life of the believer. I hope that you will read, study, and meditate upon this important truth.

Take Up Your Cross Walter Chantry “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:23, 24) Only one entrance may be found to the Kingdom of God. There is a narrow gate set at the head of the path of life. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). No one with an inflated ego can squeeze through the door. There must be self-effacement, self-repudiation, self-denial even to become a disciple (a student) of Jesus Christ. Our Saviour made his demand quite clear by explicitly requiring self-denial. He then re-emphasized the point by using a vivid illustration of renouncing one’s self?an illustration he would soon seal with his blood, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross”. Six times in the Gospels our great Prophet refers to his followers’ taking up a cross. It was one of his favourite illustrations of self-denial. At other times he would speak of selling all, or of losing one’s life. “Cross” is a word that first brings to our minds the picture of our Lord on Calvary. We think of him bleeding while fastened to an instrument designed to inflict an agonizing death. Then perhaps we expand the idea of taking up a cross by thinking of Stephen who was stoned to death, or of Peter and John, who were beaten and put into prison, and of other martyrs across the ages. In the light of such courageous physical suffering, the Christian at ease may say to himself, “I don’t have any cross to bear”. Perhaps this repeated demand of Christ even brings alarm to your consciences as you read it over and over in Scripture. Some who call themselves “Christian” in fact have never taken up their crosses. Being ignorant of the experience of self-execution, of self-denial, they are of necessity strangers to Christ. Our Lord himself intended his illustration and his demand to deepen alarm in such individuals. If this is your condition, then there can be no relief to conviction but in taking up your cross and following him. Others, however, are true servants of Christ but feel a sense of dismay through a misunderstanding of our Lord’s demand. It is quite possible to have taken up your cross and not to know it. Careful examination of our Lord’s meaning will then be an encouragement. In either case, the subject is vital to you. Your Master’s life was dominated by a cross. He has called you also to a life with a cross. This clear gospel note is so easy to forget in flabby Western society. With a great chorus of custom, advertisement and temptation this world is beckoning you to a life of self-indulgence. Your flesh is drawn to that appeal, and will fall in with the world’s suggestions. But the Lord of glory has called you to a life of self-denial, to a cross. The demand of bearing a cross is universal. It is made of all who follow Christ, without exception. Our Lord addressed these words “to all”, not to a select few who walked nearer to Christ. Mark 8:34 indicates that this mandate was not issued to the twelve alone. It was spoken ‘when he had called the people unto him with his disciples’. The cross is required for “any man” who will go after him. There are no peculiar cases released from this necessity. Repeatedly our Lord was emphatic that none could be considered his disciple in any sense unless he bore a cross. “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38). Again in Luke 14:27 our Saviour turned to a multitude following him, to insist, “Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple”. It is an absolute impossibility to be a Christian without self-denial. Whether you live in a Christian land or in a culture hostile to God’s Word, you must bear a cross. The only way to avoid the cross is to follow the world to hell. As verse 24 explains, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it”. The “for” indicates a connection with the preceding verse. Religion without self-denial will not endure the judgment. It is this most obvious aspect of our Lord’s teaching which has been forgotten or ignored by modern evangelism. Anxious to bring sinners to life, peace and Joy in the Lord, evangelists have failed even to mention that Christ insists upon denial of self at the outset. Having failed to pass on our Lord’s requirement, and forgetting it themselves, evangelists have never questioned whether their “converts” with self-centred lives are true followers of Christ. Assuming that it is possible for a man to be self-indulgent and yet heaven-bound, Bible teachers look for some way to bring ego-centric men to a higher spiritual plane. Then self-denial is taught as the requirement for a second work of grace. But our text will show that unless a man lives a life of self-denial, he has not received a first work of grace. Those who save texts demanding a cross for “the deeper life” have cheated their hearers in evangelism. Without a cross there is no following Christ! And without following Christ there is no life at all! An impression has been given that many enter life through a wide gate of believing on Jesus. Then a few go through the narrow gate of the cross for deeper spiritual service. On the contrary, the broad way without self-denial leads to destruction. All who are saved have entered the fraternity of the cross. Christ’s summons to a cross is perpetual. Self-denial is not an initiation-fee, once paid and for ever forgotten. Old Christians as well as new converts must bear a cross. One’s cross is not a disposable item of Christian experience but a life-long burden in this world. This conversation apparently took place after Caesarea Philippi. It was near the end of our Lord’s earthly ministry. Almost three years earlier, Jesus had called the disciples. We read a partial account of the call in Luke 5. When they began to follow the Messiah, there was a painful price of a cross to be weighed. For Peter it was leaving a beloved father and abandoning a good fishing business in a quiet village. For Matthew it was turning his back on the lucrative tax bureau he directed. Throughout more than two years there was the painful experience of poverty, tumult and disgrace in following the Master. Now, as they near the completion of their training, our Lord holds before them the expectation of a cross. Whether you have walked with Christ one year or forty, you must deny yourself still. You will notice that the text uses the word “daily”. For a true believer the cross is ubiquitous, lifelong, a daily weight. There is but one depository of the cross, that is the cemetery. We shall not carry the pain of self-denial into the celestial city. But our Lord holds out no hope that the cross will cease to afflict us in this life. It is “daily”, for “any man”. You must ask yourself, “Am I bearing a cross today?” As has been suggested, the cross is painful. The term “cross” has lost all significance if the element of dreadful suffering is taken away. Our Lord endured the most cruel pangs ever inflicted upon a man. But we must recognize that the cross represented inward as well as outward pains. To our perfect Lord the inward torture of the cross was far greater than the outward. Hebrews 12:2 teaches us that Jesus “endured the cross, despising the shame”. The shame was much more painful to his noble dignity than were the nails and the bleeding to his body. Some have failed to estimate what the cross was to him: the confusion of being made sin before the Father, the embarrassment before his enemies of open judgment by a righteous God. The shame of nakedly identifying with filthy transgressions before men, angels and God, cut his sensitive soul to the quick. Inward suffering must be the focus of our Lord’s teaching in this passage. Our cross is not merely physical suffering. Stephen was not stoned “daily”, yet the Saviour said we must bear a “daily” cross. Even in the worst of times apostles were not imprisoned “daily”. There is a cross to bear on the best of days as well as on the worst. Peter carried a cross during civil peace as well as in times of strife. A failure to comprehend that inward pain is the worst part of the cross has led some believers to misunderstand our Lord’s demand of a daily cross. It is this misunderstanding which may lead to unnecessary alarm and dismay when true saints read our Lord’s demand. You may bear a cross unseen by all but your heavenly Father. How often a pastor is surprised to learn of the cross borne by members of the congregation, through trials never imagined by him. The deepest pains of the cross are not publicly visible. Furthermore, taking up your cross is an intentional act. In every passage which records our Lord’s mention of a cross for his disciples, he commands them to “take it up”. The Lord does not force a cross upon any man against his will. He does not strap the cross to a man’s back. There are great afflictions for God’s people which are imposed by providence. Irresistible sufferings may be the hand of chastisement or of refining mercy. These are trials but not crosses. A cross must be taken up by the one whose self is to be denied painfully. It was a voluntary submission on Christ’s part which brought him to Calvary. “No man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18). Armed soldiers could not seize him. The Son of God delivered himself into their custody. just so is the daily cross of his disciples. It is the conscious choice of a painful alternative motivated by love for Christ. It may be preceded by an inward struggle similar to that which our Lord knew in Gethsemane. But it is a voluntary choice. Lastly, the taking up of a cross is mortal. It is deadly. Death on the cross may be very slow, but a cross has one objective?it ruthlessly intends to bring death to self. Two parallel ideas in verses 23 and 24 show us that our Lord has this in mind. “Let him deny himself”. Put to death self-importance, self-satisfaction, self-absorption, self-advancement, self-dependence. And “whosoever will lose his life for my sake”. That’s it! Death to self-interest because you serve Christ’s honour! Even capitulation of those things which men call legitimate interests, for God’s glory! It is now apparent that Jesus’ figure of bearing a cross is an elaboration of his demand for self-denial. Bearing a cross is every Christian’s daily, conscious selection of those options which will please Christ, pain self, and aim at putting self to death. It is a teaching for the recruit, not merely for the seasoned warrior. It is a requirement for entering the army of God, not merely a call to an elite corps of super-saints with a deeper life. Yet it does hold the clue as well to deepening maturity in Christ. At each stage of growth, more self-denial is required, more painful blows to self, more reckless decision to serve the Lord Christ with consequent abandonment of one’s own life. The shadow of the cross falls upon all those vital aspects of Christian experience which perplex true hearts. If only the cross were understood, many complaints would be silenced which murmur against God’s providence. Many a counseling session in the pastor’s study would be cut short by applying the meaning of the cross. It answers so many questions, not easily but profoundly. If you have struggled to worship the Almighty, you will have learned that there is no satisfying communion with the Most High without a cross. Our Saviour arose a great while before it was day to draw near to his Father. Having no central heating, it is no stretch of the imagination to think that he shivered while his metabolism was still sluggish in early morning hours. Perhaps he felt the pain of prying his eyes open, for he was a true man who had spent long days and nights instructing the ignorant, convincing the gainsayers and healing the sick. He did not have a good night of sleep before his secret hours of worship. Perhaps he had to stand lest he fall asleep. Perhaps these struggles led to his sympathy for his disciples in the Garden. When they slept spirit is instead of praying, he gently said, “The willing but the flesh is weak”. Oh, he had felt the weakness of human flesh! A cross greets the Christian who is determined to rise early to meet his God. It begins with the alarm clock. Self desires another hour of sleep. It is only reasonable to remain in bed since the baby woke up twice last night. But if the love of Christ burns in your soul, you would rather inflict pain on yourself than plunge into the demands of business at home and office, and end the day with the sad realization that you had not been with him in quiet at all. Furthermore, to rise early in the day you must deny self of pleasant social evenings which tend to last into late hours. And when you have managed to bring yourself to your devotions, stubborn self intrudes still. Thoughts of your affairs demand attention from your mind so that honest contemplation of the glory of God is crowded out. A thousand selfish interests prevent true prayer from ever beginning. Our Lord taught us that prayer begins when the heart cries “Hallowed be thy Name”. It cannot be uttered until self-interest is ruthlessly yanked from the soul as a tooth is from your jaw. This is painful and pinching. Preachers meet sad-eyed saints who would like them to recommend a good book on devotions, I something to pick up my drooping spirits’. The place of private retirement has grown dull or unrewarding. Often behind the request is a desire to find a new secret to approaching God’s courts, a little device or an easy step back to the place of joyful fellowship with God and the Lamb. There are no such books or devices. You must bear a cross! Take aim on self. Set your sights on putting self to death. Deny self! Fast! Rise earlier! Cry with a fresh uniting of all your energies for the one purpose of knowing the Lord. And tomorrow? The cross will be there again. And if you do not choose to inflict pain on self, you will relapse once more into coldness. You will withdraw to a distance from the Lord. Some poor creatures have stopped seeking the joys of God’s presence. Perhaps you have assumed that God will not show you his glory. On the contrary, he delights to make himself known. But there is a cross at the threshold of the secret place of the Most High. To come under the shadow of the Almighty you must put self to a slow, agonizing death. The long shadow of the cross will follow you from your home to your field of service for the Lord. Faithful witnesses to Christ face dreadful pains. When you arrive at your shop, fellow workers may be gathered in a corner laughing and slapping shoulders. You know you dare not approach to join in. The subject of the good humour is filthy. During the day, as serious opinions are discussed, there is an opportunity to give the biblical view on issues of sin and righteousness or the purpose of life. But each time you speak, you have seen rejection of yourself with your views. Each testimony for truth makes you more unwelcome. Will you be bold for truth today? Christians are sensitive. We want to be liked and accepted. It is pleasant to be agreeable and peaceful. It is our longing to become more intimate with fellow men. Some brutes witness with an attitude of “I don’t care what anyone thinks of me”. That is to be callous, not gracious. As God’s grace quickens in us love for men, a sense of courtesy is heightened, a longing for gentleness and peace is increased. But with all of this our Lord’s honour is at issue in the discussion. The eternal welfare of men’s souls hangs in the balance with their understanding of truth. What must the Christian do if he is to witness? He must consciously choose words that pain his own social consciousness and love of peace. He must purposely drive the wedge between self and fellow workers deeper! There are no easy steps to witnessing! No painless, unembarrassing methods! You must bring men to see that they are filthy sinners under the wrath of God who must flee to Christ for mercy. That is offensive. And there is no way to coat it with honey. When a young woman explains the gospel to her mother, she may almost anticipate the cool reception. Whichever way the truth is presented, implied is the life-long error of mother. It is all a denial of her religion, her views, her life-style from a daughter. It cuts her heart like a knife. Yes, but when the sword of the Word cuts mother’s heart, a sensitive daughter has at the same time chosen to drive spikes into her own flesh. Self has had to be crucified. Two hearts are broken, not merely one. As the cross casts a shadow over worship arid witnessing, its shades also fall upon all service to God. Questions like, “Will you teach a Sunday School class?” become, “Will you relinquish tranquil and amusing evenings which follow frenzied days in the office? Will you sacrifice relaxation seriously to study God’s Word in preparation for the class? Will you spend scarce time to pray for your students?” Each duty assumed for the good of the Church imposes restrictions elsewhere. An image of the cross is discernible everywhere in the Christian life. Our Lord was not speaking in hyperbole when he set before us a daily cross. To turn from it is to revert to the broad way which leads to destruction.

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We took a break from our study in James this past Sunday and we discussed the text of Matthew 5:13-16. This familiar passage helped us understand that as believers we are to influence the world as salt and light. Salt has been significant to life through the ages and as “salt” we are to show the necessity of believing the gospel and living it out. As light, we shine because the true light, Jesus, shines in us. Here is the outline from this past week:

Text: Matthew 5:13-16

 

Proposition: As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to have a single passion in life and that is to bring glory to God, through Jesus Christ, by being salt and light to the world.

 

Introduction: Have you ever wondered why you are here? Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life may be? There is no doubt that all of us at some point in our life have asked these questions in some form or another. The problem with these questions is that they tend to make us place ourselves at the heart of the issue. In reality, the right question is if I am truly created by Almighty God for the purpose of exalting His glory, then what must I do to accomplish this task. The answer is, unfortunately, nothing. In our Lord’s sermon we commonly know of as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exposes the heart of the gospel that in order for a person to truly know God, they must trust in the Lord Jesus Christ by turning away from themselves and sin and to fully trust in Him alone.

 

The world in which Jesus came is much like ours today. There are political upheavals, social uncertainty, and religious complexities. Yet, the message of the good news is that it is not in what do but in whose we are that brings peace with God. Once we begin to understand that in Christ we find his righteousness and thus, a restored relationship with God the Father, then we are free to do for Him. Our being in Christ results in our doing for Christ.

 

Everyone longs to live with purpose and passion. Most people want to avoid wasting their lives and to be a part of something great. There is no greater passion and no greater purpose than living for the glory of God. Jesus helps us understand this truth when he teaches us that we are salt and light.

 

READ TEXT

 

Transition: The first way we can live for the glory of God is by understanding…

 

1.)    We are the Salt of the Earth: v. 13

 

EXEGESIS: As Jesus finishes the section known as the beatitudes, he begins to speak to those who are his disciples. In verse 2-11, Jesus shows that a true relationship with God is not based on “doing” something but rather it is based on having one’s life changed by the grace of God. Jesus now, on the heels of identifying this foundational gospel truth, tells the hearers that they are to be the salt of the earth. By this, Jesus meant that they were to be to those around them what salt was to their everyday life. The question that arises is this: what was the purpose of salt and what did Jesus mean by it when he spoke this. The purpose of salt in this day and age was very different from what we view it as today. Salt played a major role in the lives of these people. It was often used in variety of ways. It seems that Jesus was using it more for its appeal to “value” and “importance” rather than a specific way, though those can help one get a better understanding.

 

Salt was often discarded by simply throwing it out into the streets. Jesus had this in mind when he said that if salt loses its value, then it is serviceable for nothing.

 

APPLICATION: Salt is intended to show that as believers in the Lord Jesus and true disciples of him, we are to act as salt in this world. We are to understand that God has called us to go and share the truth of the gospel that is able to save people’s souls. As salt we should understand that we have discovered the most valuable treasure there is and to share this treasure with the world around us. Often times we get enticed by the allurements of the world and as salt, we begin to lose our value. This is a great tragedy in the lives of many believers. They have lost their influence on the world and failed to live as salt.

 

ILLUSTRATION: Shia LeBeauf Quote:

“They’re all in pain. It’s a profession of bottom-feeders and heart broken people,” he said. “Most actors on most days don’t think they’re worthy,” he added, “I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it a God-sized hole. If I knew, I’d fill it and I’d be on my way.”

 

Transition: Jesus also says that…

 

2.)    We are the Light of the World

 

EXEGESIS: Jesus uses another metaphor for his hearers to understand. Jesus says that they are the light of the world. The word light  is used with the idea that this light is shining and that like a city on a hill, it cannot be concealed. It is important to ask what light Jesus meant by saying when he said we are the light of the world. The proper way to see this is to understand who the light truly is and how we reflect that light. Jesus is the true light (John 1:1,4; John 8:12; John 12:35,36; Phil. 2:15; Isaiah 9:2) It is when one understands that on their own they are darkness but Christ dwells in them to shine through them and to be the light to the world.

 

The same temptation happens as light as well. The temptation is at times to try and conceal it but Jesus says why light a light and cover it up? That is not the purpose of the light. Rather shine your light and let others see that they may bring glory to God the Father.

 

APPLICATION:  As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, he dwells in us and shines through us. We are to be the light to the world around us in order that they may see our works that are good and glorify God who is in Heaven.

 

ILLUSTRATION:

“Every good work should be a revelation of the glory of God. What makes the good deed an act of love is not the raw act, but the passion and sacrifice to make God himself known as glorious.” John Piper

 

 

 

Conclusion:

1.)    In order for us to live solely for the glory of God as salt and light, then we must understand that at the center of God’s glory stands the cross of Jesus Christ. On that cross our Lord was murdered for our sins. He died to atone the wrath of God in order that we may become the righteousness of God in Him. Friend, in order to live with a passion for God’s glory, you must first come to the cross.

2.)    The burden of salt and light often is difficult and it has taken a toll on your life. Pray to God for a renewed vision of His greatness and renewed strength for the journey.

3.)    The temptation to hesitate or procrastinate often keeps us from living as salt and light. Confess this sin before God and pray for the urgency to live out this divine instruction.

4.)    The temptation of the world will often lure us from living out our God ordained purpose. Confess this sin and seek his forgiveness. He will forgive and renew a right spirit within you.

I have been reminded lately in my times of scripture and prayer that life is too short to be lived without urgency. Yet, urgency in and of itself must be tempered by the right purpose and motive. As disciples of the Lord Jesus, our time on this earth is to be lived for the glory of God. All we do, especially in the intentional spread of the gospel, should be lived with the end in mind. One day it will all be over. The time for meaningful relationships, spiritual formation, and most importantly the building of God’s kingdom will soon be over and eternity will be upon us. The old hymn says “work for the night is coming.” The apostle Paul wrote, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time for the days are evil.” Russell Moore posted the following quote from his blog :

Quote of the Moment

This is an article from the website www.carm.org. As we teach through Philippians 2:1-11, it will help us better grasp the Trinitarian view of unity presented in Paul’s letter. I hope you enjoy!

What is the Trinity?

Text: James 1:22-25

Proposition: Believers are taught that it is not enough to simply hear the word but to put the word to work in their lives.

Introduction: Recap

1.) Trials are used by God to accomplish His purposes in the lives of believers.

2.) Believers are encouraged to seek, by faith, the wisdom of God to endure trials.

3.) Believers are reminded of both their identity with and inability without the Lord Jesus Christ.

4.) Believers are blessed for having endured trials.

5.) Believers are warned against the temptation to sin in the midst of trials.

6.) Believers are encouraged in the midst of trials by the unchanging goodness of God.

7.) Believers are taught that they should be submitted to the word of God as they grow in their faith.

8.) Believers are taught that it is not enough to simply hear the word but to put the word to work in their lives.

Introduction 2: As James is beginning to get into the heart of his message, he reminds us that as believers that we are to have a faith that is growing and visible to a lost world. Jesus said something very similar when he said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”[1]

In scripture, there has always been a connection with being and doing. Our being in Christ will always lead to our doing for Christ. The reason is because we have been saved and our passions and desires have submitted themselves to the will of God, the word of truth. We begin to hear what scripture says and we begin to put this into action in our lives. The danger many face is that they have not submitted to God’s word and they do in order that they may gain God’s favor. They believe that if they “do” something for God then they will gain his favor. Yet the opposite is what is true. God grants us faith and repentance leading us to Him and then he works in us and through us to accomplish His will in our lives.

This leads us to our text today. On the heels of what we have learned up to this point, James now says to not just hear, though that is our first response (vs. 19) but that we should become doers of the word. Let’s think about this text for a few moments and we can learn what it means to be a doer of the word.

We are Formed by the Word to Accomplish the Word

1.) The Connection of Hearing and Doing - 22

2.) The Danger of Hearing but not Doing – 22-24

3.) The Delight of Doing in the Light of Hearing – 25

“22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

1.) The Connection of Hearing and Doing – 22

EXEGESIS: First as the text says, one must be a hearer and a doer but not just one of each. The connection of hearing and doing is that both compliment each other. Hearing has already been discussed in the passage. In verse 18, the word of truth is heard and in verse 2o, the readers are told to be quick to hear. In verse 18, the word of truth which one hears is used by God to bring about new life in their lives. In verse 20, the same word that brought life is the same word that instructs one in godliness and holiness. Now, James connects the final dot, which is the heart of his message, and that is to put the word into action into your life.

APPLICATION: The application is clear for us today. We must understand the significance of hearing the word and putting it into action. In every sequence of verse 18, 21, and 22 there is a sense of urgency. Be urgent in hearing what God says and then do it. To disconnect either of these is to live with complacency and laziness. The first act of doing is responding to the good news that despite our inability to truly know God and have a relationship with because of our sinfulness, God has provided the needed atonement in Jesus Christ. Christ bled and died for our sins in order that we may have new life. Now that we have that new life we continue to hear and to put what we hear into action.

2.) The Danger of Hearing but not Doing – v. 22-24

EXEGESIS: In the text, James says that to simply be a hearer of the word is to ignore the true message of the gospel and to live without urgency. In verse 22 James says that one is to be a doer and not simply a hearer in order that they may not be deceived. The word deceived is a word that carries with it the idea of delusion or one cheating themselves of something. In the context of the passage, hearing the word only is to just observe what it says and by not carrying it out in life, is to cheat yourself of the real value that the word holds. In verse 23, James says that one who hears is like one who contemplates what he his hearing and as soon as he quits observing they leave and immediately forget what they saw. The text says that they forget what manner of person they are.

APPLICATION: The danger of hearing only is that it disconnects faith from reality. It is religious information but not spiritual transformation. We’ve already seen the connection between hearing and doing but now it becomes clear that the word, as it reveals our greatest need and the answer to that need found in Jesus Christ, it leads to living out this transformation that is visible to a lost and dying world.

ILLUSTRATION: “Waitin’ on the World to Change”

3.) The Delight of Doing in the light of Hearing: v. 25

EXEGESIS: In verse 25, James shows a stark contrast of those that merely hear and those that listen and then do. He says that the one who has looked, that is they have stooped to look in, into the perfect law of liberty, the gospel, then that person will be blessed in their work. The text is rich in content. Unlike the hearer of verse 22-24, the hearer in verse 25 has listened attentively and with great care to understand what the word is saying and then they go out and live it before the world around them. The perfect law of liberty is none other than the gospel. It is the word of truth and Jesus said the word of truth will set you free. This perfect law is Jesus. The idea in the text is that they persevere in this law; that is they remain in it continually. James is teaching the church to let the word of truth dwell in your thoughts and heart each moment of each day. This law is perfect because “it rests on the work of Jesus Christ, whose truth sets us free.”[2] He then gives another beatitude (v. 12) that says the doer who is in action will be blessed. They will enjoy a divine happiness because they are doing in the light of hearing.

APPLICATION: The application of this text is clear for us this morning. Our doing for Christ should flow out of our being in Christ. We have heard the glorious truth of the gospel and it has changed us. Now, rather than just being a casual hearer, we continue to hear that message, revealed throughout all of scripture, and we live it out each day. We are to remain in it continually thus avoiding the trap of forgetting and living without urgency. May God grant us the ability to do for Him because we are in Him.

Conclusion:

1.) This morning you may be here and you don’t know Christ. You know about him and you think he’s a nice guy but you don’t trust your soul to him. Friend, won’t you be saved today. Come to Jesus this morning and be reconciled to God.

2.) This morning you may be here and you are the one who hears but doesn’t act. We’ve all been there and will probably be there again. Yield your life to the Lord and live for Him each day. Find someone to hold you accountable.

3.) Finally this morning, you may be here and God may be leading you to partner with us in church membership. I will be down front just as soon as the service has ended and I can share with you how you can join with us here.

Here is the skeleton outline for this message:

Text: James 1:19-21

Proposition: Having been brought to life by the word of truth, believers are encouraged to put off the old and to receive the implanted word and to live it out each day.

Introduction: Recap the message of James thus far

Introduction 2: Today, as we continue our look at this letter written by James, we are beginning the section of his writing that teaches the importance of hearing and doing the word of God. The rest of this book uses several different facets such as avoiding partiality, taming the tongue, effective prayer, overcoming fracture within the church, and more. The center of any person’s life, and the life of the church, is to be the word of truth. Just at it was able to give you life so to is it continuing to sustain your life. To get us to this point, James teaches us to submit to the teaching of God’s word. By first submitting to it we can begin the actual doing of it. Submitting to it changes our own ideas and thoughts in order that we may be more conformed to the image of Christ. It seems unfathomable to think that true joy comes from submitting but it is a reality we must learn.

Transition: How does this take place?

1.) The Qualities of Submission – vs. 19, 20

A.) We are Quick to Hear

B.) We are Slow to Speak

C.) We are Slow to Anger

2.) The Process of Submission – vs. 21

A.) Put Away

B.) Receive

Conclusion:

1.) Are you submitted to the Word of God?

2.) The greatest act of submission is to yield your life to Jesus Christ.