The proof is in the pudding

James explains how to know the difference between true, or useless religion, or worship. The proof is in the pudding as they say.

Is my religion useless, or pure before God?

James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

James now addresses the subject of "Pure Religion", ( religion here, means worship. ) He tells us two basic things about religion, or worship.

First, of all, a person can think they are religious, but if their tongue is not bridled, or controlled, then, their religion is useless, or empty, fruitless, vain, and they are deceiving their own heart. So, again, we have the issue of self deception, ( James 1:22-24 ) and the tongue which will be dealt with later in James. ( James 3 )

Thus, it's possible for a man to think ( have the opinion ) he is a worshipper of God, but be self- deceived, and one of the evidences of that deception would be a tongue that is not under control.

Secondly, James says, the true worshipper is marked or characterized by two things.

1. He visits the orphans and the widows in their need. That is, he is a person who reaches out to others in need, in a practical and meaningful way,

2. He keeps himself unspotted from the world. On a personal and moral level, he keeps himself unstained, or uncontaminated from the world. He is a man who is not walking in sin, and in the way of the world. He is not caught up in pride, self promotion, and living for material things rather then for God.

James does not pull any punches. He tells it like it is. Both the good and the bad if you will. Later, he will talk about how our works are really the test of our faith, those works reveal the genuineness, or the authenticity of our faith.

We can be of a certain opinion about ourselves, and our place before God, but, it's the way we live that really shows with accuracy who we are, and where we are in our walk with the Lord. The proof as they say is in the pudding. Our actions, speak louder then words.

The Lord has called us to be fruitful, and He wants to keep us pure and undefiled from the world. Let's pray for those things in our lives today. Lord, make us fruitful. You have appointed us to bear fruit, and that our fruit would be abundant and lasting. Thank You for Your Word, which tells us the truth about You and about ourselves. And, thank You Lord for not condemning us, but seeking to conform us into Your image.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. Are you encouraged by this passage?

2. What is the Lord saying to you from this passage?

3. Remember, God wants to help you, not condemn you.

4. In what practical ways is your faith showing itself?

5. The Lord will use you if you let Him.

6. Forgiveness and cleansing come from the Lord.

7. God will give guidance and power, and open doors for service.

Doers or Deceived..?

God teaches us to not only hear His Word, but to be "Doers" of it also, lest we be deceived. Those who hear and do, are promised blessings from the Lord......

Are we doers or deceived?

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

James 1:24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

This is God's call to be doers of His Word, and as he adds, not hearers only. It's one thing to hear God's Word, but His intention, is that we would then respond in faith by being "doers" or those who put His Word into practice.

If we only hear, and aren't "doers" then we are like a person who looks into a mirror, ( God's Word is likened unto a mirror, and is indeed so, in that it shows us who we are ) and see ourselves, and see what God is showing us about ourselves, but then we go our way and forget what we just saw.

On the other hand, if we will look at God's Word, and continue in it, and not be a forgetful hearer, but are a "doer", then we will be blessed in the work, and in what we do.

So, the blessings of God are brought to us through His Word, but we must not just hear, but do, and then God's blessings are experienced in our lives.

The primary and central blessing of God in our lives, is that He works in us to conform us into His own image, and He works in us and through us to bring about His will for our lives, and into the lives of others.

It all starts with His Word, and our response to it.

May the blessings of God, in your work and in your life be yours today. May You hear and be a doers of His Word. Lord, how You desire to bless us. Thank You for that in Jesus name. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises.

1. God is speaking through His Word.

2. We have ears to hear, may we use them.

3. Hearing and doing are both God's will for each of us.

4. Grace enables us to be doers.

5. Let's read, hear, and then respond on a daily basis.

6. God's richest blessings come through His Word.

7. May His work in You be blessed today.

Anger, God has a better way.

Getting angry will not accomplish the righteous purpose and ways of God. He has a better way to go about it.

What anger cannot do.......

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

James 1:20n for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James moves to a new subject here.....Anger, or as he calls it the "Wrath of Man"

But, leading up to that he says a number of things.

1. He tells us we are beloved brethren. God loves us.

2. He tells us to be swift to hear.

3. He tells us to be slow to speak.

4. He tells us to be slow to wrath, or get angry.

In these four things, we are reminded of who we are, we are indeed loved by God, and He as our father then, gives us this instruction about our actions, our hearts and our words. These are God's instructions, that will help us greatly in our lives, and in our relationships with others. Quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Then he explains more about anger, specifically, what it will not, and cannot accomplish. Our getting angry about something is not going to bring about the God's ways, and God's will in a situation. We will not accomplish what we might think by getting angry.

Finally, in these verses, we are told lay aside, or get rid of, to put our of our lives, any and all things that are filthy. And, then in humility of spirit, to accept the message that God has planted in our hearts, because it's powerful enough to save our very souls.

He will talk more about our relationship to the Word of God in the next few verses. We will look at that tomorrow.......

But, this is plenty to chew on, and to think about, and to digest. May what's said here in James 1:19-21 become a part of our lives. May we take these many things that have been given to us, and by God's grace, and our faith in action, put them into practice in our lives this very day. What are they?

Quick to listen.

Slow to speak.

Slow to get angry.

Put sin and evil out of our lives.

Humbly receive God's Word.

Blessings to you today, of God's grace, mercy and peace.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. We probably need to hear what James is saying.

2. God knows we are all pretty much alike.

3. God wants to curb our tendencies and make us like Him.

4. If we will open our hearts to this instruction, it will change us.

5. Will you think about what was said here?

6. Will you read it again, and then think about it again?

7. God has blessings in store for you.

8. You are one of those beloved brothers or sisters in Christ.

What comes down from the Father?

James explains that God is the giver of good gifts. And, that He does not change.

What comes down from the Father?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

What comes down from the Father? Every good and perfect gift. Just the verse before, James had warned not to be deceived about God, ( God does not tempt anyone to evil. ) Rather, He gives good gifts

Several truths about God are stated, as to who He is, and what He has done for us.

1. He is the Father of lights ( meaning He is pure in every way )

2. He does not change.

3. He brought us forth into salvation.

4. He did this through His Word, ( The Lord Jesus Christ )

5. The first converts were an example of more to come.

6. We are considered to be His creatures, ( His possession )

Earlier we were told that God gives wisdom to those who ask for it, then, blessing to those who endure trials and tribulations. And, here we are told that He gives good gifts, ( eternal life being the best of them all )

So, as we look up as it were today, we can know that our Father, ( He is that personally to us in Christ, He is OUR Father ) we can both thank Him for what He has already done for us, and we can ask for, and expect Him to continue to give us good gifts, because as mentioned He does not change.

Our Father, we thank You for giving us the gift of life. Thank You for making us to belong to You, not just now, but for all eternity, forever, and forever, and forever. Help us to solidify in our minds and hearts the truth about who You are, and what You have done, and what You will do. We look up to You today, and ask that You might shower us with good gifts, the ones Lord that would bring blessing to You and to others in our family's, and in our churches, where we work and so on. In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. Make no mistake about it God is good, He does not tempt us.

2. He is a good giver, He gives us gifts.

3. He has already done the greatest if you will.

4. How valuable is the gift of eternal life with God?

5. What gifts and grace do you need today?

6. Would you ask Him, He is the giver of gifts and grace.

7. Like the rain that comes down, shower us Lord we pray.

Temptation, it's source and remedy

This video helps explain where temptation does not come from and where it does come from. It also deals briefly with how find help in temptation.

Who is tempting me?

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

These verses explain who is not tempting you, ( soliciting, and enticing you to sin ) and where temptation does come from. And, it explains the process of temptation, leading to it's ultimate end, and concludes with a warning not to be deceived about this important issue.

We ought not never to blame God when we are being tempted to sin. Why? Because He cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone to sin. The temptation to sin, comes from within ourselves, when we are drawn away by our own desires or lusts. And, when we give into those lusts, or desires, that's when sin takes place, and sin when it is fully grown brings death.

So, that's where temptation comes from. Not from God, but from within ourselves.

Apparently, some of James's readers were confused about who was tempting them. These verses clear it up very well, and very simply.

Even though we are saved, we will be tempted to sin. Temptation by the way is not sin, it's merely the first step toward sin. It's temptation. The actual sin takes place when we say yes to temptation.

Question. How do we combat temptation? One major way would be Prayer. Jesus instructed us to pray, "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" Also, "building ourselves up on our most holy faith" Jude. That would be by being in the Word. And, then "fellowship with one another" Acts 2:42 We find real encouragement as we share our lives with other believers.

These three things, prayer, talking to God, the Word, being in it, and fellowshipping with other christians, will help us combat temptation.

So, may You be blessed today, may God make you strong by His power and grace, to resist temptation, to turn away from it, to seek His help through prayer and by being made strong in the Word of God. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise.

1. God never allows us to be tempted more then we are able to bear.

2. He will always make a way of escape for us.

3. Remember, to be tempted is not to sin,

4. Don't be condemned because you are being tempted.

5. You may need to take practical steps to avoid temptation.

6. Look away from temptation to God.

A promise to those who endure trials...

There is a promise from God to those who endure trials. Hang in there, that blessing is coming.

God's promise to you.......

Jas 1:12* Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James calls it "Blessed", but it means, happy, and fortunate. There are a number of things told us here about the blessings that come after you get through a trial. The Word temptation here, is better rendered "Trial or testing"

One, Blessing is associated with enduring the trial.

Two, Blessings will be received by the tested person.

Three, The blessing is the "Crown of life"

Four, This blessing is promised by the Lord Himself.

Five, Notice the words, "to those who love Him"

Earlier in this chapter, James had talked about how to understand a trial, and what the Lord does in our lives through a trial. Here, he is speaking about the person who has endured, or gone through the trial, and a promise from God about that person receiving the crown of life. The blessing is the crown of life.

When a christian goes through the trial, not only do they come out the other side a more patient and enduring person, but they are happy, and they receive this crown of life from the Lord.

What is the crown of life? I believe Hebrews speaks about it.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

After the process of testing, training, chastening, this peaceable fruit of righteousness is yielded into our lives. From pressure and difficulty, to peace, and the fruit of righteousness. These are indeed blessings.

Simply put, when we go through the trial, and endure it, at the end, we are changed people, we are more patient, we are more able to endure, we have become more mature, and we enjoy a peacefulness from the Lord, and righteousness from the Lord. ( living the right way, understanding the right way, being able to encourage others in the right way )

So, God has a promise for you. Hang in there, don't grow weary, be patient, the Lord is going to get you through the trial, and He will bless you in the trial, and make you a better person for it, once you are through the trial itself.

My prayer today is for you if you are going through a time of trial, or you have just come through a trial. Lord, make Your promise real and tangible today to my brothers and sisters reading this who are in the midst of a trial. If they have just come through a trial, then together, we thank You for being faithful. Please allow us to be used by You to be a genuine source of encouragement to anyone in a trial at this time. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. He is going to get you through.

2. You cannot do it alone, He will help you.

3. He not only helps, but then blesses as well.

4. Trials change us for the better.

5. You will be more patient and peaceful.

6. God will use your experience to help others.

7. Give thanks to God, He is faithful and true.