Monday, July 8, 2013

Count it all Joy! (James 1:19-27)

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear , slow to speak , slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way , and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was . 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) What three character traits must we possess to endure life’s trials (v.19)? 
2) What does not produce the righteousness of God (v.20)
3) What must we to lay aside and receive to save our souls when tempted (v.21)?
4) How do we deceive ourselves into believing that we are in the faith (v.22)? 
5) When we do not apply God’s word in our lives, what are we like (v.23-24)?
6) Who is blessed in what they do by faith (v.25)?
7) What makes one’s professed faith in God useless (v. 26)?
8) What two activities prove the genuineness of our faith before God (v.27)?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Do you talk about your faith in God or do you act upon your faith in God?
2) How do you react when faced with situations that are unfair or unjust?
3) What do you do to hide the Word of God in your heart? 
4) What do you do that demonstrates your faith in God?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) God is not impressed with what you say, but with what you do.
2) Our actions reveal more about our faith than our professions of faith.
3) The blessings and favor of God are for those who act upon their faith in Him.
4) Faith in God is evident in our demonstration of love for the least among us.
5) Genuine faith in God only seeks approval from God, not man.

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