Weekly Sermon

James 1:27 reads, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” 

As we have previously noted, James 1:26-27 presents a clear contrast between a faulty religious life that is lacking in spiritual substance and a faithful religious life that is rooted in spiritual substance.  This contrast is seen in that verse 26 closes with the statement, “This man’s religious is vain;” whereas verse 27 opens with the statement, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.”  Even so, verse 26 presents the case of a religious life that is vain, being spiritually profitless; whereas verse 27 presents the case of a religious life that is valuable, being spiritually pure.  Therefore, as we focus our attention upon verse 27, we observe more closely the case of a religious life that is valuable, being spiritually pure – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.”

Grammatically, this verse can be divided into three parts.  First, there is the declaration of God’s classification for pure religion – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.”  Second, there is the description of loving compassion in pure religion – “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.”  Third, there is the description of separated character in pure religion – “And to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Weekly Sermon

James 1:26-27 reads, “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.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

With James 1:26-27 we come to the fifth paragraph of this epistle.  Again we remember that the Holy Spirit inspired purpose for this epistle is to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the believer’s life.  Even so, this fifth paragraph gives counsel concerning an unbridled tongue in relation to a pure religious life.  The contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the opening line of the paragraph -- “If any man among you seem to be religious.”  Consisting of only two sentences in two verses, this short paragraph presents a clear contrast between a religious life that is lacking in spiritual substance and a religious life that is rooted in spiritual substance.

Weekly Sermon

Acts 20:17-21 reads, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.  And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

In this passage of Scripture, we pick up the life of the apostle Paul at the end of His third missionary journey.  While going about the areas of Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia, establishing and confirming churches in the faith, Paul collected money for the financially destitute church of Jerusalem.  Here we find Paul in Miletus for a few days, as the ship on which he had booked passage is resupplied and outfitted for the journey.  The apostle Paul, never one to waste time, takes this opportunity to send for the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Ephesus being approximately thirty miles distant).  Now, as the New Testament Scriptures often use the term “elder” as a reference for the official leadership of churches, we recognize these men in our common terminology as the pastors of the church at Ephesus. 

Unto these pastors the apostle Paul spends the whole of Acts 20:18-35 in a farewell address.  Contextually, this address can be divided into four parts.  First, in verses 18-21 there is Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men.  Second, in verses 22-24 there is Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading.  Third, in verses 25-31 there is Paul’s exhortation to these pastors concerning their ministry.  Fourth, in verses 32-35 there is Paul’s commendation of these pastors unto God.  In this message we shall consider the first of these matters – Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men.  Apparently there were those in Ephesus, as was so often the case at other places in the apostle’s ministry, who were slandering His character and ministry.  Thus the apostle Paul began this farewell address with a reminder to these pastors concerning their personal knowledge of and experience with his godly character and behavior.  In so doing the apostle Paul, by the example of his own life and ministry, reveals to us the reputation of a man of God.  Even so, if we desire to be men and women of God, then we must seek these same characteristics as a part of our reputation.  So then, from Acts 20:18-21 let us consider five characteristics for the reputation of a man of God.

Meditations in Ezekiel

Ezekiel 2:3 – “And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.”

1.  To Confront Them for Their Stubborn Rebellion

Ezekiel 2:4a – “For they are impudent children and stiffhearted.  I do send thee unto them.”

2.  To Uphold the Authority of God’s Holy Word

Ezekiel 2:4b – “And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.”

3.  To Call Them unto Humble Repentance

Ezekiel 2:5 – “And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.”

4.  To Stand Fearlessly against Their Reproach

Ezekiel 2:6 – “And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.”

5.  To Be Faithful Regardless of Their Response

Ezekiel 2:7 – “And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”

6.  To Remain Obedient unto God’s Holy Word

Ezekiel 2:8 – “But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.”

            A.  As an example unto them
            B.  As a rebuke unto them
            C.  For your own fellowship with the Lord
            D.  For your own enablement in ministry

Posted in Meditations in Ezekiel, Rebellion against God, Word of God, Godly Ministry, Faithfulness

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Thought for Mediation

Success in the ministry of the Lord
is not about building up numbers physically for the glory of our own name,
but is about building up individuals spiritually for the glory of our Lord's name.

Weekly Sermon

In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 the apostle Paul revealed the foundational principle for stewardship, syaing, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

In its immediate context, the apostle was speaking concerning himself and those who served with him as ministers of God’s truth for Christ’s sake.  He revealed that such ministers are stewards of the truth of God’s Word, responsible to minister gospel truth unto the lost and edification truth unto the saved.  Then the apostle revealed God’s foundational principle for stewardship, saying, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”  Brethren, in stewardship from the Lord our God, faithfulness is required.

Now, although the immediate context of this passage concerns ministers of God’s truth, it is important for us to understand that the foundational principle for stewardship in verse 2 has an application to each and every one of us as the servants of the Lord our God.  Whether or not we have been called as minister of God’s truth, as our Lord’s servants we all have been given some stewardship from the Lord.  Therefore, the foundational principle of stewardship stands for us all – Faithfulness is required.

Meditations in Exodus

In Exodus 3:9-10 the Lord God revealed His purpose to Moses, saying, “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

In Exodus 3:7-8 the Lord God had revealed that He knows the sorrows of His people and that He is moved to deliver His people from their sorrows.  As He continued His message unto Moses from “the burning bush,” He further revealed unto Moses His purpose and plan for the deliverance of His people.  Indeed, the Lord God expressed His call upon Moses to send Moses as His instrument of deliverance.  Even so, we find so often that when the Lord our God moves on behalf of His people, He does so by calling and sending a man through whom He might accomplish His work.