First Fruit Living
Wisdom From Above
May 23, 2021
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
James calls Christians to produce the righteousness of God by being outwardly restrained and inwardly responsive—turning from sinful anger and pride, receiving the implanted word with meekness, and using corporate worship to train the soul for obedient action.
Summary
The sermon urges believers to choose what is good in a culture that often rewards evil, using William Wilberforce as an example of persistent pursuit of righteousness. James teaches that the right kind of Christian is restrained in external responses yet reactive in the soul: slow to anger, humble and curious rather than proud and unlistening, and willing to receive (not resist) the implanted word. Meekness — patient submission — helps us confront indwelling sin and accept God's instruction. Cultivating these habits in corporate worship strengthens our responsiveness to the Spirit so we can produce acts of God's righteousness; the sermon closes with confession, prayer, and the shared supper as a fitting response.
Key Points
- The world often approves evil and scorns good; Christians must choose what is good.
- William Wilberforce exemplifies the long, persistent pursuit of justice that brings about righteousness.
- James asks: what kind of Christian produces God's righteousness? One who is restrained in responses and reactive in the soul.
- Anger, as pictured in Scripture, is typically sinful and a fruit of the flesh, so Christians must be slow to anger.
- Pride often shows itself as not listening; humility and curiosity enable us to be slow to anger.
- James names obstacles that prevent righteous works; we must be soul‑sensitive to them and respond with meekness (patient submission).
- Christians must receive the implanted word rather than resist it; the Spirit is stronger than our inclination to push back.
- Corporate worship is a primary way to train the soul to be responsive to God and to strengthen obedience.
- The sermon concludes with confession, prayer, and sharing the supper as a communal commitment to live out these truths.
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