Against All Odds Week 3

AGAINST ALL ODDS – Part 3

Faith Under Pressure

James 1:19-27 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone
should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human
anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding
yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive
the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he
is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at
himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he
was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and
perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this
person will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion
is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before
God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress
and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

When hard times show up, what shows up in you?

1. Our REACTION to pressure reveals whether our faith is an
ANCHOR or an accessory.
James 1:19-20 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone
should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human
anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

2

Proverbs 17:27-28 The one who has knowledge restrains his words,
and one who keeps a cool head is a person of understanding. 28 Even a fool
is considered wise when he keeps silent—discerning, when he seals his
lips.
 A humble person acts by DEVOTION rather than EMOTION.
James 1:21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that
is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save
your souls.

2. Following Jesus is about being TRANSFORMED, not just
INFORMED.
James 1:22-24 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he
is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at
himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.

3. Knowing AND obeying God’s Word brings Heaven’s
RESOURCES into our earthly lives.
James 1:25-26 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of
freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who
works—this person will be blessed in what he does.
Psalm 19: 7a, 11 The instruction of the LORD is perfect,
renewing one’s life...
11 …your servant is warned by them,
and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.

Final Thought: HOLY opportunities come disguised as
EVERYDAY life.

3
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to
look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself
unstained from the world.
Acts 10:38 …God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with
power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under
the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him.