Pastor J. David Speering
Troy Presbyterian Church
From the Pastor's Pen:
David Speering, Pastor

TEXT:  James 1.16 and 19

TITLE:  THE TRUTH’S OUT


REGARDING THE TEXT:

Over the years you have heard, no doubt, “The Old Testament is contained in the New and the New is revealed in
the Old.”  

The following Scripture reading is an excellent example of that saying.  Jesus’ half-brother, James says, Every
generous act of giving to God, along with every perfect gift, comes down Above, comes down from the Father of
Lights (James 1.16).

James follows this with the following explanation.  You must understand, my beloved, let everyone of you be
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because one’s anger does not bring about the kind of
Life, God desires  (James 1.19).

In both of these verses I hear James saying, God is a generous, so be a lavish giver, too.

Now, I find neither verse easy to do, even for diligent hearers and doers of the Word.  As you’ll find throughout
the Bible, just knowing God personally doesn’t make Life a breeze.

Paul understood all this all too well.  The good I would do, I do not.  Instead, I do what I ought not do...O wretch,
that I am…Who will rescue me from this?...Thanks belongs to God, when I am (Romans 7.15-25).

The Holy Spirit inspires good Christians to do things that are very hard - like care for a sick child, when your boss
says you won’t get paid if you don’t come to work, because you have used up all of your sick and vacation days.  
Or, you may care for an aging parent on the weekends and thereby miss attending your church, which is just a few
blocks from where you live 35 miles away until after your parent dies.  Or, you may pass the peace to a church
member on Sunday, who is difficult to work with on the job.

Nowhere in the Old or New Testaments will you find that being in the Family of God makes Life easy.  So, Put
on the whole armor of God, so that you may ward off the fiery darts of the deViL. (spelling intentional)
(Ephesians 6.11-18).

NOW ABOUT THE SERMON’S TITLE:

The title for this talk comes from one of William Shakespeare’s play – “Sir Lancelot.”  There are several versions
of it.  One of these is known in literature as the Vulgate Cycle.   In it Lancelot of Locksley is “the best knight in
the world,” then he is blamed for the destruction of King Arthur’s Round Table.  He is blamed, when it is revealed
Lancelot kissed Guinevere.   From a knightly kiss he falls in love with his sire’s queen.  

Guinevere is told about his admiration for her, but refuses to believe it true until King Galehaut asks her, "My
lady, I ask that you give me (the knight) of your love, and that you take him as your knight
…for all the days of your life, and you will have made him richer than if you had given him the whole world."


Guinevere replies, "In that case, I grant that he should be entirely mine and I entirely his..."  Then at Galehaut's
behest she gives Sir Lancelot a kiss.  After it she gives Sir Lancelot to King Arthur’s rival, asking "Do you know
whom I have given you?"


"My lady, I do not."


"I have given you Lancelot of the Locksley, the son of King Ban of Benoic."

Alas, the truth is revealed, along with the hidden flaws of Love.

The Holy Spirit similarly revealed to James and James to us that Christ’s disciples live in the “real” world.  

We respond to human needs as “they come at us.”  When we talk, the words don’t always come out correctly.  
As Christ would, we make sure no one pays back a wrong with a wrong.  Instead we always try to be kind to each
other and everyone else…This is God’s Will for us, who are in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5.15 & 18).   And,
when we’re less than perfect, God listens for our requests for pardon and forgives freely.

I guess you might say the truth’s out.  Glory to God in the Church, in you on those around you!  Amen.


David Speering
Pastor.