Not Hearers Only I

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Sunday 01/01/17 

Series: Doers of the Word

Message – Not Hearer Only I

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Not Hearers Only

Since the Greeks were “knowledge seekers” it only stands to reason that they put such a premium upon the apprehension of knowledge as to have MANY words defining different types of learning.

Paul addressed the fundamental difference between the Jewish culture and the Greek culture like this…

The Jews wanted to see a display of God’s Power.

The Greeks wanted His knowledge, wisdom, understanding, skill & insight.

Jesus preached offers both!

Insightful understanding and skill for living BY demonstration of the Power of God!

As I said, we are going to begin looking at being…

“Doers of the Word and NOT hearers ONLY.”

But we much first lay some ground-work.

What fundamental thing does that phrase say to you?

“doers of the word and not hearers only?”

Learning to hear…

In Christian circles we have dissected God’s words into bit sized morsels which are easy to digest. This can be good, but it creates some problems…

  1. We rarely know anything about the setting of a passage.

    a) Who was writing who and for what reason?

  2. We rarely know the actual point and message of a passage.

  3. We often jump to conclusions about passages

  4. We fail to learn the lessons of scripture.

  5. The Net result is – it dulls our perception of God’s voice.

In the book of James the following topics are addressed…

  • Holy living (developing Christ in us)

  • The role opposition plays in the process

  • The necessity for absolute and unwavering faith in God’s word (both written and spoken) – WISDOM.

  • Fearing the Lord in our choices

  • Communing & partnering with God in His work of salvation

James 1:1-4 – Trials

1:5-8 – Need for God’s Voice and Trust in His words.

James 1:5-8 “(5) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

As we established earlier, Greeks were BIG into knowledge. It stands as no surprise then that in their language there are many words for knowledge.

Here in James Widsom (Sophia) means – Deep knowledge, natural/moral insight, learning, science, implying cultivation of mind & enlightened understanding.

1:9-11 – Humility

James 1:9-11 “(9) Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (10) but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. (11) For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.”

1:12-18 – Reason and wisdom for listening

James 1:12-18 “(12) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (13) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. (14) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (15) Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (16) Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (18) Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

1:19-27 – LISTEN, HEED, BELIEVE, LIVE

James 1:19-27 “(19) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; (20) for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (21) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (22) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; (24) for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (25) But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (26) If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (27) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Let’s go back through these verses to examine some very important words…

“(21) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

  • Before you can receive you MUST(renounce)

  • Receive with MEEKNESS (resolute gentleness with strong determination)

Aristotle defines this Greek word as the middle standing between the two extremes of getting angry without reason and not getting angry at all. So meekness is a condition of mind & heart which demonstrates gentleness with power.

  • Implanted – It must enter the heart (soils) and must be a good heart (one compatible with the seed).

  • PURPOSE – Soul salvation (Christ in us)

(22) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; (24) for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

(25) But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Continues – abide (If you abide in Me and My words in you…)

Not forgetful – Fears the Lord, counts His word precious. Meditate “Day and night” (bears fruit in season) Ps. 1

…Blessings! 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will be mentioned.

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Blessings!

 

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!