Sunday 01/08/17
Series: Doers of the Word
Message – Not Hearers Only II
Not Hearers Only
Our take away last week was…
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We can’t be a doer without hearing
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We need to pay attention to HOW we hear.
a) Read and know God’s word so that when you listen for God’s voice, you Hear what He SAYS not your interpretation of what He says. Poor understanding of God’s word leads to many errors in doctrine an BLOCKS you fro hearing His Voice.
Example:
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We need to be determined to Renounce evil and Receive His voice. – James 1:21
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If you lack Wisdom (direction or God’s voice) – ASK FOR IT!
a) It is an invitation to a conversation.
We are continuing as I said, at being…
“Doers of the Word and NOT hearers ONLY.”
What did we say that phrase should FIRST bring to mind? What is it that this phrase is actually saying to us FIRST OF ALL?
“Before you can DO you MUST hear!”
Learning to be a good hearer…
Last week we mentioned that in Many IF NOT MOST Christian circles God’s words has been broken down into bit sized morsels which are easy to digest.
This can be good, but it creates some problems…
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We rarely know anything about the setting of a passage.
a) Who was writing who for why James
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We rarely know the actual point and message of a passage.
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We often jump to conclusions about passages
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We fail to learn the lessons of scripture.
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The Net result is – it dulls our perception of God’s voice.
In James he addresses…
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Holy living (developing Christ in us)
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The role opposition plays in the process
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The necessity for absolute and unwavering faith in God’s word (both written and spoken) – WISDOM.
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Fearing the Lord in our choices
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Communing & partnering with God in His work of salvation
James 1:1-4 – Trials are opposition to our trust and our trust is about Christ in us!
Turn to 1Peter 1:3-11,
“(1) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (8) whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (9) receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. (10) Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
1:5-8 – Need for God’s Voice and Trust in His words.
Eph. 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
Let’s keep in mind that last week we identified Widsom (Sophia) as means – Enlightened understanding.
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.”
God resists the proud but gives His influence to the humble
James 4:1-6 “(1) Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? (2) You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (4) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (5) Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (6) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Skip to 1:17-18 – Reason and wisdom for listening
James 1:17-18 “(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 1:21-27 “(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.
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Before you can receive you MUST (renounce)
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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. So in regards to being a hearer of God’s word, one needs to be a hearer who willingly places themselves under the instruction and admonishments of God, even when their minds might initially reject it.
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Implanted – It must enter the heart (soils) and must be a good heart (one compatible with the seed).
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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
David was a doer of God’s word NOT just a hearer only!
…Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!