Podcast – Sermon 12/08/2013
Technical issues – the first 7 minutes are lost
James 1:19- 25 Doers of the Word 12/8/13
While 1:19 ( quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger) can, and should relate to our dealings with individuals we encounter each day, we see that James’ primary emphasis is being “quick to hear” the Word of God as revealed in New Testament, the Gospel message, that “perfect law,” that “law of liberty.”
Sometimes we are too quick to say, “Yea, I got the message,” when the reality is we do not “have it.”
Some of you are teachers and know that there are 6 levels of learning:
Evaluation
Synthesis Synthesis
Analysis Analysis Analysis
Application Application Application Application
Comprehension Comprehension Comprehension Comprehension Comprehension
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge
Example: Sunday school teacher/ for a teenage girl’s class/ teaching on modesty.
Later, the teacher is on the beach, and notices that same girl that was in class, there on the beach, in a string bikini! When she ask the girl why she was dressed that way, (after saying she believed in girls dressing modestly,) the girl said, “ I believe in having a boyfriend also, and this is how you get a boyfriend.”
Focus today is James 1: 22-25 ******************************************
James’ jump-off point is, “the word” from 1: 21. The Gospel message , the New Testament, the fulfillment of the preparatory message of the Old Testament.
Three verses help us to KNOW- COMPREHEND- APPLY this passage to ourselves today.
John 1: 1-18 The Word
Romans 10:17 The word increases faith
Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell in your heart
MAIN TEXT: *********************************
1: 22 “Prove it out in experience” ( Check Romans 12:1-2)
God works through the new nature He has given us as the Holy Spirit abide there showing us how to apply the Word of God in daily circumstances.
You must be exposed to the Word of God on a regular basis!
It must operate at those deeper levels of learning
Example: “AKROATAI” “Hearers Only” Tyndale Commentary
“Deceive yourself” It really is possible to fool yourself!
If you have “knowledge,” but remain at the same comfort level– you do not have it. No real change has occurred.
What do we mean?
In gaining something you do not have, an uncomfortable change must take place; then , and only then, do the new pleasures of activating the Word of God at deeper experience levels take place in your life. You find God’s will for your life and find it fits you like a glove!
(Romans 12: 1-2) A renewed mind comes by absorbing the Word of God!
Example: We have heard people say, “He lives and breathes sports!” To know the game, play the game from childhood, now playing the game professionally, now coaching professionally, now writing books about the sport, etc.
MISERY is clearly seeing what you want to become; but along with this seeing is an equal desire to “not change a single thing” in your life to obtain the goal.
Everything in life takes;
1.“Desire” and you get more desire by absorbing the Word of God;
2.Then you need “Training /skills” to be different. You get this from the Word of God also.
Be humble enough to sit under someone dedicated to teaching the Word of God.
3.Then you need “Endurance.” Allow the training time to kick in and get a good hold.
1:23 “Looks at” – KATENOESEN – it means “A quick glance”
1: 24-25 A long, intense examination, view -PARAKUPSAS- from two words in greek;
Para- “to line up and be in sink with”
Kupto- “to stoop down to look”
“To stoop down and line up your eyes to take a long look”
Example: Mary “stooped down” (katenoesen) and looked into the empty tomb
1: 25 “Perfect law; law of liberty”
Romans 8: 1-4
Hebrews 8: 7-13
Galatians 3: 21-29
(1: 25) “Blessed in what he does”
A person that can take or leave the things of this world.
He allows the Word of God to direct him and uses the things of this world, if needed, to achieve the higher goals of pleasing God. Matthew 6:33
Summary: So instead of , “just a glance at my walk with God, then off I go to do my thing of trying to make myself happy with the bare minimum of my time spent with God.”
You become a “doer of the Word” and fully integrate that message into your life.
An unexamined life is not worth living
An unexamined faith is not worth having
Final: The “idol” the preacher dare not mention today is the idol called, “ I am so busy.”
It is the “soul-killing idol” that keeps us away from God
Example : People stay “over busy” to avoid emptiness
(This was one of the key factors in leading me to the Lord at 19 years old. I deliberately stayed busy to avoid my own emptiness. As I saw the truth of that emptiness, it eventually led me to turn to Christ)
Blaise Pascal 1623-1662 Scientist/mathematician/Christian
“Nothing is more intolerable to man than a state of complete repose, without desires,without work, without amusements, without occupation. In such a state he becomes aware of his nothingness, his abandonment, his inadequacy, his dependence, his emptiness, his futility. There at once wells up from the depths of his soul weariness, gloom, misery, exasperation, frustration, despair. Sport, pleasure, entertainment and society are so often pursued nor because they bring pleasure, but because they take men’s minds off themselves.”
There is a better life for you! Do you want it?
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