A mirror into our Soul

A mirror into our Soul

James 1:18-25 (ESV)

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant 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 who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Word of Truth

Football started this week.. every team has their philosophy on how to win and a big piece ..playbook

Playbook

When adam/eve sinned God knew we would need a playbook also

Receive the Word as Truth

James 1:18 (ESV)

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Word is forever

Isaiah 40:8

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,     but the word of our God will stand forever.

Word leads us to faith

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Word guides us

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet     and a light to my path.

Word Revives us, makes us wise

Psalm 19:7

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,[a]     reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure,     making wise the simple;

Word saves us

James 1:21b (ESV)

and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Bible gives practical advice, spiritual truth, eternal

promises.

It isn't a rule book, but a law of Liberty.  James 1:25

Hear It

James 1:19-20 (ESV)

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Know this.. ( Be ready) are you prepared?

Prepared to listen

the word quick means..eager this means caring enough for someone that we are going beyond our surface judgement and getting to truly know who we are speaking too..

facebook..twitter..reddit..

how many people here are eager to listen to someone’s pov.. especially when it differs…

Proverbs 29:11 (ESV)

11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,     but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 10:19 (ESV)

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 13:3 (ESV)

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Proverbs 17:28 (ESV)

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

How many of us go full vent on other people

Car ac.. when its hot.. you go full vent right..

We here someone is thinking about their sexuality and we go full vent or someone is thinking about an abortion and we go full vent.. but we don’t take the time to listen to their story..how did they get to their line of thinking. Praying that God would give us wisdom to respond or not respond in some cases and just show love..

Going full vent is leaping off a cliff without looking first…

What should we be listening too?

Word of truth

Psalm 119:11 (ESV)

11 I have stored up your word in my heart,     that I might not sin against you.

In order to hear the word of God we need to humble ourselves to realize we need the word of God

How to hear and speak well

Tell the person what you just heard

Speak into them the word of God.

If Gods word is our playbook it is what we should consult before we rip somoenes head off? Or even give them advice..

Each other

Sometimes people just need an ear

Titus 3:2 (ESV)

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

(prepared to listen we need to learn)

handle your anger

Justice/Dad football penalty..

GET TO THEIR HEART

Kids parenting..

Operating out of frustration

TAKE 10 SECONDS

Socrates:  make sure your brain is in gear before your mouth is in motion.

Do it

James 1:21-22 (ESV)

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant 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.

Pigpen

Why didn’t his friends tell him.. dude I love you enough to tell you to take a shower

Put away.. literally means strip off.. like you just got sprayed by a skunk

When we accept Jesus. We are not just adding him to our lives we are making him our life.

So in order to do that we must remove our old ways.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)

22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

We cant run the same play

No more blue 88 run the bar when I have a bad day

Or red 66 gossip about my friends

Or Omaha Omaha Lie cheat and steal..

So not only do we hear what God has to say but we allow what he has to say transform us into who he created us to be.. doers of the word!

Hearers deceive themselves.. let me be carefull here but what James is saying if you go to church and listen ..great but if you do not put into action what you heard you have deceived yourself..if you study God’s word every day but do not change your sinful ways you have deceived yourself..

Examine it.

James 1:23-25 (ESV)

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Jesus himself taught us we are called to examine our life and see is there darkness or light

Looks into..this is not quick glance but a deep thoughtfull reflection…

I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself and then make that change

Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett "this song was deeper than just the visual of a man looking at himself in the mirror." "It was that, juxtaposed with the idea of a man going deeper inside himself to change from within. To make a difference on the outside, you have to first start from within."

John 8:31-36 “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ... “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The son of God set you free now live in that freedom.. and hold on to its teaching..

You are free to run.. free to live free to dance because of Jesus dying on the cross for your sins..

Live for him!!!