The Engrafted Word James 1:21

Title: The Engrafted Word

Text: James 1:17-27

Introduction: Have you ever grafted a tree or seen someone do it?

To graft a tree or any plant the first step is preparing the tree

A Scion- branch

Stock- the stump

Now James talks about the engrafted Word in James 1:21 which is able to save your soul. The first step in engrafting the Word to our hearts is preparing our hearts and minds to be able to receive the Word.

If we really accept the Word just like the tree branch will be fruitful, we will be fruitful by obeying the Word.

Part of obeying the Word is working for the Lord and obeying all His commands. In James chapter one we will see:

First, we will see The Source of the Engrafted Word (James 1:17-20).

Second, we will see The Superpower of the Engrafted Word (James 1:21).

Finally, we will see The Successfulness of the Engrafted Word (James 1:22-27).

Thesis: The engrafted Word comes from God, and if properly engrafted, will lead us to do works.

I. The Source of the Engrafted Word (James 1:17-20).

a. Vs. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above: There is nothing we need from anywhere else.

b. Verse 5 He told us if we lack wisdom than ask of God, who gives liberally.

c. Wisdom from anywhere else is earthly, sensual, and devilish as James 3:15.

d. But 3:17 That which is from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

e. Vs. 17 B Comes from Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. God is unchanging. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

f. Vs. 18 Of His will (God) begat us with the Word of Truth. Begat means to birth, to bring forth, we were birthed again, born again from the Word of God. John 3:3 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God!!!!

g. Vs. 18B That we should be a kind of first fruits. 1 Cor 15:20 Christ became the first fruits of them that slept. Now by God, His Word, being made Christians, we should be a kind of first fruits like Jesus.

h. Vs. 19 Wherefore be swift to hear (The Word) and slow to speak.

i. Vs. 19B-20 Be slow to wrath, for the wrath worketh not the righteousness of God.

i. Swift to Hear the Word of Truth. The engrafted Word. Rom 10:17

ii. Slow to speak and wrath because those thigs are not from above, they are not pure, they are not gentle, they are not peaceable: thgey are earthly and devilish!!!!!

Application: As Christians we need to constantly look for the source, being the Word of truth and quick to listen to it.

II. The Superpower of the Engrafted Word (James 1:21).

a. Wherefore lay away all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.

i. Filthiness is dirtiness- anything that defiles a person.

ii. Superfluity of naughtiness is abundance of evil, or malice.

b. Receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save your soul.

i. Grafting- like grafting a scion to the stock. A fruitful branch to a good stump which if done correctly will produce much fruit.

ii. Rom 11:17 Paul talks about the Gentiles being as wild olive branches gaffed in the tree.

iii. When we become NT Christians, we are grafted into the vine John 15 and if we are fruitful than Jesus continues to abide in us but if unfruitful than God will prune them from the vine and they will be cast to ground and burned.

Application: If our graft was good than we will be a doer of the Word!!! We will produce!!!

III. The Successfulness of the Engrafted Word (James 1:22-27).

a. Vs. 22 Be doers of the Word and not hearer only, deceives himself.

i. James 4:17 To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. If God is telling us to do something like not being partial in Ch 2 and we don’t listen than we are in sin. Wages of sin is death Rom 6:23.

ii. Vs. 23-24 Example of a non-doer like a man that looks in the mirror see himself, walks away and forgets what he looked like. Like the man that sees in mirror his hair is too long and forgets to cut it. Sees in mirror his beard is longer than school rules and does not cut it!!!

b. Vs. 25 “But” whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein,he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

i. Liberty means freedom- John 8:32 ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If we continue in truth, we will free. Be like the blessed man who meditates on the Law of the Lord Day and night.

c. Vs. 26 Example of bad graft.

d. Vs. 27 Example of a good graft.

Application: As Christians we must continue to examine Gods Word not just reading it but applyin it to our live so we will be blessed.

If we are being doers of the Word, we will practice Pure Religion. unspotted!!!

Conclusion: We see James talks about where Truth comes from and that is God the Father.

We must prepare our hearts and get the Word engrafted in us through study and meditation than we can allow Gods Word to transform us into the Christians we should be practicing Pure religion.

Christianity is not easy- part of Christianity is our faith will be tested,

but we can count it all joy knowing that we will be blessed in the end if we continue seeking things above we can receive the crown of life.

First, we saw The Source of the Engrafted Word.

Second, we saw The Superpower of the Engrafted Word.

Finally, we saw The Successfulness of the Engrafted Word.

I encourage each and every one of you to evaluate your life in a mirror and see if your life matched up with what the engraftment Word of God says!!!