TEACHING - Be doers of the word and not hearers only

Entrance

Excitement around Christmas - Wednesday

Gifts and great food.

We get excited for things we dont have.

Lets remember the greatest gift we have already received.

The gift we have received is Jesus. Christmas is around something we already have.

We are reminded about:

The birth of Jesus

That He is human and God //

The life of Jesus and His example //

What He did for us, illustrating His great love for us, the ultimate gift we received, which is His sacrifice for payment for our sins. //

Jesus is called the Word, the way, the truth, the life

This is the ultimate gift.

Lets not be like a child that receives a gift and then forgets about it later in life. This gift does not have an end of life date. We cannot outgrow it.

Today we will try and understand this gift of the Word, the gift of this way, this truth, and how it should bring us life!

James 1:17–25 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Be a hearer of the Word of Truth

Word of truth - Gospel of Jesus

Jesus the creator John 1:3

In Jesus is life, the light of all mandkind John 1:4-5

Jesus, the Word became flesh - John 1:14

Jesus was rejected by the world He created - John 1:10-11

Jesus died to pay for our sins. He was the ultimate sacrifice.

Because he was the perfect example, righteouss, he overcame death and rose from the dead.

Whoever believes in Jesus, and in His work, by faith will receive grace and be children of God. John 1:12 - 13

James 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

You are chosen by God, He has gifted you the revelation of this truth and you are reborn by it through the Spirit.

2 Thes 2:12 - 13 says we are sanctified by the work of the Spirit and through believing in this Truth.

Word of truth - The Law

The truth about the gospel of Jesus is not where our story ends.

You receive salvation for heaven through believing in Jesus, but how do we receive salvation in our difficult lives today?

1 John 5:1–5 NIV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus summed up the Law in this great commandment of Loving God first and secondly loving your neighbour.

1 John 3:4–6 says everyone who sins breaks the law. Jesus appeared that he might take away our sins. In Jesus there is no sin. No one who lives in Jesus keeps on sinning. The one who continues to sin does not know Jesus.

You got to ask yourself, what is your WHY behind not doing that sin you struggle with the most.

Whenever I battle with sin and even before it, the temptation, I remind myself of the work of Jesus, but specifically how the work of Jesus illustrates God’s love towards me. When I know God loves me so much, I am filled with love and compassion towards God, and that is my WHY behind me deciding not to give in to temptation.

When you do this you allow the HS to come in and help you to resist your temptation to sin.

James 4:7 NIV

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

There are 12 wisdom teachings in the book of James.

He uses Jesus’s teachings of the law of love, especially from the sermon of the mount, to remind us again of these truths that Jesus gave us, to encourage us to hear and obey them.

Jas 2:1-13 Favortism vs Love (Mat 5:46 - 48)

Jas 2:14-26 Geniune faith (Mat 7:21 - 27)

Jas 3:1-12 The Tongue (Luke 6:43 - 45)

Jas 4:11-12 Condeming others (Mat 12:36 - 37)

Jas 5:12 Let your yes mean yes (Mat 5:37)

Jas 4:13-17 The arrogance of wealth (Mat 6:28 - 34)

Jas 5:1-6 The danger of wealth (Mat 6:19 - 21)

Jas 5:7-11 Patience and endurance (Hope in Jesus's return) (Mat 24:13)

Jas 5:13-18 Faith filled prayer (Mat 21:21-22)

James 1:17 refers to this “perfect” gift from the Father

James 1:25 refers to the “perfect” law.

This perfect gift is the word of truth that matures, completes, makes us whole. This is the truth of the law of love, the law that will bring you freedom and blessing.

This is the truths you need to save you today in life.

Teachable and accept the Word of truth

Receive the Word with meekness, humility

Matthew 5:3–12 (NIV)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

...

Matthew 23:12 “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Jesus is humble. He is our example.

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

Resisting the truth

James 1:19–21 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

What anger is James talking about?

Anger in hearing the truth, wanting to reject it.

Jeremiah 37:15 “They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.”

Jesus was persecuted when speaking the truth.

Where are you resisting the truth because you do not like what it says?

Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”

We should be careful of taking offence too quickly. - Slow to anger

We should be slow to speak and rather listen.

Seek the truth

James 1:25 “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom...”

Dont be okay with being ignorant of the law or the word.

Do you seek freedom?

Seek the truth which sets you free!

Forgetting or rejecting the Word

Hosea 4:6 “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”

Hebrews 2:1 “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

Be a doer of the Word

The true children of God

Matthew 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 12:50 “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.””

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

A new creation in Christ

To obey God’s commandments and live righteously, you need to know you are made rigtheouss and who you are in Christ!

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

Paul uses the metaphore of taking off the old clothes and putting on new clothes.

1 Peter 1:23 says how you are born again of imperishable seed, through the living, enduring word of God.

Hearing but not doing

James uses a nice metaphore of a mirror

James 1:23–24 NIV

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Who do you see in that mirror?

What clothes are you wearing?

Let us stop resisting the word of truth, and rather with humility accept it, deny ourselves, and allow the word of truth to work through our actions, which will bring life and freedom!

Matthew 16:24–25 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

When I get tempted to sin, I also remember this verse, I need to put myself second, I can put God first.

James 2:26 NIV

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

True faith is us hearing this word of truth, believing it, and then saying and doing what we believe.

In this trust the Spirit that sanctifies.

Trust God who carries us through these challenges, these trails and tribulations.

He will never leave you and never forsake you.

He calls us to maturity, but He is with us every step of the way.

Blessed in your doing

James 1:25 NIV

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

I want to be blessed in the things I do!

Luke 11:28 “He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.””

Deut. 28:1–14

General Blessings (Verses 1-2): Blessings will overtake you wherever they go.

Blessings in Daily Life (Verses 3-6):

Blessed in the city and the field.

Blessings on children, crops, livestock, and food supply.

Blessings upon all activities ("coming in and going out").

Victory and Protection (Verses 7-8):

Protection against enemies.

Blessings on your resources and all undertakings.

The Lord will establish His favor in your home.

Establishment as a Holy People (Verses 9-10):

You will be a witness to the world.

Prosperity and Abundance (Verses 11-12):

Fertility

Abundant harvests

Economic prosperity.

No need to borrow.

Leadership and Superiority (Verses 13-14):

Success in the things you do.

Condition - Be a doer of the word, obey the word.

Deuteronomy 29:9 “Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.”

In the next section of Deuteronomy He also outlines the curses if we just hear but not do. The opposite of life and blessing that Jesus brings through the Word.

Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”

Conclusion

What use has a gift if not used?

Is that gift really important?

Is it something we cherish, or do we just move on to the next best thing we dont have?

What use does the gift of knowledge or truth have without practice?

Lets remember this gift God has given us this Christmas

Lets be grateful for Jesus, this gift we are celebrating

Lets start using this gift with the gift of the Holy Spirit to transform how we live in 2025

Let this truth produce the gift of life and blessing God has in store for you.