Do the Do

Be a Good neighbor  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
0 ratings
· 2 views
Notes
Transcript

We are a reflection of God

A warning - Hearing the Command (vv. 19–21)
A contrast (vv. 22–25)
And a demand (vv. 26–27).
A Life Reflecting Christ
Tools To Reflect Christ
Hebrews & James (B. The Danger of Listless Listening (vv. 19–27))
As a college freshman, I sat through a semester-length course named “Orientation.” The grade of pass or fail came from mere attendance and included no other requirement. Various college officials discussed such subjects as “Using College Services,” “How to Study,” and “Planning for the Future.” We took no notes, completed no assignments, and endured no tests. The sole requirement was to sit through the lectures.
This course produced a lot of listless listeners. Since no one demanded anything from us, we did nothing. It was easy to hear the words and ignore the content. A listless listener is someone who can endure a speech, lecture, or sermon without purposing to do a thing. A listless listener can mistake hearing and learning for obeying God.
James warns us against listless listening. We have heard messages from God’s Word, learned new truths, and even been “born again.” James wants to know, Are we still learners who have not yet become doers?
How many, have walked out of services. Not this churches of course, and said. Good points, and by lunch time, you forgot what what did I just sit there and listen to. OR, have you walked out of hear saying, that was awful. Pastor did a bad job of connecting. What time does that football game start. I’m glad I checked this off the list.
God is not content when his people merely attend Christian lectures. He wants us to absorb his message and change our lives because of it. Listless listening which produces no change is a blight on a Christian’s life. To prevent listless listening, this passage gives a warning (vv. 19–21), a contrast (vv. 22–25), and a demand (vv. 26–27).
Hebrews & James 1. A Warning against Ignoring God’s Word (vv. 19–21)
Christians can pretend to obey God without truly listening to his commands. The readers of James’s letter knew the transforming power of God’s Word, the gospel. James urged them to demonstrate this change, particularly in their speech.
The commands refer both to our relationships to one another and to God. We are to be quick to hear and slow to talk both toward other people and toward God.
This is written completely opposite of what we do now. Usually it goes something like, Anger, then you say something, they you go uh oh, probably shouldn’t have said that. Instead, James is telling us to start with hearing.
Quick to Hear - The command to be quick to listen calls for an eagerness to hear and obey God’s message. 
Slow to Speak - The appeal to be slow to speak demands silence until we have understood and applied the message. It is a call for restraint lest we produce hasty, ill-timed reactions. 
Slow to Become Angry - The challenge to be slow to become angry warns against hostile, bitter feelings. We cannot hear God if we remain distracted with resentment, hatred, or vengeful attitudes.
Our society encourages us to express our feelings, whether they be good or bad, peaceful or inflammatory, godly or ungodly. BUT, when has anything of this world been a good recommendation. In James 1:19, James pictures the wise person as one who listens to God and others, deliberates a response carefully, and answers with cautious words.
Then it goes on to James 1:20 “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  I’m defending God.
Hebrews & James 1. A Warning against Ignoring God’s Word (vv. 19–21)

Man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. The anger prohibited by this passage is not so much a flashing, destructive temper as a simmering pot of hostile, mean-spirited feelings.

Hebrews & James 1. A Warning against Ignoring God’s Word (vv. 19–21)

Human anger wastes the energies of God’s people, produces divisions, and often comes from selfish ambition

Such a simple idea. Hearing. Who would have ever thought we’d need a refersher course in Conversation. Conversation with God. Conversation with Others. Uhhhh, just open your ears. It’s that simple. Of course anyone who has been around a kid, or a husband, knows, hearing can be difficult.
We’re being instructed by God, to do this. But HOW, can we do this? Is it natural.
James 1:21 “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Notice: Put Away ALL Filthiness and RAMPANT Wickeness. Remember, James is talking to Believers. In the same way he was looking and talking to them, he’s talking to us. How can we truly LISTEN like this? By purposely PUTTING AWAY. Us, actively doing something. Putting away that thing in our life, or those things in our life that keeping us from trusting God. From having a true relationship with him.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
Colossians 3:10 “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
Do this. Get rid of all that stuff. And fill yourself up with the “Implanted Word”, God’s word, that is able to Save your Soul. NOW, and When we see Christ.
Okay, great, we have a good understanding of what Hearing is, right? Shut your mouth, (Sorry I added that) Open your ears, Digest what you’re hearing while keeping your mouth shut, walk in calmness, meekness and with a pure heart. Wow. Sounds Easy.
Let’s continue to V22…

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.

So we just covered hearers. Now we get to Do. Great. Here we go Jared. I’m great at doing. Just the other day, at HEB, I grabbed one of those brown bags they have put together for poor people. And I bought it, I mean it was $7.99. And I did it, and put it in the barrel. And later that day I…
Great, but that is not where James is going with this, in these verses. But what does he mean by Do
Before I get to there, I want to tell you a story.
Generally, when it comes to getting ready in the morning. I’m a really quick guy.
Be Doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
So many ways we can enjoy scripture
We can hear scripture hear on Sundays.
I can Read my bible
Or if I miss my quit time, I can catch it on my phone
Check the verse of the day that texted to me
Inspirational calendars (Ahhhh, so refreshing today)
Listen to online sermons
Listen to Podcasts
Bible Apps
All, while I run drive or cook
Even non christians can appreciate a good, verse, or tshirt that has some type of positive message on it
Here James is saying Be Doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. If we’re not careful, soon, and to many, scripture can be like a Peanuts Cartoon. You know when Peppermint Pattie is talking to the teacher and all you hear, is Wa wa wa wa wa. In one ear out the other. As christians we can tend to be sermon hoarders. Every week, we come, sit here, leave. Nothing new. Nothing more. Maybe we’ll check out the verse of the day on the Bible app, or get into God’s word a few times that week.
James is telling us, that we must go farther than reading verses. Or listening to sermons. How many have walked out of here on a Sunday, or heard and inspiring message and said, I’m going to try that this week. And actually tried it.
Let’s get back to our scripture. Vs. 23 - 24 - So here we have a man looking at himself in the mirror. Like me, probably rather quickly. Then he walks away and forgets.
Then in verse 25, James replaces Mirror with The perfect law. What is the Perfect law. It’s God’s scripture. The LAW of LIBERTY. The law, scripture, that brings Freedom. Freedom from sin. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from this world to a living Hope. The person who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts. How does it finish?? it finishes by saying He will be blessed.

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.

And you’re saying, what kind of church is this? Is this prosperity Gospel stuff? No. But it’s saying when a person stares intently into scripture, and does it. I takes it in. Digests it. Constantly looking. Constantly primping. Seeing those flaws. Oh, that hair isn’t quit right. Ooo, that eyebrow hair is a bit crazy. A person who is constantly looking into Scripture, soaking it up, he is a doer. Doing the things that are required of him, to be more like Christ. AND he will be blessed. Not with a hundred million dollars, but will be blessed in his spiritual walk. He will be a man or woman of stability. Who grows in Faith.
Heart check… How do you see your self? Do you love God’s Word? Do you hunger for it. Are you a spiritually wrinkled Christian, or are you Christ Follower that has a hunger for the Word of God. If you do not it’s evidence that you haven’t been transformed
Psalm 119:97 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”
Same book. But more of a negative perspective: Psalm 119:155 “Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.”
Psalm 1:1–3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
How about from the lips of Jesus - John 14:23 “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…
John 14:24 “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”
And the last one…
John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
All, I get it. We go through tough times. There are ebbs and flows in our walk, where it’s hard to get into God’s word. I’m not saying if you’re not in God’s word continually, you’re not saved. But there is Power in God’s word. In scripture, in the Law there is Freedom from bondage. There is Hope in depression. There is Forgiveness of sin. There is living water in dry times. There is Fruit in hard times. There is Fire and passion. There is Blessing
When God’s ways are most prevalent in our hearts then God’s ways will come out. But if it’s the world’s ways filling our hearts, then the world’s ways that will come out. This is why the psalmist says in Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
What does it look like to be a Hearer?
Let’s turn to verse 19
James 1:19–27 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Here he is speaking to believers. “Beloved Brothers”. What we’re seeing here is James talking to fellow believers, who are also Jews. My daughter Shelby recently was married, and she’s moved to Miami FL, where she’s a nurse. Generally she works with older patients, All who are snow birds from New York and New Jersey. You can only imagine the stereotypical, brooklyn person. Loud. Aggressive. Shelby called a lady on her rudeness and the lady stopped, did a semi appology, and said, that’s just the way we are.
That’s what we are looking at here. To Jews education and teaching was important. It’s what they knew. They spouted off knowledge.
He’s telling them. And this is great application on how to be neighborly. Be quick to hear. Be slow to speak? I know you want to jump in with telling everyone what to do. What is right. What this verse means. How to do that. But James is saying STOP. Shut It. Shut yo mouth, and open your ears. Listen first. Not only that, but don’t speak right away. Digest what is happening. What people are saying. Their thoughts. And if it’s not what you want to hear, don’t be Angry. OH WOW IS THAT HARD. Don’t be Angry? What. But if they something bad against God, certainly I’ll get Angry. God needs me to defend Him. Doesnt he?
Slow to Anger - We do not retaliate in anger when we hear something we don’t like. You have to submit to the word, in such a way, that you don’t respond with anger to those who disagree with you, in Truth. When you hear something you don’t agree with. slow to wrath—(Jam 3:13, 14; 4:5). Slow in becoming heated by debate: another Jewish fault
Let’s look in verse James 1:20 “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Oh, but this righteous Anger God. uh, no. Even in our most righteous acts, we are sinners. Sure we think we’re defending God, but most likely, we’re defending our pride. We’re defending our honor. There’s always a little glimpse of that in there.
MAN I love the book of James. It’s like the Proverbs of the New Testament. There is so much richness in it, and it flows from idea to idea. Like a necklace of pearls.
So we just learned to be Quick to listen, check. Slow to speak, check, and slow to anger check, check. I think I got it. Now can I do it? Eeeks. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Vs 21. He goes on.
James 1:21 “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
To adequately be in a position to receive God’s Word we must put away ALL Filthiness and Rampant wickedness in our lives. Remember, at the beginning, James is speaking to believers. Yet, they have filthiness and wickedness in their lives. Just like us. But James is calling them to action. PUT AWAY. Do it. Make a concerted effort to get those wicked things in your life out of your life. So what is Filthiness? Those things in your life you put before God. Money. Sports. Or those things you have that keep your mind off God. Crude movies. Bad TV shows, or videos. Social media that serves up the wrong lusts. PUT AWAY. It’s on you to create an action. Get off your phone, fast from your phone or sports and TV.
V21 - We must hear God’s word in Purity - Put aside filthiness, and the overflow of your corrupt nature. We have a sinful nature to enjoy things not of God
PUT AWAY - You must actively put aside. The thing you are dealing with. That thing you keep going back to. We must strip off ALL filthiness. Set aside moral vices.
Not going to be able to receive the word, if there is Sin in the way. If you want maximum impact on the word. Must give away ALL Filthiness. It must be removed.
Listen submissively, listen in purity, listen in humility
THEN receive with Meekness the implanted word, which is able save your souls. With all the filthiness out of your life, you now have a hole, figuratively that you can fill with Truth. And literally, because you’ve gotten rid of your TV, or phone. With Meekness, receive God’s word, which is able to save your souls. save your soul now, and at the moment when we see Christ.
A heart that is teachable. A heart that longs to be taught by God. In humility. Our pride and will is set aside. Bowing completely to God’s will. This maximizes our salvation. The word saved you. The word that continues to save you, until you reach Glory.
What does it look like to be a Doer?
Here we go. You’ve been waiting for this. What boxes do I need to check to be a doer.
To get our tongues under control. We need to have our Minds under control. You may think you’re religious, but if you don’t know how to bridle your tongue, your religion is worthless.
What does this look like, to be a doer?
V26 - Real religion is by doing it, and one way to do it, is to bridle the tongue.
It seems believers don’t bridle their tongue on Social media. Briddle your thumbs. Your walk with God is. Useless if it doesn’t translate to the way you live, and the way you treat others.
Being moderate, temperate, self controlled. Like the fruits of spirit.
V27 - Pure and undefiled religion (Isn’t that what we want) - Visit and reach out to those in actual need. Come beside the defenseless, and helpless. In this time, they were the least of these. Practical help of the needy.
AND - Keep oneself unspotted from the world. PERSONAL HOLINESS. An an act of personal holiness. We must have a loving concern for the needy of the world, and in our personal holiness. This will make us Effective DOERS of the word.
These are not the only ways to be a doer. But the three that James mentions.
Bridle your tongue
Have a heart to the needy
Strive for Personal Holiness
It’s not enough for us to be hearers of the word. We must be doers of the word. Doers of the Work.
Close with Matthew 7:24–27 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.