A Right Perception to Receiving The Word of God

Receive The Word with understanding

Introduction:In this text James teaches us the The Scriptures are to have this serving and sanctifying affect upon us. He is also reminding us that it is possible to have a good hearing but to be hard of listening. We must learn how to hear Gods Word because The Bible is the primary source in developing the Christian Life.

I.Receive the word with understanding

a .A proper reception of The Word

The belief of Gods Word and belief in Jesus Christ are inseparable.

Acts 17:11-These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and search the Scriptures daily to whether these things were so.

b.A proper understanding of The Word-2nd Tim. 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 AV

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

II. Receive the word with submission v19-20

a.we need a cautious ear v19a

swift to hear emphasizes the necessity of hearing

Opening Up James Developing Swiftness (v. 19)

Adlai Stevenson once opened an address to students at Princeton with these words: ‘I understand I am here to speak and you are here to listen. Let’s hope we both finish at the same time.’ But the truth is, a lot of church attenders get through listening long before the pastor gets through preaching.

husband and wife relationship

Authorized Version Chapter 10

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Authorized Version Chapter 11

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear

young man wanting to learn public speaking

b. We need a controlled tongue v19 b

He that refraineth his lips are wise

Opening Up James Developing Swiftness (v. 19)

Be slow to speak! The worship services of those days often featured people interrupting the speaker to share their own ‘insights’. And sometimes those ‘insights’ were ‘outsights’—out of touch with reality!

TOO many times we argue with Gods if not audibly at least in our heart and mind slow to speak dose not mean slowness in ones speech but restraint or thoughtfulness before beginning to speak- Johnny HURT

the idea of being careful not be thinking about one own thought and ideals while someone else is trying to express Gods

Opening Up James Developing Swiftness (v. 19)

But there is another way in which we need to be slow to speak, namely, to ourselves. In other words, when the Word of God is being declared, we must be on guard against the tendency to be inwardly raising objections.

Opening Up James Developing Swiftness (v. 19)

Be slow to anger! When the Word of God is accurately preached, we will often find that it hurts. It is a sword that pierces and cuts (Heb. 4:12)! How do we respond when this happens? Do we become resentful and combative? If we allow anger to come in, the Word of God will not come in!

Some fail to appropriate the Word of God because they are angry at the one who is delivering

talking when the word of God is being preach

c.We need a clam temper v 19b

anger-inner deep resentment that seethes and smolders

anger at preaching of GODS word when hit home with us

Opening Up James Developing Swiftness (v. 19)

Some fail to appropriate the Word of God because they are angry at the one who is delivering it! Perhaps they have seen a flaw in him. Or perhaps they disagree with something he has done in leading the church. Those in this category would do well to heed James’s word about being slow to anger.

James 4:1 KJV 1900

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Authorized Version Chapter 4

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

you cant handle the truth- James 1:20 (AV)

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Hostility angainst the truth of Gods word for in reality is angainst God himself

III. RECIEIVE THE WORD WITH PURITY 21a

a.We need to put away sin

to put off to lay aside taking off dirty clothes strip off rid your self of snake shedding his skin-Eph.4:22-That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust.

Colossians 3:8-But now ye also put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of y our mouth.

filthiness - ear wax

b. We need to clean up our life

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Filth, Filthiness

FILTH, FILTHINESS - in a literal sense, foul or dirty matter; in a figurative sense, ceremonial uncleanness or spiritual corruption. "All our righteousnesses," declared the prophet Isaiah, "are like filthy rags" (Is. 64:6). But God will forgive and cleanse the sinner who repents and believes

morally impure

Superfluity of naughtiness

Superfluity-Speaks of abundance of sinfulness.

It is a picture of a heart as a garden over grown with weeds that cannot be controlled.

It speaks of over whelming wickedness.

IV. To Receive The Word in Humility

A. The spirit of the receiver

Receive with meekness 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV 1900)

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The Word Receive means to welcome, to be at home, free access to all parts of your life.

Opening Up James Cultivating Meekness (v. 21)

The word ‘meekness’ tells us that we are to come to the Word with a soft, gentle, teachable disposition, recognizing the authority of God’s Word and submitting to it.

Meekness's essential meaning is Self.

It speaks of humility and a teachable spirit.

A gentle attitude that expresses itself in submission.

Story: A great preacher, Dr. Wilbur Chapman, was called on the carpet by his deacons. As they sat before his desk, they said, "Dr. Chapman, we would like for you not to be so hard on sin, calling it by name, because if you do, people won't like it. We would like for you to make it a little milder. We want you to preach against sin, but make it a little more palatable so you won't run people off." Dr. Chapman picked up a bottle of strychnine he kept on his desk. He said, "Sir, what are you asking me to do is to change the label on this and say it is the spirit of peppermint. The milder you make the label, the more dangerous you make the poison."

B. The Substance for the receiver

The ingrafted word-Speaks of the implanted word.

The word implanted means to plant a seed in the ground.

Opening Up James Cultivating Meekness (v. 21)

The Word of God has already been implanted in each and every Christian. How is it possible, then, to ‘receive’ a word which is already implanted? John Calvin suggests that James is saying we are to receive the Word so ‘it may be really implanted’. In other words, we are to go on receiving the Word of God in such a way that it becomes more firmly and deeply planted in our lives than ever before. We are to go on opening our hearts to it and welcoming it so that its truth will be transfused and transmitted into our lives.

It speaks of the condition of the heart of the believer.

Matthew 13:23 AV

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

C. The Soul of the receiver

Which is able to save your soul.

It is speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit in a believers life, cleansing, correcting & conforming us to the image of Jesus.

It is to be saved from unclean practices and from defiling sin.

CONCLUSION: How we receive the Word of God will play a major impact on how we conduct our lives.