Hearing and Doing the Word - James 1:19-27

Introduction - You’ve joined the Army…

Structure

Story of Digger in Distress OR Imagine you’re a transformed new recruit.

Pray

Context - introduces theme of the Word.

talk about context = sin gives birth to death, we have been given birth through the Word.

Listen to the Word - vs 19-20.

Humbly Accept the Word - vs 21

Do the Word - vs 22 -25

The hearing test - vs 26-27

Goal

Prayer is that we’d be people who listen to God’s word and then do it - an obedient people.

We would be transformed to love, as he has loved us.

Hey guys how’s it going? Yea Good thanks.

My name is Jimmy, Im one of the student minister’s here.

And it’s good to see you.

I usually attend the 1030 and 6pm service

and so it’s great to be here at 9am.

Context - The Theme of the Word.

My wife Marlee and I have recently welcomed our first child into the world.

Before Isaac was born,

while Marlee was pregnant

I had an interaction with someone that made me want to crawl into a hole and die.

I was at college one day, and this lovely lady came up to me and said

“I heard you and Marlee are expecting, congratulations!

when is she due?”

And I said oh I few more months, we’re really excited.

When’s your baby due?

*optional

she looked at me and said “Im not pregnant”.

Let me tell you, I prayed right then and there

that the Lord would immediatley come and take me to be with him.

have you ever been caight saying something you wish you could take back?

you ever been a little too quick to speak?

have you ever been too carless with your words?

Of course you have, we all have

its of our very nature

we dont think before we speak

more commonly we dont listen, before we speak.

God has made us with two ears and one mouth

but we use them in the reverse order, all the time.

James 1 has some practical wisdom for all of us.

when it comes to this kind of thing.

Have a look at vs 19 in chapter 1

James 1:19 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

If we took this verse to heart

and transformed the way that we listen and speak

the world would be a much better place wouldnt it?

Our marriages would be better

our friendships would be better

our workplaces would be better

our churches would be better

The wisdom in this verse is true and it works

it works in our relationships

and all those we have contact with in our lives.

But that’s not all.

In fact, this isnt even primarily what James is driving at here.

This verse, verse 19

doesn’t really make sense

If you took out vs 19, and read from vs 18, skipped vs 19 and vs 20 and went straight to vs 21

it would make much more sense.

here’s what i mean, from vs 18

James 1:18–21 NIV

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created… 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 you see what i mean?

vs 19 just sort of complicates the flow of this argument

But as we look a bit deeper at the context,

we see that what James is driving at here

is the transforming power of the word.

Have a look with me at the context before and after vs 19

Starting at vs 16

James 1:16–21 NIV

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 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.

James contrasts the evil conception and birth of sin

with another birth of a better kind

From above comes the good and perfect gift from the Father, in vs 17

he has given us birth - new birth, through the word of truth, in vs 18

My own desires, internally within me, give birth to sin and death

yet from outside me

externally, comes the word of truth

and this word of truth is what transforms me

and makes me part of the firstfruits of his new creation.

The intrument God uses to transform people from death to new life is the word of truth.

And then immediately after the the quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry verses

we get down to vs 21, which urges us to humbly accept the word planted in us

So before vs 19

we have a reference to the word of truth which transforms us

and in vs 21 he’s saying accept the word planted in you.

Which means that in vs 19, the quick to listen

refers to an eager and obedient listening to the word of truth, the gospel by which God saves us.

James here has transformed this proverb, into a piece of the gospel

be quick to listen to this word of truth, spoken by an unchangingly good Father

this word that gives you birth into new life

humbly bow before that word, accept it, hear it.

and, accordng to vs 22, act on it. Do it.

This whole section is about God’s word

and how it must continue to transform us.

and the way that we see God’s word has transformed us and continues to do so

is by hearing it

and doing it.

This morning I want to walk through 4 things about the word

and how it must transform us

Listen to the Word

Humbly Accept the Word

Do what the Word says

Have your hearing tested.

And just before you think

yea i’ve got most of this sorted

James here, is writing to Christians.

and he is expecting this will rattle their cages

and as I’ve read this chapter, it’s totally rattled my cage.

Listen to the Word

First up, listen to the word.

Actually, did you notice he said, quick to listen.

I wonder is that you?

is that your first waking thought?

do you find it easy to listen to the word first thing in the morning or late at night?

are you quick to do it?

Or does sleep come?

do distractions come?

it is hard to make time for bible study?

are there always other things that are coming up?

other thing that squeeze out your habit of listening to the word of God?

This isn’t just a nice to have, optional thing.

Jesus describes the word as the bread of life

this word is what has given us new life

listening to the word

it’s a deeply spiritual, life giving activity

God’s word recreates and saves us

its a source of life and light to our feet

And if you’re having trouble listening to this word

no doubt it’s a spiritual battle you’re experiencing.

the evil one would love nothing more

than for you to stop listening to this transofmring word.

And if that is you

please pray that the spirit would move you to be quick to listen to the word.

Quick to listen.

Notice here aswell, slow to speak.

We know this is true with other people don’t we?

if we’re speaking, we can’t listeen.

we dont’ listen while we’re talking

while we’re waiting for them to finish speaking

we’re thinking about what we’re going to say

It’s true in our human relationships

it’s true of our relationship of God aswell.

Do you speak too much to God?

Please dont hear me say, pray less to God

Al would probably crash tackle me from out of the bushes.

But do you expect to hear from God

whilst you’re talking to him?

Slow to speak.

slow to become angry.

It’s interesting those two are held together arent they?

I can guarantee you the last thing Im doing when I become angry is the activity of listening.

One of the threats to listening to God’s transforming word is anger.

And you know, the first step towards change is awarness and recognition.