Live life in H.D.

Summary of truth from James 1:1-20

The book of James shows us the importance of putting our faith into action. At home, work, school, bus & train station, grocery store, beauty or barber shop, ball game, or at any place. All believers are representatives of God. The early church, 1st Century, put their faith into action in the middle of persecution, and many believers do the same today 2000 years later. Since we know we are bond servants (slaves) of Christ and righteous, our perspective or view of our testing, trials, and temptations should be different from those who do not believe. We count it all joy, because we know the testing of our faith works patience with in us, which is making us to look more and more like Christ. God is humbling us (breaking down the wrongful attitude of self-reliance and pride) purifying, and approving. He’s developing love, kindness, meekness, and growing us up in Him. We can ask God for wisdom if we don’t know what to do. He will not get mad at us, call us dumb, make fun, or rebuke us (express sharp stern reprimand, scolding, disapproval). We ask in faith, because we know our entire lives depend on faith (trust and reliance) in God. We can confidently and assuredly rest in the power, timing, and wisdom of God to see us through any difficulty. We must ask in faith and without doubting, trusting that God is able to do what He says. A person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (their outward circumstances dictates their direction). Happy is the person who endures, persevere, bare up under temptation, because they will receive joy, peace, love, kindness, meekness, contentment (satisfaction/fulfillment), and purpose. We can endure by Recognizing God knows the way, Receiving God’s way which is through faith in Jesus Christ, Remembering to watch and pray, Rising up and growing, Resisting the tempter with the Word, and Removing ourselves from certain situations. We never let anyone tell us God is tempting us so it’s okay for us to do wrong. It’s not God’s character to tempt us or even be tempted to do wrong things that dishonor His name. We represent the name of Christ. God does allow temptation, but He doesn’t want us to fall to it, He wants us to endure it. He wants us to endure the test and be approved. That our faith is genuine and true, which brings honor to Him. If honor is brought to him then others will come to Him to be saved, and they will live throughout eternity with God in Heaven. When we fall to temptation we dishonor/disgrace His name. Even through our unfaithfulness God can still be glorified through our repentance (change of heart, change of mind) from doing wrong and turning to Him. This does not mean that we can consistently do wrong, God is glorified, so it’s okay to do wrong, but the meaning is when we stop doing wrong God is Glorified. We are not tempted by God, but we are tempted by our own fleshly desires. We are drawn away and enticed like fish swimming after bait on a hook. Desire gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown it brings forth death. So let us not be deceived about the gifts and actions of God. Every Good and perfect gift comes from Him. There is no dark side to the gifts of a Holy and perfect God. Sometimes, we might not understand what gifts are from God, or what gifts are from the devil. For this reason it is so important for us to surrender our lives to Christ and stay in the Word of truth (Bible). Satan’s gifts are twisted and perverted. It could be a new car that lifts us up in wrongful pride, used for the wrong reasons, put us into financial bondage, or something tempting that helps to draw us away from God (there is a deception to his gifts). On the other hand God’s gifts are perfect, it could be a new car that doesn’t put us into financial

Summary of truth from James 1:1-20

What to do during trials – Acknowledge God is at work, Allow God to work, Ask God by faith for wisdom in His work

How to endure Temptation –Recognize God’s Power, Receive Christ, Remember to Watch & Pray, Rise up and (Grow), Resist the tempter by the word, Remove yourself from temptation.

What is the difference between trials and temptations? God tests us to humble us; He does not tempt us to fall. We are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires and enticed to do wrong. Satan tempts us to fall to break us down. But God tests us to withstand the fall to build us up. Even though God is not the author of temptation, He allows it sometimes, because through our endurance we can bring honor to His name. When we bring honor to His name, others will be drawn to Him for eternal life restoration. Even when we fall to sin, even though HE hates sin, honest repentance brings glory to His Name.

God’s gifts (during trials and temptations) – God’s gifts are good and perfect and not counterfeit. It is not his nature to give us gifts with a dark side.

How to handle anger during trials and temptations -Love produces the righteousness of God-so we should not be full of anger, but love. We should be quick/swift to hear what God has to say, slow to speak only what God would have us to say, and slow to wrath/anger and respond the way God would have us to respond. God is slow to wrath, but if we fail to repent the wrath is coming.

Do you want to be understood? Why?

Describe a time when someone really understood you (or really misunderstood you). How did you feel about it?

Do you think God wants you to understand Him? Why?

James 1:19–25 NKJV

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 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 observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

We must first be quick to listen by faith to what God has to say

slow to speak

We must be sure we speak what God would have us say and nothing else.

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But uhe who restrains his lips is wise.

27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

Pray for God to help us with our speaking

3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

James 1:19–27 NKJV

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 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 observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

James 1:19-27

Lay aside - cease from doing; filthiness - moral impurity; wickedness - evil badness; receive - welcome, accept as true, open your heart and take it in, embrace; meekness - gentleness of attitude and behavior, calm temper, not easily provoked; implanted - Permanently in place/set and growing; word - Logos, the gospel, message, Christ

filthiness - moral impurity

Why is it important for us to be doers of the word and not hearers only?

Why is it so important to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word?

Be doers of the word

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

God wants us to hear His word because the Bible teaches in , “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” But God does not want us to be hearers only.

He also wants us to be doers of His word. We do God’s word by placing our faith/trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Obeying the word leads us into a life full of joy, peace, contentment, satisfaction, kindness, patience, meekness, and Love. God shows us the way and leads us through the path of righteousness for His name sake.

i. God wants us to hear His word because the Bible teaches in , “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” But He does not want us to be hearers only. He also wants us to be doers of His word. We do God’s word by placing our faith/trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Obeying the word leads us into a life full of joy, peace, contentment, satisfaction, kindness, patience, meekness, and Love. God shows us the way and leads us through the path of righteousness for His name sake, but those who fail to be doers of the Word, find themselves in a state of depression, hopelessness, fear, bitterness, hatred, etc.. Sometimes an unbeliever may not feel these anxieties on earth, but there will be an eternity in hell to pay.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we tnot prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Doers of the word display genuine relationships with Christ

How can we start being doers of the Word and not just hearers?

Fear/Respect for God

An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

Example: When my mom called me or told me to do something vs my dad

Love is the main motivation

-13 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Deceive -Coming to a decision from false reasoning – We can be our own worst enemy. Sometimes we can know, or somewhat know that we are wrong, but we decrease, reduce, trim down the wrong and convince ourselves that it is okay.

Write your own examples of how you deceive yourself.

examples of deceiving self

1. As long as I go to church I’ll be fine in the eyesight of God. I put my time in Sunday morning, okay God you owe me some blessings

2. God I know what I am about to do is wrong, but please forgive me, you know my heart.

4. Hearing is good enough, I feel better about myself because I came to church today. Coming to church and hearing the word is good, but please don’t stop there

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

IF you’re not consistently doing what you learn, you will forget it.

For example: learning algebra in school or any subject

For example: have you ever checked your face in the morning and made sure all the eye crud, boogers, and ear wax were removed.

HAITI Example

Bible illustration

Parable of the Two Builders 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Continue to be Hearers and doers of the word.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Look into the perfect law of liberty.

Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law, brought it to maturity – just like paying off a car note, house, or credit card. He paid for all our sins on the cross. Now we are free from our debt, free from our shame, free from the slavery of sin, and open to learn how to love and be loved.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Now, the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we should not only look into the law of liberty, but continue in it. The difference between a forgetful hearer and a hearer who remembers is a Relationship. Being with the Word daily, sitting at the feet Jesus [the Word], reading the Word [Bible], studying the Word [Christ,Bible]. Also studying His actions, His words, His ways, and hearing His heart. Allow Christ to share His Life with us. It’s not all about what He wants from us, even-though we give our lives away to Him, but it’s about what He wants to give us. He wants to give us Himself; Life eternal!

Being with Christ allows us to continue to gaze upon His face; the perfect law of Liberty.

Daily surrender and renewal in the Word through reading and obedience.

We must surrender daily to what God wants (prayer, love, kindness, unity, forgiveness, to turn from sin, etc..) We must be God conscience or aware at all times (cleaning up, eating, talking, playing, feeding, helping, praying, preaching, singing, resting, etc..). We must line up our wants to God’s wants. This means we must trust God and know that every good and perfect gift comes down from above. We must not make ourselves the center of our lives, and just allow God to participate in it. We must make Christ the center of our lives, and everything else revolves around Him.

We must surrender daily to what God wants (prayer, love, kindness, unity, forgiveness, to turn from sin, etc..) We must be God conscience or aware at all times (cleaning up, eating, talking, playing, feeding, helping, praying, preaching, singing, resting, etc..). We must line up our wants to God’s wants. This means we must trust God and know that every good and perfect gift comes down from above. We must not make ourselves the center of our lives and just allow God to participate in it. We must make Christ the center of our lives and everything else revolves around Him.

For example: how the Sun doesn’t revolve around the earth, but the earth revolves around the Sun.

This person is not a forgetful hearer because they continue to look at themselves in view of the great grace and mercy of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Which viewing the surety of seeing Him one day, purifies us.

For example: Jesus looking at me and I at Him. I can see Jesus with His hands on my countenance, character, attitude, and heart [make hand gestures to shaping an image as I look into the sky]

For example: How I wiped stuff off the face of my children

Let’s set Jesus before us!

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Why is it so important to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word?

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Live in H.D. - being Hearers and Doers of the Word

The New King James Version. 1982 (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Why is it so important to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word?

Understand - to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend;to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character,nature, or small details of:

Live in H.D. - being hearers and doers of the Word

"Describe a time when someone really understood you (or really misunderstood you). How did you feel about it?

Do you think God wants you to understand Him? Why?

Understand - to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend;to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character,nature, or small details of:

Why do you think God wants to be understood?

Live in H.D. - being hearers and doers of the Word

God wants us to understand Him. The purpose of my Life is to give a glimpse of the reflection of God, so that He may be lifted up, honored, glorified, appreciated, and revered so that others may know Him. The main idea of the the Bible is Yaweh [God] and how Yaweh Saves [Jesus]. Through a relationship with the Word He wants us to understand Him; His ways; His actions; His LOVE forever!

The Word - sitting at the feet of Jesus

The purpose of my Life is to give a glimpse of the reflection of God, so that He may be lifted up, honored, glorified, appreciated, and revered so that others may know Him. The main idea of the the Bible is Yaweh [God] and how Yaweh Saves [Jesus]. Through a relationship with the Word He wants us to Understand Him; His ways; His actions; His LOVE forever!

The Angels know this - Holy! Holy! Holy!

he Word - sitting at the feet of Jesus

The Word - sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Prayer, faith - live as if I already have it - 100 dollars example

What is the main idea of the Bible? What are the two questions we ask

I can see Jesus with His hands on my countenance, Character, attitude, and heart [make hand jestures to shaping an image as I look into the sky]

What is the main idea of the Bible? What are the two questions we ask

Benediction:

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God willing, we will get to it another day.

I want to be understood - I asked God give me a sermon series early so I can get posters printed out, I could get a backdrop, I can tell you six weeks beforehand and then update three weeks out, two weeks, one week, before, then we can a great opening historical background and overview of our sermon series. Also to let you know over the next 3 months we will be in this series about “Knowing the nature of God allows us to understand the logicality of miracles.” God’s nature is supernatural so when He parted the Red Sea, that was just part of His nature. When Christ walked on water and calmed the waves and the wind, and the disciples said truly He is the Son of God. And we can have curriculum for our youth, adults, singles, married’s, and even our nursery singing nursery rhymes about God’s nature. But, where I am is here, when I finish preaching Sunday, in prayer and in total dependence on what God wants me to preach the next Sunday. I know that in of myself I’m broken, and dying daily to myself. Not by looking at self trying to kill it, but gazing on the transforming face of Christ - looking in a mirror.