How to Mature in the Word
Pastor Jon
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James 1.21-2
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
James 1.
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
The Danger of Self-Deception
One of the greatest dangers a Christian may fall into is “self-deception”
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
No Christian will mature outside of the Word of God.
James 1.22
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
Christians who
Maturity begins when a person takes an honest look of himself in the light of God’s Word.
an honest person acknowledges whatever the Word says about himself
Examples of Self-Deceived Christians
If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Maturity begins when a person takes an honest look of himself in the light of God’s Word.
an honest person acknowledges whatever the Word says about himself
One must Receive the Word
One must Receive the Word
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
James 1.21
Implanted word means that word of God which one has heard.
The implanted most MUST be received, otherwise it will not grow
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1.
The Word of God must be received in the right way.
And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.
“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
James’ admonition
This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
be quick to hear
“He who has ears, let him hear.”
God’s word is not for debate
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
be slow to speak
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
be slow to anger
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
Humility prepares the heart to receive God’s Word
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
humility
One must Practice the Word
One must Practice the Word
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
James 1.22
Receiving is just the beginning of one’s journey with the Word of God. Once it is received, the Word then must be practiced, or put into action in life.
The Word of God is a “mirror” of life
to examine oneself
to
See yourself in the mirror of God’s Word
The purpose of a mirror is to examine oneself.
Remember what you see in the mirror
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
James 1.23-24
Do something with what you see
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
blessed - happy
To practice the Word is to act based on what the “mirror” expects of you. Do something positive with whatever you see in the mirror.
One must Share the Word
One must Share the Word
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Religion
grk. threskia, activity showing one’s love and devotion to a deity.
generally, religion is one’s practices based on what he believes
true religion is practicing God’s Word and sharing it with others. (how?)
In your speech
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
True religion is
an unbridled tongue easily destroys your testimony
unbridled testifies against your actions
In service
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
visit the orphans and widows in distress
In you separation from the world
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
words cannot replace right action
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2.14-17
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him
1 John 3.17
In your separation from the world
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
keep oneself unstained by the world
the world is “society without God”
Satan is the prince of this world ()
we are in the world, but not OF the world
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17.11
we are not to love the world
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
be ye separate!
1 John
Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Spiritual maturity requires hard work.
Spiritual maturity requires the working of the Word of God.
Spiritual maturity has its rewards.
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1.23
“blessed in what he does”
true happiness is found when finds the word of God fulfilled in his/her life.