Spiritual Stagnation

Spiritual Stagnation - Cycles (Anger)

Stagnation:

The state of not flowing or moving.

lack of activity, growth, or development.

Lack of activity, growth, or development.

#1 More than Inspiration but Information.

James 1:19 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

The half brother of Jesus is giving instructions to Jews that have been scattered because of persecution.

1) “Let every person” be quick to hear.

2) “Every person” slow to speak.

3) “Every person” slow to anger.

Question: Do you often feel that you are being push to a limit.

Question: Do you feel that you have a quick temper.

James teaches us in verse 19 about conflict resolution. If every person would use these principles!

Our lives would be so different.

James 1:20 ESV

for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

My anger does not produce what is right in God’s sight.

God is not happy when allow myself to be pushed to the edge and my anger takes control.

An Exegetical Summary of James 1:20

what is right in God’s sight

#2 How to overcome

James 1:21 ESV

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Key Word - “Therefore”

Put away - Get rid of / Do away with

Filthiness - Sordidness

Sordid: involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.

Ignoble: not honorable in character or purpose.

Rampant - profuse growth

wickedness - badness / vice / naughtiness / evil attitudes toward others

1st put away but now I have to receive

I have to receive with humility - Willingness to learn and to submit.

The implanted word - Planted in your hearts.

This word is able to save your souls.

God Word!

The Bible is the my road map and my blueprint for life.

#3 Spiritual Stagnation Is Self Inflicted

James 1:22–24 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 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. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

James 1:22-23

Doers vs. Hearers

Why do we sometimes feel stuck!

We are already in October. The 10 month

Lack of growth

Dealing with the same Cycles of life / health / family / church..........

Question: Could it be you’re in the battle between “hearing and doing?”

For many this verse explains our church life. “Who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.” - But when I leave… “He looks at himself and goes away and at once forget what he was like.”

#4 Break the cycle

James

James 1:25 ESV

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.

The word of call is a perfect picture of who I am and I shall be.

This picture brings liberation to my life.

But I have to perseveres - Persevere / To keep on paying attention / Not to turn away.

Persevere: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement.

“Being not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts.”

When the word tells me to do, I do....

“He will be blessed in his doing.”

The cycle of stagnation in your life ends, when you move from hearing to doing....

Doors begin to open.......