a Doer of the Word

James 1:18-27 (NASB) 18  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Romans 10:17 (NASB) 17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED WORD OF GOD SALVATION IS SHOWN TO THE WORLD TO BE RECEIVED BY THOSE WHO WOULD APPLY IT TO THEIR OWN LIVES.

JAMES IS GOING TO QUALIFY HOW THIS HAPPENS.

BUT FIRST HE SAYS THIS. 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BUT THE CONTEXT HERE IS THE WORD OF GOD.  THE BIBLE.

TO BE QUICK TO HEAR THE BIBLE.   QUICK TO READ QUICK TO UNDERSTAND AND QUICK TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES.

20  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21  Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

1 Corinthians 1:20-21 (NASB) 20  Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

IT IS THOUGH UNDERSTANDING THE HEARD OR READ WORD OF GOD WE HEAR THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION AND UNDER THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE SEE OUR NEED OF FORGIVENESS AND RECEIVE OUR SALVATION.

THEN THERE IS A BUT.

3 THINGS THAT KEEP FROM BECOMING DOERS OF THE WORD.

DELUDING OURSELVES OR DECEPTION,   SELFISHNESS,   COMPROMISE

1. DECEPTION 22  But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING AND HE KNOW IF WE HAVE TRUELY PUT OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN HIM;  I LIKE THIS

BUT PROVE TO YOURSELVES IF YOU ARE A DOER OF THE WORD

NOT JUST HEARERS WHO DECEIVE THEMSELVES

23  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; 24  for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB) 12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

MIRRORS IN THE TIME OF THIS WRITTING WAS NOT LIKE OUR MIRRORS TODAY MADE OUT OF GLASS.   THEY WERE MADE OUT OF POLISHED BRASS SILVER OR GOLD. WHICH ARE NOT AS CLEAR AS GLASS.

SO TO SEE YOURSELF YOU HAD TO LOOK AND MOVE IT AROUND TO HELP WITH THE DISTORTION.

THE IDEA IN THE WORD TO LOOK IS TO EXAMINE TO SEE CONTENT OF WHAT YOU SEE.

SO THIS IS NOT JUST A GLANCE.

WHEN YOU READ OR HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AFTER SOME DETAILED INSPECTION

YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE DISTRACED AWAY FROM THE TRUTH AND MAY BE EVEN TO BRUSH ASIDE THE TRUTH AND ACKNOWLEDGE TO YOURSELF YOU ARE A PRETTY GOOD PERSON AND QUICKLY RETURN TO YOUR LIFE WITH LITTLE THOUGHT AFTER LEAVING THE MIRROR.

HAVE YOU EVER-   YOU GET OUT OF THE SHOWER LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND BRUSH YOUR HAIR.   THEN GET DRESSED AND ARE WALKING OUT THE DOOR AND YOUR WIFE OR HUSBAND SAYS TO YOU DID YOU LOOK AT YOUR HAIR?

YOU KNOW THE EYEBROWS GO UP AND YOU ARE LATE SO YOU JUST GO.

WHILE IN CHURCH YOU GO TO THE RESTROOM AND LOOK AT YOUR HAIR AND GO   WHAT?

THIS IS JUST A HYPOTHETICAL STATEMENT.

MANY TIMES WE DECEIVE OURSELVES INTO THINKING WELL IT'S OK   WHEN IT'S NOT OK.

25  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.

THE PERSON WHO LOOKS INTENTLY INTO THE PERFECT WORD OF GOD THAT GIVES LIBERTY FROM SIN AND DEATH IS THE PERSON WHO TAKES A DETAILED LOOK,  MAKES A PERSONAL ASSESMENT,   GETS OUT THE HAIR DRYER TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS HAIR WILL BE OK WHEN HE LEAVES.

MY HOUSE IS MY ABODE THAT IS WHERE I LIVE.

TO ABIDE BY THE WORD OF GOD IS TO LIVE BY IT.  YOU APPLY IT TO THE WAY YOU LIVE.

THE WORD OF GOD CAUSES YOU TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THE WORD OF GOD AFTER INTENTLY HEARING GET MORE AND MORE OF YOUR ATTENTION AND THE WORLD GETS LESS OF YOUR INTENTION.

Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) 1  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

WE RENEW OUR MINDS BY HEARING AND LIVING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

JAMES CONTINUES WITH THE EXPLANATION OF SELF DECEPTION 26  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.

RELIGIOUS  THRESKOS AND REFERS TO THE OUTWARD RELIGIOUS RITUALS ,  ROUTINES, AND CEREMONIES.

GOING TO CHURCH, PRAYING, VOLUNTEER WORK, FOLLOWING VARIOUS RITUALS  AND CEREMONIES WHEN THE HEART IS CORRUPT IS WORTHLESS SPIRITUALLY.

Matthew 12:34 (NASB) 34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Matthew 15:18 (NASB) 18 "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Matthew 15:19 (NASB) 19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

WHEN WE GET RILED UP AND SPEAK WE USUALLY SPEAK WHAT IS IN OUR HEARTS.

JAMES IS WANTING HIS READERS TO LOOK WHAT COME OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS.

THEN WHEN BAD THINGS COME OUT OUR MOUTHS WE OFTEN TIMES TRY TO JUSTIFY WHAT WE HAVE SAID.    WHICH DECEIVES OUR OWN HEARTS.

Mark 12:30 (KJV) 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Romans 10:10 (KJV) 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9 (NASB) 9  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

DO YOU SEE THE CORELATION BETWEEN THE HEART AND THE MOUTH.

AND HOW WE CAN DECEIVER OURSELVES AND THAT STOPS US FROM BECOMING DOERS OF THE WORD.

THE SECOND THING HERE THAT PREVENTS US FROM BECOMING A DOER OF THE WORD IS SELFISHNESS 27  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress,

THE PROPER REACTION TO THE WORD OF GOD IS FOR US TO BE WILLING TO APPLY IT WITHOUT SELFISHNESS WITH GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF OTHERS,   ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WITH GREAT NEED.

John 13:35 (NASB) 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

PURE AND UNDEFILED IS CLEAN AND UNCONTAMINATED

NOTICE, PURE AND UNDEFILED IN THE SIGHT OF OUR GOD AND FATHER.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE THINK RELIGION SHOULD BE.   NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE THINK IS BEST FOR US OR OUR CHURCH.

THIS IS NOT REFERING ESPECIALLY WHAT THE WORLD MAY THINK IS MEANT BY RELIGION.

GOD SAYS PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION IS TO VISIT ORPHANS AND WIDOW IN THEIR DISTRESS.

TO VISIT HERE MEANS TO GO SEE THEM WITH THEIR NEEDS IN YOUR HANDS.

ORPHANS AND WIDOWS IN JAMES' DAY WERE FOLKS WHO FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

NO ONE TO CARE FOR THEM.   THE MOST HELPLESS OF JAMES' DAY.

IF WE ARE TO BE A DOER OF THE WORD AND SEE FOLKS WITH NEED WE MUST TRY TO HELP THAT NEED.   WE MUST NOT BE SELFISH.

3.  THE LAST HINDDRANCE TO US BECOMING DOERS OF THE WORD THAT JAMES LISTS HERE IS COMPROMISE.

and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

KEEP HERE REFERS TO REGULAR CONTINUOUS ACTION.    WE RESIST THE DRAW OF THE WORLD AND THINGS OF THE WORLD ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.

WE ARE TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON ETERNAL THINGS TO AS NOT TO BE CAUGHT UP IN WORLDLINESS.

Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) 1  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect

1 Peter 1:17-19 (NASB) 17  If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18  knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19  but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

THE THOUGHT IN THESE PASSAGES IS NOT SINLESS PERFECTION FOR THE DOER OF THE WORD,  BECAUSE WE STILL WILL STUMBLE AND FALL INTO SIN,  BUT THE THOUGHT IS THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE ARE GOING.

BUT TO BE A DOER OF THE WORD REQUIRES DAILY EFFORT TO REMAIN FOCUSED AND SERVING OUR SAVIOR.    WE LOVE OUR SAVIOR AND SEEK TO PLEASE HIM IN HOW WE LIVE.

FOR US TO PLEASE OUR SAVIOR WE MUST BE A DOER OF THE WORD OF GOD.   APPLYING WHAT WE LEARN AND THAT  PUSHES US ON DOWN THE ROAD TO HOLINESS; TO BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST.

PAINTING OIL BASE PAINT WITH A ROLLER WILL PUT A FINE SPLATTERING OF PAINT ON WHATEVER IS NOT COVERED UP.

CLOSET DOORS.   BUT IF YOU SEE IT QUICK BEFORE IT CURES OUT YOU CAN TAKE SOME MINERAL SPIRITS AND GET IT OFF.

THE IDEA IS WHEN WE GET RECOGNIZE SOME SIN OR WORLDLINESS IN OUR LIVES WE MUST STOP WHAT WE ARE DOING TO WORK ON THAT RIGHT NOW TO REMOVE IT.

THEN YOU ARE  A DOER OF THE WORD NO COMPROMISING OUR WITNESS FOR CHRIST.

WE SUBMIT OURSELVES TO THE WILL OF GOD KNOWING ALL THAT WE ARE AND HAVE ARE HIS AND WE REFUSE TO BE SELFISH.

WE HAVE MADE AN HONEST INSPECTION OF THE HEART AND ARE NOT DECEIVING OUR OWN HEARTS BY JUSTIFYING OUR LIFESTYLE AND SIN.