James 1;19-27, Quick hearer
James 1:19-27
February 25, 2007
Intro: So far in James we’ve seen:
A- Just as any earthly parent would desire that their children become Mature, complete, and lacking nothing;
1- Our Father in heaven wants the same for us in our Spiritual life.
a- In order to accomplish this He allows a series of trials and testing to enter your life that are designed to break you down.
- BUT break down for the purpose of building back stronger.
Read Verses 2-4
B- We then saw an important ingredient in this process WISDOM.
1- Wisdom = The proper application of biblical knowledge.
a- How do we receive wisdom PRAY.
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
2- Now the context of this wisdom is; WISDOM IN TRIALS AND TESTING, WHAT’S THE PURPOSE???
a- The great need for wisdom is = SO we do not waist the opportunities that God is giving us to mature through trial.
3- But why is it necessary???
1 Peter 5:8, … because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
a- What I mean is, look at James next point in the
matter:
Read Verse 13
Ø See if Trials come from God for GROWTH, then TEMPTATION comes from the DEVIL FOR DECEPTION that brings destruction.
TEMPTATION = in a bad sense, to test one maliciously or to try or test one’s faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin.
1- REMEMBER: God breaks down for the purpose of building up.
2- The Devil breaks down for the purpose of blowing up.
a- A trial is God allowing you to go into hardship for growth.
b- A temptation is a fleshly or worldly way out of that hardship that leads to decline.
Read Verses 14-18
Ø NOW, How you respond to TRIALS and how you respond to TEMPTATION will be a manifestation of how you respond to THE WORD.
Look at Jesus illustration in the parable of the soils: he compares God’s Word to seed and the human heart to soil.
A- In His parable, Jesus described four kinds of hearts:
1- 1st the hard heart, which did not understand or receive the Word and therefore bore no fruit;
2- The shallow heart, It was very emotional but had no depth in the Word, and bore no fruit;
3- Then there was the crowded heart, which lacked repentance and permitted sin to crowd out the Word;
4- And the fruitful heart, which received the Word, allowed it to take root, and produced a harvest of fruit.
a- So what James is doing here is bring us around to foundational truth.
- Truth is not based upon experience BUT experience is to be based upon truth.
James 1:19-20 (NASB), This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God
A- “This you know” = See Verse 18.
1- What James has been saying and what he is about to
say is to be seen in the life of a “beloved brother”
because of Verse 18.
Ephesians 4:1, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
#1- So Christian are you a “quick hearer”?
A- What we are told to be is a “careful listener”.
1- In the church setting it is the antithesis of what I’ve been commanded to do; It’s your corresponding responsibility to a command give to all teachers.
2 Timothy 2:15, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2- Probably best exemplified is Kind David’s guys.
2 Samuel 23:14-17
#2- Are you a Christian who is “SLOW TO SPEAK”
A- The old saying tells us that it’s better to be thought a
fool and to open you mouth and remove all doubt.
1- The idea here is to not be quick to voice your opinion after or in rebuttal to what you’ve heard of the word of God.
a- So listen carefully and think before you respond.
Proverbs 10:19, In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 17:27, He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
#3- And 3rd Christian you are told to be “slow to wrath”.
A- Although this is something we are commanded to do, I think it will be a natural easy thing to do IF YOU’RE A “quick hearer” and a “SLOW TO SPEAKER”.
Proverbs 14:29, He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.
1- Maybe the anger spoken of here would be better thought of as bitterness.
a- Because rather than a sudden outburst it’s a slow seething thing.
James 1:20, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
2- The best example is to turn on CNN or FOX news when they get opposing parties together.
a- NEVER FAILS: both are slow to hear and swift to speak and the result is RANTING, RAGING, and WRATH.
Read 1 Peter 3:1-6
Ø SO back to the word that changed your life that it may continue to transform your life.
James 1:21, Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
A- “Implanted word” = Grafted.
1- Consider all of the worldly wisdom (foolishness) and
cut it out of your life.
a- Then see that the word of God is grafted on.
- I want to present a clean smooth graftable
surface.
3- WHY does God want a good graft in your life when it comes to His word:
a- A good graft bears much quality fruit.
James 1:22, But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
B- A person who just constantly hears the word is not God’s desire.
1- God does not need people to debate His word.
2- And He is not looking for defenders.
a- He loves doers.
- By JUST hearing, debating, and defending WE DECEIVE OURSELVES.
Read Verses 23-25
Ø Important:
A- You need to see the big circle that James has taken
us on here.
1- Trials and testings are designed to produce patience.
2- Patience produces Maturity, completeness, that we would not be lacking anything spiritual.
a- This being the case we should consider trials and testings a joy.
- So what should be the biggest trial and test in our life.
- THE HEARING OF GOD’S WORD.
· BUT because of V:23-25 in our lives God must take us through the PRUNING PROCESS.
See John 15:1-5
3- What is the Pruning Process?
a- It’s the times of trial and testings that occur apart from our hearing God’s word so that we would come back to the doing part of God’s word.
Apostle Peter: Who lived immersed in the Word directly form Christ for 3 years. He should have been a mature, complete, man not lacking anything Spiritual. BUT Pete was a man; Slow to hear, swift to speak, and quick to wrath. After The Word (Jesus arrested) Peter entered into a intense time of trial and testing. Then he was able to be a bearer of fruit OR A DOER OF GOD’S WORD.
Luke 22:31-34, And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat (TEMPT YOU IN A TIME OF TRIAL). But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me (TRIAL IS OVER), strengthen your brethren (BEAR FRUIT).” But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death (SLOW TO HEAR, SWIFT TO SPEAK, QUICK TO WRATH).” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me (IF YOU WON’T LISTEN GOD WILL GIVE YOU A LIVING ILLUSTRATION).”
Read Verses 26-27
Ø Three things here:
#1- Watch your Speech. (26)
Matthew 12:34-35, Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
#2- Do you Service. (27a)
1 John 3:17-19, But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
#3- Walk the walk (27b)
Romans 12:2, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
James 1:19-27
February 25, 2007
James 1:5
1 Peter 5:8
Ephesians 4:1
2 Timothy 2:15
2 Samuel 23:14-17
Proverbs 10:19
Proverbs 17:27
Proverbs 14:29
1 Peter 3:1-6
John 15:1-5
Luke 22:31-34
Matthew 12:34-35
1 John 3:17-19
Romans 12:2