Being Doers Of The Word

BEING DOERS OF THE WORD

James 1:21-25

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. An older man was going to "try out" for a church. When he arrived in the town, he discovered he had forgotten his dentures. He called the head deacon, who replied, "I'll take care of it."

2. Later that evening a man showed up at his hotel room with a briefcase full of dentures. The ‘would-be’ pastor tried on several of the dentures until he found one that was a perfect fit.

3. The next morning, he preached and was well received by the church. After the service, the pastor returned the dentures to the man and said, "It's sure nice to have a Christian dentist here!"

4. And the man replied, "I'm not a dentist, I am a mortician!"

B. WHICH STAGE ARE YOU IN? There are three stages of Bible study:

1. First, the Robitussin stage -- when you take the Word like medicine, because it's good for you.

2. Second, is the shredded wheat stage -- dry, but nourishing.

3. Third, the cookies and cream stage – whew, it's all good! Which stage are you in?

C. TEXT

21 “‘Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent’* and receive with meekness the engrafted 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” (*NIV; underlined is KJV).

D. RECEPTIVE TO THE WORD

1. Being willing to hear is vital. We should receive the Word like a lemon tree receives a grafted pear branch, that eventually brings forth fruit. The fruit from that branch won't have the lemon’s sour nature, but will bear fruit which is native to the graft.

2. James speaks of the "engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls." That's how much a part of us the Word must become to save our souls.

3. We must yield ourselves to the Word of God, with a submissive, humble spirit, and let it mold us. Being receptive to it is not enough -- action must follow!

I. OBJECTIVE OF THE GOSPEL

A. 3 CLASSES OF MEN

1. Those who don't hear, nor do the Word.

2. Those who hear, but don't do the Word.

3. Those who both hear and do the Word.

B. DREADFUL DANGER OF “HEARER’S ONLY” After service, when a Church was dismissing:

1. Some forget all they'd heard;

2. Others remembered for awhile, then dismissed the message from their thoughts;

3. A few remembered longer, remarking to friends later how they enjoyed it!

4. But without ‘doing,’ what is the good of sermons?

5. Illustration. It's like the man who was loitering outside of a church. When a couple came out, he asked them, "Is church done?" The husband replied, "The sermon's been preached, but it hasn't been done yet!"

6. Faith without works is dead. Even the demons ‘believe’ and tremble. But ‘believing’ without obeying has no benefit to it.

a. The Lord's severest rebukes were for those cities which had known most of His miracles.

b. "Many Stripes" are reserved for the servant who "knew his lord's will and didn't do it" (Luke 12:47).

C. GOAL OF THE WORD?

1. The purpose of preaching is not being entertained, but to be edified, inspired, and motivated to live-out God’s Word.

2. ILLUS. One pastor was asked what he thought was the greatest translation of the Bible. He replied, "My mother's translation." The goal is to translate the gospel into practical application in our daily lives.

3. JOHN THE BAPTIST’S EXAMPLE: 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” Luke 3:9-14. Generosity, honesty, justice.

II. WANTED: DOERERS OF THE WORD