Facing Reality In The Mirror

Facing Reality in the Mirror

James 1:19-27

• Testing that are outward that comes from God

• Temptations from inward that Satan himself uses to seek our destruction

The result of these testing and temptations should cause us to face reality concerning ourselves.

Mention: Vs.22, 26 Tells us we a capable of deceiving ourselves

Mention: Matt. 7:21-23 Tells us that many are deceived about being saved

Also: Rev. 3:17 The Laodiceans deceived about being rich and having need of nothing

It is the Word of truth that God uses to allow us to see who we really are!

How should we respond to God’s Word?

1. Receive the Word

See: Vs.19-21 Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

See: Matt. 13:18-23 Only he who received the Word produced fruit

This Word must be received the right way!

See: Mark 4:24 Take heed what you hear Luke 8:18 Take heed how you hear

Mention: Hebrews 5:11 “Ye are dull of hearing” It is this that hinders spiritual growth

See: James 1:19 Swift to hear

“Slow to speak” Two hears and one mouth to remind us to listen more. Many argue with God’s Word

“Slow to wrath” Do not get angry at God or His Word

“The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God”

Vs.21 The key is ones heart “All filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness”

2. Practice the Word (Vs.22-25)

It is not enough to hear the Word, but also to do the Word!

Vs.24 The main purpose we have mirrors is to see ourselves, and so it is with the Bible we own. We are to look into it to see who we ( not someone else) really are.

a. Examine ourselves (Vs.23 A man beholding (consider or discover) his natural…)

Mistakes made when looking into the Word:

• We glance (Not reading the Word attentively)

• We forget (Forgetteth what manner of man he was)

• We disobey (If any man be a hearer and not a doer)

b. There is Cleansing

The Laver helped the levitical priests to see what need to be washed before entering into the present of the Lord and serving Him!

Mention: John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you

c. Then Transformation

See: 2 Cor. 3:18 We are changed into the same image from glory to glory

3. Share the Word (Vs.26-27)

Note: James tells us here that practicing God’s Word and sharing it with other involves these three things:

a. Speech

Vs.26 Bridleth not his tongue

b. Service

Pure Religion is to visit…

c. Separation!

Vs.27 Remain unspotted from the world

James 4:4 friendship with the world is at enmity with God

Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to this world