A Life of Works Produced by Faith
Part 8
“Doers of the Word”
Date: October 6, 2002 A.M. Service
Place: Allendale Baptist Church
Text: James 1:22-25
Introduction
We live in a day that offers so much information. We can find an answer to almost any question at our fingertips. The Internet is a wonderful tool to help us in our daily lives to obtain this information. In one single computer chip
can hold as much information you will ever need in a lifetime.
It is true for the Christian. I know I seem to repeat myself so many times, but we have access to all the answers to all our cares, all our problems through God’s Word. And for many we spent time in the Word, but have never cone to the point of relying on the truth of God’s Word to do its work in our life. Others have a great knowledge, they gather the truths but never really get it into their lives. They hear the Word of God but it is not exercised. They never apply into their lives.
I have said the book of James is a very practical book addressing important matters in the believer’s life. And James does so again in these passages of Scripture.
As we closed last Sunday evening, in verse 21, James tells us to
1. “Lay aside” or ‘Put off” all filthiness and overflow of wickedness. We cannot serve the Lord nor can we hear God’s voice speaking to us with filthiness and sin in our lives.
2. “And receive with meekness the implanted Word”. In my translation I said this means to have a teachable, moldable spirit.
3. “Which is able to save your souls”. God’s Word is the tool and instrument He uses to bring regeneration, new birth. But also a life committed to the Lord Jesus, with the Word of truth applied in the believer’s life will keep us from sin.
*Someone once said God’s Word will keep us from sin or sin will keep us from God’s Word
So as James, once again addresses a very practical issue in the Christian’s life, lets first notice…
I. The Demand of God’s Word on Our Lives (verse 22)
A. “But be doers” means to “show yourselves to be”
1. I have learned this phrase is in the present tense, which means a kind of action.
2. James says we are to continuously keep on showing ourselves to be doers of the Word.
3. We can read a lot of different books, but they do not demand anything of us.
a. Reading a cookbook does not demand you bake a cake or a three course meal.
b. But to the child of God that reads His Word with a teachable, trainable heart, there is a calling by the Holy Spirit of God to respond to His truth.
B. God’s Word of truth is not something to be stored away in the back of our minds. But it calls us to a life to be lived.
1. In John 3:21 Jesus said; “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
2. 1 John 1:6 says; “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
3. I heard a poem once that said:
It’s easier to preach than to practice;
It’s easier to say than to do.
Most sermons are heard by the many,
But taken to heart by the few.
Then he completes the command
Next notice
II. The Development of God’s Word in Our Lives
A. If we are not doers of the Word we are “hearers only”.
1. In seminary classes there are people that came just to audit the class. They come to sit and listen to the lectures, but they are not applying it to a degree. They do not have to take the test.
2. Can I say this; there are folks in the church today that sit and listen to the sermons, come to Bible study, they come for the Blessing, but are not in turn being a blessing to others because of the Word of truth.
Let me also say this, I believe it is a very dangerous place to be for someone just to be content just to hear the Word. AS I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I PREACH YOU, MY DEAR FRIEND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU HEAR AND RESPONSIBLE TO INCORPORATE IT INTO YOUR LIFE.
B. Then James says, “we deceive ourselves.”
1. There is a great deal of difference between reading a menu and eating a meal; between holding a prescription and taking the medicine; and a greater difference in reading the Bible and growing in grace.
2. The word deceive means to arrive at a conclusion by false reasoning.
C. Some of us are deceiving others and ourselves. But we are not deceiving God.
Now James brings us to…
III. The Disregard of God’s Word in Our Lives (Verses 23-24)
A. The illustration James gives us is a casual, haphazard approach to looking at something, just a glance.
1. This person looks at something but does not observe cannot recall what they have seen. This is a careless person.
B. A careless person makes mistakes.
1. A person who works on an assembly line that is careless could cause serious damage to their lives or harm to others.
2. It is also true for us to be careless and casual with God’s Word.
C. Let me stop and ask this question:
1. Did you ask God to prepare your heart this morning as you came to church to receive His Word?
2. Did you thank Him for what He was going to show you?
3. Did you just get up get ready and approach today just like every other day carelessly and casually?
D. God’s word is like a mirror and when we look into it, we should see ourselves for who we really are.
1. A person that looks into God’s Word should see the “heart is deceitful and wicked”, and “that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
2. But week after week time after time there are Christians that sit and listen to sermons and Bible studies and Sunday School lessons whose lives are unaffected by the Word of God.
3. James says they are like those that look into a mirror and forget what they have seen
In verse 25, James is now speaking to the one that does not disregard God’s Word
IV. The Discipline to God’s Word in Our Lives
A. The word “looks” in verse 23 speaks of casualness, but in verse 25 speaks of a discipline to commitment.
1. Our purpose in the Christian life should be to be conformed to the example and image of Christ.
2. When we come to the Word of God it should be something we are diligent in, pursuing the truth, and ultimately desiring to discipline our lives by.
3. We must study it carefully and let it be applied in our lives not miss any details
B. James calls God’s Word “the perfect law of liberty”
1. So what James is speaking of is God’s Word or law is perfect, complete and it brings liberty.
2. I’m repeating myself I know but when we allow God’s Word to do its work in our lives, we will become what God wants us to be.
3. There must be a desire and a discipline in our lives to conform to the truths of God’s Word.
a. Psalms 19:9-11 “God’s laws are pure, eternal, just. They are more desirable than gold. They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. For they warm us away from harm and give success to those who obey them”
b. Psalm 106:3; “Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.”
c. Psalms 119:2; “Happy are all who search for God, and always do His will.”
d. John 13:17; “You know these things-now do them! That is the path of blessing”
James is telling us that each time we hear the Word of God there must be a response. No matter how good or how bad you may think I presented this message to you this morning, you have heard the Word of God. Now, you must respond. You must take hold of it and apply it to the area God has spoken to you about.
* Some hear today do not know Jesus as your Savior. You must respond to His calling now. If not you are disobeying Him not this preacher.
· Some of you are hearing God’s Word today and you must in obedience to Him give Him an area of your life.
· Whatever God is speaking to you about today.
Respond
Invitation
