The Gift Of Amnesia.

The Gift Of Amnesia.

James 1:22-25AMP

Amnesia could be a gift to those who would like to forget the last 5 or 10 years, maybe even the last day or two. Only bad thing about that is, you might just do it all again. Lol.

For every believer, Amnesia isn’t a gift at all.

It’s so easy to placate ourselves, justify ourselves, while judging others.

According to the Bible, many times we do just that when we only— hear…we play church.

“O Father God I don’t want to play church. Go through the motions 1 or 2 hours a week. I want to be the church. I want to be the church that the gates of hell shall not (can not) prevail.” P.H

God’s word is eternal; therefore, it’s been trusted by men and women throughout history.

Moreover, those in whom trusted, has never been shamed.

The devil hates God’s word, primarily because God’s eternal word has already passed judgement on him. The devil is condemned. His fate is secure. P.H

God’s word shows us the worse of humanity, but it also shows us His redeemed. It gives us a picture of Eden. It also shows us a picture of hell. And then, after the fall of Adam. God’s word shows us the—Abraham’s, Noah’s, Moses’, Esther’s, Ruth’s, Daniel’s, Elijah’s, Etc.

The Bible pulls no punches. It speaks plainly about favor, faith, redemption, testings, suffering, blessings, rewards, but also it speaks of sin, and its penalty. But most of all, God’s word points us to the Savior Jesus!

Mark Batterson asked himself this question a while back, wrote it down: “What makes us think we can become like Jesus without being betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, scarfed at by Pharisees, mocked by Roman soldiers, or tempted by the enemy himself?” —Mark Batterson

James 1:22-25AMP But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. 23 For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. 25 But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].

James is calling believers to be doers of the word. Do the word.

It’s simple, Do the word—at home, at work, wherever you are, do the word.

For us to examine these verses farther, lets read 3 verses backwards:

James 1:19-21NKJV So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Again, Be swift to hear…Slow to speak…Slow to wrath….According to James 1:20, these traits produce the righteousness of God.

What happens? The fruit of the Holy Spirit becomes evident. The gifts of the Holy Spirit become a necessity. Why? Because you’ve become a doer of God’s word!

James 1:21, commands believers to lay aside all garbage, and the overflow of wickedness.

The next sentence is the key. James 1:21b… Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul.

How do you approach God’s word?History? A good book, Take it or leave it? My pages are dusty? Don’t have time?

God’s word on your best day or your worse day—is God’s written and inspired breathed upon word. It’s sharp and quick, alive and active! You have to receive… by faith…receive.

Paul commands Timothy in, 2 Timothy 3:16-17NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

When we try, we only make an attempt—when we train, we take action. P.H

Before going back to the text, I want you to hear, James 1:19-21TM Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.