james series sermon notes wk 2 sun aug 19 2012

7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 2 Sun Aug 19 2012

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SermonNotesWk 2 // Hear&DoTheWord // Jms 1:19-27

Date: SundayAug 19. 2012Text: James 1:19-27Title: WhoAreWeTryingToKid? // Week 2 of7OUTLINE:

A) ReceiveTheWord - James 1:19-21B) PracticeTheWord - James 1:22-25C) ShareTheWord - James 1:26-27INTRODUCTION:

Theemphasisinthissectionisonthedangersofself-deception ( James 1:22,

26 ). WhenwesinbecauseSatandeceivesusthatsonething. Butifwedeceive

ourselvesthatisafarmoreseriousmatter.

Manypeoplearedeceivingthemselvesintothinkingtheyaresavedwhenthey

arenot. Matthew 7:22-23 aresoberingwordsfromourLordanditisevenmore

confrontingwhenwerealizethatJesusistalkingtobelieversandthosein

seemingly successful ministrypositions.

OurteachingtodayisvitallyimportantforusatCrossCentralbecauseas

believers, wedontwanttobefoolingourselvesconcerningourChristianwalk.

Wedonotwanttobeachurchthatthinkwerespiritualwhenwerenot. Itisa

markofmaturitywhenapersonfaceshimselfhonestly, knowshimselfand

admitshisneeds. Itisanimmaturepersonwhopretends ( Rev 3:17 ).

SpiritualmaturitycomesfromtheproperrelationshiptoGodthroughHis

Word. GodsWordistruth ( John 17:17 ), andifwearerightlyrelatedtoGods

truth, wecannotbedishonestorhypocritical.

Intheverseswewillbelookingatthismorning, Jamesgivesusthree

responsibilitieswearetohavetowardGodsWord. Whenwetrulyfulfillthese

requirements,

we

will

find

ourselves

on

a

path

with

God

that

is

honest

and

a

trackwithotherbelieversthatisauthentic.

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THREEKEYSTOKEEPUSFROMKIDDINGOURSELVES:

1. ReceiveTheWord (James 1:19-21)JamescallsGodsWord theengraftedword ( James 1:21 ), whichmeans the

implantedword. BorrowingfromJesus ParableoftheSower ( Matt 13:1-9,

18-23 ), JamescomparesGodsWordtoseedandthehumanhearttosoil. InHis

parable, Jesusdescribedfourkindsofhearts: thehardheartwhichdidnot

understandtheWordandsodidnotbearfruit, theshallowheart, whichhadno

depthandborenofruit, thecrowdedheart, whichlackedrepentanceand

permittedsintocrowdouttheWord; andthefruitfulheart, whichreceivedthe

Word, allowedittotakeroot, andproducedanincredibleharvestoffruit.

Therealityofsalvationismadeevidentbythefruitwebearinourlives. This

meansalifethatisgrowinginChristiancharacterandconduct, andministryto

othersforthegloryofGod. ThisfruitmightincludewinningsoulstoChrist

(Rom

1:16 ),growing

in

holy

living

(Rom

6:22 ),sharing

our

material

possessions

( Rom 15:28 ), spiritualcharacter ( Gal 5:22-23 ), andoferinguppraisetoGod

( Heb 13:15 ). Manmadereligiousworkscanbemanufactured, buttheydonot

havelifeinthem, nordotheydirectpeopletoTheGodofScripture. Realfruit

hasinittheseedformorefruit, sothattheharvestcontinuestogrowfruit,

morefruit, muchfruit ( John 15:1-5 ).

GodsWordcannotworkefectivelyinourlives, unlesswereceiveitintheright

way. Jesusnotonlytaughtusthatweareto payattention towhatwehear

( Mark 4:24 ), butthatwearetotakecare how wehear ( Luke 8:18 ). Toooftenwecanfallintothetrapofattendingchurchservices, connectgroupsandBible

studies, butneverseemingtogrow.

FortheseedoftheWordtobeplantedinourhearts, therearesomekey

principlesthatJameslaysdownforustodointhismorningstext.

Quicktohear ( James 1:19 ) : Matt 13:9 saysthosewithearsshouldusethem.

Rom 10:17 showsthatfaithcomesbyhearingandhearingtheWordofGod. Just

astheservantisquicktohearhismastersvoice, andthechildrespondstohermothercominghomefrombeingaway, wearetohavethatsamespeedof

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anticipationandrecognition. Thereisanamazingillustrationofthisprinciple

inthelifeofKingDavid ( 2 Sam 23:14-17 ). WhileDavidwashidingfromhis

enemies, heyearnedforadrinkofthecoolwaterfromthewellinBethlehem, a

wellhehadoftenvisitedinhisboyhood. Hedidnotissueanordertohismen;

hejustsaid ...longingly, Ohthatsomeonewouldgivemeadrinkfromthewell

ofBethlehem... ( 2 Sam 23:15 ). Threeofhismightymenheardtheirkingsighfor

thewaterandtheyriskedtheirlivestogetthewaterandbringittohim. They

were quicktohear.

Slowtospeak ( Vs 19 ):Anatomicallywehaveaclueastothespeedwithwhich

tospeak. ToomanytimeswearguewithGodsWord, ifnotoutloud, atleastin

ourheartsandminds ( Prov 10:19, Prov 17:27 ). Weliveinsuchafastpacedworld

withaccesstomoreinformationnowthaneverbefore, thatwecanruntherisk

ofthinkingwecanhaveanargumentwithGod. Letusalwaysrememberthat

HisisTheCreator...andwearethecreated.

Slowtoanger ( Vs 19 ): Ascrazyatitmightsound, peopleactuallygetangryatGodandorHisWord. Prov 14:29 revealsthelevelofunderstandingthatcomes

frombeingslowtoanger. WhenNathantheprophettoldkingDavidthestory

aboutthestolenlamb, thekingbecameangry, butatthewrongperson. You

arethatman saidNathan, andDavidthenconfessedandrepented ( 2 Sam 12 ).

IntheGardenPeterwasslowtohear, quicktospeakandquicktoanger, andhe

almostkilledamanwithhissword. Manydisputesaretheresultofshort

tempersandhastywords. Itisimportanttounderstandthatthereisagodly

angeragainstsin ( Eph 4:26 ); andifweloveGod, wemusthatesin ( Ps 97:10 ).ButmansangerdoesnotproduceGodsrighteousness ( James 1:20 ). Inreality,

angeristhecompleteoppositeofthepatienceGodwantstoproduceinour

livesaswematureinChrist ( James 1:3-4 ).

Whenpeoplehearmyname (Tepa) forthefirsttime, theythinkitis Temper. I

tellthemitisnotmynameormynature. Buttemperiswhatgivessteelits

strength. Whenwedonotgetangryatsin, wedonothavemuchstrengthto

fightit. JameswarnsusagainstgettingangryatGodsWordbecauseitreveals

oursinstous.

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Apreparedheart ( Vs 21 ): ItisalmostlikeJamessawthehumanheartasa

garden; iflefttoitself, thesoilwouldproduceonlyweeds. Heurgesustopull

outtheweedsandpreparethesoilforthe implantedWordofGod. TheKJV

translates rampantwickedness as superfluityofnaughtiness. Thisphrase

givesthepictureofagardenovergrownwithweedsthatcannotbecontrolled.

ItisfoolishtotryandreceiveGodsWordintoanunpreparedheart.

HowdowepreparethesoilofourheartsforGodsWord?1. ConfessoursinsandaskGodtoforgiveus ( 1 John 1:9 )

2. MeditateonGodsloveandgraceandaskHisholySpiritto plowup any

hardnessinourhearts ( Jer 4:3 )

3. Haveanattitudeofmeekness ( James 1:21 ). Meeknessistheoppositeof

wrath inJames 1:19-20. WhenwereceivetheWordwithmeekness, honouringit

andnottryingtotwistitorconformittosuitouragenda, thenweprepareour

hearttoreceiveGodsWord.

IfwedonotreceivetheimplantedWord, thenwedeceiveourselves. Whenwearguevarious pointsofview forargumentssake, andnottobetter

understandGodspurpose, thenwemayverywellbefoolingourselves.

2. PracticeTheWord (James 1:22-25)ItisnotenoughtojustheartheWord, itmustproduceactioninourlives. Many

peoplehavethemistakenideathathearingagoodsermonorBiblestudyis

whatmakesthemgrowandgetGodsblessing. ItisnotthehearingbutthedoingthatattractsGodsblessingandfavour. ItistooeasytomarkourBibles,

butnothavetheBiblemarkus. Ifwethinkwearespiritualbecausewehearthe

Word, thenweruntheriskofkiddingourselves.

Inthepreviouspassage, JamescomparedtheWordtoseed; butinthis

paragraph, hecomparesittoamirror. LetslookathowJamesunpacksthis

imageryandlearnhowwecanmorethanhearersoftheWord, butbedoersof

theWordalso.

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Themainpurposeofowningamirroristobeabletoseeyourselfandmake

sureyoucanmakeanaccurateassessmentofhowyoulook, andsoexamine

yourselfbeforeyougooutintopublic. AswelookintothemirrorofGods

Word, weseeourselvesaswereallyare. Jamesgivesusclearactionstofollowif

wetoallowGodsWordtoexamineusandforustobedoersoftheWord.

i. TaketimetolookwithintentionalityintoGodsWord:Whenwereadour

Bibleordevotionalemailasareligiousdutyoroutofguilt, thenwefailtoprofititfromitpersonally. SkimmingoveraverseoratokenreadingoftheBiblewill

neverrevealourdeepestneeds. Itisonlywhenwetaketimetolookintothe

WordofGod, withthehelpoftheHolySpirit, thatwebegintoseethingswe

mighthavemissed. Itisthediferencebetweenaphototakenonmyphone

andacatscantakenatthehospital.

ii. RememberourtrueconditionbeforeGodsavedus:WhenweforgetGods

graceandmercyinsavingusandsettingusfreefromsin, werunthedangerof

becomingarrogantandselfrighteous. Itisimportantthatwerememberwhatwemustremember, andforgetwhatwemustforget. Byrealizingthatthelife

Hehasgivenusisundeserved, andoursalvationwasbroughtbythesacrifice

ofGodTheSon, itkeepsusfromforgettinghowmuchHehasgiventous, and

keepsusopentotheworkHecontinuestodoinourlives.

iii. SimplyobeywhattheWordofGodsays:Wemustneverbecaughtupin

theliethathearingisthesameasdoing. Wecanholdendlesscommittee

meetingsandattendthelatestconferencesaboutevangelismandchurch

growth, butifthatsallwedo, thenwecantfoolourselvesintothinkingwe

havemadeprogress. Whilethereisnothingwrongwithcommitteesand

conferences, theybecomesinfulwhenwesubstitutethemforobedientservice

toGod.

IfwearetoallowGodsmirrortotrulyexamineus, thenwemustgazeintoit

carefullyandwithseriousintent ( James 1:25 ). Noquickglanceswilldo. Weare

tosearchourheartsandlivesinthelightofGodsWord. Thiswillrequiretime,

attentionandsinceredevotion. WemustcontinuetogrowpastfiveminuteswithGodaday. Thiscannotcreatedeepspiritualexamination.

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Afterseeingourselves, wemustrememberwhatweareandwhatgodsays, and

wemustdotheWord. TheblessingcomesintheactionoftheWord, notinthe

hearingoftheWord. James 1:25 clearlyshowsusthat ...hewillbeblessedinhis

doing. TheemphasisinJamesisthepracticeoftheWord.

3. ShareTheWord (James 1:26-27)Thewordtranslated religion means theoutwardpractice, theserviceofa

god. ItisusedonlyfivetimesintheentireNewTestament ( James 1:26-27, Acts

26:5, Col 2:18 - whereitistranslatedas worshipping ). Purereligionhas

nothingtodowithceremonies, temples, orspecialdays. Purereligionhas

everythingtodowithpracticingGodsWordandsharingitwithothers, through

language, labourandleavingtheworld.

Language ( Vs 26 ):TherearemanyreferencestohowwearetospeakJames

letter, givingtheimpressionthatthetonguewasaseriousprobleminthe

churchatthetime ( James 1:19, 2:12, 3:1-3, 14-18, 4:11-12 ). Ourlanguagereveals

whatisinourheart ( Matt 12:34-35 ). Whentheheartisright, thenourspeech

willberight. IfwearetosharetheWordefectively, wemustensurethatour

languagelinesupwithGodsworkinorheart.

Labour ( Vs 27a ):Afterseeingourselves, andtheworkofChristinourlives,

throughthemirrorofGodsWord, wemustseeothersandlabourtomeettheir

needswherewecan. TheprophetIsaiahfirstsawtheLord, thenhimself, andthenthepeopletowhomhewouldminister ( Is 6:1-8). Wordsareagreat

beginning, buttheyarenosubstitutethelabouroflove ( James 2:14-18, 1 john

3:11-18 ). Godsultimateplanisforeachofustoserveinthegiftingand

anointingHehasdepositedineachofus, forHisgloryandfortheblessingof

Hispeople.

Leavingtheworld ( Vs 27b ):By theworld Jamesmeans societywithout

God. Satanistheprinceofthisworld ( John 14:30 ), andthelostarethechildren

ofthisworld ( Luke 16:8 ). AsthechildrenofGod, weareintheworldphysicallybutnotoftheworldspiritually ( John 17:11-16 ).

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WearesentintotheworldtosharethetruthandloveofJesus, sothatothers

maycometoHisgrace, mercyandsalvationforthemselves ( John 17:18 ). Itis

onlyaswemaintainourseparationfromtheworldthatwecanserveothers

efectivelyandleadthemtotheredemptionthatisfoundinChristalone.

Theworldwantsto stain theChristianandstarttodiluteanddefilehim. First

thereisthe friendshipoftheworld ( James 4:4 ), whichcanleadtoaloveofthe

world ( 1 John 2:15-17 ). Ifwearenotvigilant, webecomeconformedtotheworld( Rom 12:1-2 ), andtheresult isbeingcondemnedwiththeworld ( 1 Cor 11:32 ).

Thismayormaynotmeanthelossofsalvation, butitmostdefinitelymeansa

lossofjoyanddestinyandallthatGoddesiresforus. Lotisaprimeexample

ofthisprinciple.

FirsthepitchedhistenttowardSodom, andthenmovedintoSodom. Before

long, Sodommovedintohimandhelosthistestimonyevenwithhisown

family. WhenjudgmentfellonSodom, Lotlosteverything. ItwasAbraham, the

onewholeftthelureofthegreenerpastures, theseparatedbeliever, thefriendofGod, whowasabletoministertoLotandhisfamilythroughpetitionto

Godsjudgment.

AtCrossCentral, wearecalledtoministertoourcommunity, butthatdoesnot

meanwebecometaintedbyofourcommunity. Jesuswas withoutblemish ( 1

Peter 1:19 ), andyetHewasthefriendofpublicansandsinners. Thegreatest

impactwecanhaveinsharingGodsWordwithourcommunity, istobe

diferentandseparatedfromthedefilementinourcommunity.

Conclusion:Letsnotkidourselveschurch. WearecalledtobenotonlyhearersoftheWord,

buttobedoersoftheWord. Ourtexttodayshowsusthatwedothisby:

1. ReceivingTheWord

2. PracticingTheWord

3. SharingTheWord

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james series sermon notes wk 2 sun aug 19 2012

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