Preached by Pastor Mike Hess Sunday morning 12/27/2009.
Redeeming the Time – Being a Doer of the Word
James 1:22-25
Introduction:
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic power and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-2
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:103-104
I. Practicing What We Hear (1:22)
The word “doer” here literally gives the idea of proving yourself and to be continually striving to be a doer of the Word.
“Given the biblical knowledge that you have, how is that personally changing your life?”
Your knowledge of the Scripture should be changing:
Your marriage and home
Your personal service and involvement in your local church
Your struggles with sin
Your personal involvement with sharing Christ with the lost
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2:3-6
II. Take an Honest Look at Ourselves (1:23-24)
Just like a physical mirror the Word of God to us is a spiritual mirror. It shows us for who we really are.
III. Acting on the Word (1:25)
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever, the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:7-10
In this passage (Ps. 19) we find that law of God is:
Perfect - Pure - Sure - Clean - Right - True
More to be desired than anything else
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:14-15
“And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Application:
1. When you hear a message from Scripture that convicts you – Act upon it immediately!
2. Biblical knowledge should humble us, not build up pride and self righteousness. The more you know the more accountable you are.
3. You and I as followers of Jesus Christ are stewards of the truth that God in His grace has given to us.
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