Be Doers of the Word

Text: James 1:19-27

To be doers of the word we must possess three...

I.  Possess the proper Heart conditions (vs. 19-21).

A.     Quick (eager) to learn (vs. 19).[Lk. 11:1; Jn. 6:45; Acts 8:30-31; Mk. 12:37; Phil. 3:12ff.

1.      This means we are ready to be taught (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15;Acts 18:26; Acts 9:6).

2.      Willing to accept truth (Prov. 23:23, Gal. 4:16).

B.      Slow to Speak (vs. 19b)  [Two ears & one mouth].

1.      Proverbs speaks about the necessity of controlling our tongue (Prov. 10:19, 17:27).

2.      Those who are quick to speak are usually all bark and no bite, i.e. they talk a good talk but don't walk the walk.

3.      In context it means we are slow to speak our personal opinions about the word without study or to speak against the word.

C.     Slow to uncontrolled anger (vs. 19-20).

1.      Context--Wrath against the preached word.

2.      There are two ways we can react to the word:

·        Repent and change=forgiveness.

·        Attack and get angry=not righteousness of God.

3.      The proverb writer spoke against anger also (Prov. 14:17; 16:32).

II.  Possess the proper action (vs. 22-25).

A.     Be doers of the Word!! (vs. 22) [Too many people mark their Bible, but their Bible never marks them!].

1.      Were the Jews doers or hearers of the Word (Matt. 15:7-9)?

2.      See Matt. 7:21, Lk 6:46

3.      How do we only hear God’s word today???

B.       See yourself as you really are (vs. 23-24). [New Guinea]

1.      What is the purpose of a mirror??

2.      What would happen if we got out of bed looked in the mirror and never made any changes?

3.      What happens when we don't make changes in our spiritual life??

4.      How are we deceiving ourselves?

C.     The Blessing of doing (vs. 25).  This passage tells us three interesting things about the Word:

·        It is a law.

·        It is a perfect (Greek, teleos: complete) law.

·        It is a liberating law.

III.  Possess the proper fruits (vs. 26-27).

A.     The Bridled tongue (vs. 26).

1.      Christians should not curse (Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29).

2.      Christians should not gossip. 

3.      If we do not control our tongue our religion is worthless.

B.       The Benevolent Spirit (vs. 27a).

1.      Visit (Greek word for scope) take care of.

2.      Pantry items for children’s homes

C.     The Unspotted character (vs. 27b).

1.      I believe this is the major problem for Christians today.

2.      Notice the progression: friendship of the world (James 4:4), love of the world (1 John 2:15-17), conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2), condemned with the world (1 Cor. 11:32).