Receive the Word “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” - John 12:48 Introduction 1. We are all receivers of the word. 2. Some receive the word different than others. 3. There are correct ways to receive the word

With Meekness James 1:21 A. Meekness defined. prautēs – mildness, that is, humility. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His (God’s) dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. – Vines Expository Dictionary

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity A Christian Characteristic! Colossians 3:12 It’s a characteristic a Christian should have. Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11; when helping others – Gal. 6:1 and 2 Tim. 2:23-26

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity A Christian Characteristic! Colossians 3:12 1 Timothy 6:11 It’s a characteristic a Christian should have. Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11; when helping others – Gal. 6:1 and 2 Tim. 2:23-26

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity A Christian Characteristic! Colossians 3:12 1 Timothy 6:11 Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:23-26 It’s a characteristic a Christian should have. Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11; when helping others – Gal. 6:1 and 2 Tim. 2:23-26

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity A Christian Characteristic! Colossians 3:12 1 Timothy 6:11 Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:23-26 We Are All Sinners! Romans 3:23 We are all sinners! (Humility) Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:22

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity A Christian Characteristic! Colossians 3:12 1 Timothy 6:11 Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:23-26 We Are All Sinners! Romans 3:23 Galatians 3:22 We are all sinners! (Humility) Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:22

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity We are not above instruction/correction! 2 Timothy 3:16 We are not above instruction/correction! (Humility) 2 Timothy 3:16 Proverb 12:1 – humility is necessary in receiving instruction. 2 Corinthians 4:16 – renewed day by day Colossians 3:8-11 – renewed in knowledge. (Participation by the knower in the object known.)

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for instruction in righteousness. for reproof, for correction, Doctrine – (teaching) can’t teach someone something they already know. Reproof – (convict) can’t convict someone of something they didn’t do. Correction – can’t correct if there is nothing wrong. Instruction – no point in instructing if you already know what to do. (how to be righteous)

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity We are not above instruction/correction! 2 Timothy 3:16 Proverb 12:1 We are not above instruction/correction! (Humility) 2 Timothy 3:16 Proverb 12:1 – humility is necessary in receiving instruction. 2 Corinthians 4:16 – renewed day by day Colossians 3:8-11 – renewed in knowledge. (Participation by the knower in the object known.)

Proverb 12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity We are not above instruction/correction! 2 Timothy 3:16 Proverb 12:1 2 Corinthians 4:16 We are not above instruction/correction! (Humility) 2 Timothy 3:16 Proverb 12:1 – humility is necessary in receiving instruction. 2 Corinthians 4:16 – renewed day by day Colossians 3:8-11 – renewed in knowledge. (Participation by the knower in the object known.)

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

With Meekness James 1:21 B. Meekness is a Necessity We are not above instruction/correction! 2 Timothy 3:16 Proverb 12:1 2 Corinthians 4:16 Colossians 3:8-11 James 1:22-25 We are not above instruction/correction! (Humility) 2 Timothy 3:16 Proverb 12:1 – humility is necessary in receiving instruction. 2 Corinthians 4:16 – renewed day by day Colossians 3:8-11 – renewed in knowledge. (Participation by the knower in the object known. – James 1:22-25)

With All Readiness Acts 17:10-11 A. Readiness is the Attitude Readiness – prothumia – predisposition, that is, alacrity: - forwardness of mind. Willing to listen. Unlike those in Thessalonica – Acts 17:1-9 Persuaded – Acts 17:4 Not Persuaded – Acts 17:5-9 Fair-minded (noble) eugenēs – well born, that is, (literally) high in rank, or (figuratively) generous They had an open mindset to receive truth. They did not refuse to listen. Readiness is the attitude needed toward receiving the word. Readiness prothumia – predisposition, that is, alacrity (cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness): - forwardness of mind. Willingness to give Paul a fair hearing. Unlike those in Thessalonica – Acts 17:1-9 The ones who believed did not search the scriptures (17:4). They were persuaded! The ones who were not persuaded caused havoc (17:5-9). They didn’t care for truth. They didn’t want change.

With All Readiness Acts 17:10-11 B. Searched the Scriptures! Paul and Silas preach Christ. Isaiah 34:16-17 Do we do the same? Searched the Scriptures (v.11)! Paul and Silas preach Christ (prophecy from old testament). Isaiah 34:16-17 (prophecy of Judgment) (It is possible to believe something just because someone said it, and have better knowledge of the subject because what they said was correct. Just as it is possible to believe something just because someone said it, and that leading you in the wrong direction because it is false. However, your faith will be more genuine and strong if you search the scriptures and find the truth yourself!) If you receive the word with meekness and all readiness, you will receive it as the good ground.

As The Good Ground Mark 4 A. The seed is perfect! What’s the problem? Wayside Stony Ground The word. John 1:1-5 Colossians 1:15-18 1 Corinthians 13:10 Thorns The problem is the soil (heart)! The seed is perfect! (without flaw) Obviously it worked with the good ground. Why didn’t it work with the others? 4:4 – Wayside. 4:15 – Satan takes the word. 4:5 – Stony Ground. 4:16-17 – have no root. 4:7 – Thorns. 4:18-19 – cares of world choke out the word. In each case the problem was the soil (heart). What is the word? John 1:1-5 – Jesus is the word! Col. 1:15-18 Heb. 4:14-16 – Without sin, flawless! 1 Peter 1:17-19 1 Cor. 13:10 – perfect (complete, lacking nothing, everything you need) Hebrews 4:14-16 1 Peter 1:17-19

1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part will be done away.

As The Good Ground Mark 4 B. Problem ≠ Word Parable of the sower. Those in Thessalonica. Acts 26:24-29 Hebrews 4:12 B. The word is not the problem! Parable of the sower, it was the soil! Those in Thessalonica (Acts 17). Acts 26:24-29 – King Agrippa Hebrews 4:12 – The word never fails. It is the recipient of the word that fails. The word shows us whether or not their heart is honest. Discerns the honest heart from the dishonest heart.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 – The word never fails. It is the recipient of the word that fails. The word shows us whether or not their heart is honest. Discerns the honest heart from the dishonest heart.

As The Good Ground Mark 4 B. Problem ≠ Word Parable of the sower. Those in Thessalonica. Acts 26:24-29 Hebrews 4:12 Discerner of the heart! B. The word is not the problem! Parable of the sower, it was the soil! Those in Thessalonica (Acts 17). Acts 26:24-29 – King Agrippa Hebrews 4:12 – The word never fails. It is the recipient of the word that fails. The word shows us whether or not their heart is honest. Discerns the honest heart from the dishonest heart.

Receive the Word How are you going to receive the word? Something Different or Something Basic? Find the truth and apply it! Do you have an honest heart? 1. How are you going to receive the word? 2. Whether it be something different you haven’t heard, or something basic that you’ve been taught, are you going to receive it. 3. Find out if the word spoken is matching the Bible. If it is then apply it! 4. If you don’t apply it then you don’t have an honest heart. “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” - John 12:48