Hearing and Doing the Word - James 1:19-27 Forest Hills Bible Chapel 26 March 2006

James 1: My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James 1: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it— he will be blessed in what he does. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it— he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1: If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Accepting the Word James 1:19-21 Everyone should be: 1. quick to listen – We should continually be set to listen to what God has to say to us – see 1:18. Implications for this include the following: The word of God is worth hearing for its own sake. The word of God is to be our “reference frame” for all we see or do.

Accepting the Word James 1:19-21 Some applications of “listening” We must truly work at listening to others, especially other believers. We must realize that much of the visual and audio media does not promote real “listening.” We must read and “hear” God’s word. We must prepare for worship and the hearing of God’s word.

Accepting the Word James 1: ) slow to speak. “Men have two ears but one tongue, that they should hear before they speak. The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction; but the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth to hedge it in, and keep it within its proper bounds.” We often comment before we fully understand. We often gossip without having all of the facts, or having a wrong grasp of the facts.

Accepting the Word James 1:19-21 Part of the beauty of our Breaking of Bread service is it allows quiet times to sit, meditate, and listen to what has been shared. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. – Proverbs 10:19.

Accepting the Word James 1: slow to become angry. Sometimes when the word confronts us, we do not want to believe it, so we become angry. Such anger is clearly sin – Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; Titus 1:7. “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” – Proverbs 29:11

Accepting the Word James 1:19-21 “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” – Proverbs 16:32 Adamson tells us that Moses showed his anger on three different occasions, and the consequences were always bad. Cf. Matthew 5:22

Accepting the Word James 1:19-21 Command to Accept the Word – v. 21 A twofold command: 1) get rid of all moral filth and evil, and 2) humbly accept the implanted word, which can save you.

Doing the Word James 1:22-25 Don’t just listen to the word…do it! 1:22 Looking in the mirror – even “scrutinizing ourselves closely” – but then doing nothing about what we see, is foolish! 1: The proper perspective is 1) to look intently into the mirror, 2) to continue to do so, 3) to not forget what one sees (hears), and 4) to do what the word says. This brings blessing.

Doing the Word James 1:22-25 The truly “religious” person will: Keep a tight rein on his or her tongue. Take care of those in need – especially the orphans and widows. Keep himself or herself unspotted from the world.