BECOMING A DOER OF GOD'S WORD
"Learn of Me. Kill the self within. Every blow to self is used to shape the real, eternal, imperishable you. Be candid and rigorous with yourselves. Did self prompt that?
and if it did, oust it at all costs?"
Reminders from God
Memory Text: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hears only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22)
Jean Francois Gravelet, better known as “The Great Blondin,” became famous for walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. In September of 1860, the Prince of Wales had witnessed Blondin’s crossing of the falls with an assistant on his back. After the walk, Blondin turned to the British prince and offered to carry him across the falls too. Although the prince had heard of the man’s skills, and had even just seen them in action, he was still not ready to place his life in Blondin’s hands. The point is, of course, that hearing and seeing are not enough when it comes to a relationship with God. We may be intellectually convinced about the existence of God, the truth of the gospel, and the Second Coming. We may have even seen for ourselves the reality of God’s love and care. Yet, even with all that, we may not really be ready to commit ourselves fully into His hands, an action that would be revealed by our works. This is precisely why James emphasizes the importance of being
doers, not just hearers, of the Word.
James 1:22-24 AMP "But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like."
Cross Reference Scriptures
Doers of the Word:
(James 2:14-20 AMP) "What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]? If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do? So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead). But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]! Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?"
Watchmen Nee Note: We must have works of mercy and love toward the believers. Only then can we be saved from the judgment that is without mercy. It is shameful for the necessities of the poor saints to be neglected in the church life. However, James's word here, given to strengthen his view of practical Christian perfection, carries the flavor of the Old Testament concern for needy people. (Deut.15:7-8) Faith is of life; it is living and operates through love (Gal.5:6) Otherwise, it is a dead faith and is not genuine (vv.20,26)
(Luke 8:21 KJV) "And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."
Life Application Bible Study Notes: Jesus true family are those who hear and obey his words. Hearing without obeying is not enough. As Jesus loved his mother , so he loves us. He offers us an intimate family relationship with him. (see also John 19:25-27)
(John 13:17 AMP) "If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them]."
(Mat 28:20 KJV) "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Not hearers Only:
(Luke 11:28 AMP) "But He said, Blessed (happy and to be envied) rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey and practice it!"
Life Application Bible Study Notes: Jesus response to the woman in verse 27, meant that a person's obedience to God is more important than his or her place on the family tree. The patient work of consistent obedience is even more important than the honor of bearing a respected son.
My thoughts: It doesn't matter what title was given to you, where you stand in the church or even in Christian social groups, if you do not obey what the Word of God say's, none of those things mean nothing to God. We are to do what GOD's word say's. How we act towards one another, our actions and attitude and doing the right thing in speech, conduct and actions. These are the things that GOD looks at, not your title in the church. Remember Saul was a King, only by title. He loved the praise of men, rather than being obedient to GOD's word.
(Mat 7:24 AMP) "So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock."
Life Application Bible Study Notes: To build "upon a rock" means to be a hearing, responding disciple, not a phony, superficial one. Practicing obedience becomes the solid foundation to weather the storms of life.
(Luke 6:46-49 AMP) "Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you? For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does them, I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock. But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great."
Life Application Bible Study Notes: Obeying God is like building a house on a strong, solid foundation that stands firm when storms come. When life is calm, our foundations don't seem to matter. But when crises come, our foundations are tested. Be sure your life is built on the solid foundation of knowing and trusting Jesus Christ.
Deceiving your own selves:
(Gal 6:3-4 AMP) "For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself. But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor."
Watchmen Nee Notes: Those who think of themselves as something will not hear the burdens of others. Only those who do not regard themselves as anything will bear others' burdens as a spontaneous result of walking in and by the Spirit.
(Galatians 6:7 AMP) "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap."
Life Application Study Bible Notes: It's a law of lie - both physical and spiritual - that you reap what you sow. Every action has results. If you plant to please your own desires (soweth to the flesh), you'll reap a crop of sorrow and evil; if you plant to please God, you'll reap joy and everlasting life. What kind of seeds are you sowing in the soil of your life?
What are you sowing in the soil of your life and other's? Can your family member's seek help from you? Are you ministering the Word of GOD to your family member's or do they look at you as not real? What fruits are you bearing in the world and at home? These are some of the questions we should think on. Am I really reflecting the character of Christ before those at home, work place, social groups? Do you feel like your better then other's because of the title GOD or man has given you? We must all learn how to humble ourselves. A gentle answer the Bible says turns away wrath. Are you judgmental in the way you talk with people or are you gentle and none judgmental in your tone?
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