"BE YE DOERS"

Scripture:  James 1:19- 25

 

I.  Be Ye

            A.  Be Swift -->  <James 1:19 "be swift (speedy) to hear (learn by hearing)"

                        1.  Hear the Word --> Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

                                    Define Faith:

            4102 pistis {pis'-tis} from 3982; TDNT - 6:174,849; n f

 

            AV - faith 239, assurance 1, believe + 1537 1, belief 1, them that believe 1, fidelity 1; 244

 

1)      conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God

and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it

                        1a) relating to God

                                    1a1) the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and

bestower of eternal salvation through Christ

                        1b) relating to Christ

                                    1b1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through                                                                      whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God

                        1c) the religious beliefs of Christians

                        1d) belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ,                                                            springing from faith in the same

            2) fidelity, faithfulness

                        2a) the character of one who can be relied on

 

                        2.  Receive the Word --> James 1:21 "receive with meekness the engrafted word"

                                    Engrafted = inborn, implanted by nature, implanted by others instructions

 

            B.  Be Berean --> Acts 17:10-12

                        1.  Bereans received the Word.

                        v. 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:  who 

                                    coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

                        v. 11 (a)  These were more noble (well born, noble minded) than those in Thessalonica, in                                                         that they received the word with all readiness of mind,

                        2.  Bereans studied the Word   

                        v.  11 (b) and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

                        v.  12  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks,                                                           and of men, not a few.

 

                        They received the Word.  They studied the Word.

 

                        3.  Paul admonished Timothy to study the Word.

                        II Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved (accepted, pleasing) unto God, a                                                        workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

 

            *C.  Be Ye Doers

                        James 1:22  "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your

                                    own selves."

                        1.  "be ye" --> to become, to come into existence, come into a new state of being

                        2.  "doers" --> poietes  (poy-ay-tace') --> performer, poet, creative performance,

                                    a productive action pointing to an actual result

 

                        The final test of salvation is fruit.  This means a changed life, Christian character and                                                       conduct, and ministry to others in the glory of God.  Warren W. Wiersbe pg 346

 

II.  THE CHURCH

            A.  What does the Church need?

                        1.  Praying?  --> Sure

                        2.  Faith?  --> Sure

                        3.  Spiritual Gifts --> Yes

                        4.  The Word --> Definitely

            But the Word is abundant.  Preaching is plentiful.  The Bible out sales all other books.

            Ministries now use radio, TV, tapes, internet, etc.

 

            B.  What's the problem?

                        1.  We hear audibly, but we do not receive and act on the word.

                                   

Hebrews 4:1-2 (v. 1) "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."  (v.2) "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:  but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

 

                        2.  When the Word should go in both ears and down to the heart and produce action, it                                                instead goes in one ear and out the other.  Spiros Zodhiates  "Hearing Is Not Enough"  Pulpit Helps  July 2000 

 

            C.  One of the biggest disappointments to a pastor/preacher/teacher, etc.

                        1.  To present the Word to people who will be hearers, but will not be doers.

                        2.  They hear but do not receive and therefore do not act on the Word.

                                    No performance occurs.

                        3.  They shout during the message and compliment afterwards, but go on in a

                                    defective way refusing to act on the message. 

                        4.  They are deceiving their own selves.  James 1:22 

                                    Deceiving = to reckon wrong, to cheat by false reckoning, to delude,

                                                circumvent, *to deceive by false reasoning

 

                        It is not enough to hear the Word; we must do it.  Many people have the mistaken

                        idea that hearing a good sermon or Bible study is what makes them grow and get

                        God's blessing.  Too many Christians mark their Bibles, but their Bibles never mark

                        them!  If you think you are spiritual because you hear the Word, then you are only

                        kidding yourself.  Warren W. Wiersbe  pg 347

 

III.  THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD

            A.  We are begotten by the Word

                        James 1:18  "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind

                                    of firstfruit of his creatures."

                        I Corinthians 4:15  "For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not                                                          many fathers:  for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."

                        I Peter 1:23  "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the

                                    word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

 

                        How can you be begotten if you are not a doer of the Word?

 

            B.  We are sanctified by the Word

                        Ephesians 5:26  "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water

                                    by the word."

                        John 17:17  (Jesus said)  "Sanctify them through they truth:  thy word is truth."

 

                        How can you be sanctified if you are not a doer of the Word?

 

            C.  The Word is for self-examination.

                        James 1: 23-25

                        They merely glance at themselves.  They do not carefully study themselves as they read

                                    the Word.    Warren W. Wiersbe  pg 347

 

IV.  THE EMPHASIS IS ON DOING THE WORD

            A.  Lord, Lord 

                        1.  Matthew 7:21  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the                                                                  kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

                        2.  Luke 6:46  "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

                                    What does Lord mean?  Lord of all, or not Lord at all.

            B.  Blessed

                        1.  Luke 11:28  "But he said [Jesus], Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of                                     God, and keep it."     keep --> guard, protect, take care not to violate

                        2.  John 13:17  "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

            C.  Justified

                        1.  Romans 2:13  "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers

                                    of the law shall be justified."

                        2.  I John 2:3  "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we

                                    keep his commandments.  keep = attend to carefully, to observe

 

V.  IF YOU ARE NOT DOING

            A.  If you are not doing, you may not be going.

                        James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not,

                                    to him it is sin."

            B.  Excuses

                        Oh pastor, I know I should be doing ___________, but I ___________.

 

            If you know to do, you do.  If you don't do, you're done.