Do What it Says August 5, 2024

James 1:18-21  "He chose to give us birth through the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created. 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness 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." (The Word Jesus taught) Where have we heard this before? Mark 4, the sower sows the Word, Matthew 13, among other places. Notice the word save in verse 21. Defined by Strongs as: save, make whole, heal, be whole.

James 1:22-25 22 Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ( Be a doer) 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone 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 whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)

Let's go back to verse 22 which says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves." You realize what this is saying? It is telling us we can deceive ourselves by merely listening to the Word. What does merely mean?

Websters definition, " ME'RELY, adverb Purely; only (listening) ; thus and no other way; for this and no other purpose."  You ever have a conversation with someone and suddenly tune them out? Maybe the word casually is more to the point. Well, listening , not listening, or just plain don't care enough to on-purpose remember.  Maybe you are on track to read the whole Bible in a year so it is on your to do list. You are going to be the first to finish by the end of the year! Really, we can give the Word that little respect?

Websters definition doer - "One who performs what is required; one who observes, keeps or obeys, in practice."

So does the Word of truth and life deserve more honor than a cheap novel? This is about the treatment of God's living Word. Give honor.

Look what James says… Chapter 1:25  25 "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."  

Question, "Does merely listening to the Word gain you anything?" After all former believers have listened to it. Religious scholars read it. Politicians quote the Word. No gain, only deception!  Sort of a side effect of doing it wrong.

How about looking intently, does that gain one something? Only freedom and blessing!

Unshakable Kingdom Promises

So, I have something here which produces freedom in any area of life and blessing that makes one rich, adding no sorrow with it, would you like me to show it to you for your consideration? Ok let's go down that road. Half the battle of faith is establishing the fact that what God said is His will and that it is His will for me.

 John 8:31-32, 36 " Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Let's define the word continue, I believe it will help our understanding and give credence to our faith. Websters definition: continue,  To remain in a state, or place; to abide for any time indefinitely. 2. To last; to be durable; to endure; to be permanent. 3. To persevere; to be steadfast or constant in any course.

That is one power packed word! Can you see the unspoken fruit of patience is present in this verse?

First we must recognize this as a promise from God, Jesus, who cannot lie. He said His promises are yes and AMEN! 2 Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." Let me translate. Yes as in, "you have my consent", or yes, "that is  affirmative, (you read it right) and this will never change because I am God!" Amen is not the sound of someone clearing their throat! The meaning of amen is to signify to confirm, establish, verify; to trust, or give confidence in. At the end of a prayer or declaration, "Be it firm and established." There is nothing shaky about this deal, not on God's part.

Hebrews 8:6 "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, in as much as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (through the blood of Jesus)!

The Word of God came from where? Where do your words come from? Thoughts! God has thoughts. 

Psalm 40:5 "Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered." Websters has this definition. of thoughts: "Inward reasoning; the workings of conscience." Do God's thoughts come from a flesh and blood being or from a spirit being?  Spirit.

How did you and someone else think the same thought simultaneously? In different parts of the world? Without a cell phone? How do thoughts change the way our physical brain operates? Is God's communication to us Spirit to spirit or spirit to flesh? So many questions! Our thoughts toward God, are they spirit - spirit? How is it that we can speak a word without first thinking it? So my own reasoning is leaning to the idea that thoughts are spiritual in origin and were first conveyed to Adam at his creation.  The very idea that we are a triune being is from scripture, and we instinctively know it! God's very Spirit image is imprinted on us from conception. We would have to have a spiritual interface to register God's thoughts and man's spoken thoughts. How wonderful are your works O God! So if God's Words bring us peace, then we have been given discernment over good and evil. We can change our thinking to positive. (Subject for another time.)

The Starting Line: ( after repenting of evil)  is to listen to the Word without being deceived. This means you look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and you don’t forget about it, but you determine to be a doer of that Word (someone who will continue in it). Next we see the Word become planted in our heart. Now it's beginning to make sense. Continuing and not forgetting what we have heard, but doing it will cause us to be free and blessed in what we do.

So to continue in the Word of our Father, is to head towards the goal of freedom and towards the blessing. Freedom in the areas you need to be free in.

Jesus also said in John 8:31-32" If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " Disciples follow their master. Will we follow Him today in His way?

There is a scary side note Jesus makes in verse 37 "to those who rejected His Word.37"I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because My Word hath no place in you." What did have place in them? Religion, death. Why? They rejected Jesus Himself and His Word. 

Psalm 19:7 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul"

Transformation is involved in continuing in the Word. We know this a couple of ways. One is by the results, namely freedom and blessing. The other is by reading of those who were healed in Jesus ministry. They also heard the Word and continued in it until they became free indeed!

The way of faith is the same for us as for them. We will have to use the same operating principles as they did. We just can't see a physical Jesus … yet.

Let's get into some practical steps to move us along into the Jesus discipleship program.

1. Recognize the Son of God, Jesus for who He is. Lord, the Word, Head of the Church, Saviour, Way, Truth, and Life, Alpha and Omega explore the meanings and other titles Revelations 22:13

2. Worship Him, put aside idols. Praise stills the enemy's voice. John 4:24

3. Desire a love relationship with Him and the Godhead according to knowledge James 4:8 Talk to Him. Fellowship, Receive baptism in the Holy Spirit

4. Realize who you are in relation to Him. Son, Daughter, Friend, Brother, Disciple, Follower, Child of God Luke 8:48

5. Love your neighbor and yourself, love all people forgive all people.         Galatians 5:14

6. Break up the fallow sin ground of your life through repentance.               Hosea10:12

7. We pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. Other religions will not do this. Learn about your authority in God. Ephesians 5:20

8. What do you desire to do for God as a worker, minister, helper, or special calling? God has plans for you. Maybe a university degree, or Bible School? Learn evangelism. Jeremiah 29:11

9. Learn about the enemy, devils, satan, it, sin, causes of sickness and disease and blocks to healing

10. Renew your mind with scripture reading and start practicing sowing and reaping

Another way to expedite a need met by prayer is to

·        Find a bible promise that goes along with what you need.

·        Pray that scripture or Word.

·        Trust the Word of God.

·        Petition God with His own Word.

·        Thank Him and Praise Him for the answered prayer.

This is valid. This will help you release your faith to Him. It will help to familiarize yourself with this Word and see if you can find other scriptures which concur with the first one. Out of the mouth of 2 or more witnesses let it be established to your mind and then pray. Believe and do what the Word says.

We want our prayer to be in faith and believe we receive by faith as well. By doing this, we can have what it says. God's Word is full of power! It can bring itself to pass. After we pray, make daily confessions speaking out the Words of God which you prayed as if you already have them in your possession. Declare the end from the beginning God will grant your request!

Read 2 Peter 1:3, Romans 4:16-18, Matthew 10:32