Text: Jas 1:22-26
Introduction:
A. There are 3 kinds of people in this world:
The Talkers only – Talk but never do.
The Hearers only – Hear a lot, know a lot, but never put to practice.
The Doers – Talk little, know just enough, but do.
B. It is not enough to listen to a sermon and walk away saying “What a marvellous message.”
The true test is when we go away saying, “I will do something about what I heard.” Someone has said that a good sermon not only stretches the mind and warms the heart, but it also provokes the will to action.
Discussion: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
A. Self-Deception
Many think that hearing is all that he needs to do.
The mere hearing of the message does not make a person one whit better before God (Luke 6: 46)
Many are present at the worship services, sing, listen to the sermon but never get around to do anything.
Self-deception - Working when we are not; Spiritual when we are not (1 Cor 3: 1); Know the scriptures when we do not.
B. The Parable of the Builders (Matt 7: 24-27)
C. A Dead Church
The Church at Sardis has this condemnation: “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev 3: 1).
The church looked alive. It did all of the things we normally associate with a living church. They had regular church worship. They did all of the outward things a church is thought to do.
D. The Parable of the Soils (Matt 13: 3-9)
E. Many Are Busy With The Wrong Things.
1 kings 20: 39-40 – The man who was charged to keep guard of a prisoner was busy with other things and lost his charge.
Many said they are busy; but not in the vineyard of God.
F. Laziness Kills A Church.
Laziness kills the church at Laodicea (Rev 3: 15, 16).
The one-talent man spent three times as many words making excuses for his laziness and ineptitude than either the five-talent man or two-talent man. In the King James Bible, the one-talent man uses 43 words as compared to the 16 of the five-talent and 16 of the two-talent man.
The psychology of the one-talent man is unfortunately well and alive today: Excuses
G. Talkers Kills A Church.
Many would rather talk the talk than walk the walk.
Talk is cheap. Pro 25: 14: Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Preachers need to preach to themselves. Rom 2: 17-24 Does your talking exceed your performing?
H. Why Many Would Not Do?
Lazy.
Afraid of Commitment.
Rebellion: I won’t do it.
I. Warnings by Jesus
To Sardis: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Rev 3: 2).
“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” (Matt 7: 21).
J. Be A Doer of the Word.
What does it mean to be a doer?
It means to hear and put to action. (Lk 6: 46; Mk 16:16; Acts 22: 16).
K. Why Do You Look Into a Mirror? What do you see in a mirror?
Do you follow the doctor’s order?
God’s word is a mirror for the soul. Jas 1: 25
The word look means to look attentively; to gaze carefully by the side of, to peer into or to peep into.
When we listen to a sermon, read a devotional message, or gain new insight from a verse in the bible, we must determine to put into practice what we have learned. Only then can God’s truth become a personal possession. If not, we are like the patient who does not follow his doctor’s order.
L. Spiritual Growth.
Hearing + Doing = Spiritual Growth.
A living faith is a working faith (Jas 2: 26).
Conclusion:
Is your life characterized as one who is constantly doing the Word? The blessing is in the doing. Jas 1:25