Young Adults' Group

Be Doers Of The Lord’s Word

by Pastor Mark
October 19, 2023

The challenge of hearing and doing the Lord’s Word

One of the greatest gifts that God has given to us is His Word. We ought to have a good and proper approach to receiving it. When we hear the Lord’s Word, our response should be to practise it. However, many have not adopted this vital approach. Instead, they tend to hear the Lord’s Word only. The danger is that they may have fallen into the problem of deception.

The deception of hearing the Word of the Lord only

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

1. The Greek word for “deceiving” is “paralogizomai”, which indicates wrong reasoning.
2. Wrong reasoning is the means by which we end up being deceived.
3. When we use false reasoning, we deceive ourselves into thinking we are doing well.
4. But in reality, we are not as we have adopted defective reasoning.
5. Hearing the Lord’s Word is like looking at our natural face in the mirror (James 1:23).
6. We are able to consider and perceive our true reflection.
7. Instead of addressing the problems, we conveniently forget what we have seen.
8. We do nothing as a result…this is self-deception.
9. Self-deception is dangerous and deadly as it stumbles us.

Doers of the Lord’s Word

“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

1. The perfect law of liberty

1. The law is described as perfect as it has nothing defective or in error.
2. It also gives liberty…to free us from the bondage of sin.
3. It can help us rid ourselves of the bad aspects that we have seen in ourselves.

2. The right approach to the Lord’s Word

1. We ought to look attentively into the Lord’s Word, identify our sins and address them carefully.
2. As we are taught the Word of God, we should abide in it.
3. Let us remember what we heard and learnt…not to be a forgetful hearer.
4. As we become doers of the Lord’s Word, we understand the work to be done.
   1. The challenge is to focus on doing the work.
   2. The Lord Jesus taught about the fruits of a tree (Matthew 7:16,20).
   3. We know the kind of person by his fruits.
   4. The works of a man are compared to his fruits.
   5. If we do the works of God, we will become fruitful trees, growing and thriving.

3. The blessing of practising the Lord’s Word

1. When we practise the Lord’s Word, we will be greatly blessed.
2. The Lord will bless the work that we have done.
3. Our work will be fruitful.

Let us guard ourselves from having the wrong approach of being hearers only where we end up deceiving ourselves. Let us be challenged to have the right approach to be doers of the Lord’s Word so that we may be greatly blessed and fruitful in life and ministry.

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