Prioritize Coming To The Table
Part of Top 5
January 7, 2024

PRIORITIZE COMING TO THE TABLE

Text: James 1:21-25

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

1. Welcome The Word (v. 21)

  • James says to receive the engrafted (implanted) word with meekness…

  • He literally means that we are to

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    the Word.

  • We receive God’s Word as much as we believe it is good for us, food for us, that it will strengthen us, lead to change in us, etc.

  • What we believe about God’s Word is significant when it comes to

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    it into our lives and what we can
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    out of it.

  • What you believe about God’s Word prepares your heart to receive it; to welcome the seed of God’s Word into the soil of your heart.

2. Do The Word (v. 22)

  • When God puts His finger on something in your life, business tactics, personal relationships, marriage, personal life, thought life, etc. you got to get right to it.

  • Why instantly? Because the agent of change, growth, maturity, etc. is

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    to God’s Word.

  • The bible in and of itself cannot change you. Hearing, receiving, or reading the bible alone cannot change your life. It’s doing the bible and what it says that changes, grows, matures, draws us to intimacy with God, and makes the difference.

  • The bible is like a mirror. A mirror can show you what needs to change, but it can’t make the change.
  • God’s Word points out what needs to be worked on and fixed and what we need to do, but then we have to do it, we have to act in obedience to God’s Word.

The great reward is not hearing God’s Word, but in responding to God’s Word. (cf. Ps. 19:11)

  • Information +

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    =Transformation

  • Information +

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    application = Self deception and inoculation

  • How do we know that we’ve moved beyond simply welcoming God’s Word and instead submit to God’s Word?

  • When it corrects us and causes us to change our direction. (cf. Heb. 4:12-13; Pr. 14:12; James 1:22-25)

Bottom line: Let’s prioritize coming to the table with God by welcoming His Word into our hearts consistently and acting on His Word instantly.