Listening and Receiving Listening and Receiving The WordThe Word

““Real Life” [James] Series [7]Real Life” [James] Series [7]

James 1:19-21James 1:19-21

WHAT DOES “REAL FAITH” LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE?

• 1:2-18 Trials & Suffering [Test of Real Faith]

• 1:19-5:6 Authentic Christian Spirituality [Characteristics of Real Faith]

• 5:7-20 Trials & Suffering [Triumph of Real Faith]

WHAT DOES “REAL FAITH” LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE?

• 1:19-5:6 Authentic Christian Spirituality [Characteristics of Real Faith]

1:19-27 The Word of God 2:1-13 Partiality 2:14-26 Works 3:1-12 Tongue 3:13-18 Wisdom 4:1-12 Quarrels,

Worldliness, & Slander 4:13-17 Boasting about

Tomorrow 5:1-6 Abusive Wealth

WHAT DOES “REAL FAITH” LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE?

• 1:19-5:6 Authentic Christian Spirituality [Characteristics of Real Faith]

1:19-27 The Word of God 2:1-13 Partiality 2:14-26 Works 3:1-12 Tongue 3:13-18 Wisdom 4:1-12 Quarrels,

Worldliness, & Slander 4:13-17 Boasting about

Tomorrow 5:1-6 Abusive Wealth

WHAT DOES “REAL FAITH” LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE?

• In today’s text (vs.19-21), our focus question on REAL FAITH is this:

“What are the prerequisites of a heart in responding to the Word of God?”

THREE PREREQUISITES OF A HEARTIN RESPONDING TO THE WORD

1) ATTENTIVE LISTENING: Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger

of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (vs.19-20) 

“Quick to hear” means active, eager listening to the Word with urgency.

“Slow to speak” means to restrain from coming up with our own conclusions and knowledge.

“Slow to anger” mean to refrain our hostile defiant reaction to God’s Word when it seems distasteful to us.

 

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,   and he who has a cool spirit is a man of

understanding.Proverbs 17:27

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,

   but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.Proverbs 14:29

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,    for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:9

THREE PREREQUISITES OF A HEARTIN RESPONDING TO THE WORD

1) ATTENTIVE LISTENING: Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger

of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (vs.19-20) 

“Quick to hear” means active, eager listening to the Word with urgency.

“Slow to speak” means to restrain from coming up with our own conclusions and knowledge.

“Slow to anger” mean to refrain our hostile defiant reaction to God’s Word when it seems distasteful to us.

The key is our eager attentive listening to the Word.

 

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:9 

THREE PREREQUISITES OF A HEARTIN RESPONDING TO THE WORD

2) GETTING RID OF THE HINDRANCE: Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness... (v.21a)

 

Sins in our lives hinder the way we listen to God. To put away the sins in lives can never be partial—it

must be ALL filthiness and wickedness (external & internal).

The root word for filthiness here means “ear-wax”—it is spiritual ear-wax that must be removed for hearing God.

Sometimes, rampant wickedness may include subtle heart-attitude of pride, stubbornness, or lukewarmness.

The key is to get rid of ALL hindrances of listening.

 

1 "If you return, O Israel,         declares the LORD,

    to me you should return.If you remove your detestable things from my

presence,    and do not waver,

2 and if you swear, 'As the LORD lives,'   in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,then nations shall bless themselves in him,

    and in him shall they glory." 3For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

    "Break up your fallow ground,   and sow not among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:1-3

THREE PREREQUISITES OF A HEARTIN RESPONDING TO THE WORD

3) RECEIVING WITH MEEKNESS: Receiving God’s Word with humility and teachability.

…and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (v.21b)

 

When we listen to the Word, we are to receive with MEEKNESS which a heart-attitude of humility and teachability.

It is the heart-attitude of Jesus [“gentle and lowly in heart”] – Jesus’ self-description in Matt 11:29.

Why? Because it can save our souls—here more than justification but daily deliverance of sanctification.

The key is our willful glad submission to God’s transforming Word.

 

1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 “I know that you can do all things;    no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ 

   Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, 

   things too wonderful for me to know. 4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; 

   I will question you,    and you shall answer me.’ 

5 My ears had heard of you    but now my eyes have seen you. 

6 Therefore I despise myself    and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:1-6 [NIV]

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. Listen attentively to THE WORD OF GOD. Be quick to listen [to God], slow to speak [your

conclusion], slow to anger [your angry defiant reaction]. Have this posture: “Speak, Lord—your servant is

listening.”

2. Get rid of ALL HINDRANCES to listening. Get rid of all your “ear-wax” out by removing all

immoral and evil things from your life. Get rid of all the distractions from listening to God.

3. Receive God’s Word WITH HUMILITY AND TEACHABILITY. Don’t harden your heart—be tender and open to the

Word. Cultivate a meek heart [humble and teachable] to the

Spirit of God who speaks through Scripture.