Am I a Doer of the Word?
We’ve Spent 9 Days,
- LOOKING at James 1:19-27 to correctly see what God says.
- Learning how to use GODcha.
- Becoming familiar with some of the different skills to help us correctly see what God says.
Today, we want to Wrap it Up!
- Review all we have LEARNED in these verses.
- Summarize Chapter 1.
- LIVE it out! Apply it to our lives.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Do You Remember Why James Wrote This Letter?
You should know this by now.
If not it’s a touch away in GODcha’s OVERVIEW.
Take Time to Prepare Your Heart in Prayer
LORD, we would ask that if there is anything we have done that is displeasing to You, that would hinder us from hearing Your voice today, please show us, and help us to deal with it. As we come to Your Word today, may You shut out all the noise and help us to focus on all that You have taught and revealed to us. May we grasp and understand everything, and may we live in the light of what You are teaching us. Thank You!
LOOK at What God Says
Go to GODcha.
Let’s take all that God has taught us this far and connect the dots to bring it all together.
First, Put Everything in CONTEXT
Context Tutorial >To refresh your mind and put everything into CONTEXT what will you do?
Read God’s Word
Read James 1:1-18, asking the 5W’s and H.
Let’s Rehearse the CONTEXT Thus Far
Trials come to test our faith.
We must Ask God for Wisdom to handle the Trial His way.
Those Trials can turn into Temptations to solicit us to sin.
But we have been Brought Forth by the Word of God.
Now What?
READ
Yes,
Read James 1:19-27 once again with a questioning mindset.
Now Let’s Wrap Up:
‘How‘ Do We Respond to the Word of God.
Open the Deeper Discovery
Let’s View GODcha’s
#6 and #7
LEARN Questions
6. What are the beloved brethren to do with the Word that made them a kind of first fruits? What is the danger?
7. How does James define undefiled religion? What do you learn from the CR?
Try to Answer on your own.
And then we will Answer together.
What Have We LEARNED
We LEARN
A. The brethren are to:
- Be quick to hear the Word;
- Be slow to speak the Word;
- Be slow to be angry at the Word, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
- Put aside ALL filthiness, and wickedness to hear the Word.
- Receive the Word in humility.
- Look intently at the mirror of the Word that is perfect, and
- Abide in the Word.
B. Undefiled Religion is not about externals but internals.
C. Pure Religion is for the brethren to prove to be effectual doers of the Word (obey) by:
- Controlling their tongues.
- Loving and caring for others in distress.
- Keeping the world out.
D. The Result: The Doer is blessed in what he does.
We LEARN in Contrast:
A. Those who are ‘Merely Hearers’ and ‘NOT Doers’:
- Look at their natural faces in the mirror of the Word.
- Go away, forgetting what kind of person they are.
- Are forgetful hearers.
- Think they are religious (concerned with externals rather than what’s inside).
B. And as a Habit of Life They DO NOT:
- Bridle their tongues.
- Love and care for others in distress.
- Keep the world out. They love the world and the things of this world.
We LEARN the Danger is:
To be deceived and have a religion that is worthless.
Now, bring James’ purpose into this.
James is concerned that his readers understand genuine faith.
It would seem that those who are ‘merely hearers’ and ‘NOT doers‘ are those with a ‘dead faith’.
Oh, you did fantastic!
Once again, do you realize –
Nobody told you what the text says or means;
Nobody told you what to believe or think;
You didn’t guess or come up with speculations to answer the questions.
You LOOKED at what God said, and discovered what He means.
You Discovered Truth for Yourself!
Oh, are you fired up and eager to learn more? I am and hope you are too!
Let’s View GODcha’s
#6 and #7 LIVE Questions
DO NOT SKIP THIS!
It will all have been a waste of time if you don’t hear and respond to God.
LISTEN…
6. How am I responding to the Word?
a. Am I quick to hear the Word, but slow to speak and slow to anger when it confronts my sin?
b. How have I put off all my filthiness?
c. Am I willing to look intently at the perfect law, and not be a forgetful hearer?
d. Am I deceived about myself? Or am I a doer of the Word?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
LISTEN…
7. Do I think I am religious, but have an unbridled tongue? As I see pure, undefiled religion, what is my heart? How do I:
a. Control my tongue?
b. Willingly assist others in their distress?
c. Keep myself unstained by the world?
LIVE it out…Respond to God!
Oh my goodness,
Have you had eyes to see?
Ears to hear?
Has the Spirit convicted you in any way?
Are you beginning to see those with true faith are doers of the Word?
They obey what God says!
Okay, One Last Thing to Do
SUMMARIZE
To Wrap Up Chapter 1, GODcha directs us to 
Summarize the Chapter.
Why you might ask?
Well, this will help you grasp and process what you have LEARNED,
and
Cement this Chapter down deep into your heart, and you will remember it!
Come on try it, you will be so glad you did!
1. Go to your Bibles and read all of James 1:1-27, to refresh your minds.
2. Focus on a Paragraph at a time.
Remember: Paragraphs are designated by bold face numbers or letters in your hardbound Bibles.
3. LOOK for the main topics of each Paragraph.
What was talked about the most?
Hint: 
Key Words will help with this.
Hint: Keep in mind each test that proves our faith.
The main topics will help give you an outline, and you will see the flow of the chapter!
Jot the main topic of each Paragraph in the margins of your Bible next to the bolded verses, as well as in your Notes.
When you go through this process, thinking and reasoning God’s Truths, then God is able to seal Truth into your memory!
Try it on your own before you go any further. I will help you after you give it a shot! You can do this! I know you can!
Okay, let’s see how you did.
We determined the main points are:
v1-8 Trials
Endure Trials, asking God for wisdom.
v9-12 Be Humble and Glory (Rejoice)
Perseverance leads to approval and the crown of life.
v13-18 Temptations
Temptations are not from God.
Giving into temptation leads to death.
God gives good gifts.
Don’t be deceived.
v19-27 Receiving/Doing the Word
Prove to be a doer of the Word and not only hearers who delude themselves.
Pure religion is doing what God says, even in trials.
Now to Summarize.
I was taught to try to keep my summary to 4-6 Words or less if possible.
Why?
Because it will be easier to remember.
DO NOT Paraphrase!
Use the Words God uses.
Why?
- Paraphrasing can change the meaning, and
- We want to know and bury God’s Word, that has the power, into our heads and hearts.
How Would You Summarize Chapter 1?
What about: Trials/Temptations/Do the Word
Awesome, you all!
I am so proud of you, and
I sincerely thank you for staying with us on this journey!
We took it slow purposely to show you how much you can discover if you are willing. I thank God you have been willing!
Are you amazed at how READING and re-reading helped bury God’s Word into your heads and hearts?
Are you amazed at what you have LEARNED and the intimate encounters you have had with your Lord?
Do you see more and more the importance of knowing God’s Word?
Do you realize, you have been disciplined to show yourselves approved unto God, (2Ti 2:15)?
I pray you will urge others to join in this discovery and do the same!
Chapter 1 is a Wrap!
Meditate on everything God is teaching you. “For the one who meditates on God’s Word is blessed,” (Psalm 1:1-2).
What have you learned about yourself?
Is there some action God is requiring of you?
Do you need to confess and repent?
Put this Review and Summary in Your Notes
If you will take the time to put this Review in your Notes you can return to it anytime and anywhere. You will be so glad you did.
If short on time, copy and paste into your Notes.
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Turn What We Have Learned Into Prayer
By doing this you are learning to pray God’s Word, thus, you are praying according to His will, praying effectively!
Perhaps. . .
GRACIOUS FATHER IN HEAVEN, we praise You and thank You that You are indeed Sovereign over our lives, over every circumstance that comes our way. We are most grateful for every perfect gift and good thing that we have received from You, who are the Father of Lights. We confess that we don’t deserve any good thing from You, but are humbly grateful for Your perfect gift of salvation bringing us forth by Your Word of Truth that liberates and sets us free! As we finish up Chapter 1 of James, please cement these vital truths down deep into our hearts. Father, may we continually remember that our faith will be tested by trials, by temptations, and by our response to Your holy Word. May we receive Your implanted Word and be intentional hearers of Your Word. Father God, stir our hearts to look intently into the mirror of Your Word, abide by it, and be effectual doers. May others know we love You by the way we live our faith in obedience to You. May we be ever sensitive to You Holy Spirit to bridle our tongues; love and care for others in need; and keep the world out of us. May we glorify You in all we say and do Lord God, and fall back on these Words in times of trouble. With heartfelt gratitude we thank you for Your wonderful perfect gifts and good things. In the blessed name of our Lord and Savior, we ask these things. Amen!
Rest tomorrow and worship God!
Meet you in a couple of days to begin LOOKING @ James Chapter 2.
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