As we come to our next test of faith today, keep in mind the Lord is telling us things, giving us these tests, not to hurt us but to help us. Thus, we want to continue to go through a self-examination to know the condition of our hearts. What’s your heart and attitude towards God’s Word? What priority does it have in your life? If you’ve been discovering Truth with us, I would assume you are somewhat hungry and thirsty for God’s Word. Have you been quick to hear God’s Word and do what He said? Or have you resented the Word and wanted to shoot me, the messenger, who wants you to know Truth? What’s your heart towards the Cross References the GODcha Bible Guide has provided that are just a touch away? Are you quick to hear (read) them (God’s Word)? Or, do you race through your discovery, skipping them, reasoning there’s just not enough time, BUT you are quick to hear (read) your devotional (another person’s discovery) ‘about’ the Word? Are you quick to hear (read) your email, Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter? What about the the latest best selling book, etc? Oh please hear me, I am not saying you shouldn’t read anything but the Word of Truth, BUT considering God’s Word, that is THE Truth, that is the only thing that can and does provide for everything necessary for life and godliness (2Pe 1:3-4), then shouldn’t we make it a priority to give as much time as possible to hear God speak to us from His Word? Well, let’s dig into this last paragraph of Chapter 1 and hear God’s Word to us.
Last WEEK
We summed up James 1:13-18, True Faith Endures Temptations!
Have you shared these practical truths with others?
This WEEK
We’re going to take a bigger bite of God’s Word, focusing on 9 verses, James 1:19-27.
Today
We will read these verses with a questioning mindset.
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!
Why Did James Write This Letter to His Brethren?
We are into our 15th week of discovering the book of James, and you should know James’ purpose.
But if you can’t remember,
it is just a touch away in the OVERVIEW.
As We Come To God’s Word, Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, may we have willing ears to hear Your voice to us today. Make us know Your ways, O LORD: teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth, and teach us. For You are the God of our salvation. We will wait for You all the day. (Psa 25:24-25)
LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha and let it guide you.
Where will you begin?
Yes, Begin LOOKING By READING
Try reading James 1:1-18, asking the 5W’s and H to refresh your memory and put you into CONTEXT?
Now try reading James 1:19-27 on your own.
Remember your learning the most critical skill there is to correctly see what God says.
Give it a whirl, slow down, and read with purpose.
Remember to keep your eyes on the nouns and verbs.
Then come back for help if you need to.
19 This you WHAT?
This you know,
‘you’ WHO?
my beloved brethren.
(Think: know WHAT?)
(All that James has said and commanded so far in this Chapter.)
But
WHO?
everyone
must WHAT?
must be quick to hear,
must be WHAT else?
slow to speak
and
must be WHAT else?
slow to anger;
20 WHY slow to anger?
for the anger of man
WHAT?
does not achieve
does not achieve WHAT?
the righteousness of God.
Let’s Stop Here For a Minute.
Consider CONTEXT 
What is the CONTEXT of verses 19-20?
At first glance James 1:19-20 appears to be a series of isolated exhortations.
However, to quote these passages in isolation is to ‘yank‘ them from their CONTEXT (as I have been guilty of on numerous occasions).
And to take passages out of their CONTEXT sets the stage for misinterpretation, sometimes only slight misinterpretation, but occasionally resulting in grossly distorted interpretations.
The CONTEXT of these verses includes the previous passages, verses 16-18, and the following verse, verse 21.
Let’s LOOK:
In Verses 16-18, James is clearly describing persons who have listened to or heard and received the Word of Truth and have been born again and become as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.
Then after verse 19,
In verse 21, James refers to the Word of God and what must be done with it to receive it.
Let’s Continue Reading.
21 Therefore, (This is a 
Term of Conclusion.)
(WHY is the ‘therefore’ there for?)
Therefore, because of what James has just said about hearing the Word….
WHAT must everyone do?
putting aside all filthiness
and
WHAT else must be put aside?
all that remains of wickedness,
Then WHAT?
in humility
DO WHAT?
receive the word
that is WHAT?
that is implanted,
WHAT is the word
that is implanted able to do?
which is able to save
save WHAT?
your souls.
22 But
WHAT?
prove yourselves
to be WHAT?
doers of the word,
and
WHAT?
not merely hearers
WHO WHAT?
who delude themselves.
Stop a minute! THINK!
Not only is James saying receive the Word, but we must do the Word!
Do all he has told us to do in this Chapter so far!
Why?
Because if we are merely hearers, then we are deluded.
Let’s Keep Going!
23 WHY are merely hearers deluded?
For WHO?
For if anyone
is WHAT?
is a hearer of the word
and
not a WHAT?
not a doer,
he WHO?
he (who merely hears)
is like WHAT?
is like a man who WHAT?
looks
looks at WHAT?
at his natural face
looks WHERE? in WHAT?
in a mirror;
24 WHY is the hearer like this?
for once he has WHAT?
for once he has looked at himself
and
then WHAT?
gone away,
WHAT HAPPENS?
he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
(Do you see the 
Comparison? What is the hearer compared to?)
25 But
WHO?
one who looks
HOW does ‘one‘ look?
intently
WHAT does ‘one’ look intently at?
at the perfect law,
WHAT is the perfect law?
the law of liberty,
and
WHAT else does this ‘one’ do?
abides by it
(What is ‘it’?)
WHAT has this ‘one’ not become?
not having become a forgetful hearer
but
WHAT has he become?
an effectual doer,
WHAT is the result?
this man will be blessed
HOW?
in what he does.
(Do you see what’s being 
Contrasted?)
26 If WHO?
if anyone
WHAT?
thinks himself to be WHAT?
religious,
and
yet WHAT?
yet does not bridle
his WHAT?
his tongue
but
WHAT?
deceives his own heart,
WHY?
his WHAT?
his religion
is WHAT?
is worthless.
27 WHAT?
Pure
and
WHAT else?
undefiled religion
in the sight of WHO?
in the sight of our God
and
Father
is WHAT?
is this:
is WHAT?
to visit
visit WHO?
orphans
and
widows
visit WHEN?
in their distress,
and
is to WHAT else?
is to keep oneself
WHAT?
unstained
by WHAT?
by the world.
Awesome!
HEAR God Speak
James just told us to be quick to hear.
Remember you are growing in your relationship with the Almighty God, your Creator! Relish this time of fellowship with Him!
LISTEN
To the Lord speak to you personally through His Word and Spirit, Joh 14:16-17; 16:13.
Did God speak anything to your heart?
He sure did mine!
What did you hear?
Take the truth that He struck you with and turn it into a personal question(s).
Go ahead try it!
LISTEN…
LIVE it out…Respond to God!
That’s Enough For Today!
Oh, 
Meditate on all God said to you today! Talk to Him all day about what you heard Him say.
Journal Your Discovery in Your Notes
You might type what God showed you.
And if you have questions as I did, write them down.
Ask God to answer them.
As we continue digging, He will answer every single one of them!
Let’s Close in Prayer
Perhaps. . .
OH FATHER GOD, as we close today, I thank you for those who are hungry for You and Your Word. I ask that You continue to help these precious ones train themselves to hear (read) Your Holy, inherent, all sufficient Word with purpose. Father, help us to develop the skill to see and hear Your voice through Your Word. Father, thank you for the Truths in these verses. Oh, may we truly examine our hearts and hear Your voice to each one of us. Thank you for showing us the priority of Your Word, and helping us to catch a glimpse of how important it is to hear and do Your Word. No matter what we have to do today, may we spend the day contemplating what we have heard You say to us. Thank you!
I can’t wait to see you next time.
Next: We will LOOK @ James 1:19-20.
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