Quick to Listen - The Letter of James - James 1:19-21

Quick to Listen

James 1:19-21

19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

What is your relationship to the word of God?

1.Why should I read my bible?

2.What prevents me from reading my bible?

3.How I should read my bible?

I. Why should I read the word of God?

…By His own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures…V18

• He chose you

• You were born through the word 

2Cor.4:6 “For God who said, “let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Ep.1:13 “In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.”

1Pet.1:23 “because you have been born again – not of perishable seed but of imperishable – through the living and enduring word of God.” 

• He created you for a special purpose

Ex.23:19 Bring the best of the firstfruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God.

Jer.2:3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest.

• It is able to save your soul

II. What prevents me from reading the word of God?

I am being deceived

My attention is somewhere else

Prideful heart

Specific sin and defilement 

III. How should I read the word of God?

• Give it your full attention

• Put your hand on your mouth

I am so insignificant. How can I answer you? I place my hand over my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not reply; twice, but now I can add nothing. 6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: 7 Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me. 8 Would you really challenge my justice? Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like his? Job 40:4-9

• Repent of all sin

• Humbly receive the implanted word

(This passage is not for a slide)

I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint. I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us. 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, 18 yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! 19 The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! Habakkuk 2:1; 3:16-19

Questions:

• Do you have a guard post in your life? Do you have a lookout tower, where you positioned yourself to hear Him speak?

• Where is your attention today?

• What specific changes will you make today inorder to allow Gods word to fill your life and save your soul?

• Are you able to celebrate in the Lord and rejoice in God of your Salvation nomatter the circumstances?