James 1.18-25
Intro
- our faith is being tested everyday
- will our faith survive?
TS. 4 ways on how to strengthen our faith
I. Always be Ready to Hear God's Word (v. 19)
- Gossip, entertainment, trivial pursuits seem to get our attention better than God's Word
- What we hear affects our faith directly - we don't know what to believe unless we have heard about it
- 3 kinds of listeners
1. slow to hear - keeps hearing the sermons and yet doesn't really listen
2. selective listening - only listens to what they are interested in
- ex. listens when pastor preached about blessings but mind wanders of when pastor talks about responsibilities
3. listeners who seek the truth - the type God wants
- ex. Cornelius (Acts 10.30-33)
II. Remove whatever Hinders (v. 21)
- Remove whatever is bringing us down (sin)
- We must be really clean
1. taking a bath but not scrubbing
2. Looking neat and clean for a party and yet didn't brush teeth
- We may already be Christians and yet there are still some "unfinished business" going on within us
- 2 things required to remove what hinders
1. obedience to the gospel (Col 2:11-12)
2. ongoing individual attention (Col 3:8)
III. Receive Word in our Hearts (v. 21)
- For the Word to take effect it must first be implanted
- What must be done:
1. Be hungry for God's Word
2. Must be humble upon receiving of the Word
IV. Respond to what God says (v. 22)
- we may have the Word in our heart but if we don't act upon it, it's useless ... faith will never increase
- Faith is like a muscle ... it will never be strong unless we exercise
Conc.
- if our faith is not strong, it will fall/fail
- we will easily succumb to the pressures brought upon by the world and by our enemy
- let us learn from James
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