Post by Char on Oct 24, 2008 17:38:51 GMT -6
SUBMIT TO GOD.
JAMES 1:21-22
I. PREACHING, HEARING, AND PRACTICING THE WORD OF GOD.
JAMES 1:21..Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word , which is able to save your souls.""
That to lay apart the things here mentioned is necessary for every one who intends to be a true Christian.
Plain as this may seem to be, it is fit to be taken notices of.....
Because there are some who, thought they maintain no such principles in speculation, yet in their practice seem to compromise matters between their vicious inclination and divine laws. And are by no means so holy, so free from all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, as the religion of Jesus requires them to be.
Because there are others professing Christianity who, even by their doctrines, would reconciled some sorts of impurity with it.
That there is a particular connection between our cleansing ourselves from such polluting and our profitably hearing the word of God.
It is self-evident that the better disposed the mind is, the more likely it must be to receive and retain the heavenly instructions.
As a vessel which is empty, clean, and sound, is best fitted to receive and retain pure water, or any such liquor poured into it.
Whereas, and the contrary, the foul exhalations of lust will be apt to exclude the word.
That meekness, or a freedom from passion and prejudice, and whatever else is implied in that word, is more especially requisite in order to such profitable hearing. As new born babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Receive it with the mature understandings of men, but with the unprejudiced wills of children; with the sweetness, innocence, and simplicity of infants.
That the Word of God has a most powerful, nay, a never-failing efficacy to save our souls..see II Tim. 2:15.
That it is a vain thing to her it unless we practice it; and that we do but deceive ourselves if we expect any benefit from the former without the latter.
II, BEFORE SERMON, AT SERMON, AND AFTER SERMON.
THE ENGRAFTED WORD. VERSE 21 It is a good thing to be under the sound of the Word of God. He that comes near to its fire, even with the intent to quench it, may find himself overcome by its heat.
We should endeavor to gather the most we can from the means of grace, and not pluck at them at random. Let us not lose a gain of the blessing through our own fault. The word of the Lord is precious in these days; let us not trifle with it.
Let us consider the fit and proper preparation for listening to the gospel, or what is to be done before hearing, before the sermon. There should be no stumbling into the place of worship half a sleep. We cannot expect to profit much if we bring with us a swarm of idle thoughts and a heart-crammed with vanity. We should make ready to receive what God is so ready to bestow.
How shall we come unto God until we are washed? In making this preparation our text tells us that there are some things to be laid aside. ALL FILTHINESS. Now sin of every kind is filthiness By faith in the precious blood of Jesus it must be washed out, for we cannot come before God with acceptance while iniquity is indulged. Filth is offensive to all cleanly persons.
Moreover, sin is not only offensive, but it is dangerous. The desire of unholy gain is called filthy lucre, because it leads men to do dirty deeds.
How should the thrice Holy Ghost come and dwell in that heart which is a den of unclean desires?
The wrath of man is so filthy a thing, that it cannot work the righteousness of God. Children of God, you cannot serve the Lord if you are given your strength to any form of wrong.......
....Your naughtiness are springing from the briar stock of your nature.
....And the best thing to do is to cut off those suckers and stop them as much as possible.
....So that all the strength may return into the rose, and the lovely glowers of grace may abound. There must be a removal of superfluities in order that we may receive with meekness "The engrafted Word." which is able to save our souls.
Secondly, I will talk a little about during hearing–at sermon.
How shall we act while listening to the Word? " Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which which is able to save your souls." The first thing, then, is to receive. We are not saved by working, but by receiving; not by what we give to God, but by what God gives to us, and we receive from Him.
A medicine may have great healing power, but if it is not received, then it does not purge the inward parts of the body.
His message must be received with teachableness of mind. You must receive it with meekness. What is this which is to be received? Receive with meekness, the engrafted Word of God." Engrafting implies that the heart is wounded and opened, and then the living Word is laid in and received with meekness, into the bleeding, wounded soul of the man. Once more you are to receive it by faith, for you are to regard the Word as being able. Third, let us think of after sermon..Be ye doers of the Word, and not hears only, deceiving your own selves." verse 22. First, the command is positive. "Be ye doers of the word"
You have heard about repentance and the putting away of filthiness; repent, then, and let your filthiness be put away.
You have heard us preach continually concerning faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you know all about believing; but have you believed?
Those who are hearers only are master of the Word.
Those who are only hearers, are hearers but for a time. Remember, if any man will be lost, he will most surely be lost who heard the gospel and refused it. Wilful rejection of Christ ensures woeful rejection from Christ.
To deceive is bad, to deceive yourselves is worse, to deceive yourselves about your souls is worst of all. Blessings (James Shoemake.)
JAMES 1:21-22
I. PREACHING, HEARING, AND PRACTICING THE WORD OF GOD.
JAMES 1:21..Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word , which is able to save your souls.""
That to lay apart the things here mentioned is necessary for every one who intends to be a true Christian.
Plain as this may seem to be, it is fit to be taken notices of.....
Because there are some who, thought they maintain no such principles in speculation, yet in their practice seem to compromise matters between their vicious inclination and divine laws. And are by no means so holy, so free from all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, as the religion of Jesus requires them to be.
Because there are others professing Christianity who, even by their doctrines, would reconciled some sorts of impurity with it.
That there is a particular connection between our cleansing ourselves from such polluting and our profitably hearing the word of God.
It is self-evident that the better disposed the mind is, the more likely it must be to receive and retain the heavenly instructions.
As a vessel which is empty, clean, and sound, is best fitted to receive and retain pure water, or any such liquor poured into it.
Whereas, and the contrary, the foul exhalations of lust will be apt to exclude the word.
That meekness, or a freedom from passion and prejudice, and whatever else is implied in that word, is more especially requisite in order to such profitable hearing. As new born babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Receive it with the mature understandings of men, but with the unprejudiced wills of children; with the sweetness, innocence, and simplicity of infants.
That the Word of God has a most powerful, nay, a never-failing efficacy to save our souls..see II Tim. 2:15.
That it is a vain thing to her it unless we practice it; and that we do but deceive ourselves if we expect any benefit from the former without the latter.
II, BEFORE SERMON, AT SERMON, AND AFTER SERMON.
THE ENGRAFTED WORD. VERSE 21 It is a good thing to be under the sound of the Word of God. He that comes near to its fire, even with the intent to quench it, may find himself overcome by its heat.
We should endeavor to gather the most we can from the means of grace, and not pluck at them at random. Let us not lose a gain of the blessing through our own fault. The word of the Lord is precious in these days; let us not trifle with it.
Let us consider the fit and proper preparation for listening to the gospel, or what is to be done before hearing, before the sermon. There should be no stumbling into the place of worship half a sleep. We cannot expect to profit much if we bring with us a swarm of idle thoughts and a heart-crammed with vanity. We should make ready to receive what God is so ready to bestow.
How shall we come unto God until we are washed? In making this preparation our text tells us that there are some things to be laid aside. ALL FILTHINESS. Now sin of every kind is filthiness By faith in the precious blood of Jesus it must be washed out, for we cannot come before God with acceptance while iniquity is indulged. Filth is offensive to all cleanly persons.
Moreover, sin is not only offensive, but it is dangerous. The desire of unholy gain is called filthy lucre, because it leads men to do dirty deeds.
How should the thrice Holy Ghost come and dwell in that heart which is a den of unclean desires?
The wrath of man is so filthy a thing, that it cannot work the righteousness of God. Children of God, you cannot serve the Lord if you are given your strength to any form of wrong.......
....Your naughtiness are springing from the briar stock of your nature.
....And the best thing to do is to cut off those suckers and stop them as much as possible.
....So that all the strength may return into the rose, and the lovely glowers of grace may abound. There must be a removal of superfluities in order that we may receive with meekness "The engrafted Word." which is able to save our souls.
Secondly, I will talk a little about during hearing–at sermon.
How shall we act while listening to the Word? " Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which which is able to save your souls." The first thing, then, is to receive. We are not saved by working, but by receiving; not by what we give to God, but by what God gives to us, and we receive from Him.
A medicine may have great healing power, but if it is not received, then it does not purge the inward parts of the body.
His message must be received with teachableness of mind. You must receive it with meekness. What is this which is to be received? Receive with meekness, the engrafted Word of God." Engrafting implies that the heart is wounded and opened, and then the living Word is laid in and received with meekness, into the bleeding, wounded soul of the man. Once more you are to receive it by faith, for you are to regard the Word as being able. Third, let us think of after sermon..Be ye doers of the Word, and not hears only, deceiving your own selves." verse 22. First, the command is positive. "Be ye doers of the word"
You have heard about repentance and the putting away of filthiness; repent, then, and let your filthiness be put away.
You have heard us preach continually concerning faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you know all about believing; but have you believed?
Those who are hearers only are master of the Word.
Those who are only hearers, are hearers but for a time. Remember, if any man will be lost, he will most surely be lost who heard the gospel and refused it. Wilful rejection of Christ ensures woeful rejection from Christ.
To deceive is bad, to deceive yourselves is worse, to deceive yourselves about your souls is worst of all. Blessings (James Shoemake.)
