Sermon Central
-
Just Do It!
Contributed by Lacy Scott on Aug 19, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: James says that we must not only be hearers of the word but we must also put it in action.
JUST DO IT!
THIS MORNING, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, JUST FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF YOUR TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO JUST DO IT! BRO. PASTOR, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? JUST DO IT! WELL AS I READ THROUGH A PAST DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL GUIDE, I CAME ACROSS A TITLE “JUST DO IT!” ALONG WITH READING THAT WE ALL CONTINUE TO SEE THE NIKE COMMERCIALS THAT ALSO STATE, JUST DO IT.
THE NIKE AD HAS TO DO WITH EXERCISING THE PHYSICAL BODY. IT GIVES US AN IDEA THAT NO MATTER WHAT, NO MATTER HOW LONG WE WORK OR HOW TIRED WE GET, WE SHOULD JUST DO IT. KNOW I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO REALIZE THAT NOWHERE IN THIS AD IS EXERCISING OF THE SPIRITUAL BODY CONVEYED. YES PHYSICAL EXERCISE IS NEEDED TO KEEP OUR BODIES FIT AND STRONG.
BUT I TELL YOU THIS MORNING THAT WE MUST EXERCISE OUR SOULS. THESE OLD BODIES ARE ONLY TEMPORARY DWELLING PLACES, BUT OUR SOULS MUST BE PREPARED FOR AN EVERLASTING RESTING PLACE. WE MUST EXERCISE OUR SOULS BY BEING DOERS OF GOD’S WORD. WEE SEE IN OUR TEXT THAT JAMES TELLS US TO BE DOERS OF THE WORD AND NOT JUST HEARERS ONLY.
JAMES GIVES US A CALL TO ACTION. HE GOES ON TO TELL US IN THE TWENTY-THIRD VERSE THAT IF WE HEAR THE WORD AND DO NOT DO THE WORD, WE ARE LIKE A MAN SEEING HIMSELF IN A MIRROR AND NOTICING SOMETHING WRONG, SUCH AS MAYBE HIS HAIR OUT OF PLACE OR MAYBE A CROOKED TIE OR EVEN A STAINED SHIRT, YET DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE IT.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO HEAR GOD’S WORD AND NOT DO IT SHOWS A LACK OF CONCERN OR GENUINE FAITH FOR GOD’S WORD. YOU SEE A GENUINE FAITH WILL PRODUCE REAL, CHANGES IN PERSON’S CONDUCT AND CHARACTER. THE ABSENCE OF CHANGE IS A SYMPTOM OF A DEAD FAITH. NOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IN ORDER TO DO THE WORD OF GOD, THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE MUST JUST DO.
THE FIRST THING WE MUST JUST DO IS TO READ THE WORD OF GOD. THE BUSINESS OF DISCIPLES OR FOLLOWERS OF GOD IS TO GROW IN THE WORD. WE ARE ALL BABES IN CHRIST. WE ARE TO INCREASE STRONG IN CHRISTIAN CHARACTER, TO ADVANCE IN SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD. THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL AS A MEANS OF GROWTH TO A CHRISTIAN, IS THE BIBLE.
FROM THE BIBLE WE LEARN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN. THE BIBLE IS FOOD TO BE APPROPRIATED OR TAKEN AS YOUR OWN. AS FOOD IS TO PHYSICAL BODY, THE BIBLE IS TO THE SPIRITUAL SOUL. IT GIVES YOU THE NUTRIENTS, VITAMINS AND MINERALS NEEDED TO GROW. THE WORD OF GOD IS MARROW TO THE BONES OF THE GROWING CHRISTIAN. BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE MUST FEED UPON THE BIBLE.
WE RECEIVE FROM IT THE TRUTH WHEREBY WE GROW. IT IS THIS TRUTH THAT DEVELOPS MORAL FIBER; THE TRUTH THAT MAKES US STRONG AND VIGOROUS; THE TRUTH THAT KNITS THE MUSCLES, CALMS THE NERVES, AND WARMS THE BLOOD; THE TRUTH THAT CREATES SPIRITUAL ENERGY AND DEVELOPS CHRISTIAN MANHOOD. THE BIBLE IS TREASURE TO BE SEARCHED FOR.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT BY CAREFUL STUDY AND SEARCHING WE ARE TO MAKE THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE OUR OWN POSSESSION, UNITING IT’S TEACHINGS INTO OUR CONDUCT AND CHARACTER. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF READING THE BIBLE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET MUCH OUT OF IT.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS MORNING, THAT IF THESE PEOPLE WOULD FORM A HABIT OF READING THE BIBLE AS IT SHOULD BE READ, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT. YOU SEE THE BIBLE SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY.
IF ONE RUNS THROUGH THE BIBLE WHILE READING IT, IF THEY ARE READING IT TO EASE A GUILTY CONSCIENCE OR TO KEEP A PLEDGE, THEN THAT PERSON SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO GAIN ANY GREAT STORE OF ITS TRUTH. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE HEART OF DIVINE TRUTH, YOU MUST MEDITATE UPON THE WORD.
PSALMS CHAPTER 119 VERSE 97 STATES “O HOW LOVE I THY LAW! IT IS MY MEDITATION ALL THE DAY.” PSALMS 49 VERSE 3 STATES; “MY MOUTH SHALL SPEAK OF WISDOM; AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART SHALL BE OF UNDERSTANDING.” BROTHERS AND SISTERS NOT ONLY SHOULD IT BE READ CAREFULLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY BUT ALSO SINCERELY AND PRAYERFULLY, AND WITH THE DESIRE TO ABIDE BY ITS TEACHINGS.
I TELL YOU, YOU CAN KNOW THE ENTIRE BIBLE WORD FOR WORD, BUT IF YOU DO NOT ABIDE IN IT AND LET IT ABIDE IN YOU, THEN IT DOES YOU NO GOOD. MANY PERPLEXING PROBLEMS OF CONDUCT THAT WE ENCOUNTER CAN BE SOLVED BY KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE AND A WILLINGNESS TO MAKE OUR LIVES CONFORM TO ITS TEACHINGS.
