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I MUST RECEIVE GOD'S WORD IF I'M GOING TO BE BLESSED BY IT

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” (James 1:21, NLT)

"Accept the word planted in you." Circle the word "accept". This word in Greek is a hospitality term which literally means "to welcome" -- come on in. If we're going to be blessed by the word of God, first we must welcome the word into our lives. We must be receptive.

James gives an illustration. He says it's planted in you. He gives the illustration of a garden and seed. The Bible, all through Scripture, compares itself to seed. Jesus told the parable of the sower and said, “The word of God is a seed and it's planted in our hearts.” How is it you can take two seeds that are exactly the same and plant them in two different locations and get two different crops in fruitfulness? One soil is prepared and the other is not. How is it that you can take two people and put them in the same service, with the same message, and one person gets blessed by it and the other person says he didn't get anything out of it. One heart was prepared and one wasn't. James says we must receive the word of God with the right attitude. He gives us four attitudes you need to be blessed by God's word. They are hearing-aides.

Be careful.
I must have a careful attitude. v. 19 "Be quick to listen..." Give it your full attention. Be alert. Don't miss it. "... slow to speak ..." When I'm talking, I'm not listening. God gave us two ears and one mouth so we ought to listen twice as much as we talk. Many of our problems are caused because we're quick to speak rather than being quick to listen. Be careful in your attitude. Be ready. Be intent. Be ready to receive God's word. Be careful.

Be calm.
Be calm if you're going to receive God's word and be blessed by it. v. 19b "... and slow to become angry ..." A relaxed attitude increases receptivity. If you're relaxed, people can communicate with you more. We work on relaxing people in our services for that reason. We don't hear much when we're angry, upset, bitter, resentful. Bitterness is a barrier, an emotional block that keeps us from hearing God's word. Some may ask, "How come God never speaks to me." Maybe you've got some resentment in your life you need to get rid of. An article I read from Reader's Digest said when you listen it actually lowers your blood pressure. When you speak it raises your blood pressure. James says be calm, be slow to anger.

What is your emotional state, normally, when you come to church on Sunday morning?
Do you come with a calm attitude?
In many homes on Sunday morning it's kind of hectic. Then we come at the last minute and expect God to speak to us. What preparation? You need to be calm. Maybe you need to get up a little bit earlier.

Be clean.
v. 21 "Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent..." Before you can plant the seed you need to do a little weeding. The word "filth" that he says you've got to get rid of is actually the Greek word that means "earwax". When you have a sin in your life it blocks your hearing. It prevents God's word from getting into your heart. He says get rid of the evil, anything that we know that isn't right in our lives. God says, “Lay aside all of the emotional garbage, the old habits, the junk in your life so that God's word can get through to you.”

How can we be clean?
By confession!
"If we confess our sins, He's faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The Living Bible says "Get rid of all that's wrong in your life, both inside and out."

Be compliant.
Teachable, yielded, humble, willing to be changed. He says "humbly accept the word of God planted in you..." Don't act like you know it all. If you know it all, God's word can't get through to you. Pray, "God, do what You need to do in my life."

How would you evaluate your current Bible study habits?
What’s the difference between quickly reading the Bible on a regular basis and intently studying it?
What can keep you from making Bible study a bigger part of your life?
What can you do to rectify that?

Rejoicing, On the Victory Side!

Beau

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