TAKE A HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC

Introduction:  Would you agree that women are overly critical and men are overly confident in how we see ourselves in the mirror? Either way, both men and women have a wrong perception of how we really appear. In our series through the Book of James, we will see how James is going to use this universal truth to teach us how to allow God’s word to change our lives. Turn to page #1850. Today’s message is titled “TAKE A HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR.”

James 1 (page #1850) 21 “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

Overall Background: Keep in mind that James is writing “To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.” This refers to the people of Israel who had been scattered over the known world for hundreds of years. Some of them had now come to receive the Messiah. Now they were outsiders of the outsiders. This had probably brought some trials into their lives, and James reminded them that God was going to use their problems to lead them to spiritual maturity. He also warned them that every trial had a germ of temptation. He reminded them: Seek wisdom, and don’t get angry because “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” As truthful as all this is, it is not enough. We need much more than just the facts on life or even some positive outlook. We need directions on how to produce the righteousness of God. So, James tells them. Listen again to James 1 (page #1850) 21 “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Last weekend, I briefly touched on the “Reject” and “Receive.” The Greek word for “lay aside” = “apothemenoi.” It has the idea of shedding garments (a prominent truth in the New Testament):

• Romans 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”
• Ephesians 4.      21 “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”
• Colossians 3:8 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”
• Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.”
• 1 Peter 2      1 ‘Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”

This idea of casting aside sin and wickedness is very much in line with the Old Testament, but it doesn’t stop there. The next step is “welcoming” with humility the “implanted word.” Keep in mind that God’s people, the people of Israel, were always people of the Book. We, as believers, are people of the Book. Other religions can function without their holy books, not us. When James instructs them on how to face trials and temptations, he brings them back to the “word.”

Application: Have you rejected the old? Have you received the Word?

The first thing that James tells them is to:

I. HUMBLY RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD

Listen again – “and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (not eternal damnation but sin and destruction). “Implanted” = “emphutos” = “en” (in) + “phuo” (plant). It carries the imagery of a seed sown in the ground, which has taken root and is growing. Here is a question:  WHAT IS THIS “IMPLANTED WORD?  

THE IMPLANTED WORD	THE WRITTEN WORD
It is a fulfillment of God’s Promise in Jeremiah 31:33 where He says that there is a day coming when “…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”	So, where does the Written Word come in? – DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IMPLANTED WORD IN OUR HEARTS AND THE WRITTEN WORD IN OUR HANDS?  Without this Book, you would never know about Jesus Christ. Listen to Jesus in John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
The Word of God is implanted in our hearts, when we receive Jesus Christ.John 5:38 “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.” God puts His nameplate on the front door of our hearts.	Without the Written Word, you cannot have the Implanted Word. Once the Word is Implanted in your heart, it forever changes your attitudes and desires towards the Written Word. The Written Word and the Implanted Word go hand in hand in the Christian life.
Question:  Was the Word of God ever implanted in your heart? Was there ever a time in your life that the seed of the gospel was sown in your life? Do you know a definite time when you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?	Picture a circle – THE WRITTEN WORD BRINGS YOU TO THE IMPLANTED WORD WHICH GIVES YOU A DESIRE FOR THE WRITTEN WORD WHICH IMPLANTS MORE OF HIS WORD IN YOUR HEART.
IF THE SEED WAS NEVER PLANTED, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME LOOKING FOR THE CROP. For e.g.Imagine a farmer who never ploughs his land, never sows any seeds but year after year, he comes looking for the harvest. IN THE SAME MANNER – IF YOU HAVE NEVER RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE IMPLANTED WORD AND YOU WILL NOT SEE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN YOUR LIFE.	DID YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT THIS MOMENT, AS I AM PREACHING, THE WORD OF GOD IS BEING IMPLANTED IN YOUR HEART?WHAT GOD IS DOING THROUGH TRIALS IS TAKING THE WORD FROM OUR HEADS TO OUR HEARTS.

Now, how do you receive this implanted Word? With meekness = “prauteis.” In Matthew 11, Jesus says, 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This is not something new. It is an Old Testament trait found in Moses (Numbers 12:3) and David (Psalm 132). Listen to Psalm 25:9 “The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”

Meaning: Let the ground of your heart be receptive to the Word of God. It takes us back to the Parable of the Sower given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember in Matthew 13 – “Behold, a sower went out to sow.” Some seed fell by the WAYSIDE, STONY GROUND, AMONG THORNS (these did not take root). 

Application: What kind of a ground are you? Are you the WAYSIDE (Satan is coming and snatching the Word from your heart), STONY (problems and trials come and the Word never takes root), or THORNY (Cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are choking the Word)? Are you rejecting the Word of God? Are you halfhearted? Are you hard-hearted? Is there sin in your life? Trials and tribulations can also make one arrogant and proud and self-confident. Don’t argue with the Word of God. Don’t justify or rationalize yourself. Come humbly before the Word of God. Be open and receptive. But, some did fall on GOOD GROUND and yielded a crop of 30, 60 and 100-fold.

II. SINCERELY OBEY THE WORD OF GOD

James 1:22 (page #1850) “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” This is not new to James:

• Jesus in Luke 11:28 “…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
• Paul in Romans 2:13 “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

With some people, there is no argument against the word of God. There is JUST no application. THEY RECEIVE IT WELL. THEY JUST DON’T APPLY IT. Listen again – 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” “Deceiving yourselves” = being blinded to our true religious state. To prove his point, James uses an imperfect double simile. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; (In the first century mirrors were made of highly polished metal. They were not mounted on walls but placed flat on tables. Imagine that.) 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” The purpose of the mirror is to show you what to fix. However, if you just glance at the mirror, and go away and forget what to do, then you missed the point of the mirror.

Here’s a question: What size mirror do you have? And not just a 30 mins a week or a here a little and there a little mirror.

Application: The Implanted Word is to show you your need. However, if you just hear the Word but do not do anything about it, then what’s the use.

• I am going through trials, and I need to pray for wisdom – but I don’t.
• I am facing temptations; I need to focus on God’s goodness – but I don’t.
• I have a problem with anger. I need to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath – but I don’t care.

David had the mirror of the implanted word. That’s why when Nathan confronted him with “You are the man!” repentance followed immediately.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FACE THE TRUTH? James 1:25 (page #1850) “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

3 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU FACE THE TRUTH:

A. REFLECT ON IT:

25 “But he who looks into (Lit. stoops down and investigates) the perfect law of liberty and continues in it.” James brings up the word law, but he is not referring to the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law did not need a whole lot of reflection – “Do as you are told.” The Perfect law of liberty is now the Law that is implanted in our hearts. It has to be understood. To understand and obey this new law, we need help. The Holy Spirit is our helper and our guide. Listen to Paul in Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Application: On purpose we have bulletins with outlines in them. We have a couple of pew Bibles in every pew. We want you to see the Word, to reflect on the Word, to meditate on the Word.

B. REMEMBER IT:

and is not a forgetful hearer

Application: Take notes, mark your Bibles, memorize scriptures, do whatever it takes to remember what you have learned.

C. RESPOND TO IT:

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Application: What do you do at the end of each message? Is there some decision that you make, some action that you take, some behavior that needs to change?

James is a pastor and a very perceptive one. He knows that some of his hearers will still walk away and say – “yep that’s a good message.” Therefore, he throws in a few quick applications. Just want to read it to you.

1. SPEECH

James 1:26 “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

2. SERVICE

James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble,”

3. SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD

“…and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

J B Phillips’ famous translation of Romans 12:2 is “Do not let the world squeeze you into its mould, but instead let yourself be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

On the tombstone of D.L. Moody they put these words, “But he that doeth will of God abideth for ever.” 

How about you? Do you have the implanted Word? Are you obedient to the Word? Ultimately, the Word that is implanted in your heart is Jesus Christ.