Honor the Word - Listen, Hear, Do!
November 20, 2022      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Starting in Malachi 1, Jonathan teaches about the honor and respect due to our Father & Master. Blessed are those who not only hear the word of God, but do it. Doers are justified, not merely hearers.

Malachi 1:6 (NIV)
6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.
“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.
“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

James 1:19-25 (NIV)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Accepting the Word involves Releasing sin

How #1
- put aside, cast off, lay down
- that which defiles, dishonors, makes dirty
- receive with meekness, grant access, embrace

How #2
- hear & obey

Romans 2:13 (NIV)
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Hebrew “SAMA” - listen/ hear / do / act

Western - “hear” = sounds
Eastern - “hear” = call to action

The seeds of the Word planted in us mean nothing unless they result in the fruit (actions) of a transformed life

No shortcuts to the blessing that results from obedience

Luke 11:27–28 (NIV)
27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.
48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Luke 1:48 (NIV)
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

Luke 1:38 (NIV)
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

A direct, deliberate, obedient taking up of the word of God

Matthew 7:24 (NIV)
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

THE main obstacle to obedience is Self

Digging = hard
Not digging = easy

1 John 5:3-5 (NIV)
3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.