This sermon emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the Word of God but actively living it out, warning against self-deception and the consequences of despising God's Word. It calls for a transformation that leads to action, humility, repentance, and obedience to God's teachings, highlighting the impact of choices on individuals, families, and nations.

You know, there are certain basic cardinal truths which we apply all the time in life, in the various activities of life. But somehow we don't project those truths on spiritual action or advance. That is very shocking. I don't know what that kind of blindness, which nobody wants to address, is going to result in. But in James, the first chapter, in the portion that we have just read, there are these words, first chapter of James. 21 and 22, Therefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. But be you doers of the Word, not hearers only. Not hearers only. You know, one of our surgeons got to be greatly loved by his students. As a professor of surgery, general surgery, he became quite popular with students. This is what they said. But none of our professors really give away some of their secrets, how they actually do the job. But this professor will tell us exactly how to do it. How to do it. So, here we are. But be you doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Deceiving your own selves. Now, who likes to think he's a multi-millionaire when he hasn't got ten pence in his pockets? What kind of foolishness is that? Nobody will think of that. He says, hey, I don't have even ten pence. I can't go in and get a small sandwich. And what's the point of my thinking I'm a multi-millionaire? It would be so foolish of anybody to deceive himself in that regard. When they say that 89 banks have already collapsed this year. It is horrible. So, how did they ever overestimate and overextend themselves? After all, I can only lend what I have got. And if I keep lending to people who will never return the money, how can my bank stand? This is elementary. But bad investments. People who don't keep their word. Risky loans. These are undoing the economy of the great country. And many great countries in the world. Well, see, look at the difference that there is between the doing of something. I was a great talker, you know. But after Jesus Christ took over, he taught me to clip these hot air vent. And after that, it was action. I wanted action. I wanted truth in action. The doing of it, not the talking. Well, I left the talkers alone. I didn't bother with the talkers. That was a great mercy. You know, people are always babbling, talking. They talk anything. They are not going to talk so favorably about you. People have their own motivations. And therefore, they just believe in talking. They talk evil. Now, if you are going to sit and spend all your time swatting flies and swatting mosquitoes, you can spend your whole life doing that. Hey, there's a fly going around. It may settle on my kick. So, swat it. Hey, something is biting. It must be a mosquito. You can spend your whole life as a talker and as one who keeps company with talkers. And want to talk. I don't want to talk. How to fix a problem? How to deal with a situation? Now, not all situations can be dealt by us. The Lord must open the hearts of people. Otherwise, they are blinded. What's the use of telling a blind man, Hey, you drive in this direction. Take the first right. And then go north one mile. And there you'll be where you want to be. There's no use telling a blind man something like that. You have to tell a blind man, Hey, boy, first you need your glasses or you need something to fix your eyes. I'm sorry. Any directions that I may give you won't work. So, God must open the eyes of these blind people. But, let's for a moment, for some minutes, deal with those who despise the word of God. See, doers of the word. But if you despise the word, it amounts its tantamount to that. You know, if I say, Hey, this is a lovely looking building. It's only 200 feet high. A nice place to take off. And attempt swimming in the air. Hey, have you never heard of the law of gravity? Oh, yes, but I have always grown up despising it. I know, but I despise it. I'm not a doer. I've heard of it. What happened? You will not be around to tell us what happened. Now, if you turn to Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 12. Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 12. Now, my dear friends, this is what the scripture says. Therefore, thus said the Holy One of Israel. Because you despise this word. And trust in oppression. And perverseness. And stay there on. Therefore, this iniquity shall be to you as a breach. Ready to collapse, fall. Swelling out in a high wall. Whose breaking commits suddenly at an instant. My dear friends, here we are told. That despising the word of God. Has serious consequences. Sudden calamity. You know, folks. There are many great things and good things. Which were spoken of Senator Kennedy. Many things which you will find. You have never done. For instance, did anybody here think of writing a letter. To one of those who were seriously affected. By the loss of a family member in 9-11. No, none of us thought of that. We said somebody else will do it. But think of a man, a busy man. Taking the time to write. And continuing to do so. At every anniversary of that dreadful day. Great concern. Great concern. But when I look at the history of the family. I feel sad. And alarmed. At the signals. That are being made. It does not matter. Whether you regard or despise the word of God. Well. First. The word of God. Had it been given to the patriarch of the family. Who was an ambassador to London. Joseph Kennedy. The dad. Oh my. If the word of God had been given to him. And he was a transformed person. How wonderful that would be. But when somebody is told. It is okay. You are religious. You are fulfilling these forms. You are coming and sitting here. You are saying these prayers. You are going through the motions. You are fine. Now I have no authority to say that. I have to point to the cross. And say. Now if a man goes to the cross. And humbles himself. A new life begins. You know back. In the last century. 1919. 1919 is. More than a decade. Before I was born. Well. There was the 18th amendment. And. Volstead act. Prohibition. Came into force. When prohibition came into force. What did Mr. Joseph Kennedy do? Over in those islands. Some craggy little islands. Which are the possession of France. A case of scotch whiskey. Was available. Or it was brought. For $45. Handling and other expenses. And quite a number of other liquids. Were mixed. And it was sold for. $85. In the rum roll. Of. Long Island. What an import. What damage to a country. What devastation to families. And rum. Was brought in. From Cuba. And the Caribbean. No. Had the power of Jesus. Being presented to that family. At that stage. And all the potential. And all the talents. Of that family. Were placed at the cross. My dear friends. What an impact it would have had upon. Not only this nation. But many other nations. Should the church stand against this? Should the church provide a paint. By which all this is. Forgotten or. Painted over or glossed over. That's not the business of the church. The business. Of the truth. Is. To the truth. Will set you free. Said Jesus. Now. Alas. That was not done. And my. The litany. Of sorrows. And tragedies. And they were all. Avertable tragedies. Nearly all of them. See. All of us are subject. To calamities. And dangers. And diseases. All of us. But who forgiveth. All your iniquities. And healeth all your diseases. What a miracle. That we can go to the Lord. And say hey. Lord. I need this. Terminal sickness. If you want me in heaven. Take me. But you're able to heal me. That more than 20 years. Have passed. Since I had my massive. Heart attack. And. Then I'm still on the road. It's just. The mercy. Sheer mercy of God. It's not so. Some wonderful thing in me. Sheer mercy of God. But let me tell you. I never despised. The word of God. I humbled. Myself at the word of God. I repented. At the word of God. I turned. Away from sin. And obeyed. The word of God. Alas. When a nation. Does not do it. But is just given. A nice painted picture. Of what wealth. Can do. What a wrong. Idea is projected. Upon people. What can wealth do? Wealth. Can only provide. Pleasing pain. Nothing else. Here. The Bible tells us. If we despise the word of God. There is. It is like a high. Wall. Which collapses upon us. Now in Proverbs. Chapter. 28. And the ninth verse. You see friends. We see these things happening. All the time. Around us. And maybe in our own families. We had better warn people. We don't go about. With a fine paint brush. People will curse you finally. Saying. You knew the truth. But you never told us the truth. Ninth verse. He that turneth away his ear. From hearing the word. The law. Even his prayer. Shall be abomination. You see. Think of prayers. That become an abomination. My dear friends. It is terrible. Let us pray. Let us tell God. Father. Here we are. We want to be doers. Of your word. We don't want to be just. Mosquito swatters. Fly chasers. Hot air vents. We want to be doers. Doers. Of your living word. Father. Come to us. Give us this cleansing. Which is at the cross. We want to be doers. We don't want to be. In collision course. With the word of God. We don't want our families. To be in collision course. With the word of God. Oh my father. Come to us. Oh my father. The society at large. The great and the powerful. In the land. May never begin to think. That the church. Or the prayers. After death. And holy water. Or whatever. Incense or whatever. And prayers. Are not. Going to change. The destiny. Which we have chosen. While we are alive. Not. By any means. Change the consequences. Of our. Actions. Disobedience. While we are alive. Do not. Allow the nation. To be. In any way. Painted over. With this false. Paint. We need a new heart. And obedience. To your holy word. So help us. In Jesus almighty name. Amen.