Hearer or Doer?
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being a 'doer' of the Word, rather than just a 'hearer', and provides practical steps for putting the Word into practice.
E.A. Adeboye emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the Word of God, but also actively applying it in our lives. He highlights the distinction between 'hearers only' and 'doers' of the Word, stressing that true success comes from total obedience and submission to God. Adeboye encourages believers to meditate on the Scriptures, allowing the Word to transform their hearts and guide their actions, leading to prosperity and good success.
Text
MEMORISE: 'For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.' (Rom 2:13)
READ: James 1:19-25
There are two classes of Bible users, the 'hearers only' and the 'doers.' You belong to one of them. Most of us spend time listening to tapes, songs, video, direct messages in church and personal time reading or studying the Bible. This is very good. However this is not the ultimate. When Joshua was appointed to follow Moses, God gave him the secret to making a success of his assignment to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. His predecessor Moses had had failed God in not being able to accomplish that task. This simply tells us that unless we walk in total obedience and submission to God, there is no guarantee that we will complete the assignment we have been commissioned to carry out.
'This book of the law shall not depart out of any mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success' (Josh 1:8).
When you hear or read the Scriptures, it stays, in your head. If left there for a while without taking further steps, the birds of the air will come and steal it. If you desire that Word to make a meaningful impact on you, then you must make the extra effort to transfer it from your head into your mind - your spirit man. The Word in your spirit man can bring about changes, even though slowly (Rom 12:2). From our text, one of the further steps to be taken is to fill your heart and actively occupy it with the Word, so that when tempted to speak evil words, the Word of God will spill out: '... for out of the abundance of the heart the month speaks.; The Psalmist says: 'Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.'
Give valuable time to meditating on the Word you have heard. You will find it easy and very compelling to obey the Word after you have meditated on it. Thinking upon the Word has a way of leading you on a journey into further revelations. When you put what you have heard or read into practice, success results. Decide today that no command of God will go unpractised. Cultivate the habit of succeeding through obeying God's Word.
ACTION POINT
Take stock of God's Word that you have heard in the last 12 months
and not practiced. Become a doer now.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction
- 'A. Two classes of Bible users: ''hearers only'' and ''doers'''
- B. The importance of being a 'doer'
- II. The Secret to Success
- A. God's secret to Joshua's success
- B. The importance of obedience and submission to God
- III. Meditating on the Word
- A. The importance of transferring the Word from the head to the heart
- B. The role of meditation in bringing about change
- IV. Putting the Word into Practice
- A. The importance of obeying God's Word
- B. The results of putting the Word into practice
Key Quotes
“''For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.'' (Rom 2:13)” — E.A. Adeboye
“''This book of the law shall not depart out of any mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success'' (Josh 1:8)” — E.A. Adeboye
“''... for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.''” — E.A. Adeboye
Application Points
- Take stock of God's Word that you have heard in the last 12 months and not practiced, and become a doer now.
- Make a conscious effort to put God's Word into practice in your daily life.
- Cultivate the habit of succeeding through obeying God's Word.