{"id":673,"date":"2011-05-30T09:58:06","date_gmt":"2011-05-29T23:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/providence.buzzrocketmedia.com\/?p=673"},"modified":"2011-09-19T18:57:15","modified_gmt":"2011-09-19T18:57:15","slug":"how-to-receive-gods-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/provbaptist.org\/?p=673","title":{"rendered":"How to Receive God’s Word"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be<\/p>\n

quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger
\nof man does not produce the righteousness of God.
\nTherefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness
\nand receive with meekness the implanted word,
\nwhich is able to save your souls.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

James 1:19-21<\/p>\n

Through James, God is telling His people how to receive His written Word, the Bible.<\/p>\n

In verse 19, the word translated \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quick\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153swift\u00e2\u20ac\u009d has the idea of an\u00c2\u00a0eagerness<\/em> to learn. In personal Bible Study we \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hear\u00e2\u20ac\u009d with our eyes as we read the Bible. Our hearts are open and willing to be instructed.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Quick to hear\u00e2\u20ac\u009d means wanting to learn.<\/p>\n

In\u00c2\u00a0public<\/em> worship at church, we are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quick to hear\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when we prepare our heart to listen, when we come to church well-rested and fully alert to receive God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s truth.<\/p>\n

This attitude requires humility since pride and arrogance are the antithesis of wisdom and actually shut down the learning process.<\/p>\n

A heart that is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quick to hear\u00e2\u20ac\u009d isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t framing its own internal arguments, but is intent on benefiting from the teaching of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word.<\/p>\n

All of the apostles\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 teaching was first conveyed orally to the churches, either by the apostles themselves or by those who heard their message and relayed it to the church. Then the message was inscripturated by letters and gospels under the inspiration of God.<\/p>\n

In fact, it is widely accepted that James was the first inspired letter after the ascension of Christ. This is early NT Scripture. To grow spiritually healthy in Christ believers have to be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quick to hear\u00e2\u20ac\u009d God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word.<\/p>\n

Second, believers who willingly submit to God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word must be\u00c2\u00a0slow to speak<\/em> (19b).<\/p>\n

This second trait is the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153conjoined sibling\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of the first. They can never be separated without disfiguring both. We never experience \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quick to hear\u00e2\u20ac\u009d without also experiencing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slow to speak.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d They always go together.<\/p>\n

In this context, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slow to speak\u00e2\u20ac\u009d involves not thinking about one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own thoughts and ideas while someone else is trying to explain the meaning of Scripture. This is a picture of disciplined restraint. It starts on the inside. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Slow to speak\u00e2\u20ac\u009d begins in your heart.<\/p>\n

The churches to which James wrote were less structured and invited more personal interaction as well as creating a climate where abuse was possible.<\/p>\n

The speaker could be easily interrupted, and hasty, irreverent, or worthless comments could detract from the ministry of the Word. James commands those who had such interrupting tendencies to be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slow to speak.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

And\u00c2\u00a0third<\/strong>, Believers who willingly submit to God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word must be\u00c2\u00a0slow to anger<\/em> (19c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 20).<\/p>\n

The Greek word \u00e1\u00bd\u20ac\u00cf\u0081\u00ce\u00b3\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4 (anger or wrath) in verse 19 doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t refer to an explosive outburst, but rather to an inner, deep resentment that seethes and smolders.<\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an anger that is often\u00c2\u00a0unnoticed<\/em> by others. It is therefore an anger that only the Lord and the believer know about. And for that very reason, it is a special danger in that it can be privately harbored.<\/p>\n

In the context of James, it refers to an attitude hostile to scriptural truth when it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t correspond to one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own convictions, manifested\u00e2\u20ac\u201deven if only inwardly\u00e2\u20ac\u201dagainst those who faithfully teach God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word.<\/p>\n

Solomon said in Proverbs 29:11, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Anger destroys those who harbor it.<\/p>\n

So that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an overview of three keys to receiving God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word with a willing heart.<\/p>\n

May we all be directed by these thoughts when receiving God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s written Word.<\/p>\n

Love in the Truth,
\nPastor Kevin<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d James 1:19-21 Through … <\/p>\n

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