Living Out God's Word: The Cost of Disobedience
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound message found in James 1:21-25, focusing on the importance of not just hearing God's word but actively doing it. We began by emphasizing the necessity of receiving the word implanted in our hearts, which is able to save our souls. This concept was illustrated through a fun game of "Guess Who" with biblical figures, leading us to the story of King David and his fall into sin as recounted in 2 Samuel 11. David's story serves as a cautionary tale about the high cost and low reward of sin, its collateral impact, and how it can lead us to forget who we are in Christ.
David, despite being a man after God's own heart, fell into grievous sin, which marred his witness both inwardly and outwardly. His actions had far-reaching consequences, affecting not only himself but also Bathsheba, Uriah, and even his kingdom. This narrative underscores the reality that sin is disobedience to God's word and will, and it always comes with a high cost and low reward. It also has a collateral impact, affecting those around us in unforeseen ways.
We are reminded that as children of God, we are called to a higher standard. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and we must represent Christ accurately to the world. When we live in secret sin, it destroys our witness and leads us to forget our true identity in Christ. The key takeaway is that we must be doers of the word, not just hearers. This involves receiving God's word, internalizing it, and living it out in our daily lives.
David's prayer in Psalm 51 serves as a model for us. He cried out to God for a clean heart and a renewed spirit, acknowledging his sin and seeking God's restoration. This is a call for us to come before God with a repentant heart, to receive His word, and to walk in His promises. By doing so, we can overcome the temptations and trials of life, standing firm in our identity as children of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Receiving God's Word: It's not enough to merely hear God's word; we must receive it and let it take root in our hearts. This implanted word has the power to save our souls and transform our lives. When we internalize God's word, it becomes a guiding force, leading us to live in accordance with His will. [00:55]
2. The High Cost and Low Reward of Sin: Sin, defined as disobedience to God's word and will, always comes with a high cost and low reward. It may offer short-term pleasure, but it leads to long-term destruction and pain. We must consider not just the cost of obedience but also the cost of disobedience, which often exceeds our expectations. [16:23]
3. The Collateral Impact of Sin: Sin doesn't just affect the sinner; it has a collateral impact on those around us. David's sin led to the death of Uriah and affected his entire kingdom. Our actions have far-reaching consequences, and we must be mindful of how our disobedience to God can harm others. [18:23]
4. Forgetting Our Identity in Christ: Sin leads us to forget who we are and who we can be in Christ. When we live in disobedience, we lose sight of our identity as children of God, anointed and called for His purposes. We must continually remind ourselves of God's promises and our identity in Him to stand firm against the enemy's lies. [23:48]
5. Being Doers of the Word: Hearing God's word is impactful, but being a doer of the word brings a deeper level of understanding and transformation. When we act on God's word, we are better equipped to face life's challenges and temptations. We must receive God's word, internalize it, and live it out in our daily lives to truly walk in His promises. [27:22]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Receiving the Word
[02:42] - Fun with Board Games
[05:25] - Biblical "Guess Who"
[07:34] - David's Image and Sin
[09:02] - The Story of David and Bathsheba
[13:14] - Definition of Sin
[16:23] - High Cost and Low Reward of Sin
[18:23] - Collateral Impact of Sin
[23:48] - Forgetting Our Identity in Christ
[27:22] - Hearing and Doing
[32:47] - Illustration of Receiving the Word
[37:42] - David's Wrong Position
[41:08] - Being Doers of the Word
[47:18] - God's Promises and Hope
[50:02] - Call to Repentance and Reception
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- James 1:21-25
- 2 Samuel 11:1-27
- Psalm 51:10-12
### Observation Questions
1. According to James 1:21-25, what is the difference between a hearer and a doer of the word?
2. In 2 Samuel 11, what actions did David take that led to his sin with Bathsheba? [09:02]
3. How does Psalm 51 reflect David's heart after his sin with Bathsheba? What specific requests does David make to God in this prayer?
4. What are the consequences of sin as described in the sermon, particularly in the story of David? [18:23]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to not only hear God's word but also to act on it, according to James 1:21-25? How does this apply to our daily lives?
2. How did David's sin affect not only himself but also those around him, as described in 2 Samuel 11 and the sermon? [18:23]
3. What does David's prayer in Psalm 51 teach us about repentance and seeking God's restoration after sin?
4. How does sin lead us to forget our identity in Christ, and why is it crucial to remember who we are in Him? [23:48]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you heard God's word but struggled to act on it. What steps can you take to become more of a doer of the word in your daily life? [27:22]
2. Consider the high cost and low reward of sin as discussed in the sermon. How can you remind yourself of these consequences when faced with temptation? [16:23]
3. Think about the collateral impact of sin. How have your actions, whether good or bad, affected those around you? What changes can you make to ensure your actions positively influence others? [18:23]
4. In what ways have you forgotten your identity in Christ due to sin or disobedience? How can you continually remind yourself of who you are in Him? [23:48]
5. David's prayer in Psalm 51 is a model for repentance. What specific sins or areas of your life do you need to bring before God in repentance today? How can you seek His restoration and a renewed spirit? [50:02]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of receiving God's word and internalizing it. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are not just hearing but also receiving and living out God's word? [33:17]
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group to be doers of the word and not just hearers? What role can accountability play in this process? [22:15]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Receiving God's Word
Receiving God's word is not a passive act; it requires an open heart and a willingness to let it transform us from the inside out. When we internalize God's word, it becomes a guiding force in our lives, leading us to live in accordance with His will. This implanted word has the power to save our souls and bring about profound change in our daily actions and decisions. By allowing God's word to take root in our hearts, we align ourselves with His purposes and experience the fullness of His promises. [00:55]
James 1:21 (ESV): "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure that you are not just hearing God's word but truly receiving and internalizing it?
Day 2: The High Cost and Low Reward of Sin
Sin, defined as disobedience to God's word and will, always comes with a high cost and low reward. It may offer short-term pleasure, but it leads to long-term destruction and pain. David's story serves as a powerful reminder of this truth. Despite being a man after God's own heart, his sin with Bathsheba brought devastating consequences not only to himself but also to those around him. We must consider not just the cost of obedience but also the cost of disobedience, which often exceeds our expectations. [16:23]
Proverbs 14:12 (ESV): "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you faced the temptation to sin. How did the short-term pleasure compare to the long-term consequences? What can you learn from that experience?
Day 3: The Collateral Impact of Sin
Sin doesn't just affect the sinner; it has a collateral impact on those around us. David's sin led to the death of Uriah and affected his entire kingdom. Our actions have far-reaching consequences, and we must be mindful of how our disobedience to God can harm others. This awareness should drive us to live in obedience to God's word, not only for our sake but also for the sake of those we love and influence. [18:23]
Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV): "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made that impacted others. How can you ensure that your future choices align with God's will and positively influence those around you?
Day 4: Remembering Our Identity in Christ
Sin leads us to forget who we are and who we can be in Christ. When we live in disobedience, we lose sight of our identity as children of God, anointed and called for His purposes. We must continually remind ourselves of God's promises and our identity in Him to stand firm against the enemy's lies. By doing so, we can overcome the temptations and trials of life, standing firm in our identity as children of God. [23:48]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of your identity in Christ daily? How can these reminders help you resist temptation?
Day 5: Being Doers of the Word
Hearing God's word is impactful, but being a doer of the word brings a deeper level of understanding and transformation. When we act on God's word, we are better equipped to face life's challenges and temptations. We must receive God's word, internalize it, and live it out in our daily lives to truly walk in His promises. This involves a commitment to not just listen but to actively apply God's teachings in every aspect of our lives. [27:22]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: Identify one specific area in your life where you can start being a doer of the word today. What practical steps will you take to live out God's teachings in that area?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Sin by definition is disobedience to the word and the will of God. Today, I always, at an old country church I used to be at, there'd be this old man. Every time I got the chance to preach, he'd come up and he'd be like, you gonna preach on sin? I'd be like, no, I don't know if I want to do all that because I wanted to be the encouraging guy. But today, I am going to kind of preach on sin. I want you to know, but just bear with me because there's good news in this, okay?" [13:14] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sin is high cost and low reward. Maybe you've heard this faithful statement before. Maybe you could say it with me. Sin will take you farther than you want to go. It'll keep you longer than you want to stay. And it'll cost you more. It'll cost you more than you want to pay. The Bible says in Romans chapter six, verse 23, that the wages of sin is death." [16:23] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sin has a collateral impact. Do you know that? It doesn't matter. Sin has no regard for friendly fire. It has a collateral impact. It hurts people that aren't involved. It brings death. It brings death to relationships that are unaware. It impacts our future in unforeseen ways. Sometimes when we disobey the Lord or when we live a life of disobedience to the Lord and his will, and mind you now, this seems like a harsh sermon, but it's really not. What is God's will for you? Only good things." [18:23] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sin will always lead you to forget who you are and who you can be in Christ. Disobedience to the Lord's word. Will and word will lead you to forget who you are and who you can be in Christ. I don't know if you know who you are in this place, but if you were bought by the blood of Jesus, that's something to mark up to know. You need to know that. You need to know that you are a sinner that was lost, but now is saved." [23:48] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Hearing God's word is impactful, but being a doer of God's word will bring you to a level of understanding that no devil could ever take away from you. Like when you are a doer of God's word, things change. Things really do change. Not only your actions, not only your ideals, but things change about war, right? War still comes. Remember, it doesn't matter if I've received it or not. It doesn't matter if I'm a doer or not. What happens on the outside of these doors today is still going to remain." [41:08] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We represent that name. Everything we say and do, we do it if we're known by the fruits that we bear. And if we are known by our decision to follow Christ, we do it with that name represented on us. I don't know if you know it, church, but the big C church has made a bad name for itself because of its misrepresentation of who Christ is. We are to, in essence, re-present Jesus to the world. So we have that as our image." [14:24] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sin will knock you for a loop with amnesia in a moment. You won't have a clue who you are anymore. Next thing you know, you find yourself in a valley wondering, how did I get here? You ever find yourself in a moment like that in your life? You don't have to admit it. did I get here? Some of y'all got mug shots to prove it. Listen, this is the big idea here. Somebody say, what's the big idea? I'm glad you asked. The big idea is this, hearing and doing." [27:22] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Receiving the word of God is not remembering what the pastor said. It's getting into the Bible and taking it for what it is and living it out and working it out. What is it? Faith without works is dead. Y'all better help me preach this message. Faith without works is dead. So you better get out there and actually receive the word of God. You can tell who hasn't received the word of God by the way they flesh their faith out in their walk." [35:18] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When I receive adversity and the repercussions for my own sin, I begin to lose sight of who God's made me to be, though. And that's what happens when we are only hearers as Christians, when we only listen, but we don't do. When we only hear the word of the Lord or only hear the promises, but don't take them serious for our life. Now, I know some testimonies in this room. I know a lot of people are fighting some serious sickness. I know a lot of people are up against some serious devils." [36:10] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Hearing God's word is impactful, but being a doer of God's word will bring you to a level of understanding that no devil could ever take away from you. Like when you are a doer of God's word, things change. Things really do change. Not only your actions, not only your ideals, but things change about war, right? War still comes. Remember, it doesn't matter if I've received it or not. It doesn't matter if I'm a doer or not. What happens on the outside of these doors today is still going to remain." [41:08] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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