James
Deception
James gets right to the point
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says. James 1:22
Maybe the hardest part is so many mirrors
We live in a world of smoke and mirrors
We are not spending enough time in front of the mirror of perfection
For those who do spend time looking into the mirror of perfection
Are we doing what the mirror tells you to do?
Remember God not only shows you what you need to do to be perfect
He helps you do it
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
So don’t be afraid to look in to the mirror of perfection
Which is God’s Word
Deception
We live in a world of deception.
A world of smoke and mirrors.
The world of deception
is a love - hate relationship.
We hate it when we are deceived, and yet,
we love to deceive ourselves into
thinking things that make us feel comfortable.
Our world is full of smoke and mirrors.
Smooth talkers and flattery words.
Romans 16:18
Fine sounding arguments.
Colossians 2:4
Satan will deceive the nations.
Revelation 20:7,8
Jesus said there will be false christs,
prophets, great signs and miracles
making it almost impossible for any
one not to be deceived.
Matthew 24:24
Here in James 1:22 he warns
us of deceiving yourself.
Mirrors of deception are everywhere.
All of us want to look into the mirror
and see good looks, intelligence,
riches, and more.
We want a mirror that
will make us feel good.
James hits the issues of
deception right on the head.
He says there is one mirror
that will give you freedom.
It is the mirror of “perfection”.
He calls it the “Perfect Law”.
We so often look into the mirror of
someone else and say I don’t look so bad.
But this mirror doesn’t compromise,
it can only shows you perfection.
If you really want to have freedom…
If you really want to be blessed…
This mirror will reveal the perfect standard.
This mirror is the Word of God.
It is there for your good.
It is not there to condemn you.
Jesus said…
For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.
John 3:17
There is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus
Romans 8:2
James says the mirror is perfect…
Able to give us freedom and blessing.
BUT we…
“After looking at himself,
goes away and immediately
forgets what he looks like.”
James 1:24
James gets right to the point…
Do not merely listen to the word,
and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
James 1:22
Maybe the hardest part is so many mirrors.
We are not spending enough time
in front of the mirror of perfection.
For those who do spend time looking
into the mirror of perfection…
Are we doing what the mirror tells you to do?
Remember…
God not only shows you what you need
to do to be perfect, He helps you do it.
God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8
Being confident of this,
that he who began a good work in
you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
So don’t be afraid to look into
the mirror of perfection…
Which is God’s Word.
Scripture Reading
James 1:22-25 NIV
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 a man 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 the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.
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