Jubilee Community Church
Sunday December 14, 2025
  • Everybody Will Be Happy Over There
  • There Is Power In The Blood (Power In The Blood)
  • Bring My Children Home
  • Breathe
  • Raise A Hallelujah
  • What A God
  • Made For More
  • Speak To The Mountains
  • Scatter
  • Way Maker
  • Always There

  • The Difference between Knowing the Truth and Living the Truth

    Hearing and Doing: When Truth Demands a Response
    Primary Scripture Reading
    Text: James 1:22–25
    James 1:22–25 LSB
    22 But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

    Introduction

    The epistle of James is one of the most confrontational writings in the New Testament. It contains little comfort for passive believers and no tolerance for theoretical faith. James is not addressing unbelievers; he is speaking to the scattered church—people who know Scripture, worship God, and identify as followers of Jesus.
    James writes during a time of pressure, persecution, and compromise. Many believers had learned how to survive spiritually without fully submitting to transformation. That environment produced a dangerous condition: hearing truth without obeying it.
    James immediately exposes the false assumption that exposure to truth equals spiritual maturity. Knowledge alone does not produce life change. Agreement alone does not produce righteousness. Emotion alone does not produce holiness.
    Key word: “Doers” Strong’s definition: one who practices habitually, one whose actions align with instruction, not a momentary performer but a continual practitioner.
    James confronts a subtle but deadly deception: the belief that hearing truth is the same as obeying truth. This message draws a hard line between spiritual familiarity and covenant obedience.
    Main Points

    Hearing Without Doing Produces Self-Deception

    Scripture: James 1:22 (KJV)
    “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
    Explanation: James does not say Satan deceives them. He says they deceive themselves. The deception comes from internal reasoning that substitutes intention for obedience.
    Strong’s definition of “deceiving”: to reason falsely, to miscalculate, to cheat oneself through flawed logic.
    This means a person can love sermons, enjoy worship, quote Scripture, and still be spiritually deceived if obedience is absent.
    Supporting Scriptures: Ezekiel 33:30–32 – God describes people who love to hear the Word but do not live it
    Ezekiel 33:30–32 LSB
    30 “But as for you, son of man, the sons of your people who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the word is which comes forth from Yahweh.’ 31 “They come to you as people come and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their greedy gain. 32 “Behold, you are to them like a lustful song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not do them.
    Matthew 7:21 – not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” enters the kingdom Romans 2:13 – not the hearers of the law, but the doers are justified
    This reveals a sobering truth: spiritual exposure without obedience produces hardness, not growth. The more truth someone hears without responding, the easier it becomes to rationalize disobedience.
    This is why revival does not come from better preaching alone—it comes from repentance and obedience.

    The Mirror of the Word Reveals Identity, Not Information

    Scripture: James 1:23–24 (KJV)
    “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass…”
    Explanation: In James’ time, mirrors were polished metal. They reflected accurately but imperfectly. The Word of God functions as a spiritual mirror—it does not flatter, but it reveals.
    James says the person sees himself, walks away, and forgets what manner of man he was. The problem is not memory loss—it is refusal to adjust.
    The Word reveals: • spiritual condition • motives of the heart • areas requiring repentance • identity in Christ
    Supporting Scriptures: Hebrews 4:12 – the Word discerns thoughts and intentions
    Hebrews 4:12 LSB
    12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
    2 Corinthians 3:18 – beholding produces transformation Psalm 119:130 – the entrance of the Word brings light
    The Word is not meant to be admired but obeyed. If no change follows exposure, the reflection was ignored.
    Identity precedes behavior. When identity is resisted, behavior remains unchanged.

    Forgetting Who You Are Leads to Living Below Covenant

    Scripture: James 1:24 (KJV)
    “…and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
    Explanation: The phrase “what manner of man” speaks to nature and character. James is saying the Word reveals who you are supposed to be—and forgetting that leads to spiritual regression.
    Forgetting identity produces: • compromise • divided loyalty • tolerance of sin • loss of spiritual authority
    Supporting Scriptures: Hosea 4:6 – destruction comes from lack of knowledge acted upon
    Hosea 4:6 LSB
    6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from ministering as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I Myself also will forget your children.
    Luke 15:17 – the prodigal “came to himself” before returning 1 Peter 2:9 – chosen, royal, holy people called to live differently
    The enemy does not always need to deceive you—sometimes all he needs is for you to forget who you are.

    The Perfect Law of Liberty Is Freedom Through Obedience

    Scripture: James 1:25 (KJV)
    “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty…”
    Explanation: The phrase “perfect law of liberty” destroys the false belief that obedience equals bondage. God’s law liberates because it aligns us with truth.
    Strong’s insight on “looketh”: to stoop down, to peer intently, to examine carefully and repeatedly.
    This is not casual reading—it is intentional submission.
    Supporting Scriptures: John 8:31–32 – continuing in His word brings freedom Psalm 19:7–8 – the law of the Lord restores the soul
    Psalm 19:7–8 NKJV
    7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
    Romans 6:16 – obedience determines lordship
    True freedom is not the absence of restraint—it is the presence of righteous alignment.

    Continuance Determines Blessing

    Scripture: James 1:25 (KJV)
    “…and continueth therein…”
    Explanation: Strong’s definition of “continueth”: to remain beside, to stay with, to abide without retreat.
    Obedience is not a moment—it is a walk. Breakthrough is often lost not through rebellion, but through inconsistency.
    Supporting Scriptures: John 15:7 – abiding produces fruit
    John 15:7 NKJV
    7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
    Colossians 1:23 – continue in the faith grounded and settled Galatians 6:9 – do not grow weary in well doing
    Many start obedient but fail to continue. Continuance is where maturity is formed.

    Blessing Is Tied to Doing, Not Knowing

    Scripture: James 1:25 (KJV)
    “…this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
    Explanation: The blessing follows action. Not intention. Not agreement. Not knowledge.
    Supporting Scriptures: Luke 11:28 – blessed are those who hear and keep Deuteronomy 28:1–2 – blessings pursue obedience Matthew 12:50 – obedience identifies true family
    Matthew 12:50 LSB
    50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
    God blesses alignment. Heaven responds to action.

    Application

    This message requires honest evaluation: Where has obedience been delayed? What adjustments has the Word already revealed? What truths have become familiar but inactive?
    Encourage immediate obedience, not emotional response. Small acts of obedience restore spiritual sensitivity. Delayed obedience dulls discernment.

    Conclusion

    This is a dividing season. God is not expanding information—He is demanding alignment. The Spirit is calling the church from agreement to obedience.
    What you obey next determines what God entrusts you with after.
    The Lord is purifying His church—not by persecution alone, but by response to truth.
    Closing Quote
    “The greatest enemy of obedience is not rebellion, but delay.”– A. W. Tozer

      • James 1:22–25NKJV

      • Ezekiel 33:30–32NKJV

      • Hebrews 4:12NKJV

      • Hosea 4:6NKJV

      • Psalm 19:7–8NKJV

      • John 15:7NKJV

      • Matthew 12:50NKJV

Jubilee Community Church
jubileeministries31773@gmail.com
229-224-3359
http://jccministries.org
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