Exposing Our Self Deception

James 1:22 (NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

The self-deception that James is talking about is the accumulation of knowledge without practicing it. It causes us to think we know what we are talking about without ever living it. Just because we can quote scripture and have an entire library of memorized verses does not mean we know the truth.

When we teach what we don’t practice, we not only deceive ourselves but do an injustice to those we are attempting to teach. Until we are doers of the word, we do not know the word. Even if we memorize every scripture in the Bible, we only know those things we have put into practice.

Suppose we were to read and memorize every piece of information on the planet about flying a jet. Can we call ourselves a pilot? No! We can’t say we know it until we have practiced it. If we were to memorize every bit of literature about brain surgery, can we be considered brain surgeons? No! Doctors and pilots must work with other skilled professionals to gain experience in a safe and controlled environment where mistakes get no one hurt or put in danger.

It is ONLY the word we put into practice that we truly know.

Only by being doers of the word and obeying what we learn can we express and reveal our faith knowledge. This is how we come to know the truth intimately, causing us to grow in grace and the authority and power of the gospel. Obedience to the word of God is the way we express our love for Him.

John 14:24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

We must ask ourselves; Are we learning from our relationship with the Lord and His written word, or are we just learning from the opinions of preachers and teachers? Are we studying to show ourselves approved by God, or are we just listening to the latest revelations from our favorite ministers? Do we rely on the understanding of respected theologians, or do we know God intimately for ourselves?

2 Timothy 3:14 (NKJV) But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

Quoted from the book, The Spiritual Warfare Manifesto

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How are your Sword Skills?

God’s word is a sword.

Being skilled with the sword takes diligence and work. If we cannot rightly divide the word of God, why would we desire to teach it?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All scripture is profitable for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, but not necessarily our interpretation or delivery of it. Handling the word of life without humility and the fear of the Lord can result in people being cut, hurt, and offended. It brings reproach on Christ, discrediting His name, harming the Church, and devaluing His word.

The Bible says in James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. And yet the world is full of Bible teachers that do not rightly divide the word of truth. We should all realize that teachers of the word of God are held to a high level of accountability. A stricter judgment. Teachers should teach from the overflow of their intimate relationship with the Lord, for these are the only things they truly know. Accumulation of knowledge about the word of God is not the same as knowing the Word.

In the age of abundant information that we live in, it is easy to accumulate knowledge about God and reduce ourselves to just relaying information. Unless we put that knowledge into practice, we don’t know the truth we are trying to share. The common practice of merely sharing information results in teaching and preaching that lack spiritual authority with demonstration and power. Many try to compensate for this lack of authority and power by being funny and entertaining or by being dramatic and forceful in their delivery. These are poor substitutes.

We should keep in mind that the Word is a person. When we share the word with others, we are to share our understanding of that person. We should speak from what we have gained in the relationship, not the knowledge we have accumulated through academic efforts. If we are not practicing what we know, we cannot teach it with the authority and power it deserves.

James 1:22 (NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

When we teach what we don’t practice, we not only deceive ourselves but do an injustice to those we are attempting to teach.

Until we are doers of the word, we do not know the word. Even if we memorize every scripture in the Bible, we only know those things we have put into practice.

Suppose we were to read and memorize every piece of information on the planet about flying a jet. Can we call ourselves a pilot? No. We can’t say we know it until we have practiced it.

If we were to memorize every bit of literature about brain surgery, can we be considered brain surgeons? No. Doctors and pilots must work with other skilled professionals to gain experience in a safe and controlled environment where mistakes get no one hurt or put in danger.

The self-deception that James is talking about is the accumulation of knowledge without practicing it. It causes us to think we know what we are talking about without ever living it. Just because we can quote scripture and have an entire library of memorized verses does not mean we know the truth.

It is only by being doers of the word, obeying what we know, that expresses and reveals our faith and causes us to know the truth intimately. Obedience to the word we know births intimacy with the Father, causing us to grow in grace and the authority and power of the gospel.

Quoted from the book, The Spiritual Warfare Manifesto

Thank you for visiting truthpressure.com. I hope this has been a blessing to you.