Becoming a Master Producer of the Word
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 observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
James 1:22–24 (NKJV)
Last night, on the first day of our symposium, I mentioned in passing the importance of doing the Word. I explained briefly what it means, but I felt it needed more elaboration, and since I am unlikely to have time to return to it tonight, I will use this reading to set out the significance of this scripture.
The Spirit instructs us here in how to handle the Word in our lives, and in doing so He tells us that the Word is not meant only to be heard. Its power manifesting in your life depends not on hearing it but on doing it. Sadly, God's people have not come to understand what this means, and so they go on living below their rights and heritage in Christ, frustrating the grace of God in the process, because they expect results and feel entitled to them for having heard the Word. But that does not get the job done. Think of it this way. Peter called out to Jesus from the boat, asking Him to bid him come, and Jesus told him to come. Peter heard it, but the miracle of walking on water did not happen at that point. Peter had to do the word to experience the miracle, not merely hear it.
To hear the Word only deceives the listener into thinking he is entitled to everything he heard in the Word, but the effects of hearing only are more negative than positive. It was yielding to deception that drove Adam and Eve out of the garden, and deception will lead you to forfeit the blessings of God for your life. Frankly, you will never experience the power of the Word you hear until you do it. This is so important, because many of us have allowed the evil one to cheat us out of much that is rightfully ours, by not doing the Word. It is a fact that many churches are full of believers who love only to hear the Word, and the vast majority never do it. Hearing the Word only carries other dangers too: it produces blindness, forgetfulness, forfeited blessings and failure. Child of God, God has placed the responsibility for experiencing the supernatural on you, not on Himself.
The Word is the manifestation of God's power, grace and glory. All that God is, and all that God can do, is in His Word, and the ability and possibilities of the divine will be actualised in our lives only when we learn to do the Word.
To be a doer of the Word is more than taking action, though on the surface it may suggest that. Once you understand the Greek word, it becomes easy to see what God expects of us. "Doer" translates a word from poieō, which means to make something out of something, to produce, to fulfil.
- Be a maker of the Word.
- Be a producer of the Word.
- Fulfil the Word.
I like this, because it tells me that at any point in my life I can make changes. I do not need to wait for a miracle Sunday or some special service. I can choose to fulfil the word of healing and of prosperity in my life; I can choose to produce peace, glory and abundance in my life, using the Word. Does this sound familiar? "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." What do you want made in your life? Become a producer, a fulfiller, of the Word of God, by doing it.
Here are a few examples that resulted in miraculous experiences:
- "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Interestingly, this woman did what she herself had said, not what the Word had said, and she had results.
- "Rise, take up your bed and walk." He fulfilled the word, and there was a miracle.
- "Come." Peter walked on water.
- "Lazarus, come forth." Though he was dead, he came out. In death he heard the Word, and did it.
- "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise."
None who acted on the Word failed to have a miraculous, supernatural experience. Will you be a doer of the Word, or will you go on deceiving yourself? The choice is entirely yours. You can live the life of your dreams, or go on living in the shadows, only wishing and hoping. Be a doer of the Word, and live supernaturally.