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

Are you a doer of the Word? In the church where I am the Senior Pastor, we make this declaration before every message preached.  
 
It goes like this: “I believe this is God’s Word, I choose to believe what it says. Because God does not lie, His Word does not lie. I choose to live His Word, And believe His Word. I believe God will do for me, Exactly what His Word says. I believe it, And I receive it. By Faith, In Jesus name, Amen!”
 
When a believer hears the Word of God, immediately the power of God’s Word grips them in their emotional arena.  Believers must continue to hear that Word from any number of sources.  They can write it down and look at it or read it, they can say it out loud, and they can put it on their bathroom mirror or refrigerator door and gaze at it every time they pass by.  But hearing the Word one time is not enough.
 
This verse says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  When we hear the Word and do not immediately become a doer of that Word, we become a target for deception.  
 
Notice the following translations of the Bible to help us get a clearer picture:  

• From the Amplified Bible: “But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].”
• From the New International Version: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
• From The Weymouth New Testament: “But prove yourselves obedient to the Message, and do not be mere hearers of it, imposing a delusion upon yourselves.”
• New Living Translation: “And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself.”

The sower sows the word. 15And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. (Mark 4:14-15)

This verse says that satan comes “immediately” to steal the Word away from you that you just got through hearing and just got excited about.  In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”  In other words, there is only one reason that the thief (the devil, satan) comes… and that is to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”  You may say, “That’s three reasons.” All three reasons or motives have the same end-result… your destruction!
 
If I think I don’t have to do that Word I just heard, I deceive myself to the fact that satan is there immediately to steal the Word.
 
In all cases, we get the picture that when we do not put the Word we hear into practice (again and again) the enemy has the opportunity to steal it away from us.  
 
However, as we live out God’s Word, it becomes a part of us.  It becomes easier for that Word to arise within every time the enemy brings lies to our mind.  We find it easier to stand and not be deceived in life.
 
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart {Greek: Mind}.”
 
The Word of God within you is powerful… (Say that right now – “powerful”) and within that Word you hear and practice, that Word contains everything that will get you over the hump, when you need it.
 
Become “doers of the word, and not hearers only,” and I believe that God’s Word within you will never allow you to be deceived again.  …Think about it!