“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
Never be impressed that you have an audience. Ezekiel was a popular preacher in captivity, but God let him in on a secret: the “Amens” of his congregation meant nothing.
“And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.” (Ezekiel 33:31,32)
People are inclined to believe they are in possession of truth because they “get” it. But God requires us to DO the truth, not merely assent to it. His blessing is upon us when we follow up and apply what we have heard to our lives. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).
The ministry of God’s Word to us has the practical goal of conforming us to His will. From the head to the heart it must move to our hands and feet. Only at that point will we truly possess the truth and have God’s blessing upon our lives.