I had the opportunity to see stage 2 of the Tour of California on Monday February 16th. It took 10 hours of driving to see 136 of the best bicycle riders in the world for 3 minuets. That is me holding the red umbrella.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
James # 9
“A Living Faith”
James #9
February 22nd
Pastor Ben Fleming
When you think of wisdom - what comes to your mind? When you think of a wise person – who comes to your mind? Perhaps you think of yourself as being a wise person??? Most of us in the church have heard the comment “in the counsel of many is much wisdom” – that is actually from Proverbs 15:22 which says “Plans fail for the lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” You might think that if you get a large enough group around you and you get counsel from enough people you are going have wisdom. That can be true……... but not always. We tend to go to the people who tell us what we want to hear. Last weeks message was on the tongue – I did think about giving it again since some of your were absent and some of us need to hear it again -------- but today we are going to continue and study wisdom. If you are pursing a controlled tongue in your life then perhaps James is liking that to wisdom.
Turn to James chapter 3. When King David’s son Solomon was appointed King – the book of Kings tells us that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask for anything that he wanted – Solomon asked God, “give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil” and then God said, “because you have asked this I am giving you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will be no one like you before you, nor shall any one arise after you.” In one of the wisdom books Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.” The Roman philosopher Cicero wrote that wisdom is the best gift of all the gods and the mother of all good things. Both Solomon and Cicero considered wisdom to be the most valuable possession a person could have……. but it was the Hebrews – the Jewish people who really understood that (SLIDE) Real wisdom is not intellectual but behavioral. Fill in the blank at the top of your outline…. real wisdom is not words but behavior.
James is writing to believers - telling them about two kinds of wisdom. Wisdom that comes from below and wisdom that comes from heaven. If you have wisdom that comes from heaven – it will affect your behavior – wisdom from heaven causes righteous living in you. Please stand as we read James chap 3. Rhea Williams ---- PRAY
We tend to think that the more education a person has the wiser they are. The older a person is – the wiser they are. If you have grey hair you are wise. That is the wisdom of the world and that is not what James is writing about. God has given us the wisdom books in the bible – Job – Psalms – Proverbs – Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes – the wisdom books tell us how man sees the world through his sinful eyes and the wisdom books show us how the wisdom of man is futile and worthless without God.
Job wrote in chp 9:4 “the wisdom of God is profound and His power is vast” and then in 28:12 he rhetorically asks “where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?” But in verse 28 he answers his question “the fear of the Lord” – that is wisdom.
So the wisdom from above is not how much you know or how old you are but the wisdom from above is how much one trusts – loves and obeys the Lord.
In the OT – the statement “fearing God” was the same thing as “trusting God” and it referred to someone who had saving faith. In Deut 10:12 Moses wrote “What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God and walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” Moses writes that wisdom from above is not necessarily what one says but how one lives. You can be a good talker and have good answers and comments but if you do not live in fear of God --- your words are not biblical wisdom. I have even thought and said to myself – “he or is she is wise person” --- but when I said that it was in reference to their words…… and not to how they lived. Wisdom from heaven means that you fear the Lord and because you fear him you walk in his ways – you love him and you serve Him – that is biblical wisdom. If Moses were alive and a member of our church family --- would he see biblical wisdom in you? I wonder if he would see it in me????
In the New Testament the apostle Paul tells us directly where the source of heavenly wisdom is found in 1 Corinthians 1:24 “but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” In Colossians 2: 3 Paul says, “ that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” James is writing to believers and challenging them to test themselves and see if they are biblically wise and can they recognize biblical wisdom in God’s people?. In verse 13 he gives us the test for real wisdom.
The Test of Real Wisdom
(Vs. 13) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it but his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom.” It seems as if James is using the terms wise and understanding to mean the same thing. But wisdom or sophos was used by the Greeks to mean theory or philosophy and the word understanding or epistemon is only used here by James to mean a specialized knowledge like a tradesman or a professional. How do you test yourself to see if you have real biblical wisdom?
3 questions to ask…………………
1. Do you show wisdom by your good behavior? Just like real saving faith – wisdom and understanding are demonstrated by how a person lives. Do you live a godly life?
2. Do you demonstrate wisdom and understanding by your good deeds? He who obeys Scripture is biblically wise. He who controls their speech is wise and understanding.
He who is impartial to others is wise and understanding. Biblical good works demonstrates wisdom and understanding.
3. Do you demonstrate an attitude of gentleness ? Be careful here – because people who are wise in their own eyes are generally arrogant about it…… Gentleness is a god honored trait – it comes as we yield to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Gentleness in a person is shown by those who are not bitter – they are not self seeking and especially by those who are not spiritually arrogant. The greek work prautes or gentleness was often used by the Greeks to refer to a wild horse that was broken and made useful to its owner.
Can you think of other believers who come to your mind as someone who is gentle – broken and useful? Would others think that about you??? Do you demonstrate an attitude of gentleness? James says that is biblical wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom from Below (earthly wisdom)
(Vs. 14 -15) “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven by it earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.” The motivation of false wisdom or wisdom from below always comes from the heart. What is in your heart and my heart is always that which motivates us. It is what guides us – it is what controls us – it is what causes us to remember and do what is really important to us. James writes that human wisdom has two basic motives: on your outline……………
1. Human wisdom is motivated by bitter envy. Or jealousy. Any time you see the word bitter used it means pointed – sharp or prickly……. Do you know someone like that??? Are you like that??? I know some people that who are like that. In verse 11 James used the same word in reference to bitter water coming out of a fountain. It is the kind of person who has no concern for the feelings or welfare of those who are its objects. It is the kind of person who thinks they are wise but they are motivated by their own personal ideas – their own desires and their standards are the measure of everything for them….. Whatever and whoever serves their end is considered good and friendly and whatever and whoever threatens their end is considered bad and the enemy.
Remember that James is writing to the church, so therefore he is saying that within a church family there are going to be those who demonstrate and manifest that kind of wisdom. 2nd motive of human wisdom
2. Human wisdom is motivated by self ambition. Self ambition carries with it the idea of strife – contentiousness and extreme selfishness….. It is the kind of person who has no room for others and they can be and come across to those around them as arrogant. They talk big – they have a lot of spiritual verbage but are not known by others as a humble person. Unfortunately, within the church they can do a great deal of damage in peoples lives because of their spiritual arrogance. There are the two motives of human wisdom…. now James lays out for us the characteristics of human wisdom. Look at verse 15. “Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthy, unspiritual, of the devil.” What does James mean by this? -
* Human wisdom is earthy. It is wisdom that is limited to this present material world of our time. It is restricted to the things that a man can accomplish and discover himself. It has no place for God or the things of God or the people of God . It is wisdom that is motivated by pride – self interest and self centeredness and autonomy.
* Human wisdom is unspiritual or natural. It is sensual and fleshly. It comes from man and not God. As Paul wrote in 1 Cor 2 – a natural man does not accept the things of God – they are foolishness to him. Human wisdom is unspiritual….. When a Christian relies on human wisdom they are acting like a non believer. 3rd characteristic of human wisdom………..
* Human wisdom is demonic. It is wisdom – its human and earthly but the root source of it comes from Satan. Satan always promised wisdom to those who he tempts. He wants God’s people to doubt God’s Word. Do not be deceived into thinking that Satan cannot tempt believers in a local church family into demonstrating demonic human wisdom……. In 2 Corinthians Paul was warning the Corinthian church about this – he warns Timothy about the same thing.
Now what does Human Wisdom Results In:
(Vs. 16) “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.” When God’s people demonstrate and live out human wisdom in their lives – James says there are two results.
1. Disorder. The word James wrote down had the basic mean of instability, a state of confusion, disturbance, tumult and rebellion. James has already said that this is what must not characterize God’s chosen people. I want remind you that: James is not writing about what is but what ought to be. Remember that when you are thinking about your own life here…… In chapter 1:8 – He writes that this was characteristic of a double minded man – who was unstable in all his ways. Worldly wisdom causes confusion among God’s people. It is the opposite of God’s wisdom. 1 Cor 14:33 “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” All throughout the New Testament you will see Paul and other writers plead with God’s people for unity and harmony. In Phillippians 4:2 “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.” Both of these women were spiritual women and had served well in the church but at least one of them if not both of them were demonstrating and relying on human wisdom because there was disorder and disharmony. King David knew disorder in his family and he wrote in Ps 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard.”
Is there anyone in this room who does not appreciate unity and harmony in their family???? When biblical wisdom and understanding is being lived out --- you will find the absence of disorder in your family. When biblical wisdom is being lived out in a church family you will find order and harmony….. #2 Human wisdom results in….
2. Every evil practice. I think James closed this section by saying that human and demonic wisdom produces every kind of evil in a church family. You name it --- when God’s people are not living and reflecting what God commands them --- every evil practice will be found. If you do not believe that then tear the book of Corinthians out of the bible. Wisdom from man…… now look with me at …..
Wisdom from Heaven
(Vs.17) “but the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
Wisdom from above is pure. It is hagnos or from the root hagios or holy. Pure wisdom is holy wisdom. Look what James says characterizes pure wisdom from heaven.
* Wisdom from heaven is peaceable. It does not start conflicts. It does not start gossip. It produces peace because of its humility. Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:9 “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.” Every believer ought to be a peacemaker……………
* Wisdom from heaven is gentle. A gentle person is humble. They are fair, moderate, forebearing, they are patient, they submit to dishonor and abuse. They are not known as a complainer and whinner. Complainers are not people who demonstrate wisdom from heaven. 3rdly
* Wisdom from heaven is reasonable. That believer is someone who is willing to yield without disputing. They are teachable, compliant and not stubborn. 4thy
* Wisdom from heaven is full of mercy. This is the believer who not only forgives those who have wronged him……. but they reach out to the person who has wronged them and helps them in whatever way they need. Now I want to remind you again about the disclaimer from last week: James is not writing here about what is in the life of a believer but he is writing about what ought to be in the life of a believer 5th
* Wisdom from heaven is full of good fruit, its impartial and it is sincere. Good fruit is demonstrated in the life of a believer when he or she reflects the fruit of the spirit in their life. They are someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. A believer who treats everyone equally is impartial – they reflect biblical wisdom and those who are sincere and without hypocrisy characterize biblical wisdom. What do these characteristics result in when a believer lives them out??????????
Biblical Wisdom Results In:
(Vs. 18 ) “Peacemakers who sow in peace will raise a harvest of righteousness.” The NASB says, “and the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James is saying that those who demonstrate and live out biblical wisdom in their lives are peacemakers. They sow peace among people. They sow peace among God’s people because their wisdom is from above.
There is a connection between biblical wisdom, righteousness and peace. Godly wisdom produces a cycle of righteousness and righteousness harvests peaceful harmonious relationships between God and his people. There is nothing more difficult than to pursue being a peacemaker. It is easy to cause disunity and disharmony it is difficult to be a sower of peace. It is difficult to work with God’s people to restore and cultivate peace among God’s people….. but there nothing more fulfilling and nothing that brings God more glory. Jesus prayed for His church that they might be one – Jesus prayed for unity among His children. He knew that they would have a tendency to listen and follow human wisdom instead of biblical wisdom.
What can you do to Pursue and Demonstrate Wisdom from Heaven?
1. Pursue the sanctification of your tongue. You cannot be a believer who becomes or grows to be one who speaks wisdom from above…. unless you are engaged in controlling your tongue. A loose uncontrolled tongue is not one who reflects God’s wisdom. You can identify that in your self and you can certainly identify it in others.
2. Grow in the spiritual discipline of bible intake. Wisdom from above communicates truth. You cannot communicate truth without referring to the Bible. You have to know and use God’s Word rightly to be one who is biblically wise. You can also identify that in others. Does someone give you their opinion or can they take you right to God’s Word?
3. Identify disorder, confusion and criticism. Learn about peacemaking and what it takes. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Do you sow peace or are you a peacebreaker? Would you commit yourself to pursuing wisdom from above in your life? Real wisdom is not intellectual but be behavioral.
James #9
February 22nd
Pastor Ben Fleming
When you think of wisdom - what comes to your mind? When you think of a wise person – who comes to your mind? Perhaps you think of yourself as being a wise person??? Most of us in the church have heard the comment “in the counsel of many is much wisdom” – that is actually from Proverbs 15:22 which says “Plans fail for the lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” You might think that if you get a large enough group around you and you get counsel from enough people you are going have wisdom. That can be true……... but not always. We tend to go to the people who tell us what we want to hear. Last weeks message was on the tongue – I did think about giving it again since some of your were absent and some of us need to hear it again -------- but today we are going to continue and study wisdom. If you are pursing a controlled tongue in your life then perhaps James is liking that to wisdom.
Turn to James chapter 3. When King David’s son Solomon was appointed King – the book of Kings tells us that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask for anything that he wanted – Solomon asked God, “give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil” and then God said, “because you have asked this I am giving you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will be no one like you before you, nor shall any one arise after you.” In one of the wisdom books Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.” The Roman philosopher Cicero wrote that wisdom is the best gift of all the gods and the mother of all good things. Both Solomon and Cicero considered wisdom to be the most valuable possession a person could have……. but it was the Hebrews – the Jewish people who really understood that (SLIDE) Real wisdom is not intellectual but behavioral. Fill in the blank at the top of your outline…. real wisdom is not words but behavior.
James is writing to believers - telling them about two kinds of wisdom. Wisdom that comes from below and wisdom that comes from heaven. If you have wisdom that comes from heaven – it will affect your behavior – wisdom from heaven causes righteous living in you. Please stand as we read James chap 3. Rhea Williams ---- PRAY
We tend to think that the more education a person has the wiser they are. The older a person is – the wiser they are. If you have grey hair you are wise. That is the wisdom of the world and that is not what James is writing about. God has given us the wisdom books in the bible – Job – Psalms – Proverbs – Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes – the wisdom books tell us how man sees the world through his sinful eyes and the wisdom books show us how the wisdom of man is futile and worthless without God.
Job wrote in chp 9:4 “the wisdom of God is profound and His power is vast” and then in 28:12 he rhetorically asks “where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?” But in verse 28 he answers his question “the fear of the Lord” – that is wisdom.
So the wisdom from above is not how much you know or how old you are but the wisdom from above is how much one trusts – loves and obeys the Lord.
In the OT – the statement “fearing God” was the same thing as “trusting God” and it referred to someone who had saving faith. In Deut 10:12 Moses wrote “What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God and walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” Moses writes that wisdom from above is not necessarily what one says but how one lives. You can be a good talker and have good answers and comments but if you do not live in fear of God --- your words are not biblical wisdom. I have even thought and said to myself – “he or is she is wise person” --- but when I said that it was in reference to their words…… and not to how they lived. Wisdom from heaven means that you fear the Lord and because you fear him you walk in his ways – you love him and you serve Him – that is biblical wisdom. If Moses were alive and a member of our church family --- would he see biblical wisdom in you? I wonder if he would see it in me????
In the New Testament the apostle Paul tells us directly where the source of heavenly wisdom is found in 1 Corinthians 1:24 “but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” In Colossians 2: 3 Paul says, “ that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” James is writing to believers and challenging them to test themselves and see if they are biblically wise and can they recognize biblical wisdom in God’s people?. In verse 13 he gives us the test for real wisdom.
The Test of Real Wisdom
(Vs. 13) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it but his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom.” It seems as if James is using the terms wise and understanding to mean the same thing. But wisdom or sophos was used by the Greeks to mean theory or philosophy and the word understanding or epistemon is only used here by James to mean a specialized knowledge like a tradesman or a professional. How do you test yourself to see if you have real biblical wisdom?
3 questions to ask…………………
1. Do you show wisdom by your good behavior? Just like real saving faith – wisdom and understanding are demonstrated by how a person lives. Do you live a godly life?
2. Do you demonstrate wisdom and understanding by your good deeds? He who obeys Scripture is biblically wise. He who controls their speech is wise and understanding.
He who is impartial to others is wise and understanding. Biblical good works demonstrates wisdom and understanding.
3. Do you demonstrate an attitude of gentleness ? Be careful here – because people who are wise in their own eyes are generally arrogant about it…… Gentleness is a god honored trait – it comes as we yield to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Gentleness in a person is shown by those who are not bitter – they are not self seeking and especially by those who are not spiritually arrogant. The greek work prautes or gentleness was often used by the Greeks to refer to a wild horse that was broken and made useful to its owner.
Can you think of other believers who come to your mind as someone who is gentle – broken and useful? Would others think that about you??? Do you demonstrate an attitude of gentleness? James says that is biblical wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom from Below (earthly wisdom)
(Vs. 14 -15) “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven by it earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.” The motivation of false wisdom or wisdom from below always comes from the heart. What is in your heart and my heart is always that which motivates us. It is what guides us – it is what controls us – it is what causes us to remember and do what is really important to us. James writes that human wisdom has two basic motives: on your outline……………
1. Human wisdom is motivated by bitter envy. Or jealousy. Any time you see the word bitter used it means pointed – sharp or prickly……. Do you know someone like that??? Are you like that??? I know some people that who are like that. In verse 11 James used the same word in reference to bitter water coming out of a fountain. It is the kind of person who has no concern for the feelings or welfare of those who are its objects. It is the kind of person who thinks they are wise but they are motivated by their own personal ideas – their own desires and their standards are the measure of everything for them….. Whatever and whoever serves their end is considered good and friendly and whatever and whoever threatens their end is considered bad and the enemy.
Remember that James is writing to the church, so therefore he is saying that within a church family there are going to be those who demonstrate and manifest that kind of wisdom. 2nd motive of human wisdom
2. Human wisdom is motivated by self ambition. Self ambition carries with it the idea of strife – contentiousness and extreme selfishness….. It is the kind of person who has no room for others and they can be and come across to those around them as arrogant. They talk big – they have a lot of spiritual verbage but are not known by others as a humble person. Unfortunately, within the church they can do a great deal of damage in peoples lives because of their spiritual arrogance. There are the two motives of human wisdom…. now James lays out for us the characteristics of human wisdom. Look at verse 15. “Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthy, unspiritual, of the devil.” What does James mean by this? -
* Human wisdom is earthy. It is wisdom that is limited to this present material world of our time. It is restricted to the things that a man can accomplish and discover himself. It has no place for God or the things of God or the people of God . It is wisdom that is motivated by pride – self interest and self centeredness and autonomy.
* Human wisdom is unspiritual or natural. It is sensual and fleshly. It comes from man and not God. As Paul wrote in 1 Cor 2 – a natural man does not accept the things of God – they are foolishness to him. Human wisdom is unspiritual….. When a Christian relies on human wisdom they are acting like a non believer. 3rd characteristic of human wisdom………..
* Human wisdom is demonic. It is wisdom – its human and earthly but the root source of it comes from Satan. Satan always promised wisdom to those who he tempts. He wants God’s people to doubt God’s Word. Do not be deceived into thinking that Satan cannot tempt believers in a local church family into demonstrating demonic human wisdom……. In 2 Corinthians Paul was warning the Corinthian church about this – he warns Timothy about the same thing.
Now what does Human Wisdom Results In:
(Vs. 16) “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.” When God’s people demonstrate and live out human wisdom in their lives – James says there are two results.
1. Disorder. The word James wrote down had the basic mean of instability, a state of confusion, disturbance, tumult and rebellion. James has already said that this is what must not characterize God’s chosen people. I want remind you that: James is not writing about what is but what ought to be. Remember that when you are thinking about your own life here…… In chapter 1:8 – He writes that this was characteristic of a double minded man – who was unstable in all his ways. Worldly wisdom causes confusion among God’s people. It is the opposite of God’s wisdom. 1 Cor 14:33 “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” All throughout the New Testament you will see Paul and other writers plead with God’s people for unity and harmony. In Phillippians 4:2 “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.” Both of these women were spiritual women and had served well in the church but at least one of them if not both of them were demonstrating and relying on human wisdom because there was disorder and disharmony. King David knew disorder in his family and he wrote in Ps 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard.”
Is there anyone in this room who does not appreciate unity and harmony in their family???? When biblical wisdom and understanding is being lived out --- you will find the absence of disorder in your family. When biblical wisdom is being lived out in a church family you will find order and harmony….. #2 Human wisdom results in….
2. Every evil practice. I think James closed this section by saying that human and demonic wisdom produces every kind of evil in a church family. You name it --- when God’s people are not living and reflecting what God commands them --- every evil practice will be found. If you do not believe that then tear the book of Corinthians out of the bible. Wisdom from man…… now look with me at …..
Wisdom from Heaven
(Vs.17) “but the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
Wisdom from above is pure. It is hagnos or from the root hagios or holy. Pure wisdom is holy wisdom. Look what James says characterizes pure wisdom from heaven.
* Wisdom from heaven is peaceable. It does not start conflicts. It does not start gossip. It produces peace because of its humility. Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:9 “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.” Every believer ought to be a peacemaker……………
* Wisdom from heaven is gentle. A gentle person is humble. They are fair, moderate, forebearing, they are patient, they submit to dishonor and abuse. They are not known as a complainer and whinner. Complainers are not people who demonstrate wisdom from heaven. 3rdly
* Wisdom from heaven is reasonable. That believer is someone who is willing to yield without disputing. They are teachable, compliant and not stubborn. 4thy
* Wisdom from heaven is full of mercy. This is the believer who not only forgives those who have wronged him……. but they reach out to the person who has wronged them and helps them in whatever way they need. Now I want to remind you again about the disclaimer from last week: James is not writing here about what is in the life of a believer but he is writing about what ought to be in the life of a believer 5th
* Wisdom from heaven is full of good fruit, its impartial and it is sincere. Good fruit is demonstrated in the life of a believer when he or she reflects the fruit of the spirit in their life. They are someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. A believer who treats everyone equally is impartial – they reflect biblical wisdom and those who are sincere and without hypocrisy characterize biblical wisdom. What do these characteristics result in when a believer lives them out??????????
Biblical Wisdom Results In:
(Vs. 18 ) “Peacemakers who sow in peace will raise a harvest of righteousness.” The NASB says, “and the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James is saying that those who demonstrate and live out biblical wisdom in their lives are peacemakers. They sow peace among people. They sow peace among God’s people because their wisdom is from above.
There is a connection between biblical wisdom, righteousness and peace. Godly wisdom produces a cycle of righteousness and righteousness harvests peaceful harmonious relationships between God and his people. There is nothing more difficult than to pursue being a peacemaker. It is easy to cause disunity and disharmony it is difficult to be a sower of peace. It is difficult to work with God’s people to restore and cultivate peace among God’s people….. but there nothing more fulfilling and nothing that brings God more glory. Jesus prayed for His church that they might be one – Jesus prayed for unity among His children. He knew that they would have a tendency to listen and follow human wisdom instead of biblical wisdom.
What can you do to Pursue and Demonstrate Wisdom from Heaven?
1. Pursue the sanctification of your tongue. You cannot be a believer who becomes or grows to be one who speaks wisdom from above…. unless you are engaged in controlling your tongue. A loose uncontrolled tongue is not one who reflects God’s wisdom. You can identify that in your self and you can certainly identify it in others.
2. Grow in the spiritual discipline of bible intake. Wisdom from above communicates truth. You cannot communicate truth without referring to the Bible. You have to know and use God’s Word rightly to be one who is biblically wise. You can also identify that in others. Does someone give you their opinion or can they take you right to God’s Word?
3. Identify disorder, confusion and criticism. Learn about peacemaking and what it takes. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Do you sow peace or are you a peacebreaker? Would you commit yourself to pursuing wisdom from above in your life? Real wisdom is not intellectual but be behavioral.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
James # 8
“A Living Faith”
James #8
Pastor Ben Fleming
February 15th
We have been studying the book of James. A letter written to God’s people to encourage and equip them to have and experience a living faith. I put this photo up so that you can know right away what we are going to talk about………..The tongue has caused more damage in a church family than any other action. I have thought that I need to give this message again next week, maybe I ought to do it once a month? The tongue has caused more hurt in your marriage and in your relationships in your family than any other action. Words hurt – words injure – words bring pain and discouragement and words bring distance between people. Some of you readily cuss and use ungodly slang words. Some of you yell at your loved ones and some of you raise your voice in a harsh unkind way to those whom you say that you love so much. Some wives communicate disrespect to their husbands by their words and feel justified when they are doing it. Some of you have a loose tongue and say things to people that you have no business opening your mouth about ----- some of you are like me ---- you love to talk. Some of you talk so much that you have bit your tongue while you were eating something and you have scar tissue on your tongue and you know how painful it is when you have a sore on your tongue…… In the past 10 years I have had surgery on my tongue to remove scar tissue twice --- if you do not think your tongue is important and powerful and can be painful to yourself and to others…. just ask me. Some of you are quiet and soft spoken and some of your are loud. Your tongue is you in a unique way. The tongue is a sign of what is going on in your heart.
The bible says that the tongue is wicked – deceitful – perverse – filthy – corrupt – flattering – slanderous – gossiping – blasphemous, foolish – boasting – complaining – cursing – sensual and vile. Is it any wonder that God put the tongue in a cage behind teeth and walled in by a mouth. James is greatly concerned about the tongue in the life of a believer – he addresses it in every chapter of his letter. The tongue only produces what comes out of our hearts.
In Matthew 15 Jesus said “for out of the heart comes evil thoughts – murder – adultery – fornication – theft – false witness and slander.” Scientist have claimed that once a word is spoken – a sound wave is set in motion – it continues on a never ending journey and if we had enough sophisticated equipment – each wave could be captured and reproduced at any time. Every word that you have ever spoken could be reproduced…God does not need that equipment --- in Matthew 12:36 – Jesus said, “every careless word that people speak – they shall give an accounting for those words in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.” So these written words that God has captured for us in this letter that James has written…. I believe they ought to move us – teach us – challenge us and convict us as we pursue a living real faith in Jesus Christ.
Your tongue – my tongue – brings words of healing or words of hurt. Your tongue brings words of judgment or words of grace. Your tongue brings words of harshness or words of kindness. Your tongue brings words of criticism or words of encouragement. If Google invented the machine Googlecapture to record all of your words and replay them --- what words would we hear that you have spoken this past week??? Please stand as we read James chapter3
The first sin committed after the fall of Adam and Eve was a sin of the tongue. When God questioned Adam about eating the forbidden fruit – he slandered God by suggesting with his words that God was responsible – (3:12) “the woman whom You (GOD) gave to be with me – she gave me from the tree and I ate”…… He blamed God with his tongue. With our tongue we blame others for our sin. My wife made me do what I did. My boss was unfair and treated me wrongly – My mom and dad are so unreasonable – My teacher did not explain the problem – it is not my fault…… – we are just like Adam. There is nobody in this room who has not been hurt by the words from someone else and there is nobody in this room who has not hurt and sinned against someone else with their words. I do not believe that in the Christian church today we are all that serious as believers about the sanctification of our tongues. It does matter what you say – how you say it and it matters the volume and tone in which you say it and it matters when you say it and it matters even what your facial expressions are. Listen to the words of King Solomon about the tongue.
Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”…………. Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Have you ever longed for pleasant words to be spoken to you ? When was the last time someone thought of your words like a honeycomb? Proverbs 12:25 “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” I bet there are husbands who long for such words from their wives? Proverbs 15:1 – 4 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.” Do you want your tongue to be known as a tree of life??? Proverbs 25:11 “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” That is one that you and I ought to memorize. 25:15 “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone and the last one in chapter 21:23 “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”
In this section where we read about the tongue today – James gives us 5 reasons why we as believers must maintain – control and pursue the sanctification of our tongues if we are going to walk in and experience a genuine saving faith. Look on your outline:
Why Believers Must Have Sanctified Tongues --- (explain sanctified)
1. Your tongue has the potential to condemn others. (3:1-2) “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways…” James is addressing the church body here and he is specifically addressing those in it who are preaching and teaching. He is addressing the one who stands up front on Sunday to the one who teaches the first graders. Now a word of caution: it is wrong to say to yourself – “if a teacher in a church is going to be judged more strictly – then I am never going to get involved in teaching.” James is simply saying that those who teach need to be extremely cautious and careful how they speak. It takes time to be a Sunday School teacher. A preacher must put in hours and hours of preparation to speak for 45 min. Your words publicly and privately influence others in the family of God. Words can condemn another person. You can loose credibility because of your words… regardless of your intentions. The teaching of erroneous – misleading and confusing theology can lead people away from the truth of the gospel. 900 people followed the teaching of Rev Jim Jones – and they ended up committing suicide with him in November 1978. People followed the teachings of David Koresh and followed him to their death in Texas and the Hale Bop Comet people were later. I wonder how many people are being led away from God even today as a result of false and unsound teaching?
The apostle Paul and Peter wrote:
1 Timothy 1:3 “command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer and then in chp. 6 “if anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree with sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing.” In 2 Peter 2:1 “false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be also false teachers among you.” The tongue of a teacher in God’s church can condemn God’s people. Therefore – anyone preaching and teaching must spend time preparing. They must think about – pray about and chose their words very carefully ahead of time. You cannot just say what you want to say……. We know that James is writing about believers in a church family when he uses the word brothers to refer to believers. We all stumble in many ways ---- You might not be a teacher in a church but words can always condemn someone else…….. Husbands and wives condemn each other with their words and parents condemn their children and teens condemn other teens. Believers in a church family condemn other believers. If you do not ask God to control your tongue you are in danger of condemning others with your words. You rob yourself and you rob others. Reason #2
2. Your tongue has the power to control others. (3:2b-5a) “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it boast of great things…”
Every one of us know this: Some of us have been controlled by the words of others and some of us have been guilty of controlling others by our words…James says that if you are never at fault with your words – then you are a perfect man or woman. The idea that James is speaking of here is that when we become more and more spiritually mature we will control our tongues. When your tongue comes under control – you are going to see other areas of your life come under control. If your tongue is coming under control – your anger – your lust – your gluttony – your envy – your laziness and on and on are coming under control. A tongue that is coming under the control of the Holy Spirit is going to affect the rest of that believers life. Jesus Christ demonstrated a controlled tongue.
1 Peter 2:21-23 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats………” The tongue of Jesus was completely under control. The more you pursue Jesus – the more your tongue will come under control and the rest of your life will follow.
STORY: There was a woman in a church family who was a terrible gossip. One day she said to the pastor, “The Lord has convicted me of my sin of gossip. My tongue is getting me into trouble. He said, “what do you plan to do about it? She replied. I want to put my tongue on the altar”. Now she had said that many times before and never changed. He told her – “There is not an altar big enough.”
--- Well there is an altar big enough --- but this woman was unwilling to pay the price. She loved her gossip more than righteousness. She was unwilling to do what King David wrote in Psalm 39 “ I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle.” Are you willing to do that???? What are you willing to pay to see your tongue come under the control of the Holy Spirit?”
James gives two analogies to show the power of the tongue. (vs.3) When you put a bit into a horses mouth you can control the entire horse. The bit lies on the top of the horses tongue. The bit is used to make the horse obey. Are you allowing God to put a bit in your mouth or do you just simply enjoy controlling others with your words??? The second illustration (vs.4) he used was that of the rudder of a ship. The rudder is a very small part of a ship but it can easily steer the ship where the pilot of the ship wants it to go. Who is the pilot of your ship? Is the rudder in your mouth under the control of the pilot or is it under your control? Reason #3
3. Your tongue has the propensity to be corrupt. (3:5b – 6) “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the whole body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James is writing here to God’s people about the destructive power of the tongue. It can be hateful – it can be false – heretical or even careless words (you hear those spoken even in a church family) – I am not going to give you examples but I will go so far as to say that slang words are careless words. Your words can corrupt others and spread to others --- especially gossip and slander….
On October 8, 1871, a latern in Mrs O’Leary’s barn was knocked over by a cow and it ignited the great Chicago fire. 17,500 buildings were destroyed – 300 people died and 125,000 were left homeless. James says that the tongue is like a fire that corrupts the entire person. If you allow your tongue to be uncontrolled by the Holy Spirit – your entire body will be corrupted by your tongue. On August 5th – 1965 --- my family was sitting upstairs in the kitchen of our split level home – my sister Chris went downstairs to get a coke out of the garage. When she opened the door – fire greeted her. Well – our garage was gutted but every room in our house was touched by the smoke of that fire. My bedroom was down stairs in the basement and when I put on my shirt the next day – I still remember the smell of the smoke on my shirt…………
James says the whole course of our life is set on fire by our tongues and it itself is set on fire by hell. This is the only place outside of the 4 gospels that we find this word that James used. Gehenna or hell. The valley of hinnom was just southwest of the city of Jerusalem – it was a valley that the trash – garbage and bodies of dead animals from the city were thrown – it was the original place where the Cannanites would sacrifice their children to the pagan god Molech.
Your tongue – my tongue has the propensity to be like Gehenna. It needs constant guarding and control.
4. Your tongue has the inability to be controlled. (3:7-8) “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
Think about it ---- we always want to say something. Everybody wants to have the last word --- even the most quietest person opens their mouth with a word when they are upset. James says that the human tongue cannot be controlled – it cannot be tamed. You can tame any animal but the human tongue is an animal that cannot be tamed. A person can try all they want but in their own power a human cannot control their tongue.
Even in a believer who has the Holy Spirit – the tongue can be set loose and do damage. King David knew that and prayed in Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips”. The apostle Paul even confessed, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh, for the willing is present in me, but the doing of good is not.” James says that the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” I told you last week that I was going to address the tongue. You have heard all of these words from James and yet --- as soon as we say amen and you are dismissed your tongue is going to go back to work. You are going to watch what you say for a time and you are going watch even as you go home or to eat – but I guarantee you – you are going to find your tongue uncontrolled in some way today and this week. You and I need to constantly ask God to set a guard over our mouths.
5. Your tongue has the nature to compromise.
(3:9 -12) “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
Your tongue and my tongue -- its nature is to compromise. It is like a deliberate breech of trust or treachery. It can be like a wild animal – hypocritical and willing to deceive in order to achieve its own advantage. James says that with it we praise our Lord and Father - the Jewish believers identified with this statement ----- they knew this because they were used to at the end of a Jewish service there would be 18 benedictions and they would say “blessed be thou, o God.” Out of that same mouth that said those words could and would come cursing. Seems strange – but the apostle Peter cursed the Lord and Paul let his tongue loose and called the high priest a whitewash wall. Take your pen and underline what James response to that statement is – MY BROTHERS – THIS SHOULD NOT BE. Double minded speech cannot be. You cannot compromise your speech ---- holy speech is part of holy living.
When God transforms you He gives you the capacity to be transformed in your speech.
James then closes this point by three illustrations: Does a fountain send out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening? The answer is no. Can a fig tree produce olives and a vine produce figs – the answer is no and can salt water produce fresh water – no. A hateful heart cannot produce loving words and good works. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit.
Disclaimer: In the book of James and especially this section on the tongue and last weeks on faith and works – there is a tension in this letter between what is and what ought to be. In other words – this is how it will be if you are a true believer and at another point this is how you ought to be if you are a true believer. I have not given some application points in awhile – but this issue of the tongue is so vital to us --- I wrestle with my tongue and I know all of you do. What can you do to gain victory over unrighteous and careless words in your life?
Application:
* Look up verses in the bible about the tongue and your words. Write them out and put them around in your house. Do something tangible to attack old habits.
* Identify words that you speak that are careless – slang words that non believers use around you. Identify the slang words that you use to take the Lord’s name in vain. You and I are so brainwashed that we see nothing wrong with some of the words that we speak.
* Go to anyone that you have spoken words to that have been out of place. You have had no right or credibility to speak them – you have spoken carelessly to them even though you think your intentions were good – ask them to forgive you. Some of us have hurt other people and we do not even know it. When someone comes to you and confronts you --- do not defend yourself and justify and rationalize what you said. 4thly
* Give permission to another believer to get in your face about your tongue. Do not get offended when they point out to you your speech. How do you come across to others? Have you ever been so bold to ask some else if your tone of voice – your volume your facial expressions are offensive and put them on the defensive? That is a believer who is serious about glorifying God with their tongue.
#6
* We are going to have a week of fasting and prayer next month. Make that week a week dedicated to seeing God change your speech and bring your tongue under control. I guarantee you that if you set your mind to fast and pray at least one day you will see God do something in your life for your good.
James #8
Pastor Ben Fleming
February 15th
We have been studying the book of James. A letter written to God’s people to encourage and equip them to have and experience a living faith. I put this photo up so that you can know right away what we are going to talk about………..The tongue has caused more damage in a church family than any other action. I have thought that I need to give this message again next week, maybe I ought to do it once a month? The tongue has caused more hurt in your marriage and in your relationships in your family than any other action. Words hurt – words injure – words bring pain and discouragement and words bring distance between people. Some of you readily cuss and use ungodly slang words. Some of you yell at your loved ones and some of you raise your voice in a harsh unkind way to those whom you say that you love so much. Some wives communicate disrespect to their husbands by their words and feel justified when they are doing it. Some of you have a loose tongue and say things to people that you have no business opening your mouth about ----- some of you are like me ---- you love to talk. Some of you talk so much that you have bit your tongue while you were eating something and you have scar tissue on your tongue and you know how painful it is when you have a sore on your tongue…… In the past 10 years I have had surgery on my tongue to remove scar tissue twice --- if you do not think your tongue is important and powerful and can be painful to yourself and to others…. just ask me. Some of you are quiet and soft spoken and some of your are loud. Your tongue is you in a unique way. The tongue is a sign of what is going on in your heart.
The bible says that the tongue is wicked – deceitful – perverse – filthy – corrupt – flattering – slanderous – gossiping – blasphemous, foolish – boasting – complaining – cursing – sensual and vile. Is it any wonder that God put the tongue in a cage behind teeth and walled in by a mouth. James is greatly concerned about the tongue in the life of a believer – he addresses it in every chapter of his letter. The tongue only produces what comes out of our hearts.
In Matthew 15 Jesus said “for out of the heart comes evil thoughts – murder – adultery – fornication – theft – false witness and slander.” Scientist have claimed that once a word is spoken – a sound wave is set in motion – it continues on a never ending journey and if we had enough sophisticated equipment – each wave could be captured and reproduced at any time. Every word that you have ever spoken could be reproduced…God does not need that equipment --- in Matthew 12:36 – Jesus said, “every careless word that people speak – they shall give an accounting for those words in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.” So these written words that God has captured for us in this letter that James has written…. I believe they ought to move us – teach us – challenge us and convict us as we pursue a living real faith in Jesus Christ.
Your tongue – my tongue – brings words of healing or words of hurt. Your tongue brings words of judgment or words of grace. Your tongue brings words of harshness or words of kindness. Your tongue brings words of criticism or words of encouragement. If Google invented the machine Googlecapture to record all of your words and replay them --- what words would we hear that you have spoken this past week??? Please stand as we read James chapter3
The first sin committed after the fall of Adam and Eve was a sin of the tongue. When God questioned Adam about eating the forbidden fruit – he slandered God by suggesting with his words that God was responsible – (3:12) “the woman whom You (GOD) gave to be with me – she gave me from the tree and I ate”…… He blamed God with his tongue. With our tongue we blame others for our sin. My wife made me do what I did. My boss was unfair and treated me wrongly – My mom and dad are so unreasonable – My teacher did not explain the problem – it is not my fault…… – we are just like Adam. There is nobody in this room who has not been hurt by the words from someone else and there is nobody in this room who has not hurt and sinned against someone else with their words. I do not believe that in the Christian church today we are all that serious as believers about the sanctification of our tongues. It does matter what you say – how you say it and it matters the volume and tone in which you say it and it matters when you say it and it matters even what your facial expressions are. Listen to the words of King Solomon about the tongue.
Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”…………. Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Have you ever longed for pleasant words to be spoken to you ? When was the last time someone thought of your words like a honeycomb? Proverbs 12:25 “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” I bet there are husbands who long for such words from their wives? Proverbs 15:1 – 4 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.” Do you want your tongue to be known as a tree of life??? Proverbs 25:11 “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” That is one that you and I ought to memorize. 25:15 “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone and the last one in chapter 21:23 “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”
In this section where we read about the tongue today – James gives us 5 reasons why we as believers must maintain – control and pursue the sanctification of our tongues if we are going to walk in and experience a genuine saving faith. Look on your outline:
Why Believers Must Have Sanctified Tongues --- (explain sanctified)
1. Your tongue has the potential to condemn others. (3:1-2) “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways…” James is addressing the church body here and he is specifically addressing those in it who are preaching and teaching. He is addressing the one who stands up front on Sunday to the one who teaches the first graders. Now a word of caution: it is wrong to say to yourself – “if a teacher in a church is going to be judged more strictly – then I am never going to get involved in teaching.” James is simply saying that those who teach need to be extremely cautious and careful how they speak. It takes time to be a Sunday School teacher. A preacher must put in hours and hours of preparation to speak for 45 min. Your words publicly and privately influence others in the family of God. Words can condemn another person. You can loose credibility because of your words… regardless of your intentions. The teaching of erroneous – misleading and confusing theology can lead people away from the truth of the gospel. 900 people followed the teaching of Rev Jim Jones – and they ended up committing suicide with him in November 1978. People followed the teachings of David Koresh and followed him to their death in Texas and the Hale Bop Comet people were later. I wonder how many people are being led away from God even today as a result of false and unsound teaching?
The apostle Paul and Peter wrote:
1 Timothy 1:3 “command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer and then in chp. 6 “if anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree with sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing.” In 2 Peter 2:1 “false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be also false teachers among you.” The tongue of a teacher in God’s church can condemn God’s people. Therefore – anyone preaching and teaching must spend time preparing. They must think about – pray about and chose their words very carefully ahead of time. You cannot just say what you want to say……. We know that James is writing about believers in a church family when he uses the word brothers to refer to believers. We all stumble in many ways ---- You might not be a teacher in a church but words can always condemn someone else…….. Husbands and wives condemn each other with their words and parents condemn their children and teens condemn other teens. Believers in a church family condemn other believers. If you do not ask God to control your tongue you are in danger of condemning others with your words. You rob yourself and you rob others. Reason #2
2. Your tongue has the power to control others. (3:2b-5a) “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it boast of great things…”
Every one of us know this: Some of us have been controlled by the words of others and some of us have been guilty of controlling others by our words…James says that if you are never at fault with your words – then you are a perfect man or woman. The idea that James is speaking of here is that when we become more and more spiritually mature we will control our tongues. When your tongue comes under control – you are going to see other areas of your life come under control. If your tongue is coming under control – your anger – your lust – your gluttony – your envy – your laziness and on and on are coming under control. A tongue that is coming under the control of the Holy Spirit is going to affect the rest of that believers life. Jesus Christ demonstrated a controlled tongue.
1 Peter 2:21-23 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats………” The tongue of Jesus was completely under control. The more you pursue Jesus – the more your tongue will come under control and the rest of your life will follow.
STORY: There was a woman in a church family who was a terrible gossip. One day she said to the pastor, “The Lord has convicted me of my sin of gossip. My tongue is getting me into trouble. He said, “what do you plan to do about it? She replied. I want to put my tongue on the altar”. Now she had said that many times before and never changed. He told her – “There is not an altar big enough.”
--- Well there is an altar big enough --- but this woman was unwilling to pay the price. She loved her gossip more than righteousness. She was unwilling to do what King David wrote in Psalm 39 “ I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle.” Are you willing to do that???? What are you willing to pay to see your tongue come under the control of the Holy Spirit?”
James gives two analogies to show the power of the tongue. (vs.3) When you put a bit into a horses mouth you can control the entire horse. The bit lies on the top of the horses tongue. The bit is used to make the horse obey. Are you allowing God to put a bit in your mouth or do you just simply enjoy controlling others with your words??? The second illustration (vs.4) he used was that of the rudder of a ship. The rudder is a very small part of a ship but it can easily steer the ship where the pilot of the ship wants it to go. Who is the pilot of your ship? Is the rudder in your mouth under the control of the pilot or is it under your control? Reason #3
3. Your tongue has the propensity to be corrupt. (3:5b – 6) “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the whole body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James is writing here to God’s people about the destructive power of the tongue. It can be hateful – it can be false – heretical or even careless words (you hear those spoken even in a church family) – I am not going to give you examples but I will go so far as to say that slang words are careless words. Your words can corrupt others and spread to others --- especially gossip and slander….
On October 8, 1871, a latern in Mrs O’Leary’s barn was knocked over by a cow and it ignited the great Chicago fire. 17,500 buildings were destroyed – 300 people died and 125,000 were left homeless. James says that the tongue is like a fire that corrupts the entire person. If you allow your tongue to be uncontrolled by the Holy Spirit – your entire body will be corrupted by your tongue. On August 5th – 1965 --- my family was sitting upstairs in the kitchen of our split level home – my sister Chris went downstairs to get a coke out of the garage. When she opened the door – fire greeted her. Well – our garage was gutted but every room in our house was touched by the smoke of that fire. My bedroom was down stairs in the basement and when I put on my shirt the next day – I still remember the smell of the smoke on my shirt…………
James says the whole course of our life is set on fire by our tongues and it itself is set on fire by hell. This is the only place outside of the 4 gospels that we find this word that James used. Gehenna or hell. The valley of hinnom was just southwest of the city of Jerusalem – it was a valley that the trash – garbage and bodies of dead animals from the city were thrown – it was the original place where the Cannanites would sacrifice their children to the pagan god Molech.
Your tongue – my tongue has the propensity to be like Gehenna. It needs constant guarding and control.
4. Your tongue has the inability to be controlled. (3:7-8) “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
Think about it ---- we always want to say something. Everybody wants to have the last word --- even the most quietest person opens their mouth with a word when they are upset. James says that the human tongue cannot be controlled – it cannot be tamed. You can tame any animal but the human tongue is an animal that cannot be tamed. A person can try all they want but in their own power a human cannot control their tongue.
Even in a believer who has the Holy Spirit – the tongue can be set loose and do damage. King David knew that and prayed in Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips”. The apostle Paul even confessed, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh, for the willing is present in me, but the doing of good is not.” James says that the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” I told you last week that I was going to address the tongue. You have heard all of these words from James and yet --- as soon as we say amen and you are dismissed your tongue is going to go back to work. You are going to watch what you say for a time and you are going watch even as you go home or to eat – but I guarantee you – you are going to find your tongue uncontrolled in some way today and this week. You and I need to constantly ask God to set a guard over our mouths.
5. Your tongue has the nature to compromise.
(3:9 -12) “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
Your tongue and my tongue -- its nature is to compromise. It is like a deliberate breech of trust or treachery. It can be like a wild animal – hypocritical and willing to deceive in order to achieve its own advantage. James says that with it we praise our Lord and Father - the Jewish believers identified with this statement ----- they knew this because they were used to at the end of a Jewish service there would be 18 benedictions and they would say “blessed be thou, o God.” Out of that same mouth that said those words could and would come cursing. Seems strange – but the apostle Peter cursed the Lord and Paul let his tongue loose and called the high priest a whitewash wall. Take your pen and underline what James response to that statement is – MY BROTHERS – THIS SHOULD NOT BE. Double minded speech cannot be. You cannot compromise your speech ---- holy speech is part of holy living.
When God transforms you He gives you the capacity to be transformed in your speech.
James then closes this point by three illustrations: Does a fountain send out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening? The answer is no. Can a fig tree produce olives and a vine produce figs – the answer is no and can salt water produce fresh water – no. A hateful heart cannot produce loving words and good works. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit.
Disclaimer: In the book of James and especially this section on the tongue and last weeks on faith and works – there is a tension in this letter between what is and what ought to be. In other words – this is how it will be if you are a true believer and at another point this is how you ought to be if you are a true believer. I have not given some application points in awhile – but this issue of the tongue is so vital to us --- I wrestle with my tongue and I know all of you do. What can you do to gain victory over unrighteous and careless words in your life?
Application:
* Look up verses in the bible about the tongue and your words. Write them out and put them around in your house. Do something tangible to attack old habits.
* Identify words that you speak that are careless – slang words that non believers use around you. Identify the slang words that you use to take the Lord’s name in vain. You and I are so brainwashed that we see nothing wrong with some of the words that we speak.
* Go to anyone that you have spoken words to that have been out of place. You have had no right or credibility to speak them – you have spoken carelessly to them even though you think your intentions were good – ask them to forgive you. Some of us have hurt other people and we do not even know it. When someone comes to you and confronts you --- do not defend yourself and justify and rationalize what you said. 4thly
* Give permission to another believer to get in your face about your tongue. Do not get offended when they point out to you your speech. How do you come across to others? Have you ever been so bold to ask some else if your tone of voice – your volume your facial expressions are offensive and put them on the defensive? That is a believer who is serious about glorifying God with their tongue.
#6
* We are going to have a week of fasting and prayer next month. Make that week a week dedicated to seeing God change your speech and bring your tongue under control. I guarantee you that if you set your mind to fast and pray at least one day you will see God do something in your life for your good.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Finally Alive
Finally Alive by John Piper is now available. I challenge you to
read this book where Piper deals with the issue of "What does
it mean to be born again."
Piper writes his book with the bold claim that there is a
profound mistake in our country. Piper writes on p.13
"I want to say loud and clear that when the Barna Group uses the term "born again" to describe American church-goers whose lives are indistinguishable from the world, who sin as much as the world, and sacrifice for others as little as the world, and embrace injustice as readily as the world, and covet things as greedily as the world, and enjoy God-ignoring entertainment as enthusiastically as the world - when the term born again is used to describe these professing Christians, the Barna Group is making a profound mistake. It is using the biblical term "Born Again" in a way that would make it unrecognizable by Jesus and the biblical writers." ----- I highly recommend reading Piper's book.
read this book where Piper deals with the issue of "What does
it mean to be born again."
Piper writes his book with the bold claim that there is a
profound mistake in our country. Piper writes on p.13
"I want to say loud and clear that when the Barna Group uses the term "born again" to describe American church-goers whose lives are indistinguishable from the world, who sin as much as the world, and sacrifice for others as little as the world, and embrace injustice as readily as the world, and covet things as greedily as the world, and enjoy God-ignoring entertainment as enthusiastically as the world - when the term born again is used to describe these professing Christians, the Barna Group is making a profound mistake. It is using the biblical term "Born Again" in a way that would make it unrecognizable by Jesus and the biblical writers." ----- I highly recommend reading Piper's book.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
James #7
“A Living Faith”
James #7
February 8, 2009
Pastor Ben Fleming
Turn in your bible to James chapter 2. Thank you Danny for preaching last week and covering the first part of 2nd chapter. This was my first time to see my daughter Mandy run a marathon. (PHOTOS) The second part of chapter two deals with the issue of a worthless faith verses a living faith. This is a section that many find confusing and some disagree with – some have even said that Paul teaches one thing about faith and James teaches another. A truth that James is teaching in his letter and one that we find consistent throughout the Word of God “is that what we do………. reveals who we are.” 2x You can say that you are one thing but when you never do or be that thing – you are only fooling yourself. (PHOTO) Does anyone remember Leonardo De Caprio in Catch Me If You Can? He claimed that he was an airline pilot – a teacher – a doctor and a lawyer but he was a fake in everything that he claimed to be. (BLANK)………. What we do reveals who we really are. A person who claims to be and professes Jesus Christ but who does not live a Christ-honoring – Christ obeying life is a fraud ----- Caution: We are not talking about being completely perfect and sinless. We are going to see in the section we study today… that twice James says that a person who has a worthless faith is actually spiritually dead. A person who has a dead faith cannot produce works that are truly righteous and biblical good works.
He or she gives evidence that they have a dead faith. I will address what are good works in reference to what the bible teaches --- not what man teaches and thinks. Please stand and follow along as we read James chapter 2. --- John Terry LET US PRAY
Introduction
Good works never never produces real genuine biblical faith. Satan rejoices when someone thinks that what they do is going to produce faith or some kind of favor from God in their life. That thinking conflicts with Ephesians 2:8 - 10. (look at that with me on the top of your outline)…… “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith --- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Underline NOT BY WORKS……Salvation for a person comes by faith and not by works --- seems to conflict with James. Man thinks to himself that he can do something to win God’s favor and man thinks that every good person gets saved and goes to heaven. That is the general thinking of our nation. In Romans Paul wrote in chap 1:17 “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” Martin Luther was a Catholic priest in about the year 1515 when he read that – he had been trying to please God – he had been pursing all of the religious practices and working as hard as he could to keep the letter of the religious laws – and he was in such spiritual – mental and emotional turmoil and when he read that verse – God spoke to him and his eyes and heart were opened – he went from having a religious dead faith to a genuine saving faith. That was the beginning and the birth of the reformation in Europe. Man is not saved by works – good deeds or any religious rules or ceremonies – Luther discovered in God’s Word that man is saved by faith alone. He wrote his 95 thesis to the Roman Catholic Church to rebuke their teachings and nailed it to the door of the Wittenburg Cathedral and because of the invention of the Guttenburg Press some few years before – it was published and spread all throughout Europe and the Reformation began. Ok – that was a side bar --- back to the text……….
James is writing to Jewish believers to counter the belief that merely knowing and accepting the truth about Jesus Christ is NOT the same thing as having saving faith. Again, Merely knowing and accepting the truth about Jesus Christ is NOT the same thing as having saving faith. Do not be confused by that because later in verse 19 – he says “You believe that there is one God – that’s good but the demons even believe that.” ….. Unfortunately today, it seems that in some Christian and spiritual circles today.. that merely not denying God….. is the same thing as trusting Him.
James is going to challenge that belief in his writing --- genuine saving faith produces works. Saving faith produces obedience in the life of the believer to God’s Word. Think about it…. If man could gain salvation because of what he did or how good he was – then there would cease to be any grace from God and part of man’s salvation could be credited to man but James is writing that genuine saving faith produces genuine spiritual good works.
Let’s define that…… (SLIDE) Biblical good works that comes as a result of saving faith is first and foremost repentance and obedient submission. Fill those in on your outline – Good works is repentance and obedient submission. We will look at what good works are some more. James is going to contrast a worthless faith and then a saving faith. ---- Look with me
Characteristics of a Worthless Faith
1. A worthless faith reflects an empty confession. (vs. 14 ) “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” The phrase “if a man claims” governs the entire section here. Many people claim to have faith --- most of us claim to have faith. James is not saying that the person has saving faith ------- he is saying that they claim to. They may believe the basic truths of the gospel. They believe in the existence of God. They believe in the bible – they believe in Christ and that He died on the cross and rose again. But James is saying ---- all of that is for nothing unless he or she demonstrates and shows biblical good works. Does that not astound you???? That was me for 18 years. What are those good works James is referring? Treating people right? Volunteering at Fish? Bringing food to the food pantry? Is not good works just being a good person and doing things to help other people?
Somebody who is always helping other people is a good person because they do good works. Is that not what James is talking about???? Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So – God prepared the good works and the reason God created us and chose us is to do those good works. What are they? On your outline are some examples that we have already looked at in James of those biblical good works.
(SLIDES) Endurance (1:3) Perseverance (1:12) Purity of life (1:21) Obedience to Scripture (1:22-23) Compassion for the needy (1:27) Impartiality (2:1 -13) and we are going to continue to study what James teaches are good works…. tongue control is biblical good works – humility – truthfulness and patience…… So the picture of what good works are is different than what you and I think of in our society. You can volunteer for the Little League and serve meals at FISH --- but if you have no purity of life and you do not aim to be obedient to the scriptures --- you are not demonstrating the biblical good works that James is speaking of. A believer is to show themselves to be an example of biblical good works. Genuine faith in Christ produces good works. Where there is true salvation in the life of a person God will create in the life of that person a longing to run from and turn from sin and obey what God sets down in His Word. Turn to Luke 19. I want to read the story of a man who came to saving faith. He was a religious man. He believed in God and the scriptures but he did not have saving faith. Follow along with me as I read from verse 1.
Luke 19:1 - 10 1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” 8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” ------------------ Zac obeyed Jesus --- there was a change in the man --- there was the beginning of a personal relationship with the living God and it was demonstrated through obedience and repentance and his repentance demanded restitution. Notice that we do not find that someone had to tell him what to do. Zac demonstrated a full and fruitful confession. His salvation cost him. If any man is in Christ he is a new creature – the old things are passing away ---- the new things are coming. In Acts 26:20 Paul says “repent and turn to God – and prove your repentance by your deeds.”
Paul and James agree with each other 100%. Real faith in Jesus Christ produces real good works. Now let me give you another example of this:……………. Acts 19:18 “ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of them, the total came to 50k dracmas. Salvation produced action. Salvation produced obedience and those with a new saving faith turned from their false gods. 1 Thess 1:9 says the new believers turned from idols to the living and true God.
It is not right to think that a new believer understands and knows everything they should believe and how they should live ---- we cannot say and think a guy or gal comes to Christ and makes a 180 degree turn --- they stop all sin and ungodliness and live a perfect life ---- FALSE ---- WRONG ---- But you can say that a person who does has saving faith has an immediate understanding and sensitivity…….. to a degree to the things of God and it grows and grows and grows.
2. A Worthless faith reflects a false compassion. (vs.15 -17) “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it. In the same way, faith by itself, if it not accompanied by action, is dead.”
So --- you can say that you have faith but if you have no compassion for others --- you have a worthless faith. To James --- words of compassion without corresponding acts of compassion is a false faith . We say --- “put your money where your mouth is” ---- but even today ---- I think what James is saying is “put your time where your mouth is.” You can claim to be a compassionate believer - but if you cannot make the time for people in need you really do not have genuine compassion. James is specifically talking here about someone in a church family. “Suppose a brother or sister (Christian) is without clothes and daily food – if one of you says to him – go I wish you well – keep warm and well fed – but does nothing about his physical needs – what good is it? How is this possible today? People come to church and do not let other people know what their needs are ---we are private and proud --- we just do not get close to people. To let someone else know my needs is humbling and embarrassing and yet 1 John 3:17 says “whoever has the world’s goods and see his brother in need and closes his heart against him – how does the love of God abide in him.”
How do we have a genuine compassion that is demonstrated by corresponding acts of compassion?? It must have been easy during the time that James was writing. People were poor ---- people were in need and they definitely did not look to the government to bail them out ---- James says that real faith has compassion demonstrated by acts of compassion. Real compassion is one demonstration of genuine salvation.
Story: The story is told of a European queen who left her coachman outside during the winter waiting on her while she attended the theater. The play she saw was so heart wrenching that she sobbed through the entire performance. When she returned to her carriage she discovered that her coachman had frozen to death and she did not shed one tear……. This is what was happening during the time that James was writing. Do we not find this as well during our time when the TV show 2020 can take you anywhere in the world and see suffering everywhere but we overlook it right in front of our faces. A REAL FAITH REFLECTS A GENUINE COMPASSION.
3. A Worthless faith reflects a shallow conviction. (vs. 18-20) “But someone will say, “You have faith, I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good. Even the demons believe that and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” A third characteristic of a dead faith is a shallow conviction. James is saying that when we recognize certain facts about God and His Word and we do not submit to either of them we simply are demonstrating that we have little conviction. It is like the person who hears God’s Word and hears others teach about God’s Word but when it comes to obeying and doing what is pleasing to God --- he or she thinks that God is love and God will overlook what I do – it is that attitude that thinks God will overlook my disobedience.
Encouragement: Every true Christian has times of unfaithfulness, sin and dryness. It is during those times that you are in danger of loosing an assurance of your salvation. BUT – security of ones salvation is eternal and permanent – but your assurance can fluctuate ---- you are an emotional person. When that does happen to you and it will --- look at your obedience and ask yourself where you need to be obedient to God in your life. Obedience is a choice and many times it is painful. Back to the text… vs. 19…..
There seems to be a touch of sarcasm in James writing here. “You believe there is one God - good – even the demons believe that.” Notice that James is writing about what the demons believe about God and he is comparing the demons to what some of them were believing. Just because a person believes what is right and true about God does not guarantee that person has saving faith. James is saying that demons are right in what they believe about God and the Bible. They know God is one and they know the Scriptures are the Word of God – but there is no conviction – there is no obedience to the Word of God – they have a worthless belief. James is again writing here that real saving faith produces real conviction and that conviction is demonstrated by biblical good works in the life of that person. Keep going back to your outline and review what biblical good works are. I know I have had to…. We are God’s workmanship – created by God to do good works and walk in them. A real faith is a deep conviction to walk in those good works.
Ok – James has hammered what a worthless faith is – in the next 6 verses he writes about what real saving faith is by reminding these Jewish believers of two people from the past that every one of them would have known about.
Examples of a Saving Faith
* Abraham (PHOTO). vs. (21 – 24) “was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” (blank)
Martin Luther read this and completely dismissed James writing and called it an “epistle of straw”. He was so against the Catholic Churches teaching that salvation came through works that he could not see that James was not talking about the means of salvation but the outcome of salvation. Abraham believed God and that believing God was demonstrated as he took his son to the top of the mountain and took a knife and firewood and went so far as to lay his son on the altar --- his action came from his belief. Do not miss that James says that as a result of his action he was called a friend of God. When you endure – you are a friend of God – when you persevere under trial you are a friend of God – when you pursue purity in your life you are a friend of God – when you are obedient to the Word of God – you are a friend of God – when you are impartial – you are a friend of God – when you demonstrate compassion you are a friend of God – when you control your tongue – you are a friend of God. This is why Jesus said in John 15:14 “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.”
* Rahab (PHOTO) vs. (25-26) “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” It is amazing that James chooses to close this section with this example of a person who believed God and demonstrated that belief through genuine good works. Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute. Abraham was a Jews and a moral man. Abraham was a noble Chaldean and Rahab was a degraded Canaanite. He was a leader and she was a common citizen. Rahab was an innkeeper in Jericho and Joshua sent two spies into the city to spy on it before the Jews were going to attack. Her inn was on the city wall and it did not require the men to go far into the city – she hid the men when the King of Jericho heard about them and sent officials to arrest them. The book of Joshua records what she said to these men. Joshua chapter 2:9 -12 “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you…. vs 11 when we hear of it our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in haven and on the earth below. --- she hid the men and then let them down the wall and they told her to tie a scarlet cord in her window when the Jews came to attack the city and she would be spared.
God did not honor her lying and her gross sin of prostitution stunk to God but when she had the opportunity to demonstrate her faith in the Lord --- she placed her life on the line – if the King had discovered what she did – her entire family would have been executed for treason. Rhab’s faith was demonstrated through actions – saving – believing faith resulted in real genuine good works. Both Abraham and Rahab did not possess or own a bible. They had no Christian radio – Rahab had no background or teaching of the Jewish God the Lord and yet ---- they both demonstrated true genuine saving faith because they demonstrated good works.
God chooses good people to believe in Him and produce genuine biblical good works and God chooses wicked people to believe in Him and produce genuine biblical good works.
Challenge: So – I challenge you to day to take the words of James to heart. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Cor 13:5 “Test yourself to see if you are in the faith – examine yourself.” If you do not like what you see – if you have never come to Jesus – would you come today? If you have seen real biblical good works in your life in the past but right now you feel dry and distant from God and you even doubt your salvation ---- examine your obedience. Where in your are you disobedient to God? Obedience to God is not always easy ---- most of the time it is painful and requires you to humble yourself and sacrifice.
Let us pray: ET prays
James #7
February 8, 2009
Pastor Ben Fleming
Turn in your bible to James chapter 2. Thank you Danny for preaching last week and covering the first part of 2nd chapter. This was my first time to see my daughter Mandy run a marathon. (PHOTOS) The second part of chapter two deals with the issue of a worthless faith verses a living faith. This is a section that many find confusing and some disagree with – some have even said that Paul teaches one thing about faith and James teaches another. A truth that James is teaching in his letter and one that we find consistent throughout the Word of God “is that what we do………. reveals who we are.” 2x You can say that you are one thing but when you never do or be that thing – you are only fooling yourself. (PHOTO) Does anyone remember Leonardo De Caprio in Catch Me If You Can? He claimed that he was an airline pilot – a teacher – a doctor and a lawyer but he was a fake in everything that he claimed to be. (BLANK)………. What we do reveals who we really are. A person who claims to be and professes Jesus Christ but who does not live a Christ-honoring – Christ obeying life is a fraud ----- Caution: We are not talking about being completely perfect and sinless. We are going to see in the section we study today… that twice James says that a person who has a worthless faith is actually spiritually dead. A person who has a dead faith cannot produce works that are truly righteous and biblical good works.
He or she gives evidence that they have a dead faith. I will address what are good works in reference to what the bible teaches --- not what man teaches and thinks. Please stand and follow along as we read James chapter 2. --- John Terry LET US PRAY
Introduction
Good works never never produces real genuine biblical faith. Satan rejoices when someone thinks that what they do is going to produce faith or some kind of favor from God in their life. That thinking conflicts with Ephesians 2:8 - 10. (look at that with me on the top of your outline)…… “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith --- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Underline NOT BY WORKS……Salvation for a person comes by faith and not by works --- seems to conflict with James. Man thinks to himself that he can do something to win God’s favor and man thinks that every good person gets saved and goes to heaven. That is the general thinking of our nation. In Romans Paul wrote in chap 1:17 “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” Martin Luther was a Catholic priest in about the year 1515 when he read that – he had been trying to please God – he had been pursing all of the religious practices and working as hard as he could to keep the letter of the religious laws – and he was in such spiritual – mental and emotional turmoil and when he read that verse – God spoke to him and his eyes and heart were opened – he went from having a religious dead faith to a genuine saving faith. That was the beginning and the birth of the reformation in Europe. Man is not saved by works – good deeds or any religious rules or ceremonies – Luther discovered in God’s Word that man is saved by faith alone. He wrote his 95 thesis to the Roman Catholic Church to rebuke their teachings and nailed it to the door of the Wittenburg Cathedral and because of the invention of the Guttenburg Press some few years before – it was published and spread all throughout Europe and the Reformation began. Ok – that was a side bar --- back to the text……….
James is writing to Jewish believers to counter the belief that merely knowing and accepting the truth about Jesus Christ is NOT the same thing as having saving faith. Again, Merely knowing and accepting the truth about Jesus Christ is NOT the same thing as having saving faith. Do not be confused by that because later in verse 19 – he says “You believe that there is one God – that’s good but the demons even believe that.” ….. Unfortunately today, it seems that in some Christian and spiritual circles today.. that merely not denying God….. is the same thing as trusting Him.
James is going to challenge that belief in his writing --- genuine saving faith produces works. Saving faith produces obedience in the life of the believer to God’s Word. Think about it…. If man could gain salvation because of what he did or how good he was – then there would cease to be any grace from God and part of man’s salvation could be credited to man but James is writing that genuine saving faith produces genuine spiritual good works.
Let’s define that…… (SLIDE) Biblical good works that comes as a result of saving faith is first and foremost repentance and obedient submission. Fill those in on your outline – Good works is repentance and obedient submission. We will look at what good works are some more. James is going to contrast a worthless faith and then a saving faith. ---- Look with me
Characteristics of a Worthless Faith
1. A worthless faith reflects an empty confession. (vs. 14 ) “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” The phrase “if a man claims” governs the entire section here. Many people claim to have faith --- most of us claim to have faith. James is not saying that the person has saving faith ------- he is saying that they claim to. They may believe the basic truths of the gospel. They believe in the existence of God. They believe in the bible – they believe in Christ and that He died on the cross and rose again. But James is saying ---- all of that is for nothing unless he or she demonstrates and shows biblical good works. Does that not astound you???? That was me for 18 years. What are those good works James is referring? Treating people right? Volunteering at Fish? Bringing food to the food pantry? Is not good works just being a good person and doing things to help other people?
Somebody who is always helping other people is a good person because they do good works. Is that not what James is talking about???? Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So – God prepared the good works and the reason God created us and chose us is to do those good works. What are they? On your outline are some examples that we have already looked at in James of those biblical good works.
(SLIDES) Endurance (1:3) Perseverance (1:12) Purity of life (1:21) Obedience to Scripture (1:22-23) Compassion for the needy (1:27) Impartiality (2:1 -13) and we are going to continue to study what James teaches are good works…. tongue control is biblical good works – humility – truthfulness and patience…… So the picture of what good works are is different than what you and I think of in our society. You can volunteer for the Little League and serve meals at FISH --- but if you have no purity of life and you do not aim to be obedient to the scriptures --- you are not demonstrating the biblical good works that James is speaking of. A believer is to show themselves to be an example of biblical good works. Genuine faith in Christ produces good works. Where there is true salvation in the life of a person God will create in the life of that person a longing to run from and turn from sin and obey what God sets down in His Word. Turn to Luke 19. I want to read the story of a man who came to saving faith. He was a religious man. He believed in God and the scriptures but he did not have saving faith. Follow along with me as I read from verse 1.
Luke 19:1 - 10 1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” 8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” ------------------ Zac obeyed Jesus --- there was a change in the man --- there was the beginning of a personal relationship with the living God and it was demonstrated through obedience and repentance and his repentance demanded restitution. Notice that we do not find that someone had to tell him what to do. Zac demonstrated a full and fruitful confession. His salvation cost him. If any man is in Christ he is a new creature – the old things are passing away ---- the new things are coming. In Acts 26:20 Paul says “repent and turn to God – and prove your repentance by your deeds.”
Paul and James agree with each other 100%. Real faith in Jesus Christ produces real good works. Now let me give you another example of this:……………. Acts 19:18 “ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of them, the total came to 50k dracmas. Salvation produced action. Salvation produced obedience and those with a new saving faith turned from their false gods. 1 Thess 1:9 says the new believers turned from idols to the living and true God.
It is not right to think that a new believer understands and knows everything they should believe and how they should live ---- we cannot say and think a guy or gal comes to Christ and makes a 180 degree turn --- they stop all sin and ungodliness and live a perfect life ---- FALSE ---- WRONG ---- But you can say that a person who does has saving faith has an immediate understanding and sensitivity…….. to a degree to the things of God and it grows and grows and grows.
2. A Worthless faith reflects a false compassion. (vs.15 -17) “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it. In the same way, faith by itself, if it not accompanied by action, is dead.”
So --- you can say that you have faith but if you have no compassion for others --- you have a worthless faith. To James --- words of compassion without corresponding acts of compassion is a false faith . We say --- “put your money where your mouth is” ---- but even today ---- I think what James is saying is “put your time where your mouth is.” You can claim to be a compassionate believer - but if you cannot make the time for people in need you really do not have genuine compassion. James is specifically talking here about someone in a church family. “Suppose a brother or sister (Christian) is without clothes and daily food – if one of you says to him – go I wish you well – keep warm and well fed – but does nothing about his physical needs – what good is it? How is this possible today? People come to church and do not let other people know what their needs are ---we are private and proud --- we just do not get close to people. To let someone else know my needs is humbling and embarrassing and yet 1 John 3:17 says “whoever has the world’s goods and see his brother in need and closes his heart against him – how does the love of God abide in him.”
How do we have a genuine compassion that is demonstrated by corresponding acts of compassion?? It must have been easy during the time that James was writing. People were poor ---- people were in need and they definitely did not look to the government to bail them out ---- James says that real faith has compassion demonstrated by acts of compassion. Real compassion is one demonstration of genuine salvation.
Story: The story is told of a European queen who left her coachman outside during the winter waiting on her while she attended the theater. The play she saw was so heart wrenching that she sobbed through the entire performance. When she returned to her carriage she discovered that her coachman had frozen to death and she did not shed one tear……. This is what was happening during the time that James was writing. Do we not find this as well during our time when the TV show 2020 can take you anywhere in the world and see suffering everywhere but we overlook it right in front of our faces. A REAL FAITH REFLECTS A GENUINE COMPASSION.
3. A Worthless faith reflects a shallow conviction. (vs. 18-20) “But someone will say, “You have faith, I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good. Even the demons believe that and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” A third characteristic of a dead faith is a shallow conviction. James is saying that when we recognize certain facts about God and His Word and we do not submit to either of them we simply are demonstrating that we have little conviction. It is like the person who hears God’s Word and hears others teach about God’s Word but when it comes to obeying and doing what is pleasing to God --- he or she thinks that God is love and God will overlook what I do – it is that attitude that thinks God will overlook my disobedience.
Encouragement: Every true Christian has times of unfaithfulness, sin and dryness. It is during those times that you are in danger of loosing an assurance of your salvation. BUT – security of ones salvation is eternal and permanent – but your assurance can fluctuate ---- you are an emotional person. When that does happen to you and it will --- look at your obedience and ask yourself where you need to be obedient to God in your life. Obedience is a choice and many times it is painful. Back to the text… vs. 19…..
There seems to be a touch of sarcasm in James writing here. “You believe there is one God - good – even the demons believe that.” Notice that James is writing about what the demons believe about God and he is comparing the demons to what some of them were believing. Just because a person believes what is right and true about God does not guarantee that person has saving faith. James is saying that demons are right in what they believe about God and the Bible. They know God is one and they know the Scriptures are the Word of God – but there is no conviction – there is no obedience to the Word of God – they have a worthless belief. James is again writing here that real saving faith produces real conviction and that conviction is demonstrated by biblical good works in the life of that person. Keep going back to your outline and review what biblical good works are. I know I have had to…. We are God’s workmanship – created by God to do good works and walk in them. A real faith is a deep conviction to walk in those good works.
Ok – James has hammered what a worthless faith is – in the next 6 verses he writes about what real saving faith is by reminding these Jewish believers of two people from the past that every one of them would have known about.
Examples of a Saving Faith
* Abraham (PHOTO). vs. (21 – 24) “was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” (blank)
Martin Luther read this and completely dismissed James writing and called it an “epistle of straw”. He was so against the Catholic Churches teaching that salvation came through works that he could not see that James was not talking about the means of salvation but the outcome of salvation. Abraham believed God and that believing God was demonstrated as he took his son to the top of the mountain and took a knife and firewood and went so far as to lay his son on the altar --- his action came from his belief. Do not miss that James says that as a result of his action he was called a friend of God. When you endure – you are a friend of God – when you persevere under trial you are a friend of God – when you pursue purity in your life you are a friend of God – when you are obedient to the Word of God – you are a friend of God – when you are impartial – you are a friend of God – when you demonstrate compassion you are a friend of God – when you control your tongue – you are a friend of God. This is why Jesus said in John 15:14 “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.”
* Rahab (PHOTO) vs. (25-26) “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” It is amazing that James chooses to close this section with this example of a person who believed God and demonstrated that belief through genuine good works. Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute. Abraham was a Jews and a moral man. Abraham was a noble Chaldean and Rahab was a degraded Canaanite. He was a leader and she was a common citizen. Rahab was an innkeeper in Jericho and Joshua sent two spies into the city to spy on it before the Jews were going to attack. Her inn was on the city wall and it did not require the men to go far into the city – she hid the men when the King of Jericho heard about them and sent officials to arrest them. The book of Joshua records what she said to these men. Joshua chapter 2:9 -12 “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you…. vs 11 when we hear of it our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in haven and on the earth below. --- she hid the men and then let them down the wall and they told her to tie a scarlet cord in her window when the Jews came to attack the city and she would be spared.
God did not honor her lying and her gross sin of prostitution stunk to God but when she had the opportunity to demonstrate her faith in the Lord --- she placed her life on the line – if the King had discovered what she did – her entire family would have been executed for treason. Rhab’s faith was demonstrated through actions – saving – believing faith resulted in real genuine good works. Both Abraham and Rahab did not possess or own a bible. They had no Christian radio – Rahab had no background or teaching of the Jewish God the Lord and yet ---- they both demonstrated true genuine saving faith because they demonstrated good works.
God chooses good people to believe in Him and produce genuine biblical good works and God chooses wicked people to believe in Him and produce genuine biblical good works.
Challenge: So – I challenge you to day to take the words of James to heart. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Cor 13:5 “Test yourself to see if you are in the faith – examine yourself.” If you do not like what you see – if you have never come to Jesus – would you come today? If you have seen real biblical good works in your life in the past but right now you feel dry and distant from God and you even doubt your salvation ---- examine your obedience. Where in your are you disobedient to God? Obedience to God is not always easy ---- most of the time it is painful and requires you to humble yourself and sacrifice.
Let us pray: ET prays
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
James # 6
“A Living Faith”
James 1:22-27
January 25, 2009
Pastor Ben Fleming
Last week we spoke about receiving the Word of God. If you are going to truly receive the Word of God then there has to be submission in your life. James says that submission is shown in our lives by being quick to hear – slow to speak and slow to become angry. And he writes that you cannot receive the Word of God and have no concern in your life for purity. Some one may hear the Word of God but they do not receive it because they do not have a teachable spirit. I have read the Word of God this week several hours and I have listened to 4 messages on the radio --- I have wondered and thought to myself --- did I really receive the Word of God? Was there submission in my life? Is there sin in my life that I am ignoring? Am I humble? Can I honestly say that I have a teachable spirit? Receive the Word of Truth.
When you look in a mirror do you like what you see?????? Some of us have to look in a mirror to see if we have anything in our teeth. Some of us look in a mirror to shave I think women spend more time looking in a mirror than men and I am thankful for that. What do you think God sees in you when you look in the mirror of your Christian life???? It is not enough just to receive the Word of God but our response and obedience to the Word of God is essential. John Calvin wrote, “obedience is the mother of true knowledge”. You do not really know God unless you obey God. The more you obey God – the deeper your knowledge of God becomes. You can think you know God and you know about God but you only really know God when you obey the Word of God. Bruce Barton wrote a strong statement when he said, “passive Christianity is morally wrong.” When we consistently disobey God’s Word we give evidence to ourselves and to others that we are living a life without the spirit of God within us….. Obedience to God’s Word is the most basic bottom line of what it means to be a true believer – we do not believe just a one time… pray a prayer or stop a sin in your life for a short time but a long term obedience to God’s Word. John 8:31 “To the Jews who had believed in Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples.” Last week James tells the believers that they must pay attention to how they receive the Word of God. How do you hear the truth that God gives to us? James said that you have to receive God’s Word with submission in your life. He said that you and I must be quick to hear – slow to speak and slow to become angry….. Have you been submissive to God’s Word this week??? James says that we must receive the Word of God with purity in our lives. Progress in our spiritual lives cannot be made when we do not see sin for what it really is. We must rid ourselves of anger – rage – malice – slander and filthy language. How are you doing? Purity does not just happen…. it is a pursuit that we must have as a passion. And then James said – we must receive God’s Word with humility. We discovered that the word humility was not the word that James wrote – it was the word prautes – which the best translation of it was a teachable spirit……….. what can you do to cultivate a teachable spirit in your life? A teachable spirit enables you to receive God’s Word. When you genuinely receive God’s Word -- James says there is a response. This is where we are this morning … examining how we respond to God’s Word when we receive it. Stand this morning without your bible open and hear the Word of God. James 1
(Verse 22) James writes – “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” A more literal translation of what James wrote would be “prove yourself” a doer of the Word. Write it in on your outline: Prove yourself = to be continual, keep on striving. Who are you to prove yourself to? Yourself. Be a doer of what you hear. Prove to yourself that you are a hearer of God’s Word. Unfortunately, there are those who sit in churches and hear CD tapes and preaching on the radio and TV who can become so puffed up with their knowledge of God…. they become so self satisfied that they do not live out what they hear. They do not prove themselves. James says that we must be people of God who do and live out what we hear in the Word of God. The NIV tends to take away from the translation “ do not be a hearer of the Word of God”.
James used the word akroates – in Greek it meant someone who sat passively in an audience listening to a singer or a speaker. Today --- when you audit a class in college – you simply listen and attend the class but you do not do any outside work. You do not write a paper or take a test. You are never held accountable for what you hear. So – James is saying – do not be an auditor of the Word of God – he is saying take the test – do the homework – do the study. Put into practice what you hear. Have you been auditing the Word of God????? Obedience to the Word of God is a visible measure of true discipleship. Jesus said in John 15:4 “You are My friends if you do what I command you. 1 John 2:3 “He who does not love Me (Jesus), does not keep My words” and the one who says, I have come to know Him and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in Him.” So --- the question today is…
How do You Respond to the Word of God?
1. You must be willing to respond to God’s Word without deception. (vs.22 - 26) “do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.’
Nobody likes to be deceived. I recently bought a dryer on Craig’s list – tested it and when I went to install it the dryer seal came right off. I have been deceived by people before and even by Christians but this is not what James is talking about……………………When a professing Christian hears the Word of God. That can come on a Sunday morning – you can hear it on the radio or you can sit down an read it yourself. When you hear it and you do not obey what you hear…… you and I make a serious miscalculation. James says that we deceive ourselves. We are deluded. You may deceive yourself once or you can keep on deceiving yourself.
James says “If anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks into his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” In New Testament times --- mirrors were made of highly polished brass or bronze – but a wealthy person could buy one made from silver or gold. Those mirrors gave a dim or distorted reflection of the person using them but if you were careful turning the mirror and had the right light you could get a picture of what you looked like. James is saying that we as a believer when we hear the Word God we are seeing what we look like in God’s eyes but when we go and turn and forget what we look like we are deceived. Look what James contrasts that person with in verse 25.
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law (God’s Word) that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” The way he wrote the words “look intently” --- meant to bend over and carefully examine something from the clearest vantage point. It meant to have the best seats in the house. Luke uses the same words when he described Peter looking intently into the tomb of Jesus. James is saying that as believers – we are to look intently into the Word of God and when we look intently….. we obey what we see….. And then James says that we will be blessed in what we do. So how do you look at the Word of God? Do you give it a brief glance or do you look intently at it from many vantage points?
James says “do not be deceived in verse 22” in verse 26 – he says we deceive ourselves. How does deception happen in our lives? Some one else does not deceive us – he is not talking about Satan deceiving us. He is referring to how we as humans deceive ourselves. Let me give you a few examples:
A. We deceive ourselves when we refuse to forgive and we attempt to justify holding onto the past even when we were hurt very deeply.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” We are told to forgive in the same way that God has forgiven us --- when do not we deceive ourselves – we forget what we saw in the mirror of the perfect law – the law of liberty.
In Philippians Paul says, “one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “ Believers who live in the past – who live in past wrongs and hurts….. never press on toward the goal for which God has called them. They remain deceived because they do not forget a wrong ---- that wrong comes out of their mouth again to the person who wronged them or to someone else or they wall off that person from their life. They deceive themselves.
B. We deceive ourselves when we see no reason to submit to a spiritual authority and obey spiritual leaders instructions – we say to ourselves I can handle it – “that is their opinion and there really is nothing wrong with the way I am doing what I am doing.”
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” James says that when we do not look at the Word of God intently we deceive ourselves.
C. We deceive ourselves when we think we have to have it . We are not content and we believe we deserve it. We say to ourselves we deserve it and I can make 12 easy payments and there is no interest charges.
Philippians 4:11 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content.” God wants His people to be content with what they have and not presume material possessions that they cannot afford and they have not saved for in advance. Many many believers have allowed themselves to be deceived in this manner and suffer the pain that comes with it.
D. We deceive ourselves when do not care about spiritual purity. “It is just a lunch, there is nothing wrong with having lunch with her – she is my friend – I do not care what people will think.” And yet the Word of God – the Law of Liberty as James puts it says in:
Ephesians 5:3 “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity…” I believe that most teenagers and young adults battle obeying this command. It is so easy today to justify and rationalize what we do and how dare someone else think that there is a hint of sexual immorality in my life because of what I am doing. James says --- the man or woman who looks into the perfect law – the law of liberty and abides by it will be blessed in what he or she does. Sexual immorality has done perhaps more to deceive believers than any other sin. We overlook – we ignore – we say nothing – we rationalize and justify. I have given you four examples of how believers hear the Word of God and then allow themselves to be deceived by not obeying the Word of God. James gives us one more in verse 26 – which we will spend an entire message on when we get to chapter 3.
E. We deceive ourselves when we do not control what we say. (vs.26) “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
The tongue is not the only indicator of true spiritual maturity… but it is one of the most reliable. It has been estimated that the average person will speak some 18,000 words in a day – enough to fill a 54 page book – many people speak more than that…. especially women – 1/5 of your life is spent talking. If the tongue is not controlled by God it is a sure indicator that the heart is not. Jesus said to the religious leaders in Matthew.
Matthew 12:34 - 37 “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
What we say and how we say what we say and when we say it is crucial. Every believer has got to become a word smith. Every godly wife and every godly girl has got to become gifted in controlling their words as much as they are looking in the mirror and checking their hair. Every godly man has got to put a pipe wrench on his mouth. How many times this past week have you used a curse word or how many times have you provoked your children to anger by your words? WE MUST RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD WITHOUT DECIEVING OURSELVES.
2. Be willing to respond without selfishness. (vs. 27a) “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..”
During the time of James there were many widows and orphans. James is simply saying that if we are really responding to the Word of God then we have to have a genuine concern for the welfare of others ---- especially those in great need. Jesus says that we have to serve them with love and great compassion. Now – there are some of you in this church family who have caught that. We have a half empty pantry that you all have filled and someone in need was able to benefit from that. We have gotten involved in helping others in our church family with places to stay. It is one thing to go out into the community of Carson City and find a homeless person on the street and give them money or food ---- and I have done that ----- but it is another thing to be actively involved in the lives of those in our church family who are in need. All of this that I do --- I do because of my response to the Word of God ---- this what James is saying. When we look out for those in our church family who are in distress we do it out of our passion for God ------ we do not do it to get anything from God or to prove to God anything. Chapter two is going give us an entire message focused on this issue of faith and deeds. I have to say that twice in the past 6 months ---- an elderly widow in our church family on social security has brought food to our church pantry twice. She has caught what James is talking about here – even though she herself is a widow and should be on the receiving end. BE WILLING TO RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD WITHOUT SELFISHNESS
3. Be willing to respond without compromise.(vs.27b) “and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” If we are polluted by the world then we are going to compromise. The Word of God is black and white ---- there are no gray areas in it ----- what I mean is that it does not change according to the circumstances ---- but when we are polluted by the world we will compromise. When we hear the word of God we will bend it. We will make it conform to how we have been polluted. You might not think of yourself as polluted --- the New American Standard perhaps translated James words better. “Keep oneself from being unstained by the world.”
Now – no believer is ever perfect and sinless. This is not what James is talking about. James is telling us if we are going to respond to the Word of God we cannot allow the world to control how we view and apply God’s Word to our lives. How does the world stain us? I believe there are 4 major ways – briefly…
* Money. We view money in light of how the world views it. We use money in light of how the world uses it. We do not see money the way God sees money. We easily fall into credit and become the lenders slave. We easily rob God and find any excuse we can not to be a giver. Its our money – we have bills and we have to pay those bills. We have taken the conditions and promises of God concerning money and we turn them and compromise them. To remove the stain – God’s people have to repent and produce month after month …obedience to God’s Word. How are we stained??
* Sexuality. God’s people have taken sexual purity and put it at the bottom. We compromise and we see gray. God’s see sexuality as black and white. Sex is good and it is created by God for enjoyment within the marriage covenant. To remove the stain – God’s people have got to pursue sexual purity with a passion and repent from their compromising ways. 3rd way we are stained
* Submission verses Rebellion. God’s Word tells us that there is an authority structure in His Word. God’s people are to submit to it. The children are to submit to the parents. The wife is to submit to the husband. The family is to submit to a local church shepherd. The church is to submit to the government and everyone is to submit to God. Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft. It is demonic. It brings compromise into the life of any believer. We have to repent and produce deeds of repentance. What acts of submission have you done or are you doing in your life?
* Rights. The world has certainly stained us here. We believe like everyone else that we have rights and that no one must take them away or treat us a certain and we are going to anything and everything to watch out for our rights ---- but the bible tells us that a believer has no rights. The bible conflicts with our countries declaration of independence – “we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain- unalienable rights.” God’s Word tells us that we have no rights and we are slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. “ We must pray and ask God to give us what Paul told us – we must consider others better than ourselves and we must look out for the interests of others.
Close with video clip: The Word of God works in a persons life. It might not be right away and there might be some pain that a person goes through – but it works – it saves and it changes and it heals. Watch this testimony with me:
Let us pray: Dan
James 1:22-27
January 25, 2009
Pastor Ben Fleming
Last week we spoke about receiving the Word of God. If you are going to truly receive the Word of God then there has to be submission in your life. James says that submission is shown in our lives by being quick to hear – slow to speak and slow to become angry. And he writes that you cannot receive the Word of God and have no concern in your life for purity. Some one may hear the Word of God but they do not receive it because they do not have a teachable spirit. I have read the Word of God this week several hours and I have listened to 4 messages on the radio --- I have wondered and thought to myself --- did I really receive the Word of God? Was there submission in my life? Is there sin in my life that I am ignoring? Am I humble? Can I honestly say that I have a teachable spirit? Receive the Word of Truth.
When you look in a mirror do you like what you see?????? Some of us have to look in a mirror to see if we have anything in our teeth. Some of us look in a mirror to shave I think women spend more time looking in a mirror than men and I am thankful for that. What do you think God sees in you when you look in the mirror of your Christian life???? It is not enough just to receive the Word of God but our response and obedience to the Word of God is essential. John Calvin wrote, “obedience is the mother of true knowledge”. You do not really know God unless you obey God. The more you obey God – the deeper your knowledge of God becomes. You can think you know God and you know about God but you only really know God when you obey the Word of God. Bruce Barton wrote a strong statement when he said, “passive Christianity is morally wrong.” When we consistently disobey God’s Word we give evidence to ourselves and to others that we are living a life without the spirit of God within us….. Obedience to God’s Word is the most basic bottom line of what it means to be a true believer – we do not believe just a one time… pray a prayer or stop a sin in your life for a short time but a long term obedience to God’s Word. John 8:31 “To the Jews who had believed in Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples.” Last week James tells the believers that they must pay attention to how they receive the Word of God. How do you hear the truth that God gives to us? James said that you have to receive God’s Word with submission in your life. He said that you and I must be quick to hear – slow to speak and slow to become angry….. Have you been submissive to God’s Word this week??? James says that we must receive the Word of God with purity in our lives. Progress in our spiritual lives cannot be made when we do not see sin for what it really is. We must rid ourselves of anger – rage – malice – slander and filthy language. How are you doing? Purity does not just happen…. it is a pursuit that we must have as a passion. And then James said – we must receive God’s Word with humility. We discovered that the word humility was not the word that James wrote – it was the word prautes – which the best translation of it was a teachable spirit……….. what can you do to cultivate a teachable spirit in your life? A teachable spirit enables you to receive God’s Word. When you genuinely receive God’s Word -- James says there is a response. This is where we are this morning … examining how we respond to God’s Word when we receive it. Stand this morning without your bible open and hear the Word of God. James 1
(Verse 22) James writes – “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” A more literal translation of what James wrote would be “prove yourself” a doer of the Word. Write it in on your outline: Prove yourself = to be continual, keep on striving. Who are you to prove yourself to? Yourself. Be a doer of what you hear. Prove to yourself that you are a hearer of God’s Word. Unfortunately, there are those who sit in churches and hear CD tapes and preaching on the radio and TV who can become so puffed up with their knowledge of God…. they become so self satisfied that they do not live out what they hear. They do not prove themselves. James says that we must be people of God who do and live out what we hear in the Word of God. The NIV tends to take away from the translation “ do not be a hearer of the Word of God”.
James used the word akroates – in Greek it meant someone who sat passively in an audience listening to a singer or a speaker. Today --- when you audit a class in college – you simply listen and attend the class but you do not do any outside work. You do not write a paper or take a test. You are never held accountable for what you hear. So – James is saying – do not be an auditor of the Word of God – he is saying take the test – do the homework – do the study. Put into practice what you hear. Have you been auditing the Word of God????? Obedience to the Word of God is a visible measure of true discipleship. Jesus said in John 15:4 “You are My friends if you do what I command you. 1 John 2:3 “He who does not love Me (Jesus), does not keep My words” and the one who says, I have come to know Him and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in Him.” So --- the question today is…
How do You Respond to the Word of God?
1. You must be willing to respond to God’s Word without deception. (vs.22 - 26) “do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.’
Nobody likes to be deceived. I recently bought a dryer on Craig’s list – tested it and when I went to install it the dryer seal came right off. I have been deceived by people before and even by Christians but this is not what James is talking about……………………When a professing Christian hears the Word of God. That can come on a Sunday morning – you can hear it on the radio or you can sit down an read it yourself. When you hear it and you do not obey what you hear…… you and I make a serious miscalculation. James says that we deceive ourselves. We are deluded. You may deceive yourself once or you can keep on deceiving yourself.
James says “If anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks into his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” In New Testament times --- mirrors were made of highly polished brass or bronze – but a wealthy person could buy one made from silver or gold. Those mirrors gave a dim or distorted reflection of the person using them but if you were careful turning the mirror and had the right light you could get a picture of what you looked like. James is saying that we as a believer when we hear the Word God we are seeing what we look like in God’s eyes but when we go and turn and forget what we look like we are deceived. Look what James contrasts that person with in verse 25.
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law (God’s Word) that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” The way he wrote the words “look intently” --- meant to bend over and carefully examine something from the clearest vantage point. It meant to have the best seats in the house. Luke uses the same words when he described Peter looking intently into the tomb of Jesus. James is saying that as believers – we are to look intently into the Word of God and when we look intently….. we obey what we see….. And then James says that we will be blessed in what we do. So how do you look at the Word of God? Do you give it a brief glance or do you look intently at it from many vantage points?
James says “do not be deceived in verse 22” in verse 26 – he says we deceive ourselves. How does deception happen in our lives? Some one else does not deceive us – he is not talking about Satan deceiving us. He is referring to how we as humans deceive ourselves. Let me give you a few examples:
A. We deceive ourselves when we refuse to forgive and we attempt to justify holding onto the past even when we were hurt very deeply.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” We are told to forgive in the same way that God has forgiven us --- when do not we deceive ourselves – we forget what we saw in the mirror of the perfect law – the law of liberty.
In Philippians Paul says, “one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “ Believers who live in the past – who live in past wrongs and hurts….. never press on toward the goal for which God has called them. They remain deceived because they do not forget a wrong ---- that wrong comes out of their mouth again to the person who wronged them or to someone else or they wall off that person from their life. They deceive themselves.
B. We deceive ourselves when we see no reason to submit to a spiritual authority and obey spiritual leaders instructions – we say to ourselves I can handle it – “that is their opinion and there really is nothing wrong with the way I am doing what I am doing.”
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” James says that when we do not look at the Word of God intently we deceive ourselves.
C. We deceive ourselves when we think we have to have it . We are not content and we believe we deserve it. We say to ourselves we deserve it and I can make 12 easy payments and there is no interest charges.
Philippians 4:11 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content.” God wants His people to be content with what they have and not presume material possessions that they cannot afford and they have not saved for in advance. Many many believers have allowed themselves to be deceived in this manner and suffer the pain that comes with it.
D. We deceive ourselves when do not care about spiritual purity. “It is just a lunch, there is nothing wrong with having lunch with her – she is my friend – I do not care what people will think.” And yet the Word of God – the Law of Liberty as James puts it says in:
Ephesians 5:3 “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity…” I believe that most teenagers and young adults battle obeying this command. It is so easy today to justify and rationalize what we do and how dare someone else think that there is a hint of sexual immorality in my life because of what I am doing. James says --- the man or woman who looks into the perfect law – the law of liberty and abides by it will be blessed in what he or she does. Sexual immorality has done perhaps more to deceive believers than any other sin. We overlook – we ignore – we say nothing – we rationalize and justify. I have given you four examples of how believers hear the Word of God and then allow themselves to be deceived by not obeying the Word of God. James gives us one more in verse 26 – which we will spend an entire message on when we get to chapter 3.
E. We deceive ourselves when we do not control what we say. (vs.26) “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
The tongue is not the only indicator of true spiritual maturity… but it is one of the most reliable. It has been estimated that the average person will speak some 18,000 words in a day – enough to fill a 54 page book – many people speak more than that…. especially women – 1/5 of your life is spent talking. If the tongue is not controlled by God it is a sure indicator that the heart is not. Jesus said to the religious leaders in Matthew.
Matthew 12:34 - 37 “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
What we say and how we say what we say and when we say it is crucial. Every believer has got to become a word smith. Every godly wife and every godly girl has got to become gifted in controlling their words as much as they are looking in the mirror and checking their hair. Every godly man has got to put a pipe wrench on his mouth. How many times this past week have you used a curse word or how many times have you provoked your children to anger by your words? WE MUST RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD WITHOUT DECIEVING OURSELVES.
2. Be willing to respond without selfishness. (vs. 27a) “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..”
During the time of James there were many widows and orphans. James is simply saying that if we are really responding to the Word of God then we have to have a genuine concern for the welfare of others ---- especially those in great need. Jesus says that we have to serve them with love and great compassion. Now – there are some of you in this church family who have caught that. We have a half empty pantry that you all have filled and someone in need was able to benefit from that. We have gotten involved in helping others in our church family with places to stay. It is one thing to go out into the community of Carson City and find a homeless person on the street and give them money or food ---- and I have done that ----- but it is another thing to be actively involved in the lives of those in our church family who are in need. All of this that I do --- I do because of my response to the Word of God ---- this what James is saying. When we look out for those in our church family who are in distress we do it out of our passion for God ------ we do not do it to get anything from God or to prove to God anything. Chapter two is going give us an entire message focused on this issue of faith and deeds. I have to say that twice in the past 6 months ---- an elderly widow in our church family on social security has brought food to our church pantry twice. She has caught what James is talking about here – even though she herself is a widow and should be on the receiving end. BE WILLING TO RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD WITHOUT SELFISHNESS
3. Be willing to respond without compromise.(vs.27b) “and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” If we are polluted by the world then we are going to compromise. The Word of God is black and white ---- there are no gray areas in it ----- what I mean is that it does not change according to the circumstances ---- but when we are polluted by the world we will compromise. When we hear the word of God we will bend it. We will make it conform to how we have been polluted. You might not think of yourself as polluted --- the New American Standard perhaps translated James words better. “Keep oneself from being unstained by the world.”
Now – no believer is ever perfect and sinless. This is not what James is talking about. James is telling us if we are going to respond to the Word of God we cannot allow the world to control how we view and apply God’s Word to our lives. How does the world stain us? I believe there are 4 major ways – briefly…
* Money. We view money in light of how the world views it. We use money in light of how the world uses it. We do not see money the way God sees money. We easily fall into credit and become the lenders slave. We easily rob God and find any excuse we can not to be a giver. Its our money – we have bills and we have to pay those bills. We have taken the conditions and promises of God concerning money and we turn them and compromise them. To remove the stain – God’s people have to repent and produce month after month …obedience to God’s Word. How are we stained??
* Sexuality. God’s people have taken sexual purity and put it at the bottom. We compromise and we see gray. God’s see sexuality as black and white. Sex is good and it is created by God for enjoyment within the marriage covenant. To remove the stain – God’s people have got to pursue sexual purity with a passion and repent from their compromising ways. 3rd way we are stained
* Submission verses Rebellion. God’s Word tells us that there is an authority structure in His Word. God’s people are to submit to it. The children are to submit to the parents. The wife is to submit to the husband. The family is to submit to a local church shepherd. The church is to submit to the government and everyone is to submit to God. Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft. It is demonic. It brings compromise into the life of any believer. We have to repent and produce deeds of repentance. What acts of submission have you done or are you doing in your life?
* Rights. The world has certainly stained us here. We believe like everyone else that we have rights and that no one must take them away or treat us a certain and we are going to anything and everything to watch out for our rights ---- but the bible tells us that a believer has no rights. The bible conflicts with our countries declaration of independence – “we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain- unalienable rights.” God’s Word tells us that we have no rights and we are slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. “ We must pray and ask God to give us what Paul told us – we must consider others better than ourselves and we must look out for the interests of others.
Close with video clip: The Word of God works in a persons life. It might not be right away and there might be some pain that a person goes through – but it works – it saves and it changes and it heals. Watch this testimony with me:
Let us pray: Dan
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