Let Him Pray

LET HIM PRAY

James 5:13-18

As you look at this passage of scripture the general subject is prayer.

• And I think that is fitting because James has dealt with several problems and difficulties.
• He has told these people that they will encounter various trials and that their faith will be tested.
• He has warned the rich man about being puffed up and proud…and about mistreating those who work for him.
• He has warned these people about showing special favor to those who are wealthy.
• He has warned of the danger of teaching that which is false.

He has dealt with all these various problems and now, if these people were going to be able to over come these problems…if they were going to be as united as they were supposed to be…these people were going to have to be a praying people.

So in this passage, James tells them…but not only them…he tells us, as God’s people to pray. But James doesn’t just tell us to pray…he gives us some specific times WHEN we should pray.

Let’s look at the passage. In verse 13 James says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.”

• The word “suffering” here is a broad term and it can correctly be translated, “hardship.”
• What ever the “hardship” is…what ever the “suffering” is…let him pray.
• It doesn’t matter what it is.
• If they are suffering grief, depression, sorrow, disappointment, loss of property, poor health, or persecution…they are to pray.

What should you pray for? Well, let me make a few suggestions.

When you are going through a hard time…some times you can face some pretty strong temptations.

• “If I would only lie…things wouldn’t be so bad.”
• “If I would only steal some money…we could get out of this.”

Remember what we call the Lords prayer found in Matthew 6. Remember what Christ told his disciples to pray for?

• In verse 13 of that passage Christ tells them to “pray that they may not be led into temptation.”
• Pray that you might not fall into sin because of the present suffering…pray for a strong faith.

Another thing you can pray for is the REMOVAL OF THE SUFFERING.

• Do you remember over in 2 Cor. 12:9, Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
• We don’t know for sure what that was.
• But whatever it was Paul asked God three times to take it away.
• So it is fitting to ask for the suffering and the cause of suffering to be removed.

But then, just like Paul’s situation with the thorn in the flesh…the Lord may choose not to remove the suffering.

• If that is the case, pray for help and strength that you might faithfully endure it.

Also, in a time of suffering you might pray for the one who is causing the hardship.

• In Luke 6:28, Jesus says:  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

I don’t know that they will change…you can certainly pray that they will.

• But even if they don’t, by praying for them you will keep bitterness and resentment from building up in you and adding to the burden you are already having to endure.

These are some things you can pray for in the midst of suffering.

But now, what if you are not suffering? Well, James says: Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.”

• Unfortunately, the only time some people turn to God at all is when things are hard.
• We need to go to God in prayer when we suffer hard times.
• But at the same time we need to praise God for the good times as well.

Now, look at verse 14. This is one of the most difficult passages of scripture in all the Bible. James says: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”

 This passage has caused a lot of people to feel guilty and question whether there really is a God.

• They read this, and then they pray fervently for someone who is sick, and that individual doesn’t get well…and they think, “My faith isn’t strong enough…or they doubt God.”

So what is it that James is talking about here?

• Let me begin by telling you that I do not have all the answers.
• So what I am going to do is give you a couple of possibilities.

First of all, when James speaks of being “sick” here…he is speaking of a physical illness or infirmity.

• Some think that this is speaking of a spiritual illness…but that is unlikely since in verse 15 James indicates that the person who is sick may or may not have sinned.

So James says, “If anyone among you is sick…let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil, in the name of the Lord.”

• Now, there are some who contend that the elders had the miraculous power to heal…and that is what is being talked about here.
• Their reasoning comes from Acts 8:17 and Mark 6: 13.
• In Acts 8:17 the apostles were laying hands on people…and those people were empowered with the miraculous gifts.
• And so the idea is that these elders here that James speaks of had that ability.
• And that is confirmed by the use of oil for anointing…because in Mark 6:13 the disciples were miraculously healing people…and then anointing them with oil.
• The oil being simply to draw attention to the fact that a miracle had been performed.
• So the idea is, the elders had the miraculous ability to heal these that were sick.
• And if that is the case, this passage has no bearing on us today since those powers have long since ceased.

But then there is the idea that these verses are not talking about a miraculous healing…but a providential healing.

• The elders here are simply that, elders of the church.
• The individual that is sick is to call them.

And the one who is sick is to “let the elders pray over him.”

• Listen, it is always appropriate to have fervent prayers offered for a sick man.
• One of the names of God that that is found in Ex. 15:26 is “Jehovah Raphah” and it means:” The God who Heals.”
• All healing is divine.
• And since God is the source of healing it is always appropriate to petition God for that healing.

And James says that  the elders are to “anoint the sick man with oil in the name of the Lord.”

• Since this is not a miraculous healing the oil is not ceremonial, therefore, the oil here is apparently for medicinal purposes.
• In a time when hospitals were non-existent and doctors rare this was a common practice.
• It was the equivalent of administering medicine.
• So by anointing the man with oil, the elders were making sure that the sick man had what was within man’s power and knowledge to be an instrument of God in the natural healing process.

So what you have here is apparently a combining of prayer and medicine for the sick.

And notice James says that this is to be done “in the name of the Lord.”

• It is to be done by the authority of God.

And now, verse 15: …and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up,

Here is the tough verse.

• Many have tried this…they have prayed fervently for one who is sick…and still he dies.
• So consequently, those who pray say, “I wasn’t faithful enough…sincere enough.”
• Or the person who was sick wasn’t faithful enough.
• This verse has caused many to question and wonder why someone they have prayed for did not get better.

I can tell you that I do not know all the answers on this verse…but let me share with you some thoughts and you can decide.

First of all, the term “prayer offered in faith.”

• This is not talking about your “cold, formal, ritual prayer.”
• This is talking about a prayer of conviction…a prayer that believes and trusts in God.

James says, “a prayer offered in faith will restore…or save…or deliver from danger…the one who is sick…and the Lord will raise him up.”

 Now, at first glance, this verse seems to be an absolute.

• That if a person is sick…and a prayer is offered in faith…then that person will be made well.

But then that brings up the question of Paul and his thorn in the flesh found in 2 Cor. 12?

• Why wasn’t he healed?

And what about the old, the aged.? If this is absolute then the old would not suffer illness and die.

So the question is, IS THIS VERSE AN ABSOLUTE?

Well, let me remind you of an important principle of prayer. Look with me at 1 John 5:14.

14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

 Listen, you can ask for anything you want…but then trust God to grant that request…according to His will.

• Sometimes we may want someone to get well…but in the bigger picture…God may be using that situation for a greater cause.
• The fact is, God often uses illness and death to wake people up to the reality of their need for Him.
• Death and illness can preach some powerful sermons.

The point is, we cannot see the big picture…we do not know all that God is doing.

• Perhaps God is allowing your faith to be tested by Satan through that illness.
• That is what happened to Job.
• We do not know all that God is doing…perhaps he is teaching us compassion, patience, and values and priorities.
• We cannot always know.
• But the one thing we must do is trust in Him no matter what…and accept His will…even when we do not like it.

And look at the end of verse 15.  James says, “and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”

• Often we think that the reason we are sick is because we have committed sin.
• We think sin causes illness.
• It can…alcohol…can make sick…immoral sex can cause us to be sick.
• Drugs…can make us sick…so sometimes sin can make us sick.

But, more times than not the illness is not due to a person committing sin..

But, sometimes when a person is sick…especially a serious illness…that illness can cause him to sin.

• Remember Job’s wife…”just curse God and die.”
• Well, some people do curse God when they are sick….and some drift from their faith.
• Nothing tests our faith quite as much as an illness does.

Sometimes an illness can cause us to reflect on our lives and make us realize that we may have not lived the way God wanted us to in healthier times.

• Whatever the case, when forgiveness is sought for sincerely…and in the right way…God will grant that forgiveness.

Verse 16:  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

• This too is often misunderstood.
• We see the word “confess” and we have the idea that we are to tell each other what sin we have committed.
• “Max, I lied to day…I took the Lord’s name in vain.”

I do not believe that is what this is talking about.

• The word “confess” comes from the Greek word “Homo-logeos” which literally means “one word.”
• And the idea behind this word “confess” is to “agree fully.”
• We are to agree fully with each other that we are sinners.
• God already knows it and it is important that we know it…because an awareness that we are sinners makes us all the more aware of our need for God’s mercy, grace and salvation.
• And that repentant attitude is what makes us whole.

Now the end of verse 16: The effective or fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

And then James gives us an illustration or example of what prayer can do. Vs. 17:

7 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

 

Wait Patiently For The Lord

WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD

James 5:7-11

This morning God, through James, is going to ask each of us to do one of the most difficult things that we, as followers of Christ, could be asked to do!

• It is something that will test our faith like, perhaps, nothing else will.
• It is something that will identify us as sincere, genuine followers of Christ.
• It is something that will force you/I to swallow our worldly pride.
• Let me explain.

I would like for you to look with me at vs. 1 of James 5.

• In verse 1 James speaks of some “rich” people…and I want you to notice in verse 4 how they acquired at least some of their wealth.

 Vs. 4 says, Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth (Host).

Now vs. 6:  You (the rich) have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

• What the rich could do is they could turn a Christian in to the authorities for being a Christian and then they (the rich) would take all that the Christian had.
• Or, they would so slander a Christian to the point that he couldn’t stay in competition with them in business…and by eliminating him they could make more money.

Now, if someone did this to you, how would you respond?

• If you went out here and worked all day for someone, and then they refused to pay you…
• If you were cheated or swindled in a business deal or slandered unfairly, what would you do?
• And it may be that some of you have been…and may someday be cheated and slandered.
• What would you do?

Something like that would probably make us angry (quite evidently it did these brethren that James is writing to or he wouldn’t write what he does in the next few verses) And if something like this happened to us it would frustrate us…and it would tempt us to get even…to strike out…to retaliate.

• And it would be even more frustrating if it appeared that they had gotten away with it.
• So, what would you do?

The world would tell us to get even; to do unto them as they have done unto you…to get revenge.

• But, that is not what God, through James, tells us to do.

Look again at verse 1, and I want you to notice that, even though it often seems that those who do these kinds of things get away with it, they really don’t.  Look what James says:

 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

 Now vs. 5: You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

 Those who cheat and swindle and mistreat others often think they have gotten away with what they have done; they are so proud of themselves; but God knows exactly what they did…and they will receive their just recompense.

• And what we have to do when we are mistreated, and this is the hard part; this is where your faith will be tested; this is where you will have to swallow some of your worldly pride; this is where your claim of sincerely and genuinely being a follower of Christ is challenged; what we have to do when we are cheated and swindled and unfairly slandered; is just be patient.

Look at verse 7. James says:  Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

Listen, when the Lord comes again…every deed will be brought to light.

• Look at this found in 1 Corinthians 4:5:

 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

 They may think they have gotten away with it…but they haven’t.

• God already knows…and when the Lord comes again…they are going to know.
• And at that time…God will give them what is due their actions.

Remember 2 Corinthians 5:10? The apostle Paul says: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 And this is the last verse of Ecclesiastes: For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether good or evil.

 The Lord knows the injustices; and He knows those who cheat and swindle; and He will take care of it…and as hard as it may be we must wait on the Lord.

In fact, remember what Romans 12:19 says: Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

• It is not our place to exact revenge…
• Because of our human emotions and prejudices we cannot always make fair and just judgments…we cannot always know the circumstances and situation.
• But God is just and righteous and He knows and sees what we cannot see.

So, it is not our place to exact revenge. The Lord will do that and we just have to be patient.

In fact, look at vs. 7again: Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

We know what it is like to wait on rain don’t we.

• We wait…and wait….and wait…and sure enough it comes.
• We know what waiting on the rain is like.

But we probably had no idea that waiting for it to rain was the Lord’s way of training us to wait for His return.

And, just as the rain eventually comes; He will too.

Look at verse 8: You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

• Just as surely as there is a time to plant seed…and a time to harvest what is planted.
• There is a time appointed when the Lord will return…
• We must simply be patient.

But, sometimes it isn’t easy to be patient…especially if someone is mistreating and cheating us like they were these people.

• So, when we grow impatient…and get tired of waiting…what do we have a tendency to do?
• Well, look at verse 9.

 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

 When we are going through hardships…it is so easy to start finding fault with others, even those closest to us.

• Blaming our hardships…our difficulties on others…and take offense at the slightest little thing.
• Such complaining can lead to condemnation.

Remember the nation of Israel…how they complained against God…and against Moses and Aaron.

• Remember what happened to those who complained?
• Thousands of them were struck down…and swallowed up by the earth.

We do no good for anyone or ourselves when we become impatient and attack our leaders…or one another.

And if you or I think we can “grumble under our breath…murmur in such a way that no one hears us.”

• In fact, the word “complain” here actually means “to groan…or to sigh.”
• It speaks of an inward feeling that may not be verbally expressed.

If you and I think we can grumble in such way that no one can hear…well, look at vs. 9.

• Notice how close the Judge is: He is standing right at the door.

So James tells us to “be patient…the Lord is coming…and he tells us not to complain against one another.”

Now look at verse 10. He tells us to be encouraged by historical examples. Look at this. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

 James says, “Look at the prophets of old.

• They would go out and preach and preach…and warn and warn…day after day.
• And for the most part the people ignored them.
• And those guys suffered all kinds of hardships and persecutions; in fact, in Matthew 23:27 Jesus says that many of those prophets were killed.

How do we count those men?

• Well, James says, “We count them blessed.”
• “We count them fortunate.”

When people endure…and are patient…and wait on the Lord…even when they are persecuted…that is what they are.

• And that fact will challenge your faith! Do you and I believe that when we faithfully suffer mistreatment, and injustices that the Lord will count us as blessed?
• That is what will motivate us to “wait on the Lord.”

Remember what Jesus says in Matthew 5:11.  Jesus says:

Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. 12 “Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 Steadfastness while being mistreated…patient waiting for the Lord while being persecuted is powerful evidence of one’s genuine faithfulness…and constitutes an assurance of his eternal salvation.

• Do you and I believe that? If so…we will wait on the Lord.

In James 5:11 James mentions Job to encourage us. And he says: You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

 Job suffered it all…except for death.

• He had sores…afflictions…loss of family…loss of property.
• I mean he went through it all.
• And yet, Job 1:22 says: Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

 And what did God do? Job 42:10

And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.

Now, I told you at the very beginning that what God asks us to do here would test our faith.

• And that is true concerning the promises of being blessed.
• Do you and I really believe that God will bless us and reward us for patiently waiting for Him to judge those who cheat, and swindle, and slander us?

How we react to that kind of mistreatment will say a lot about our faith!

 It is not easy to simply let God handle it when we are cheated; swindled; and slandered.

• Or when we are mistreated and abused in any other way.
• And yet that is what we must do…that is, if we are true, sincere followers of Christ.

Now, look at vs. 7 again. In vs. 7 James says that the “Lord is coming again. Just as sure as the rain eventually comes and brings forth the crops, the Lord is coming again.”

• Are you and I ready?
• If He comes today…are you ready?
• And understand, He will bring every act to judgment, whether good or bad.

You and I do not want to be judged on our actions because no matter how good we have been we fall way short of God’s glory.

• What we need and hopefully want is to be judged on Jesus Christ’s actions…His perfect works…and then we can be found pure and holy in the sight of God.
• Our Lord is coming back, will you get ready by putting your full trust in Jesus, confessing Him as Lord, repenting of your sinful way of life, being baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins; and remaining faithful to Him even unto death?
• If that is your desire come.

 

The Source of Conflicts

THE SOURCE OF CONFLICTS

James 4:1-10

I have a picture that I want you to see.

• For those who can’t see this, it is a picture of two brides brawling; fighting.
• Disgusting isn’t it?

Well, here in James 4, this is what is going on.

• The Lord’s bride, the church, is fighting…
• They are bickering and backbiting…and verbally going after one another.
• And there is nothing uglier than a church fight.
• Family feud is no game when you are talking about the Lord’s church.

And I want you to notice what they are fighting about. James gives us some indications.

• Back in James 2:1-9 they were apparently fighting over “class”.
• Some thought they were better than others.
• “He is poor and I am rich…so I deserve more attention than he does.”

And if you go over to chapter 5:1-6 you’ll see that some of the conflict was apparently a result of unfair or perceived unfair employment practices…and the wages that were paid.

And if you look in chapter 3 you find that some wanted the “honor and recognition of being a teacher”…and there was jealousy and bitterness as a result.

Some of these Christians had come out of the Jewish religion….and they still wanted to draw on their Jewish background to make distinction between them and those who were out of the Gentile background.

• And because they had formerly been Jews that thought they should be shown special treatment.

So, here in James 4 the bride of Christ is fighting…and James deals with it. Look what he says beginning in verse 1.

 Vs. 1  What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?

• Get ready now, James is going to give us the answer to this question.
• And I want you to know, the answer to this question goes well beyond the boundaries of church conflict.

What James says here applies to all kinds of conflicts and quarrels.

• What James says here applies to two nations when they go to war.
• It applies to a man and his wife when they are in constant conflict.
• It applies to parents who do daily battle with one of their children.
• This applies to two people who are quarrelling.
• What is the source of the quarrels and conflicts in churches…and in our lives?

Well, look what James says; vs. 1:

 Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; {so} you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; {so} you fight and quarrel.

 These Christians that James is writing to had different ones who were trying to satisfy their own agenda….they were seeking to gratify their own desires and lusts…

• Notice he says that their “pleasures were waging war in their own members.”
• That is talking about their “desires and lusts” fighting inside of each one of them saying, “I want this…I want that.
• And so they were fighting for what they wanted.

And other members were doing the same thing.

• And it was causing all these conflicts.
• James says they were “committing murder”…I don’t know if they were literally murdering one another…they probably wanted too.
• But if they literally were or not I am sure they were intent on doing damage to one another as much as they could.

And James says they were “fighting and quarreling.”

Putting it simply, they were being selfish.

• And that selfishness was causing them to hate one another…and destroy one another.

I really believe this is the source of the conflicts we see in marriages…and families…and through out the world.

• Someone, somewhere, if they were honest about it, is thinking only of self and what they want.

And notice here, James says that they are so selfish that they are even carrying it over into their prayers.

• In verse 2 he says, “You do not have because you do not ask.”
• They know that some of the selfish things they desire are not a proper subject of prayer.

But then some of them ask anyway…and look what James says in verse 3.

 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend {it} on your pleasures.

 You know, so many times you hear people say that “prayer” doesn’t work…that it doesn’t do any good to pray.

• Learn these principles here.

First of all…have the right motive behind what you ask for.

• If your only reason for asking for something is to satisfy your selfish desires…you can forget it.
• Some of these people wanted more power…authority.
• They wanted the place of honor…the wealth.
• They wanted the very things that they were using to cause the conflicts in this church.
• And James says, “You are not going to get it.”

And the second reason it seems that prayer never works is because some never pray.

• And when we do, we don’t want what God has to give.
• We want what we want.
• “Lord, don’t give me humility…don’t let me be a foot washer…I want to be the one in authority.”

A petition unmade…or a petition made selfishly so you can satisfy your desires…well, you are right…in those instances prayer does not work.

Look at verse 4. James is going to mention another reason why these people are fighting.

 You adulteresses…”

• That is a pretty strong word isn’t it?
• But the point is, “They are the bride of Christ”
• When they were baptized they were “married to Him.” (Check out 2 Corinthians 11:2…they were betrothed to Christ.)
• And look what they are doing.

He says, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship…and that word “friendship could be translated “fondness”.

• When he speaks of friendship here he is not talking about just being friendly…or being acquainted with. “
• He is talking about being “fond of”…seeking after the things of the world.
• The things that the world says is “good and right.”
• What the world says is popular…and successful.

He says, “You adulteresses, do  you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

• In verse 1 these people are fighting with one another.
• The reason is, they have this war going on in side of them.
• And the whole reason for all of this is because they have made “friends with the world”…therefore, they are at war with God.

Three conflicts…or three wars mentioned in this passage…and these people are losing all three of them. (war with self; with others; with God)

• And if they keep on they will be three time losers.
• They will not have what they want in the Lord’s church.
• They will never satisfy their fleshly desires.
• And they will be destroyed by God.

So, what is the answer? What is the answer for these brethren and their conflicts?

• What is the answer for the conflicts that people have in their marriages?
• What is the answer for the conflicts that people have in their families?
• What is the answer between two nations?
• What is the answer?

Well, verse 7: Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 I think it is interesting here that James says, “Resist the devil” in this context.

• But, that is who is behind it.
• There is nothing more that Satan wants than to start a big fight in the Lord’s church.
• Nothing more that Satan wants than to start a big fight in someone’s marriage.
• Nothing more that Satan wants than to start a big fight between two nations.

We get in these conflicts and we think our battle is against our brother or sister in Christ…or against our husbands or wives…

• And in reality, our battle is against Satan.
• He is right in the big middle of all of it, stirring things up.
• “You are right to demand your rights.”
• “You get what you want.”

When we get in these conflicts we are doing just exactly what Satan wants.

• And James says here, “Submit to God…
• And that word “submit” literally means…”get into your proper rank.”
• When a private starts acting like a general there is going to be trouble.
• And the same is true when a man starts acting like God.
• And that is what some of these people were doing.

And James says, “You get back in your proper rank”.

• You submit to God and say, “Not my will but Thy will be done”.

“And you resist the devil…and he will flee from you.”

• When the devil sees who your general is…he knows he can’t win.

Now, verse 8-10, James gives us the disposition that makes for peace; peace with God; peace in the church; peach in a marriage; peace between nations. Look what he says; vs. 8.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

 He mentions your hands here.

• Hands were clasped together in prayer…or they were hands that were extended to heaven.
• These people were extending their hands to heaven…and clasping them in prayer…but they were filthy with sin.
• And what they needed to do is cease all outward acts of wrong doing.

 He says, “purify your hearts.” That is to cleanse the inner being. Don’t just cleanse the inside of the dish, but cleanse the inside as well.

 Vs. 9   Be miserable and mourn and weep;

• Be truly penitent; have a sincere deep sorrow for sin and wrongs committed.

Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.

• Don’t be careless or indifferent about those things that should induce grief and remorse.
• The sinful actions that the laughed at; that they joyfully were involved in; the flippant attitude should be turned into mourning and gloom which expresses a sincere regret and sorrow.

 Vs. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

• Realize that we have nothing in and of ourselves to boast of.
• All of our deeds will come under the judgment of His righteous eye and they will be judged for what they are.
• And that realization should cause us to be humbly obedient to His will.
• And when we humble ourselves in His presence, He will exalt us.

And what will be the result of drawing near to God; and cleansing our hands; and purifying our hearts; and mourning over our sin; and humbling ourselves in His presence? The result will be peace: with God, in the church; in our marriages; and in our families; peace in the heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let Not Many Become Teachers

LET NOT MANY BECOME TEACHERS

James 3:1-18

Look at verse 1 again. I believe this is a verse that, in a very subtle way, is misused and let me tell you why I say that.

• I believe that many use this verse as an excuse to not teach.
• What people do is they say, “I am not going to take the chance. Teachers come under a stricter judgment…I don’t want to run the risk of being judged more harshly…therefore, I am not going to be a teacher.”

So, some who have the opportunity to teach…who have the ability to teach… use this verse to excuse themselves from teaching; perhaps from even trying to teach.

The only problem with that kind of thinking is the Parable of the Talents.

• Remember the man who received the one talent and did nothing with it and therefore came under judgment because he did not use for the Lord’s benefit that which he was given?
• Many have the ability to teach; and the talent to teach; and yet are reluctant to do so because of this passage.

And remember the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

• This is a commission given to us by our Lord.

So, I do not believe this passage here in James was meant to contradict our Lord or to give Christians an excuse not to teach.

I believe what James says here in vs. 1 has a completely different purpose…I believe it is intended to tell those who do teach…and who aspire to teach…to take their teaching responsibilities seriously.

Let me explain.

To begin, turn with me to Matthew 23: 1-7.

As we read this you are going to see one of the primary reasons some wanted to be “teachers.” Watch what Jesus says:

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. 4 “And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 “And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi.

 Here is the motive that many had for becoming a teacher.

• They wanted to be “noticed by men”…to be honored….to be recognized…to be important.
• Nothing is said here in these verses about wanting to teach people about God…or the will of God.
• They simply wanted the recognition.

Listen, in Jewish society teachers were “somebody.”

• You were highly respected if you were considered a “great teacher”…a great scholar.
• You were given the seat of honor; and you were highly esteemed.
• So some desired to be a teacher simply for that reason.

So, out of this background James says, “Let not many of you become teachers.”

• Why? It is because being a teacher for the Lord is more significant than just being well respected and getting the praise of men.

And, there are some tremendous ramifications that goes with being a teacher.

Look again at vs. 1: Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.

• This statement wasn’t intended to be an excuse for a Christian not to teach or for a Christian to waste an opportunity to teach someone.
• Opportunities for us to teach often arise.

James makes this statement to tell us, “When you teach, take your teaching seriously because God does.

• Take heed of what you teach and why you are teaching because you will be held accountable.”

Some of the old Jewish Rabbi’s taught and never gave any thought about accountability for what they were teaching.

• The only ones they thought they were accountable to was the High Priest…or the leaders of their sect.
• And they often taught those things that garnered them more praise; more prestige; and some times more money.
• They often taught in order to “tickle the ears” of those who listened; 2 Timothy 4:3.

So, what James says here is not intended to excuse us from teaching; it is a statement that says, “When you teach, teach the right things for the right reasons.”

• And if you are not going to teach the right things for the right reasons, then don’t teach.

Now, look at verse 2. James continues to speak in the context of teachers and teaching.

• James says, in vs. 2, that we “all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.”
• James says, everyone is guilty of faults and mistakes of many kinds.
• And one of the most prevalent ways that we stumble is in what we say.
• And since teachers teach by what they say…they have a much greater opportunity to do evil with what they say.

And James uses several illustrations to emphasize the influence and power of the tougue.

• In verse 3 he speaks of horses…and how they are guided by the bit that is put in their mouths.
• In verse 4 he speaks of how great ships are directed by a very small rudder…where ever the pilot desires to go.

And as powerful and influential as bit is to a horse; and a rudder is to a ship; so also is the tongue! Look at vs. 5:

  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

• The teachers tongue…what a teacher says…can and often does steer the course of others.
• And it is absolutely essential that we control what we say because of the potential damage that we can do. Look at vs. 5 again.

Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity (James is not saying here that nothing good comes from the tongue. Many good things come from what is said. But at the same time it contains a world of iniquity. It voices every evil feeling and every sinful act. Nothing evil is beyond its power of accomplishment); the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue (as hard as we try; because we are not perfect; vs. 2); it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh.

 Listen, because of the tongue…and the difficulty of controlling the tongue…and because of the inconsistencies we manifest through the tongue…teachers, but not only teachers but each of us, have great potential to do damage.

• But in the context of teachers, if you or I are not going to teach the right things for the right reasons then it would be better for us not to teach.
• And that is why James says, “Let not many of you become teachers.”

Teaching for the Lord is not a trivial thing…

• We must take our teaching seriously because those who do teach will be held accountable.
• And they have a tremendous potential to do damage.

But still we need and must have teachers…and so in verses 13-18 James gives instructions to those who, in spite of the accountability…and the potential to do damage, have opportunity to teach.

Look at this. Vs. 13:  Who among you is wise and understanding?

• This is a clear reference to teachers because this is what teachers were considered to be.

He says: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

 Those Old Jewish Rabbis… many of them weren’t morally or doctrinally sound.

• What did morals…or personal conduct…or lifestyle have to do with it?

Well, here James says that a teacher should show “by his good behavior…by his conduct that he is guided by wisdom…and thus qualified to be a teacher.

You/I may want to teach…but understand, our life style must manifest that we are credible enough to teach….because if our walk doesn’t agree with our talk we will destroy the credibility of what we are trying to teach.  .

 Look at verse 14:  But if you have bitter jealousy (Pharisees and Sadducees were extremely jealous of one another)  and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

• If this is the way you are, don’t fool yourself into thinking you are wise.
• Why? Well, look at verse 15.

15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

• If these people look back on some of those who were wanting to be teachers and they saw division, and strife, and conflict, and jealousy…then they sure didn’t need them for teachers.

And sadly, today, many congregations have failed to learn this.

So, what is a teacher for God supposed to look like? James 3:17

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 Look at a man’s life….and if this is what you see…then he is a good candidate to be a teacher.

• But if you see a man who is contentious; disagreeable; who stirs up discord; who promotes controversy; who is confrontational; who is argumentative; who is unreasonable, impatient, and rude to those who do not have the knowledge that he has; and produces fruit that conducts themselves like he does; that man probably should not be a teacher.

This is not a passage that gives us excuse to not teach. This is a passage that tells us to teach for the right things for the right reasons.

• I am thankful for the teachers that we have; for those who are willing to teach; those who teach the youngest; to those who teach the oldest.
• I am thankful for those who are trying to teach their neighbors, friends or family members.
• It is not always easy…but you can be assured that your efforts are accomplishing more than you may think.

For all of us: There are many good ways to use our tongues; prayer, praise; encouragement; instruction. Let us all make a point to use our tongues with wisdom.

 

 

You Meant Evil God Used For Good

MEANT FOR EVIL, GOD WILL USE IT FOR GOOD

James 4:13-14

Unless you have been out of the country or have been in total seclusion we each know what happened this past week in Uvalde, Texas.

• And as I thought about what happened I asked “what is it I need to tell you to reassure you, to comfort you, and to encourage you, and perhaps even warn you?”

And one thing that came to my mind immediately, and I don’t mean to be depressing or discouraging, but my intent is to remind you of what God has told us and what the event in Uvalde confirms to us and that is: no one has a guarantee of tomorrow.

• God through James says here in the passage that was read that “we might make plans for today or for tomorrow…and yet we don’t know what our life will be like tomorrow; for we are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
• And that event this past Tuesday confirms that to us once again.
• Tomorrow isn’t certain for anyone.

And it doesn’t have to be a mass casualty situation; it can be an accident; or a health issue; or even the “return of our Lord”;  but the reality is, none of us has the assurance of tomorrow.

• And if tomorrow doesn’t come, then what? What will it be for you and for me?
• And I know we don’t like to think of that but it is a very real possibility.
• If tomorrow doesn’t come, then what?

 If I read my Bible right, if tomorrow doesn’t come for you or I, there are only two possibilities (heaven – 1 Peter 1:4) and (eternal punishment – Matthew 25:46) those are the only two possibilities and whichever it will be all depends on what you/I have done with Jesus.

• Have we obeyed Him? Have we followed Him? Have we put our faith in Him?
• So, if tomorrow never comes, what will it be? Are you and I ready for that possibility?

Now, one of the things that has happened since Tuesday is a lot of finger pointing: “Whose fault is it?”

• And sadly, in situations like this, there will be those who want to point fingers at God.
• “If God is a loving God, He wouldn’t let this kind of thing happen.”
• And so, people abandon God.

Let me ask you this and think carefully before you answer: Did God create this world?

This world that we live in today is not the world that God created. The world that God created, you can read about it in Genesis chapters 1-2.

• In that world everything God created was “good.”
• There was no death, no dying…the only thing that was not “good” was man being alone.
• So God fashioned a woman for the man and the two lived in a “garden.”

But then the “serpent” came along and deceived the woman and the man and they sinned against God and everything changed.

• The man and the woman lost their innocence.
• The woman would bring forth children in multiplied pain.
• The ground would be cursed and the man would toil all of his days just to eat from it.
• And the ground would bring forth thorns and thistles; and man would die, “from dust he came and from dust he would return. “

And so, because of the “serpents” deception; and because of man’s rebellion and his propensity to sin the world that God created was cursed; man was driven from the garden; and paradise was lost.

• And it wasn’t long until evil manifested itself when Cain killed his brother Abel.
• And evil has continued to manifest itself down through the centuries.
• It manifested itself by nailing Jesus to a cross.
• And this past Tuesday, the serpent’s deception, and man’s rebellion against God; and man’s propensity to commit sin manifested itself again in Uvalde, Texas.

And for you or I or anyone else to blame that on God and turn away from and abandon God because of what “the serpent” did; and because of what a rebellious and sinful man did, is to do just exactly what “the serpent” wants us to do.

Paradise was lost a long time ago but it is only because of God and His grace and mercy and love that any of us can find that paradise again.

• In a fallen, contaminated world, where tragedies occur, God is the only hope we have.

Now, some will ask, “Why does God allow these kinds of things to happen?” Why doesn’t God stop it?”

• Let me give you 3 reasons.

Remember in Job 1, Satan accused God of building a “hedge” around Job and protecting him.

• And “blessing the work of Job’s hands.”
• And Satan tells God, “If you will touch all that Job has and take it from him, he will curse Thee to your face.”

So God does. He allows Satan “to put his hand on Job” and Job loses his sons and his daughters, and his livestock; and eventually Job is plagued with “sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.”

• And Job’s wife comes to him and says, “Why do you hold to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
• And Job refuses.

God allows Job to suffer severely all for the purpose of proving Job’s devotion and faithfulness to God.

And you read basically the same thing in James 1; and God allows trials and tribulations to come up in our lives so that, just like Job, we can prove our faithfulness too.

• And, that is true for the incident in Uvalde; or any other tragedy that comes up in our lives; those situations, has bad as they are, give you and I the opportunity to prove to all our faith and devotion to God.
• They give us opportunity to defeat Satan’s attempt to get us to “curse God and die.”

Second reason why God allows tragedies to come into our lives is found in Luke 13:1-5.

 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And He answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? 3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?  5 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 

 God often allows tragic events to get people to realize their spiritual situation; their need to repent and turn to Him; so that they will not perish.

• Sadly, for some people you can tell them all day long that they need to repent, you can even perform miracles, Jesus did; but the only thing that will get their attention is tragic event.

Third reason why God allows tragedies to come into our lives is found in Romans 8:20-21. The apostle Paul says, “20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (this is God’s hope) 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

• God allows us/people to go through some trials and tribulations and tragic events HOPING that we/or people will turn from their “slavery to corruption” into the “freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
• God is an evangelistic God; He desires that none should perish; and He has sent prophets; and teachers; and evangelists; and yes, even His own Son to tell people of their need to seek God and His will so that they may be saved…
• But unfortunately, the only thing that will wake them up is a tragic event.

 These tragic events, large or small, are horrible and we can only imagine the heartbreak and pain that goes with them.

• But being eternally separated from God is much, much worse.

Now, what about the children? 19 children were killed. Is there any consolation? Any comfort for those who have lost a child? Look at Mark 10:13-16.

And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.”  16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them.

 We grieve over the children who were killed and most of us cannot imagine what that would be like as a parent.

• Every parent wants to see and hold their child again and I can’t blame them for being angry!

But we should not turn away from God when tragedy strikes because it is God alone who gives hope, and comfort, and assures us that those children will be in His kingdom.

• Hopefully, in time, that will be solace for those who have lost a child.

So, as we deal with the news of a horrible tragedy, as God’s people, what do we do?

There are many verses that we could turn to but there are two that come to mind. Look with me at Matthew 5:13. Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth;”

• In the day, and still does today, salt served as a preservative; it slowed down the decaying process.

Our world is not going to get better.

• Every day there is something new that makes us shake our heads in dismay.
• And it won’t end until the Lord comes again.

But until that time comes we can slow down the decaying process.

• We can preach and teach and stand against abortion that takes the lives of innocent children every day. (Irony: many are protesting the death of the children and yet they support the killing of )
• We can stand against other acts of evil like human trafficking, drug trafficking, child abuse, sexual abuse, murder, incest…and on and on we could go.
• We cannot stop it but we can, as Jude says, “snatch some from the fire.”
• As “salt” we can slow down the decaying process.

And look at vs. 14: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Tragic events often turn an individual’s world completely dark.

• They search for hope; they search for a little ray of sunshine in the midst of the gloom.
• And hopefully we can help them find that hope and that ray of sunshine that they might glorify our Father who is in heaven.

What took place last Tuesday in Uvalde was nothing but pure evil. It has devastated many families; an entire community; and shattered lives for many years to come.

• And as we consider what has happened at the hands of one individual who gave no thought to the immeasurable grief and unbearable despair that he was going to cause those people to suffer…as you and I, as God’s people think of what we can do…
• I hope that our attitude; our resolve is that of Joseph in Genesis 50, when he told his brothers who sold him into bondage: “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”

 

 

 

 

Do Not Speak Against One Another

DO NOT SPEAK AGAINST ONE ANOTHER

James 4:11-12

Here in James 4, the “bride of Christ” is in a bitter brawl.

• James says in verse 2 of this chapter that they were “fighting and quarreling.”
• And apparently this was a pretty bitter fight because he also says they were “committing murder.”
• Now, I don’t know that they were actually “physically murdering each other.”
• But apparently they were angry enough at each other that they could.

So, here you have the church in this bitter fight…and in verse 11 James mentions the primary weapon used in the fighting. James says: “Do not speak against one another, brethren…”

• Isn’t that sad?
• Three times in this verse James refers to the relationship that these people have in Christ.
• He refers to them as “brethren…and two times he says they are “”
• And they are fighting like cats and dogs.

And they aren’t using sticks…or rocks…or boards…or knives…to beat each other with.

• They are using something much more destructive and dangerous.
• They are using the tongue!

The tongue is so convenient to use.

• Every one has one.
• And it can be used so discretely.
• If you use a rock or a stick…your victim has to be present.
• But with the tongue you can generate the attack without the victim even being there.

And what is said is not always easily traced back to the originating source.

• And when it is, the same tongue can easily deny what it is accused of.

And as far as effectiveness is concerned, a rock or a stick will cut the skin or break a bone…

• But the tongue can destroy a brother’s reputation and character…and leave lasting injury…something a rock or stick can’t do.

In their fighting, these brethren were using the most formidable weapon of all.

• And here where James says, “Do not speak against one another,” the word “against” could actually be translated “evil.”
• So these people were speaking “evil” of one another.

And “one another” is an “allelone” phrase which means it was going back and forth.

• Back and forth they were attacking one another.

And notice, James equates their “speaking against one another with judging one another.”

• And judging here is not talking about an honest evaluation.

Christ in Matthew 7: 20 says that we can tell a lot about a person “by the fruit he bears.”

• Some times we have to make honest judgments about an individual and his character…based on honest evidence and fruit.

But when James speaks of “judging” here he is talking about forming and expressing opinions and criticisms based on supposition, and prejudices.

• These people were spreading rumors about one another!
• They are back biting and gossiping…lying…and slandering…
• And it may be that some of what they are saying is true…
• But the problem is, they weren’t using the truth for good…they were using the truth to injure each other.

And so James tells them to stop! “Do not speak against one another!”

But I want you to notice why James tells them to stop.

• James doesn’t tell them to stop because of the hurt they are inflicting on the other party.
• He doesn’t say, “You are ruining his reputation….or you are hurting his feelings.”
• James tells them to stop speaking against one another because of what their speaking evil is doing to themselves.

And that is the lesson for us.

• It is so easy to speak against someone else, because after all, it doesn’t hurt us.
• All the harm is done to someone else.
• But James says other wise here.
• James says that when we speak against someone else…you may do them harm…but they are not the only one you are hurting.

Look what he says you do when you speak against a brother or sister. Look at verse 11 again. He says:

 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge {of it.}

 What does he mean here when he says that “you judge the law when you speak evil of a brother?”

• Well, look back at chapter 2: 8. James says:

 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin {and} are convicted by the law as transgressors.

 Now, if you will check verse 8 you will find that what James says here comes from Leviticus 19:18.

• And to speak evil against a brother is not “loving him.”
• So, the law expressly forbids talking against a brother or sister.
• And when you do it, in spite of what the law says, you are, by your actions, judging the law as something that is not worth keeping.

When you do this you are saying, “I know what the law is but it’s not that important.”

• You see, we demonstrate by our actions what we think about the law.

In Texas, it is illegal to exceed the speed limit.

• By our actions, what do most Texans think about that law?

In Texas, it is illegal to cross the double yellow line on the highway.

• By their actions, what do a lot of Texans think about that law?

You see, our actions demonstrate what we think about a law.

• And when we speak evil against a brother or sister….an act that is forbidden by the law of God…we are judging that law as one that is not worth keeping.

And thus, notice the end of verse 11: “…if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.”

• When you speak against a brother…you are not a doer of the law.
• Instead you are judging the law as something foolish, crazy or not worthwhile.

So the first thing you do is you judge the law.

But now, notice the second thing you do when you speak against a brother or sister in Christ. Look at verse 12: There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy.”

 When you judge the law…you also judge the Lawgiver.

• If the law is a crazy law…and not worth keeping…what are you saying about the Lawgiver?
• If you say the law is crazy or foolish…or outdated…or insignificant…aren’t you saying the same about God?

Look at this in Matthew 15: 1-14…and notice how God feels about judging Him and His word as unworthy.

 1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3  And He answered and said to them, “And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 “But you say, ‘Whoever shall say to {his} father or mother, “Anything of mine you might have been helped by has been given {to God,} 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.’

 Now, notice the end of verse 6:  And {thus} you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

 By their actions they were saying, “the word of God is not right…it is not valid.”

• And neither is God.
• “God…and what he says…doesn’t matter.”

And because they do, look what God calls them.

7  “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. 9 ‘But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'”

And notice verses 10-14: And after He called the multitude to Him, He said to them, “Hear, and understand. 11 “Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?”

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up. 14            “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

 Brethren, we must be careful about judging the law…because when we do…we judge the Lawgiver….the One who is able to save and to destroy…with the emphasis on “destroy.”

Now, go back to James 4 and notice the end of verse 12. Notice the third thing we do when we speak evil against a brother. James says: But who are you who judge your neighbor?

• You may have heard that old cliché, “Who died and made you boss?”
• Well, when you speak evil against a brother that is exactly what you are doing.
• You are revealing an exaggerated view of your own importance.

Listen, when it comes to passing judgment on others…that is God’s business…and we better be careful about exalting ourselves up to or above Him.

Let me show you someone who did that. Look at Isaiah 14:12-14 with me.

 12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. 14    ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

 Who is Isaiah talking about here? Well, look at verse 4.

4          that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon,

 And look at the consequences of exalting yourself above God: Vs. 4  “How the oppressor has ceased, {And how} fury has ceased! 5 “The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers  6 Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes, which subdued the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution. 7 “The whole earth is at rest {and} is quiet; they break forth into shouts of joy. 8           “Even the cypress trees rejoice over you, {and} the cedars of Lebanon, {saying,} ‘Since you were laid low, no {tree} cutter comes up against us.’ 9 “Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; it arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; it raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. 10 “They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us. 11            ‘Your pomp {and} the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out {as your bed} beneath you, and worms are your covering.’

 When we start usurping God….placing ourselves on His level…we are playing dangerously.

• And we do that when we “speak against one another.”

So, let me close with this. It is called “Death or Life in Words.”

“A careless word may kindle strife, A cruel word may wreck a life;

A bitter word may hate instill; A brutal word may smite and kill;

A gracious word may smooth the way, A joyous word may light the day;

A timely word may lesson stress, A loving word may heal and bless.”

I think God is basically saying, “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.”

Saved By Works

SAVED BY WORKS?

 James 2:14-26

These verses here in James 2:14-26 are some of the most controversial verses in all of scripture.

• We have been commissioned by Christ “to go and make disciples of all nations’…and in doing so we are to “teach them to observe all that He has commanded us.”

 Now, to do that, one of the first things we must do is convince people that this is the word of God and to trust what the Bible says.

• One of the things that makes it so trustworthy and dependable is that it never contradicts itself.
• It doesn’t say one thing in one place…and then in another place say just the opposite.

Well, that is what makes this passage so controversial.

• What James says here seems to be a contradiction to what is taught else where in the Bible.

In fact, this passage seems so contradictory to other passages that some of the early religious reformers were not sure that James should even be a part of the Bible…

• And if it was to be a part of the Bible it should be considered an inferior book.

What is it about this passage that is so controversial…so seemingly contradictory?

• Well, let me show you.
• Look with me at Romans 4:1-5.

1          What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?2          For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God.3          For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”4          Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due.5          But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,

In this passage the Apostle Paul says that “Abraham was justified by faith“…and likewise for us, “the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, to him it is reckoned as righteousness.”

• So here, Paul says that you are “justified by faith and not by works.”

Look with me at Galatians 2:15-16.

15        “We {are} Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of law; since by the works of law shall no flesh be justified.

 Once again, Paul says that “no man is justified by works…but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

Now, turn back to James 2 and notice verse 24.

24        You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.  And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

 So, what you have is Paul saying that a man is justified by faith…and not by his works.

• But James says that a man is justified by his works…and not faith alone.
• So, which is right?

Is James contradicting what Paul has said?

• If so, if the Bible contradicts itself right here, you can discard it as a book that is confusing and can’t be trusted.

Which one is right….Paul or James?

Well, the answer is both.

• Both are right…they are simply talking to two different groups of people about two different situations.

Let’s go back to Romans and lets look at the context to understand what Paul is saying.

First, let’s go all the way back to chapter 3 and notice verse 1.

• What Paul says here in chapter 3 and 4…he says in reference to the Jews.

Now notice verse 21 and following.

• From what Paul says here you can get a pretty accurate idea of the way these Jews were thinking.
• Notice what he says.
• Now, Paul is going to talk to these Jews about “how you can be declared as righteous”…which is essential to being right with God.

“Now, apart from law”….completely and separate from law.

• “the righteousness of God has been manifested”…He has revealed it.
• “being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets“…the law and the prophets both testified to God righteousness.

Now, verse 22:

…even {the} righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

 That is the problem here.

• These Jews were refusing to believe in Christ.
• They were trying to save themselves…trying to obtain righteousness…by keeping the law….by their own human performance…or by their own works.

Basically, what they were saying is, “We can be good enough on our own to be saved.”

• “We can do enough works so that we can save ourselves…we don’t need Christ.”

Look with me at Romans 10 and notice what Paul says. Now here Paul is speaking about these Jews.

1          Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them (Jews) is for {their} salvation. (the Jews are lost).

2          For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God (they are very religious), but not in accordance with knowledge. (Paul says that their knowledge is faulty.)

3          For not knowing about God’s righteousness (justification by faith in Christ) and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. (They did not accept the principle of faith in Jesus.)

4          For Christ is the end (goal) of the law…(“end” here means “the point aimed at”…Christ is what the law was trying to achieve. The law showed that no one can be justified by their human performance. No one can be good enough. But Christ was. The law manifested the need for Christ)… for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5          For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. (Law keeping demands flawless obedience to every command which is impossible.)

6          But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),

7          or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” (Righteousness based on faith does not demand the impossible! Redemption is not based on human performance.)

8          But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”– that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, (Righteousness by faith says, “Just accept what God has already done in Christ. Not what you can do. It is impossible for anyone to earn salvation. It is God who initiated the coming of Christ. God makes salvation available. All we have to do is trust in what God has done.)

9          that if you confess (homolegeo – “one word” – to say the same thing about Christ that God says – this is my beloved Son..He is Lord)with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;

10        for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, (verbalizes his faith in Jesus) resulting in salvation.

 And look at vs. 11:  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

 These Jews were not believing in Christ…they were trying to save themselves by their works…and Paul’s point is…they couldn’t do it.

• With out Christ…they are lost.

Side note: Many will take this passage and say, “Paul says you can be saved without being baptized.” That is not what this passage is about. Paul has already dealt with baptism back in chapter 6. This passage is about Jews who were trying to save themselves by human performance…which is impossible…and their need to put their faith in Jesus and His performance on the cross.

Now, Galatians 2: 14 and 15. What is the context.? Well, let’s start in verse 11:

11        But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

12        For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he {began} to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

13        And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

14        But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how {is it that} you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

15        “We {are} Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles;

16        nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of  law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

 These men from James had come to Antioch (this does not mean that these men held the same views that James held. Acts 15 indicates that James did not agree with what these men did)…and what they were doing is they were saying, “Jesus isn’t enough to save you. ”

• “If you are going to be saved…you must combine the Jewish practice of circumcision with Christ.”
• In other words, “you must combine works of the flesh with faith.”

And in verse 16 Paul says, “works of the flesh has nothing to do with it…you are saved by faith in Christ.

Paul is talking to some Jewish converts who were trying to deny that salvation is in Christ and Christ only.

• They were saying, “Christ is good, but you need more. You must also keep the Law of Moses.”

Now, let’s go back to James 2:14 and see what James talking about?

 14        What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

 Notice who James is talking to here? He is speaking to His brethren.

And notice what the situation is.

“If a man says he has faith…”

• This is someone who “sincerely claims to believe in Christ.”
• This is someone who has confessed Jesus as Lord…has repented of His sins…and has been baptized into Christ.

But look what he is doing!

• “But he has no works…”
• In other words…he is not going to the assemblies….he is not praying…or studying…or giving…or teaching…or visiting the sick…or the widows…or the orphans….or encouraging…or supporting…or helping…
• He is not bearing any fruit in his own life.
• He is not maturing as a Christian because he is not allowing the word to shape him.
• He is still prejudiced against the poor…or against the Gentile.

Here is a guy who is just a Christian in word and not in deed.

• He is a “hearer of the word and not a doer.”
• And James says…that kind of faith…a faith that does not work… cannot and will not save him.

James is saying that a non-working, saved Christian is a contradiction in terms.

• You cannot claim to be a Christian…and still live like the world…
• You cannot claim to be a Christian…and not be an active servant busy doing the Lords will…and be saved.

So, what is the difference between what Paul says in Romans and Galatians…and what James says here.

• Very simply put, “You cannot be saved by your works…but once you are saved…you cannot be saved with out them.”

Look at how Paul says it in Eph. 2:8. And remember, this is Paul.

8          For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God;9          not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 There is no contradiction between what Paul says here and what James says in James 2.

• The only difference is, James seems to be more bold in how he says it than Paul is.

You cannot be saved by your works…you can only be saved by faith in Christ.

• But once you are saved…you cannot be saved with out them.

For Richer Or Poorer

FOR RICHER OR POORER

James 2:1-13

If you look at James chapter 1 verse 27, James says; This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

• And that last phrase is what I want you to notice.
• Pure and undefiled, sincere, active religion involves “keeping oneself unstained by the world.”
• And “unstained” literally means “unspotted; unblemished physically or morally.”
• And so what James is saying is, “Even though you hear these messages from the world, and you are bombarded by the temptations of the world every day, you are not to be stained by it. You do not let those things pollute you. You think the way God thinks. You act and live the way God wants you to act and live.”

Now I think it is interesting and intentional that immediately after James says that we are to “keep ourselves unstained by the world” that he goes immediately into chapter 2 and speaks of “showing favoritism or partiality.”

Look with me at vs. 1 again. First of all it is very important to understand who this is addressed to. James says,” My brethren.”

• The NIV says, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.”
• This is not written to politicians.
• James isn’t writing this letter to his governor or to the senate or whoever might make the laws of the land.
• He is not even writing to the general public.

 He starts off “My brothers” and this means that James’ goal was not to address cultural or societal problems even though they were very serious in his day

• We tend to think it’s really bad in our day and it is (all the prejudice, and hatred, and bias based on social standing, and cultural background, and race.
• But it was just as bad if not worse in James’ day.
• But that’s not what he was addressing. That’s not what he was trying to change.

He was writing to remind believers, and that’s you and me, to remind us that the prejudice, and bias, and favoritism, and racism have no place in the body of Christ.

• That is where James starts and stops.
• It’s not that he didn’t want these things to be part of their culture. The fact is, they were already part of the culture.
• He is writing to keep it out of the church!

 And he says,  My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.

• This is strong language. James says, “If you have a strong faith in our “glorious Lord”…you confidently believe that He is King of Kings and has all authority…and you believe the angels of heaven cry out, “Worthy is the Lamb” then; you are not to show favoritism.”
• The implication is, to claim to be a believer in Jesus and to show favoritism is a contradiction.

And there are two very key reasons why we, as believers in our glorious Lord, should never show  partiality in the body of Christ and the very first reason is that to be IMPARTIAL IS TO BE LIKE GOD.

• Look at these three passages.

First, Romans 2:11:   For there is no partiality with God.

Ephesians 6 9. Paul writes:  And, masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

And then Colossians 3 25: For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

These verses reveal to us  the heart of God and because it’s the heart of God it ought to be the heart of believers.

• We should bring no partiality and that means no prejudice, bigotry, racism or hatred for others of any other social class or standing into the church.
• It shouldn’t exist here and we could probably just leave these three passages as plenty of testimony and proof as to why those things should never be in the church.

But there’s another very, very, very, very important reason why bigotry and partiality and prejudice should never exist within the church and that is because they’ve all been abolished at the cross of Christ.

• Look with me at Galatians 3:26-29. The apostle Paul says: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

 Now, since you are “sons of God and since you have been baptized into Christ and clothed yourselves with him,” look what he says: 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek (Jew or Gentile), there is neither slave nor free man (to you and me in our culture we might say, poor or wealthy), there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• IN Christ, and in the body of Christ, those distinctions no longer exist.
• We are all one body in Christ.

And he goes on to say: 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

• What that means is that all people from all classes, all distinctions, all areas of life,  all socioeconomic backgrounds, religious persuasions, all races, it doesn’t matter, once they come to Christ once they embrace the cross of Christ, those distinctions are gone, they go away.
• IN Christ and at the cross we stand shoulder to shoulder; nobody stands over another; nobody stands above another; we are all sinners and because of His love, mercy and grace we are saved by saved by grace.

Look what Paul wrote in Romans 3. At the end of vs. 22, he says, …for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

• I don’t care how much money you make, I don’t care what your family lineage is, you have fallen short of the glory of God.
• And the consequences of “falling short of God’s glory” is death; Romans 6:23.

But when you and I come to Jesus, no matter who you are, Paul says in vs. 24 that “we are justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ.”.

When we’re living in a culture that is rife with racism and bigotry and hatred it’s important for us, as believers,  to remember that In the church it doesn’t matter what your income level is , or your skin color is,  or your popularity or your education level or your ethnic background is; those things don’t matter.

• No one in the body of Christ stands taller than anyone else.
• We are one in Jesus Christ and if we don’t get it we don’t understand the gospel.

Showing favoritism or partiality is something the world does; but it is not something that is to “stain the church.”

Now in verses 2 and 3 James gives us an example of two men walking into the same church one of them is wealthy, one of them is poor. (there are other standards used to make social distinctions; education; position or authority; perhaps even appearance or beauty. James uses perhaps the most common standard and that is money and wealth.)

• And he tells us in verse 4 that if we make a distinction between those two men we’ve actually done something that is evil.
• He says that “You become judges with evil motives? Some versions says, “Evil thoughts.”
• It is actually evil to make social class distinctions in the body of Christ.

What are some “evil motives?”

• Perhaps greed: “A rich man can put more money in the plate.” “Don’t care about his spiritual and moral life. What is important is that he is rich.”
• Perhaps prominence: “He can enhance our church attendance.”
• Perhaps personal benefit: “If I pay special attention to him, perhaps he will let me use his cabin in the mountains.”

 Whatever the motive or thought process is, becoming judges and making social distinctions in the church according to what we prefer and like goes completely against God’s will; it is to usurp God’s authority; and James says that to do that is “evil.”

 But look at another reason why it is wrong to show favoritism to the rich over the poor. Look at verse 5-7.

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

 Do you see what these brethren were doing.?

• They were despising the poor and in doing so, they were despising the very ones who were the most receptive to Christ.
• While at the same time they were honoring those who raged bitter hostility against them and who did damage to the name of Christ.

But that is what prejudice and bigotry often does.

• Prejudice and bigotry can be so strong that it can completely blind you to that which is sensible.
• Prejudice can so blind an individual that it actually causes hurt to themselves.

It is like the man who had a heart attack and yet refused to call the doctor because the doctor was a black man.

The point is, the people of God are not to be guilty of the sin of partiality.

• The church of Christ must be the one place where worldly standards of judgment and discrimination, and partiality are abandoned.
• In Christ, we are all equal.

Christians are never to show favoritism to rich men…nor are we to carry it too far and show favoritism to the poor.

• Instead, James says in verse 8 that we are to live by a higher and nobler standard.
• We are to live by “the royal law” which originates with Christ and is bound upon all within His kingdom.
• Look what it is in verse 8:

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

 Now vs. 9:  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

 You cannot keep the royal law and show partiality. It just won’t work.

But some will always try to excuse themselves.

• They will always try to come up with some way to justify their biases and prejudices.
• And that is what some of these people were doing.

They were taking the law of God and dividing it into a series of separate injunctions.

• And what they were saying is: To keep one of the laws was to gain credit.
• And to break one was to incur debt.
• And what really counted was, when you finished having more to your credit than to your debt.
• So, some laws you could violate just as long as you kept a positive credit to your account.

Well, James answers this notion in verses 10-11.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

 James says that the will of God is one great whole…all of which is to be kept.

• To break part of it is to break it all…and thus come under its condemnation.

So, when it comes to showing partiality, or making social distinctions in the church, what are we to do? Vs. 12:

12 So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. (We are going to be judged by the gospel of Christ; Romans 2:16) So we need to live accordingly. We are not to live according to what we might prefer or according to what the world might prefer.)

• Why?

13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy (in this context it is probably a reference to have a wrong attitude toward the poor. It is better to have mercy because; mercy triumphs over judgment.

 Whether it is caused by wealth…by race…by education…by looks…or any other thing…the temptation to show favoritism is a very real thing.

• But in Christ and because of Christ we are all equal…and because we are, when you/I are faced with this temptation to honor some more than others…you and I would be wise to quickly remove those “evil thoughts” from our minds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now That You Are Gods

NOW THAT YOU ARE GOD’S NEW CREATURE

James 1:19-27

If you would, look at verse 19 again.

19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

• You know, I really don’t want to hear this…and besides…I don’t know that I like what this says…so….rip out of Bible.

 Let’s look at verse 20 now.

…for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

• Here we go again, the Bible telling us what anger does…I tell you what…rip out of Bible.

 Look at verse 21: Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

• This is a little better but still…rip out of Bible.

Now, we have laughed a little at what I have been doing…but did you realize that this is exactly what James is telling us not to do in this passage?

Let me show you what I mean. Notice first of all verse 18.

• In verse 18 James tells us that we “have been brought forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.
• In other words, God, through His word…has made us one of His.

Now, I want you to notice verse 21. James says:

Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

• Some of these Christians had been brought to Christ by the Word.
• The word had been “planted in them.”
• But apparently, they were not “receiving the word” in such a way that they were living according to what the word teaches.

In fact, look at verse 19 again. James says: “Let every man be quick to hear.”

• They weren’t doing that.
• They had heard enough to know they had too be baptized in order to be saved.
• And, like a lot of people today… they had done that.
• When it comes to salvation…you better pay attention!

But after you are saved…well, that is a different thing.

• Everything else the Bible says isn’t quite so urgent…so important.

So, instead of paying ready attention to the word now that they had been baptized, they were “sluggish to hear.”

• They weren’t listening to it.

Look what else they were doing. James says: “Be slow to speak.”

• I am not sure that James is simply talking about conversation here…and telling us to talk slowly…or to be “slow with a response” so you don’t say the wrong thing.

I believe, in the context of what he is talking about here, James is telling these people, “You be slow to contradict what the word says.”

• Apparently, from what verse 21 says, some of these brethren were saying, “the Bible doesn’t mean what it says.”
• “I know the Bible says we aren’t supposed to be bigoted and despise our Gentile brothers…but they never have been and never will be on the same level as we are.”
• James is saying, “You be slow to talk back to the word…to contradict it.”

And then James says: “Be slow to anger.”

• They didn’t like to be told about their sins.
• The word told them that they were “prejudiced and bigoted.”
• “Why, just because you are rich you think you are closer to God than the poor man.”
• When the word exposes you for what you are, it can make you mad!
• Do remember when Jesus cleansed the temple of the money changers…and rebuked the chief priests with a quote form Isaiah and Jeremiah?
• Remember what they wanted to do afterward.
• Mark 11:18 says that they started trying to “find a way they could destroy Him.”
• And over in Mark 12, Jesus teaches some of the priests the parable of the vineyard…and how the workers killed all those that the vineyard owner sent to collect the rent.
• And when Jesus gets through teaching them…they get so mad that they want to seize Him…and the only reason they don’t is they are afraid of the crowds.

Apparently, some of these brethren that James is writing to  were doing the same thing.

• They were getting mad at the word.
• So, in essence they were doing just what I was doing.
• “I don’t want to hear this…besides…I don’t like what it says…

Well, if you do that, notice what happens. Vs. 20: You can never achieve the “righteousness of God.”

• And Romans 8:10 says that the “spirit that lacks righteousness is dead.”

 Brethren, it is a dangerous thing to be sluggish in hearing…or sluggish in istening to the word…to be quick to contradict it…and to be quick to get angry when it convicts us.

So now, look at verse 21. There is something very interesting here:

 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

• Isn’t this interesting.
• Up in verse 18 James refers to these same people as those “brought forth by the word to be first fruits among His creatures.”
• But now he says, “put aside all filthiness and wickedness and receive the word implanted…which is able so save your souls.”
• In verse 18 they are saved…but now in verse 21 they are not?
• What is the deal.

Well, James answers for us in verse 22.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (NIV – “deceive themselves)

• It is not enough to just hear the word and not obey it.
• It is not enough to just keep part of the word and ignore the rest of it.
• If we think that we can be baptized unto salvation…and then just ignore the rest of the Bible…and live any way we want.
• Or ignore the commands that we as Christians are to follow…then like James says here…we are only lying to

Look with me at 1 John 2: 3-6.

• In this passage John is dealing with some people who claimed to have fellowship with God…and who claimed to love God…even though they didn’t “keep His commandments.”
• Look what he says:

3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 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; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Yes, when you obey the word of God and are baptized for the forgiveness of your sins…you are saved.

• But if you stop there…and you don’t obey His other teachings…if you just ignore the rest of what Christ tells you…then you can and will lose your salvation.

In fact, go back to James 1. Look at verse 23-24:

 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

• In these two verses James uses a brief parable to illustrate his point.
• He speaks of a man looking in a mirror.

He says, “When a man looks in the mirror he sees his natural face.”

• Now, why do we normally look in a mirror?
• Normally, we look in a mirror to see how we look…to see if we are dressed ok…or if we are groomed properly.
• The man who looks in can see if he needs to shave…or wash his face.
• He can see what he needs to do to make himself look right.

But if he looks in the mirror and sees what needs to be done…and then neglects to do it…then his time looking in the mirror was wasted.

So it is with the man who looks in God’s mirror…the word of God.

• As he looks into the word of God he sees the ideal face or character that God would have him be.
• And by contrast, he sees his own faults in his moral and spiritual character.
• And he realizes that he needs to make some changes to be what God wants him to be.

But if he sees his faults as the word reveals them…and yet he does nothing about it…his hearing the word is useless…and his time is wasted.

This is our mirror (Bible)…and in it we can see what God wants us to be…and we can see, by contrast, our blemishes and faults.

• For us to look at it…and then neglect or ignore the changes that we need to make…is a waste.

But now look at verse 25:

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.

 Brethren, it is not and has never been enough to just hear the word. We must live it…obey it…and apply it.

Now: James tells us some things that illustrate how a man may be only a hearer of the word.  Look at verse 26.

 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

• The word “religious” has to do with attending services…or attending church.
• So here you have a guy that “attends services” and thinks of himself as being a religious man….and gives others that impression.

But notice, James says that his religion is worthless if it is not sincere.

• And notice what it is that reveals his insincerity…his tongue.

We can claim to be a Christian all day long….we can come to church every Sunday…we can know all that the word tells us about coming to church.

• But if we do not do what the word says…if we are not sincere…it is a waste…and our religion is in vain.

And now, verse 27: This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 It is not enough to know what you are to do…you must do it.

 We can claim to be as religious as we can be….we can claim to be a devoted Christian.

• But if we tear out that which we don’t want to practice…or that we refuse to do….and throw it away…we only deceive ourselves into thinking that we are what God wants us to be.

Here is another passage that some tear out: Acts 2:38.

And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Do Not Be Deceived

DO NOT BE DECEIVED

James 1: 13-18

If you would, look at verse 16 again. James says: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

 It can happen can’t it?

• Christians can be deceived.
• In fact, there is nothing that Satan wants more.
• It is satisfying to Satan when he can deceive the man who is not a Christian and hold him captive.
• But it is especially gratifying to Satan when he can deceive a Christian.

If Satan can deceive a Christian he has taken him captive again.

• And if he can deceive a Christian he can neutralize that Christian’s influence.
• More than that, if he can deceive a Christian, he can use that Christian to his benefit.
• He can use that Christian to deceive other Christians and cause them to sin and turn away from God.
• There is nothing that Satan wants more than to deceive a Christian.

And that is especially true in reference to what James speaks of here in these verses.

In these verses some of these Christians were being persuaded to believe some things about God that weren’t true.

• And James is going to set them straight.
• And in doing so, James possibly sets some things straight for some of us as well…because today, people believe these same things, and because they do, some of us have been persuaded to believe them too.

So let’s look at this passage and learn some things that will help us NOT TO BE DECEIVED.

Look at verse 13. James says: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

 Now, let me explain what was apparently happening.

• These brethren were experiencing some difficult hardships or trials.
• In verse 1 James says these people were “dispersed.”
• The reason they were “dispersed” was because of severe persecution.
• So these people were enduring some serious trials.

Now, with every “trial”…comes a “temptation.”

• In fact, in this passage the Greek word for “trial” and “temptation” is one and the same.
• God allows us to be “tried” in order to “test” or prove our faith.
• But at the same time that God is allowing us to be “tested” Satan is tempting us to do wrong.

We see this several times in scripture.

During the Exodus, when Israel went into the wilderness, they faced many “tests” of their faith in God.

• And with each “test” came a “temptation” to go back to Egypt.

Job’s faith was “tested”…and with each “test” Satan “tempted” him to “curse God and die.”

When the Holy Spirit led our Lord into the wilderness His faith was “tested” and with each “test” Satan “tempted” Him to disobey God.

With every trial or hardship there is a “test or proving” of our faith; and with every hardship that “tests” our faith…comes a “temptation” to sin.

Now, the people that James is writing to knew that God sometimes “tests” our faith….and allows our faith to be “tested.”

• And because He does, they were concluding that God also “tempts” us to sin too.

Now, I suppose there are many ramifications (consequences) to this idea, but I want to show you just one. Look with me at Genesis 3.

• Here in Genesis 3, you know the story, Adam and Eve have eaten from the forbidden tree…and they have lost their innocence.
• And God comes walking in the garden…and they hide from God.
• And God says, “Where are you?’

And the man says in verse10, “I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

 And God says, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

 Now, notice verse 12. “And the man said, “The woman who Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate it.”

 Do you see what Adam is saying? “God, it is your fault! It’s not my fault!”

• By believing that God tempted them…they could make excuse for anything they wanted to.

If it is God’s fault then I am not the one to blame and I am not guilty and I don’t need Christ!

• “Lord, I wouldn’t have lied if you weren’t allowing me to go through this test.”
• “It is your fault Lord.”

“Lord, I wouldn’t have abandoned my wife and kids if you hadn’t allowed me to go through this hardship.”

If it is God’s fault…then we can excuse anything we do.

• “It is God’s fault that he is homosexual.”
• “It is God’s fault that he is bitter and angry…after all, look what happened to his family.”

If God is the source of the temptation, we can excuse anything we want too.

And, if it is God’s fault that we commit sin; and then God turns around and punishes us for the sin we commit; that isn’t fair; and that isn’t right; and that isn’t just.

• And by making God “unfair, and unjust, and unrighteous”; by making God out to be the “bad guy” the whole foundation of Christianity is destroyed because Christianity is built on the righteousness and goodness of God.

So in verse 13 James says, “Don’t you do this!”

• “Don’t you lay your sins at God’s door.”
• “Don’t you blame your sins on Him!”

Do you want to know where temptation comes from? Look at verse 14 and 15.

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

 That is where temptation comes from.

• You want to blame temptation and sin on someone, look at yourself!

Don’t blame God…don’t undermine His good nature…don’t accuse Him of being the “bad guy.”

In fact, notice the end of verse 15 again. James says that “sin brings forth death.”

• Now, you want to accuse God of being the “bad guy”…well, watch what James says; Verse 16 again.

 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.”

• Every thing good…no matter what it is…comes from God.
• And many of the good things He gives us are not dependent on us returning our love back to Him.

Paul says in Acts 17 that God gives to all “life, breath, and all things“…even when some people stand and curse Him.

• Jesus says in Matthew 5:45 that God blesses us with rain and sun…even though some are evil and unrighteous.

And notice this. James says that He is the “Father of lights.”

• He sends us the lights of the heavenly bodies as well as the spiritual lights to guide us.
• But unlike the light of day that creates shadows…and then dims…God is ever constant in sending forth his love and blessings on us.
• Even when we don’t always love Him in return.

Everything good comes from God…and it just keeps coming and coming…even when we don’t appreciate it.

• The greatest example of this is Christ!
• God poured out His goodness on us through His Son…and people killed Him.
• And even today people deny Him…curse Him…reject Him.
• Even some of us who claim to be His disciples and devoted to Him…often don’t have time for Him.
• And yet, He still makes Himself available to us every day.

Don’t tell me that God is the “bad guy”, that He is unjust, unrighteous, and unfair.

And that is not all…look at verse 18.

 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.

• You want me to tell you how “bad” God is.
• He is so “bad” and mean that in verse 15…you were dead in your sins.
• But because of Him…here in verse 18…you are given “life!”

Don’t tell me that God is “the bad guy”…and don’t you be telling others that God is the “bad guy.”

• He sends only good things and sends them constantly.

And we say, “I would never tell anyone that God is bad.”

• Oh, but wait a minute.
• We may not intentionally do it, but never the less…we sometimes do.

Someone’s baby dies and we say, “God wanted another little angel…so He took yours.”

• Someone’s husband dies and we say, “God needed a good man…so He took him.”

Do you understand what we are saying in that situation?

• When that baby dies that is a horrible experience for that mother.
• And when we say, “God took your baby”…we are telling that mother that God doesn’t care about you…and that God is selfish, and cruel.

Let me tell you who took that baby.

• Death took that baby…and death took that husband……whether it took them by cancer…or heart attack…or SID’s…death stole them away.
• And in 1 Corinthians 15 Paul says that death is an enemy.
• And it is only because God is good…and because of God’s love, and mercy and grace…that we have any hope at all in the face of death!

Death stole them away…but it is God who can give them life again!.

• And we have got to quit, even in an innocent way, telling people that God is the “bad guy.”

Maybe that is why James says what he does in verse 19. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

 When we are confronted with a situation where death has come in…maybe we need to think before we speak.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above.”

Let’s sing a song…and if you have a need that we can help you with…we want you to come as we stand and sing.

 

© Sunset Ridge Church of Christ 2024