A Journey through the Judges

We are going to be starting a new study very soon in the Book of Judges.  This all came about when I was watching Priscilla Shirer teach on Gideon (I highly recommend that study).  Often time we hear about the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land but we don't often hear sermons about what happened when they got there.  Life wasn't all rosy for the Children of Israel when they finally made it to Canaan and a lot of it was their own doing.  However, there is much to be learned as we walk with the Israelites through this time in their lives.  We will see God's discipline come down hard on them but also His amazing grace, mercy and compassion.

I am looking forwarding to doing this study and I trust we will learn a lot together.  I love to hear what God is saying to you through these studies as I learn from you also.  Don’t forget to send me a message on Facebook or by email.  If you prefer twitter let me know. J

A powerful weapon

James 5:13-20

 

 

As we read this last segment of James 5 I wonder if we truly believe what it says.  Think of a time when you were in trouble.  What was the first thing that you did in response to that trouble?  What about your second or third response?  Was one of them prayer?  I hope for all of us that prayer would be a natural response to trouble.  Some of us are fix it people, some are head in the sand kind of people and some of us just want to go and hide altogether when it comes to trouble.  However, when we go into battle whether it be a small or big one we need to be ready.  Our “armour” shouldn’t be too far away.  Paul talks of the Armour of God in Ephesians 6.  Once you get through all the pieces of armour that you are to put on what is the final thing he says?  “…Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the saints” (Eph 6:18)  After the armour we are to pray, pray and pray.  Prayer is a powerful weapon in a believer’s hand.  Do we really use it?  Whether you are a believer in the God of the Bible or not at some time in your life you have probably prayed.  However, we need to think about who we are praying to.    A verse that keeps crossing my path these days in one way or another is Ephesians 3:20.  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” Not only do we serve and love a God who answers our prayers in accordance with His will but He goes above and beyond that.  The words “exceedingly” and “abundantly” are not describing someone who just does the bare minimum to get by but Someone who can blow your mind and can answer your prayer request in a way that you could never dream about. Stop and think about that for a moment.

Did you really stop and take time to think????

Last night we had some friends over and they were telling us about a recent flight that MAF did for an organization who takes teams into war torn and suffering communities and ministers to them both physically and spiritually.  If you didn’t know the people who were telling these stories you would think they were made up.  However, God is doing an amazing work, the lame are walking again and the blind are seeing.  As our friend said last night some of the stories sound like something straight out of the pages of the New Testament.  God is still in the business of answering our prayers but are we bold enough to pray those big prayers.

In our James passage verse 16B says “…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (NLT).  Are we earnest in our prayers or do we just flippantly send a prayer skywards hoping it gets God’s attention?  Some words that describe earnest are deep, intense and sincere.  Does that describe our prayer lives?  Maybe some of us need to make an adjustment.

Prayer is not just asking things of God and hoping that He will do something about it but it is also a time just to praise Him for who He is.  When we know who we are talking to and know His character it brings Him more alive in our lives.  We trust Him more, we talk to Him more, we involve Him in our lives more and we have a heart that is full of thankfulness. 

I encourage you to click on the following link Names and Attributes of God from the website of the Navigators.  Read through the list.  What name or attribute did you need to be reminded of today in this season of your life? 

In 5:17 we are reminded that Elijah was just a man like us and yet he prayed two audacious prayers regarding rain.  God answered both of them.  Do we have that kind of faith in our God when we pray?  What is going on in your life right now that you need to take to the Lord in prayer, believing that you are talking to a God who answers?  He might just blow your mind away at what He will do if you are willing to take that daring step.

Don't lose heart in the tough times

James 5: 7-12

Being asked to be patient in times of suffering seems like a contradiction.  Often this is the very time we don’t want to be patient.  We want the trial or difficulty to be over quickly so that we can move onto the fun and happy moments in life.  However, as I have mentioned in our Bible studies it is in the times of struggle that we learn the most and lean on God more fervently (or we should be J).  In history we find that it’s the persecuted church which is the church that is flourishing not the one that is just coasting along in life. 

You don’t have to look too far to see persecution happening.  This morning I was reading on the Voice of the Martyrs website (click the following link to read some of the stories Voice of the Martyrs) about people who have endured the unthinkable for their faith in Christ and yet their faith didn’t waver.  It makes you think that if you were in a similar situation what would you do as a believer.  Read the following story about how a difficult situation was the turnaround in this young believers’ life Indonesia: An Explosive Change

So James commends us to be patient.  In the Greek it goes one step further and says don’t lose heart.  When trials go on for what seems to be forever James is saying keep going, persevere and don’t give up.  As I write this Hebrews 12:1-3 comes to mind.  We are not the only ones that have gone through difficult times but there is a cloud of witnesses that have gone before us who have stood the test of time.  We are to fix our eyes on Jesus and to remember what Jesus went through at the hands of sinful men.  The author of Hebrews encourages us to not grow weary or lose heart and to take a lesson out of Jesus’ life.

Sometimes, in the midst of difficulty, we just need to know that it is not forever.  Just as the farmer waits patiently for the seasons to come and go and then for him to harvest so are we to be patient.  We are called to stand firm and have a bigger perspective on our situation.  The Lord is near!  Jesus is coming back and we need to be ready and be expectant for that time.

It is interesting that we are called to stand firm.  Not quake in our shoes or hide in a hole.  The Greek version says to make stable, set fast, to strengthen, to render constant and to confirm in one’s mind.  Does this describe us when we are going through a time of trial?  Sometimes our natural go to response is to grumble and complain.  We just need to look at the example of the Israelites and how many times they grumbled against God.  Some of us would blend in very well with the Israelites in their times of discontentedness.   However, we are told not to do it as there is a time of judgement whereby we will be judged on how faithful we were in the time we had on earth.  We need to be an example to those around us in our time of hardship.  Thankfully we don’t have to go through it alone.  God provides in our times of need.
James writes of the prophets who endured intense suffering and yet they remained faithful.  He points out Job specifically which shows us what God can do through our tough times and although it may feel long in coming we serve a God who is full of compassion and mercy.

James encourages us to live lives of integrity.  We should not be double minded in our dealings with people.   James quotes from the Sermon on the Mount in these last verses.  (Matthew 5:33-37).  Also look at Colossians 3:9-10.  We are commended to have a heart that is honest and transparent.  Let our yes be yes and our no be no.  May we be a reflection of Jesus to those who don’t know Him.

Justice will prevail against rich oppressors

How do you eat an elephant?  The answer:  One bite at a time.  That is what we are going to do with Chapter 5.  We are going to take it one bite at a time.  So for this time around we will only cover the first six verses of chapter 5.

The disparity between rich and poor can be seen in any country you visit.  However, in some countries it just seems more visible.   Examples of this could be when you walk in a neighbourhood where the sewage runs right past the front door of living quarters, when a family of 7 all live and do life together in one small room,  where people queue up for drinking water at the nearest water spout as they don’t have access to it in their homes,  when having electricity is a luxury and the examples go on.

For some people it is difficult to reconcile those who have and those who don’t.  It just doesn’t seem fair somehow.  However, in this passage we see the other side of the story for those who are rich and oppress those who do not have.  Notice I didn’t just say rich J  Being rich is relative.  If I don’t have much money in the bank but I have running water and electricity then I am richer than someone else.  There will also be someone richer and there will also be someone poorer than ourselves.  However, the point is what do we do with our riches?  Where does our full dependence lie?  Is it in God or in our own natural resources?   Are we using our riches against those who do not have?

James warns those who are rich and have no regard for God and His ways.  He says that one day all that you have will be gone.  The clothes you valued so much and the money that you stored.  It will be destroyed.  It doesn’t last forever.  You have made wealth your god and it will destroy you.

The cries of those who have suffered under rich tyrants do not go unnoticed by God.  Notice in verse 4 that the cries have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.   At some point in time God will make it right.  For those who can’t find justice in this world are promised that God will put all wrongs to right.  He will make it right in His time.

Depending on the version of Bible you have it might say Lord Almighty or it might say Lord of Hosts.    This means armies.  The rich oppressors who have no regard for God in these days will be powerless when they come before the Lord Almighty.  He is seen as Commander in Chief, as one Pastor put it.   For those who are, in Christ, we serve a God who is in complete control.  Justice will be served at the appointed time.  Let us just make sure that we are on the right side.

A Battleground...whose side are you on?

James 4

Just recently our home group finished a DVD series on marriage.  It was quite an eye opener and provoked a lot of discussion.  At the end of the series we were encouraged to take a personality test.  This was to enable us to understand our spouses better and to focus on what was right and not what was wrong J  Out of the 4 categories (Peace, Perfect, Control and Fun) peace was my top category with fun following behind.  I have never liked disharmony and either want to run from it or fix it but I never want to live in it for any length of time.

In James 4 it starts out the chapter by talking about fights and quarrels that happen between people.  Where do they come from according to v1?  They come from within us.  Until we die there will always be a battle between our flesh and our spirit, the root cause being SIN.  Max Lucado in his book “come thirsty” says that “sin sees the world with no God in it”….we might think of sin as slip ups or missteps but God views sin as a godless attitude that leads to godless actions.  Isaiah 53:6 says that all of us have strayed like sheep.  We have left God’s path to follow our own way.  The sinful mind dismisses God and celebrates its middle letter.  What is the middle letter of sIn?  Ephesians 2:3 says that we gratify our sinful natures.  We often do the opposite of what we are supposed to…we hate instead of love, we look for revenge rather than forgive, indulge our sinful desires rather than exhibit self-control.

Sin for a season quenches our thirst but sin is like salt water, it doesn’t satisfy our thirst for long before we want more. 

 When we read these first verses of James 4 children often come to mind.  It is like James is talking about someone having a temper tantrum because they don’t get what they want.  Sometimes we don’t get what we want because we simply haven’t asked God.  We have talked about it but we haven’t gone to the One who loves to give good gifts to His children.  NB Sometimes it is good to write down what we do have from God and not focus on what we don’t have.  It changes our heart and perspective and makes us more grateful.  Anyway, back to the passage.  Often times we don’t get what we want because we ask with wrong motives.  The purpose of prayer is to get God’s will accomplished on earth not my will done on earth.  Once we understand this then we will be more in tune with God and start asking for the right things; the things that God wants us to have.  Praying is not giving orders to God but it is reporting for duty.  What does God want me to do?

 James uses some strong language in this passage.  He calls us adulterous people if we are friends with the world. God called the people of Israel adulterers when they worshipped false gods and so we are also adulterers if we worship the things of this world.  If we were honest with each other what do we put before God in our lives?  Our family, our jobs, our hobbies, our successes, our status, wealth, health what else?  Pride was the downfall of Satan and can be the downfall of us also.  “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (verse 6b).  This is counter cultural.  We need to go against the flow of this world.

 Submission is not often seen as a positive word and yet we see it in various contexts in Scripture.  Here in James he tells us to submit to God.  What is submission?  Some synonyms of submission are obedience and compliance.  We often don’t want to be obedient to God or be compliant with Him. It can be a battle and yet God is asking that of us.  He asks us to submit to Him which will cure us of our worldliness.  We can’t serve two masters.  We are to flee from the Devil.  The Devil has been around for a long time.  He knows what makes us tick.  He knows what distracts us.  He knows what brings us down.  He knows what buttons to push.  We need to be aware of this and resist and run.  Notice James doesn’t say just turn the other way or stroll in a different direction but flee.  That means run for your life.  Let us not become comfortable with sin.  Let us acknowledge what it is and deal with it.  We are called to wash our hands, purify our hearts and to grieve the sin that is in our lives.  It is serious and not be taken lightly.

In 4:11-12 we are told not to slander each other.  It is not an option.  Just run through your day today.  Who did you judge today?  Whose reputation did you tarnish today?  These are hard questions but necessary ones.  James has his boxing gloves on and he is hitting us where it hurts so we do something about it.  One Pastor said that you cannot throw mud at somebody without you yourself getting dirty in the process.  Remember don’t prEy on people but prAy with people and for people.

For those of us who love to have a planned well organized life would do well to read the next section more than once.  I am not however saying that planning is bad but we need to hold our plans loosely and not boast about how great they are.  This planet we call home is just a temporary dwelling place.  One day we will be moving on.  If we had that idea at the forefront of our minds on a daily basis would it change the way we plan our day?  Our trust should not be in our well thought out plan but in God whom we can trust 100% no matter what comes in our day.  Let us be mindful of the time we have and use it wisely.

 James says that if we know what is right and we don’t do it then we sin.  This can be looked at in two ways; either we are doing something we shouldn’t be doing or there is something we should be doing but we are not doing.  Sin literally means to transgress and overstep God’s law.  We are choosing to turn from what is right to something that is wrong.  Sin is a violation against God and who He is.  We would be wise to deal with our sin on a short leash and not let it run wild.

 John 16:5-16 tells us that although Jesus died and went to be with His father He left us the Holy Spirit who is our counselor, who brings conviction, and is our guide.  He will lead us to what is true and right.  By reading God’s word and then allowing the Holy Spirit control in our lives we don’t need to wander around wondering if what we are doing is right.  We will know.

 

Spend a few moments in quietness just seeking God and asking Him to show you areas in your life that need to be opened up to him.  Are the rooms in your heart that are sealed closed?  Don’t keep these rooms in darkness let the light in.

What would we wish for?

James 3:13-18

If God were to grant you one thing what would you ask for?  Some people might say an end to world hunger, sickness and disease or maybe an end to terrorism or wars.   Solomon in 1 Kings 3 was granted such an opportunity.  In verse 5 it talks of God coming to Solomon in a dream with God saying to Solomon “Ask, what shall I give you”.  Solomon’s answer comes in verse 9.  Ultimately he asked for wisdom; wisdom to be able to discern good from evil and to govern God’s people.  Because of Solomon’s unselfish request God gives him what he asks for.

In this section in James it talks about wisdom.  What is wisdom?  James helps us with this but let us look at the dictionary definition for a moment.  Wisdom is described from the Encarta dictionary as “the ability to make sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience”.  How does the Bible describe wisdom well let us look at a few verses from Proverbs

Proverbs 2:6New Life Version (NLV)

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom. Much learning and understanding come from His mouth.

Proverbs 2:10New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy

Proverbs 4:5New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ Get wisdom; develop good judgment.   Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.

Proverbs 8:11New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.   Nothing you desire can compare with it.

These are just a couple of examples of the benefits of wisdom taken from the Book of Proverbs but there is so much more.  Solomon learned at a young age that wisdom was of great value. 

Is wisdom something we desire?  I hope so.  When we look at the passage in James we see that wisdom can be seen in our actions.  James is comparing the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God and there is a great difference.  We see that in the outcome of the wisdom.  With God’s wisdom we know that it is pure, peaceable, gentle and open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  Does that describe us?  Or does the wisdom of the world describe us?  Bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, boastful, liars, earthly, unspiritual and demonic.  Wow that is quite the list.  I am sure none of us would want to be described by the latter.  However, sometimes it is good to do a spiritual self-examination to see where we are at.

In the first sentence we see a link between wisdom and understanding.  There needs to be knowledge and understanding along with wisdom.  John McArthur puts it like this. “The simple distinction is that wisdom probably relates to the application of principles whereas understanding relates to the understanding of those principles or the knowledge of those principles. One would have more impact on the mind and one might have more impact on the conduct. But basically they have to do with the same thing. You can't be wise if you don't understand and you can't really understand if you're not wise.”
Sometimes looking at the very opposite of something gives even greater meaning.  Here are two antonyms for wisdom, they are stupidity and ignorance.  None of us would want to be declared stupid or ignorant and yet that is what we are if we are seeking after earthly wisdom which in reality is no wisdom at all.  What choices are you making in your life?  For your family, your future, in your job,  personally?  May we all desire wisdom of the Godly kind and be self-aware when it is not.

Tongue Trouble

James 3: 1-12

As I read this familiar passage about taming the tongue it brought to mind the character of Mrs. Oleson in the series, The Little House on the Prairie.  Joshua and Zara have been going through some of the episodes of this series and it brings up some interesting discussions in our family.  For those who have never watched this series or seen the character Mrs. Oleson then I had better explain.  She and her husband own the village store and she thinks she is better than most people who live in the town.  She is quick with her tongue which, in turn, causes great angst for many of the people living there but especially for the Ingalls family.  Her children are no different to her in many ways with their nasty comments and uppity and spoilt behavior.  When you watch an episode whereby Mrs. Oleson is up to her tricks you want justice to prevail.  You desire for her to get what is coming to her because of the rude comments and meanness that often comes out of her mouth which then guides her behaviour.  However, it got me thinking as to whether or not we are much different than Mrs. Oleson at times.  It is not always fun to look in the mirror but very necessary.

In looking at this issue of taming the tongue it made me realize how our tongues are slippery little trouble makers.  Once the words are out there is no pulling them back in.  If the words are unkind or unsavoury the only recourse we have is damage control.  The damage that Mrs. Oleson's words have on the people she comes in contact with can be devastating.  This is, of course, a fictitious story but we have all been there when people have said mean things or we have watched the effect of our mean words on someone else.  It is not a pretty sight.  I am sure all of us have heard stories of people who have had things said to them in childhood that still affects them today in adulthood.  That comment even said in jest can have distressing and long lasting effects.

James starts of this passage by saying that not all people should presume to be teachers, meaning teachers of God’s Word because those who are will be judged more severely.  What a sobering thought.  Just think of the influence a teaching Pastor has over his congregation or anyone who is teaching God’s Word.  It would make you want to run in the opposite direction if you were not sure that was what God was calling you too.  We also need to be obedient to what God has called us to and how we use the gifts and talents He has given us.  However, it is good not to go into such a role flippantly.

James goes onto say that we all stumble.  Not just some of us but ALL of us.  If we were perfect then we wouldn’t have an issue with taming our tongue.  It is amazing to think that man has put people on the moon, found cures for diseases that once were incurable, technology has increased in mind-blowing proportions over the last 100 years and yet the little fleshy organ inside our mouth has never been able to be tamed since man was created.  James uses the examples that animals can be tamed, a ship can be steered by a small rudder and a forest of woodland can be destroyed in no time by a small spark.  Our tongues are small in relation to most parts of our body but that small part of the body affects the whole.  Our tongues direct our lives.  Our tongues direct our behavior.  Our tongues direct how people treat us.  One of the characters in the series Little House on the Prairie will, on occasion, say “…do I really have to deal with Mrs. Oleson?”  “Do I really have to talk with her?”   If our tongues are not tamed if affects our relationships with each other.  We desire to have close relationships and yet we get the opposite of what we desire.  We can push people away.

One Pastor said that the only person that can tame our tongue is God.  He is the only one that can change our hearts, tame our tongues and correct our behavior.  Have a look at Proverbs 10:19-21.  How many of us are talkers?  How many of us can keep talking without hardly taking a breath?  What does Proverbs 10:19 say?  We need to be careful.  Sometimes the best option is to barricade that little organ behind your God given cage (set of teeth and lips) and be quiet.  Even if you are thought not to be wise you will be seen wise just because you can keep your mouth shut.

It is amazing that one minute we can be sitting in church, prayer meeting or Bible study singing God’s praises and saying Amen and Amen to what a Pastor has said and yet 5 minutes outside of those meetings and we are talking negatively about somebody who has been made in the image of God.  We do it over and over again.  James uses the analogy of fresh and salt water and then also the idea of a fig tree and a grapevine.   We would not expect those things to give the opposite of what they were created for and yet we accept it in our lives.   If we call ourselves to be Christ followers then our speech should be different.  Sadly, this is not always the case.

Sometimes I think we would be more careful about what and how we say something if we were the one on the receiving end of our tongue.  Just recently I heard someone say that they couldn’t believe the horrible things that were said about another person on social media.  It is incredible how much more we will say about someone else when we don’t have to tell it to their face.  Our tongues can do irrevocable damage so we need the wisdom of God to know when to speak and when to keep silent.  One Pastor commented that if we need wisdom we only need to turn to the Book of Proverbs.  There are some real gold nuggets in there.  Proverbs 4:20-27 talks about guarding our hearts for it is the wellspring of life and keeping corrupt talk from our lips.  Having the knowledge about what to do is not enough.  We need to be putting it into action.  It is amazing how we try and teach our children to say and do the right thing and yet who is correcting us?  We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading as we walk through each day as the flesh and the Spirit are constantly at war within us.  Hopefully there is also someone in our lives who can gently correct us when needed as we all need it.

Challenge

Think back over your day and the conversations you have had with people.  Then read Colossians 3:12-17 and Colossian 4:6.  How well did you do?

Faith and Works

“Put your money where your mouth is” is a statement that most of us have heard before.  Our mouths can shoot of big boasts but when it comes to putting those things into action it can be another thing entirely.  You just need to listen to a group on children in the car on the drive back from school.  They make great boasts in front of their friends and you wonder if half of what they are saying is indeed reality.

This leads us to our passage in James; James on faith without works is dead.  At times in history James has been accused of teaching salvation comes by works but I don’t believe that is what he is teaching at all.  I believe he is teaching that we see someone’s faith by what they do.  It is putting our faith into action.  The Apostle Paul is an example of this.  He had a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus.  He made a complete turnaround from persecuting the believers to joining them.  Can you imagine Paul, who in Acts 8:1, welcomed the approval of Stephen’s stoning and sought to destroy the church in Jerusalem by dragging men and women from their homes and putting them in prison to hear Paul saying in Acts 9:20 that Jesus is the Son of God.  Paul was known for his war on believers and so it would have been difficult for people just to believe that Paul had turned completely around on words alone.  Later in Acts 9:26 it says that Paul went to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples.  Stop and think this through for a minute.  If you had been one of the disciples at that time how would you have felt when Paul walked into your midst?  You probably wouldn’t have welcomed him with open arms knowing his more than shaded background and you might have experienced a tinge of fear.  However, we see the faith that Barnabas had in Paul’s dramatic conversion which encouraged others to accept Paul and his new found faith.

I am not going to get technical about the age old debate of faith alone verses faith and works.  I will leave that up to the scholars to debate that one.  However, I do believe that our faith in God should produce good works.  Our salvation should be evidenced by the change in our lives.  We see in James 2:19 that even the demons believe there is one God, however their belief doesn’t change them.  There is no obedience in their belief.  There is no transformation.  This brings about a serious question.   What about those who profess to believe in God but there is no evidence of a transformed life?   Are they truly saved or not?  I will let you ponder that one. J

If we were to define faith what would our definition be?  Let us look at Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (NIV)  Another way of looking at is that faith is the opposite of doubt.  An everyday example of this would be when I get in our car to drive somewhere and I have the faith that my brakes are going to work.  I don’t think about it I just believe and trust that they won’t fail me.  If I did doubt it would be a difficult drive in the car any time I went anywhere.  I would be anxious and worry throughout the whole journey.  God doesn’t want us to live like that. In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Paul explains that our faith comes from God and, it is gifted to us by Him.  We are not saved by our works but good works should come naturally out of the faith given to us by God. 
Here are what some other peoples thoughts on the issue at hand.  I think they say it quite succinctly.

 "But James has quite another thing in view, even to shew that he who professes that he has faith, must prove the reality of his faith by his works. Doubtless James did not mean to teach us here the ground on which our hope of salvation ought to rest; and it is this alone that Paul dwells upon." (Calvin)

Works must accompany a genuine faith, because genuine faith is always connected with regeneration - being born again, becoming a new creation in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). If there is no evidence of a new life, there was no genuine, saving faith. (Guzik)

"The grace that does not change my life will not save my soul." (Spurgeon)

The passage gives the example of Rahab and Abraham as people who demonstrated a living faith in a living God.  So what about us?  Do our lives demonstrate that kind of living faith?  Why or why not? Do we live our lives with a desire to be obedient to God and His Word? 

Humour me for a moment and turn to 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.  There you see the familiar passage on love.  Replace the word for love with your name. E.g Pam is patient, Pam is kind, etc.  What ones in your life currently can you say are not true of you?  What needs some work?  What are you encouraged by.  To go one step further would be to ask a close friend to tell you if you are these things or not. J

I am happy to hear your thoughts and insights as you study along with me in the Book of James.

Digging Deeper James 2:14-26

* How do we reconcile James teaching on faith and works and other parts of Bible whereby it says we are justified by faith alone?
*How does faith outwork itself in our daily lives?  Read 2:15-17
*When you consider 2:19 is it possible to believe in God but yet not be saved?  What does this verse tell us about belief in God?

Favouritism not an option

Partiality and favouritism are both things I am sure all of us have had to deal with at some point in our lives.  The sad thing is that it infiltrates our churches making us a bad example to those who don’t know Christ.  There is nothing worse than walking into a church knowing that there are closed groups and no matter what you do you won’t fit in.

This is something that James addresses because it was an issue in his time.   James warns us not to judge people by outward appearance.  Matthew 7:1ff speaks to this issue.   We are not to judge.  It is not an option for us to take.  The next time you are in a group of people check where your thoughts go.  Have you already classified someone in that group? What areas do we judge people?  Background, culture, tribe, career (or lack of), clothes, too tall, too short, too fat, too thin, talks too much, doesn’t talk much, political standing, undisciplined children and list goes on.  We need to be careful how we judge because to the measure that we judge someone is the same measure that we to are judged.  Matthew 7:2.

Everyone has something to offer in their church fellowship and that includes the poor.  We are not to right the poor off.  The poor might not be able to add much to the financial pot in our church but sometimes they contribute more spiritually.  Read James 2:5.  God turns what the world holds dear and turns it on its head.  We need to be careful when we judge.

Today as you walk through your day be mindful of the times you judge.  You might be surprised at how many times we do it.  This shows a heart condition.  James instructs us to love our neigbour.  What does that mean? How are we to love our neighbor?  Who is our neighbor?  One definition of neighbor is “a fellow human being”.  If this is true then everyone we come in contact with is our neighbor.  Favouritism or partiality is a problem in our society just like it was in the time that James lived.  It is something we need to fight against.  It is too easy just to go with the flow or to go with public opinion.  We need to use God’s Word as our standard of living not public opinion.

James asks us at the beginning of this chapter not to show favouritism but he goes one step further in James 2:9.  He calls it sin.  For those of us who show favouritism we need to realize how serious it is.  We are sinning and therefore we are lawbreakers.  Most, if not all of us, don’t want to be called lawbreakers.  We want to be seen as law abiding citizens.  If we are to be law abiding citizens then we can’t show favouritism.  Simple to say but not always simple to do.

James talks of keeping the Royal Law and Jesus also talks about it in Matthew 22:37-40.  Keeping a law means that we do it.  We are to put into practice the Word of God.  As we mentioned last time we need to be doers of the Word not just Hearers. 

In our society today we compromise God’s Word.  There are some sins today that appear to be more culturally acceptable than they were maybe 50 years ago.  We get desensitized and before we know it we make excuses for sin.  God does not have acts of sin in categories where one is less than another.  They may have different consequences but God calls it what it is…sin.  James says in 2:10-11 that if we break one part of the law then we are guilty of breaking it all.  This should be a huge motivator for us to do what is right in the sight of God.  Do we get it wrong sometimes, absolutely and there is grace and forgiveness but we shouldn’t be living a life whereby we tolerate known sin in our life.  This is not pleasing to God.

James goes onto say in James 2:12-13 that we will need to give an account to God for our life here on earth.  Our life will be displayed before God and there will be no hiding.  As in the parable of the Talents we want to hear the same words from our Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

May those who walk into our churches, Bible study groups, prayer meetings, fellowship gatherings find impartiality and be welcomed into our midst.  For some of us this will take effort and a change of mindset but the dividends will be worth it.   May we be viewed as different to those of this world.  May those that don’t know Christ as their Lord and Saviour be drawn to their redeemer because of what they see in us.  It is quite the challenge but be encouraged with Philippians 4:13. 

I am always encouraged by those who share what they are learning through God’s Word.  Let me know how the challenge of not being partial or showing favouritism outworks in your life.  We run this race together. Hebrews 12:1-3.

Digging Deeper James 2:1-13

*Become familiar with James 2:1-13
* In looking at the Church you attend how well does it do in the area of favouritism? Is it a church where all walks of life would feel comfortable walking into?  What reputation does your Church have in the community for welcoming people in?
*On a more personal level, are you someone who is inclusive or exclusive when it comes to people?
*What does it mean to really love your neighbor?  Who is your neighbour?
* Consider the words of James 2:12-13.  What are your thoughts?

Hearers and Doers

James, at the beginning of 1:19 talks to his audience with great affection.  He calls them beloved brothers.  He has a deep affection for the people he is writing to and James knows that many of them have gone through some extremely difficult times.  His heart is for them to come out of their difficult circumstance in a different manner than when they went into it.  Remember 1:4, that our trials would make us perfect (have integrity and virtue), complete and lacking nothing. 

James continues to instruct his audience in one quick and two slows.  Often times we get these round the wrong way and it becomes one slow and two quick’s.  He is saying that we need to use our ears.  Some of us have a hard time using them at all.  However, he is saying that we need to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.  It is easier said than done for a lot of us.  At times, our mouths can get ahead of our brains and we wish we could grab those words spoken and stuff them back in from where they came from.  Not only that but we are told to be slow to become angry.  Some things just push our buttons and our anger rises from within us and it can fly out of our mouths before we know what has happened.  Some versions of the Bible say wrath.   When looking at the meaning of the word in the original language one definition that comes out is “agitation of the soul”.  Our souls are not at peace.  Our wrath or anger comes from deep within and is usually selfish.  Think of a time when you were last mad about something.  What was going through your mind?  Often times it can simply be the fact that we didn’t get our way.  We wanted something and it didn’t happen the way we expected so we let that person have it.    We can get all bent out of shape and if we are not careful pride can get in the way and do more damage.

We used to tell our children that when their buttons were being pushed and they wanted to get mad at that other person that they were to count to 10.  Joshua, being our thinker, told us that that doesn’t work.  I told him count to whatever number it takes to think through your next move.   Sometimes, we as supposedly mature adults are no better than children when it comes to this topic.  Anger can get the better of us and then we have to do some damage control to sort it all out.  Eating humble pie is not a nice experience.

James goes onto say that anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God.  What does righteousness mean?  Man’s condition that is acceptable to God.  It means living in a way that is right in God’s eyes both in thought and in deed.

So how do we do that practically, well look at the next verse.  James tells us to put away all filthiness.  When we look at what that word means it is not attractive at all.  On a recent visit to a farm there was a large pig in its enclosure lying in the muck and it looked very comfortable.  However, for those of us looking on there was no way we were going to climb over the fenced enclosure and join her.  Our clothes would have been ruined beyond measure not to mention the foul smell that came with it.  Filthiness is not attractive and James tells us to get rid of it.  What is filthy in our lives that we need to dispose of?  Have we been rolling around in the muck like the pig and need to take of those dirty “clothes” and throw them away?

Along with filthiness we are to get rid of rampant wickedness.  This is wickedness that just overflows.  I liken it to the story of Lot in the City of Sodom.  In Genesis 13:13 it says that “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord”.  Any of us that know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah will know some of the evil things that took place there.  The wickedness was so intolerable in that place that God destroyed it.  One of the amazing things about this story is in Genesis 19:15ff.  Despite the evil that prevailed in that place Lot was in no rush to leave.  It says in v16 “But he lingered…..” and the angels had to drag him and his family from that place.  This is a warning that we don’t make excuses for our sins and become comfortable with them.  It not only affects us but those closest to us also.  Later in the story of Lot we see how far the sin of Sodom influenced his children. 

So, let us go back to James.  We are to get rid of filthiness and wickedness and we are to have God’s Word implanted in us.  The foul smelling sin of our lives needs to be removed and replaced with God’s Word.  The reason for this is that it saves our soul.  There is life giving words in the Bible.  Psalm 119:11 says “I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”.  It is not just enough to get rid of the sin.  We need to replace it with the Word of God.  John 8:32 says “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.  All of us need that in a world that is compromised by sin.

Let us go back to our friend Lot.  Now Lot was Abraham’s nephew.  I am sure Abraham and Lot had many a conversation during their time together of the things of God.  Stories were a sure way of passing information down the family line.  However, it is amazing that we can hear about the things of God and yet still get it very wrong.  James instructs us in 1:22 that we are to be doers of the Word and not just hearers.  James likens it to a man looking in a mirror and then walking away and forgets what he looks like.  We need to do the same with the Word of God.  We need to use it as a mirror to our lives.  Some of us spend a lot of time in front of the mirror making sure our hair is right and making sure everything else is in its right place before we walk out the door.  However, we are not always enthusiastic in looking in the mirror of God’s Word.  We don’t like to be corrected.  It can rub us the wrong way.  However, God is saying in these verses that we need to be acting upon His Word and it is not enough just to listen.  It is helpful to be asking the practical questions.  How can I be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry today? What do I need to change in order to be a doer and not just a hearer?  Not only do we not want to be deceived by being only hearers but James says there is blessing if we do put God’s Word into practice.  We need to persevere in being doers of the Word.

He commends us in the last verse of chapter 1 that if we think we are religious but our tongues run wild then we need to think again.  However, we will talk about that more when we get to chapter 3.  James says we deceive ourselves and we are wasting our time being religious.   Religion that God deems worthy is one that is active.  It is interesting to note that James says that we are to be mindful of the orphans and widows in James 1:27 and then in Galatians 2:10 James, Peter and John instruct Paul and Barnabas to continue to remember the poor.  There appears to be a theme here with James.   He commends us to put our faith into action.

Digging Deeper - James 1:19-27

*Read through James 1:19-27
*James exhorts us to be quick to listen and slow to speak.  However, at times we get it round the    wrong way.  Think of a time when you were quick to speak and slow to listen.  What was the outcome?  How could applying James 1:19 have changed the situation?
*James warns us about anger. Again, think of a time where anger got the best of you.  How could you do it differently in the future?
*Consider carefully v22-25.  Are you someone who is a doer of the Word or just a listener?  What practical steps do you need to take to become more of a doer?  How does this relate to v26-27?
*Reflect on Proverbs 16:23, 32; 14:29, 19:11  Ephesians 4:32

Trials and temptations are inevitable

James 1:1-18

James writes his letter to the twelve tribes scattered around the world.  He is writing in a time when the Jews had been and were experiencing difficult times.  If you turn to the book of Acts chapters 7 and 8 you will read about some of the persecution that the Jewish Christians faced.  However, the persecution was not in vain as we read in Acts 8:4-8.  The people might have scattered but that was not all that was scattered.  The Word was preached wherever the believers went and people experienced healings and miracles.  Not only that but in v8 it says that there was great joy in that city.  The question is would the believers have voluntarily left their homes and lives to share the Good News if persecution hadn’t come.  It is interesting to note that the fastest growing church in the world today is the persecuted church.  That is something to think about in a day and age whereby comfort and a life of ease are strongly sought after.

 So James begins and ends this book on the issue of trials.  I am sure all of us reading 1:2 would not automatically think of putting trials and joy in the same sentence.  Thankfully the verse continues as to why we should consider it pure joy.  There is something bigger at stake.  James wants us to persevere and for that to happen we need to have our faith tested.  He goes on in v4 to say that perseverance is a catalyst for us becoming mature and not lacking anything. 

 

For those who have children or have been in a car with children on a long journey I am sure you have heard the phrase “…are we nearly there yet?”  Depending on the age of the children this can happen as early as just five minutes into the journey.  These words can be a bit foreboding for a parent who knows there are seven more hours of the journey left.  However, the journey is all part of the experience.  When we get to our final destination and see what is before us we look back and say the journey was worth it.  James is saying that the journey of trials has a purpose.  That if we follow through and remain steadfast there is a reward at the end.  Many of us have experienced people who are mature in the faith.  They are people that we gravitate towards; however, if you know even a part of the person’s journey in getting there you will probably find that it wasn’t an easy one.  There were some challenges along the way.  Charles Spurgeon once said that trials are God’s school for us.  It is where we learn the most.  Trials are not easy especially if the journey is long however it can be a comfort to us to know that these trials are not wasted.  They can be used for our good, so not only that we might be people that persevere in our faith and grow mature but that we can be a witness to those around us.

 
In some of the cultures we live in today asking for help is seen as a weakness.  The media promotes self -reliance and a mentality of being able to go it alone.  However, this is opposite to the teaching we find in the Bible.  God made us for relationships and for living in community.  However, that is a thought for another day.  James encourages us in verse 5 to ask God for wisdom because God is in the business of giving and it says He will give generously without finding fault.  Often times I wonder if we struggle unnecessarily because we have not asked God.  However there is a condition attached and that is that we should not doubt but believe.  James is a helpful writer for all of us who are visual learners.  I am sure most of us have seen waves of the sea or a rushing river as the water is tossed to and fro. I remember it first hand when I did white water rafting down the River Nile.  I was tossed out the boat more times than I could remember.  I was at the mercy of this raging river.  That is a picture of how we are if we doubt.  We go back and forward and James calls a person like this unstable in all the things he does. 

In addition to this when looking at a visual of an angry sea where waves are in turmoil there is no peace to be found.  I wonder, when looking at this verse, whether we forfeit peace in our lives because we do not ask God for wisdom.  This is something to ponder on.

The world teaches us that we need to be striving for bigger and better.  However, James has a different message.  He reminds the believers that their value is not in what they have but who they are in God’s eyes.  God’s value system is very different from the worlds and we need to be careful as to what we put our security in.  James is not condemning the rich but cautioning them in their rich estate.  James describes the life of a rich person as to that of a flower that blossoms for a while and then fades forever.  When the intense heat of a trial comes what is going to get us through? Is our security in the material or the eternal?

 One thing we need to understand is that trials and testing’s are different.  Trials and tests are allowed by God but God never tempts.  Temptations are not bad in of themselves but what do we do with temptation?  Do we feed the temptation so we then give in to it or do we starve the temptation and let it die a death?  The choice is for us to make.  Notice in verse 15 there is a process.  James uses the word “conceive” here.  When temptation and desire join together there is sin.  We can be tempted and not sin but we can be tempted and act on the desire and then we fall.  Sin leads to death if it is not dealt with.  What temptations are we facing today?  What are we doing with them?

Chuck Missler, an author and Bible teacher, says when things are going wrong, people are hurting you and an adversity comes your way -            HAVE YOUR QUIET TIME!  In other words draw close to God in these moments; it can keep you out of trouble.

James tells us not to be deceived or be misled.  We would do well to remember that God is good all the time and no evil comes from God.  Evil comes from Satan.  God is a god who doesn’t change.  Hebrews 13:8 says “He is the same yesterday, today and forever”.  We are the peak of His creation; everything else that He has created is under us. How amazing is that.

Further reading on the issue of temptations and trials

Matthew 4:1-11
Matthew 26:36-46
Hebrews 4: 14-16
Ephesians 4:20-24
Galatians 5: 16-17, 22-25
James 1:22
2 Corinthians 10:4-6
Colossians 3:2,16