Bible Study Notes

James 4: 1-6

richardk — Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:10 am

Author: richardk

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:10 am

�God hates Pride!�

General idea: Our human nature loves to be in competition and fight, but God has a higher call for us. James takes us directly to the root cause of fights and quarrels, wars and conflict; they all come from one source, and that is the conflict that resides in our own hearts! Our desires are at war with the precepts of our Lord and the call He gives us. This is the war of good and evil of man versus God, of our sinful nature and that of the new life in Christ. These desires converge and conflict with the desires of other people and escalate into interpersonal conflict and all out war.

We lust after what we do not have, so it controls us; that which is wrong becomes our passion and quest. Then we become jealous of others, hording what we have and coveting what they have. We engage in fighting like wild dogs and tear at one another in conquest of the demented goals we have. In all of this, we ignore God and forsake His call and wisdom. When we do ask of Him, our motives are skewed and our passions misdirected, as we seek personal pleasures and the self, not Christ and His mission for us.

Then James tells us out right that our desires which are contrary to God�s desires are adultery; we are cheating on Him with the mistress of our notions and evil plans. We become enemies of the very God who created us and loves us and is holding a perfect plan for us which we forsake for futility. God wants us to be His friends, not His enemies, but the choice is ours to determine, and the path is ours to undertake.

Vs. 1-3: James is addressing the oppressed poor who are in insurrection, displaying violence toward their masters. James is telling us that our selfish inclinations that bubble up from our pride are causing divisions, destroying our relationships, and giving our Lord a bad name. Our warring attitudes come from the war we have within our very own hearts and minds. We are seeking the world�s wisdom and ways and not God�s way. It may not be popular to seek real Christ-centered wisdom, as the world�s wisdom tends to be more appealing just as it was in James� time (James 2:14-26; 3:13-1. But, what will that get you in life and in eternity?

� What causes. James is stating a rhetorical question to direct their attention away from their false mindsets and aligned them with God�s. Such things are contrary to God; they are not from Him, but rather from our sinful nature and evil desires!

� Wars is hyperbole here (exaggeration emphases), meaning great military campaigns like the Cesar�s. Here, it refers to the war of desires wavering between options, and the seeking of destructive passion and not wisdom. Plato stated that all wars are from the desires of our physical body, our lusts as well as our hearts. Jewish wisdom stated that our �evil impulses� will dominate all actions unless it is controlled.

� Fights are the divisions we have with one another; they cause strife and never solve the underlying problem. The root is the same: envy and evil desires. Consider this; if we choose to act in love from the precepts of 1 Corinthians 13, then fights will not occur or even be considered! Real love creates perfect peace! Imagine your life and connections at peace or having more peace because of the love you bring others!

� Murder, here, is hyperbole and rhetorical, and refers to hate and the logical ends of quarreling and fights. James� readers had not murdered anyone literarily, at least not yet! But, being exposed to violent teaching will lead to violent attitudes, and then actions (James 3:13-1.

� Desires, refers to hedonism, what gets in the way of our growth in Him and His call for us. We are to desire the gifts from the Lord (1 Cor: 12) not the gifts of the world. We know our desires are off His path when they do not align with His love, grace, and teachings. Personal desires are usually the target toward which we shoot our lives. Honesty is crucial to seeing them. (For more info see study James 1:12-18.)

� Covet. James� readers desired violence, even craving it and rationalizing that it was OK. We have to be careful that we do not reason and rationalize our desires, thus making them happen. This would show we do not realize God is the One who gives wisdom and gives it liberally. The counter to coveting is to be in prayer seeking reconciliation and not division. They were seeking wealth and status to satisfy lustful desires, but such things only bring temporary relief and not meaningful or eternal outcomes (Prov. 10:24; 13:23; Phil. 4:12).

� Cannot obtain. We cannot take hold of God�s promises when we are full of false promises or selfish desires. Nor, can we follow Him when we are full of envy, because envy blocks our gratitude toward Him for what He has given us. It may seem God gives to those who are evil and selfish, but remember, what they receive is mere straw to what you will receive for faithfulness!

� You do not ask indicates the neglecting of prayer and seeking our way to deal with life and conflict, not God�s wisdom and call. It was Jewish custom to ask God for daily needs as well as crisis intervention; it is foolish not to do so. We are called to seek Him and His ways, and not envy (Matt. 6:11, 33; 7:7-8; John 5:30; James 1:5).

� Amiss is to miss the mark God has for us�like the definition of sin. God will not grant us our requests when we are filled with bad motivations or seeking what is wrong or bad for us and/or others. Nor, are we to use faith or prayer to manipulate, deceive, or conspire (Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:6).

� Prayer is far better than fighting, as we are seeking God. He will give us what we ask. However, if we do not receive it, then it was not meant for us and not in our best interests!

When we are only concerned with pleasing ourselves and living for the pleasures of life, we miss out on what Christ has for us. Even when we seek to please others, we tend to be only seeking to lift ourselves up. So, we need to watch our attitudes, even how and what we are praying for, to make sure they are centered on His goodness not our selfish desires. If not, we show that we are self-centered and just end up hurting others and forsaking God�s feelings and call.

However, our call is clear and our path is lit. His light will keep us from tilting into temptation and into disobedience. If we really want homes that honor God and churches that teach and model His precepts, we must ask ourselves if our deepest desires and pleasures in life are devoted to pleasing Christ or pleasing ourselves. We need to take a hard look at our motivations and see how we are honoring or perhaps, dishonoring God.

Vs. 4-5: We are at war and war stands for we are right; but, in fact, we are wrong. Only God is right. We have to see where our aim in life is pointed; is it at God, His love, and His percepts or the foolishness of our whims? When we ignore His Scriptures, we forsake our loyalty and betray our loving Lord. He is faithful with us; we need to remain faithful in Him and not allow our desires to rule our hearts and minds.

� Adulterers: This means spiritual betrayal. In the OT, it meant being called to serve God in a covenant with Him, then rebelling in disobedience with idols (Jer. 31:32; Hos. chaps 1-3; James 2:23). This means adultery, betraying God by the mistress of our malevolent desires and loving the world rather than God. It also means claiming to be friends with God and then being disobedient with His principles. We are giving our love away cheaply and to the wrong place or person! Don�t give the world love that is meant for Christ!

� Enmity with God means to be unfaithful, spiteful, and immoral. It is to share the world�s values, rejecting Him and His truth. We are at enmity with God when we are being rigid, inflexible to others, and seeking to squash His work in other�s lives as well as ours (Eph. 4:30).

� Makes himself indicates our self-directed motivations that are contrary to God�s, and are, as the Jewish wisdom stated, �evil impulses.�

� Scriptures says refers to not a specific passage, but the veracity of God�s Word as to the consequences of sin (Gen. 6:3; 8:21; Ex. 20:5; Deut. 4:24; Isa 55:1; Gal. 6:1).

� In vain means that we allow our evil impulses to override the principles of God�s Word (1 Pet. 1:7).

� Yearns jealously. God calls us to seek Him and to desire His ways; thus, we ought to and should long for God and His wisdom and truth, and not the ways of the world (Psalm 42:1-2; 63:1; 84:2). Also, in this context, it refers to the jealousy of God; He is a jealous God and will not tolerate any competition (Ex. 20:5; Duet. 32:21; Joel 2:1.

� Humble. This passage quotes Proverbs 3:34, and is referring to submitting to the sovereignty of God. God�s plan for our life is far better than any desire�evil or good�we could ever have; thus, it is logical and beneficial to be humble in Him (1 Pet. 5:5)!

Our desires can be overwhelming at times, and the world seems to fuel them more and more. But, we still have faith. God will increase our faith when we develop more dependence on Him and less dependence upon ourselves. To get to this, we must abandon ourselves to Christ as LORD, and never hesitate with worldly reasoning and logic, bow to our emotions, or hide in our own thinking and rationalizations. Our drive must be to see Christ�s supremacy so we follow Him and lift Him up as LORD and supreme in our lives (Col 1:1! Reaching this point will be when our interests are surrendered to His; His interests will be mine (Romans 1:1; Gal. 1:5; 2:20-21). We will not even want our own pleasure because it is more gratifying to serve Him (John 15:13; 1 Cor. 9:22; 2 Cor. 12:15)!

If a new person comes to visit your church, what would they observe? Would they see your church as an example of how to love and care for one another or how to bicker and fight with one another? What about your home, your family? Is it one that quarrels or one that loves? What glorifies our Lord and leads to a better life for us: conflict and violence or love and peace?

Ask yourself this: what brings about the quarrels warring at you and your church or home? Then commit a way, His way, to dissolve the fight and replace it with His love so it overflows to those around you! Why is it so hard to get along with other people who are also in Christ, whom He loves, whom He has called and saved and empowered, too? The answer is what is motivating our hearts and directing our passions! The choice, His way or our way, will determine how every relationship and encounter we have in life will be affected! The result is we will seek God�s wisdom and live our lives in love, bringing growth and reconciliation.

It is good for a car to be on a road; that same car should not be under or in the road. If so, it is useless. The church is called to be salt in the world, to be in the world as His influencers (Matt. 5:13-16). However, the church is not called to have the world in it or to be influenced by it! We can overcome; we have the ultimate tool, the Holy Spirit, within us. Let us live as we should, and seek to please God, forsaking our warring ways. God gives us the strength! He stands up with us and gives us the ability to win the war of the flesh so our sinful nature is subdued and we are victorious in Him. It all comes down to pride; will it belong to His pride or will we dwell in our pride? Pride in Him is amity, like a kinship of lions. Pride without Him is making the lion our enemy; pride lifts us up to think we are a god and do not need the one true God as our Lord. We must allow His grace to penetrate our envy and desires so we are poured out to Him and not to ourselves or the world. He will make us more than conquerors, but we have to seek Him and allow Him to do so (Rom. !

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

1. What does this passage say?

2. What does this passage mean?

3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?

4. Is there a sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?

5. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?

Additional Questions:

1. Why do you suppose it is so difficult for God�s people to get along? Consider all the fights and divisions and denominations throughout church history to the conflict in your church right now.

2. Have you ever considered that when your desires are bad, you are cheating on Him? Literally, it is adultery against God by the mistress of our malevolent desires!

3. Why do you suppose our human nature loves to be in competition and conflict? What can you do to seek God�s higher call and prevent and solve the fights, quarrels, wars, and conflict?

4. Do you think that using a rhetorical question to get their attention worked for James? What needs to happen to get you away from false mindsets and be aligned with God�s?

5. How have you seen conflicts in the church that seem like the logistics and tactics of military campaigns?

6. Do you think most Christians are deliberately seeking destructive passion and not wisdom when they fight in church? Why, or why not?

7. What desires and passions have you had trouble with that get in the way of our growth in Him?

8. How does neglecting prayer and seeking our own way of dealing with life and conflict get us ahead in life and with God�s good graces? Then, why do so many people do it?

9. How do bad motivations or seeking what is wrong or bad for us and others cause a bad reputation to the church?

10. What causes quarrels in you and your church or home? What can you do to commit to a way to stop them before they escalate?

11. How can you take a hard look at your life�s motivations and see how you may be honoring or perhaps dishonoring God?

12. Our desires can be overwhelming at times, and the world seems to fuel them more and more. So, what can you and your church do?

What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. Proverbs 10:24

� 2004 R. J. Krejcir Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

James 3: 13-18

richardk — Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:30 pm

Author: richardk

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:30 pm

�Wisdom, the worlds or God�s?�

General idea: My grandfather who was a carpenter always told me you measure twice and cut once. The theory was to make sure your measurements were correct as you can always recalculate, but once the wood is cut wrong, it is wasted. James is speaking on how we are measured before we cut into the world and other people�s lives. Is it with good intentions or conceited objectives? Does the Fruit from Galatians 5:19-21 or from 22-23? Fruit produces motives stemming from our spiritual maturity in Christ. If we are seeking His wisdom, we are being righteous and measuring twice, if we are seeking our own or the world�s ways, we are not even measuring; consequently, cutting wrong, thus wasting what the Lord gives and distorting His Truth.

Vs. 13: James is confronting the early Christians on what their motives were for the wisdom that they are proclaiming. Many were promoting violence while claiming to be righteous (James 1:5, 17; 3:1; 5:7-11). Then he makes the distinction between the world�s wisdom and the wisdom of God. He challenges the contemporary thinking that all wisdom was good and profitable from the Greek Philosophical thinkers, but there is a sharp contrast to what is good and profitable and what is error and leads to destruction. Motives are a crucial indicator to the type of wisdom from God. James nails it when the contrast is bitterness and envy versus being a peacemaker and seeking to please God; because, if we are really wise, we will live really wise. Are you pleasing God or yourself? Is your heart seeking reconciliation or alienation? As the previous passage indicates how we use our words is paramount on how God is impacting your life!

� Wise, here in this context it means to demonstrate your faith by godly living, real wisdom will produce goodness (1 Tim. 4:15-16).

� Let him show, this means know the real thing first and then you will know the counterfeit. Popularity is never a sign of real truth it just means that more people are deceived!

� Meekness/ humility, means applying wisdom with humbleness and gentleness and under control. Here it means an active attitude of deliberate acceptance, as humility and wisdom go together as does foolishness and arrogance. Wisdom equals humility and does not boast and brag. This word is used to mean �broken� or �harnessed� as in a wild untamed horse that is brought under control. The spirit and strength of the horse is still there, however, its focus and purpose has changed. The horse is now usable and available; the same is with us when we are broken from our ways to His Way. We are called to be broken into the Lord!

� Wisdom, here is not about facts and figures, or knowledge and our intelligence level or education; rather, how we are to control the truth. That control is to be gentle and real. We are to look to God in what real wisdom is. We are to look to the future implications as the measure of how we dispense wisdom.

The best way to determine counterfeit money is to know the real one very well. James is addressing that real wisdom is essential for Christian living; this is one of his main themes. Wisdom also has a dangerous counterpart; it is easily counterfeited and misrepresented! The measurement will be whether the person is seeking God or seeking themselves. For the mature Christian they will seek God�s and do all they can to learn His percepts and not rely on their instincts and feelings in place of wisdom. Then, they can model Christ and even teach with gentleness and respect being righteous as they claimed.

Vs. 14-16: Bitterness, envy, and selfish ambitions may be the adoring motivators for many people in the world; but for the Christian, these are to be abhorrent! These rotten characters are the root of bad wisdom; they seek power and prestige for themselves and forsake God and His Truth. They cause broken relationships and dysfunctional homes and churches (Prov. 11:18; Rom. 12:9; 1 Cor. 2:6-15).

� Envy / jealously, refers to covetousness (Duet. 5:21). James is attacking the zeal of the Zealots who were disillusioned in thinking they were following �Phinehas� the grandson of Aaron who was passionately following God when, in fact, they were deluded and acted contrary to Phinehas and God. (Nub. 25:11-13; Psalm 106:30-31) Envy is misplaced zeal and is mourning for what we do not have and conniving to get it, then boasting about it. This poisons the Spirit�s work in us, as it leads to the creation of vice and bitterness as well as suspension and distrust. Thus, real truth will be denied, falsehoods fabricated and promoted, and our passions will go astray.

� Self-seeking, creates strife and brings disharmony and prejudices to others. It gains the person nothing of real or eternal value only pushes the person down further.

� Boast, means to show off with deceptive means. It is used to describe elections won by deceiving and manipulations. It is like an elected official winning an election dishonestly and then bragging about it.

� Lie, is stating that a particular wisdom is from God when it is not. This is done to manipulate and scheme to get our way over His Way. This is evil!

� This wisdom here refers to earthly wisdom, the humanistic approach to life that we are great in of ourselves. This is very limited, as it is unspiritual and only has our imperfect insights and perspective. This ignores God and what is His best for feeble ideas and egocentric gains while creating unhealthy relationships and dysfunction.

� Above/ Heaven, was a saying to mean �coming from God.� It is the contrast and opposite of earthly wisdom (Matt. 16:22-23).

� Sensual, our wisdom is deceptive as it reflects Satan and evil; it is foolishness and opposes God�s call and precepts to us.

� Demonic, refers that demons have an extraordinary body of knowledge by being very old and having former access to God. They have far more wisdom than any human could ever conceive; however, by not yielding to God, their wisdom has no benefit, it is only used to stir up their ungodly values, discourage, manipulate and destroy.

� Every evil thing, this is the destructive power of the rotten works of the flesh James lists. These ideas produce evil such as adultery, thieving, slander, conflict, harm to others and murder that leads to chaos and the destruction in the Church and world.

Understanding His grace will help empower us to be honest with wisdom, seek His percepts and not that which is false. The grace we receive if it has taken root within us will display humbleness; as we are exalted in Christ, we have no need to have inflated egos. Our significance is in Him, thus we are upgraded in Him beyond any human hopes or dreams (Deut 4:6; 1 Kings 3:9; Psalm 119:97-98; Matthew 6:33; Romans 12:3; 1 Timothy 1:18-20).

Vs. 17-18: The goal of wisdom is to yield to Christ, so to uplift Him and point to His precepts, so we can live a Christ filled and directed life that is uplifting and contagious to others. The opposite is a heart full of rotten fruit, a Pandora�s Box that when opened will distribute its sin onto others. Our wisdom is arid and devoid of what is real authentic truth that is a benefit and is edifying. It is seeking waste water and not His Living water. Only Christ can bring us real wisdom, we must seek it by asking Him for it. Recognizing real truth and what is counterfeit is essential for our maturity (Psalm 37; Prov. 1:7; 3:5; Eph. 5:5-20).

� Wisdom that is from above, this is God�s wisdom that He gives us that is eternal and from the One who is all knowing, all loving, and all caring (Col. 2:2-4). It creates healthy relationships and a contagious faith because it has respect, honesty and pure intentions. It uplifts Christ and edifies and empowers those who seek it (see study, James 1: 5-.

� Pure, means when we are exercising God�s wisdom we are bringing purity, it is not to be mixed with anything else, especially the world�s wisdom. It is applying His fruit into other�s lives as well as our own. We won�t be defiled in the rotten ways of evil people, prejudices, favoritism or our own evil which is defilement. Rather, our motives will be morally based and be good.

� Peaceable, means to not quarrel, give in to anger, be jealous or have an arrogant attitude.

� Gentle, means to be fair, thoughtful and tolerant towards others. That is to know justice and dispense justice with Godly intentions without selfish motivations.

� Yield, means to listen and obey and to be open to reason, so we can make allowances for other�s feelings, weaknesses and strengths by learning, exercising care and grace as we have been given. We are not to be critical while modeling the real Truth. We are to be aware of our own weakness and strengths. Yield is the opposite of being stubborn.

� Mercy, here means to be charitable and not to be stingy with compassion. It is to get rid of cynicism and condescending attitudes, so we can be more Christ like. To be effectively used by God, we have to know He calls us not only to be fruit inspectors but more so to produce Fruit (Rom. 7:4-6; Col. 1:10; 2 Peter 1:5-10; 3:14-16)!

� Without partiality means to be fair and not be deceiving, scheming or hypocritical, so we know when and where to draw the line of exercising grace and rebuking arrogance and the world�s wisdom. We are to have our mindset fixed on Christ.

� Fruit of righteousness, this is the illustration of a seed of wisdom produces bountiful righteousness, because it is growing in the Lord being nourished from God�s wisdom. James point to the Zealots is that violence and peace cannot coexist in one another (Prov. 11:18; Isa. 32:17).

Arrogance and condescending attitudes and actions are heinous acts that are diametrically opposed to all that Christ taught and modeled. To be a Christian who is condescending is an oxymoron, with the emphases on the moron. It is stupid and a slap in the face of our Lord who saves and loves us! At the same time, real wisdom will not be compromised, as integrity and compassion do go together.

God calls us to be wise stewards of not only material things but of what is even more important, wisdom. Wisdom for the Christian desiring to live for Christ and not in the world is to be living a life patterned off our Lord. Jesus Christ both fully God and fully man was also wise beyond our comprehension, yet He tempered His wisdom and dispensed it ever so gently on others. He showed the Truth while exercising love and care. If we live a passion directed life, this is good, but is the passion under check and control or have the reins become unbridled and on the ground dragging. If so, love and gentleness is not coming from you while the house of your will is in full spirit and wild. We are called to be under control and not wild in our thinking, temperament, actions and our words. At the same time, we are to be passionate and this is essential on how we dispense wisdom (Matt. 7:15-23; Col. 3:10).

This all translates in how we are to others for Christ. We are to be exercising purity, righteousness with gentleness and respect while being responsible and unwavering with His percepts, so no hypocrisy can come from us. This creates an atmosphere of peace where His wisdom is sought and exercised. When we are learning and proclaiming God�s wisdom, we will live this life with passion and conviction. We will see life as a wondrous adventure staying in His presence and precepts. So, ask for His wisdom and then live it for His glory! Seize the fantastic opportunities He has for you!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

1. What does this passage say?

2. What does this passage mean?

3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?

4. Is there a sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?

5. How can I be changed so I can learn and grow?

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?

Additional Questions:

1. Have you ever measured something wrong and wasted your wood or material? How did you feel? How is this like living the Christian life?

2. What is jealously? Have you struggled with jealousy? How so? What causes it? How can you know when your emotions get out of control with envy?

3. What is arrogance? Have you struggled with arrogance? How so? What causes it? How can you know when your emotions get out of control with being condescending?

4. How would you describe the distinction between the world�s wisdom and the wisdom of God?

5. How would you describe a peacemaker? How have you seen this work? Have you been one? How can you be one?

6. Read 1 Peter 5:1-4: How do Peter�s principles compare to James? How would they improve your relationships? Improve your church? How can you live them out?

7. How do integrity and compassion go together? How would you contrast humility and wisdom to foolishness and arrogance? Why is it, that to be a Christian who is condescending is an oxymoron?

8. How can you go from being just a fruit inspector to a fruit giver?

9. When we are learning and proclaiming God�s wisdom, we will live this life with passion and conviction tempered with truth. How so? Why do some Christians refuse to do this?

10. How would you honestly assess what your motives are for the wisdom that you are proclaiming?

11. God calls us to be wise stewards of not only material things but of what is even more important, wisdom. What would your life and church look like with this precept in action?

12. What can you do to gain a better understanding of His grace, so you can be empowered to be honest with wisdom and seek His percepts and not that which is false?

For more information: The Character of Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7

� 2004 R. J. Krejcir Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

James 3: 1-12

richardk — Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:46 pm

Author: richardk

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:46 pm

Taming the Tongue!

General idea: Here is where James is slapping our face to get our attention on discipline so we do not fall further into judgment. Why? Because; words can get us in so much trouble, and serve both for the good of the Kingdom and the determent of the Church. Who has control of your words, God or man? Do your words reflect who you are in Christ, or does the sinful nature have it roots in you? Is wisdom guiding them, or the desire for the world�s attention? This are James� questions to the early Church in their struggle with gossip, slander, and, a problem we all have at times�speaking before thinking (James 1: 26; 2:12; 4:1, 11-12). Words have the crucial role of communicating not only our ideas but how we are connecting with others. Thus, how we use our spoken language, as well as our body language, is of utmost importance and that we do so knowing we have been bought by Christ and we are His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). Our tongue must reflect our spiritual maturity and character! Our words, and the deeds that result from them, will convey to others who Christ is in us and how they should view Him. This may sound overwhelming, but it is also an honor and blessing to be called to convey His precepts, not in just preaching a sermon, but in how we live our daily life to God�s honor, demonstrated in our connections with others.

Vs. 1-5a: James first mentions, in verses 1: 19 and 26, how Jesus calls us to be wise stewards of our words (Matt. 12:33-38; Mark 7:20-23). Now, he gives further reproof. Teaching is not just a job or call; it is a responsibility we must take very seriously! The office of the teacher is perhaps the most important role in the church, and the one with the greatest responsibility. James then gives us illustrations that the tongue is small but its wake and impact can be immeasurable. God calls us to tame our tongue, and acknowledges that we do not have the ability to do so alone; however, He gives those who are in Him the ability to do so!

� Become teachers�stricter judgment. A teacher has the responsibility of the trust of the susceptible student to teach with clarity and truth. Jewish sages, who were pious, warned that wrong teaching, leading others astray, and deliberately teaching error were heinous sins, as was promoting our own desires for personal glory and position. We are held accountable for our teachings; we are to teach God�s wisdom not ours, His glory not ours (Matt. 5:19; 18:6; Rom. 14:10-12; James 3:13-1!

� We all stumble means we all make mistakes that are not deliberate, premeditated sins. This is also a Jewish adage that we make mistakes and sin. However, as God knows we are fallible, we still have the responsibility to do our best to be wise stewards of our words.

� The human tongue, to Jewish wisdom and Scripture, is a wild and evil force as well as an instrument for good. Our heart and spiritual formation will determine the impact and outcome of our words (Prov. 11:9; 12:18; 18:21).

� Horse�bits. This representation is that great results come from small means. In an agrarian culture, the domestication of animals was essential as a source of labor, substance, and wealth. Every family unit in biblical times, except a slave or a very poor person, would have animals. This is a rhetorical question that all could understand; we can control wild animals, why not our very own tongue? Thus, our words can determine the direction of our lives and shape us for what is ahead!

� Little member. James� point is that small devices can have great power. The tongue is nether friend or foe, yet it is a refection of our mind and a mirror to our soul. Thus, it is a tool at our heart�s and mind�s disposal! It is the indication of how we are dealing with life, our spiritual growth, our character, and our maturity.

James is telling us that those who teach have a greater responsibility in communicating effectively and we will be judged in a stricter sense due to the fact we are conveying to others His precepts. If we do it with bad intentions, or use words to put others off/down instead of lifting them up, we will be judged for it! So, how we can make sure we are better at modeling Christ to others? The key thing James brings to our attention is the discipline to exercise self control in how we use words! This is paramount, because what comes out will either lift up or destroy. The power and responsibility are ours.

Vs. 5b-12: James was attacking gossip and equating it with a devastating forest fire in a time man could do nothing but watch and see everything destroyed. Some Christians, as well as radical Jewish groups, were leading people astray by teaching violence and not reconciliation. If we do not get under His discipline, as in Fruit of the Spirit, with our tongue, we may be under God�s discipline as in Judgment. Are we aware of the consequences when we misbehave? God has grace for us, but we should never negate our responsibility (Matt. 7:16-21; 15:10-11, 17-19)!

� Kindles. The point is that a small force can ignite, become out of control, and then destroy a large area. Our words have awesome power and they can fervently destroy (Prov. 16:27-29)!

� World of iniquity/evil means the world�s evil is from the tongue. Even though Satan can get control of our tongue, he is not need to do so, as our pride, boasting, anger, bitterness, gossip, lust, slander� is just as powerful in its devastation as he!

� Defiles means evil speech such as lies, false vows, and slander as well as blasphemy and gossip. The Bible says they are all evil! A small tongue in our large body controls our direction, relationships, and all we experience in life from peace to violence; it is how we are perceived and how others react to us (Psalm 25:15, 23; 28:23; 39:1-3; 52:1-4; 57:4; 120:2-4; Prov. 16:27; 26:21).

� Hell, (Greek Gehenna) refers to the valley of Hinnom, the place where the heinous child sacrifices took place under Ahaz and Manasseh (2 Chron. 28; 33; Jer. 7:32). This was the wickedest place a Jewish mind could conceive of, and where the first century Jews burned their trash. It also refers to everlasting torment (Mark 9:43-4. It is the image of judgment. Our tongue is hurtful when it is boastful and condescending and thus will lead to the fate of those who are dammed. James is not saying gossip causes a person to go to Hell, rather it is where its concept and veracity leads, the logical conclusion. Remember, we still have grace that saves and protects.

� Tame. The tongue is harder to tame than a wild beast! Animals are made to be to be subservient; we are made to be over the animals (Rom. 3:13-14). Can we have rule over the animals but not ourselves?

� Deadly poison, as in deadly cobra venom, the most powerful illustration that could be made in this time! James is using the image of Moses� snake, how the snakes killed and how the symbol which is the modern medical symbol today, heals (Nub. 21:6-9). This compares the uncontrolled tongue to the deadliest snake, and how our words can be of love or be a deadly toxin (Psalm 52:2; 58:1-6; 64:3; 140:3; Prov. 12:8, 18; 16:24; 18:21; 25:1!

� Similitude of God/ Made in God�s image. James� point is that we are made in God�s image and to be in Christ; animals are made for our use and it is our responsibility to care for them. (Gen. 1:26-28; 9:2; Prov. 12:10). Thus, we should have control and care over our own mouths and words!

� Bless...curse, the context, meaning our sinful, human nature, is inconsistent; these ideas of blessing and cursing are incongruities to each other. Perverse words, rhetoric, a curse, a battle cry, or the pronouncement of a blessing and our worship of God totally contradict, but both can come from the same source�us!

� Does a spring. James illustrates these incongruities with examples of the most common crops that were necessary for life from nature (Gen. 1:11-12, 21, 24-25). The point is that we cannot worship God authentically if we use the same mouth to curse His children!

So then, do you fully understand the power of our words? Our tongues are two to six ounces of muscle and whether from the biggest bodybuilder to the frailest little child, they get more exercise and less control than any other muscle in our 50 lb to 350 lb body! Thus, we must be conscious of what comes out of our mouths before it comes out. Squeezing the toothpaste out is easy, but putting it back in the tube is nearly impossible. When our words come out, they are out for good! We must have them under control! How can we do this? By making sure our tongue is under a good helmsman, God (Psalm 19:14; 51:10; 141:1-4; Eccles. 3:7; Mark 12:34; Luke 6:45; 2 Cor. 6:3-10; 10:5; 11:3; Phil. 4:8; Eph. 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:13-14), and by making sure our spiritual formation is growing in Christ as Lord. When our spiritual life is growing, we will be disciplined as our unspoken words from our thoughts, and our motivations and attitudes are aligned up to His, then our spoken words and deeds will show authentic character and maturity.

Perhaps, you may think that James does not apply to you. I do not gossip or lie. But, the bottom line is to improve our relationships; thus, we have to start with how we honor and respond to our Lord and Savior! We are to respond to His precepts with our personal holiness! Because we received His grace that sanctified our heart and covered our sin, it should strike a cord within us to respond. Out of our gratitude for what He has done for us, we should be willing to strive to seek righteousness in all that we do including, and most importantly, our tongue. Our words can be the sweetness that spills unto others and be the honor and trustworthiness we earn in the hearts and minds of the people God brings into our life. Or, our words can also feverishly destroy!

We must be willing and able to check our words before they leave our lips, and to think in good terms before we speak. We have to see the destruction that can come by inflicting anger and frustration, resulting in low self-esteem, loneliness, and despair. Our words can create success or they can create failure. We all have been positively motivated by someone�s words uttered purposefully, or negatively, as a slip of the tongue is made as a mistake. Thus, if you like to use words as weapons, consider this; words have a boomerang affect. That means, what you throw out will come back to hit you. If you think you can duck them, well you cannot, because once you release those hurtful words, you cannot put them back any more than you can put the toothpaste back into the tube. They are out, and out for good.

Having trouble? Take heart, He is the One who changes us and forms our character. All we do is adoringly respond by faith and commit to His precepts. We need to think before we speak, so we are careful not to say things that could hurt someone, or cause a fight or an argument. Commit to preventing your words or body language from discouraging others. This translates that we will not ever gossip or talk negatively about others at work, school, home, church, or anywhere in the universe�period�if we claim Christ as Lord!

Remember, your words will reflect your true character! Your words have the power to change someone else�s life for the better. If you criticize others, then you will be criticized, too. If you lie to others, then you will be lied to, also. If you gossip about others, then others will gossip about you. If you cheat others, then others will cheat you. Do you see a pattern? It is a simple pattern; what you give out, you will soon get back. We have to realize deep down in our hearts and minds how powerful our words are as they shape and form both us and others around us. Words have power to destroy people�s lives, just as a spark can destroy an entire forest.

The greatest gift you have is the ability to communicate; the greatest responsibility you have is using your ability to communicate with character and distinction within the parameters of God�s call to you!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

1. What does this passage say?

2. What does this passage mean?

3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?

4. Is there a sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?

5. How can I be changed so I can learn and grow?

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?

Additional Questions:

1. What is the greatest slip of the tongue that you have experienced? What about from someone else (without naming names)? How did you feel?

2. How important is communication in your life? What happens when we communicate wrong or badly?

3. Who has control of your words, God or man? What does your tongue say about yourself to others?

4. Do you truly know the power your words have? How are the words from your mouth being used? How are your words guiding you? How are your words touching others?

5. How is teaching a responsibility we must take very seriously? What happens when a teacher is leading people astray?

6. We all make mistakes. So, what is the difference between a deliberate or premeditated sin and a mistake? How do you balance personal responsibility and the grace that God has for you?

7. Yes, gossip is fun and inviting, and it seems everyone is doing it. But, are you aware of the consequences when you misbehave with your words?

8. How and why do our words reflect our true character?

9. How is your tongue a refection of your mind and a mirror to your soul? What would it take for you to fully realize that our words are a tool at our heart�s and mind�s disposal?

10. How are your words an indication of how you are dealing with life, your spiritual growth, character, and maturity?

11. How can you make sure you are better at modeling Christ to others with your words as well as the inflection of your words?

12. What would your life look like if you were completely under God�s discipline, as in Fruit of the Spirit, with your tongue? We must have our words under control! How can we do this?

� 2004 R. J. Krejcir IntoThy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17

James 2: 14-26

richardk — Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:43 pm

Author: richardk

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:43 pm

Do Faith and Works Go Together?

General idea: Real, impacting, effectual faith will have results. It will be lived out! Faith is received alone, but it does not just stand alone; it is to be shown. Faith will be backed up by the proof that it is present in a person. If there is no proof, there is a good chance that the vessel is empty of faith. If the label says �coke,� and when you open it and pour it in a glass, all that comes out is �chicken feathers,� you may come to the conclusion that the label and contents do not measure up to each other. The same case is with faith. Faith is given and received by Christ�s work of grace alone. James� point is not that salvation requires works, an effort to receive it or even to cement it; rather, real faith will result in an outcome that backs it up. Faith will be lived out in the believer�s life, thinking, words, and actions. Faith will create initiative from the realization of who we are in Christ, and then we will live out our lives in Him, through His power and because of our convictions. Him with conviction

Many commentators have suggested that James was reacting against Paul; however, James predates Paul, and they compliment and complete one another rather than contradict. James was reacting to pious, fraudulent Jews as well as the new Christians who were buying into their lies and demonstrating a useless, meaningless un-impacting faith. Also, at this time, many Christians wanted to join the Zealots and overthrow the Romans. James places the emphases on impacting faith, doing good with it, not harm (James 1:26-27; 2:19).

The type of faith James is referring to here is not genuine, saving faith; rather, it is the acceptance of our Lord�s precepts. There are three types of faith, saving (Eph. 2:8-9), practicing (2 Cor. 5:7) and intellectual (James 2:14-26) or sometimes refereed to as dead faith. Faith that is not powered by Christ, and then practiced by our trust and obedience, is useless, false, dead, and even demonic! Thus, this passage is not about salvation, but rather how we are to live (Rom. 3:24; 14:23; Heb. 11:6; 1 John 5:12).

Vs. 14-17: James is using a rhetorical statement here. What good is a faith of words and no actions? His point is that we are not to claim faith or brag about faith if we are doing nothing with our faith. This type of faith is phony. Faith is demonstrated by substance and connection, how we choose to live our lives and touch others for Christ. It shows how our morality is applied. If we ignore our brothers and sisters in the Lord, or in the world, while we boast we are in Him, what good is our faith? Our demonstrations are ineffectual, and even detrimental to others. Faith is not a substance that is to stand unused (1 John 3:16-20).

� Faith. James uses faith here as an �Academic Affirmation.� This means having a mere intellectual understanding without trusting in Christ as Savior and Lord. For James, faith was not just an allegiance to doctrine; rather, it was to be a lifestyle. It was not just an idea to believe in, but rather the purpose for our lives. Faith is not to be passive, but rather active; it is the living Spirit living in us, empowering and growing in us (Gal. 5).

� Works/deeds refer to ethical behavior. Real faith is never to be hidden, indifferent, or independent.

� Naked. God asks us to demonstrate our Christian life by helping out others in need, especially the poor. Right thought will create right actions. This is not about salvation; it is about our gratitude in Him and our obedience to His precepts.

� Go in peace was a Jewish farewell blessing and saying. It means, may the Lord bless you and go away from me. It is saying to someone, stay warm, while you are in a warm home with a spare coat and they have no coat and are out in the cold. But, the Law explicitly commands us to provide hospitality (Deut. 10: 17-19; 15:7-8; Isa. 42:3-4; 58:6-7; Matt. 14:14-21; 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 4:1. Many Jews did; however, many refused and used their faith as the reason not to give help to others�a perverted reason.

� Dead is a saying that means totally useless, words without actions. It is a lifeless corpse from whence the spirit has departed. James is saying when we do not demonstrate our faith we are as lifeless a dead body where the spirit/soul is gone! This does not mean we lose our faith; rather, we never had it.

Faith is not just an academic subject, something we just debate and talk about, nor is it about emotions; rather it must be real and it must be the motivating impacting force within us. If we have faith and do nothing with it, we are being illogical and absurd. Saving faith is a living faith; it will have genuine results! Thus, our desire, as Christians, will be to put into practice the precepts of the Lord, not because we earn anything, but because we are grateful for what we have and desire others to have it, too. Our faith will have activity that tells others and God that our faith is real.

Vs. 18-20: Faith is not just belief; as James tells us, even the demons believe in God. Belief does not save. Faith has a deeper aspect, rooted in our trust and obedience and planted in us by Christ�s work on the cross. It will have involvement, partnership, and heart. We are fools if we think all we need is to believe in God and take comfort that our salvation is assured. Our assurance, then, is not in Christ, but rather in our feeble thinking.

� If someone says was a literary device to demand evidence, to say �show me.� It was meant to introduce a subject to answer an objection. In other words, you cannot show me because your argument is unreasonable.

� Faith is like the wind. We cannot always see it, but we can see its affects. Not to have deeds with it is like having a flashlight but no batteries.

� Show me. James challenges those with faith to show their faith with outward fruit. James is not saying doctrine is unimportant; rather, if it is real in you, then it will be shown in you. The Jews were required to declare the oneness of God every day and then exercise their faith in Him. Many chose to only proclaim their faith, but did nothing with it. God reads our heart; others read our deeds. Thus, we are sometimes the only gospel a non-saved person ever sees!

� One God. James places the emphasis beyond just believing in the One God, the hallmark Jewish Shema (Deut. 6:4-5). The Jews were resting their faith on their words alone. Faith, to many people, has become merely an intellectual exercise; but, there is far more. There must be trust, too! It is not enough just to believe, if you have correct doctrine. So what? What have you done with it?

� O foolish man. This is a very strong reprimand to wrong thinking and wrong behaving. It is very reminiscence of the �fool� in Proverbs, and how judgment falls on him. Don�t be the fool (Luke 7:35)!

� Dead, here, means not to have any fruit, as in no response from it.

God did not call us just to a creed; He called us to a way of life that includes thinking, faith, reason, and action. It is not about just right thinking or right doing; it is the synergy of the two. In this way, we can look after His sheep and be His hands and feet in the world; we can be what we are to Him and then show it to others (John 21:16).

Vs. 21-26: The Patriarchs were the principal models for Judaism (Deut. 7:7-9; 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:. Abraham�s offering of Isaac was the climax of his faith. For James to point them to Abraham, was the ultimate means to make his case. The context is living according to God's precepts�not for salvation, but rather as a response that our salvation has impacted us and is real (James 1:19-20). The Jews were being challenged that they must not only know the law, they must obey it too, or it is meaningless (2 Cor. 3:15). It is the same with the Christian; we do not have the Law, nor need conditions for our salvation. But, what good would our salvation be unless we are transformed by His precepts into our character. Here, James uses Abraham and Rahab, two opposites in personality, experiences, gifts, and call, yet united in faith.

� Abraham was saved by his faith in God (Gen. 15:6; 22; 26:4-5). What Abraham did was prove his faith by trusting in God and then backing up that trust by his obedience to God�s directive, even though it seemed irrational to offer up his only son, for whom he had waited so long.

� Justified normally means to be reconciled to God as Paul uses this term. James uses it as a proof. It is not just the profession of faith that is important; it is the possession of faith that matters. James is using this term to indicate being aligned with faith, as Paul does. We are justified; this means God declares us righteous before Himself by the merit of Christ�s redemptive work alone, by our faith alone. No meritorious deeds are worthy or necessary from us to receive salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). However, as Martin Luther pointed out, not by a faith that is alone.

� Made perfect. The perfect is when true faith is visible and produces fruit. Faith and works are separate definitions and ideas, but they go together synergistically and are never separated from a true follower of Christ.

� Rahab trusted in God and she was saved. She then hid the spies sent from Joshua. She knew the city was judged and doomed and that the Hebrews were God�s own. She was willing to sacrifice herself so that God would be honored and so that perhaps her family could be saved too (Josh. 2:1-21; 6:17-27; Heb. 11:31).

� Paul also was saved by trusting in God. Then, his life was radically transformed, so he put the same, if not more, energy into equipping the church as he had in trying to destroy it (Rom. 4:1-5). Paul and James do not contradict. Paul tells us outright that faith will have a response to it; thus, Paul and James do not contradict, but rather complement. Salvation is a gift, not a reward (2 Cor. 5:10)! Salvation is by His grace, condemnation is by our works. Thus, Paul places the focus of faith on its root saving force while James emphasizes its results. Paul describes the fire of faith and James the smoke; they complement one another well!

� Faith without works is dead/Not by faith alone. Here is the statement that brings the controversy. However, it is misunderstood. James is not saying we are saved by works! He is saying, you are saved, but big deal if you do nothing with it! None of our deeds can save us; salvation comes only by what Christ has done. The point here is there is an evidence for it. In theology, this is called �Antinomianism� meaning to say, Jesus is my Savior, but not to trust in Him, and I do not need to obey His precepts and morals. The balance is that we are saved by Christ alone, by faith alone. However, it will be demonstrated if it has taken root in us.

For us, Christianity is not a once for all simple prayer we pray at a crusade or church. It is not to be just an intellectual acceptance or idea. Rather, it is a lifelong, purpose-driven lifestyle as Jesus as Lord over all (John 3:16-30). The prayer may enter us in our new life�not the prayer itself, but the focus of our faith in Christ. This leads to effectual commitment. If no commitment is shown, then we may not have the real faith and trust in the Lord, or at the very least have never ventured any further in our faith journey than when we first received Him. There is a relation between faith and works. One proves the other. All too often, the focus switches to how faith is to be used for salvation, when it is the Bible view that faith is not academic, but needs to be a part of our daily life.

It is purely by His acceptance of us that we are saved (Rom. 3:23-28; 6:23; 7:18; Gal 3:11; 5:17; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5). There is nothing that we can add to it, such as good works or clean living. Justification means that God's righteousness is covering us, protecting us from His wrath and punishment as a blanket! It is like getting a speeding ticket, going to court, and having the judge declare you innocent, even though you were speeding. To God you are clean, covered by what Christ has done for you. This creates our reconciliation to God; we were in perfect relationship to Him before the fall, and now we are again in harmony. Take great comfort; this does not happen overnight. Our faith has grace to it. We will make mistakes and have setbacks, but He is there for us, carrying us through. Allow Him to do so!

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

1. What does this passage say?

2. What does this passage mean?

3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?

4. Is there a sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?

5. How can I be changed so I can learn and grow?

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?

Additional Questions:

1. Do you consider yourself a person who just thinks, or a person who just does? Do you base your comfort on what you do, or your works? How so?

2. The classic question is if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Think about your faith; how genuine is it? We will have ups and downs, but our faith should show growth.

3. How does real, impacting, effectual faith have a result to it? Why does faith not just stand alone?

4. Do you believe that James was reacting against Paul, or that they contradict? How so? Why not?

5. Faith is demonstrated by substance and connection. What has that meant in your life? What can it mean for you and your church?

6. How does your faith answer James� question to �show me?�

7. How would you answer this question from a traditional Catholic: When we say by faith alone, �what good would your salvation be without being transformed from His precepts and into His character?�

8. James is saying that when we do not demonstrate our faith, we are as a lifeless, dead body where the spirit/soul is gone! If we have faith and do nothing with it, it is illogical and absurd. How does this make you feel, or convict you?

9. Faith can easily become just an intellectual exercise. So, what can you do to make sure that you are applying far more to it, such as trust and obedience?

10. If James asked you, �What have you done with your faith?� how would you respond?

11. Remember the WWJD craze a few years ago? What would Jesus do? I did not like that much, because we are not Jesus. It should have said what would Jesus have me do? Thus, what will He have you do about your faith development (Gal. 3:2-6; 5:16; Eph. 3:16)?

12. God asks us to demonstrate our Christian life by helping out others in need, especially the poor. What can your church do to be more obedient to this precept?

� 2004 R. J. Krejcir Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

Occupy Till I Come

mejbaker — Tue May 27, 2008 11:45 am

Author: mejbaker

Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:45 am

Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Other translations say; Do business - till I come.
In other words engage in trade with what you have been given. Take what you have and put it to work. Stay busy with what I have given to you. Make this money grow. If you are in business and you are not growing you have become stagnant. It�s no different with the church. If we aren�t going foreword, then we�ve become stagnant. You can't be both.

The Greek word used for occupy is pragmateuomai
from GSN4229; to busy oneself with, i.e. to trade:

W.E. Vines says occupy - "to walk," is sometimes used of the state in which one is living, or of that to which a person is given,

When you look at the modern church, you see it is busy as a whole, but are they accomplishing what God has given to them? Is the church occupying, or is it just setting on its laurels of past glories and waiting for the Lord to return. Is this what He called us to do? Is this what will hasten His return? Jesus said this to the church:

Revelation 3:16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.

The lord loves us more than we can fathom. I know he didn�t say this to create fear, but as an admonition. In the last days, many will fall away from the faith. Satan knows his time is short, and he�s out doing everything he can to sabotage the faith of the saints.

Matthew 24:10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11. "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

He also went on to say in vs. 24. "For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
We�re in the last days, but we are also in the greatest time to be alive since the beginning of creation. No one knows the exact time of His coming, but we certainly could be a part of the generation that ushers in His return. Shouldn�t we be about the Lords business?

We are the ones called to such a time as this! Step out and take your God given place in His kingdom. Don�t be afraid. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He wants us to accomplish certain things while we are here on the Earth but he also is one hundred percent behind us, supporting us all the way.

There will be a day when many will look back with regrets and say I could have done so much more. God gave me all these abilities and talents and anointing, what do I have to show for all of that? I don�t want to be one of those do you? I have regrets in my life and Satan has tried to hold things over my head. However, I�ve learned to not look back at my mess ups, but rather to look ahead at what I can still accomplish. I have been forgiven and I will go on! Once again I will say, if God is for me who can be against me! I will say even as the Apostle Paul:

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

Regret can be a powerful tool of the enemy. He loves to beat God�s elect over the head with what they haven't done, and remind them of their past mistakes. He knows that if he can keep them in a state of remembrance of their past failures, he won�t have to worry about them in his future. This can become a great stumbling block in a Christians life, and many have stalled out, unable at least in their own mind to go forward because of it.

For those of you have been there and know what I am talking about, I want to encourage you. I know what it is like to be so down because of my past that I could not go foreword. The Lord is so awesome; He has not forgotten His promises to us. When we repent and turn back to Him, He is always there to take us back, and restore lost fellowship. I was in this very place at one time in my life. I had received forgiveness for my mess ups but really thought that I couldn�t go further with my calling. The enemy was right there on my shoulder reminding me of my failures. One day as I was out in my back yard just playing around with my bonsai�s and quietly singing and worshiping the Lord, He spoke to me so sweetly, and told me this. �I have called you before the foundation of the world.� Along with the words came the revelation, He will not go back on His word to us. Whom He has called He has called, and that�s that. He absolutely will not go back on His promises. Let us as Christians receive this great grace and go forward into the future with this holy hope and expectation.

Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

1 Peter 1:20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
Although I knew this was in the Bible, it was certainly not personal to me up until that time. These words restored me and empowered me as nothing else could possibly have done. These words were spoken not only for my sake, but as a reminder for any believer who has lost their way on the journey, and for all of those who are questioning their calling and have lost their ability to go forward. He has not forgotten you, and is here to empower you by the Holy Spirit to go forward in His preordained calling and purpose. We have a purpose, and its time to put the past behind us and go forward. He is truly an ever-present help in a time of need.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

He won�t go back on His promises ever. It can not happen. Reach out with me for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I shared this to help any that could not go forward. We can�t be occupiers of the land if we are stalled out in the present because of our past, can we? Take this attitude with me, I will go forward and fulfill my God given destiny. God is for me, who can be against me? With this attitude, we will walk in the victory that has surely been won for us.

My question is this, is the church really occupying or are we just doing business as usual.
There are great revivals in the world with hundreds of thousands and even millions giving their lives to Jesus Christ, but are we really occupying? I realize this is not a simple problem but one that will take the concentrated efforts of Christians across the board. How can we as Christians step across our own man made lines and start acting as the body of Christ as a whole and not just a lot of parts? The barriers have to come down, how can we occupy if we can not even come to agreement within ourselves. Jesus said a kingdom divided against itself can not stand.

I believe we as believers have certainly inhabited the land but have not truly occupied it. To occupy is to fully influence every aspect of society as we know it, spiritually, as well as socially and economically. Society should see a dramatic change. This kind of change doesn�t just effect a generation but effects future generations as well. When the Apostles first preached, people weren�t just born again but every aspect of society and culture was changed. If you change a culture you change the very fabric of the society that they live in. This kind of change can have long lasting effects, not just temporary ones.

Are we as the body of Christ thinking too small? We often think in terms of getting people into the kingdom and leave it at that. Jesus said as part of the great commission to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20.)

How can we disciple nations. By positively changing them from the inside out. Other religions have a systematic plan for doing just that. However, Christianity hasn�t been doing that to the same degree.

All Christians are not called into the 5-fold ministry, but many are called to be bankers, teachers, lawyers, judges, politicians, and so on. Christians should be at the top and scattered throughout every area of society if they are truly walking in their giftings. There is an anointing that goes along with that calling. The God given abilities along with the anointing that is upon God�s chosen people in every area of society can influence that society in such a way as to give Godly direction and influence. To try to change the direction of a society without a Godly change from within will only lead to rebellion within the very society you are trying to influence. You can not have permanent change by trying to force laws down peoples throats without also teaching Godly principles along with them. And as well in so doing, changing the top areas within that society, and creating a society where a Christian revival will not only happen, but will grow and leave long lasting sustained influence and change within that nation. This kind of sustained change will endure into the future, and I believe will be the catalyst that ushers in the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! Instead of setting on our spiritual backsides and waiting for the Lord to return, lets hasten His return. Lets fill our lamps with oil and go take the land.

Many feel that they are not really contributing if they are not a preacher or minister. If God has called you to be a businessperson, politician, banker, teacher etc. then know that there is no more important thing you can be doing. We all have our God given place and it will take all of us working together in every phase of society to bring about the kind of permanent change that can transform a nation.
We need Christians occupying within every area of society. I want to personally challenge you to find your God given place, and let�s do this together Amen.

James 2: 1-13

richardk — Thu May 22, 2008 11:29 am

Author: richardk

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 11:29 am

�The Call to Avoid Favoritism!�

General idea: What are your motivations? Do they line up with God�s precepts? James calls us away from the way we think we should do our daily life and our church and how we should treat people, and into the precepts Jesus gave us. People, within the new church that at this time was still a part of Judaism, were playing favorites, as was the tradition. Rich people were being catered to. They received the best seats and respect and were honored from the pulpit while the poor were being ignored, rebuked, and seated in the back�if they were allowed inside at all. The new Christians were doing the same as the Jews; not only was there no distinction in character or love, neither were the teachings of Jesus being adhered to. Perhaps, Jesus� Sermon on the Mount was being read; a poor person, hearing this for the first time, hears blessed are the meek, and blessed are the poor. How excited he must have gotten, only to be disillusioned by an usher who kicked him to the back or out on the streets. Prejudice and hypocrisy were in action!

Vs. 1-4: The early Christians were favoring the rich; ironically, they had been oppressed by these rich ones themselves, as most had. Thus, James� question was, how could they favor them? They put their favor, not in faith, but in personal motives which is foolishness because it is based on inferior guidelines. They were seeing fancy clothes and putting their efforts into evangelizing the rich while ignoring the poor and were not interested in what is in the heart. They were giving the wrong people special attention and missing the point of Jesus� teachings.

� Lord of Glory means God is Glorious, Wondrous, All Powerful, All Knowing and All Important (Psalm 24:7-. This describes God in the most powerful and profound language we have. In context, Jesus is God and has all of these attributes, referring to Immanuel, God is with us (Prov. 1; Matt. 1:23).

� Partiality/ favoritism means to receive by face value only, like judging a book by its cover. It is to favor someone externally based on their appearance, race, economic status, or value in society. Here, racism is superficial and it is condemned as being evil! Jewish wisdom stressed (but did not always practice) when our focus is on God, we are to see others in Him, not what they can do to or for us. We are called to discern evil from good, but not make judgments based on appearances only (Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6-8 Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25).

� Assembly refers to the Synagogue. The Christians had not broken away from Judaism yet (James 5:14). James was passionate that the Christians be messianic (follow Christ) and, thus, stand out with more character and morality than their Jewish cousins.

� Gold Rings were the symbols of status for the aristocracy; it is the archetypal element of status and wealth. It literally means you carry your financial portfolio with you to show others up.

� Poor man refers to the beggar, who wants to work, versus the �sluggard� who does not (Prov. 6:6-11; 13:4; 19:24). The poor man wants to be in society and work but is being oppressed and cannot; the poor were the lowest level of Jewish and Greek society.

� Fine apparel. People gave respect and honor because of the outward appearance of a person. The motivation for seeking favor with the rich is they were seeking funds for themselves, a self-demeaning act, but something the poor could not do as they could give no special favor. The Greeks were famous for catering to the rich who wore elaborate clothes; the rich and politicians sought votes while the people sought favor. James says this is immoral!

� Filthy clothes. The poor often had only one set of clothing, thus it would be dirty because they both worked and slept in it! Clothes were some of the most expensive items a person had. Those who were poor, or, at least not rich, usually had only one or two outfits, while the rich had many elaborate robes. Thus, clothes were the symbol of who you were in society. In contrast, maturity and character is the �status symbol� of who we are in Christ. Christ wants to see our love, not our clothes or bank account!

The advice James gives us is to seek within ourselves and observe in our actions whether true faith is working; and, if so, we will have no partiality. We will not show favoritism, rather believing and acting as if all who are in Christ are equal, which they are. The true measure of a person is not in his wealth or his estate; rather it is his character and maturity, how he exhibits the precepts of our Lord, how he lives his life. These are the true marks that are to be honored. The early Christians missed this point, as do many Christians today! The call is that we are to love and respect one another because of who we are in Christ, not because of our looks, clothes, or bank account.

Vs. 5-7: The rich were honored; yet, it was the rich who did them the most harm and even slandered our Lord. James tells us the true wealth is in our faith, the fact that we are chosen by God! The rich are only rich temporarily while the poor will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven�not for being poor, but for being in Christ (Matt. 25:34, 46; John 3:3-5). Insulting those who are in Christ is an attack on Christ Himself!

� Has God not chosen? Our status in the Kingdom and our salvation is predestined by God alone. We are not chosen by any work, merit, popularity, or wealth; thus there should be no reason for us to treat others with favor because of what they can do or for whom they are in the world (1 Cor. 1:28-29; Eph. 1:4).

� Dishonored the poor. Treating others by the ways of the world and not the way of our Lord brings disgrace to people and God (Deut. 15:7-11). The poor gain grace and favor because they have learned to trust and rely on God alone, not just for being poor. Thus, they were, and are the ones with the most faith and contribute to the church the most in what matters (Psalm 9:18; Luke 6:20; 1 Cor. 1:26-31)!

� Drag you into courts. Some Jewish judges forced all litigant parties in court to wear the same clothes, thus show the public that no favoritism took place (Lev. 19:15). The Romans were the opposite and always favored the rich; in fact, you could not accuse a person of any wrong doing who was in a higher class than you. As today, the rich had more favor in the courts because they could hire lawyers and witnesses. Greek philosophers said this was immoral, and got themselves into trouble for saying so!

� Oppress is a very harsh word, normally attributed to Satan, meaning an immense and cruel work (Acts 10:3. The rich had a bad habit of oppressing people and creating a feudal system. It makes no sense to honor those who dishonor you. The contrast is that the rich rely on their wealth while the poor rely on God; the poor have honor, and the rich are typically reprobate (Matt. 10:25).

� Blasphemed. God�s Name is sacred (Yahweh), especially for the Jews. To even say His name or write it directly was considered a curse. This is why there are over 100 names of God in the Bible that describes His character and attributes, but do not name Him directly.

Prejudice is defined as forming an opinion without knowing the facts. Prejudice, discrimination, and favoritism are heinous things before God the Father, who sees us as all His children. The biggest problems, both in the family and in nations, are the superficial ways we judge each other and do not love. Looking at someone with favor or disgust because of appearance, ancestry, wealth, achievements, gender, age, theological position, or education is purely dumb. In God�s eyes, we are forsaking our brother for superficial and meaningless reasons. We have to remember, God accepts us and calls us to do likewise with others (1 Sam. 2:7; 16:7; Prov. 14: 31; 17:5; 22:2; Job. 34:19; Matt. 28:19-20; John 13:34-35; Acts. 10:34; 17:24-28; Rom. 2:11; 15:7; 1 Cor. 1:25-29; Gal. 3:26-27; 5:14; Eph. 6:9; Phil. 2:3-5; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 John 4:7-21)!

Vs. 8-13: God is honored, not by our worth in society, but, rather, how we obey His precepts and trust in Him. We sin by playing favorites and having skewed values; and we are bringing shame to God and His Church. We cannot take comfort thinking I keep these precepts of our Lord, and not worry about the ones we ignore. For, when we break one law, we are guilty of it all. How we use mercy will tell God how He should be merciful with us! Beware that being partial will cause an encounter between you and judgment!

� Royal law refers to an imperial edict which became a supreme law and overwrote other laws (Ezra 6:11; Est. . Here, it refers to God being the Supreme King and His Law as absolute; thus, we are to follow His decrees (Lev. 19:15-18; Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:36-40; Rom. 13:8-10)!

� Whole law. The Bible teaches that some sins are more heinous than others; however, in God�s sight, sin is sin. A small sin will condemn you just as a much bigger one. James warns us not to have a superficial understating of the Law (God�s Word) (Matt. 5:17-20). Stoic philosophers also stated that all sins are equal.

� Adultery, Murder. James quotes His Brother, Jesus (Mark 12:29-34). James is putting the abuse of the poor and favoritism as a violation of the Great Commandment, and in the same category as murder and adultery! During this time, Zealots who were too religious to commit adultery would stab the aristocrats in the Temple court. James is also saying not to go to the other extreme, either.

� Transgressors, stumble means those who sin. The Jews, classically, had a hierarchy of sins�which were the real bad ones, and which were minor. The point James is making, as did Jesus, is that when we sin, we sin; there is no �pecking order� or hierarchy (Matt. 5:18-19; 23:23).

� Be judged refers to how our words and actions reflect who we are and what is in our heart (1 John 3:1.

� Law of liberty refers to being free from the ways of the world. It can also mean being wise in our own eyes. Most scholars believe it means being freed from sin (James 1:25).

� Mercy. God is not obligated to give mercy to anyone; yet, He does so anyway, and in abundance (Zech. 7:9; Matt. 5:7; 18:21-25; Rom. 9). Judaism recognized that God�s greatest attributes are His mercy and Judgment. If we are not impartial in our judgments, it will fall back upon our selves! We always have to remember we are given grace, liberty, and forgiveness, but never forget we also have responsibility. We are called to give mercy and forgive�as God has done with us (Matt. 18:23-35).

The basic, simple, and true thought is that we are to treat others as Christ has treated us! Being a Christian means we are to see one another as who we are in Christ. We are to treat one another the way Christ has treated us, because He first loved us. Thus, we see each other as the children of God just as we are the child of God (1 John 2:28-3:3). Each of us is a brother or sister in the Lord. So, we must treat one another as Christ has treated us! We do this through the empowerment of the Spirit! Worldly ways must not have an influence on we who are in Christ�period!�nor on how we run our church or our daily lives. As God is not influenced by societal desires, neither should we be (Mark 12:30-31; 1 Cor. 1:28-29; Eph. 1:4)! We need to realize this is important. We sin by playing favorites. This dishonors our Lord and diminishes our witness.

To receive God�s mercy, we need to be merciful to others. Yes, we have grace (praise God!), but why be the fool when we can be mature! We were under the moral law of God through which there was no way to be pleasing and saved unless we obeyed it fully. Our weakness, situations, and experiences could not help us, nor could our education or will. We need to come to a point where we will surrender to Him fully, allowing His Way to infuse our way (John 3:30)! We are no longer under the law, but the law reveals who we are, our infirmities, and our need for Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 7:1-14). When we know we are bad but we can be better, then we can begin to strive for goodness�with the Spirit�s help!

The way of our sinful nature is to gravitate to those that are like us. God calls us to rise toward Him and see others as His children too (Gen. 1:26-27). Remember how our Lord reached out to the woman in Samaria (John 4:1-42). Who do you reach out too? The call is to act in accordingly to what we believe, and our beliefs need to be rooted in Christ! Two of God�s greatest attributes are mercy and judgment. They go together and they do not operate without the other. Neither should we judge or show favoritism. God�s mercy is dominant; we have grace, but His judgments are still available. Do not allow yourself to fall into judgment. Saved, yes we are, but consider what rewards and opportunities can be wasted by you. Our efforts and ways only serve to glorify us while we ignore God and His Glory

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

1. What does this passage say?

2. What does this passage mean?

3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?

4. Is there a sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?

5. How can I be changed so I can learn and grow?

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?

Additional Questions:

1. Have you ever treated someone with extra respect and honor because they were rich or a celebrity? Is this wrong? If so, how?

2. How would you and your church respond if a poor person who was dressed badly and dirty, came to your services? How would they be treated? How does God say for us to treat them?

3. How would you define partiality and favoritism?

4. What are your motivations for your dealings at church, work, or with family? Have you considered if they line up with God�s precepts?

5. James calls us away from the way we think we should do daily church life. What do you think about what James has to say in this passage? Do you realize that many Christians will ignore these precepts? How do you feel about that?

6. Do you believe that how we treat a person is rooted in our spiritual maturity and character growth in Christ? How so?

7. How have you shown favoritism? How should you?

8. How would you define the true measure of a person? How should you? How does God? How should the church? How would these percepts affect the way your church chooses its pastors and leaders? Why would a church not follow these precepts?

9. Take what James is saying and read Colossians 3:25. How do love and respect for each other contribute to your witness, spiritual growth, church culture, workplace, spouse, school or etc.?

10. God is not honored by our worth in society. How so? Why or why not? What would your life look like if you followed this basic, simple, and true thought that we are to treat others as Christ has treated us?

11. What do you need to do to look inside yourself and observe, in your actions, whether or not true faith is working?

12. How can you be a person who is slow to show favoritism and gives respect to those that even a liberal society may not give to? Who would that be? What will you do?

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:28-29)

� 2004 R. J. Krejcir Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

Jesus praying?

Jhazline_20 — Tue May 20, 2008 7:09 pm

Author: Jhazline_20

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:09 pm

Of course Jesus pray, and Jesus pray for all of us. Jesus prayed for guidance in places of quiet solitude. If He is God, why did Jesus pray? Prayer was an important part of Jesus' life. Many times in the Gospels, we read that Jesus prayed or went alone to pray apart from the disciples. Jesus prayed in praise to God, the Father. And he pray for the forgiveness of our sins. That's how GREAT and GOOD JESUS is.

__________
jhazline_20
Comprehensive resources for those looking for recovery from addiction. http://www.addictionrecovery.net

James 1: 21-27

richardk — Fri May 02, 2008 11:05 am

Author: richardk

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:05 am

�Becoming Doers of the Word!�

General idea: James uses more word pictures and illustrations to show us the necessity of putting the Word of God into our life, in how we feel and how we are, and then allow it to transform us into how we treat others. James is telling us in order to be a �doer of the Word,� which means to put into practice the precepts of our Lord, we have to rid ourselves of the rotten filth in our lives. That is, the evil in us must go before we can sincerely be humble and obedient to the Lord and grow in Him. Just listening to the Word and then doing nothing with it is total foolishness. It conveys the stupendous stupid-ness of our mindsets. We will be missing out on what God has for us and replacing it with foolishness at best, and with unadulterated evil at worst. In either case, we are being disloyal to God, throwing out prime opportunities, and wasting what He gives us. The solution to the problem of evil and willful disobedience, as well as to a meaningless life is to receive His Word. We must be willing to let God�s Word affect, as in influence us deeply, our achievements and purposes because of who He is and what He is doing in us! When we are receiving His message, we are more likely to obey Him and live a life of Christian distinction and purpose, and to give God the glory.

Vs. 21: God�s Word is the powerhouse and platform for our salvation. His Word conveys His Truth and precepts for living and doing the Christian life. Yet, it can easily be thwarted simply by our refusal to acknowledge Him as LORD, and allowing our human waste of sin to be in the way of His Way! God�s Word is strong enough, but God usually does not override our will once we are saved (our will is overridden from His Spirit testifying about Jesus so we will have faith to revive the faith: John 3:3-6; Rom. 5:4-5; 8:14; 8:26-27; 1 Cor. 12:3).

� Filthiness means earwax; it needs to be cleaned. You cannot hear well if your ear is full of wax. This is also a colloquialism for evil; it is a form of adultery! It is adultery by our hidden motives and willful, moral rebellion against God. It is literally cheating on Him with our desires, lust, and sin from what He as called and planned for us. It is us, as humans, seeking what is contrary to His will such as hatred and bigotry (Isaiah 14:12-15; Matt. 15:18-19; Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:3; Rev. 21:4). God calls us to strip it off like filthy clothing.

� Wickedness refers to unrighteous anger, where our anger is invalid and/or out of control, such as people who are just bitter in life, easily angered, or never satisfied.

� Receiving refers to listening, as in hospitality and welcoming. In context, it is applying truth, putting into action the precepts we hear, then being obedient to them.

� Meekness is not weakness or a lack of strength, rather, it is being humble and gentle toward God and others (Ex. 32:19-20; 30-34; Num 12:1-3; Psalm 37:11 Matt. 5: 3-12; 11:29). In this context, it refers to being nonresistant to God and His work in us. Meekness produces a desire and effort seeking to please God and submitting our will and aspirations to His will and what is best. Meekness enables us to endure being personally attacked by keeping our focus on Christ with humility.

� The Implanted Word is the message of God conveyed through His Bible. In Stoic philosophy, this is called �innate reason,� meaning either we are born with it or we can reach within ourselves for it. For the Christian, it means we all have His Word in our hearts and we reach for it as it comes from God (Psalm 119; John 17:17; Rom. 1:2; Eph. 1:11-14; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; James 1:18; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). The call is to take His Word, allowing Him to plant it in us just like a gardener would plant a tree, then allow our efforts in Him and the work of the Spirit to grow the tree of our faith in order to produce the Fruit in our lives that will impact others around us (2 Pet. 1: 3-11).

James uses the illustration that looking in a mirror and then forgetting what we look like is foolish, as is reading the Bible and not doing anything about what it says. James is telling us that an effort and determination is needed to apply the precepts of our Lord into a life that is Christian. The word �Christian� means more than just a professing belief; it means following Christ; it means being like Christ, manifesting His qualities which are demonstrated, when we are like Christ, by our obedience and what we do. Saved? Yes, perhaps; but as James will say later, what good is that faith if we do nothing with it?

Vs. 22-25: God�s Word gives us our spiritual birth and reason in life (Col. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:22-23). Who am I? What am I here for? What is the meaning of life? It is all wrapped up in who we are in Christ, and our allowing Him to empower us. God calls us to put our faith in action; we do this by listening to Him and then doing what He says. When we hear the Word of God, the proof text that it is working will be that it affects and impacts us and we are able to make a response to it. If we do nothing with it, we are like the man in the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-23). The concept, Do what it says, is essential for our growth as well as our societal influence and betterment.

� Doers. When we really hear God�s Word without putting up any barriers, it will impact us existentially (change us internally) down to the depths of who we are in personality, thinking, and attitudes, then it will lead to godly actions. It will model and show a loving concern for others and His precepts in concert. We have to be willing to hear before we can practice it. If we do not practice it, it becomes useless. This does not mean doing something without the knowledge to do it right, or going off without purpose or direction.

� Hearers only is a statement that characterizes self delusion and hypocrisy. In contrast, some Jews at the time believed they were only required to memorize the Law (Word of God), but did not need to practice it. The value was only in the learning; the practicing of it was considered with contempt. James is using the stoic philosophy and tweaking it to attack the complacent Jews. (Ezek. 33:30-32). Complacency is deadly to a church, as it will fall swiftly and hard into utter worthlessness and eventual closure.

� Mirror was a handheld piece of polished bronze and was very expensive; only a rich person would have one (1 Cor. 13:12). The image is that the Bible is a mirror to our souls�who we really are in motivations, desires, outcomes, and character!

� Perfect law means sacred Scripture (Psalm 19), and, along with mirror, means how the Word of God reflects our character. The purpose of a mirror is to show what we really look like so we can improve ourselves. It is the examiner of what is plainly seen, not by us, but by others. It is the same with the Bible. God�s Word examines us and gives us the information to �comb the hair� of our faith, to make us worthy of going out in public, and being practical and appealing to others. The Bible helps us see ourselves so we can fix, with the Spirit�s empowerment, what needs attention and improvement or whatever is needed.

� Liberty means God�s Law does not enslave us, but rather sets us free (John 8:36; Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:13)!

� Forgetful. To be a person who does not desire to improve himself or who does not care James plainly says is stupid behavior to be that person! Philosophers, at that time, believed knowledge freed them from worldly care; thus, having knowledge meant you did not have to deal with it. James is attacking that apathetic concept that was creeping into the Church then, and has taken deep root in the Church today!

God�s Word sets us free; it does not bind us to traditions and meaningless rhetoric; it liberates us into joy and contentment; it brings out our best and gives us purpose and real, authentic meaning. The application of this is in how we control what we say and do, as we are called to do. Our words reflect what is in our heart as do our actions. Serving the needy is our character and maturity in action.

Vs. 26-27: These are the principle verses for us as sincere, authentic Christians who are responsible to do something with our Christian life. We are not called to just be pretty; rather, we are called to get dirty! This is implied in all that we do and believe (Prov. 19:17).

� Does not bridle his tongue. God calls us to control our words (Psalm 141:3; Prov. 10:19; 16:24; Matt. 5:9; 12:34; Eph. 4:29)! We are not to divorce our tongue from our mind and heart!

� Useless. Here comes the practical application, the essential quality that shows who we are in Christ, as our words reflect our faith and character. When we are careless with our words, we are being careless with our Lord and call. James calls us to wake up and get real with our faith and work. God hates it, literally hates it when we do not take care to what comes from our lips (Psalm 5:9; 12:3; 52:2; 109:2; 120:2; Prov. 17:4; 27-28; 25:23; 26:20; Jer. 9:8; James 3:1-12; 3 John 9-12)!

� Pure and undefiled religion refers to obedience that is pleasing to God�doing something with our faith.

� Orphans and widows. These are the powerless ones in society. They have little to no resources or rights, and were often thrown away as many cultures do with them today. The Jews did a fair job of taking care of them, and the Romans only took care of the orphans of its citizens. Even though it was a very small percentage, most other cultures did nothing. True Christianity involves defending and providing for the helpless and needy! God�s call is powerful, purposeful, and clear; take care of them! Period! No ifs, ands or buts; no excuses or getting lost in committee. We are to take care of them (Ex. 22:20-24; Deut. 10:18; 14:29; Psalm 9:18; 68:5; 146:9; Isa. 1:17; Ezek. 22:7)! A church that does not care for its helpless is a useless and worthless church deserving a bulldozer (James� language is far more emphatic than mine!)!

God�s Word is the seed that is implanted in us to grow our faith and make our life impacting and worthwhile. His Word cannot be planted in our hearts when all the room is taken up by our pride and personal, evil agendas! God�s Word must be an active participant in us; His words must transcend our soul and will so that they take root in us in a deep and personal way so all we do will be the result of what God has impacted in us. We are never to divorce our Christianity from God�s Truth or His call! Allow yourself to receive His reconciliation and Truth for your life and ministry!

We are not called to be prefect all of the time. We still have His forgiveness when we mess up, but we are called to put forth an effort and have a caring heart� in whatever we do, we must do it with excellence for His glory. Listening is extremely important and James will expand on it later, but just listening and doing nothing is useless! If a person went to a police officer and said a burglary was in progress, would the police officer be doing a great job by just being a great listener? Perhaps the police officer did all of the earnest, proper listening skills, paid close attention, and took the time to carefully listen�perhaps even writing it down. But, if he never responded to the burglary by calling it in, or trying to stop or investigate it himself, his job would be of no value to the community.

God's Word will lead to godly action when it is received by a person who is rooted in Christ, whose life has been transformed. If not, we are self deluded as James states in verses 23-27 and Ezekiel in Ezek 3:30-32. Thus, the Bible must be read, it must be adhered to, it must impact us. Then, a visible and viable result will occur as our faith development increases, and our purpose is set with a life that is worth living and that leads others to Him. Further action is taking our faith to the streets of life and actually helping others in a real, authentic way.

The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study):

1. What does this passage say?

2. What does this passage mean?

3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?

4. Is there a sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?

5. How can I be changed so I can learn and grow?

6. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?

7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with someone?

Additional Questions:

1. How do you use a mirror? What do you look for?

2. According to this passage, what is the solution to the problem of evil?

3. Why is it anecessity to put the Word of God into your life? Have you considered how it affects how you feel, how you are, and how it transforms you in how you treat others?

4. God�s Word is the powerhouse to the Christian life. How has this been so for you? How can it be more for you as you put into practice the precepts of our Lord?

5. How can the implantation of God�s Word in you be easily thwarted? What blocks you from adhering to God�s truths? Why, at times, are we not willing and able to receive them? How does putting up barriers slow down or stop our growth in Christ? What are the barriers for you?

6. Have you considered there is filthiness and evil in you (Rom. 3:23)? How is evil a form of adultery?

7. Read 2 Pet. 1: 3-11. God calls us to take His Word and allow Him to plant it in us just like a gardener would plant a tree, then allow our efforts in Him and the work of the Spirit to grow the tree of our faith in order to produce the Fruit in our lives to impact others around us. How can this transpire more effectively in you?

8. Read Col. 3:15-17: How does God�s Word give you a spiritual birth and reason in life? Consider the age old philosophical questions: Who am I? What am I here for? What is the meaning of life?

9. Do you fully believe when the Bible has impacted us, we will make a response to it? How have you done this? How can you do this better?

10. What would your church look like if more people were �doers of the Word?�

11. How has the Bible been a mirror to your soul?

12. When we are careless with our words, we are being careless with our Lord and call. What can you do to be a better Christian by controlling what you say and how you say it? True Christianity involves defending and providing for the helpless and needy! What can your church do to make this more of a priority?

I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8

For more insights on who the Bible is important see:

What Difference can the Bible Make in My Life? - Into Thy Word

� 2004 R. J. Krejcir Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org