tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31361872732228669352024-03-12T23:01:02.967-07:00Digging DeeperDigging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-114713866315570252012-08-20T07:55:00.000-07:002012-08-20T07:56:29.726-07:00Digging Deeper Proverbs 1:1-2<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Warning!
The world is full of temptation and really there is only way to overcome the
temptation to follow the world’s plan and that is to be prepared. Wisdom is
paramount in our walk with God. As we start this study of Proverbs we are
reminded at the very beginning the importance of knowing. The statement “what
we don’t know can’t hurt us” is so very wrong. The easy path or maybe I should
say the path most taken by Christians is to stay ignorant somehow in the back
of our minds thinking that if we don’t know then we are less accountable. Even
in church culture today and really for sometime there has been a dumbing down
of the Christian walk. Say your prayers, and go to church then all is well. I
certainly do not want to take anything away from these things, they are very
important to the growth of the believer but there is so much more. How do we
know what to do, who to marry, what job to take, how to raise kids, how to be a
leader in the church, how should we take care of our physical bodies, what’s
important, what is not. How do we react when we have been done wrong, what do
we do if we have wronged someone as you can see the list goes on and on. Everything
we need to know is found in God’s wisdom, don’t stop learning it! We must keep
seeking the wisdom of God. It is a wonderful thing to know that God has saved
us from our sin and we have eternal life but there is so much more He has for us
that we may enjoy the fullness of His love and live in His peace. Let’s dig a
little deeper that we can experience the wisdom that God desperately wants us
to have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> James 1:5 <i>But if any of
you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and
without reproach and it will be given to him.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs 1:1-2 <i>The proverbs of Solomon the son of David,
king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of
understanding,</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Solomon
begins Proverbs with an explanation of the purpose. The purposes of these words
are to have wisdom and instruction. <b>Wisdom</b>
“chokmah” is a general term meaning intelligence, experience and judgment. <b>Instruction</b> “muwcar” which means
correction, discipline and self-control these two words tell us the intent of
the Proverbs. The second phrase in verse 2 <i>To
discern the sayings of understanding </i>Proverbs 1:2b this phrase reveals the
purpose of the wisdom and instruction. God does not only extend to us wisdom
and instruction but he does so that we can understand. Without the wisdom that
God gives us through His Spirit there can be no understanding. Solomon
proclaims that these proverbs, which are inspired by God is that we can receive
the wisdom and instruction to understand the precepts of God. In the next few
verses Solomon will point out some of the things specifically that we can
understand but for now let us simply know that God does intend for us to
understand and have direction in our lives. The Bible is not a giant riddle for
us to try and figure out. God speaks through His word that we may know His
wisdom and it starts when our heart is in position to receive it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As we
start this journey through Proverbs let’s do it with an open heart of
understanding knowing that God does not speak to us in riddles but rather
speaks to our heart through His Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>Which things we also speak, not in the words
taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual
thoughts with spiritual words.</i> 1 Corinthians 2:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God wants
us to understand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God’s
wisdom is the only true wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We can
understand what God reveals to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We have
God’s Word so that we can understand who God is and who we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC
28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div>
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Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-61719247751264277502012-08-03T06:34:00.002-07:002012-08-03T06:34:59.392-07:00<br />
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<b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 28 Philippians 3:14<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep going! At least that is what we keep telling ourselves.
When is it time to quit, throw in the towel and simply resign ourselves to
enough is enough? Well, the answer lies not in what we are doing but the
objective that we are working towards. If something is not working it may be
time to quit working at it that way but not time to quit trying to reach the
objective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
objective of the believer is really simple “Live for God” but the path that we
take towards that objective may not always be so simple. But Paul, in God’s
letter to the Philippians makes it very clear that for the believer there is no
place to quit living out our objective to live in the resurrection of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>I press on toward the goal for the prize of
the upward call of God in Christ Jesus</i>. <b>Philippians 3:14</b> Let me point out three things in particular in
this verse:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> First “<i>I press on toward” </i> there is resistance and there is direction.
There is a great deal of difference in moving forward and pressing forward, if
you are pressing then you are moving against resistance. This is usually the
place where most of us simply quit, but the resistance does not change the direction
or the objective. The prize is still the same, live in the glory of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Second “<i>The goal for the prize of the upward call of
God” </i>Circumstances change, people change, attitudes change, our geographic
location may even change but the goal does not. We have a call of God that calls
us to live in the glory of God. It is a goal that we have not fully obtained: <b>Philippians 3:12</b> <i>Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect,
but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid
hold of by Christ Jesus. </i>The prize of the upward call of God is to live
fully in His glory and it is worth pressing towards regardless of the
resistance. It is so easy in our culture to get distraction by trends and
causes but regardless, our mission does not change we must press towards the
objective to live in His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Thirdly <i>“In Christ Jesus” </i>it is in this little phrase that we find strength
to keep going. It is so easy to quit when we see ourselves pressing forward in
our own strength the task seems and is impossible. In ourselves we are less
than weak but in the power of Christ we can and will overcome. <b>Romans 8:35-39<span class="text"><i><sup> </sup></i></span></b><span class="text"><i>Who will separate us from</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>the love of</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>Christ? Will</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>famine, or</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>nakedness, or</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>peril, or sword?</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i><span id="en-NASB-28153">Just as it is written,</span>“</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">For Your sake we are being put to death all day long</span></i></span><span class="text"><i>; </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered</span></i></span><span class="text"><i>.”<b><sup> </sup></b>But
in all these things we overwhelmingly</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>conquer through</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>Him who loved us.</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>For I am convinced that neither</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>death, nor life,
nor</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>angels, nor
principalities, nor</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>things
present, nor things to come, nor powers,<b><sup> </sup></b>nor
height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us
from</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>the love of God,
which is</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>in
Christ Jesus our Lord.</i></span> There is no
excuse to quit, we are in Christ Jesus!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Does it seem to you
that we live in a time where everything is temporary. If things do not go just
right we can always quit. If things get difficult I will just and try something
else. Don’t! Press toward the goal meet the resistance head on, greater is He
that is in you than he that is in the world. There is no place for the believer
to quit in the pursuit of experiencing the full glory of God! </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God has
called us to His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is Sovereign!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is
greater than our circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God has
call us to live in His glory in the power of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is
impossible to keep going in our own power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is
no place for the believer to quit in the pursuit of God’s glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC
28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-91343465607676204832012-07-20T10:05:00.000-07:002012-07-20T10:05:06.919-07:00<br />
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<b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 27 James 5:19-20<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Emotions are a
powerful thing. There is a part of us that longs for that “feeling” of inspiration;
we want to have our heart chords tugged at. That is why we go to sad movies,
scary movies, exciting music concerts because somewhere inside of us is a
desire to feel something. Excitement, happiness, even danger. We need to simply
“feel” something”. I have seen folks that walk away from fellowship with Christ
and fellow believers because “I just don’t feel anything”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Emotion is temporary there is nothing wrong with it, it
simply does not last. But we have somehow transferred this need for an
emotional feeling to worship. Worship certainly can be and I would even venture
to say should be an emotional time but when corporate worship is over and the
emotion wears off what do you have to get you through the week. When the
feeling wears off, if you have not received God’s Word nothing has really
changed, besides what could possibly make us more emotional and more excited than
to experience God’s incredible instruction given to us through His word that
will sustain us when we don’t “feel” so good. Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s
Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">James 5:19 <i>My brethren,
if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back,</i> James 5:20 <i>let him know that he who turns a sinner from
error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of
sin. </i>In this final statement James refers to the truth, the truth here is
the precepts of God’s Word so we could easily interpret this to say if anyone
strays off into sinful patterns. But James’ concentration is more on the one
that brings them back. The believer that brings the one back from there
wondering in sin has saved their life. Notice that it does not say saved the
flesh from death but the soul from death. It is a much greater death for the
soul to die than the flesh. It is a serious thing when someone ventures off
into a regular sinful pattern and it is an equally serious thing for us to go
after them and guide them back to the fold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The last phrase can be easily be misinterpreted “cover a
multitude of sin” this statement does not indicate that if we do something good
ie. Lead someone back to Christ that it will cover our sin. The statement
simply refers to God’s covering sins with His amazing grace and forgiveness.
Psalms 32:1 <i>How blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We cannot be the life jacket but can and are called to be
the one that throws it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God has
chosen use His truth to save souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God
forgives!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In God is
all truth and strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is
vital that go after those that have strayed from the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC
28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-53202537227727553282012-07-06T07:45:00.003-07:002012-07-06T07:45:59.960-07:00Digging Deeper James 5:13-18<br />
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<b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;">Digging Deeper 26 James 5:13-18</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">It has been said "if you do not stand for something you fall for anything" and there is probably a lot of truth in that statement but I would like to change it a little, how about standing on something rather than standing for something. Matthew 7:26-27 <i>"Everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. "And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."</i> God's Word will anchor us in the harshest conditions; we can trust it to hold regardless of the storm. God's Word is an anchor that holds! Now let's dig a little deeper in God's Word!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">James 5:13 <i>Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.</i>James makes this statement as if it is just good common sense and it should be to the believer. If you are cheerful, if things are going well for you and you are happy then sing praises. So then if we are suffering then we should pray. James' assumption is that there is faith, that God is in control, and if we are in a good place right now then we should praise because all good things come from God and if we are suffering then God knows about that as well and is able to help us because He is in control of the suffering as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">James 5:14 <i>Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing with oil in the name of the Lord;</i> In this time of the church the elders were to perform many duties one was that when someone was sick they were called upon to come and do what they could. In this case it was to anoint or rub on oil but any physician of that day or for many years to come would use oil or medicine to help the sick. The thrust of the statement is not in the power of the oil but without God (<i>let them pray over them</i>) there cannot be healing. Healing is much deeper and more personal than the physical body. This verse is not an indictment against using medicine; James just makes it vividly clear that God is to be sought out as the healer, not the oil (medicine).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">James 5:15 <i>and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven. </i>So now we have a prayer of faith, which, believes that God is in control, that God is able to give healing. James says that the sick will now be restored. But what if he is not? What if the elders come anoint with oil and this person who came by faith to be restored does not receive physical healing on the spot, what if the cancer does not go away, what if the diabetes does not end, what if the back pain is not relieved, did God fail, did the elders not believe enough when they prayed? Did they use the wrong kind of oil? Of course not, the focus here is not physical healing but faith. God can and does heal these physical bodies if not now it will come for all believers in glorification through Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54 <i>But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable</i> (that which will rot will put on that which will not)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">James says that if they have committed sin they will be forgiven, not because of the oil, the sin is forgiven because the sick came by faith, believing God!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Much too often when we struggle with sickness or anything else sadly our faith will struggle because we began to question. But when we are struggling is where our faith can grow, when we realize have no control but believe that God has to do it all or it simply cannot be done that is the kind of faith that brings healing. James' instruction to those that were cheerful and those that were sick is basically the same, pray and sing praises. When we are sick or struggling God is still the same God as when we are cheerful. When we are struggling we should take our medicine whatever that is and believe God, trust Him for ultimate healing!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<ol start="1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><ol start="1" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is the great healer.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God knows our struggle.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God does not change based on our circumstances.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<li style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; padding-left: 0.13in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The faith that we receive from God will heal our every need!</span></li>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: 'Tempus Sans ITC'; font-size: 10pt;">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-37009222794326054592012-03-16T10:01:00.000-07:002012-03-16T10:01:27.710-07:00Digging Deeper (James 5:12)<br />
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Tempus Sans ITC'; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pray that God will change our lives for His glory by the study
of His Word!</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you have any comment or question please feel free to email<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This blog along with past issues can be viewed at </span><a href="http://diggingdeeperwithpastorjim.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http://diggingdeeperwithpastorjim.blogspot.com/">http://diggingdeeperwithpastorjim.blogspot.com/</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you would know someone who would like to be included in this
mailing send address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you would like to be taken off mailing list email<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 25 James 5:12<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The study of God’s Word is the only real way
to understand the character of God, and who He is. But there is another aspect that
is revealed our character. As the Bible
shows us the greatness of God it exposes our stature and it is in that
humility, in that weakness, we can truly experience the strength of Christ.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Now let’s
dig a little deeper in God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">12 <i>But above all, my brethren do not swear, either by heaven or by earth
or with any oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no so that you may not
fall under judgment. </i>James leading to this passage has talked about works
and controlling the tongue. He has expounded on things the believer should
avoid and how to resist the devil. He has given warnings concerning the misuse
of riches and much more. Then we come to this phrase “But above all” which
gives great weight to what follows. “Do not swear” the command here is not “do
not say curse words”. When we swear, by definition we are vowing that we will
do something or makes something happen. This goes beyond what we consider
making a promise which we understand to mean do everything in our power to make
it happen. But to swear by either heaven or by earth would mean somehow we had
control over such things. In passing we often say “if the Lord is willing and
the creeks don’t rise” well I am not sure about the creeks rising but the first
part is certainly truth to live by. Who are we that we can obligate heaven or
earth to anything or anyone? The teaching here is we have nothing to swear by!
Who are we? Making a vow in itself is not wrong it is even encouraged and shows
a commitment to do everything as God enables us to further expose His glory but
that is not the thrust of scripture here. Above all be humble! The notion that we somehow have authority to
swear by anything reveals pride and arrogance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let your yes be yes and you’re no, no…</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Just be
honest, a believer’s word should always be trustworthy not because of our ability
to keep it but because our words are carefully chosen and are founded solely on
the strength of Christ and not our own. James is echoing Jesus words in Matthew
5:34 <i>But I say to you make no oath at
all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God.</i> Matthew 5:37 <i>but let your statement be, yes, yes or no,
no; and anything beyond these is of evil.</i> We are being taught to be humble
and honest in what we say only obligating ourselves to the truth for we have no
other power in our lives other than God’s truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By seeing that God alone is sovereign we can
see the truth about ourselves. We are in no position to make an oath concerning
the things of God. And when we come to that place of humility we are changed,
we become full of faith and strength because we see Christ as our only hope and
strength in our acknowledgment of weakness we have become conquers. Romans
8:37-39 <i>But in all these things we
overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.</i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In God is
all power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In God is
all authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In God is
all truth and strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In our
acknowledgement of our weakness God makes us strong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC
28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div>
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<br /></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-23772786423418577022012-03-09T05:46:00.000-08:002012-03-09T05:46:30.577-08:00Digging Deeper (James 5:7-11)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 24 James 5:7-11</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hurry up! That seems to be the rally call these days. We live at a tremendous pace. Isn’t it something that a few years ago we were amazed at how fast we could get information via the internet on a dial up modem? Now if we have to wait even a few seconds we consider our computer junk and look to move up to something that only takes a half of a second instead of the tiring full second that we have been waiting. Most of us feel like we are living 25/7 lives. There is nothing wrong with a go after it attitude the point is that whether we acknowledge it or not we can only see results on the time table of God. Now let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:7 <i>Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and the late rains.</i> Let’s jump to the third word of this passage, the word therefore; this passage is directly connected with the passage before where James speaks directly to the rich. Your wealth will not sustain you but can lead to self indulgence and pride causing you to treat others poorly. So we come to verse 7 <i>Be Patient! </i>In verse 2 and 3a <i>Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth eaten Your gold and silver have rusted.</i> These things that are described here are satisfying in the moment. Money and clothes and other material things can be described as a quick fix! But there power to give comfort and peace fades as quickly as it came. If we are trusting in those things, and we are simply in a hurry to get that fix we will find ourselves on a roller coaster ride never finding the true joy and peace of walking with Jesus. So James says “Be patient” know that the Lord is coming. Too often we tie ourselves to the material things in the world as a measurement of who we are and what we do. But good farmers wait! There is going to be rain and there is going to be more rain. We don’t always like when it rains but then when we need it rain we don’t want to wait on it. But it is for sure that without the rain no fruit is produced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:8 <i>You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.</i> We are to be like the farmer trust that the Lord will send the rain. Just as the farmer is inspired, knowing that in due time there will be fruit, the believer can know that regardless of how difficult things are, no matter how long the draught, and regardless of circumstances “The coming of the Lord is at hand” What is our hurry to have our best life now when we can know that Jesus is going to return for us in all His glory. He promised He would prepare a place for us and if He prepared that place He would return and we will be with Him. That is something worth waiting for!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:9 <i>Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.</i> So what is it that we have to complain about? It is a dangerous thing to judge others in such a way. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:10 <i>As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord</i>. Those that are suffering and those that are trying to be patient look at the prophets as an example. The prophets looked forward and kept the faith despite their circumstances. The writer of Hebrews describes it this way Hebrews 11:37-40 <i>They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in the deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:11 <i>Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. </i>When we look at those that have endured the most we see them as having the strongest faith. We watch those examples and we see that even in their toughest hour God has not left them and He is compassionate and merciful. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We should conclude that maybe we just need to hang in there. There is hope, Jesus is coming. Maybe we should slow down for a minute knowing that God is sovereign and knows our situation. What if in difficult times we become an example of faith patiently waiting on the hand of God. Slow down not in our efforts to serve Him but in understanding that our life is not a sprint but a life of endurance with lots of hurdles and stumbling blocks but with a definite goal. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hebrews 12:1-2a <i>Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.</i> Maybe we could slow down and watch for Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God will supply the seed and the rain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus will come again in all His glory!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is full of compassion and mercy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We need to be patient God is still working.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Complain will not make us stronger but weaker.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Look to the examples of faith before us. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-87475574177402261162012-03-02T07:01:00.000-08:002012-03-02T07:01:07.928-08:00Digging Deeper (James 5:1-6<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #e6ddae; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="http://www.covenantchurchnc.com/css/images/logo.png" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 132.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 294pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="logo" src="file:///C:\Users\PASTOR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #7abf41; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Tempus Sans ITC'; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 23 James 5:1-6</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is a tremendous emphasis if not pressure in our culture placed on the acquisition of knowledge. Now with the inception of the internet, vast libraries of books, video and countless media outlets it would seem that we would be getting more knowledgeable and I guess on some level we are gaining more information. But what about the truth how much of the information that we process is actually the truth? Have we reached a point in our society that Google is the answer to all questions? True knowledge is not just information; true knowledge is just that, the truth! So where can we find the answers how can we acquire true knowledge information that is life changing? Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life.” True knowledge comes from knowing Jesus! Now let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:1 <i>Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.</i> This is not an indictment on the rich. The point is that if you are dependent on your riches, your abilities, your resources difficulty is coming there will be a time when you will they will not sustain you. Verse 2 <i>Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten</i>. Rotted simply means worthless and when your garments are moth eaten, and moths don’t care if they are designer clothes, you are exposed. Verse 3 <i>Your gold and your silver have rusted; and there rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure. </i>Earthly treasure will not stand the test of time and depending on them will witness to the character of the man.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:4 <i>Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Saboth.</i> When man falls in love and dependence on earthly things he begins to fill with pride and arrogance. Others really do not matter, “I got mine let them get theirs.” Verse 5 <i>You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.</i> Because you have embraced a lifestyle of I have all I need, your heart is not right. <i>Verse 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man, he does not resist you. </i>When attitude is “I have all I need”, which leads to an attitude of “I’ve got mine you get yours”, a false sense of power over those that “have not arrived yet” ensues and then there is no hesitation to step on anyone or do anything to continue the pursuit of more earthly treasure and literally lives are destroyed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This narrative of James concerning riches does not condemn the wealthy. It is about the attitude of the rich, it is about being arrogant and full of pride and how that pride will destroy not only the prideful but as it runs its course seeks to destroy the humble. James begins this passage with “come now, you rich weep and howl” it is a call to realize your situation, being wealthy is not a sin. Proverbs 10:22 <i>It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Earthly riches are blessings from God and are to be handled with great stewardship (to whom is given much is required). The blessings of God requires an attitude of humility and must be handled if they are going to bring glory to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This passage is much about attitude not the riches themselves when we have a prideful attitude it causes us act differently even cruelly and unfairly towards others placing ourselves in a place a prominence based on false sense of value. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is the giver of all blessings<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God desires good stewardship of His blessing<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">All blessings come from God<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our pride will lead us to destruction and seek to destroy others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our dependence should be completely and wholly on God!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-6037398540137881842012-02-24T09:31:00.000-08:002012-02-24T09:31:37.167-08:00Digging Deeper (James 4:13 - 17)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;">Digging Deeper 22 James 4:13-17</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A deeper understanding of God, which develops from His Word, requires a closer walk. Drawing closer to God and Him drawing closer to us empowers and equips us to follow Christ. But the more holy we see God the more of His character we know, the more that is required. <i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">But the one who did not<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>know<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>it, and committed deeds worthy of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a flogging, will receive but few.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.</i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> More often than not we use this passage is used to teach financial responsibility but the principle is much broader. God has called us to be stewards of every resource he provides including the knowledge that we receive from His Word. Now let’s dig a little deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> James 4:13 <i>Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. </i>The problem is not in the planning, scripture teaches us to plan “count the cost” the problem is in the assumption, “spend a year, make a profit” note verse 14 <i>You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while then vanishes away. </i>This is truly a humbling realization. We have no knowledge of tomorrow let alone any control. So how is it that we can make plans boasting what we will accomplish? We simply do not know what we can or cannot accomplish other than walking in the promise that we can accomplish God’s will which can be and often is different from our plans. Verse 15 <i>Instead you ought to say “If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.”</i> Acknowledging that “if the Lord wills” acknowledges that God is sovereign and puts us in a position of humility. It is in this position we recognize the will of God. Man often gets things turned around we lay plans to do this or that then we even spend a lot of time praying that God will bless our plans, provide for our plans, we even seek to gain God’s endorsement of our plan. Verse 16 <i>But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. </i>The evil in living such an attitude is simple “we know better than God”! Arrogance is the outpouring of pride and it is pride that will lead us to destruction, it is evil!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James 4:17 <i>Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin</i>. Here is the point the more we understand the character of God revealed in His Word the more we know sin. Galatians 3:22 <i>But the scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So then how should we approach the concept, if I know more, than I am more accountable? That is not the concept, the concept is that the more we know what is pleasing to God the more we know sin and the more we know what is pleasing to God then closer we can follow Christ. The goal of a believer should never be what is the least I can get by with and still make to heaven. That is not the heart of someone that knows Jesus. The heart of a believer constantly struggles to know God, to walk with God, and to be pleasing to God, simply because He is worthy. Knowing that God is sovereign destroys our pride and stifles our arrogance and it eliminates our boasting and maybe most importantly opens our eyes to see His will for our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the questions this leaves us with: Are you the one who knows the right thing to do? What can we change in our lives to know what to do? What keeps us from doing it what we know is right?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James has given a stern reminder that to make boasts of what we are going to do or not is an exercise of arrogance and is evil!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is Sovereign<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God is God of yesterday, today and tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arrogance is sin against God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We can know the right thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When we make plans they should be simply to follow the steps of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: white; font-family: 'Tempus Sans ITC'; font-size: 10pt;">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-84429839514253108232012-02-17T08:06:00.000-08:002012-02-17T08:06:16.283-08:00Digging Deeper (James 4:11-12<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 21 James 4:11-12</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Do you have a passion? Truth be told we all have our passions, things that we think about every day, things that we just can’t get enough of, we want to talk about it, read about it, we want to be around it, a passion can become an obsession if left unchecked. But what would it be like if our passion was to simply please God? How does our life look different if we woke in the morning and pursued that mission to please God! What if we couldn’t get enough of it, what if we were always talking about, what if we made it our life to know the character of God and walk in it? What if our passion for God turns into an obsession? How important does the study of God’s Word become when we have a passion to please God? Hebrews 11:6 <i>And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Romans 10:17 <i>So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the <b>Word</b> of Christ.</i> A passion for Christ will create a desire for His Word. Let’s dig a little deeper in the Word!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James 4:11 <i>Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.</i> Do not do it! There are not a lot of ways to misinterpret that first phrase. But notice this word “brethren” those that we have the bond of family. Family here is not limited to biological family but includes the family bonds of having the commonality of Christ. Now there are two others words actually they are one word in the Greek, <u>speak</u> <u>against</u> - <u>katalaleo</u> “kata” which means down and “<u>laleo</u>” which means to talk at random or to use thoughtless words. So this is what James is saying “Do not put a brother down”! If we are putting some one down then we are making judgments of the law which are certainly not in our realm of authority. If we are using the opinion of the law to make judgments of whether a brother is keeping the character of God then we are certainly not doers ourselves. There is only one with that kind of authority. Paul writes this concerning the issue Romans 14:1 <i>Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions</i> and again in Romans 14:10 <i>But, you why do you judge your brother? Or again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James 4:12 <i>There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor. </i>If God gave His law, and God alone has authority to administer judgment concerning His standard, then how are we going to put down a brother that we cannot truly see not having any knowledge of his heart? What are we going to do about it anyway? We can neither save nor destroy him so what could possibly be our intent of putting down a brother in Christ? This instruction in no way relieves us from being our brother’s keeper we need to confront sin when a brother has fallen short and when he is wrong but the confrontation must be from a heart to lift not to put down. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 <i>And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with <b>all</b> men. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Much of this is tied back to the previous verses concerning submission to God. God does not need us to be his policeman, judge and jury. There are times when our pride tells us that God is just letting some stuff go. People are getting by with sin, disregarding God’s principles. Often our response is to play judge rather than brother. It is easier to put someone down than build them up. It is easier to talk put about him and put him down, often to others, rather than having a loving confrontation. The last phrase of verse 11 … <i>but who are you who judge your neighbor? </i>This is a call for self examination, who are we that we can make a judgment of another’s walk with God? Imagine the unity of believers striving to lift one another up by submitting all judgment to God! This cannot be misconstrued as a passive look at sin. We are not to embrace or condone sin in our lives or the life of others. But anytime something is pushed down it raises something else up and if our heart is not right in approaching the sin in our brother’s life then we are simply pushing down to raise ourselves up. Matthew 7:5 <i>You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.</i> Submitting to God means letting Him be the judge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God alone is the lawgiver.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God alone is judge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God does not need man to do what only God can do.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We should not put our brothers down so that we can rise up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our submission to God will guard us against putting a brother down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We cannot see how to help a brother out until we see ourselves as needing help with our own lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-37366340273492981512012-02-10T06:27:00.000-08:002012-02-10T06:27:21.635-08:00Digging Deeper (James 4:9-10)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 20 James 4:9-10</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Despite a great movement in church culture today to nearly eliminate the study of God’s Word as a function of the church, the Church cannot and will not be affective without it. There is swing toward a light approach to scripture, looking at it as simply a jumping off point to an inspirational, emotional satisfying feel better message. God’s Word is much deeper than that and is critical to the life of the church and to the individual believer. Without the study of God’s Word the church is not much different than any other social institution. God’s Word is Christ revealed John 1:1-4 <i>In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of man. </i>Without the study of God’s Word we miss the mark of the function and purpose of the church and we are weak as individual believers to carry out the responsibility of telling others the good news of Christ. 2 Timothy 2:15 <i>Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. </i>Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James 4:9 <i>Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. </i>This is a tough verse; does God really want us in a constant state of morning, and gloom? Of course not, to understand we need to see this verse in context to the proceeding thought. There is a command for clean actions, a pure heart and single focus which defines drawing near to God. Being miserable, mourning and without joy is an extension of the thought “you sinners” when we are far from God there should be and there is an attitude of doom and gloom. The believer plain and simple should be miserable not walking with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> James 4:10 <i>Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you. </i>Exalt means to rise up, to elevate. There seems to be a conflict in terms here. First we are to be humble, lower. Then we will be exalted, raised up. Drawing near to God is not a heroic action on our part that we accomplish by doing great things earning God’s recognition for which we receive a trophy or special award, drawing near to God is done on our knees recognizing of the awesomeness of God and our terrific weakness, and unrighteousness. Drawing near to God is not us conquering Satan, defeating the world, doing amazing things to earn our presence with God. Drawing near to God is a realization that we have no power to resist the devil, we have no power to sustain ourselves on either a spiritual or physical level. Humbleness breeds submission and it is submission that draws us near to God resulting in God’s nearness to us. Now in the state of humbleness and submission there is a promise of exaltation. We do not earn a prize; God simply cleanses our hands, purifies our heart, clears our mind, and changes our weeping to laughter and our gloom to joy. Exaltation does not elevate us above others and certainly does not elevate us to a place to be praised it is an elevation out of our own miserable condition. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> In man’s frame work of thinking humbleness is frowned upon, it is considered an acknowledgement of weakness, it is just that, but it is not a negative. That is the problem we all struggle with our pride that screams at the thought that we are weak. But in our weakness comes humility, in our humility comes submission. And it is in this position that we draw near to God and He is near to us and the devil flees. 2 Corinthians 12:10 <i>Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God desires a humbleness that recognizes His holiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God gives promise that He will draw near to us in our submission to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God desires to raise us out of our doom and gloom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We should be miserable when we are not close to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We can only come to the presence of God in humbleness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God can and does exalt, rasie us up out of our miserable state.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-80760064358773236272012-02-03T08:32:00.001-08:002012-02-03T08:32:55.880-08:00Digging Deeper (James 4:6-8)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 19 James 4:6-8</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> How should we approach God’s Word? Maybe it is as simple as, with reverence. A true reverence for God’s Word seems to be something that is getting lost in today’s church culture. Somehow for many the Bible has become simply a guideline for living a productive life, for some it is history that if studied and not neglected it will help prevent us from the same mistakes as those in the past. Even many churches today only see it as a side note to justify an inspirational thought. But it is not a history book although it is historically correct, it is not a self help book but it will certainly help you, it is not a book of guidelines yet it will direct your life. God’s Word is the breath of God and is everything we need to see the character of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that a man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.</span></i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That is the purpose of “<i>Digging Deeper” </i>that we would reverence God’s Word as the ultimate authority on all things. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 4:6 <i>But He gives a greater grace.</i> <i>Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” </i> It is only by the grace of God that the whole world and everything in it even exist. There is no debate here; there are degrees of grace that we experience. To experience a greater degree of grace requires humility. The more that we surrender to the power of God the greater grace is experienced. The more we surrender our spiritual “can do attitude” in favor of an “I can do nothing without God” attitude the greater the grace experience. Nothing we can do or not do can or will change the power of God’s grace but when we give up our pride we are free to experience greater grace. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 4:7 <i>Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.</i> In this short verse we have two commands or instructions and one result. First let me say that there is a reason for the order of instruction, to resist the devil we must first submit to God. How often do we complain “I just wish the devil would leave me alone” it is not a wrong desire but too often we ignore the instructions to make that happen. First, submit to God! The word submit mean to be placed under. This is a problem for us. We are quick to proclaim God as above all things and we really believe that problem is we struggled to submit to that. Mankind has a problem with submission; we struggle with the mindset that someone can be in a position over us. But listen again to verse 6 <i>But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” </i>Submission is the action of recognizing who God is and our position before Him. The second command is resist the devil. I know it is way over used, but really, “just say no!” It seems simple until we are required to put it into practice. But a heart that is totally submitted to God will have no problem resisting the devil. An illustration is marriage. There are far too many marriages ending because “the devil couldn’t be resisted” it is impossible to cheat on your spouse if you are totally “submitted” to one another. The strength to resist the devil comes with a total commitment to love God! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 4:8 <i>Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.</i> Let’s go back to our illustration, if we are working really hard to get as close as we can to our spouse it result in a closeness, of course the illustration has problems because we are dealing with flesh, but the point is that a marriage is strong and pure when you are close. James says draw near to God, talk to Him, and get to know Him, cherish Him, love Him, and walk with Him. Be diligent in your quest to be close to Him. Results, He will draw near to you. The more we seek God the closer we will see Him in our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Submission can only come with humility, we cannot draw near to God with a “my way” attitude. To walk closely with God, to resist the devil we must realize that God is God and we are not. James in the last phrases of verse 8 says that are hands should be clean, this speaks of our actions, in context, our actions should be done in submission to the character of God and not for self gratification. James says that our hearts should be pure; a pure heart is a heart absent of selfishness and personal agendas. He mentions that before these changes take place it is double mindedness, too much believing and professing one thing and living out another. “I just wish the devil would leave me alone” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Grace belongs to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Grace is given by God at His discretion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God desires that we are close to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We can experience greater grace<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Greater grace comes when we are humble before God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The devil will flee from us when say no to him and submit ourselves to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-54601601076417351132012-01-27T05:32:00.000-08:002012-01-27T05:32:49.919-08:00Digging Deeper (James 4:1-5)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 18 James 4:1-5</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <i>The word of the of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart</i>. Hebrews 4:12 Briefly before we look at this week’s text let me share some thoughts with you concerning this description of God’s Word. First, it is living, Greek word “zao” to be warm as opposed to being cold, dead. Second it is active, it is not the ink and paper God’s Word causes things to happen. Thirdly it is sharp, it is decisive it does not hack way at something trying to conform it, it is the clean cut truth no options. The purpose of the study of the Word of God is not to gain information, we can get that from any book. The Word of God is not really a book at all the piece of leather, paper and ink that we carry and read is a conduit for the living, active, sharp breath of God! And listening to what God has to say will change our lives. Now let’s dig a little deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 4:1 <i>What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? </i>James asks a simple question, what is the source of our difficulties getting along with one another? Now this is certainly a rhetorical question, we know that because he goes on to answer it but how would we respond to that question. Would it be? “Because I want it my way” If we would consider our conflicts quarrels where would we find the source? Most often we would look outside to find the source but the instruction is to see the source as a problem within ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 4:2 <i>You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel</i>. Have you ever wanted something so bad in your life but simple there was no way to get it. Not speaking of just materiel things but really just wanting things your way and was willing to fight for it. Than in the midst of that battle somebody else gets what you are so desperately desiring. Envy grabs on and now our lives are in disarray and conflict and quite frankly we just can’t get along. The source of the conflict and quarrels among us is quite often because we are not able to make things be the way we want them to be and the source is from within not from without.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 4:3-4 <i>You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. </i>The reason simply put that we don’t get what we want is because are motives are wrong, we want it for the wrong reasons. We want what we want so that we will be pleased. God will always honor a humble heart that comes seeking what God wants in our lives so that our lives please Him. James continues in verse 4 <i>You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself and enemy of God. </i>We fuss and quarrel because we are trying to make our way in this world but that is not our purpose, there is no call in God’s Word for us to accomplish anything that befriends the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 4:5 <i>Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: He jealously desires the Spirit which dwells in us?</i> Two passages come to mind: Exodus 20:5 tells us the character of God <i>You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate me. </i>And what is the Spirit which He has made dwell in us? Galatians 5:22-23 <i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.</i> Where do all the quarrels and conflicts go when we exercise the Spirit that dwells in us not because the world deserves it or because it gives us popularity or power but simply because of our love for God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God desires our full devotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The fruits of the Spirit belong to God for His purpose which is His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We commit adultery when we befriend the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us that we can exercise the fruits that bring honor to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our conflicts resolve when we walk in the Spirit with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-88860434991183361992012-01-20T08:37:00.000-08:002012-01-20T08:37:29.944-08:00Digging Deeper (James 3:13-18)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #e6ddae; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pray that God will change our lives for His glory by the study of His Word!</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 42pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 17 James 3:13-18</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> There is a difference in being smart and being wise. We live today in a culture full of knowledge for the taking. Uncountable numbers of books fill the shelves, the internet grows every day bursting with information there is now a greater availability of knowledge than there has been in the history of man yet man continues to slip further and further from the precepts of God. It profits us nothing to gain all knowledge but be ignorant of the precepts of God’s Word. Titus 3:9 <i>But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.</i> Knowledge without wisdom is destructive and filled with pride. Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:13 <i>Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in gentleness of wisdom.</i> James begins with a question who is wise and understanding? But before the question can be answered he says that it will show. Careful consideration should be taken before we answer such a question “Who among us is wise and understanding because there is a way to test the answer. Good behavior, deeds in gentleness. Someone who is wise does not throw their knowledge around like punches from a prize fighter. Someone wise does not use their knowledge to conquer others rather to build up others up and to encourage. True wisdom is understanding kind and gentle and it will show in how you use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:14-15 <i>But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthy, natural, and demonic. </i>“I know something you don’t know” sounds like something a child would say to another child but truthfully those same sentiments play out every day in the in our lives we get a little knowledge start feeling pretty good about ourselves pride takes hold create bitterness and jealousy. This is not the wisdom that comes from God. This kind of wisdom is the product of our natural prideful tendency spurred by Satan, strong words but James calls this kind of wisdom demonic. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:16 <i>For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. </i>It is true if someone processes knowledge that others don’t they have a distinct advantage and when that wisdom is coupled with jealousy instead of kindness, selfish ambition instead of compassion there is confusion, heartache, and evilness abounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:17 <i>But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. </i>This list describing wisdom from God looks remarkably like the fruits of the Sprit. Wisdom from God first is pure, it is not taint by man’s theory or logic. The wisdom of God is not for a weapon but to bring peace. The wisdom that comes from God is gentle or maybe better translated appropriate. The wisdom that God offers to us is reasonable it fits our lives. God’s wisdom to us is full of mercy it is forgiving and holds no bitterness. God’s wisdom manifest in our lives as good fruits it is desirable. The wisdom that God’s extends to us is unwavering it is consistent it does not change with circumstance. Wisdom that comes from above does not say one thing and do another it is without hypocrisy. The wisdom that God gives to man isn’t just knowledge it is a condition of the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:18 <i>And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.</i> James could certainly be referring here back to his discourse he has just given concerning controlling the tongue. When we plant seeds of righteous with wisdom from of above it is done to bring peace not judgment which belongs only to God. Matthew 5:9 <i>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s go back to James initial question Who among you is wise and understanding? It is sometimes easy for us to see ourselves as wise but does the wisdom that we claim come from above? Is it understanding? Is it pure, peacable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, producing good fruit, constant, and without hypocrisy? James 1:5 <i>If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> True wisdom comes from God <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God gives wisdom for the purpose to promote righteousness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Knowledge that we use to promote our own selfish agenda is not from above<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wisdom that is selfish and arrogant is earthy, natural and demonic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We should exercise wisdom from God with mercy not judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-76963461183775405452012-01-13T05:52:00.000-08:002012-01-13T05:52:30.404-08:00Digging Deeper (James 3:7-12)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 16 James 3:7-12</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Knowledge is a powerful tool, without it physical strength can do nothing. We put a lot of emphasis on doing the right thing which is very important but how can we do the right thing if we do not know the right thing to do. God tells us in the James 1:5 <i>But if any of you lack wisdom , let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.</i> But wisdom does not just fall out of the sky, there is a wealth of knowledge to be had, more than we could ever imagine in the precepts of God’s Word but we must seek after it. 2 Timothy 2:15 <i>Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.</i> How much does our life change if we start reading and following the directions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Digging deeper is an effort to increase our knowledge that our faith is increased enabling us to be pleasing to God. Now let’s dig a little deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:7 <i>For every species of beast and bird, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. </i>James is continuing his discourse concerning bringing our communication under control. He is using the illustration that somehow we have managed to tame all the animals. Hidden in here is a lesson, how do we manage to tame wild animals? We take an animal when it is young and we train it not to do the things that would come natural to it. Maybe the tongue is the same way, maybe when it is young it can be trained not to do what comes natural. Here is a quick illustration when I was young maybe 7 or 8 years old me and a buddy of mine were outside but close to the house and we were using some words that we had heard, we knew they were not good words but for some reason they felt really cool to say. When I came in the house my mother had heard every word and to my surprise did not scold me but said these six words that would change my life “Jesus heard every word you said” I think it was my first experience with real conviction. My intention here is not for you to think that since then I have always been able to control my tongue, I have not, but because I was taught young who Jesus is and His expectations of how we should communicate certainly made a difference. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:8 <i>But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison</i>. What an awful description, restless evil and deadly poison. Restless means that something has a difficult time waiting so the tongue is not only evil but it can’t wait to be evil! In the flesh man just looks for opportunity to use communication as weapon. Do we not find ourselves in situations where we can’t wait to share and or hear the latest gossip? And not only can the tongue not wait but when it lets go it is a killer. The word that James uses is deadly. Poison will make someone sick but deadly poison will murder someone. These are powerful words but they really bring to light the awesome power of our communication and I use the word communication because too often in our contemporary high tech society we hide behind texts and emails and claim to have not said anything. Lives are being affected by the quiet yet poisonous use of social sites and texting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:9-12 <i>With it we bless the Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does the fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh. </i>There is a reason that we do not use the same pipes for our water and our sewer, it would be disgusting. What does our praise on Sunday morning sound like to our Holy God from the same mouth that gossiped and poisoned and complained all week. James makes it very clear that we cannot bless God with the same mouth that spews deadly poison. A fig tree does not produce olives and neither does a gossip produce praise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> God desires to give us the knowledge to do what is right.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God will not receive praise from a filthy mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It is important for us to train young mouths to say good things.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Man’s tongue cannot wait to be evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our communication can be a deadly poison.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We cannot praise God with the same mouth that spews filthy communication.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-6425773960726165862012-01-06T06:35:00.000-08:002012-01-06T06:35:48.846-08:00Digging Deeper (James 3:1-6)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 15 James 3:1-6</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is a saying “Be careful what you ask for you may get it.” I believe there is scripture that walks along side that quote. Luke 12:48 <i>But the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. <u>From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrust much, of him they will ask all the more.</u></i><u> </u>Jesus is teaching His disciples about responsibility. The principle here is that the more opportunity, resources and knowledge that is received the level of responsibility greatly increases. As we approach this week’s text with that mind set we can see that we have been given so much, but how responsible are we with this blessing from God?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God has given us the ability to communicate and when James wrote these words communication was very limited in comparison to the vast ways we communicate today but the principle of scripture has not changed “Everyone who has been given much, much will be required” Chapter 3 of James is a good place for us to understand the power of both positive and negative communication. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word. James 3:1 <i>Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. </i>Is James saying that we should ignore God’s call to teach His Word, of course not, God not only calls teachers but He gives the gift teaching and woe be it to those called if they do not teach. James is simply saying to teach is a powerful thing and because it is has so much influence it should not be taken lightly a single error can have grave consequences for the student it can change their whole perspective and character. Just as someone called to teach should never recoil from that responsibility someone that is not should consider the consequences of teaching amiss. James admits that we all have messed up but our propensity to stumble does not allow an excuse or a relief from the responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:3-5 <i>Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their body as well. Behold, the ships , also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boast of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire. </i>Now James approaches the power of communication in general. He gives three examples a horse, a ship and a forest. Two of these will only go where they are suppose to go when something very small is in control and one can be destroyed by a very small thing. God has given us the ability to communicate but with that comes awesome responsibility. Even a small child can control a very large horse if it can control the bit in its mouth and regardless of the size of the ship if someone responsible is at the helm controlling the rudder the ship will go as directed. Forrest do not need a roaring flame to be destroyed a very small spark can set into motion huge destruction. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 3:6 <i>And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and set on fire by hell.</i> These are very strong words. We need to consider the power of the things we say as they affect not only the hearers but ourselves as well. Everything that we say, everything that we write, and everything we “post” affects those who hear it or read it. Have we forgotten how powerful our communication is to destroy and damage or have we decided to use it for just that purpose. We tend to follow our words they set in motion how we think and how we act. We sometimes use the phrase “I am just putting it out there” but maybe not realizing that “just putting it out there” can and does change the course of our lives and has the power to destroy others. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James will continue this discourse concerning the tongue in the next few verses but there is enough instruction in these first 6 verses of chapter 3 for us to guard all our communication.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God requires His Word to be taught with responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The gift of Communication is given by God. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What we say has great impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What we communicate directly affects the course of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our tongue can be used for destruction. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-70133751026874269252011-12-23T07:23:00.000-08:002011-12-23T07:23:16.483-08:00Digging Deeper (James 2:21-26<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span></span><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 35px;"><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digging Deeper 14 James 2:21-26</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> This week is a very special week for those of the Christian faith; it is a time of celebration of Christ, not only His birth but who He is and who we are because of who He is. But notice the phrase above, “those of the Christian <b>faith.</b>” When we approach Christmas by faith we see more clearly the impact of the birth of the Christ child! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word. James 2:21-22 <i>Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected. </i>Abraham was justified by works? Really? You can do something that will justify yourself? The word justify is translated from the Hebrew word “dikaioo” it means to bring out that which a person is. Abraham being justified by works does not mean that because he was willing to sacrifice Isaac that he was given faith, righteousness and a relationship with God. Abraham’s obedience revealed who he was, a man of faith! If someone says that they are a reader but they never read then are they really a reader? Select your example. A person would justify that they are a reader by reading and a man’s faith is justified by his works. There is a difference in saying that Abraham had perfect faith and saying, as the scripture, does that his faith was perfected. We think of perfection as without blemish but we know with a little study that Abraham’s faith was not without blemish (see passing his wife off as his sister, which was a half truth if there is a such of thing, never the less it was a lack of faith concerning God’s promise Genesis 12, 20) This is the point that James is making, just profession of belief and trust in God is incomplete it is not until works of obedience that faith is completed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 2:23 <i>and the scripture was fulfilled which says,</i> <i>“And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. </i>What an amazing title to have “friend of God” Abraham was called a friend of God not because he had faith but because others saw his faith. Verses 24-25 reiterate the same point that works exposes faith. Note again that justification here is simply a revelation of who you are. Works in themselves have no power and really mean nothing if they are not exercised by faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 2:26 <i>For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.</i> James leaves no confusion concerning faith and works. A dead body cannot justify life, it does not breath, it does not have a pulse, there are no brain waves, it has no movement it is simply dead. And so is faith, faith that does not work is useless and void of power it to is simply dead. It is not works that save us from our sin, works do not create faith, it is a gift from God. But works are a must in the life of a believer because works justify who we are in Christ. It is impossible for others to see your faith without seeing your works! And works will give you the reputation of being a friend of God!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have dug a little Deeper what do we believe? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God knows we are not perfect but is looking at our perfected faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God alone is the giver of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our works are a revelation of our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We do not have faith because of our works we have good works because of God’s gift of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our works reveal that we are a friend of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 42pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800</span></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-5080620607327507192011-12-16T04:46:00.000-08:002011-12-16T04:48:14.203-08:00Digging Deeper (James 2:18-20<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;">Digging Deeper 13 James 2:18-20</span></b><span style="color: #00477d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It seems as if God's Word is the most neglected part of a believer's life. I recently became the proud owner of a Magellan 9550 7" screen GPS used it for one short trip and now feels like I can never go on a trip again without it, I feel equipped with the Magellan 9550 I can't get lost, I can go anywhere anytime. Now, what does that have to do with the importance of God's Word? Nothing really, but it seems a good illustration, I have found the directions for a walk with God in His Word and now I don't feel like I can live without it, and can do anything or go anywhere with it. Have we become so dependent on ourselves that we no longer feel a need to consult the instructions? There is much emphasis placed on ministry and there should be but where does the faith to do God's work come from? <i>So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we dig deeper in God's Word concerning the actions of faith, which manifest as works, let's go there with the mindset or should I say "heart-set" that God's Word is the authority on good works.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let's dig a little deeper in God's Word. James 2:18 <i>but someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without works; and I will show you my faith by my works."</i> There is a challenge in this precept. The challenge is to show evidence of faith without works. That is an impossible task. Faith is not something that we can see with our eyes, faith is a gift from God planted in our hearts. Only when the fruit of faith, works, are produced can faith then be seen. The writer of Hebrews took it from a little different angle Hebrews 1:11 <i>Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. </i>Faith is the part that is not seen, so James is simply saying works are not interchangeable with faith rather works are the expression of faith and it is impossible to see faith without them. Anyone can say, "I can build a house" and believe that they can build a house but until they build the house their words and belief are useless. Someone can say they have faith but if there are no works then it is simply dead faith. "<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">I will show you my faith by my works"</span> </i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> Believing</span><i> </i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">I can build the house does not build the house.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 2:19 <i> You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. </i>It is a good thing to believe that God is God alone! But just believing that there is only one God is not walking in faith. James gives the example of the furthest from walking in faith namely demons, they believe and even fear God but there works are evident that their belief does not affect what they do. Even when there is genuine belief, that belief is dead if it does not evidence itself by works. Works in the life of believers has gotten a bad reputation in contemporary teaching because of the false teaching that works are rewarded with faith which is 180 degrees from the truth. The false teaching that somehow we can do enough good things to merit a relationship with God or to maintain a relationship with God has caused many to avoid the subject of works for fear of giving works to much power. But there is a tremendous amount of power in works of a believer because they are generated by faith. What would we say about a man that says he can build a house but never does, can we really call him a great builder or do we say he says he is a builder. What about someone who says they have faith but there is no works, do we call them a person of faith or do we say "they say they have faith"?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">James 2:20 <i>But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless. </i>It is foolishness to think that faith accomplishes anything on its own. Faith that is never used by definition is useless. There is not an effort here to put works ahead of faith that is impossible. Hebrews 11:6 <i>And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. </i>It is a strong statement to say that faith can be useless, but are we not foolish to think that just saying we have faith will accomplish something for God's glory. James 1:22<i>But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves</i>. What is our faith doing?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now that we have Dug a little Deeper what do we believe? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about God?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. There is one God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. God expects faith to produce works. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">God is pleased when we exercise the faith given by Him. </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we believe about ourselves? </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Without faith we cannot produce good works. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Our works will not substitute for faith, faith produces works. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. We are foolish to think that we can claim faith but have no works. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-31337833213256956422011-12-09T07:34:00.000-08:002011-12-09T07:34:00.659-08:00Digging Deeper (James 2:14-17<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"> <b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Digging Deeper 12 James 2:14-17<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background: white;"> Before we dig into the passage this week we need to say a little bit about faith. <i>So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ </i>Romans 10:17 Christ is the source of our faith. Faith is never something that we drum up ourselves, it is never our faith plus what God can provide, faith comes from Christ we receive faith we do not produce it. Second faith can and should increase. <i>Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. </i>Hebrews 11:1 As faith increases so does assurance and hope, the more we are convinced of the things that we have not yet seen the more obedient we become . Faith has a purpose. <i>And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that seek Him. </i>Hebrews 11:6 God cannot be pleased unless faith is exercised in the life of a believer. One more thing, if God is not pleased with our lives without faith being exercised, and faith comes from the word of Christ, how important does it become that we study and know the words of Christ. <i>In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. </i>John 1:1 </div><div style="background: white;"> In this Christmas season as always there are debates, is December the 25<sup>th</sup> really Jesus’ birthday. Should we be offended when someone says “Happy Holiday”? What about the tree should we put one up or not, what about Santa, presents, candy, family dinners? This time of year is a time of celebration but the celebration should be a product of faith, faith that we have received from the words of Christ. Faith that acts to further the cause of Christ. The debate is not what we do this Christmas season the question is why we do what we do. Faith motivates us to be pleasing to God.</div><div style="background: white;"> Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word. James 2:14 <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">What use is it,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="float: none;">my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can</span> that faith save him?</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> James uses a familiar expression “what’s it good for” if faith is just an idea what’s the use? At this point James is not debating if someone has faith or not he is merely making a point. “Ok, you say you have faith but it does not affect what you say or what you do so what good is it?” The question here is not if the faith produced by works can save you, the question is can a faith that does not produce works save you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> James 2:15-16 <i>If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><b><i><sup id="en-NASB-30310"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">16</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="float: none;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">and one of you says to them, “</span><span style="float: none;">Go in peace,</span></i></span><b><i><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">]</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="float: none;">be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for</span></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">their</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="float: none;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">body, what use is that?</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> James gives us this illustration but note that this is not teaching that without faith you cannot take care of the needy that is not the point at all. James simply states that just telling someone that is hungry and cold to be full and warm does nothing. Just saying that we have faith without the action of faith is just that, saying that we have faith. Back to Hebrews 1:11 </span></span><i>Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.</i> Faith motivates action, what good is faith if there is no conviction or no evidence of belief and trust? Faith is not a just a good idea it is the motivation for how we live our lives.</div><div style="background: white;"> James 2:17 <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Even so</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="float: none;">faith, if it has no works, is dead,</span></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">being</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="float: none;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">by itself.</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> Now James lays it all out on the table. The fact here is not that faith without works is a weak faith, it is a non-existent faith. It is dead. When something is dead it does not exist. The “idea” of faith is nothing! But faith in action can move mountains.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">Now that we have Dug a little Deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; tab-stops: 420.0pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">What do we believe about God? <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">God is pleased when we exercise faith in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> God produces the faith that we have in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> God gives us faith through His infallible Word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> We cannot have a relationship with God without faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> We cannot please God without faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">We are saved by a faith that produces works for God’s glory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> Our works are evidence of faith.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-39505521515908567352011-12-02T05:49:00.000-08:002011-12-02T05:49:25.324-08:00Digging Deeper (James 2:10-13)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX07Y4JYP4S0MxvOOczGWSRmjva5T78i4ZJeIQSX1JXfckVfokZ_Y3BPolROVnoiDxUjbe9G7AqfWTmjOy4aPZCtrB0nqmIsqfCRDwvKFVy3sUmMsoHSmaYI8DEy45DN35moDc-cUCog/s1600/Logo+pic+WB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX07Y4JYP4S0MxvOOczGWSRmjva5T78i4ZJeIQSX1JXfckVfokZ_Y3BPolROVnoiDxUjbe9G7AqfWTmjOy4aPZCtrB0nqmIsqfCRDwvKFVy3sUmMsoHSmaYI8DEy45DN35moDc-cUCog/s1600/Logo+pic+WB.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><u><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></u></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><u><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I pray that God will change our lives for His glory by the study of His Word!<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Digging Deeper 11 James 2:10-13<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><b><br />
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<div style="background: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These past couple of weeks has been full of reminders to be thankful. It is so important that we realize that God supplies our needs according to His riches in Heaven. We must be thankful to God for the clothes on our backs and the food on our tables, the roof over our heads but knowing any one of these or all of these can be gone tomorrow causes us to understand that to be truly thankful is to realize that we have a relationship with God through Christ and that nothing can separate us from.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Who will separate us from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the love of Christ? Will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>famine, or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>nakedness, or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>peril, or sword?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But in all these things we overwhelmingly<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>conquer through<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Him who loved us.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>For I am convinced that neither<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>death, nor life, nor<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>angels, nor principalities, nor<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>things present, nor things to come, nor powers,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the love of God, which is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in Christ Jesus our Lord. </i>Romans 8:35-40 It is for this reason that we can always come to the Lord with Thanksgiving. Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> James 2:10 <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">For whoever keeps the whole law and yet</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">stumbles in one</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">point</span></i><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">, he has become</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">guilty of all. </span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The set up here is guilt. James is following the previous thought that if we show partiality then we have sinned. How can the guilty be partial, deciding who should receive the grace of God? If we stumble at all we are guilty of all! There is not one of us that have kept the law of God to perfection which makes all guilty of all the character of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> James 2:11 <i>For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.</i> God is holy and to do anything outside of His holy character makes us guilty against His holiness. James now makes reference to one of the laws of God; maybe you are not guilty of adultery but if you are guilty of murder than the fact that you are not guilty of the adultery is a mute point. Holiness is pure without any sin at all. That is why that we can never be just guilty of small sins but innocent of the big stuff because of “He who said” is God and anything outside His holiness is sin! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> James 2:12 </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">law of liberty. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">This is a direct reference again to the previous verses concerning partiality. We should speak and act like people who have liberty. We should not be legalistic in our view of others because we to are guilty, rather we should act and speak as people who have been freed from our guilt. It is not condoning some ones sin when we show mercy, we are not freed to sin but we have been freed to enjoy the liberty we have in Christ not to sin. We have not been freed to become judge and jury of others but to show mercy as we have experienced in the law of liberty we have in Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> James 2:13 <i>For</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">judgment</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">will be</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The will be no mercy for those that show no mercy. God’s mercy is abundant but at judgment time there will be no mercy. God is the eternal judge so who are we to withhold mercy? Then James makes this profound statement “mercy triumphs over judgment.” When mercy is shown there is still hope, there is still a chance that things can be worked out. But when a judgment is made it is finished. While we are living in this world we experience the mercy of God but there will come a time when mercy will be no more. Hebrews 9:27 <i>And in as much as</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">it is</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">appointed for men to die once and after this</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">comes</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">judgment. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">There are grave consequences for not showing mercy to one another. Mercy’s triumph over judgment is good guidance in living for Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that we have Dug a little Deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; tab-stops: 420.0pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="background: white; tab-stops: 420.0pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do we believe about God? </span></span></b></span></div><div style="background: white; tab-stops: 420.0pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">God is holy and to do one thing contrary to His holiness is a trespass against His entire character.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">God is merciful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">God’s mercy will not strive forever there is a judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Mercy triumphs judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">We are all guilty of the whole law of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">We are in no position to judge who should receive God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Without the mercy of God we are stand guilty before His judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Mercy triumphs judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
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</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-38912341210116112912011-11-18T08:04:00.000-08:002011-11-18T08:04:59.220-08:00Digging Deeper (James 2:1-9)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Digging Deeper 10 James 2:1-9<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Word of God is not the ink on the pages of a leather bound book. The Word of God is alive and life changing. Often in a quest for information about God we miss the experience of hearing from God as He reveals himself through His living word. It is not until we see God’s Word as the very character of God, instead of a book about God, that we can experience His revelation and application to our lives. <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">In the beginning was</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">the Word, and the Word was</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">with God, and</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">the Word was God.</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> John 1:1 Let’s continue our study as we dig a little deeper in the Epistle of James.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> James chapter 2 verse 1 </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My brethren,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">do not hold your faith in our</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">glorious Lord Jesus Christ with</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">an attitude of </span></i><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">personal favoritism</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. Note first that James is addressing believers, everything after the coma applies to the brethren. The phrase “<i>do not hold your faith</i>” as we will see in context to the rest of the passage could be “do not keep to yourself your faith based on who you think should hear it.” One of the prideful misstatements a believer can make concerning unbelievers is that someone probably would or would not make a good follower of Christ, are we really in a position to play favorites with the “<i>faith in our Lord Jesus Christ”</i> ? How can we possibly be able to determine who should receive the Word of God that leads to faith in Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Verse 2-3 </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Opens with an illustration of such prejudices. <i>For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">dirty clothes,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><b><i><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Does one that is rich deserve more an opportunity to receive ministry than the poor because maybe they can “contribute” more? James continues in verse 4 that if this distinction has been made than we have committed evil judgment. <i>have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">with evil motives?</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> James 2:4 Is it better to befriend the wealthy because we stand to gain from it? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> Verse 5 -6 James addresses the situation </span></span><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">5</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">Listen,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>my beloved brethren: did not<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>God choose the poor of this world<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>rich in faith and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>heirs of the kingdom which He<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>promised to those who love Him?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><sup>6</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>drag you into court? </span></i><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">Isn’t it the one that finds their strength and their authority in worldly things the one that oppresses the believer but it is the poor that are seeking to find riches in faith. This passage is not an indictment on the rich, James is simply laying out the principle that man’s prejudice and judgment is based on the external instead seeing the heart of a man which can only truly be seen by God. Verse 7 solidifies that based on the favoritism of man, the people that man would judge worthy are blasphemers. <b><i><sup><span style="background: white;">7</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white;">Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? </span></i><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> Verse 8-9 James lays it all out for us </span></span><b><i><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">8</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">If, however, you</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><b><i><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">9</span></sup></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">But if you</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">show partiality, you are committing sin</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">and</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">are convicted by the law as transgressors. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">Who is our neighbor? Neighbor here is translated from the Greek word “plesion” it means fellow man that is near in proximity. It does not mean those of the same financial status, same race, same family, or same ethnic background. It very simply means that whoever we are around should receive the love of Christ from us without favoritism or prejudice. Jesus tells a story in Luke 10:30-37 A Jew is attacked by some robbers and those of his same nationality or culture just walk on by but a Samaritan who had no connection to this man stopped and helped. After telling this story Jesus asks this question, <i>“Which of these three do you think proved to be a <u>neighbor</u> to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands</i>? (Luke 10:36) And they responded “<i>the one that showed mercy”</i> and Jesus said <i>“go and do the same”</i>. There is no room in the heart of a believer for prejudice based on external things. God makes it clear “<i>But if you</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">show partiality, you are committing sin”</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> (</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">James 2:9a) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> Let’s go back to the first phrase in verse 5 </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">Listen,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">my beloved brethren: did not</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">God choose…</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">. Is God not sovereign? How can we play favorites or show partiality concerning who should receive or not receive the expression of God’s love from us if it is not our decision to make? We have no authority to show partiality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">What do we believe about God?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">God requires no external qualifications.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">God does not choose based on someone’s ability to give back.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">God is sovereign.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">Our faith is not ours to withhold our faith is from “our glorious Lord Jesus Christ”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">We cannot make decisions to share the love of God based on who we believe we can gain more from or who is more deserving.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">When we show prejudice we are saying we our more discerning than God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">Our neighbor does not have to qualify by meeting our standard, our neighbors are simply those that are around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">There is no room in the heart of a believer for prejudice based on external things.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-77697541354335780872011-11-11T06:43:00.000-08:002011-11-11T06:43:47.117-08:00Digging Deeper (James1:26-27)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Digging Deeper 9 James 1:26-27<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How often do we say or at least think, if I just knew what God wanted, where do I go, what do I do that my life? Truth is what separates us from God’s direction is our arch enemy pride; we can’t get out of our own way. God gives us direction, He guides us with His Holy Spirit and has given us His Word, but the trouble is His direction may be different than where we want to go or what we want to do or even what we want to believe. How does our direction in life change when we consider where we go, what we say, and what we believe in the light of I Corinthians 10:31 <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Whether, then, you eat or drink or</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. </span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">To live for God, we must seek the heart of God in the riches of His Word. Let’s dig a little deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">James 1:26 <i>If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">own</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">heart; this man’s religion is worthless.</span></i></span> Let’s start with the last phrase “this man’s religion is worthless. Religion, “threskos” in the original language means ceremonious in worship. This is harsh statement to say that one’s ceremony or conduct of worship is worthless. But James is very clear in what makes ones conduct of worship worthless and it has nothing to do with style or music or the way someone is dressed. An unbridled tongue is what negates worship. Let’s go back to the first phrase<i> <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">own</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">heart…</span></span></i><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> James 1:26a. We will cover the dangers of an unbridled tongue a little later in the book of James but to see the depth of this text let’s look at James 3:5 </span></span><i>So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>yet<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>it<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! </i>When we think of ourselves as being worshipers (religious) but the things we say are not truth and are often self promoting and even hurtful then we are deceiving ourselves that we are worshipping God, our religion is worthless!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> But James says in verse <i>27 <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">Pure and undefiled religion</span></span></i> (ceremony or conduct of worship)<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="float: none;">in the sight of</span></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">our</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="float: none;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">God and Father is this: to</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="float: none;">visit</span></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="float: none;">orphans and widows in their distress,</span></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">and</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="float: none;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">to keep oneself unstained by</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="float: none;">the world.</span> </span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Just like James speaks earlier, only being a hearer and not a doer of the word deludes, or deceives, simply talking a big story and not doing ministry deceives man’s heart and renders religion worthless. And we cannot ignore that last phrase “keep oneself unstained by the world.” These precepts, not just hearing but doing, taking care of others that cannot take of themselves, and keeping unstained, all walk hand in hand. When our focus is ministry is for God’s glory, doing the word of God, keeping our mouths closed, the result is an unstained life and a religion that is pure and undefiled in the sight of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now having dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What do we believe about God?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]--> God sees and knows our heart in worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->God receives only pure and undefiled religion (conduct of worship)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]--> Our tongue reveals a deceived heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Our religion is worthless if we have an unbridled tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->We are capable of pure and undefiled religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->When our focus is doing the word of God, ministering to those that cannot help themselves, guarding what is said it leaves little space and time to be stained by the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-58392570271934617382011-11-04T06:14:00.000-07:002011-11-04T06:14:42.784-07:00Digging Deeper (James1:22-25 )<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 48px;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Digging Deeper 8 James 1:22-25</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This week I am praying that we will be encouraged to move forward. I used to use the phrase “do something, even if it’s wrong, do something” but of course that statement is so wrong, at least that last little bit is and so I say to you do something because it is right do something right. A quick look at the triumphs of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 reveals examples of faith in action. Abel offered, Enoch witnessed, Noah built, Abraham went out, Isaac blessed, Jacob blessed, Joseph gave orders, Moses refused to be called an Egyptian the scripture is full of examples of folks living out there faith. Knowing all scripture, believing all scripture but never doing all scripture is only fooling ourselves that we are living for Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Let’s dig a little deeper in the Word. </span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"> James 1:22 two words we must understand: doers and word. What is a doer? Well how about this for a profound definition, a doer is somebody that does something. It is not to be confused with someone who knows something, or listens to something. Seriously, a doer is someone who takes action. James’ instruction is to be someone who takes action on the word. Now what is the word? The Greek word is “logos” and it means intelligence and the expression of that intelligence. So there we have it, take action on the intelligence that has been expressed to you in this case the knowledge of God given by inspiration directed by the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">Notice that this is not a condemnation of hearers but instructions not to be hearers only. Hearing or listening is an important step to becoming a doer. The point that James is making is that if you are just a listener and never carry out the action demanded by the Word of God then you are just fooling yourself. Receiving instruction is worthless if the instructions are never carried out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">In verse 23 and 24 </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">in a mirror; </span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">f</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">or</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">once</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">he has looked at himself and gone away,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">The comparison is the wisdom and instruction of the word verses what man sees in himself. Once a man looks at himself and sees his own natural ways he forgets who he really is, a sinner in need of grace. When man’s focus is who he is instead of who the word says that he is he will naturally walk contrary to the word trying to fulfill his own ideas of who he should be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Verse 25 </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">But one who looks intently at the perfect law,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>law<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>blessed In<b><sup> </sup></b>what he does. </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The word perfect here translates well as complete, the word law here is a divine truth so one who looks intently at the complete divine truth and abides by it will be blessed, blessed the Greek word “makarrios” possessing the characteristics of deity. The one who does not just hear the word but does the word lives, out the character of God! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The life of a doer is a life filled with peace and joy. There are easier ways to live than living in the precepts of God’s Word but there are no other ways to enjoy the liberty found in a life for Christ. There is no idle in the life of a believer we are either moving forward according to the word or we are falling away chasing our own agenda.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Now having dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">What do we believe about God?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">God gives faith to action.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">God gives direction through His Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">God’s law (word) is complete and is the law of liberty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">God blesses the doer of His Word with His character.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Not doing the word only deludes, or fools ourselves that we are living for Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Doing what is natural is contrary to the direction of the word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Living out, doing, the word exhibits the characteristics of God in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Although not always easy, a doer of the word enjoys peace, joy and liberty in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-18761443093814668772011-10-28T06:52:00.000-07:002011-10-28T06:52:53.849-07:00Digging Deeper (James 1:19-21)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Digging Deeper 7 </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">James 1:19-21 (Another shovel full)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God once again struck my heart this week with the thought of truth. It is very difficult for us define truth because it can only be defined by itself. Truth claims itself to be true but how can we know that it is true if the only evidence is the truth defining itself. I know, I am confused to, so Let me put it this way faith reveals truth. <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">So</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">faith</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">comes</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">from</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">hearing</span></i></b><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">, and</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">hearing</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">by the word of Christ.</span></i></span><span style="background: white; color: black;"> Romans 10:17 For just a moment do not let truth be defined by a lie think of truth as something that is straight, pure, unmolested it really doesn’t have any motive it is simply true, it is what it is and nothing else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without a pure sample we have no way to measure if something is contaminated. Jesus said I am the way the <i>truth</i> and the life. The Word of God is true not because we have proven it true but because it is the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This week we dig a little deeper into the truth in the Book of James let’s pickup with 1:19 <i>This</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">you know,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">slow to speak</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">slow to anger. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A couple points on this verse, first note who James is talking to, beloved brethren, so the following points are to fellow Christians. “Be quick to hear” the word hear in this phrase is more than just acknowledging a sound it has the connotation of understanding so the instruction here is to be ready to understand and when there is understanding the next two precepts come more readily, slow to speak, slow to anger.<span> </span>We often describe someone with a quick temper as someone with the short fuse always ready to blow up at the least little thing. <span> </span>This verse is not an instruction to never be angry there are certainly times that believers can and even should get angry when something comes against the holiness of God it should strike a chord in our heart. But most often our anger is kindled from pride something doesn’t sit right with us but being quick to hear and understanding the situation and not speaking quickly, saying things that we often regret, slows down the anger process. Why is this process so important? Why should I slow down and try to understand and not get angry “I have a right to be angry, I have been wronged!” really? Verse 20</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">for</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Three important words to understand in verse 20 anger, man, and righteousness. Anger is the Greek word “orge” it means wrath as a state of mind with a purpose of revenge. Man the Greek word “aner” meaning male, the more prideful of the sexes. Righteousness “dikaiosune” that which is just. Man with a heart of wrath seeking revenge to satisfy his ego does not satisfy the justice of God. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">In verse 21</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> <span class="apple-style-span">James brings some things together for us. </span><i>Therefore,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>putting aside all filthiness and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span>all</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that remains of wickedness, in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>humility receive<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span> </span>Since these things do not satisfy the righteousness of God let’s put aside our filthiness and wickedness in humility. Often when someone is asked after they have struck out in anger if they thought it did any good they will say no but it made me feel better and that may be true but that means that the whole thing was about them and the instruction is to put all of it aside in humility. But pride must be destroyed to understand there is but one place that yields such understanding, “receive</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the word implanted</span>” the Word of God is able to save the soul of man. It is the Word of God that gives us understanding so that we are ready to understand instead of being quick to speak and overcome with anger. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now having dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do we believe about God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God is the supplier of the salvation of our souls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God gives understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God alone is righteous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Seeking quickly to understand slows down the process of anger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pride is most often our source of anger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our anger does not bring the justice of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Humility lays aside our filthiness and wickedness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The implanted word is able to save our souls.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-27208169954470718152011-10-14T06:52:00.000-07:002011-10-14T06:52:47.979-07:00Digging Deeper (James 1:17)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Digging Deeper 6<span> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">James 1:17 (Another shovel full)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; 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</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span> </span>Before we dig deeper into the text this week I want to take a moment to encourage you in the importance of knowing why you believe what you believe, which is the ultimate goal of digging deeper. We want to delve into the depths of God’s Word so that we can believe the truth of God rather than a tradition of men. <span> </span>Our actions are a reflection of what we believe which makes it so important to believe the truth and we can only know the truth by God’s Word. <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">Be diligent to</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">the word of truth.</span></i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> 2 Timothy 2:15 The only excuse for not handling the word of truth accurately is not knowing the word of truth. There are far too many believers trying to live the Christian life without reading the instructions. Devotionals are good, listening to and singing worship music is great, quiet time in prayer is invaluable but none of these are a substitute for spending time digging deeper into the Word of God. Now let’s dig a little deeper into the first chapter of James.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>In <span> </span>James 1:17 James makes a declarative statement: <span> </span><i>Every good thing given and every perfect gift is</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">from above, coming down from</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the Father of lights,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">James 1:17 There are two things coming down from the Father of lights, who we will look at in a moment, good things and perfect gifts. So what are good things? The word <u>good</u> is the Greek word “agathos” which is defined as useful or profitable. The word <u>things</u> here is a little tricky because how can you define things wouldn’t that include every “thing”. But this word thing here is referring to the giving itself, look at this verse from Phillpians 4:15 <i>You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">first preaching of the gospel, after I left</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Macedonia, no church</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">shared with me in the matter of <b>giving</b> and receiving but you alone;</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The word translated here giving is the same word in the original language “dosis” as thing in James 1:17 and it means the the act of giving. Now what about the perfect gift? Perfect, which means to complete, gift<span> </span>which is something that is given freely. Everything that is useful that is given and everything that is complete and given freely is from above. Notice that the instruction here is not a description of materiel things. Look back at verse 15 <i>Then</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The connecting verse 16 says do not be the deceived, what looks good can simply be lust that gives birth to sin which brings forth death. Death comes from sin but every useful and complete thing that is given comes from God see verse 12 <i>Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the crown of life which</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">has promised to those who</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">love Him.</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The good and perfect things that come from God are not always in the form of a check or new car. The good things and perfect gifts that come from the Father are things that are complete and useful to bring glory to Him and good to our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span> </span>Just a couple of things we need to know about this last phrase “<i>from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow”</i>. The word light here describes a light that is never kindled and therefore is never extinguished. Describing God as the Father of lights simply means that there is no darkness in God, and of course no variation means that God is true or never changing and no shifting shadow means that the light does not move.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span> </span>James makes this great contrast the results of the lustful eye of man generated by man’s pride that leads to death verses all things given freely and are complete that come from God resulting in the crown of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do we believe about God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anything useful is given by God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s gifts are complete.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s gifts are not always materiel things but are always perfect and good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All light comes from God!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God is true and never changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we have anything useful it comes from God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What we have in God is complete.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are either following the lust of our eye that leads to death or we are walking in the free gift of a crown of life given by the Father of lights!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pastor Jim </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136187273222866935.post-87025535157867585692011-10-07T07:56:00.000-07:002011-10-07T07:56:21.179-07:00Digging Deeper (James 1:12-16)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Digging Deeper 5<span> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">James 1:12-16 (Another shovel full)</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God’s Word is such an amazing blessing as God opens up for us a portal into the heart of God and reveals to us who He is and who we are and His amazing plan for us. This week we are digging deeper into the Epistle of James. Looking for what God has for us to see and learn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week we pick up in verse 12 <span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">the crown of life which</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">the Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">has promised to those who</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">love Him. </span></i><span style="background: white; color: black;">The rest of this passage is going to hinge on that first phrase <i>“Blessed is a man that perseveres under trial”</i> James is going to describe this process but we first need to answer two questions. What is a blessed man and what kind of a trial must a man travel <span> </span>in order to be blessed? First the word blessed is translated here from the Greek word “makarios” and the simple definition of this word is possessing the characteristics of deity. It does not mean that someone has become God it simply means that they are exercising and experiencing the character of God in their life. The trials that James is talking about are temptations, (peirasmos) this is not sickness or financial hurting or any other particular difficulty. The statement is that you are blessed when you are tempted if you react with godly character.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This man that is blessed will get an approval, and once he has he will receive a crown of life. A man has not shown the character of God until he has faced temptation and overcame it. It is then after a man has shown the character of God in the face of temptation that he receives the crown of life. The reward for persevering with godly character is a life in the blessing of God, which is the crown of life, experiencing and exercising the character of God. This is a result of the promise of God to those that love the character of God and follow it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Verse 13 <i>Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">by God”; for God cannot be tempted</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> God does not tempt man with the purpose of failure. It is not God that is to blame when we fall rather it is our own lust which emanates from our pride resulting in a reaction outside the holy character of God Verse 14 <i>But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.</i></span> James continues to explain how that happens. Verse 15 <i>Then</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">sin is accomplished, it brings forth death</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span> Once a man “falls for something” it captures the mind and the heart and then comes the sin as man is overcome by his lust and cannot contain himself and the results of sin is death it is the opposite of crown of life in verse 12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Verse 16 <i>Do not be</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">deceived,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">my beloved brethren</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> James give this solemn warning concerning deception. Notice first here that James is talking to believers (<i>my beloved brethren)</i> and the warning beware of being deceived by your own lust. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A man has shown the characteristics of God when temptation comes. Evidence of the approval of God is the Lord’s promise of a crown of life. But when temptation stirs the lust of man and results in actions to satisfy the flesh rather than the character of God there is no approval and no crown of life only death. Do let your deceitful mind carry you away!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having dug a little deeper what do we believe?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do we believe about God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God extends His character to man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God gives approval for acting in His character.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God is the holder of the crown of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God does not test man with the purpose of failure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God holds both life and death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do we believe about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We can experience and exercise the character of God in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We can receive the approval of God by reacting to temptation in His character.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We can have victory over our lust by reacting to temptation in God’s character.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span>4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Every trial results in either<span> </span>the crown of life or it brings forth separation from the blessing of God “death”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div>Digging Deeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460527686659831923noreply@blogger.com0