Digging Deeper (James 3:13-18)

 

I pray that God will change our lives for His glory by the study of His Word!

Digging Deeper 17 James 3:13-18

 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 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Knowledge without wisdom is destructive and filled with pride. Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.

James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in gentleness of wisdom. 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.

James 3:14-15 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 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.

James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 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.

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 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.

James 3:18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 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 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

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 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.

Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?

What do we believe about God? 

1.     True wisdom comes from God

2.   God gives wisdom for the purpose to promote righteousness

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.    Knowledge that we use to promote our own selfish agenda is not from above

2.   Wisdom that is selfish and arrogant is earthy, natural and demonic

3.   We should exercise wisdom from God with mercy not judgment.

Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800

Digging Deeper (James 3:7-12)

Digging Deeper 16 James 3:7-12

 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 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. 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 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. How much does our life change if we start reading and following the directions.

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.

James 3:7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. 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.

James 3:8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 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.

James 3:9-12 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. 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.

Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?

What do we believe about God? 

1.    God desires to give us the knowledge to do what is right.

2.   God will not receive praise from a filthy mouth.

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.    It is important for us to train young mouths to say good things.

2.   Man’s tongue cannot wait to be evil.

3.   Our communication can be a deadly poison.

4.   We cannot praise God with the same mouth that spews filthy communication.

Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800

Digging Deeper (James 3:1-6)

Digging Deeper 15 James 3:1-6

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 But the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. 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.  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?

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.

So let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word. James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. 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.

James 3:3-5 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. 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.  

James 3:6 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. 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.

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.

What do we believe about God? 

1.   God requires His Word to be taught with responsibility.

2.   The gift of Communication is given by God. 

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.   What we say has great impact.

2.   What we communicate directly affects the course of our lives.

3.   Our tongue can be used for destruction.

Digging Deeper (James 2:21-26

 Digging Deeper 14 James 2:21-26

 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 faith.” When we approach Christmas by faith we see more clearly the impact of the birth of the Christ child!

Now let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word. James 2:21-22 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. 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.

James 2:23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 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.

James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. 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!

Now that we have dug a little Deeper what do we believe? 

What do we believe about God? 

1.   God knows we are not perfect but is looking at our perfected faith.

2.   God alone is the giver of faith.

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.   Our works are a revelation of our faith.

2.   We do not have faith because of our works we have good works because of God’s gift of faith.

3.   Our works reveal that we are a friend of God.

Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800

Digging Deeper (James 2:18-20

Digging Deeper 13 James 2:18-20

     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? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

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.

Let's dig a little deeper in God's Word. James 2:18 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." 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 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 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 will show you my faith by my works"  Believing I can build the house does not build the house.

James 2:19  You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 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"?

James 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless. 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 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. 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 1:22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. What is our faith doing?

Now that we have Dug a little Deeper what do we believe? 

What do we believe about God? 

1. There is one God.

2. God expects faith to produce works. 

3. God is pleased when we exercise the faith given by Him.   

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1. Without faith we cannot produce good works. 

2. Our works will not substitute for faith, faith produces works. 

3. We are foolish to think that we can claim faith but have no works. 

Digging Deeper (James 2:14-17

 Digging Deeper 12 James 2:14-17

            Before we dig into the passage this week we need to say a little bit about faith. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ 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. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 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. 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. 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. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

            In this Christmas season as always there are debates, is December the 25^th 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.

            Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word. James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  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.

            James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace,^]be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 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 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 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.

            James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 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.

Now that we have Dug a little Deeper what do we believe?

What do we believe about God?                                                            

1.    God is pleased when we exercise faith in Him.

2.     God produces the faith that we have in Him.

3.     God gives us faith through His infallible Word.

What do we believe about ourselves?

1.     We cannot have a relationship with God without faith.

2.     We cannot please God without faith.

3.    We are saved by a faith that produces works for God’s glory.

4.       Our works are evidence of faith.

Digging Deeper (James 2:10-13)

I pray that God will change our lives for His glory by the study of His Word!

Digging Deeper 11 James 2:10-13

            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. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,   “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 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 other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 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.

            James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 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.

            James 2:11 For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 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!

            James 2:12  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 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!

            James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. 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 And in as much as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. There are grave consequences for not showing mercy to one another. Mercy’s triumph over judgment is good guidance in living for Christ.

Now that we have Dug a little Deeper what do we believe?

What do we believe about God?       

                                                     

1.    God is holy and to do one thing contrary to His holiness is a trespass against His entire character.

2.    God is merciful.

3.    God’s mercy will not strive forever there is a judgment.

4.    Mercy triumphs judgment.

What do we believe about ourselves?

1.    We are all guilty of the whole law of God.

2.    We are in no position to judge who should receive God’s grace.

3.    Without the mercy of God we are stand guilty before His judgment.

4.      Mercy triumphs judgment.