Digging Deeper (James 4:9-10)

Digging Deeper 20 James 4:9-10

        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 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. 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 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.

        James 4:9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 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.

        James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you. 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.

        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 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.

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

What do we believe about God? 

1.   God desires a humbleness that recognizes His holiness.

2.   God gives promise that He will draw near to us in our submission to Him.

3.   God desires to raise us out of our doom and gloom.

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.   We should be miserable when we are not close to God.

2.   We can only come to the presence of God in humbleness.

3.   God can and does exalt, rasie us up out of our miserable state.

Digging Deeper (James 4:6-8)

Digging Deeper 19 James 4:6-8

 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 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. That is the purpose of “Digging Deeper” that we would reverence God’s Word as the ultimate authority on all things. Let’s dig a little deeper in God’s Word.

James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  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.

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 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 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 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!  

James 4:8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. 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.

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

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

What do we believe about God? 

1.   Grace belongs to God.

2.   Grace is given by God at His discretion.

3.   God desires that we are close to Him.

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.   We can experience greater grace

2.   Greater grace comes when we are humble before God.

3.   The devil will flee from us when say no to him and submit ourselves to God.

Digging Deeper (James 4:1-5)

Digging Deeper 18 James 4:1-5

 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. 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.

James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 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.

James 4:2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.  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.

James 4:3-4 You ask and do not receive, because you ask  with the wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 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 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. 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.

James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: He jealously desires the Spirit which dwells in us? Two passages come to mind: Exodus 20:5 tells us the character of God 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. And what is the Spirit which He has made dwell in us? Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 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.

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

What do we believe about God? 

1.   God desires our full devotion.

2.   The fruits of the Spirit belong to God for His purpose which is His glory.

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.   We commit adultery when we befriend the world.

2.   We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us that we can exercise the fruits that bring honor to God.

3.   Our conflicts resolve when we walk in the Spirit with God.

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

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