Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Grace In Suffering (1 Peter 3-5)


Table of Contents



.Introduction




.For the Sake of the Sinner (1 Peter 3:1-22)

1)Wives Submit to Own Husband (1 Peter 3:1-6)

In The Same Way...

1 Peter 2:13 – as we are called to submit to every authority
1 Peter 2:18 – as slaves are to submit to masters, even harsh ones
1 Peter 2:21-25 – as Christ suffered and entrusted himself to the Father

To Win Them...

The purpose Peter gives for the wives to submit is for the sake of the gospel. So that their lives might testify to the lost husband through purity and reverence.

Inner Beauty...

Don't compensate for an internal deficiency through external means.
In other words, it won't matter what you look like on the outside if there is no inner beauty.
This is so true in many areas of our lives as well. Sometimes we tend to get busy outwardly doing and neglect the quiet prayer life that is crucial.
It's often easier to correct something that is visible and not address the inner, root cause issue that lies under the surface.
Peter is by no means saying that external adornments should be avoided and done away with. Only that they cannot compensate for something lacking inside.
In order to live like this, the wife needs to experience God's sustaining grace. By living like this, the unbelieving husband experiences God's grace and might be won to the Lord.

What outward things might you be doing in order to compensate for some inward deficiency?




2)Husbands Respect Your Wife (1 Peter 3:7)

We're only given one verse, so we must be doing pretty well, right? Or perhaps Peter realized that our ability to handle too many things at once was limited.
Whatever the case may be, we are to respect our wives.
Look what Peter says about women in this short passage: they are partners, they are joint heirs in the give of life, the way we treat them can have an adverse affect on our own prayer lives.
Wow! They are not inferior to men in any way and they are recipients of all the blessings of salvation that men enjoy. No distinction.
But Peter does point out that they are weaker. Not in any spiritual sense. Not in an intellectual sense. Not even in a metaphysical sense.
I believe he is pointing out that they are not built the same way we are. They are generally more fragile in regard to physical characteristics. They are not able to endure as much physical strain as men. And certainly in the society in which these believers lived, they were in a situation in which the uncertainties of the future may have tended to weigh heavier on them – less control (or at least it seemed).
Men are to respect and protect and be considerate of our wives. To put aside some of our own aspirations and consider the wife's needs.
In order for men to live like this on a consistent basis requires God's sustaining grace and an ongoing outpouring of His love through us to our wives.

How could you show more consideration for your wife?

Does the way you treat your wife reflect a respect of her weakness?

3)Get Outside Yourself (1 Peter 3:8-12)

Peter calls us to exercise the call to selfless living:
  • Harmony – when someone sings harmony, they are not the lead. They are trying to complement the one singing the melody.
  • Sympathy – agreement in feeling; to empathize with another; to be willing to carry their sorrow and distress.
  • Love – (as brothers), this is a giving of myself to the needs of another, not expecting anything in return. This may be ongoing, without end.
  • Compassion – very similar to sympathy, perhaps even with a deeper identification with the person's plight.
  • Humility – serve, don't expect a return, put others first, seek to lift others up, don't seek my own interests and agenda.
It's a very simple list, isn't it? I mean simple on paper. But if we practice the opposite, what are the disastrous results? We reflect nothing but a worldly, self-centered agenda that cannot please God.
Because we are blessed, we are to give out blessings freely – even to those who insult and injure us. And these are not to be blessings by mouth only. They are to be actions that give back good to those who may hate us.
Apart from the grace of God, you and I haven't a hope in the world to live this way. But by God's grace, and in his strength, we are able to live this way to God's glory.

4)The Reason For Hope (1 Peter 3:13-17)

As believers, we should be known for doing good. I know the phrase, “do-gooder” has negative connotations, but it ought not be that way for us.
Our doing good should come from an internal motivation and not external.
I should not only be in the habit of doing good to those I consider to be deserving. I should not just do it when it is convenient.
Peter is saying, be in the habit of doing good, and if you are harmed as a result, don't retaliate, but use that as an opportunity to present the gospel.
Let your life reflect Christ in what you do, then when you endure abuse, use that as an opportunity to share the hope that you have in Christ.
If I react in kind to mistreatment, what will the lost world think? If I have a sharp or witty rebuttal to someones comment or action, what will they say? They certainly won't think I have anything in my life that is any better than what they have.
The adversity of life provides an opportunity for the hope of the believer to shine through.
But gentleness and respect and a clear conscience before God are all needed.

Who do you know that is aware of the hope that you have?

5)Our Savior's Example (1 Peter 3:18-22)

Once again, Peter brings us back to the reason behind these commands. Our lives are not about us, but they are about the One who saved us.
He's the righteous one, we are not. He's the one who died for our sin – the sin the we deserve to die for.
And He is the one who brings us into a relationship with God.
Anyone outside of this relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is in fact bound to sin and will one day face the consequences of sin – eternal condemnation and separation from God.
That's why Peter points out the example of the flood to us.
Noah was like us. He lived and was tormented in his day. He was a man that uniquely obeyed and feared God. He trusted God and believed Him while all around were those who disregarded God and his word.
Noah endured this type of life, but it was a life of hope. Hope in God's salvation, which he accomplished through the ark. This deluge that came upon the world wiped out human life except those in the ark.
And all though the ark-building process, Noah's life illustrated the grace of God to those around him. God was extending grace to those who were under the curse by giving grace to Noah in the midst of his trial.
But after that, there was no hope for the lost. Once this life is over, there is not second chance. That rejection of God's provision in this life binds one to an eternity of separation in the next.
It's only by God's grace through faith in Jesus that we have hope of this life and the next.

6)Principle

Christian suffering provides a unique opportunity to display God's grace.


.For the Sake of the Savior (1 Peter 4:1-19)




1)The Right Attitude (1 Peter 4:1-6)

Peter deals a lot with what is going on inside the mind of his listeners. I think this may be due to the fact that he realizes what he used to be like and how impulsive he used to be. He remembers how bold his words often were, how loyal he wanted to be, but how frail he was in his own power.
But after the resurrection and after Pentecost, we see a Peter that was willing to go before the very ones who tried Christ and tell them he had to obey God rather than men. And then to count is joy to be worthy of being beaten for his Lord.
What a change in attitude. What a transformation in what really matters in life.
That's why he calls our attention to the attitude of our Lord in suffering. If our attitude is His attitude, then we entrust ourselves to the Father and His will. And that becomes our life priority no matter how it is realized in this life.
And with that changed attitude, we also find that the thing that used to bring us enjoyment are not so glittery. We no longer long for to fulfill our own fleshly desires.
And if you are like me, once you stopped running with the old crowd, you began to hear derogatory comments about Christianity. And wondering why you don't hang with the gang anymore.

2)The Right Mindset (1 Peter 4:7-11)

Once again Peter calls us to be clear minded and self-controlled. What he is getting at is that we think correctly about they way things really are. We need to be Biblically informed in the way we think.
And self-control is not just willing to control myself, but it is an internal working of God – a motivation that is not based upon any external forces. I don't do what I do just because others are watching or because of the consequences, I do what I do out of a love and respect for God.
How else would I be able to love deeply. This love he is calling us to is not something that is pretty and clean and easy. It is loving the unlovely and even those who sin against us. That's why he says that love covers a multitude of sins. It is not like we are cleared of some sins due to love. But that when you love, you overlook many offenses (see 1 Corinthians 13).
So we are to:
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Would you say the things you do are more internally driven by what God wants or externally driven by what others think or expect?

3)Christian Suffering (1 Peter 12-19)

Don't Be Surprised...(12-13)

Suffering should not be a surprise to the believer. For one thing, we should never think that we don't deserve it. But for another, Jesus even warned about it over and over. If we don't suffer, we may want to be surprised or concerned.
Part of this attitude change that we talked about earlier is to put suffering in the right perspective. As we said, Peter and John were able to rejoice when they were beaten, not because it was stimulating, but because they were considered worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.
If our suffering is for the cause of Christ, then we have cause to rejoice. Not that we are gaining any merits on our behalf or contributing to our salvation. But we are enduring abuse for our Savior's sake – the one who paid fully for our salvation through His suffering.

You're Blessed...(14-16)

It's not a reason for shame. Praise God that the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Suffering is in fact a mark of ownership – the world is going to hate the believer that is living for Christ. (16, 14)

Commit to Your Creator...(17-19)

If it's His will that I suffer, who better is there to commit myself than to Him. (19)

4)Principle

The Christian's attitude in suffering should be one of identification with Christ.

.For the Sake of the Saints (1 Peter 5:1-14)




1)To The Elders (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Look at the way Peter addresses the elders of the churches. He addresses then as peers. Not lording it over on them. But instead identifying with them. His role is the same thing – a servant of God for His people.
He also points out that we are all recipients of the same glory to be revealed. This is not some form of hierarchy, but it is an equality of persons with varying roles.
And the responsibility of the shepherd is one that is to oversee the care and guidance of the flock. To ensure that the teaching is not heretical. That true teaching about God and the gospel are presented and that doctrine is not in error. They are not above reproach but are under Christ's authority to lead, strengthen, and nurture people that belong, not to them but, to Christ.

How are you using your position in your church? Are you lording it over others or are you serving the flock?

2)Humility (1 Peter 5:5-7)

This submission word keeps cropping up throughout First Peter. Here once again he tells a group to submit to those placed in authority. He calls the young to submit to the elders.
This may not necessarily be young in age but young in the faith. Those he calls elders must be those qualified to teach and lead. Those who are newer believers must be willing to submit to the authority God has given to the elders for the building up of the church.
This takes humility because sometimes you may think that the elder is not doing things the way you think they should. Maybe you think you could do better. But there is a reason for roles within the body of Christ. And part of that is to refine those of us who must submit to those in authority.
They carry a heavy burden that we often don't see. And sometimes we think we have the answer, but that is only due to the fact that we haven't seen the entire picture.
One other item I think would serve us well and that is the idea of seeking Godly counsel from those who have been around a while. Those who have endured the test of time. Much wisdom is found in trying to find those that God has given long life and gleaning insights and perspectives from them. But sometimes we, as younger men, must seek them out. We often move too fast and we need to slow down and try to make the connection.

What Christian leader has God put over you that you need to start submitting to?

What mature believer do you know that you could seek counsel from?

3)Resist and Stand (1 Peter 5:8-9)

There are consequences to living in opposition to what Peter has just pointed out. For one thing, there will be disunity in the body. There will be divisions and back biting and talk. There will be much difficulty for the elders in shepherding and lose of fellowship for the proud.
And there will be much rejoicing the Satan's camp. He wants to devour and one big way he does that is to cause divisions and fights within the church. And this doesn't have to be over doctrine either.
So, we are once again to live lives that are self-controlled and alert. Besides, we are all on the same team in the struggles of life. We all serve the same master and suffer for his sake. So we could much better serve the Lord when we are unified and in prayer for our fellow believers that are experiencing similar (or worse) things in other parts of the world.

How good is your resistance?

Are you allowing the enemy a foothold in his fight against God's church?

4)The God of All Grace (1 Peter 5:10-14)

Once again Peter brings up this idea of grace. Both the grace in salvation and then the grace to endure. All grace that is necessary is found in God himself.
As Peter points out, our suffering is only a little while in light of eternity.
Restoration will come. Whether it is in this life or the next, it will eventually come. He is the source of strength.

5)Principle

God's strength to endure suffering is found in the context of a healthy church.

Are you part of a healthy church? If not, why not?

Posted by Mike Pent at 03:40 0 comments

Be Holy (1 Peter 1-2)


Table of Contents

.Introduction

What do you want to be when you grow up?


.The Believer's Blessed Position (1 Peter 1:1-12)

1)Salutation

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

The Author

Peter, Petras, Cephas – name give by Jesus to Simon. His name means rock.
Apostle – an emissary of the King; commissioned to carry forth the King's decrees and not just his own word

The Recipients

The places mentioned in verse 1 are all within the geographic confines of modern-day Turkey.
They would be places more readily thought of as Paul's territory since he was the apostle to the Gentiles. But then again, Peter was one of the first to really see God's commission extend to the Gentiles when he went to Cornelius.
Peter calls them, God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered...
First thing we see is that they belong to God as His possession.
They are His elect – He chose them as His own and sovereignly brought about their salvation. (All believers are God's elect)
Not of this world, strangers. Some translations, exiles. In other words, this world is not their home, they are just a passin' through. (All believers are strangers)
Finally, he calls them the scattered, or part of the dispersion in the aforementioned territories. This does not necessarily mean that they were scattered due to persecution. He may be referring to the fact that they are a dispersed group. Most likely these are Gentiles, after all.

God

Notice the work of the Trinity laid out in verse 2:
God the Father – chooses the elect
The Spirit – regenerates and sanctifies
Jesus Christ (the Son) – shed His blood for the elect

2)A Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-5)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Other Religions

There are a lot of religions in the world (all except Christianity) that are basing their whole belief system on a dead hope:
  • Founded by dead or dying men
  • Based upon speculation about what comes after life without the power to really know what comes next
  • Theories about origins, this life, and eternity
  • And gods that conform to man's weak notions about what a god should be like
[Conversation with a guy at work this past week: he prefers Zen over other religions; it asks nothing of its followers (but it also offers nothing of its adherents, except the same end as all other religions – hopelessness)]

Our God

But we believe in a God that is merciful. He does not give His elect what they deserve.
And yet, He is completely just – no infraction of God's perfect law will ever go unaccounted for. It can't and God still be just.
And so we see here Jesus Christ, the one who satisfied God's justice and made possible God's mercy toward us by taking upon himself what we deserve.
He died in the place of God's elect. But that's not all – He lives! Praise God for the resurrection!

An Exile's Inheritance

And though God's elect are aliens and exiles in this world, we are far from poor for we have an incorruptible inheritance.
It's not only incorruptible, but it is also untouchable – God is the keeper of that inheritance.
In addition to the inheritance, we are shielded by God through faith. Reminiscent of the shield of faith Paul talked about in Ephesians 6. God hasn't left us empty-handed here on earth, but has given us a faith that endures. And a faith that is placed in the immutable God himself.

3)A Refined Faith (1 Peter 1:6-9)

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
What Peter had just presented to the believers, regarding their hope, is certainly reason for great rejoicing. It would be worth my while to stop and ponder verses 1-5 a bit more often and consider the deep things that are mine in Christ.
Peter does not deny, however, the present realities – harsh realities – of the persecuted believer. “though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
The Christian life is not an easy life, especially if one is living for the Savior and not for self. But Peter does remind them of the fact that this suffering is for a little while. In light of eternity, a lifetime of suffering is a little while.
And as James had pointed out, suffering is a refiner. Here, Peter points out that the suffering refines and also validates the quality of one's faith. And when faith is proved genuine, it results in praise, glory, and honor (when Jesus Christ is revealed).
This revelation of Jesus Christ could refer to Him being revealed in the one undergoing trials. For the trials in a believer's life serve to remove the dross and show forth the character of Jesus more clearly. And then Jesus is praised, glorified, and honored.
It also may have the meaning of Jesus' return and that the faith that was tested and made strong will be a resulting praise, glory and honor as well.
Peter reminds the reader to keep the end goal in mind when enduring trials – it is the refining of faith. And faith's goal is the soul's salvation.
This faith is not based upon sight and full understanding. Peter had seen Jesus, yes, but these believers loved Jesus in the same way yet had never seen him.

4)The Unfolding Mystery (1 Peter 1:10-12)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
You know, none of the prophets or the Patriachs had ever seen Jesus and yet they were saved in the same way, by grace through faith.

5)Principle

All Christians, regardless of circumstances, are blessed by God.

6)Applications

How might you be mistaking circumstances with blessing?

What blessings have you experienced in spite of adverse circumstances?

What trials have you praised God for lately?


.The Believer's Sacred Occupation (1 Peter 1:13-2:12)




1)Preparation (1 Peter 1:13-16)

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

The Mind (1 Peter 1:13)

The mind can be a real inhibitor toward progress. This is true in many areas of life. But its especially true in the Christian life.
Many of the battles we face in regard to temptation are waged in the mind. Often leading to rationalizations and eventual submission to that temptation.
But Peter calls his readers, us included, to have ready minds. Self-controlled (or sober) minds, so that we are thinking clearly and don't fall prey to the enemy's tricks or our own weaknesses.
Don't put your hopes in lesser things. Let it be in what is to come. It's too easy to become disappointed or disenchanted in this life because the things you hoped would turn out just didn't.
So let your hope be in something that is a sure thing – Jesus' return.

In what areas of your life could you use some self-control?

What are you placing your hope in?

Obedience (1 Peter 1:14)

Be obedient, as an obedient child to his parents. That includes knowing what you parents expect.
Don't let your old evil desires be what you still desire.

Be Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Holy living is to replace the submission to previous evil desires.
We are to live in practical holiness. This does not mean that we will ever reach perfection – we will always sin before we die or Christ returns.
But we are to live a separated life. Set apart from common things that corrupt and consecrated for the things that honor God.
God is perfect and holiness is His character. We are to live lives that seek to please God – lives that are separate from sin.

2)The Redemption Price (1 Peter 1:17-21)

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Peter takes this concept of refined gold that he used previously – something very valuable then and now – and contrasts it with the value of our Savior.
When something or someone was going to be redeemed in Old and New Testament times, someone – the redeemer – would have to pay a price for the item or person being redeemed.
The Old Covenant made provisions for selling property or even yourself in order to pay off a debt. If the property was to be bought back before the year of Jubilee, then one had to pay a price based upon the number of years remaining in the redemption terms.
Gold or silver would have been the typical currency.
But here, gold and silver are set aside as though they were nothing. These are things that have no value when it comes to the soul.
A real cost was paid for the souls of God's redeemed and that is Christ's precious blood.
And all the sacrifices of the OT from Passover, to each of those prescribed under the Levitical law, all pointed to this one culminating sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

3)Faith In God Through the Son and the Word (1 Peter 1:21-23)

21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
The object of our faith is God, made possible through the death and redemption price paid in Jesus' blood and the word of God that reveals these truths to us.
The reality of one's need of a savior, of Jesus' death for sin, and God's acceptance of Jesus' substitutionary atonement all are true. But apart from one's acceptance of these truths, that person is still in his sin. Still under God's wrath and coming judgment.
But purification comes through faith. Positional purity – God sees the believers' sin as paid in full. And this position of purity puts the believer in a position, now, able to live a pure life – a life of holiness.
This is the believers' occupation – holy living. Be holy because God himself is holy and He paid an infinite price to make you and I holy too.

4)We're Rocks (1 Peter 2:4-12)

When ancient buildings were made of stone, say a temple, rocks were chosen. And the builder would chip away at the edges of the rocks so that they so that each stone fit tightly against the ones adjacent to it.
When Solomon's temple was build, he had the massive stones cut at the quarry and pre-chissled as not to make the temple sight noisy.
Well Peter takes this temple motif and applies it to a spiritual structure that God has always been building.
4 As you (continually) come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,”
8 and,
“A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
These quotes from the Old Testament had nothing to do with a rebuilt temple in Zion, at least not in their ultimate sense, but had do with the One to which the temple pointed – Jesus.
Jesus even mentioned to the Samaritan woman at the well, “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshiper will neither worship on this mountain or in Jerusalem. The true worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth for God is spirit and the worshiper must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Verse 4 tells us that we are to come (continually) to Jesus who is by definition the Living Stone.

Have you ever come to Jesus?

Are you still coming to Jesus – continually?

5)A Nation of Priests (1 Peter 2:9-12)

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, (Why?) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
These words of Peter all reflect the condition of God's people in Exodus prior to God redeeming them from Egypt, bringing them into covenant with Himself, and establishing His presence in their midst through the Tabernacle worship (and later temple).
All the shadows of the Old Testament did not go away but instead were fulfilled in the cornerstone of God's true Temple.
You and I were once not a people. But if you are one of God's own, you are part of the people of God. We were brought from darkness into His glorious light. And we are to declare His praises – that's our occupation.
As priests, we offer living sacrifices – God no longer accepts animal sacrifices and He never will again. Instead, our very lives are to be lived as a sacrifice to him. Sacrificing my cravings and desires for his; my will for His; my purposes in life for His.

What sacrifices have you made lately to God?

How well are you doing at declaring God's praises?

6)Principle

All believers have a sacred occupation.

Believers are chosen and built upon Christ to reflect God's holiness.

.The Believer's Submissive Exemplar (1 Peter 2:13-25)

We often think of submission as a weakness, but it's not. It is a place where one bows to the will of another. To give over or yield to the power or authority of another. There's nothing weak about that and in fact, it takes more strength many times than opposition. More strength of character.

1)Submit to Rulers (1 Peter 2:13)

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

The Lord's Sake

The authorities in government are given their authority by God.
Our submission to those authorities are for our Lord's sake.
Without the authorities, even if we don't always agree with them, there would be anarchy. God has a purpose for them and they will be held accountable to God whether they acknowledge Him or not.
We are just to submit.

Good is God's Will

In verse 15, doing good is God's will for His people. For one thing, if we are out doing things that are not good and breaking the law, evil or foolish men, will have reason to speak evil against us and God.
But, if we are doing everything above board and submitting to authority, and fulfilling our civil duties, their comments will show them to be the fools that they are.
People don't need any fodder to throw at us and God's good name.

Our Ultimate Authority

God is our ultimate authority. So, if the civil authorities call upon us to deny God's authority or sin against Him, we must not do it.
But, more often than not, we try to use the excuse that we belong to God so we answer to a higher authority and need not adhere to those that are our governing authorities. By making such statements or living out such realities, we fail to submit to God's authority in the process.

How might you be dishonoring God by dishonoring God-given authority in your life?

2)Respect

Often we think of respect as something earned. But respect also comes with the position. We may not always respect the way of the individual but we must respect their position of authority.
And that may even mean enduring unwarranted treatment. Certainly that was what Peter would soon face on a cross.
18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
The bottom line is, those who abuse their power will be answerable to God. As believers, we ought not give reason to be abused.
If we are beaten unjustly for doing good, that is commendable to God.
Besides, no person walking this earth will ever endure so much and deserve it so little as Jesus:

3)Our Example (1 Peter 2:21-25)

Note: God did not put Jesus here on earth to be an example to humanity so that we can learn how to live. He is that, but that is not the primary reason He came.

For You

21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
He was not only not suffering justly – unjust treatment – it was something that I caused (you and I both). Peter had said it is not commendable to be beaten for doing evil. Well, my evil did not cause me to be beaten, it cause Jesus to bear my beating.
If He suffered this way for me, how can I not be willing to suffer for His name?

His Reaction

22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
He didn't react in kind but instead bore it – insults, suffering (understatement), bore sin.
He died at the hands of sinners for sinners so that sinners might live.
And this life is not just any life: it is a life lived for righteousness.

4)Principle

It's not possible to submit to Christ without also submitting to His authority.

Jesus' example made it possible for believers to follow his example.

5)Applications

What attitudes of Jesus do you see in your own life? What would you like to see more of?

Are you willing to make that a matter of prayer? What about asking others to pray for you as well?
Posted by Mike Pent at 03:34 0 comments

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Wise or Otherwise (James 3-5)

Table of Contents

.Introduction

.Tongue Management (James 3:1-12)

1)Small But Effective (3:1-6)

The Teacher (3:1-2)

How well are you at using your tongue for teaching? What lessons are others getting from your words?

Steering Examples (3:3-6)

You Can't Tame It (3:7-12)

What are you doing to ensure your tongue is tame?

How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that praises God?

How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that positively influences others?

2)Principle

The tongue reveals the condition of the heart.

It's futile to address the tongue without first addressing the heart.

.The Right Wisdom (James 3:13-4:12)

1)Wise Or Otherwise (3:13-18)

Worldly Wisdom (3:14-16)

Heavenly Wisdom (3:13, 17-18)

Evaluate yourself. Would you say you characterize more of the qualities of earthly or of heavenly wisdom?

2)Worldly Wisdom In Action (4:1-6)

Heavenly Wisdom In Action (4:7-12)

3)Principle

Christians need God's wisdom in order to live a righteous life.

4)Illustration

.Effective Living (James 4:13-5:20)

1)Independent Living (4:13-17)

What plans do you need to take back to the Master Planner?

2)The Oppressor (5:1-6)

What do your spending habits say about your view of wealth management in your life?

3)The Oppressed (5:7-12)

Patience

What are you going through that calls for patience?

Perseverance

Honesty

What is your definition of “yes”?

Prayerful

How healthy would you say your prayer life is?

What area of prayer could you use more of? Praise and thanksgiving? Petition? Intercession for your brother? Intercession for the lost? All of the above?

4)Principle

The Christian's life should be an effective life.

.Conclusion

.Introduction



.Tongue Management (James 3:1-12)

The tongue has a powerful ability to direct the course of a life. Think about people in history who have greatly influenced people by their ability to speak. I think of William Wilberforce who used his gift at oratory skills to champion the move to abolish Britain's involvement in the slave trade. His work, though taking 26 years, eventually lead to the Slave Trade Act of 1807 and then eventually to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.

You can probably think of others whose tongues were used mightily either to build up or tear down.

1)Small But Effective (3:1-6)

Just because something is small, don't think it is insignificant or ineffective at its job.

The Teacher (3:1-2)

Consider verse 1. The tongue of a teacher is used either to guide into truth or deceive – to guide or to misguide. And the teacher is held accountable to God for the use of his tongue. What a heavy impact the tongue has that someone who teaches should face greater judgment from God.

You might be saying, I'm safe, I'm not a teacher. But in reality, we are all teachers to someone. Our children. Our grandchildren. Those who work for us. Those who are observing the way we live our lives.

We all have multiple opportunities to teach.

How well are you at using your tongue for teaching? What lessons are others getting from your words?

Steering Examples (3:3-6)

James gives 3 great examples of something very small having the power to influence and direct something much larger:

  1. A bit

  2. A rudder

  3. A spark

If you've ever ridden a horse, you may have thought it was the feel of the reigns on the side of the neck that steers the horse. I used to think that. But that is only due to the horse being very well trained. The training comes from the bit in the mouth causing the pressure in the mouth, turning of the head, and ultimately steering the animal.

I looked up bits in Wikipedia and was surprised at the many types of bits there are. But their purpose is the same – to steer the animal.

A rudder is very small in comparison to the ship it steers, but its movement determines the course of the ship (all things considered). Without a rudder, steering would be impossible.

A spark is all it takes to get a fire going that can take out an entire forest. Last week there was a fire south of Denver that caused the evacuation of over 6000 homes. A couple that I knew from back in the 1970 were not quick enough at leaving and wound up losing their lives in that fire. Fires start small, but they can have a devastating impact on anything in their wake.

And as James tells us, it's no different with the tongue. It too is very small, but it has the power to set the course of a life on fire.

How many of us have known people who have put their foot in their mouths and wound up regretting it later? How many of us have done that?

Sometimes the thoughtless things that come out of our mouths come back to haunt us. But sometimes the thoughtless things that come out of our mouths cut others.

Our words can tear others down. This is especially the case when someone looks up to you. A child. A subordinate at work. A friend. A spouse. We have the power in these situations to wield a sword in our own words.

Once the word is out, it cannot be retrieved. It's not like there's a court stenographer in our lives to whom we can say, “Scratch that from the record.”

So be careful what you say. It sets the course of a life and that of others.

You Can't Tame It (3:7-12)

You've heard the saying, “He can't control his tongue.” Well, that's really true of everyone of us. The saying generally means, he doesn't stop and think before he talks. But even if one does practice stopping and thinking, sooner or later, the tongue is going to reveal what is really going on inside of a person.

Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” That's why you and I are unable to tame the tongue. We have no power to tame our own hearts.

It must be an act of God in the first place for our hearts to be changed in order to make possible the change in what comes out of our mouths.

Even as Christians, who have had our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to sing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” on Sunday morning and then turn around and complain about the preacher being too long winded.

Or, as James says, cursing men made in the image of God. It's like James said in chapter 2, God isn't pleased if we keep one part of the law and then sin in another. We can't separate portions of our lives into neat little categories: ones where God is honored and others where I do my own thing.

[Optional: This all seems so theoretically correct. And it is. But how often do I find myself living out a different reality.]

And maybe you are like me, not a man of too many words. You still are not off the hook. Just because the words don't come out of your mouth does not mean that the intentions of the heart are not the same. Jesus made it clear that it is a broken commandment if I hate without murdering or speak hatefully without murdering.

Unspoken words are as good as spoken in a judicial sense. God sees it all.

And since we are on the topic of unspoken, by not saying what I should, I may be abusing the use of my tongue as well. Sometimes what is not spoken speaks louder than words.

What I mean is that being intentional at seeking opportunities to encourage, to bless, to lift up, to praise God, to share the Gospel, to pray for someone; all these constructive uses of the tongue leave less opportunity for destructive uses.

But remember, none of this comes about without seeking God through His word. By going to Him in submission and seeking his forgiveness of your sin.

Unless the heart is right with God, it cannot produce good fruit from the tongues of men.

What are you doing to ensure your tongue is tame?



How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that praises God?



How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that positively influences others?



2)Principle

The tongue reveals the condition of the heart.

It's futile to address the tongue without first addressing the heart.

.The Right Wisdom (James 3:13-4:12)

Wisdom: knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.

In other words, it's knowledge of what is true and the ability to live accordingly.

1)Wise Or Otherwise (3:13-18)

James contrasts two wisdoms and the vast contrast between the way each wisdom guides the life of the adherent.

Both adherents believe that they are basing their lives on what is true and right and both are justly applying their belief systems to the way their life plays out. So both are good examples of living out the definition of wisdom.

Worldly Wisdom (3:14-16)

This wisdom is self-seeking, it is boastful (proud), it cares mainly about satisfying the self.

In this form of wisdom, I am the most important part of my world and the purpose of life is to be self-actualizing.

James tells us that this type of wisdom is earthly and of the devil. And certainly it is. He is the father of lies. He is the originator and author of sin – the sin of pride. And this is the natural bent of the sinful human nature and we all gravitate toward this type of wisdom.

As you read this week in your lesson, 1 Corinthians 3:19:

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

Our sin nature has tainted everything, including the reality, the truth, of the way things really are. And so, apart from God changing the heart, there is no hope of discovering what true wisdom is.

But Christians need not, and must not, live according to the wisdom of this world. Instead, we alone are afforded the opportunity to live according to true wisdom.

Heavenly Wisdom (3:13, 17-18)

The contrast is great:

Good deeds done in humility – seeking to meet the needs of others; not self-seeking and proud

As verse 17 says, heavenly wisdom is first of all pure. It starts with a right motive, with a pure intention, and a heart that is right with God. His wisdom requires purity of heart first and foremost.

Look at all the other things that flow from that pure motive and right relationship with God:

peace loving – its not looking for a quarrel or to hurt anyone else

considerate – thinking of others above oneself

submissive – willing to be under authority, especially God's authority

mercy and good fruit – the merciful are those who withhold what a person really deserves regarding punishment – out of a realization of God's mercy

impartial and sincere – impartiality hearkens back to not showing favoritism

Verse 18 points out that this type of life has righteous results. This is the fruit of righteousness that flows from one who is under the influence of heavenly wisdom.

Evaluate yourself. Would you say you characterize more of the qualities of earthly or of heavenly wisdom?

2)Worldly Wisdom In Action (4:1-6)

As Christians, we have a battle to contend with. We still have that sin nature we were born with. And that sin nature wants to rear its ugly head.

James points out the battle between people is due to the battle within welling up and spewing out.

It's really about stuff. We want what we don't have and we think we need. And if we want it but don't have it and someone else does, then we envy them and covet what they have.

Even to the point of waring with them.

Wars are often fought over natural resources and a desire to take what other countries have.

Even as believers, we often have wants that we are not willing to bring in prayer to God for one reason or another. Often it is because we know that what we want is not within God's will for our lives yet we want it anyway.

Or, we realize our motivation for wanting it is impure and therefore we would be hypocritical to go prayer for it with an impure motive.

Or, our desire is that we selfishly consume what we want. This too is akin to asking something but not according to His will.

Any way you slice it, it is not granted us due to a lacking on our part and not God's inability to supply.

James points out that this is spiritual adultery. We are living out a worldly wisdom and idolizing our desires over God and His desires. This is idolatry and what God called adultery in the OT – forsaking our first love.

By living this way, we are allying with the world and setting God up as our enemy. How can this be for a Christian. It ought not be.

But you know what, I see this too often, even in my own life. The desire for things in place of God. Worldly wisdom creeping in where and pushing aside the things that I claim to believe and know to be true.

But by the grace of God, and because of His jealousy for His people:

6 but he gives us more grace? That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

Were it not for the grace of God, I would be lost. Were it not for the grace of God, I would be perpetually living a wisdom that does not correspond with reality and thinking it was right.

Heavenly Wisdom In Action (4:7-12)

So what's the solution to worldly wisdom in the life of a believer? Submission!

Submission is to put yourself under someone's authority. Or to acknowledge that that authority is in fact the authority in your life.

The truth is, God is in control. He is the Authority. And for the Christian, He is our authority and we must submit to Him. To do otherwise is mutiny.

So we submit to Him, but resist the enemy. He has no authority in our lives and yet sadly, too often, his influence is seen.

God has authority in the Christians' life and yet sadly, too often, that influence is blurred and obscured by the world's influences.

So we need to submit. That is a step forward in truth – admitting the reality of God's rightful place in my life. And what a better way to start that process than by being in His word daily and submitting to the authority of Scripture in my life.

Not just reading, but actually letting God's word change who I am.

James tells us to Come near to God and he will come near to you (4:8). God has already come the whole way to you and me to save us. It was him coming to me, not the other way around.

But over time, I can drift from him. James is calling us back to him. And this is the way we do it:

Wash our hands – stop the things in your life that are displeasing to God

Purify your hearts – seek God for cleansing of sin

Grieve, mourn, wail – be truly sorrowful over sin and its effect on your relationship with God

Humble yourselves before the Lord – be vulnerable and honest with the Lord about your condition and inability to live apart from His grace

Finally, James deals with our dealings with others. He gets down to one of the big problems we as sinners have: we are great at picking out others' faults and have a difficult time seeing our own.

We can correct the worlds problems from our own couch, but don't lift a finger to address the very issue we have.

Or to put it in the words of Jesus, we are very willing to remove our brothers' speck from his eye while wielding a plank in our own.

I have enough problems of my own to deal with apart from worrying about someone else. This is not to say that we are not to keep each other accountable. But this is talking about slander. And slander is a spreading untruth about someone. Or not allowing them a rebuttal on what we are saying.

If my motives are in fact pure in this regard. I will not talk about him, I will talk with him. And do it gently lest I fall into the same sin. And perhaps I have even misjudged what is true. Either way, I better approach my brother humbly, prayerfully, and out of love.

3)Principle

Christians need God's wisdom in order to live a righteous life.

4)Illustration

When we were returning from a trip a couple weeks ago, I had the destination address of the hotel we were staying at plugged into my GPS. I knew which town were were staying in, however, I didn't know where the hotel was. The GPS told me to take exit 27B and my wife was looking at the signs which clearly indicated that exit 27A lead to the town we staying in. However, I insisted on believing the GPS. How could it be wrong. But it was. And due to my wife pointing out the error, I did one of those switcheroos in the middle of an exit and cruised back onto the highway for exit 27A. And we found the hotel.

You see, things may seem true and right and so we head in a direction in our lives. But if we are using worldly means to determine what is true and right, we are heading for trouble. Our navigation systems are flawed by our sin nature. We can be easily deceived. Only through God are we able to see the truth and live a wisdom that results in righteous living.

.Effective Living (James 4:13-5:20)

James deals with three groups of people in this last verses of chapter 4 and into chapter 5. Those who think they can live independently of God and are masters of their own destiny. Those who are entrusted with earthly wealth but are only concerned with their own affairs. And those who belong to the Lord and are awaiting His soon return.

1)Independent Living (4:13-17)

To plan for the future is a good thing. To not make plans is actually irresponsible.

But to make plans in the way James points out in this section, is pride and boasting. It is an independent attitude that doesn't acknowledge God.

Like I said, nothing wrong with a good business plan, but Christians should be both planners and dependent on God for wisdom to make the right plans.

Those James is referring to appear to make bold statements about what they will do without regard for the One who has control of tomorrow.

[Illustration: my calling into this position]

What plans do you need to take back to the Master Planner?

2)The Oppressor (5:1-6)

Chapter 5 begins with: Now listen, you rich people...

This hearkens back to chapter 2 where James differentiates those who are being persecuted and the primary agents of that persecution – the rich.

Here he clarifies more of the types of trial they were responsible for:

They were hoarding. Arrogantly believing that their security was in their wealth.

They were withholding pay. They had all they needed be were unethical in treatment of those who had done work for them.

Their wealth was spent primarily on themselves rather than providing for others' needs as well.

And then in verse 6, they condemned and murdered the innocent. Either they used their influence and money to win an unjust case against and innocent or their withholding what the poor needed lead to the death of the malnourished. Either way, James (and the Lord) hold them responsible.

So what is their lot for all this. They are going to be wailing and in misery because of their sin.

There is a day of justice coming when the wicked will be paid back for their wickedness.

When the wealth of this life will be gone. It will rot. It will be eaten up. It will no longer serve a purpose for the one who is dead and gone.

How easy it is to point fingers at others and think that you and I are not that way.

But how easy it is in our country, in our day and age, to think that our resources are ours to spend as we please. When in fact we are entrusted with what we have. And even the poorest of us have a lot in comparison to the rest of this world.

How will we escape being judged for what we neglected to do with the talents entrusted us in this life?

We may escape, as one escaping through the fire, but what will there be to show for this life if our view is that all we have is ours? Not much to show for it, I'm afraid.

What do your spending habits say about your view of wealth management in your life?

3)The Oppressed (5:7-12)

James finishes speaking to the group he addressed the letter to in the first place. Those who were scattered abroad: the Diaspora.

And he brings them back to the situation they are living in. One of oppression in difficulty.

Patience

He calls them to be patient. And that patients is not necessarily going to be rewarded in this life. In other words, it may be a perpetual condition. But they are to remain patient awaiting the Lord's coming. This is a fact – he will return.

But, like the farmer, they are to wait.

If the farmer becomes anxious about his crops and decides to go out and harvest early, he is foolish. He will yield nothing, even if his fear is that something will take his crops or weather conditions will ruin them, he still waits.

The fairy tail about the goose that laid the golden egg and the greedy guy who cut it open to get at the source of all the eggs. He not only didn't find any eggs, he killed the very means of obtaining the golden eggs.

Patience is necessary in trials and oppression.

Patience plus grumbling is not true patience, in case you were wondering (verse 9). It's easy to get irritated with others when you are undergoing difficult times. But grumbling never solved anything.

When you are patient, you are in good company. Think of the prophets of the OT. They prophesied things that never came true in their lifetimes. Yet they continued bringing the message. And even those that did see them come to pass, often those they talked with were completely unreceptive.

And many of the prophets lost their lives. It was a job wrought with occupational hazards.

What are you going through that calls for patience?

Perseverance

Job is a great model of perseverance. His “friends” accused him falsely. His wife called him to curse God and die.

He was afflicted. He lost it all. He was one that was zealous for God. It seemed like his suffering was unjust. Yet he continued in his commitment to God.

Honesty

What is your definition of “yes”?

Prayerful

The final call is to be a man of prayer.

He asks some questions and each condition is followed by a call to prayer:

trouble – pray

happy – praise

sick – let the elders know; ask for prayer; be vulnerable

people are healed and sins are forgiven when people pray; when they call upon God in faith

This is not to say that all will be healed. Sometimes God has a reason for a persistent ailment. And sometimes we are not healed this side of eternity. God doesn't tell us why. But we are to trust Him anyway and continue bringing our requests to him.

The end of verse 16 is great: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

A righteous life is not a trouble-free life. But it is an effective and powerful life when it comes to prayer.

God answers the prayer of the righteous. Take Elijah for example. He was just like us, James says.

He was oppressed, but he knew the true God and more importantly, God knew Him. And when he talked with the Lord, the Lord heard him and used his prayers to accomplish his will.

Finally, you and I are to remain active as we await our Lord's coming. We are to be vigilant over our own spiritual lives and love our brothers so much that we desire them to remain true to the faith.

That's why verses 19 and 20 deal with our interactions with others. We are to know the truth and gently bring back our brother who is straying from the truth.

In our day and age it is easy to say, well you believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe. But when someone claims to know the Lord and yet denies essentials of the faith, it is time to address that heresy. Out of love for God, his word, and the sake of the brother.

The same is true for the lost. We don't want to whip someone with the Bible, we want to share with them the only hope of salvation God has wrought – the Gospel message is a message of hope in a backdrop of hopelessness.

Apart from Christ, there is no hope.

All of these things we are called to as we wait require persistent prayer. For what power do we have without it. None!

How healthy would you say your prayer life is?

What area of prayer could you use more of? Praise and thanksgiving? Petition? Intercession for your brother? Intercession for the lost? All of the above?

4)Principle

The Christian's life should be an effective life.

Posted by Mike Pent at 18:36 0 comments

Monday, April 9, 2012

Farce or Faith (James 1-2)

Table of Contents

.Introduction

.Fuel For Faith (James 1:1-18)

1)James Introduction

2)Joy In Trials (1:1-4)

Are you seeing improvement in the way you handle trials over time? If not, why not?

What do you need to start doing in order to better deal with your current trial(s)?

3)Wisdom In Trials (1:5-8)

4)Trials Or Temptation In Position (1:9-11)

What do you have that might be inhibiting spiritual growth? Are you willing to give that to God?

What are you striving to have that is inhibiting you spiritual growth? Are you willing to be content in the position God has placed you in?

5)Trials and the Nature of God (1:12-18)

What might you be blaming God for that is in fact due to your own sinful choice?

6)Principle

Trials are God's fuel to feed the flames of faith within the Christian.

.Reflection of Faith (James 1:19-2:13)

1)Speech Therapy (1:19-21)

How could you become a better communicator? Listen better? Speak less? Remain calm?

2)Not Just Knowledge, Action (1:22-27)

How are you responding to your reflection from the book of James?

Who could you bless by putting “legs” to your religion?

3)Favoritism and the Law of Love (2:1-12)

Favoritism

The Law and Love

4)Principle

Christian behavior is a reflection of God's character to the world.

.Faith or Faith (James 2:14-26)

1)An Evidence Of Faith (2:14-19)

Faith

Result In Works

2)An Example Of Faith (2:20-26)

Abraham

Rahab

3)Principle

Genuine faith results in godly actions.

Faith without action is belief without salvation.

4)Applications

What type of faith do you have? Is it merely intellectual? Or is it full reliance of Jesus work?

How has your faith move you to action lately?

.Conclusion

.Introduction

There are a lot of great informercials out there (just kidding). Many of them appeal to the American dream of gain without pain. The idea that the miracle grapefruit pill will give me a six pack while I sleep. Or the 3 minute per day route toward a body-builder's physique.

I have gone out to Colorado with a group of guys for the past couple years. And even though I am doing more an more to ensure that I minimize the challenges those 14ers put on the body, still, I need to do more. The strain of hiking in thin air, in a 50+ body, from the flatlands of KS, is daunting. I need to train hard so that my muscles are less of a factor when the real challenges arise.

You and I don't know what challenges lie ahead. But God certainly does. And He didn't leave us here to atrophy on the spiritual couch of life. Nor does he promise the grapefruit pill route to spiritual maturity. He knows the way we need to be trained for the work that lies ahead. And so He handcrafts the exact program each of us needs individually.

.Fuel For Faith (James 1:1-18)

1)James Introduction

He was the brother (half brother) of Jesus – both had Mary as their mother.

He was an early skeptic but believed later after Jesus' resurrection.

He was the head of the Jerusalem church and the James mentioned when the issue of circumcision was brought by Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem council.

He was eventually martyred in 62AD – thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and beaten with clubs.

This epistle may be one of the earliest books of the New Testament – written between 44AD and 62AD and most likely after 49AD – the Diaspora.

2)Joy In Trials (1:1-4)

James is not calling us to be twisted in the way we look at unpleasant circumstances.

Certainly those who were first recipients of this letter were anything but enjoying the lot they were given. That's partly why the letter was written.

Many had lost loved ones due to the persecution. Many had lost homes, jobs, their very land inheritance.

Many could no longer go to Temple or Synagogue. They lost friends.

All of these things weighing on them and then to be living in a foreign land as outsiders.

James calls them, and us, to look beyond the current difficult circumstances and instead see that the trials are in fact tools that God has ordained.

I don't know if you are like me, but I have (on many occasion) missed an opportunity in a trial because I was so dead set on avoiding or short-circuiting the trial. I wind up totally missing the good that comes through the trial.

I look back and sense disappointment in my attitude and actions within the trial.

James is telling us that character is not built without turmoil. The beauty of a pearl doesn't just happen through the easy life of an oyster. I comes about through the discomfort of a foreign object in the life of that oyster.

Likewise, the beauty of Christ in a Christian shows through during and after the difficult circumstances that God uses to grow our dependence on Him.

Are you seeing improvement in the way you handle trials over time? If not, why not?

God doesn't ask us to like the trials, just the conditioning that comes from the trials.

ILLUSTRATION: I've found that sometimes I handle the big trials better than the small ones. Last year, about this time, my wife and I were going through a big one. She needed surgery and I lost my job. And there was nothing that we could do about either situation and we wondered what was going on. And God allowed me to early discover His reason for the job loss – so I could care for Mary.

I often do worse with the small things. When the car breaks down. This past week when the computer graphics card was going out. I think this is a problem in that I think I can handle certain trials and others are for the professionals (namely God). But in reality, I can't handle any of them if I want God to be glorified and I want my character changed and my faith grown!

What do you need to start doing in order to better deal with your current trial(s)?

But often the first question that comes to mind when another trial comes is, why. Why this? Why now? Why me?

But only God knows the whys, and He is not opposed to us asking for understanding and wisdom to endure.

3)Wisdom In Trials (1:5-8)

He wants us to come in prayer to Him, the only source during trials.

God doesn't scorn you and me when we come to Him and say, “I can't handle this Lord! I can't do it! I am overwhelmed!”

He knows that. And He delights in giving us what is needed to endure our circumstances – He is omniscient (all-wise). And He is generous with His wisdom.

The problem is, I too often think I can handle it. Or I will grit my teeth and endure it. But He wants me to go in with the attitude, “What do you want to teach me from this Lord? Give me wisdom to know how to live in a way that honors you in the midst of this storm”.

Even this type of dependence on God is a faith-building activity. The trial certainly is, but then to depend on God to sustain and enlighten – this too must be done in a non-wavering fashion.

4)Trials Or Temptation In Position (1:9-11)

What we have – our possessions – present us with a trial (or temptation) to depend on wealth rather than on God.

And a person without much wealth might say, “Please, give me some of that trial!”.

But what James is getting at is that we, as Christians, need to realize that we are in the position we are in for a reason and that there is much gain in contentment.

The poor in temporal things tend to find that their faith can really thrive since often the means to live is a daily trial. And those that accept that from God, become rich in their faith. They gain more riches by being poor than they would by striving after wealth.

In the same way, a rich person needs to consider the dangers of wealth. It can be a crutch that dwarfs faith if in fact the wealth is not used for God's intended purposes.

Either way, rich or poor, we all are like grass and the temporal things of this world will one day be stripped away and all that will be left are the treasures that really matter – those that we have stored in heaven.

NOTE: by the way, I have not yet mastered this one. I like knowing where my next meal is coming from and how I am going to pay the bills. I have a lot to learn and much area to grow!

What do you have that might be inhibiting spiritual growth? Are you willing to give that to God?

What are you striving to have that is inhibiting you spiritual growth? Are you willing to be content in the position God has placed you in?

5)Trials and the Nature of God (1:12-18)

James tells us that our endurance (our perseverance) results in blessing ultimately in God's presence. The crown of life is promised to those who love him.

He is not saying that we somehow earn a place in heaven by our endurance. But he is pointing out that this type of trial is from God for His people who endure by His power thus evidencing His presence in their lives.

He contrasts this blessed condition with that of temptation and doesn't want the readers to think of temptation as a trial from God. Temptations are part of the fallen human condition and they seek to cause us to do evil in the sight of God. God would never cause this type of thing (He does allow it however).

The blessedness of endurance in trials leading to life is contrasted with the cursedness of falling into temptation which leads to death.

As verse 17 points out, God is the source of every good and perfect gift – even the refining gift of trials. This is part of His unchanging nature. He is always constructive and creating.

On the other hand, the sin nature and Satan himself are always seeking to tear down and destroy. He desires to take us out. He wants us to follow that path that just feels right and natural. He wants to tempt us to take the easy way out – to avoid the trials that God has placed in our lives for our good.

What might you be blaming God for that is in fact due to your own sinful choice?

6)Principle

Trials are God's fuel to feed the flames of faith within the Christian.


.Reflection of Faith (James 1:19-2:13)



1)Speech Therapy (1:19-21)

We put a lot of stock in the ability to speak eloquently and to sway people's opinion and to win an argument. But James calls us to try and avoid the type of anger that stems from misunderstanding which comes from miscommunication.

If my thoughts during a conversation are merely a rebuttal to your statements, then perhaps I am missing your point. I need to become a good listener in order to be a good communicator. I need to consider what you have to say as more important than what I have to say.

I think this type of dialog would lead to a lot of unnecessary angst and anger.

Interesting how James places anger right alongside moral filth. Often we consider a good argument, and the sub-tending anger, an acceptable sin, but not moral filth.

In reality, they are both unacceptable. Neither of them contribute to the righteous life that God desires his people to live. And both are a sad commentary on Christ to a lost world.

How could you become a better communicator? Listen better? Speak less? Remain calm?

2)Not Just Knowledge, Action (1:22-27)

It's hard to read these two chapters in James without being convicted, isn't it? I kept seeing myself in much of this study this past week.

But it will do you and me absolutely no good if we just become experts in James 1 and 2. Even if we memorized them and could quote them to the edification of others, that would not be enough.

You know, this hits me hard. I like strong doctrine and learning and acquiring knowledge. And there's nothing wrong with that, unless... Unless that becomes and end in and of itself.

It must never be the case for the true Christian. We cannot do without sound doctrine, but our doctrine must always drive us back to the life that God wants us to live.

The mirror has more of a purpose than just to validate our understanding of what we look like. The mirror is for us to see that nose hair so that other don't have to. To remove the spinach between the teeth so that others can concentrate when they're talking to us.

And to James point, so that we are conformed to the word. So that we see where we fall short, confess our sin to God, leave that sin at the cross, and move out in a life that is blessed by God.

This is how we experience to blessedness of our salvation when we reflect what we say we believe. When our actions actually mirror what our mouths and minds say is true.

And so he points out an example, widows and orphans. In contrast to pleasing God by amassing knowledge and understanding, he tells us to take that knowledge and understanding out into the field. Apply it to the world in which you live.

Look at the despised of your society, as our Lord did, and go to them. Find out what they need, and meet those needs with the resources God has blessed you with. And don't neglect to share the gospel as well.

(Refugees, Orphans in Africa/Haiti, the fatherless children, the exploited, etc.)

How are you responding to your reflection from the book of James?

Who could you bless by putting “legs” to your religion?

3)Favoritism and the Law of Love (2:1-12)

Favoritism

The practice of giving preferential treatment to a person or persons.

Why would anyone do this? Because we somehow perceive one person to be of greater value than another.

We judge the value of a person based upon some worldly classification. And this is really what James gets at in 5-7. He points out that this is a wrong way of classifying people since the reality of God's kingdom proves different.

It is the poor who are rich in faith. And it's some of the rich who are persecuting them. So why base someones value on such worldly terms?

Notice how he calls them “bothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ...”. He prefaces the way we treat others with our faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to the despised sinners. He came to seek and save the lost, not the sinless. He came as a servant, humble and lowly, even though He is mighty and glorious. So how can we take any other attitude if we desire to live for him? We can't!

ILLUSTRATION: I have been guilty of thinking, “Wow, if so and so got saved, what an impact they would have for the Lord. What a platform because of their status.” This is a wrong way of viewing things. God doesn't need high-profile believers to impact this world. He needs humble fishermen (and others) to carry out a ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the power that comes from an arm of flesh.

The Law and Love

Instead of favoritism, we need to obey the law of God and love our neighbor as ourselves. This love of neighbor takes the focus off of me and my own needs and focuses on my neighbor's needs.

Rather than insulting those who are not part of my favoritism group, I should show the same consideration for all by looking at them as Christ looks at them.

It's pretty interesting here since James is talking about someone coming into their fellowship. The point is, just because you think you are having fellowship with God, your very attitude in regard to love of others may be impeding that fellowship.

God is not pleased when we trivialize one part of His law and only keep the other. Sin is sin any way you slice it. And sin is an infraction of the law God will judge by.

So never think you can compensate for a lack in one area by keeping another. One broken part – all broken. Confession to God and repentance are needed.

4)Principle

Christian behavior is a reflection of God's character to the world.

.Faith or Faith (James 2:14-26)



1)An Evidence Of Faith (2:14-19)

Believing, as the demons do, that there is one God is a good thing. It is a start.

But what does that belief really entail? If mere intellectual assent is all that faith is, then the demons are just fine.

But true saving faith goes far beyond just believing and even fearing – it requires the acknowledgement that God alone is Sovereign over His creation and what He says goes.

Even to the point of acknowledging that I am a sinner, worthy of death and eternal wrath due to my sin.

But if in fact I truly believe these things, then I will submit myself to His authority in my life since by definition He has that authority.

I will bend the knee to His desires. This is not to say that there won't be times when I assert my own will, but over the course of a life, a believer should show evidence of faith in the way that life is lived.

Ephesians 2:8-10 makes that clear. We are not saved by what we do, but we do what we do because we are saved and God has predestined us to good works.

Faith

James tells us that just nodding that God is God is not faith at all. It is believing a reality, but not living a reality.

There must be knowledge in order for there to be faith. We must understand that there is a God, that He created us, that we are sinners before a holy God, and that He alone has provided the means of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

So faith is not blind. But beyond believing those facts, there must be an acknowledgment that I need a savior. That in fact Jesus died for me and because of my sin he suffered. That my hope of fellowship with God rests in Jesus alone.

And more than just acknowledging those facts, I need to trust him. I need to rest my life in him as my sole hope and soul hope. An actual trust in him leads me to put the weight of my life in his hands. To live for him.

Result In Works

This is what James is indicating here. If there is nothing to show for what you call faith, then your definition is messed up.

2)An Example Of Faith (2:20-26)

Abraham

Abraham was called by God to give up the very son that God gave him at the age of 100. This was the son of the promise.

But Abraham didn't hesitate or waver. He got up early the next day, headed on a long journey to Mount Moriah, and there he laid his son on an alter as a sacrifice.

This action was extreme. It was an action that stemmed from a life that knew God and was completely resting in God's character and trusting Him for the outcome.

James tells us in verse 24, You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James is not contradicting the rest of Scripture, but is showing that a weak definition of faith (as used for the demons) is not in fact an effective faith when it comes to justification. It requires a faith that moves one to action.

And it is not the action that saves. It is God that justifies those whose faith is in him. And the justified are always moved by the faith that justifies.

Rahab

Rahab was a heathen that was shaking in her boots along with all the rest of her countrymen. But the difference was that she saw God of Israel, believed that He is the true God, and her faith (limited as it was) prompted her to protect God's messengers.

3)Principle

Genuine faith results in godly actions.

Faith without action is belief without salvation.

4)Applications

What type of faith do you have? Is it merely intellectual? Or is it full reliance of Jesus work?

How has your faith move you to action lately?

.Conclusion

Without resistance, the muscles will shrink and fade. They need regular exercise to develop, to become mature, to endure the road ahead.

God provides the training you and I need in order to exercise the spiritual muscle of faith. To train us to depend more fully on Him so that our lives give more and more glory to the One who deserves all the glory.

Posted by Mike Pent at 04:12 0 comments
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