[James 3:1-12]
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
{Rev. Dwight Yoo}
For the peace-making series we've been covering, Ken Sande largely covers practical ways to make peace. But today we are going to cover a very broad topic: the tongue and how it impacts our life.
Words are Powerful
Verse 3-5 reads: "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things."
This generation might not consider words in this light because of things like twitter and blogger. Words are a dime a dozen. But consider all the upheaval around the world, all the revolutions and regime changes. These came from ideas, from words... They can inspire, give hope. They can also incredible negative and destructive effects. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" - Proverbs 18:21
Controlling your tongue is difficult
Professional athletes train, eat properly, sleep properly... they live very, very disciplined lives to perform at that level. But how hard it is for them to control their tongue? Consider how these same athletes say such ridiculous things.
How do we change?
Verses 10-12: "With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water."
James refers to this duality in the Christian life. We have people who profess to be followers of Christ, yet have such hatred of others. How can someone who knows love still be so hateful?
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." - Matthew 12:33-37
There are two different kinds of trees (people) and they treasure different things. If we would treasure Christ & God, then this will be reflected in our fruit and in our speech. If we would treasure other things (idols), then this too will be reflected. Those who trust and love God, then your speech will be loving and gracious. If your speech is hateful, bitter, spiteful, & hurtful, then we are trusting in something else. Our words reveal our heart. So the way to change our words is to change our heart. Humanly this is impossible. So what we must do is this, submit our hearts to God.
The purpose of our words
We are made in the image of God. He is a God who speaks. In Genesis 1, God spoke... and everything was created. Not only that, but He creates things for love. But in Genesis 3, another voice speaks. It is our primary enemy, Satan. He twists God's word and misleads man. Man is twisted and so is his words. Neither he nor his words reflect God. But there is hope... The WORD became flesh. Jesus came. And He came to redeem and restore. Jesus will restore everything, including our speech. God is drawing people back to Himself. That is the role of our speech.
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
We are here to give the message of Christ. That is what our words are for. For those who do not know Christ, our words are to represent Christ and to draw them to God. For those who do know Christ, our words are to draw them closer to God.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." - Colossians 3:16
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16
The entire church has been given the ministry of the Word. It is not only for the pastoral staff and biblical counselors. We should be building and encouraging each other in Christ. How much of our speech really draws people to Christ?
David Powlison - Speaking the Truth in Love: 4 out of 22 scenes where Jesus is speaking contains sermons. The other 18 scenes show Him speaking, dialoging, eating with others.
Showing posts with label james. Show all posts
Showing posts with label james. Show all posts
Feb 13, 2011
The Peacemaking Church: Live At Peace
James 3:13-18
Rev. Dwight Yoo
This is the second sermon in a series.
James writes this to a church in conflict. This church has a group of teachers that are saying the church should focus on this or that. This was not about heresy, it was probably more likely about something good. But there is a difference of opinion about what good things to focus on...
I feel our church is particularly susceptible to this. We can get too caught up in our causes and what we are passionate about. This, if left unchecked, can cause division and even for the church to fracture and split. James addresses those who claim to be wise and learned to show their wisdom by their works of faith. He tells them this would result in humility and meekness in their actions. The wise should be humble and meek...which was not the case here. Rather they were living contentious and antagonistic towards others in the church. How so? Consider how Jesus laid it all down laid it all down and lived humbly and meekly. We should follow in His footsteps. Conflict should be an opportunity to love and serve others. Not fighting to be right or trying to escape...but looking to benefit others. We should choose this over harsh zeal regardless of how great the cause. While the cause is good or your point is right, your actions are not spirit-led. The Spirit does not lead in this fashion. Not only this, but all this fighting and struggling to have our way...is demonic. James calls it DEMONIC. There is a time and place to take a stand for the right things in the right fashion. But by and large, it is destructive. Pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, impartial, sincere, & open to reason...this is the way of the Spirit. Those who live like this will bring about a harvest of righteousness! Whether in marriage, parenting, at work, our in the church...there will be blessing. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO.
Rev. Dwight Yoo
This is the second sermon in a series.
James writes this to a church in conflict. This church has a group of teachers that are saying the church should focus on this or that. This was not about heresy, it was probably more likely about something good. But there is a difference of opinion about what good things to focus on...
I feel our church is particularly susceptible to this. We can get too caught up in our causes and what we are passionate about. This, if left unchecked, can cause division and even for the church to fracture and split. James addresses those who claim to be wise and learned to show their wisdom by their works of faith. He tells them this would result in humility and meekness in their actions. The wise should be humble and meek...which was not the case here. Rather they were living contentious and antagonistic towards others in the church. How so? Consider how Jesus laid it all down laid it all down and lived humbly and meekly. We should follow in His footsteps. Conflict should be an opportunity to love and serve others. Not fighting to be right or trying to escape...but looking to benefit others. We should choose this over harsh zeal regardless of how great the cause. While the cause is good or your point is right, your actions are not spirit-led. The Spirit does not lead in this fashion. Not only this, but all this fighting and struggling to have our way...is demonic. James calls it DEMONIC. There is a time and place to take a stand for the right things in the right fashion. But by and large, it is destructive. Pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, impartial, sincere, & open to reason...this is the way of the Spirit. Those who live like this will bring about a harvest of righteousness! Whether in marriage, parenting, at work, our in the church...there will be blessing. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO.
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Jan 16, 2011
Mercy: A Vital Sign of Living Faith
[James 1:1-17]
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
{Rev. Dwight Yoo}
Why does our treatment of the poor and powerless reveal the state of our faith?
It identifies those who have received mercy from God.
When we treat people with partiality, we treat things at face value. This occurs with those who have not received the gospel. Why is this? This is because when we have received mercy from God, it flattens our view of people. We see them as either saved or unsaved. We do not treat people differently between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, beautiful and ugly. We should see believers as co-heirs of the kingdom of heaven; brothers and sisters in the faith. Yet, even more than that, when we see the poor and destitute, we should be reminded of our own story. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." - 2 Corinthians 8:9 The story of our salvation is one of God becoming poor so that we could become rich. Those who have been saved by God in this manner, will not treat the poor in this manner.
How you treat the poor reveals what you treasure.
If we treat the rich person better, it reveals that we want something from the rich person. We treat them better because we think they can do us a favor. If we scratch their back, they will scratch ours. But this is just selfish and worldly, not the way a Christian should act. We treat people well so that we can get what we want. It is not altruistic. It is not loving. How does this apply to us? We may not overly mistreat the poor, but we are busy... too busy to help the hurting and destitute. We ignore them. We may even give money to charities, but all we can think of is how the money has just disappeared. The money has given us no benefit. This also reveals our treasure as something in THIS world. It is still worldly treasure. We are not investing with a mind on eternity and the kingdom. Do not take this as a call to quit your job and join some organization to end poverty. Keep working. But remember that this is not just for you. Remember this money is to be used for the glory of God. Use it to further the kingdom of God and to alleviate the suffering in this world to His glory. "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." - Ephesians 4:28 We should earn money to share with those around us.
Reveals whether we are saved.
"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." - James 2:12-14
We usually think of how this passage tells us that we have salvation through Christ... that through the acts of Christ, we have mercy. But that is not how this should be viewed. Those who know Christ, ACT with mercy. Those who do not know Christ, ACT without mercy. So those who have no mercy... are destined for judgment. James is telling us that mercy is a test to see whether we have a genuine and living faith.
Application
Love the poor.
Whether this means supporting a poor child or donating to a charity. We should go and meet the needs of those who are poor and needy.
Help the deacons.
Serve with those who are charged with leading our church in meeting the physical needs of those around us.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
{Rev. Dwight Yoo}
Why does our treatment of the poor and powerless reveal the state of our faith?
It identifies those who have received mercy from God.
When we treat people with partiality, we treat things at face value. This occurs with those who have not received the gospel. Why is this? This is because when we have received mercy from God, it flattens our view of people. We see them as either saved or unsaved. We do not treat people differently between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, beautiful and ugly. We should see believers as co-heirs of the kingdom of heaven; brothers and sisters in the faith. Yet, even more than that, when we see the poor and destitute, we should be reminded of our own story. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." - 2 Corinthians 8:9 The story of our salvation is one of God becoming poor so that we could become rich. Those who have been saved by God in this manner, will not treat the poor in this manner.
How you treat the poor reveals what you treasure.
If we treat the rich person better, it reveals that we want something from the rich person. We treat them better because we think they can do us a favor. If we scratch their back, they will scratch ours. But this is just selfish and worldly, not the way a Christian should act. We treat people well so that we can get what we want. It is not altruistic. It is not loving. How does this apply to us? We may not overly mistreat the poor, but we are busy... too busy to help the hurting and destitute. We ignore them. We may even give money to charities, but all we can think of is how the money has just disappeared. The money has given us no benefit. This also reveals our treasure as something in THIS world. It is still worldly treasure. We are not investing with a mind on eternity and the kingdom. Do not take this as a call to quit your job and join some organization to end poverty. Keep working. But remember that this is not just for you. Remember this money is to be used for the glory of God. Use it to further the kingdom of God and to alleviate the suffering in this world to His glory. "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." - Ephesians 4:28 We should earn money to share with those around us.
Reveals whether we are saved.
"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." - James 2:12-14
We usually think of how this passage tells us that we have salvation through Christ... that through the acts of Christ, we have mercy. But that is not how this should be viewed. Those who know Christ, ACT with mercy. Those who do not know Christ, ACT without mercy. So those who have no mercy... are destined for judgment. James is telling us that mercy is a test to see whether we have a genuine and living faith.
Application
Love the poor.
Whether this means supporting a poor child or donating to a charity. We should go and meet the needs of those who are poor and needy.
Help the deacons.
Serve with those who are charged with leading our church in meeting the physical needs of those around us.
Jan 9, 2011
The Power of Doing the Word
[James 1:19-27]
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
{Rev. Charles Han}
There is a book called, "In The Land of Believers" by Gina Welch. The author went undercover to investigate believers. She went for two years in a church and pretended to be a Christian. It's an interesting read, but not exactly our main point. It's very easy to blend into the church. The book of James is being very pointed on addressing this point. It is really showing us how we really know we are Christian.
Verse 18 sets the tone about the word of God, "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." Those of us who are believers have been given new life. The Word of God has become alive in our lives. There is plenty of scriptural support for this: Psalm 19:7; Hebrews 4:12; John 17:17. For those of us who are spiritually asleep or dead... we need the Word. It is how God revives us. This is the point of the passage today. This is authentic Christianity.
Be desperate for the Word of God, and receive it with humility. (Ver 19-21)
We should be hungry and have the right posture to receive. But flip the attitude over, and you will see the tendency of our hearts. We are quick to speak and slow to listen. Quick to anger. This does NOT result in what God wants. If we know someone who always has something to say or a word for someone else, this person is the hardest to learn. They are too proud to receive the word of God with meekness. Godly people have the posture to receive more. They do not know enough. Isn't that the paradox of the Christian life? Those who know more, feel like they know nothing? Those who pray so often, feel like they pray so little... For those of us who sit in these pews, day after day, with hard hearts... our pride grows and poisons us.
Be doers of the Word of God and not just hearers. (Ver 22-25)
Isn't this a cycle in our lives? We hear God's word, day after day, but we never apply it into our lives. When the author talks about looking into the mirror intently, he is referring to a bronze mirror. In those days, you would need to focus intently to see our reflection. But the author says, we forget after looking... The mirror is there to help us to fix ourselves. We are supposed to examine ourselves and apply God's word to our lives. This is the height of foolishness. Spiritually speaking, you're a mess. Spiritually out of shape and flabby. Look into our lives. Do you see a living prayer life? Or does it only happen when we feel like it? This is why we do not spiritually mature. Where are our convictions, our resolve?
Is this you? Spiritually, out of shape and flabby? Then resolve to walk in the Word this year. Let me get practical.
Here are some ideas...
* Have a plan to read the Bible regularly
I have a few caveats.
ONE, pick a plan that you can sustain. Don't try to read the whole bible in one year... That's a hectic pace for someone who never reads. How about reading the bible in 2 years? 5 years? a decade? The point is not to finish in a year. That's just an arbitrary number. The point is to be in the Word regularly.
TWO, it's not about checking it off your list. The reading plan should be a guide. Don't keep restarting on Genesis 1. If you miss a week, don't get guilty. Just start again where you left off.
* Learn the discipline of meditating on the Word
It is not about just reading the Word. We should not just read the Bible in the morning and completely forget about it for the rest of the day. It never comes up for the rest of your life. Consider this a slow meal of the Word. Do NOT just inhale your food. Chew it. Savor it. Take it slow and finally swallow it.
"One sentence of the Bible prayed over and bedewed with the Spirit, and made alive, though it is only a short sentence of six words, will profit you more than a hundred chapters without the Spirit..." - Charles Spurgeon
* Live out the Word in community
Everything in the New Testament is done in community. This is not just about personal and private study. Join into studies with a friend. Share the word together and seek to apply the Word into our lives with one another.
Remember the gospel: we obey God not for his acceptance but from his acceptance. (Ver 25)
What happens when we start studying the Word and praying? Someone asks us how we are doing? We feel like ZERO. Like a spiritual FAILURE. But the author doesn't want this, he wants us to stand on Christ. Not studying the Word as if our salvation depended upon it. We are saved by Christ. He is our Rock. This is not some sort of performance standard we must adhere to. This is not a law of bondage. It is a law of liberty.
God is not one who is hard to please. C.S. Lewis said, "God is easy to please and hard to satisfy." A good parent is thrilled by every step their child takes. They aren't like... I think you can do better. It is the same for God. Maybe last year, we didn't open our bible. Maybe, this year we read a little more. God isn't going to say... That's terrible. He is pleased with every incremental step we take. How about being hard to satisfy? God wants to perfect us and He will not stop until we are perfect in the likeness of Christ.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
{Rev. Charles Han}
There is a book called, "In The Land of Believers" by Gina Welch. The author went undercover to investigate believers. She went for two years in a church and pretended to be a Christian. It's an interesting read, but not exactly our main point. It's very easy to blend into the church. The book of James is being very pointed on addressing this point. It is really showing us how we really know we are Christian.
Verse 18 sets the tone about the word of God, "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." Those of us who are believers have been given new life. The Word of God has become alive in our lives. There is plenty of scriptural support for this: Psalm 19:7; Hebrews 4:12; John 17:17. For those of us who are spiritually asleep or dead... we need the Word. It is how God revives us. This is the point of the passage today. This is authentic Christianity.
Be desperate for the Word of God, and receive it with humility. (Ver 19-21)
We should be hungry and have the right posture to receive. But flip the attitude over, and you will see the tendency of our hearts. We are quick to speak and slow to listen. Quick to anger. This does NOT result in what God wants. If we know someone who always has something to say or a word for someone else, this person is the hardest to learn. They are too proud to receive the word of God with meekness. Godly people have the posture to receive more. They do not know enough. Isn't that the paradox of the Christian life? Those who know more, feel like they know nothing? Those who pray so often, feel like they pray so little... For those of us who sit in these pews, day after day, with hard hearts... our pride grows and poisons us.
Be doers of the Word of God and not just hearers. (Ver 22-25)
Isn't this a cycle in our lives? We hear God's word, day after day, but we never apply it into our lives. When the author talks about looking into the mirror intently, he is referring to a bronze mirror. In those days, you would need to focus intently to see our reflection. But the author says, we forget after looking... The mirror is there to help us to fix ourselves. We are supposed to examine ourselves and apply God's word to our lives. This is the height of foolishness. Spiritually speaking, you're a mess. Spiritually out of shape and flabby. Look into our lives. Do you see a living prayer life? Or does it only happen when we feel like it? This is why we do not spiritually mature. Where are our convictions, our resolve?
Is this you? Spiritually, out of shape and flabby? Then resolve to walk in the Word this year. Let me get practical.
Here are some ideas...
* Have a plan to read the Bible regularly
I have a few caveats.
ONE, pick a plan that you can sustain. Don't try to read the whole bible in one year... That's a hectic pace for someone who never reads. How about reading the bible in 2 years? 5 years? a decade? The point is not to finish in a year. That's just an arbitrary number. The point is to be in the Word regularly.
TWO, it's not about checking it off your list. The reading plan should be a guide. Don't keep restarting on Genesis 1. If you miss a week, don't get guilty. Just start again where you left off.
* Learn the discipline of meditating on the Word
It is not about just reading the Word. We should not just read the Bible in the morning and completely forget about it for the rest of the day. It never comes up for the rest of your life. Consider this a slow meal of the Word. Do NOT just inhale your food. Chew it. Savor it. Take it slow and finally swallow it.
"One sentence of the Bible prayed over and bedewed with the Spirit, and made alive, though it is only a short sentence of six words, will profit you more than a hundred chapters without the Spirit..." - Charles Spurgeon
* Live out the Word in community
Everything in the New Testament is done in community. This is not just about personal and private study. Join into studies with a friend. Share the word together and seek to apply the Word into our lives with one another.
Remember the gospel: we obey God not for his acceptance but from his acceptance. (Ver 25)
What happens when we start studying the Word and praying? Someone asks us how we are doing? We feel like ZERO. Like a spiritual FAILURE. But the author doesn't want this, he wants us to stand on Christ. Not studying the Word as if our salvation depended upon it. We are saved by Christ. He is our Rock. This is not some sort of performance standard we must adhere to. This is not a law of bondage. It is a law of liberty.
God is not one who is hard to please. C.S. Lewis said, "God is easy to please and hard to satisfy." A good parent is thrilled by every step their child takes. They aren't like... I think you can do better. It is the same for God. Maybe last year, we didn't open our bible. Maybe, this year we read a little more. God isn't going to say... That's terrible. He is pleased with every incremental step we take. How about being hard to satisfy? God wants to perfect us and He will not stop until we are perfect in the likeness of Christ.
Jan 2, 2011
How trials make us new
{James 1:1-18}
(Rev. Dwight Yoo)
James is the brother of Jesus. He is writing to a church where there is strong theology but weak living. This results in hypocrisy. We believe one thing but we live according to something else. We quote principles and we don't live accordingly. This gap is hypocrisy. God wishes to close this gap. He wants us to live lives of integrity. God wants us to eventually look like Jesus, the one who has lived a life of integrity.
We are saved by faith alone. But that faith is not alone.
The purpose of trials
Trials are one of the main tools God uses to remove hypocrisy from our lives. James calls us not to avoid trials, but to rejoice in them. He's not saying we welcome troubles with smiles. He's saying we see the purpose of God in these sufferings. God is building our character and integrity. When tough times come, they reveal who you are. They don't make you who you are...you are already that way. The circumstances are not to blame, they just reveal your true colors. When our sins are revealed, we can address them: repent, pray over, fight it. This is how we become spiritually mature. But there is one assumption here: we want to become like Christ. If this is missing, none of this makes sense. We must want to change to become more like Christ. Otherwise, we can only wait for this trial to pass. It does nothing for us.
The need for wisdom
Wisdom is important for going through trials. In order for trials to have their full effect, we need wisdom. Wisdom is being able to see how the world/God works and how we fit into it. It allows us to mine those tough situations for the full/maximum benefit. Looking at the cross, we see how God can work through tragedy. James gives an example in the text. He says that the poor man should exalt in his riches. How so? A believer has everything in Christ. He is not worried and striving for more money. Riches are also a trial. How so? A rich person is tempted to place their hopes and worth into earthly riches. Instead they should invest into heavenly things! Eternal rewards and glories.
So how do we get it? ASK, and God will give generously. This means God well give with no ulterior motives.
The anchor of the character of Christ
If we react with rebellion and anger, it means our character is coming out. That is not from Christ. The spirit and character of God is constant and stable. No matter what happens, God loves us and wants the best for us and is working out things for our good. Christ anchors us regardless of tough times, temptations, and trials.
(Rev. Dwight Yoo)
James is the brother of Jesus. He is writing to a church where there is strong theology but weak living. This results in hypocrisy. We believe one thing but we live according to something else. We quote principles and we don't live accordingly. This gap is hypocrisy. God wishes to close this gap. He wants us to live lives of integrity. God wants us to eventually look like Jesus, the one who has lived a life of integrity.
We are saved by faith alone. But that faith is not alone.
The purpose of trials
Trials are one of the main tools God uses to remove hypocrisy from our lives. James calls us not to avoid trials, but to rejoice in them. He's not saying we welcome troubles with smiles. He's saying we see the purpose of God in these sufferings. God is building our character and integrity. When tough times come, they reveal who you are. They don't make you who you are...you are already that way. The circumstances are not to blame, they just reveal your true colors. When our sins are revealed, we can address them: repent, pray over, fight it. This is how we become spiritually mature. But there is one assumption here: we want to become like Christ. If this is missing, none of this makes sense. We must want to change to become more like Christ. Otherwise, we can only wait for this trial to pass. It does nothing for us.
The need for wisdom
Wisdom is important for going through trials. In order for trials to have their full effect, we need wisdom. Wisdom is being able to see how the world/God works and how we fit into it. It allows us to mine those tough situations for the full/maximum benefit. Looking at the cross, we see how God can work through tragedy. James gives an example in the text. He says that the poor man should exalt in his riches. How so? A believer has everything in Christ. He is not worried and striving for more money. Riches are also a trial. How so? A rich person is tempted to place their hopes and worth into earthly riches. Instead they should invest into heavenly things! Eternal rewards and glories.
So how do we get it? ASK, and God will give generously. This means God well give with no ulterior motives.
The anchor of the character of Christ
If we react with rebellion and anger, it means our character is coming out. That is not from Christ. The spirit and character of God is constant and stable. No matter what happens, God loves us and wants the best for us and is working out things for our good. Christ anchors us regardless of tough times, temptations, and trials.
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