James 2:19-26
Pastor Lee:
What a short, POWERFUL, punch of a passage. I love the story of Abraham and Isaac. God gave Abraham a son named Isaac, after several years, Abraham still said that he loved God, but God wanted to see it in Abrahams actions. So God told Abraham to offer up Issac as a sacrifice on an alter. I would think to myself... WHAT!!!! God, you cant do that!!! You gave Him to me, I cant kill the son that you gave to me. But Abraham TRUSTED GOD so much that his actiones proved it.
The fact is, we can tell God we believe in him all day, but this passage makes it clear, that Satan and his demons also believe in God, and they are not going to Heaven. We must believe in God in such a way that our actions prove our faith.
Faith without works is DEAD! (works = evidence through my actions)
In other words teenagers, If I am not living what I say I believe, then there is a good chance I probably dont really believe it.
Do your actions prove that you believe or not?
19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
THURSDAY, February 14th, 2008
Happy Valentines Day!
James 2:10-18
Pastor Lee:
Our Faith is made evident by our works, or our actions. In other words, the proof of my faith is the things I say and the things I do. (Remember that $20 bill principle. : "If I believe that you will give me $20.00 then I will reach for it; therefore If I really believe in Jesus Christ, then my actions should prove it")
This passage makes it clear that we are all guilty of breaking th elaw, therefore we are all going to face judgment! Right? Well, Praise the Lord for verse 13 where it says, "mercy triumphs over judgment." Because of the Lords mercy on me, I no longer have to face the penalty of eternal judgment.
Now here is the key, If I can trust him for my eternity, then I should trust for every day until eternity, AND my actions should prove that trust! What do you think?
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”[a] also said, “Do not murder.”[b]Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[c] works, and I will show you my faith by my[d] works.
James 2:10-18
Pastor Lee:
Our Faith is made evident by our works, or our actions. In other words, the proof of my faith is the things I say and the things I do. (Remember that $20 bill principle. : "If I believe that you will give me $20.00 then I will reach for it; therefore If I really believe in Jesus Christ, then my actions should prove it")
This passage makes it clear that we are all guilty of breaking th elaw, therefore we are all going to face judgment! Right? Well, Praise the Lord for verse 13 where it says, "mercy triumphs over judgment." Because of the Lords mercy on me, I no longer have to face the penalty of eternal judgment.
Now here is the key, If I can trust him for my eternity, then I should trust for every day until eternity, AND my actions should prove that trust! What do you think?
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”[a] also said, “Do not murder.”[b]Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[c] works, and I will show you my faith by my[d] works.
WEDNESDAY, February 13th, 2008
James 2:1-9
Pastor Lee:
The principle that is emphasized here is one of partiality. God explains to us that we are sinning when we show partiality to certain people. It is easy to find myself wanting to help a rich person, while ignoring a homeless or needy person. And that is wrong. This passage makes it clear that when we show partiality to someone because of who they are or what they have, then we are being nice to them for our own benefit. We are no longer trying to glorify God through our works, but we are trying to give ourselves the benefit. While Christ was here on earth, He did not seek out the rich, but he sought out the poor and needy, the weak and helpless. Because He was not interested in making friends with the "rich guys". His father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. (that is a Biblical phrase that means God has all the riches of the world)
I want to seek to be like Christ, not helping other people for my benefit, but helping those that are helpless and needy for the benefit of Christ and His glory!
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.
2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”
4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you do well;
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Pastor Lee:
The principle that is emphasized here is one of partiality. God explains to us that we are sinning when we show partiality to certain people. It is easy to find myself wanting to help a rich person, while ignoring a homeless or needy person. And that is wrong. This passage makes it clear that when we show partiality to someone because of who they are or what they have, then we are being nice to them for our own benefit. We are no longer trying to glorify God through our works, but we are trying to give ourselves the benefit. While Christ was here on earth, He did not seek out the rich, but he sought out the poor and needy, the weak and helpless. Because He was not interested in making friends with the "rich guys". His father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. (that is a Biblical phrase that means God has all the riches of the world)
I want to seek to be like Christ, not helping other people for my benefit, but helping those that are helpless and needy for the benefit of Christ and His glory!
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.
2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”
4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you do well;
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
TUESDAY, February 12th, 2008
James 1:19-27
Pastor Lee:
Yesterday, I was out windsurfing with Patrick at Port Charlotte Beach, and we were driving his boat around the pier when he snagged one of the fishermans lines. So Patrick drove over to apologize and the guy was going crazy. We were both thinking, hello, sir, you have anger management issues. I was reminded of that when I read this passage. Patrick was a great example of this passage: He was swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. In other words he listened to what the man had to say, but didnt respond in a wrong way, and he didnt beat the guy up. (which he definitely could have) The fact is the wrath of man, or the anger and physical abuse of a man does not coincode with the righteousness of God. If you are a person of wrath, then you are not a person with the righteousness of God. This passage has a lot more too! but I have already gone on too long. Find other stuff the passage says!
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Pastor Lee:
Yesterday, I was out windsurfing with Patrick at Port Charlotte Beach, and we were driving his boat around the pier when he snagged one of the fishermans lines. So Patrick drove over to apologize and the guy was going crazy. We were both thinking, hello, sir, you have anger management issues. I was reminded of that when I read this passage. Patrick was a great example of this passage: He was swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. In other words he listened to what the man had to say, but didnt respond in a wrong way, and he didnt beat the guy up. (which he definitely could have) The fact is the wrath of man, or the anger and physical abuse of a man does not coincode with the righteousness of God. If you are a person of wrath, then you are not a person with the righteousness of God. This passage has a lot more too! but I have already gone on too long. Find other stuff the passage says!
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
MONDAY, February 11th, 2008
James 1:9-18
Pastor Lee:
I love James. This passage is such a great one. You sould consider memorizing it. (at least verses 13-16). The whole idea here is that we are tempted in life, but God will never allow us to be tempted with more than we can handle. That is what Pastor Chip was talking about in his message yesterday. This passage explains that when we are tempted the results can be deadly! Literally! look at verse 14 and 15. The equation would be this: Tempted + Sin: Death (we all know that death means separation) When we sin, we are "separated" from God because He is Holy and cannot fellowship with unholiness.
I must not allow temptations to lead me into sin, but I must srtive for the prize: the crown of life
What about this passage stood out to you?
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Pastor Lee:
I love James. This passage is such a great one. You sould consider memorizing it. (at least verses 13-16). The whole idea here is that we are tempted in life, but God will never allow us to be tempted with more than we can handle. That is what Pastor Chip was talking about in his message yesterday. This passage explains that when we are tempted the results can be deadly! Literally! look at verse 14 and 15. The equation would be this: Tempted + Sin: Death (we all know that death means separation) When we sin, we are "separated" from God because He is Holy and cannot fellowship with unholiness.
I must not allow temptations to lead me into sin, but I must srtive for the prize: the crown of life
What about this passage stood out to you?
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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