On to finish chapter 4 of James. We left off with our humility affording us grace.
"James Pt 5" Sep 3rd
Are you humble? Do we deal with humility the same way we deal with pride?
God deals with the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Is feeling good about ourselves the same as being proud? What is the purpose of pride?
As a Christian we are called to be children of God. A people who understand that our knowledge is only framed by
God the Father and His willingness to share that knowledge with us.
Are we okay with that? Do we believe that our knowledge is obtained by our efforts? The Bible says, “Does anyone lack wisdom? Let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally.”
We need to pursue God His way. We need to confess our lack of ability to see our own way. God knows the way. He is the truth. He is the life. And He wants His children (us) to know the way.
Humility is acknowledging that we need God. Really need Him and His guidance. Be the son and daughter that God is wanting you to be by asking Him to lead you in every decision you make.
Then acknowledge that every decision you make is dependent on God’s will for your life.
Pastor Brent
"James Pt 4" August 27th
Oh, the tongue. Have any of you tamed it? Why aren’t there TV shows of lion-tamers like people, walking into people’s mouths with chairs and whips trying to tame the tongue?
Because they would get defeated every time.
There is no cure for the tongue other than the Holy Spirit. If you are not connected to the Holy Spirit, then you might as well throw in the towel and wear a foot in your mouth so that everyone will know you’re traveling without a life jacket.
We think we’re clever and have some amazing quip or comeback when in reality the Holy Spirit is trying to give us a small, intimate, fact about the person that makes them know there really is a God.
But only if we are willing to set aside our personality (pride) will that ever come to light. Do we want to be used by the Holy Spirit, or just be used?
Grace is the answer, surrender also is the answer. Surrender to the Holy Spirit and your speech will be full of grace.
Pastor Brent
"James Pt 3" August 13th
The “royal law” is explained as “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Royal law is kingly, or of high rank.
We are no longer under the thumb of the ten commandments, but we are within the rule of God Almighty as He instructs us how to treat one another.
It goes along with how we forgive, how we show mercy, how we expect to be treated. All of these acts are dependent on how we make room in them for yourself.
And James goes on to explain this as well as how we like to cherry pick the law. If we are strong in some areas of the law (such as taking the Lord’s name in vain) but have struggles with adultery, lying or stealing, the Lord says we have broken every commandment
You don’t get to brag about one thing while breaking the others.
We don’t get to show mercy to those we like or prefer but withhold it to those we think less of. In fact, if we think less of someone, we have already violated the “royal law.”
God has very high standards for you and I because he wants His children to be examples for those around them.
Lift your head up and look to a higher example, don’t look down and think yourself better than those who simply don’t know any better.
Pastor Brent
“James Pt 2" August 6th
Well, one of my most quoted verses, but hardest to fulfill.
James 1:19 Let every man be swift to hear and slow to speak.
How many of us have the verse exactly backwards?
We are all sitting on the edge of our seat waiting to speak but neither are we hearing at all. How can we possibly speak about a subject of which we never hear the conversation.
God has us practicing patience. Isn’t listening patience? Yes, it is. Isn’t listening showing that we consider others above ourselves? Yes it is.
Everything we choose to do for God includes, somewhere in it, patience.
God works in mysterious ways. I’ve heard that all my life. But, the more we listen to Him and are patient, the less mysterious His ways are.
What are you missing in your life? Why are you missing it? Could it be as simple as listening to God?
He is waiting for us to give in to His agenda, surrender to His will, and find peace in the results of our own obedience.
Are you ready for that? Let’s see where James leads us this morning.
Pastor Brent
"James" July 30th
James, the brother of Jude and Jesus. Do you think they ever introduced Jesus as my brother from another Father? Probably not. But it’s something to think about, or not.
Anyway, I thought we would follow up our look at Jude by looking at the book written by another brother of Jesus
They both are very direct and to the point, and they are both so relevant for our time. It’s uncanny how the Gospel translates through the millennia. I mean two thousand years later it is speaking to things of the nature of man and the world that are so right on we should be seeing them on the evening news. And, in some cases, we are.
James will tell us more about our world than we could ever learn from just reading our current events. And, still, we must concentrate our efforts on who we are to become in the midst of this crazy world.
It wasn’t like they weren’t dealing with craziness, they were occupied by Rome and still managed to focus on what a real Christian walk should look like.
Let’s do a dive into James and see what it does for our own life and knowledge of God’s expectations..
Pastor Brent
"Jude, part 3" July 23rd
Jude gets to the nuts and bolts of his warning, laying out the past men and circumstances that caused the Lord to break out against them.
He points out that anyone who despises their birth by not being satisfied, and yes, grateful, tend to be the ones who try to pull down those who are called with them.
Jude goes on, naming the names of certain people and then outlining the traits of others, and prophesying there will be more who follow in their footsteps. But, only, if they refuse and deny the gift of life, and the gift giver Himself.
People like that are not to be reasoned with, the Scripture says they are like the wild beasts, snarling and raging at everything that upsets them.
God is patient but not stupid. He doesn't have to waste His time on obstinate, hard-hearted individuals who are only here to feed their own lusts.
And, Jude is not interested in us trying to do what God will not. He is warning us to stay away from the influence of people who are always in attack mode concerning spiritual things. Also, those who are seemingly too spiritual. Be innocently aware that not all that you observe is genuine.
Let us, by contrast, be in such pursuit of God that we don’t need warnings about what to avoid because the Spirit Himself will do that.
Pastor Brent
"Jude, part 2" July 16th
We know the history of Israel. God’s chosen people. They were saved out of many horrific circumstances, but if they refused to obey, or made their life one of complaining, God’s judgment rolled on them still.
But, pastor, we are in the New Testament. Doesn’t God forgive us for the transgressions we commit?
The answer of course is yes, but what about those that are continually complaining, never satisfied, or simply treat Jesus as a casual acquaintance or just “tolerate” His presence as an insurance policy against hell?
Heb 2:3 puts it like this, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation.
We can not play fast and loose with the Gospel and not expect God to honor what His son has done. His Son, Jesus, made a way that is free and clear for us to embrace and follow. If we ignore or lessen our responsibility to live up to God’s expectations of us, where do we hope to turn?
Jude is reminding us of our place and therefore of our choices. We are free to think and act differently than all others, because our Savior paid the price to set us free.
Don’t let anything get in the way.
Pastor Brent
"Jude" July 9th
Jude was the Lord’s brother, (one of four), and one which wrote a letter concerning the state of the church.
He wanted to write about salvation and such, but was compelled by the state of the church, which was being overrun by those who did not have the best interests of God’s kingdom in mind, to address this urgent issue.
As he starts his letter, he mentions being James' brother but not the Lord’s. It would be pretty intimidating to have been Jesus’ brother and not recognized His status until He had risen from the dead.
But, at least he did, and went on to be a preacher of the Gospel. Quite a bold one in fact, as we read what he brings to the table.
A lot of us like to come to a smorgasbord of Christianity and take what we want from the offering laid out before us. But walking with God, knowing God, means going through the fire and the storm and being faithful to hear Him in both.
Let’s let Jude speak and see if the Bible is still relevant today. Okay?
Pastor Brent
"Attributes of God" July 2nd
As we conclude our study of the Attributes of God. It is recognized that we could spend the rest of time delving into His Greatness.
But we will end with three things that we should be grateful for:
God’s infinite mercy
God’s infinite grace
God’s infinite patience
These three things provided for by the life of Jesus Christ; through the power of His amazing life, and the Spirit, which He left us when He gave up His life for us.
Mercy, grace, and patience to see us through all that this world can throw at us.
This, in addition to the things we have already spoken about should really give us the confidence to live a life to the fullest in Christ.
How are we ever stuck in the depths of despair when all of these things are available to us and for us?
The only reason is, because we forget about all these things. We lose of the purpose and will of God.
Remember, God is all powerful, God is all knowing and God is ever present. And, He is all things in addition to Grace, Mercy, and Patience.
It’s the perfect combo for salvation for us as humans.
Take the gift and remember the Giver
Pastor Brent