The Letter of James

The Prayer of the Righteous - The Letter of James - James 5:13-18

March 3, 2024 • Andrey Bulanov • James 5:13–18

Text: James 5:13-18 Outline: 1. The Power of Prayer in Suffering 2. The Power of Prayer in Joy 3. The Power of Prayer in Sickness 4. The Power of Prayer in Battling Sin Scripture passages: • James 5:13-18 • Psalm 16:11 • Mark 16:13 • John 14:12-14 • 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 Discussion Questions: • What is the pathway through which James tries to teach us the power of prayer? ◦ Just do it more! • What stops us from turning to prayer more consistently and automatically in trouble and blessing? • What role do pastors play in prayer and what role does the rest of the church play? Is there a difference? • Why pray for healing if we know God doesn't always heal? • What is the point of confessing our sins? What is the use if God already forgave our sins? • How does our understanding of justification and total forgiveness by faith alone help us also understand God's constant and present power in our lives, available through prayer? Application Questions: • What is our automatic reaction in difficulty or joy? • Do you view God as an ever present Father who is ready to hear, to help and to heal? ◦ Our understanding of justification leads us to see God's grace and power as always present in our lives to work, and helps us see prayer as an ever present power. • Does your spiritual life regularly and constantly depend on the prayers of others around you? • Are you battling sin alone? • Are you rooted in the fact that Jesus as died for your sin once and for all - and that he has not only given you forgiveness, but also the church - to hold you up and give you victory over sin? ----------- Read text We come back to the final verses in our study of James. the epistles often finish on a note of prayer James finishes with a section on prayer that is longer than others. Also, we see here that he comes full circle to where he started. He started the epistle with asking God for help in hard times, and he essentially finishes with that. The point that he leads everything to, the core truth that James wants to leave us with here is the essential and powerful nature of prayer in our lives. "the prayer of the righteous person is very powerful in its effect." This is where he leads everything. He lists many different situations in life and he is not so much proving as he is highlighting - that one of the most important and powerful things we can do in these circumstances is to pray. As we approach this passage, the question that I want to challenge you with is - when you think of prayer, do you think of power? This is what James is trying to highlight about it here. The prayer of the righteous person, the person who is depending on God, leaning in and trusting in GOD's strength and salvation - even though that person may FEEL very weak in that moment - his prayer carries great power. Lets see how that idea works its way in the text. 1. The power of prayer in suffering 13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. mental, physical, relational, financial, spiritual, emotional.... "suffering" - a very broad word that carries many different situations in life Thats pretty much all of us isn't it? The temptation in difficult is to try to solve it yourself or to be frustrated and angry - maybe have bitterness as to why God allowed this to happen. We tend to get locked into our situations in our minds James says, the knee jerk reaction to this should be prayer. Especially when our trails persist - we may think - what is the point? We see the illustration of the power of prayer in our difficulty in Psalm 18 - notice the massive and dramatic response of God to the call for help. Its interesting. Wouldn't it be easier for God not to allow David to fall into such terrible situations? Efficiency is not God's biggest value. God loves to save his people in need God loves to strengthen us and empower us through the challenges we face God loves to work powerfully in a thousand ways through our trails - but James says its essential that you PRAY! It doesn't have to be elaborate "Jesus please help" "Father..." This needs to be our deeply engraved habit of heart. Paul tells us in Romans that in our prayers in the midst of difficulty - sometimes we don't know what to say but we come to God and the Spirit of God in us INTERCEDES for us with groanings too deep for words - isn't that amazing?? There is great power in our prayers in the times we feel most weak. Is anyone suffering? pray! 2. The power of prayer in joy "is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises" The equally important reminder to us is that in the midst of our peace and joy - we must turn to God in praise! When all is well we have a tendency to focus on ourselves and our good things - and we neglect to take the next and valuable step of praising God for all he gives. Joe Rigney in his book, "The things of Earth" speaks of a "godward orientation" of the heart and mind that is critical for us to cultivate. This is because the true end of all our joys is God himself And if we fail to take the next step of delighting in God's goodness in the midst of our blessings - we actually miss out on the best part of the joy. Our joy is so much more grounded and solid when it is planted on an awareness that all good things come from him. Psalm 16:11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures. When our joy is detached from God and his presence it becomes very fickle and unstable. When our joy is brought into his presence it is secured and multiplied. We go from these simple and straight forward exhortations to a much more detailed and easily misunderstood text - 3. The power of prayer in sickness 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. we should pray in hardships, we should praise in joy. But physical sickness is an experience of special need and vulnerability. More than anything else, our physicality reminds us of our weakness. You can be living life to the fullness, not a care in the world - and then you are seized with sudden and crippling abdominal pain - and all your power is gone. You are curled up in a ball, hanging on desperately - anxiety and fear washing in with the pain - wondering what is going on. "is anyone among you sick?" I think its pretty clear that James is referring here to physical sickness or illness - some people try to deal with the complexity of this passage by making it into a spiritual sickness - then it makes it easier to explain how the elders pray for healing. I think its clear he's talking about physical illness from the language he uses here Just as physical illness puts us in a place of special vulnerability before God it also puts us in need of others - and here James opens the door to addressing that a HUGE aspect of our prayer life NEEDs to be our dependence upon the prayers of OTHERS for us. Here he starts out with the prayer of the pastors for a sick person but clearly he expands on from there to highlight the power of the church praying for each other. There are a few big ways this passage is misunderstood - and all of them are surrounding the prayer and anointing with oil - and the healing of the sick person. The Roman Catholic Church uses this passage as a basis for the ritual of the priest anointing a person who is about to die with oil as preparation for death. They believe that the act in and of itself carries some power. This text does not support this idea because there is nothing here about death - actually the opposite - healing. What do we make of this whole practice of anointing with oil? This practice is mentioned here and only one other place in the NT - Mark 6:13 "13 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. The practice of anointing with oil is pretty common in the OT - as a sign of something or someone being set apart for God's special attention or special purpose. They did this with the priests in the OT. Both James and Mark extend this practice to the NT as an expression of prayer and God's special attention to a person in physical suffering. Some people may say "Why isn't this a more common practice for us today?" James says, "If you are sick, you can call the elders of the church" - he doesn't say that the pastors need to run around town to every person with a cough anointing them with oil and praying for them. This is an area of life where the church is called to invite the ministry of the pastors in times of significant suffering and need. "But why the oil? Why can't the pastors pray without the oil?" Sure they can, and James calls the whole church to pray for each other in the next verse. The practice of anointing with oil is a practice that symbolizes a special need and a special attention that the pastors of the church are bringing to the physical need of the person to God's healing work. Its like communion - is the bread and wine a reminder of the body and blood of Christ? Then why can't we just remember and pray, why do we need all this bread and wine? Its a practice God has instituted which, when done in faith and obedience invites and brings God's presence and work in a special way. What about the healing part? James says "the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up..." A lot of misunderstanding about this - claiming if you just have enough faith - you will be healed. Then if you don't get healed, you didn't have enough faith. Notice its technically talking about the prayer of faith of the pastors not the person - Does God always heal everyone who truly believes in him? • Yes! - but on his timing God is working throughout all history to heal and restore ALL that is broken. He is a healer. He never stops working in our lives his gracious process of healing us spiritually, emotionally, physically. But there is a process he is working on. There is a timeline that we don't always catch, that we may struggle with. This points to the key phrase here - What is the "prayer of faith" and how does God bring healing? John 14:12-14 12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. It is also clear in the NT that its not Jesus' plan to heal every single ailment or sickness that his people experience RIGHT AWAY - take Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 - THREE times he prayed he would take away his pain. If you ask anything in my name i will do it - the prayer of faith will save the sick person... I think this is a clear practice that our prayer in times of need - such as this prayer for the sick - is a prayer that ASKES BOLDLY for healing - but at the same time, comes with the heart that is totally submitted to and seeking GOD's will and God's perfect purposes IN that struggle. Jesus himself models in the garden this exact thing - let this cup pass before me, BUT NOT MY WILL but yours be done. Sometimes God heals now. Sometimes he heals later. ALWAYS he answers prayer in faith and builds up his people who come to him for help. The prayer of the righteous person has great power. 4. The power of prayer in battling sin. "....is he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed..." Is all sickness the result of sin? • Yes! But not necessarily your own.... James inserts a very important qualifier here "IF he has sinned..." All the way back to the times of Job, we have a tendency to assume that if something bad is happening in your life - its because you have sinned and cursed yourself. James says, IF - meaning the person suffering in sickness may well have NOTHING to do with sin in his life. But then again it MIGHT. When there is persistent sin in our lives God will use a variety of means to get it out. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 28 Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. James says this prayer and this illness may be the occasion for exposing and healing from sin, which is so much more dangerous than physical illness. And that brings him to address the whole church together - "therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is very powerful in its effect..." This passage seems to be one sadly lost on many christians today - both praying for the sick and confessing our sins. Maybe we are too afraid of associating with practices in the roman catholic or orthodox churches - but the instructions here are very plain and clear. It is a healthy part of the normal christian life to live in such community with saints around us that we are regularly bringing our struggles, failures and sins to another another - not so that we may just talk and gossip or even try to think of our own solutions - but that we might PRAY for one another. It is the prayer of the saints for one another, addressing the specific struggles and sins - that carries GREAT POWER to restore, heal and build up our faith. This also answers the question - if Jesus already forgave us our sins, why do we need to confess them? TO BE CLEAR - the church does not dispense the forgiveness of sin. God grants us forgiveness from his grace. Jesus came into our world and lived the life we could not live - so that at the end of it, HE could stand condemned like a sinner - so that he could stand before God to receive all the punishment that was due to us for our sins. HE came to pay our infinite death with his infinite sacrifice. We are sinners and first and foremost we need forgiveness for our sins. We need to be cleared of our guilt. We need our punishment removed. This gift of total and complete forgiveness is given to EVERYONE who humbly acknowledges their sin, their desperate need of God's grace and forgiveness, and turns to surrender to Jesus as their one and only Master and King. "by grace you are saved, though faith - and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, so that no one may boast!" Jesus gives forgiveness to all who believe - and no one can take that away. But as you receive his forgiveness, you now begin on a path of GROWTH in practical godliness where the remaining habits of sin are cleaned out from your life. THIS is something that church is given to help you in. This is why we are called to confess our sins and struggles, to pray for one another, and to strengthen each other to grow in practicing the new life that we are ALREADY GIVEN. How does this whole confessing sin work? • We should regularly depend upon the prayers of christians in our church for strength in our struggles • We should be regularly sharing more general sins and struggles in our groups and ask for prayer ◦ example • We should regularly confess more specific sins and struggles to a trusted and close few people in our lives so that they might pray for us and keep our struggles private This is very new for some who never did it. But if you are struggling with your sins alone and in total isolation, you should not be surprised to find that these struggles present and sometimes grow over the years - you are closing yourself off from a key source of spiritual power. "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another - so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is very powerful in its effect..." Application Questions: • What is our automatic reaction in difficulty or joy? • Do you view God as an ever present Father who is ready to hear, to help and to heal? ◦ Our understanding of justification leads us to see God's grace and power as always present in our lives to work, and helps us see prayer as an ever present power. • Does your spiritual life regularly and constantly depend on the prayers of others around you? • Are you battling sin alone? ◦ Are you rooted in the fact that Jesus as died for your sin once and for all - and that he has not only given you forgiveness, but also the church - to hold you up and give you victory over sin?

Hopeful Waiting - The Letter of James - James 5:7-12

February 18, 2024 • Vitaly Kunda • James 5:7–12

The False Security of Money and Possessions - The Letter of James - James 5:1-6

February 4, 2024 • Andrey Bulanov • James 5:1–6

Outline: 1. The sin of materialism will be judged. 2. The false security of materialism will quickly be exposed. 3. Materialism gives us a sense of power and superiority over others that leads to many other evils. Scripture References: - James 5:1-6 - Prov. 10:15 - Prov. 11:4 Application: - Where does your true sense of security and strength lie today? Is it in the security of God's present care and promises in your life? Or is it in the things you hope to accomplish or acquire? - What is your view of the rich and powerful? Be honest. - What is your view of the things and opportunities God has given you? Do you see them as primarily for yourself? Or do you see all you have as a tool to worship God and serve others? Discussion Questions: - Why does James include a passage that is addressed to unbelievers? What are the purposes of this passage to all who hear it? - What is James saying about money and possessions in this passage and what is he NOT saying? - How are asceticism and materialism similar and how are they different? - Which of these false ideas is more prevalent in our lives today? - What is so evil about relying on our money and possessions? - How does the battle against materialism play out in our lives today? How do we battle against it? - How does the gospel of Jesus confront AND CURE materialism and asceticism in our hearts? - How does this passage help us to look out onto the world around us more accurately and correctly? ------ Materialism is one of the most destructive forces for human life. Why is this the case? Because essentially sin is a rebellion against the kingdom of God in our lives. When we seek to build our own little kingdom, the primary thing we’re gonna latch onto material things we can acquire things that make us feel safe and secure. The Bible speaks about materialism a lot. Money was the subject that Jesus spoke more about than any other subject. 13% of the Bible directly addresses the topic of money and material Possessions In our passage today, James continues his confrontation of a false philosophy of life. Last week we saw how James confronted the mindset of people who planned their life without reference to God. They plan their life as if God doesn’t control it, and as if they don’t live daily and full dependence on God sovereign purposes In this paragraph, James continues the confrontation, but he takes it a little deeper and he takes on a tone that’s a little bit stronger. James goes all Testament profit on us here and he pronounces a announcement of judgment that comes upon people whose lives are completely submerged and driven by the desires of riches and materialism. His words here are extremely valuable to all of us today, even if you are not a billionaire who is lying cheating, and abusing other people and living in extravagant luxury Sin of materialism and wealth is one of the primary gods of our age, and of the western world, in which we live, if we compare our standard of living to the rest of the world today. This passage helps our hearts and teaches us how to view ourselves as Christians, and how to view the people around us in the world, who live in luxury 1. The sin of materialism will be judged. "Come now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you." Who is James addressing here? This is actually something that makes this passage a bit unique. In the previous passage he is addressing christian merchants and business people who planned on wealth and success without ever thinking about how their life depends on God. But here, his pronouncement is a lot more harsh and judgmental. Also, these people he is addressing are clearly oppressing christian people who work for them. you see that in verse 6 Because of this most scholars agree that this section specifically is directed at wealthy and corrupt non christian land owners that the original readers lived under. As we have mentioned in the past, James was written to christians living during persecution and likely displaced from their original homes. these kinds of people often ended up working for wealth farm owners for little to no wages. the ancient near eastern world was a lot more segregated when it came to wealth than our modern western world. a very tiny fraction of very rich people often controlled the majority of land and power - and the majority of the population was trapped in poverty with no power to get out These people were very easy to take advantage of. So as part of his desire to give these christians a sense of justice and hope and encouragement, James takes a moment here to directly speak to these corrupt unbelievers. This also helps the members of the church who ARE wealthy to listen and think carefully about how they relate their their wealth. He pronounces judgement on these wealthy ppl Weep and wail!!!! This is serious - this is real - this is reality. Materialism can be deceptive. The psalm we read highlights this When it comes to how we sin in relation to our stuff - there are two options Materialism and asceticism. asceticism is a negative view of material things. Rooted in a false idea of spirituality as being opposite to material things. This idea came from the Greeks who views spirt as good and matter as bad. Gods creation is good. OT theology shows us that God blessed his ppl and instituted feasts!! Christians often embrace asceticism - thinking being poor is more spiritual. This is false. The other extreme however is materialism - making wealth and material things the foundation of our joy and happiness In our modern western world this is by far our greater danger We can look at the rich and powerful on social media or tv and we can envy and desire it But James says this to them - weep and wail!!! Both materialism and asceticism are rooted in the same sin - the sin to establish our own sense of confidence. Asceticism builds confidence in self made religion and self control and renunciation. Materialism builds confidence in amassing our own power with our own hands. Both of these responses are wrong because they use things to get FURTHER from God. God's creation is good and it is given to us for fruitful lives of service to God and dominion over creation as those who represent and obey God the Maker of all things. the things we have are meant to be thankfully enjoyed and used in service to God and others. 2. The false security of materialism will quickly be exposed. 2 Your wealth has rotted and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. Perhaps the number one reason we fall prey to building our lives around money and possessions is because they give us a sense of security. We are anxious and stressed when we have a hard time figuring out how we will pay the bills. But when we see that we have plenty - there is a an ease of heart and spirit that takes over. A sense of well being. A sense of energy. I always love to bring the example of how even our sense of energy is often a subjective mindset rather than a physical state. You may feel exhausted and burned out from a very hard week of work. Your mind feels so worn out. You are grumpy with the kids or with your family - and you tell yourself its because its been a tough week and you are only human. But how would you feel if in that moment you were handed 1,000,000 dollars? Like someone told you won something and you look at your accounts and sure enough SIX ZEROS!! you would probably (hopefully) quickly clear out your credit cards and debits - and seeing that didn't even make a DENT in your account - you are washed over a sense of lightness, joy and energy!! We have forgotten all about he fatigue and exhaustion and mental stupor you felt only minutes before. what happened to it?? Money and possessions have great power to give a false sense of security and power. Prov. 10:15 "The wealth of the rich is his fortified city..." The fundamental posture of unbelief is to have security without God. To have a sense of control and power in life without reference to our Creator. It is to extinguish that feeling of DEPENDENCE upon another - the One who made us. James points right into this impulse and says that everything that a person works for when he seeks to puts his trust in money or things - is false hope. "your wealth has rotted and your clothes are moth-eaten..." He speaks in the present tense, as if it is already happening. "what do you mean James? my clothes are doin just fine - and my dollar bills are still there in the bank lookin happy" No - but the CONFIDENCE that those things gives you is rotting because it was never a real sense of peace and security. Yaro mentioned to me a few weeks ago how he was talking to his dad about the challenges of family life and paying bills and planning ahead and hopefully getting to a place of stability. And his dad made the remark, "Stability is an illusion." Lets get back to our analogy from before - your previously sad and evening has turned into a celebration - you've popped open a bottle of, we a baptists so its most likely not champagne - a bottle of Martinelli's and you are having a great time. And then you get a call that someone you love very much has gotten in a car crash and died. (sorry its a rough evening!) How does the news of a death of a loved one change your view of your newly acquired wealth?? All of a sudden it does not matter at all. your life is devastated by pain and loss - and no amount of money can help with that. James is trying to make this point - the stability and power your wealth gives is FAKE. Everything can change in an instant - and you have spent all the time pursuing something that does not deliver. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. Here James adds another element - here is the reason why wealth can't give you real security - because the security that you are after is a security that is eternal. All our lives is lived out in accountability to GOD and there is coming a day when we ALL stand before him to give an account.  James says in the day of judgement, when you should have spent all your energy investing into eternal things - you have put all your mind to worldly pleasures - and you have NOTHING to cling to when you stand before God. In this sense, your very own riches become the thing that speaks to your guilt. you have lived in God's world and you have used his good gifts to drown out the need in your soul for his salvation and forgiveness and restoration that only HE can give. Prov. 11:4 "Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death." Wealth is not evil, possession are not evil. What is evil is that lie that takes over our hearts so easily that says - if only I had that, I would be good. this is evil because is actively leads you away from knowing, relying and walking in the power of your heavenly Father. 3. Materialism gives us a sense of power and superiority over others that leads to many other evils. 4 Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous, who does not resist you. No only does the sin of loving money and possessions lead away from depending on God - it also leads to abuse of others and evils that we otherwise would not have considered doing. The more power a sinful human being gets, the more power he wants and the more he will do to get it and protect it at all costs. back to the money scenario - its the wrong account and you have to return it. examples: - people not paying others for work done - Lying on taxes - Using ministry money for personal agendas - the temptation for dishonesty in order to gain something More power has more potential to bring out more evil from the human heart Its amazing to see that the way that our God entered the world to save us from our sins - he came having nothing and boasting no power or wealth or status. And in living a life of speaking the truth to the people he came to save - its is the wealthy and powerful that were MOST enraged by his work. In his suffering he exposed the evil of sin and he made a preliminary judgement of sin and evil as he rose victorious over the grave. Jesus who died for our sins has conquered sin and death and now sits exalted to the ultimate seat of power over the universe - as King of kings and Lord of lords. And this means that the timer on all evil is ticking. This is also the hope that James gives. All evil, all abuse, all perversion of justice - ALL OF IT WILL VERY SOON BE JUDGED This is the foundation of our hope. This is where we anchor ourselves - not in a desire to establish our own security - and not in a desire to avenge all the injustice we have experienced or witnessed. Application: - Where does your true sense of security and strength lie today? Is it in the security of God's present care and promises in your life? Or is it in the things you hope to accomplish or acquire? - What is your view of the rich and powerful? Be honest. - What is your view of the things and opportunities God has given you? Do you see them as primarily for yourself? Or do you see all you have as a tool to worship God and serve others?

Who is the King? - The Letter of James - James 4:13-17

January 28, 2024 • Andrew Pack • James 4:13–17

Uprooting the Evil of Slander - The Letter of James - James 4:11-12

January 21, 2024 • Andrey Bulanov • James 4:11–12

Outline: 1. Slander and judgement is a sin that has no place in the Christian life. 2. Slander and judgement put us above the law of God. 3. Slander and judgement puts us in the place of God. Application: - Do your words build others up to do they tear them down? - What are the ways that slander and judgement make their way into your relationships and conversations? - Are there sins in your own life that you seek to cover up as you speak ill of others? - Do you know what Jesus did for you? Does the love he showed you, to cover your own shame, move you to cover and heal the shame of others? Does the price with which you have been bought, cause you to tread with care in the lives of those around you? Scripture References: James 4:11-12 2 Cor. 12:20 Rom. 1:28-31 John 7:24 Matthew 7:15-20 Leviticus 19:16 Luke 12:2-3 James 4:1-5 Matthew 7:1-5

Grace to the Humble - The Letter of James - James 4:6-10

November 19, 2023 • Andrey Bulanov • James 4:6–10

1. A never ending ocean of God's grace is ever-ready to those who are humble before him. 2. Humility means submitting to God's ways and resisting the ways of the enemy. 3. Humility means drawing near to God in genuine repentance. Scripture References: - James 4:1-10 - Luke 15:20 - Joel 2:12-13 - Philippians 2:8-9 Application: - Do you see God's commands as condemning, or as empowering? - Are you constantly struggling with the weight of guilt for all that you aren't? - What is the state of your heart before God today? - Are you truly humbled in your heart? Or are you fighting pridefully against him? - Are you following the path of biblical humility? - What are the commands of God he is calling you to obey today? - What are the sins that he is calling you to draw near in repentance? Read whole passage Last week we left off a bit of a cliff hanger - we spoke of the power and the danger of our selfish desires. James shows us that the most extreme problems and conflicts in our lives arise from the most simple and basic source - our selfish desires. TV, movies and books are loaded with stories of people who's lives spiral into crazy chaos that starts from a small moment or impulse of selfishness. Our greatest enemy is our own selfishness and this is an enemy we can never escape and must face every day. And the most dangerous thing about this is that our selfishness doesn't ONLY bring chaos in our lives - it also makes us enemies to God! It is dangerous to call yourself a christian, and live like that world - not just because sin with bring pain to our lives - but because God is jealous for his holiness and for the hearts of his people! Last week we spoke of this jealousy - making it clear that Scripture shows us that God's jealousy is not a insecure and selfish jealousy - but that it is a jealousy of love. God demands our whole love not because he is selfish - but because he desires our perfect joy and his perfect glory in our lives. All of this stacks up to a pretty big list of requirements and pressures. Are we doomed to be crushed by the failure of our selfishness? Where do we get the power to have victory over our selfish desires in our daily lives? 1. A never ending ocean of God's grace is ever-ready to those who are humble before him. 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. I love this phrase - "but he gives greater grace..." All these requirements are stacked high and our selfishness is always burning in our hearts HOW do we have hope to overcome it? to escape judgement? God is perfect and holy - walking in selfishness and sin while I call myself a christian is dangerous! If we seriously consider the weight of this truth - it is enough to crush us! "but he gives greater grace..." this same God, who asks SO MUCH from you, is the same God also gives the power to do everything he commands of us. God does not just shower down requirements and commands - he also showers down to us the power and love and grace to stand and live in full obedience to the things that he calls us. So many christians live a life that sees God as the one who gives commands and requirements but not as the one who also graciously gives the power and strength to do all that he calls us to. When the Bible says, "You must be HOLY for I the Lord your God am a HOLY God.." Some people shudder and recoil at this massive commands. They think - man I am so far from that and I will never even come near to that. God empowers that which he commands. He gives greater grace This means that every challenge and every command in Scripture must fill us with excitement - wow - this could be ME! how do we get this power? This is one basic requirement "God resists the pround, but gives grace to the humble." this is a quote of proverbs 3:34 To recieve the unending ocean of God's grace to change your life - there is just one simple requirement - you must see yourself as a person who is in need of his gift! You must be humble. Are you a pretty good person? Or are you a person in desperate need of God's grace? God is an enemy to the proud - to those who think they are good the way they are, without any major help from anyone else. Ok, but what does a humble person look like? How is it expressed? 2. Humility means submitting to God's ways and resisting the ways of the enemy. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. what does humility look like? Its more than just being all pious and quiet and saying you need God and admitting how bad you are. In our day a lot of christians are all about talking about their brokenness and weakness. We are a generation that is kind of obsessed with our inner emotions and feelings and many of us have no problem admitting that we are weak poeple and we fail a lot. We need safety. we need love. we need support and encouragement. we need help. we need therapy. we need doctors. we need medications. we need counseling. we need to figure out how our emotions work and what are the perfect circumstances we need to be in to do what we need to do. In all of these conversations are often totally void of one core feature - we don't talk about our need and our devotion to obey God. "submit to God..." humility is more than just a feeling - it is an active posture of your heart that is devoted to doing all that which God tells you. Submitting to God means naming HIM as your Lord and Master. You can't be submitted to God while being a slave to your emotions and fears. This really is the essence of the life of faith - "I don't need to have all of life figured out - I just want to do what God calls me to do. In every season of life, in every day, in every situation - what does obedience and faithfulness to him look like?" When we are riding a bike, if we are looking down at the wheels and pedals and chain - and the dirt, and worrying about balance - we will definitely crash. But if we look up, straight ahead to where we are going - everything down below will be taken care of. The same with obedience to God. So often we are consumed with solving our problems and figuring out our future when we just need to focus on one thing - what is God calling me to do today? James shows us that this the key to resisting the evil power of the devil in our lives is our humility and submission to God. These are two sides of the same coin - submitting to God and resisting the devil. People love to talk about all the mystical spiritual things we need to do to have power over the devil and over spiritual evil in our lives. Scripture makes it very clear - its not the devil we obsess over - its our focus on GOD and his LORDSHIP in our lives - and when our heart is SET to obey. When we are obeying God we are simultaneously resisting the devil. James says "when you are focused in your heart to be submitted to God, its not just that you will have the strength to endure evil in you life - you will have total victory to the point that Satan himself will FLEE from you..." 3. Humility means drawing near to God in genuine repentance. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. What kind of obedience does God want from us? "draw near to God and he will draw near to you." obedience to many is a cold hard word - God has so many requirements and demands. James shows us the very opposite. The commands of God, submission that he calls us to - is designed to bring us close to him. This hits on a core theme in all of Scripture - God created us for intimate, covenant relationship. I will be your God and you will be my poeple. Jesus highlights to us the heart of God in the parable of the prodigal son - what was the father doing when the son was far away? Luke 15:20 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Is this not amazing that OUR GOD draws near to us?? What prevents us from drawing near to God and experiencing his love and grace? So often it is our own sin and selfishness - this is why as James is calling us he is also giving us one of the most thorough and clear calls to repentence found in the NT. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humility always leads to genuine repentence. It leads us to come before God with a deep awareness of our sin and brokenness. And it includes our whole life - cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded. You admit you wrong actions AND your wrong attitudes. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Some christians take everything way too seriously and think joy is a sin. But our generation has a different problem. we are too simplistic and just always want good vibes only. we never want to be serious. We don't like verses that tell us to mourn and weep. Obviously James is not saying we should never be happy - his whole letter started with a call to joy. What he is doing here is calling us to embrace the seriousness of sin in our lives. But life is serious. Sin is serious. Our need for God every day is serious. Repentance and spiritual renewal is a very central part of the christian life. This is often the KEY to drawing hear to God in the midst of our crazy lives. Repentence. True and powerful humilty is a humility that comes to God in honesty daily - confessing sin, taking it seriously. feeling the weight of your selfishness and your failures. what role does repentence play in your spiritual life? Some christians dont think they ever really need to repent because we repent once and God forgives everything. It is true that God forgives everything and we are justified by faith once and for all. But it is also true that WE are in need of constant spiritual realignment. Joel 2:12-13 12 Even now— this is the Lord’s declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, Do you repent regularly? Do you have a healthy seriousness in your spiritual life? Is there an awareness of the evil of sin in your life? It is this humble repentance that is the key to power and freedom in our lives. James finishes where he started. "humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you." God's goal is always our exaltation, our restoration, our glory. But he makes clear to us that the path to that is through the path of humility. The path to resurrection and new life is through the path of humility and death. This is the whole story of salvation that God himself walks through. This is the path that GOD Himself has walked for us, and walks WITH us. We are approaching the christmas season - it is the commemoration of the glorious reality that God entered our world as a child. He lived a full life. He humbled himself to the level of a servant. Not only that, he took our sins upon himself. Jesus gave his perfect life for us, he perfect account give to us, our guilty condemned account given to him. Philippians 2:8-9 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you the ocean of God's grace is ever ready for those who simply let go of their selfishness and draw near to him in humility, obedience and repentence. Application: - Do you see God's commands as condemning, or as empowering? - Are you constantly struggling with the weight of guilt for all that you aren't? - What is the state of your heart before God today? - Are you truly humbled in your heart? Or are you fighting pridefully against him? - Are you following the path of biblical humility? - What are the commands of God he is calling you to obey today? - What are the sins that he is calling you to draw near in repentance?

Confronting our Disordered Desires - The Letter of James - James 4:1-5

November 12, 2023 • Andrey Bulanov • James 4:1–5

Outline: 1. Our conflicts and troubles arise from our selfish desires. 2. Our selfish desires drive us to disorder and chaos. 3. Our selfish desires make us enemies of God. Scripture References: • James 4:1-5 • Jeremiah 17:9 • 1 Peter 2:11 Application Questions: • Do you see your own heart as the source of your greatest conflicts and struggles? • What are the results of following your selfish desires in your life today? • Is Jesus the one that your heart prizes above all else? • What are the selfish desires that are pulling your heart away from God today? ------------ Example of disordered desires We are continuing our journey through James a very practical letter written to the earliest christians scattered in various regions around Jerusalem. One thing that is clear is that the churches that James is writing to were experiencing difficulties and trials. It is also clear that they were characterized by a cluster of problems - not a single big problem - but a collection of problems that were very unhealthy. And James has been working directly to challenge these problems. Today get to the heart of these problems as James comes to his most direct challenge. James is like a brother who loves us too much to not tell us directly the thing that is wrong in our lives. His central challenge for us today is to consider the seriousness and the danger of our selfish desires. 1. Our conflicts and troubles arise from our selfish desires. "1. What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don't they come from your passions that wage war within you?" The automatic tendency that we as self centered humans have is to see our surroundings as the source of our problems. Consider the often used phrases: • "She made me so angry when she said that. How could she say such a thing about me?" • "We are always fighting and arguing because he is so impatient and insensitive to the things I am trying to communicate to him." • "I can't work with him because he just drives me up the wall with all his talking." If we pause in the middle of any conflict and ask the question - what is the reason for this conflict? The usual answer is to direct all our fuming and burning emotion at everything that the person did or said to us. The whole time as James has been speaking to us - he has been shining a powerful mirror to our own hearts as the source of our problems. Here he comes to the center of the problem and he does it with another simple question. What is the source of the wars and fights among you? what is the SOURCE "life is just hard and messy" "people are so difficult and unfair.." Almost always we like to paint ourselves in the best light - "ive been trying to do the right thing....I've done everything I could, but this person makes it impossible to have a normal conversation!" James listens and just shakes his head - What is the SOURCE?? "Don't they come from your passions that wage war within you??" James starts by pointing to the wars that are outside of us - the most obvious part - but he moves to point to the wars that wage inside of us as the true conflict. We spend a LOT of time thinking about the conflicts we have with people. We spend a lot less time thinking about the conflicts we have inside ourselves within our own passions and desires. James asks a question, and in this question he is pointing to the real priority. Isn't that backwards? It it backwards to think a lot about what other said or did and spend very little time asking, "how is my selfishness and pride playing a role here?" The most difficult thing for us to understand is our own heart. This is the lens through which we look at all the world around us - the lens through which we interpret, decide and respond to everything that goes on. So if your heart is driven by selfish desires it pollutes how you see everything and everyone around you - including yourself. This is why we are often so utterly blind to our own sin while seeing others so clearly. Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?" THIS IS THE REAL BATTLE OF YOUR LIFE. Do you know and are you honest with what is ACTUALLY going on in your own heart??? Most people are not honest with themselves about what goes on in their hearts. This is another reason why we need christian community. We need godly poeple to tell us what they see in us, to challenge us and help us have clarity. 2. Our selfish desires drive us to disorder and chaos. 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James launches into a series of statements that expand on what he means. "don't your problems come from the desires that wage war inside you??" Here we see that James moves a bit deeper than just talking about conflicts we have with other people - he dives to the desires that are behind those conflicts. "you desire and you do not have." The foundation of everything we struggle with is the fact that we desire things that we don't have. Think about it. All conflict, frustration, saddness, struggle, pain -- all comes as the result of unfilfilled desire. Everything in our lives is driven by the simple words, "I want..." I want more respect I want more friends I want better financial stability I want this season of life to be over I want a family I want better health I want to stop feeling the way I feel What happens when we don't have what we want? James says - you start to battle for it. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. I don't think he is talking about actual murder here but there is a important connection between desperate desire and murder. If you read or listen to stories about true crime and how and why it is that ordinary poeple end up commiting murder. No one wakes up one day and say, "I think I'd like to kill someone today." Well actualy there are poeple like that but very very rare. Most murderers are not murderers first. They are people who fight desperately for what they want - and they end up becoming murderers. following our desires creates the chaos in our lives. 1 Pet. 2:11 “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” As sinners, our hearts are constantly filled with sinful desires and these sinful desires "wage war against your soul". THIS is the true danger we face! HERES THE TRICK - its that you hold on to these desires rather than examining them and letting them go to see if they are from the Lord. We are married to our desires and we are cheating on God. 3. Our selfish desires make us enemies of God. 4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. 5 Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely? Application Questions: • Do you see your own heart as the source of your greatest conflicts and struggles? • What are the results of following your selfish desires in your life today? • Is Jesus the one that your heart prizes above all else? ◦ (this is a yes or no question!) • What are the selfish desires that are pulling your heart away from God today?

The Wisdom From Above - The Letter of James - James 3:13-18

November 5, 2023 • Victor Kuksenko • James 3:13–18

James 3:13-18 We often think of ourselves as wise! We may not say it, but we consider our actions as right decisions. • In our day there are many who say they are wise: ◦ The fact that we have the "social media influencer" tells us that all of us think we are wise. They present themselves as knowing what they are talking about. ◦ We have the "experts", those who have done the learning and research and are accredited by universities as knowing everything about parenting, marriage and life. ◦ Or In the church we might have those as well, ⁃ Either those who may present themselves as "spiritual guru's" that know life, and have experiences. They speak with certainty. ⁃ Or those who have studied long and hard and are telling others how to live. Because they are the "educated" James is pretty clear on the fact that those who teach in any form often think of themselves as wise. So he goes along to question their wisdom. Because there are two different kind of wisdom in the world: wisdom from God and wisdom from man. One is leading to life and the other leads to destruction and chaos. We will make four observations from the text: 1. Importance of wisdom (13a) 2. Man's Wisdom (14-16) 3. God's Wisdom (13b, 17-18) ~~~ He begins the topic with a question "Who among you is wise and understanding?" I. Importance of Wisdom (v.13a) This question presupposes that we understand the importance of wisdom for our life. • Wisdom is what gives us the ability to navigate through life correctly. • When wisdom is acquired it lead to a successful life. • God's wisdom is woven in the fabric of our world, because God created this world in wisdom. And people may see it and gleam wisdom from it. • The Bible speak a lot of about the importance of wisdom as Aleksey read in Proverbs 3:. ◦ Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy. (Proverbs 3:13-18) Wisdom is essential to a life of happiness and satisfaction! • The Bible says "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord" ◦ Have you ever wondered why? ◦ Because our Lord created this universe, and he is the central figure to everything, ◦ God created this world to run a certain way. ⁃ He gave it laws, and order. He told it how to function. ⁃ When God created mankind, He created a path of blessing for them. If only they would follow it, they will be blessed. ◦ He gave us responsibility and direction in life. ◦ Now wisdom is acknowledging God as the ruler of the universe and learning from Him, submitting to Him and seeking his ways of life. But the problem is, we have our own way of living that is apart from God in our hearts. II. Man's Wisdom v. 14-16 • As humanity we rebelled against God. We chose our own life. Because we thought we knew better. ◦ WE became fools. ◦ We exchanged the path of life and the path of blessing to a path of thorns and death. ◦ The path of foolishness which leads to brokenness. ⁃ Now we experience pain and suffering and chaos. • We created our own ways of living in this dark world, and it is motivated by our own selves. Which is worldly wisdom ⁃ We became blind to the reality that it should not be so. ⁃ That there is true satisfaction and joy. • In our world there are many voices that tell us how to live and what to think. Where is thinking and wisdom coming from? • That foundational drive is called: "Man's wisdom" This wisdom is not from God, it is man made wisdom. James calls it three things: • Earthly wisdom - that means it is not from above from heaven. ◦ This means it is not in connection to God, it is apart from God. • Also he calls it "unspiritual" or "worldly" wisdom - meaning it is devoid of the Spirit of God. ◦ The Spirit is the one that imparts wisdom unto us. But this wisdom is not from God. ◦ This wisdom is not centered on God at all, but on fleshly things. • He also calls it demonic wisdom  ◦ This does not mean you're demon possession but for his purposes and his plans.. ◦ He is illuminating that this wisdom has satanic interests. ◦ EX: Jesus rebukes Peter and says get away from me "Satan", (Matt. 16:16-23) - Jesus is saying to Peter that that wisdom and thinking is Satanic, contrary to the interests of God. The heart of this wisdom is: Envy and selfish ambition. • He says it twice: v. 14 "But is you have bitter envy and selfish ambition" and then in v. 16 "where there is envy and selfish ambition" • Envy - one dictionary says "Envy is the resentful and even hateful dislike of the good fortune or blessing of another.” ◦ At the heart of envy is yourself!!! ◦ notice not simply envy, but "bitter envy", self possessed desires that dislike anything that is not meant to praise you ◦ Does that not say anything about our deep heart desires????? • Selfish ambition ◦ Motivated about something because it is for yourself. ◦ One dictionary says it well  "it is a strong drive for personal success without moral inhibitions" ◦ Anything works if it is only for you, no matter what that is, no matter how wrong it may be, it is good because it is for me. ◦ Notice selfish ambition may have good works. Meaning the person may be motivated to be a missionary or support the needy or go to seminary. But all that is motivated by selfishness. ⁃ The person may do "good works" but they are destructive to their family, and to people that know them. • This wisdom leads to To disorder and every evil practice • In other words it leads to chaos and hurt! • No matter how smart someone may appear and their life put together, if there is sin glorified and praised, there will be chaos and brokenness. ◦ Sin does not make sense, it is a distortion of something beautiful, orderly and praiseworthy. The heart is the problem, and the world celebrates that, and makes it normal. But it is not. • Everyone realizes that there is craziness all over, but no one is willing to admit that they are that problem. Yet there is wisdom that is from God that lead to life and blessing But it is only found in God, _________________________ III. God's Wisdom v. 13, 17-18 • God out of his great love for us, sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. ◦ He lived a perfect life in totally obedience to God, he was truly wise. ◦ He was the spotless lamb of God who took all of our sins and paid the price with his own blood. ◦ But he was not dead for long, because on the third day he rose again. • Now he extends his hands to all who believe and receive him by trusting his work on the cross, will be saved. Notice that Godly wisdom: This wisdom is seen through good conduct, not simply speech. Wisdom is not simply imparting knowledge to those around you. And not only does this wisdom show up in works, but these works are done in "gentleness" other translations translated as "meekness" or "humility" God is fully wise and is the ultimately the one that gives his wisdom • His wisdom is there for building up, strengthening and giving direction and purpose. • James 1:5 "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God- who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly - and it will be given to him" • Wisdom of God is from the heart that seeks God. It is in submission to him. ◦ “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) "The divine wisdom is like a fountain of goodness, depicting a dynamic development of virtues. When heavenly wisdom is operative in the believer’s life, one virtue is linked wonderfully to another." - Richardson, K. A. Notice that these virtues to wisdom is in a chain link. Purity Notice that the first and key characteristic of God's wisdom is "PURITY" • Purity in this context is synonymous with "holiness" ◦ God is holy, and this wisdom comes from him. ◦ It is compared to a LIGHT that has no darkness in it at all. It illuminates all things. • If a person is living in sin, he cannot have God's wisdom, for it is pure. • By definition, sin is to do things against, yet God's wisdom is in line with God's ways. Each is apposed to one another. Peace-loving - is a person that does not seek war. This means even in his own heart, this person is able to control his temper when things get hard, because he knows that it will not help. Gentle - some translate this as "considerate", or "non-combative". Wisdom is able to gather information without taking sides. It is fair and reasonable when making conclusions. • Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. • Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 " Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, for in your heart you know that many times you yourself have cursed others." Compliant - some translate it as "submissive". in other words wisdom is open to receive suggestions and is able to take correction and admonition. • Proverbs 19:20 "Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life." Full of mercy and good fruits • MERCY: ◦ Mercy is to show care for those who don't deserve it. ⁃ God is merciful, he forgave our debt by paying for it himself. ◦ Wisdom is able "full of mercy", able to have this heart that is pouring out care and compassion on people who don't deserve. • Good fruits - this is an action to other people. In connection to mercy, good fruits are like providing grace to people. ◦ The fruits are good to those around them, weather they deserved it or not. Unwavering, without pretense. • Unwavering - is often translated as "Impartial", is not swayed by the appearance of the person or what his person is able to give him. But rather able to see the person neutral as they are. ◦ Proverbs 18:17 "The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him. ◦ There is carefulness to this person that seeks to understand a situation or people. • Without pretense - as some translate it as "sincere", is not pretend to help you, but actually is listening to you and look for ways to help you. Notice how he ends God's wisdom with: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace" • A commentator Simon Kistenmaker reformulates it well by saying "righteousness cannot be produced in the climate of bitterness and self-seeking. Righteousness will grow only in a climate of peace.” • Wise people are peacemakers. They are like farmers who sows the seed of peace. These are peaceable deeds that then grow into righteousness. ◦ As man's wisdom leads to chaos, God's wisdom leads to fruit and blessing! • "A church that is rich in reconciling activities, that is, evangelism, the defense of the poor, counseling the troubled, offering hospitality to the stranger, providing shelter for the battered, sending gospel missionaries throughout the world, and many more, certainly reaps a rich harvest of righteousness" (Richardson) In conclusion: "Who among you is wise and understanding? - Prove it by your good works in gentleness • We are born into man made wisdom that leads ultimately to chaos and all kinds of evil. ◦ If you are not saved from that, you can today, just come to Jesus, he came to save you from your sins and to give you an abundant life. • If you are saved Jesus broke our proud stubborn hearts so that we can submit to God. ◦ We need to grow in our submission to God. ◦ Seek Him, and his will, because it is best for us ◦ Fight sin for it clouds our eyes of wisdom. • Know that true wisdom is not flamboyant, loud, and arrogant, knowing what to say to any argument. ◦ But rather God's wisdom is kind and loving and gentle. It is to seek others best interest. • Wisdom is not gained in some forest meditating for hours, but in God. Amen!

The Gospel Gage - The Letter of James - James 3:1-12

October 22, 2023 • Andrew Pack • James 3:1–12

The Gospel Gage James 3:1-12 Gospel Teaching Gospel Teacher Gospel Tongue Gospel Test (Gospel Teaching) Gospel Teacher Gospel Tongue Gospel Test Gospel Teaching (Gospel Teacher) Gospel Tongue Gospel Test Gospel Teaching Gospel Teacher (Gospel Tongue) Gospel Test Gospel Teaching Gospel Teacher Gospel Tongue (Gospel Test) Gospel Teaching "Not Many should become teachers, my brothers" James 3:1 Gospel Teacher "Not Many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body" James 3:1-2 Gospel Tongue "Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies. And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things." James 3:3-5 "Consider how a small fire sets a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:5-8 Gospel Test "With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God's likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water" James 3:9-12

Faith Works - The Letter of James - James 2:14-26

October 15, 2023 • Andrey Bulanov • James 2:14–26

Outline: 1. A faith that is not accompanied by actions of obedience is no faith at all. 2. Our actions do not make us right with God; they just reveal if we ARE right with God. 3. Our faith grows and develops as we step out in courageous obedience to follow our Savior. Scripture References: - James 2:!4-26 - Luke 6:43-46 - Romans 3:28 - 2 Peter 1:3-10 Application: - What kind of faith do my works reveal? - Has Jesus ever truly captivated my heart? Have I ever truly come to know who he is and what he has done? - As a christian - do you intend to live a spiritually powerful life? Are you committed to it? Are you seeking it? - Does your daily spiritual life revolve more about you and your feelings? Or is it a dynamic and personal relationship with Jesus and his callings on your life? Discussion questions: - How do we explain the seeming contradiction between Paul and James? - Does this passage teach that we can automatically know who is a real christian and who is fake? - What does James teach us about the daily relationship between our faith and our works? - Why is our daily intention to obey God so important? - What is the difference between being self centered versus Christ centered in our spiritual life? -------- Read passage There is a marked contrast that exists in the church throughout the ages. Some are willing to be burned at the stake of Jesus, some feel like a hero if they read their Bible three times this week. Some are extremely rules oriented and critical if anyone doesn't match their standards. Some say you can be a christian and do anything you want, as long as you prayed a prayer once - you are saved. These contrasts all intersect on one key issue - how does our faith in Jesus relate to our lives and the things we do. One of the constant struggle of the Christian life is trying to figure out what is the relationship between our faith in Jesus and our daily works our acts of obedience? On the one hand, we are constantly challenged by guilt, because we are never good enough, and we fail, and we struggle with sin even though we trust Jesus, even though we have a new heart, and even though we desire to walk in his ways, we’re never fully living up to the calling we’re constantly stumbling and we’re battling a sense of guilt for that On the other hand, we lean an imbalance that way in the direction of saying that we are saved by grace only and through faith, and that means that it doesn’t matter how much we fail, and it doesn’t matter how much we struggle we are still saved Many people get very uncomfortable if you talk about any action of obedience, any emphasis on effort, because they say that that is Works religion, and that is not based on faith, and that is not based on God’s grace Some, go as far as to say that if you ever talk in Christianity about putting effort to obedience, and if you ever talk about the importance of obedience to God's calling, you've gone beyond the gospel, because the gospel is only about trusting in Jesus, and believing in nothing else on the other extreme, you've always had people who will make Christianity all about works. They will always make Christianity all about what you do and how you prove yourself through your actions, and there is extremely critical. This is a central spiritual struggle for all Christians in all times. We are constantly tempted to separate our faith and dependence and belief and devotion in God from our daily actions and how we behave. Either we don’t have faith, and we just have actions, and we depend on our good works in our actions to make ourselves feel good with God that is human religion Or we are living a life that is full of disobedience to Gods ways, and we are not walking in the things that he calls us to walk in, but we compensate for our sin by having extra spiritual emphasis in our life and we think just because I believe in Jesus and I do spiritual things it’s OK that I have these other things in my life I’m just struggling James is speaking directly into this tension. This separation between faith and works and what he hopes to show us in this text is that you cannot separate the two actually there two sides of the same coin. A genuine life of faith and trust in Jesus inevitably flows over and is tied into a life of strong, powerful obedience to God. 1. A faith that is not accompanied by actions of obedience is no faith at all. 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. As we zoom out here and look at the context of this book, we realize that James is dealing with a group of Christian’s that are saying one thing about believing in Jesus, but their life and their behavior is completely different You can see this clearly, especially as you look at how James talks about poverty and wealth, and how people in the church are treating each other. It was clear that they were people in the church who were wealthy, who were exploiting poor people they were miss treating them they were saying a lot of good spiritual things, but they were not taking care of each other and loving each other as Christians. A number of people in this church were preoccupied with worldly pursuits of money and wealth and their methods to pursue. Those things were often completely in conflict with what they said they believe about Jesus. James point in this whole passage is very simple. He just tries to say this faith without action that demonstrates that faith is dead meaning, it’s no face at all. What’s important to notice is that James is not telling us that it’s good that you have faith but you need to add to that Faith by doing good works.  Notice what he says he says if someone claims they have faith, but they have no works in their life, there’s no demonstration of that Faith there’s no visible actions of obedience to God’s word. What kind of faith is this? The obvious answer is that this is not a faith that’s going to save him. This is a dead faith. In other words. This is not a faith at all. It’s not like there’s different levels of faith that he’s talking about here and he’s talking about some people who are very big in their faith, and their faith has works and actions, and then there’s baby Christians, who have faith that they don’t have any works. No, he’s trying to say the simple thing he says if you, if your faith in God is not accompanied by visible at our actions in obedience to God’s word you don’t have faith. And he illustrates that in this example where he says if you see somebody in need and they’re starving and they don’t have clothing and they don’t have a roof for the over their head and you just come up to them and you give them some nice words and send them on the way In other words, your actions invalidate your words There have always been people who come to God's presence, who claim God's promises, who speak very good - but their hearts and their lives are far from him. Luke 6:43-46 43 “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? There are so many people in the church who say they believe and claim that they trust in Jesus but when you look at their lives - the words they say, the interests they have, the music they listen to, the things that fill their minds - there is NOTHING in their about following Jesus. Why are you here today? Are you here because your family brought you? Are you here because you are looking for answers? Are you here because you are looking for a spiritual emotional boost? Or are you here because you are a follower of Jesus and you genuinely want to know him more, love his church and live for his kingdom? Faith that is not revealed in actions of obedience is no faith at all! Well i guess the question is what do you mean by actions? How good is good enough? And more specifically, how do my faith and my actions connect or relate to each other? 2. Our actions do not make us right with God; they just reveal if we ARE right with God. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. There is an obvious reason why for many, this passage seems to go completely against other parts of the new testament - especially Paul's who teaching about justification by faith alone - not through works. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Romans 3:28 "For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law" There are many people who create so much drama over this passage - as if it is saying totally contradictory things. And if you are not paying attention and just trying to pick out some problems in the bible then you may think this does sound kinda contradictory. But that is totally absurd because it is very clear from Paul and James that they are NOT contradicting each other. - Paul and James are using the word "justified" differently. - Paul is talking about how we are made right with God - - Justification - how do i get my sins forgiven? How do I reach the status of being "not guilty" in God's court? - James is talking about how we KNOW someone is REALLY made right with God? How do we know someone is truly a believer?  - Justification - how do I prove the genuineness of my faith? The problem with us, self-centered sinners is that we always wanna rely on our efforts in our works to be the foundation for identity We always want to feel like God must bless us because we’ve done so good So when you ask the classic question when you get to heavens gates, and God asks you, "why should I let you into heaven?" so many people who have spent their lives in the church or around Christianity simply go on to say well I’ve tried my best to be a good person. I’ve done these good things I went to church I didn’t rob, steal or kill. I’ve been a pretty good person and I’ve tried really hard and because of that I hope God will let me into heaven That is why many people will face a terrible surprised when they face God at the end. Nobody gets into heaven from doing good things THIS is what Paul is after in Romans 3 - it is establishing very clearly for us that NONE of us has ANY hope for getting if its based on our obedience to God's laws. We are lost! Our only hope is if GOD HIMSELF has found a way to clear our guilt - to wash away the very very long list of all the ways that we have repeatedly fallen short. I love how Allistar Begg describes the way the thief on the cross next to Jesus must have arrived in heaven. "Have you ever been to church? - no. What do you know about biblical theology? not much. Have you ever given money to the poor? no, i robbed them. Tell me about your prayer life? Not much to tell. Have you ever read the Bible??? Not really." Why are you here??? "The man on the middle cross said I could come." Why should I let you into heaven? Because I’ve trusted in Jesus, for my only hope, and my righteousness, and I have been washed clean because he has died in my place. Because the Son of God became a man so he could take the punishment due to men and give to us the status that only the Son of God himself deserves. That’s the question Paul is asking that question Paula’s answering nobody is justified by works only by faith in Jesus . Now there could be a second question that God can ask. How do I know that you have trust in Jesus? This is the question that James is asking. To that question we can give an answer. Yes, lord I have never been perfect, and I’ve always struggled and yet at the same time I have loved your word I have walked in your ways I have white love live them on your people not because that is something I do to earn the reward, but because I have been given the reward of life in Jesus, and that he is my only hope in my direction, he has captivated my heart, and I desire to live nothing more than this, and even though I feel many times, I confess my sins and I run back to you because I have nowhere else to go because you are my life! Genuine, faith, genuine, trust in God, means, knowing what God has done who he he is seeing him as the supreme treasure of our lives, trusting in his salvation for us, and clinging to him for our life Real faith in Jesus is inseparable from a conscious, clear commitment to two prize to value, and to follow Jesus, and to be his disciple in all of life This is why real faith is inseparable from a life that is committed to being his disciple to following him into working for his kingdom with our life Notice how in verse 22 he says that with Abraham offering up his son Isaac his faith was active among in along side his works Real faith works. it changes us. it channels our hearts to a new direction. Notice how in Hebrews 11 - there are SO MANY VERBS. by faith so and so did this and by faith so and so did that and by faith so .... Your actions always reveal where your real faith lies. Your actions always point to what you truly believe is the most important and most trustworthy thing in your life. This is why if your actions show that there is no real faith in your life - you don't just need to try harder. Obedience is never a issue of sheer will power - just try harder and you will obey God! - No - if you are not following Jesus, you need to as WHY?? Why has Jesus not captivated my heart? you don't need try harder - you need to get to know Jesus more! you need to focus your heart and life on who he is and what he has really done for you! You actions of obedience will naturally flow from a heart that is captivated, changed and trusting in Jesus. 3. Our faith grows and develops as we step out in courageous obedience to follow our Savior. 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. Our actions reveal our faith (or its absence) But that is not all James is saying. Notice how James is describing a dynamic relationship between our actions and our faith... "faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete..." If you know the story of Abraham - you know its the story of a very imperfect man. But throughout his story - his faith grows and develops. How does it grow? As he struggles and practices and learns to courageously take actions to follow God's Word in his life. If we just said that our trust in God is tested in our daily struggles and trials and our call to walk in obedience. We ALSO know that our struggles STRETCH our faith - they push us outside our comfort zone, and we are always learning, through trail and error. You see, God did not merely create a transaction in salvation. He didn't just sign a deal. He has given us the gift of forgiveness and sins and the gift of new life - he has given us his Word and his Spirit - so that he may invite us into a daily relationship with him - a relationship where he calls us to follow him in obedience in the midst of all the challenges we face. Its not just about "being good" - its about having a new heart so that we can follow HIM back out into the world in the adventure of living for his kingdom everywhere we are. And the more we actively follow him and serve him and seek his ways in our lives - the more we battle with our selfishness and the evil in the world - the more our faith GROWS. God told Abraham that through Isaac will come all his descendants. And then he asked him to give Isaac up and sacrifice him. Abraham knew that God would not lie - and so he new that God would provide a miracle - even if that meant bringing back Isaac from the dead. Did that make it easy for Abraham to come within milliseconds of the death of his own son?? No. But you know what - Abraham came down from that mountain a changed man. His faith was changed - because he followed God into the scariest storm of his life, and even though it didn't make sense he still trusted and kept following - and too the ultimate leap of faith - and God caught him. The more we step out in courageous obedience to God, the more we stake our lives on Jesus and his Word - the more he comes through to provide, guide and lead our lives in ways we never could have imagined. The problem we get into is we get so self focused - we mope and we complain about our own emotions, we become so self focused our faith is not in Jesus, our faith is in our spiritual feelings and status... Is your daily spiritual condition more focused on yourself than on Jesus? The christian life is a relationship with a person - more than that, it is an amazing invitation to know him and to follow him and live for his mission in the world. "...and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend." 2 Peter 1:3-10 3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. Peter says- if you are a christian - you have the power to obey God! And the more you pursue life in him, the more your faith will grow! One christian author says this powerful observation - why so many christians not living spiritually powerful and devoted lives? Not because they don't know about it or because they don't have the power - its just because they have never really truly intended it. So many ppl say, "oh well faith and bible is one thing but real life is another..." Really?? Are you ok with a christianity that just says "I believe" ? James says - this is no christianity at all. Martin Luther gives us these beautiful words on faith - "O it is a living, busy active mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good things incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done this, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an unbeliever. He gropes and looks around for faith and good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Yet he talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works."  Moo, D. J. (2000). The letter of James (p. 144). Eerdmans; Apollos. Application: - What kind of faith do my works reveal? - Has Jesus ever truly captivated my heart? Have I ever truly come to know who he is and what he has done? - As a christian - do you intend to live a spiritually powerful life? Are you committed to it? Are you seeking it? - Does your daily spiritual life revolve more about you and your feelings? Or is it a dynamic and personal relationship with Jesus and his callings on your life?

Loving Others Without Favoritism - The Letter of James - James 2:8-13

October 8, 2023 • Vitaly Kunda • James 2:8–13

1. The Command: Don't show favoritism “My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.”‭‭ The Example: Rich vs Poor “For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”‭‭ The Reasons: God chose the poor & the rich oppress “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?”‭‭ 1. More reasons for no partiality (v. 8-9) 2. Seriousness of partiality (v. 10,11) 3. Solution to partiality (v. 12,13) 1. More reasons for no partiality A. Lord pleasing life (positive) “Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.”‭‭ 1. More reasons for no partiality B. Partiality is a great sin (negative) “If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”‭‭ 2. Seriousness of partiality “For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.”‭‭ 3. Solution to partiality A. Live as the one who has been set free “Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.”‭‭ 3. Solution to partiality B. Live as the one who has been shown mercy “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”‭ Questions: - Who are those that are hard to love, those who are different, those who are undeserving your love or maybe even your enemies? - Why is it important to fight the sin of favoritism in your life? - How does the reality of future judgement exhorts you in regards to your speech and behavior towards others? - Take time and remind yourself how much mercy you have been shown by our Lord. Ask Jesus to teach you how to practice life of sacrificial love in specific relationships.

The Sin of Favoritism - The Letter of James - James 2:1-7

October 1, 2023 • Victor Kuksenko • James 2:1–7

In our current text, James is addressing a particular problem that was very evident among the Christians: and that is  favoring the rich over the poor. It seems that the early church consisted primarily of the poor people, especially in Judea and Jerusalem, which are the people James is writing to. The tendency was to elevate the rich and show them honor and in the process lower the poor. This truth is very applicable to us: ~~We might say we're cool with everyone. But when I need to get out of my comfort zone and talk, serve and love people, we start having a problem with it. ~~Or our churches may look like refined beautified buildings where only a certain class of people can come. We create a culture, that you need to drive a certain car or have a certain job to be here. But where are all the poor? The needy? Those who can't provide for themselves? Are they welcomed here??? These people are not easy people. ~~Are there a certain kind of people we don't like? Perhaps we need to reassess that today. The text has a simple structure which we will follow. The Command: Don't show favoritism - v. 1 The Example: Rich vs Poor- v. 2-4 The Reasons: God chose the poor & the rich oppress - v.5-7 I. The Command: Don't show favoritism - v.1 James is telling us not to show favoritism as we are holding on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus. Favoritism - as James defines it in v. 4 it is to be a judge with evil thoughts. It is to judge corruptly based on personal benefit. You treat someone with honor simply because you can get something out of them, and treat others with disgrace because they are filthy and smelly. Leviticus 19:15 "You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor." Favoritism is partiality, where we treat people differently based on what they can do for you or who they are. James it is treating the rich and wealthy better than the poor. It is making a distinction between people by treating one person better than the other. As you know that the great symbol of Justice is often depicted as a blindfolded lady holding the scales. The idea is no matter what the person is, we treat them according to what happened, or what should be, not who they are. In America and other countries the rich get away with things all the time. That is not how it should be with Christians. And yet James beautifully points out that the one who is to truly be in honored above all is Jesus Christ our Lord who is glorious. He is truly who revealed God to us. As John 1:14 "The word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Richardson says "Jesus is the embodiment of the divine ruling and saving glory of GOD!" Thus the the one who is truly glorious and beautiful is Jesus Himself. He is to be honored above all. We cannot treat people differently based on their looks, clothing, wealth, position and language. Does that mean we don't show honor to people at all? - of course not, Paul says in Romans 13:7 "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." What is different here? - It is treating someone with respect because they have a high honor in the expanse of someone else. To be biased in your judgement of someone or something. That is precisely where James is going next, showing Favoritism in action. II. The Example: Rich vs. Poor - v. 2-4 It doesn't seem that this was an actual situation, but rather a hypothetical scenario. Notice how James describes them. The first person is not just said to be wealthy but he is described to have a "gold ring and fine cloths". In other words this person appears to be rich and that means he has power in society. That means he can help me if I treat him right. The second person is a poor person dressed in filth cloths. This person is often the one you have to provide for. The one you give bread and supplies to without expecting anything in return. Now it says "you look with favor on the one wearing fine clothes" BUT -  Do we not see ourselves here??? When an important person comes to church, we flock to help and escort them, but when a simple folk comes in that we don't know, we are hesitant If a person comes to church who smells really bad, where will you put him? We an say well for the sake of other we have a spot for him outside, right???? What about a mother with loud kids, who can be distracting at times. Do we wish they went to the other service? What about a business person who has a lot of people working for them, would we be willing to point out his or her sin? What about a person of status, do we approach their ideas with reverence but treat other ideas as nothing? Consider ourselves here: do we make distinctions among people? Do we become judges with evil thoughts? If you remember when apostle Peter came to visit Antioch and had no problem eating with Gentiles, but as soon as the Jews came he starts to show partiality to them. To the point that Paul confronts Peter in front of them all and even writes this in his letter to the Galatians. I will argue that All of us have favoritism in our hearts and need to fight against it. Favoritism is a sister to racism. They help each other treat people wrongly!!! the value of someone is based on selfish motives and desires. We can subconsciously or consciously treat people differently and justify ourselves. But that is wrong! and we need to repent of that. That is why in our church none of the pastors know how much anyone tithes, so that there would be any favoritism. Or in counseling questions, family members of elders, we keep everyone in check the same way. Would we rebuke someone even though they have huge family connection to people in our church?? The person might be in sin, and needs corrective discipline and it should not matter if they tithe a lot or have certain close family relationships to the people. They are under the word of God as everyone else. James goes on to tell give us a few reasons why Favoritism is incompatible with our Faith. He present a few arguments but we will focus on the first two. III. The Reasons: God chose the poor & the rich oppress - v.5-7 Before James gives the reasons, he says "Listen brothers and sisters". Which is as if he is holding the readers face and says, "please listen to what I am about to say" And he goes on ask three questions where the answer is "yes" He says: Didn't God chose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?" God is the one who holds the universe in his hands. He is building his kingdom and notice his strategy: he does not chose the best of the world, the elites , the most successful people in the world. But on the opposite, he choses the poor of the world. The people that cannot give back, those who are the lowest. They serve out of their poverty trusting that God will supply them. 1 Cor. 1:26-29 "Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world - what is viewed as nothing to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence" Jesus came to preach the gospel to the outcasts of society: His 12 disciple were made up of: fishermen, religious fanatics, a tax collector (who was lowest of low for Jews). Jesus connected with the poor. He healed the sick, lame, the unclean He cared for those who were sent out of the city, the lepers and the possessed. He came for the gentiles, the women, and others. Does this mean that all the poor are chosen? - Of course not. But the poor are those people that cannot give back. The heart of the gospel is unmerited favor. Jesus does everything you simply receive by Faith! When Jesus reclined at the table with Tax collectors and Sinners with his disciples, the Pharisees who were the righteous people asked his disciples "why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus overhears that and tells them: It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matt. 9:12-13) Where the Pharisees not sinners? - of course they were, but they didn't see themselves as sinners, why would they need a savior. They didn't see themselves as sick, why would they need a physician. In reality all of us are poor in our souls. We may have everything, yet, in reality, the most important thing and that is God we don't have. Thus we all are broke spiritually, which kills us in all way. Like a broken engine, that may look great but cannot run. We look for things that fill that gap, the spiritual need. Yet, nothing can, because that gap is a billion miles long and only God can fill that with himself. Can the rich become Christians, of course but it is very very hard for them. Jesus himself says: "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (Matt. 19:24) WHY SO DIFFICULT? - because they are unable to let go of the physical things!!! In order to receive Jesus you have to let go of wealth. And if time happens for you to make a decision for Jesus you will. Notice how James speaks about them in v. 6 and 7. These rich people do a lot of wrong!!! Don't the rich oppress you? or in other words exploit you?? -the rich were exploiting people who were unable to defend themselves like the widows and the orphans. Don't they drag you to court? - the rich Jews were dragging the Christians to court. That is what Paul was doing when he was a Pharisee with power. Don't they slander Jesus's name? - the Christians revere the name of Jesus yet the rich don't really care about Him. James is telling the reader that favoritism does not make sense in our Christian faith. The rich do all kids of evil to you and yet you give them the best place. But the poor whom God chose to be rich you give them the lowest seat. The tendency of the world is to care for those who can benefit me. It's all about me, me, me. But God does something opposite, he takes on a human flesh for us. He experiences our brokenness for us. He goes to the cross for us. Because he loves us. It says that God loved us when we were sinners! Nothing good about us. Yet, he adopts us into his family. Favoritism is contrary to that, to the heart of the gospel. What gives us power to fight it is our souls is the gospel itself. Realizing who we are, that we are in fact poor and needy. That Jesus does not give up on us, when we sin and do foolish things. But forgives us and works with us. So should we. ~~Do we believe that we are poor before God, we need Him in all of our lives? Sometime ago I had a conversation with a doctor about Christianity and he pointed out that Christians are weak people, always needy and crying about their problems. And I said, yes that is in fact true. We have those who cannot help themselves. The church is a hospital of sick people that need help. And they realized that Jesus is the one that can give help to our hearts and to our lives. And so we praise him and cling to him. We need God, and without him we are ruined. Our lives are broken, we sin, we do dumb foolish things, we need someone to take care of us. We are sheep in need of a shepherd. In conclusion: Questions to think about: Do you see yourself as a poor and sinful before God? Come to him, simply as you are, for the forgiveness of sins. Believe and trust Him. Is there anything in this world that prevents you from fully coming to Him for help? - let that go, and grab on to Jesus Don't forget where God took you from, where he led you to. We often forget how we were walking to destruction and it is Him who pulled us out and gave us a new life. Are you battling favoritism? You may say I don't have problems with favoritism but that is not true everyone has issues with favoritism, it is the matter how I am battling it. When I see injustice, do I stand for what is right? Do I care for the needy and the poor? Do I speak for those who cannot speak? Do I love those whom the world rejects? Amen

The Blessing of the Doer - The Letter of James - James 1:25-27

September 24, 2023 • Andrey Bulanov • James 1:25–27

Outline: 1. Discipleship to Jesus is all about action. 2. The action of obedience is motivated by freedom and blessing. 3. True godliness is seen in what we say and who we serve. Scripture References: • James 1:22-27 • 1 John 5:2-4 Application: • Is your faith marked by a genuine desire to walk in God's ways? • What is the freedom that you are striving after? • What is the image of blessing and joy that captivates your heart? • Does your faith in Jesus move you to want to walk, talk and love like Jesus loved? Discussion questions: • What does it mean to live a discipleship that is oriented around our actions? How is this different from legalism? • What are some ways we are tempted in our lives to be dishonest with God and with ourselves about our selves? • Why do some people become humbled and godly in life and some people grow bitter and isolated in their sins? • What new actions must we take in our spiritual lives to work for real change? • How does your understanding of the gospel of Jesus function as the only fuel and motivation to a life of action? ------- Read text. One of the reasons I really love war stories, and stories of people and their heroic actions in the midst of war is because the danger intention of war exposes the true character of people in a unique way. It is what you do in the midst of pressure, fear, and danger that really shows who you are  People can talk a lot of things, and people can think of themselves many great things, but when the fierceness of battle strikes, all of that goes away. What is left is the rock action that reveals the true character of a person. One beautiful example of this is a man named Desmond Doss. His story is told in the movie Hacksaw Ridge. Doss what is a man whose religious convictions prevented him from carrying a gun But these convictions didn't prevent him from going to war and running into the fiercest Monday dress parts of the battle Since he couldn't carry a gun he decided he would do everything he can to help save soldiers who have been wounded. During the course of his service in the second world war he repeatedly ran into battle and danger and heavy bullet fire to carry into drag wounded man from danger. By the end of his service he had carried 75 men off the battlefield His religious convictions put him in a place where he could've easily avoided the most dangerous aspects of war. But he couldn't just sit on the sidelines. There was danger and there was need and he had to DO something about it! Today as we look at this passage what I hope to communicate to us is that true discipleship to Jesus and a true grasp of the good news of the Gospel is inseparable from a life of action and obedience. 1. Discipleship to Jesus is all about action. 22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does. Last week we looked at this passage from the angle of how it challenges our faith and causes us to see if we are GENUINE believers. It is a test between true and fake christians to look at their actions and their obedience to the truth. At the same time however, there is an aspect to this passage that is seeking to blow wind in the sails of our daily discipleship to Jesus - our daily life of faith, and encouraging us to embrace with joy a practice of constant action and obedience. Because of the selfish and sinful tendencies of our hearts, it is very easy for us to fall into a model of Christian life that is minimal on action, while at the same time, maintaining a sense or a look, or a feeling of spirituality. This is nothing new we see the same pattern and warnings throughout all of scripture This is true of fake believers and fake religious people, but it is also a constant temptation and challenge for true believers to be a lot more attentive of how they feel, and how they think, rather than what they actually do The words of James here are echoing Jesus in the sermon on the mount, so clearly. The way of true faith, in the way of true discipleship in the way of true trust in God is the way of being attentive to his words, and focusing your mind, your heart your life on your actions on who you are, and what you do in your every day life It is so easy for our christianity to become about our thoughts and feelings. About how God accepts us no matter how broken we are, about getting more motivation and experiencing positive emotions - and yet is amazing that for all the obsession with emotions and self love in todays christian world so many people are CONSTANTLY just down and depressed and unmotivated. It is TRUE that God accepts us and saves us not on the basis of our actions. It is true that we cannot change ourselves. However all the obsession with emotions often becomes a cover for the fact that at the end of the day, we really don't like someone telling us what to do. There is something very different about a mindset on life that lives with a constant focus on God's Word and your own daily actions - a heart that is open and always says, "Lord, teach me to change. Tell me what to do with my life and I want to do it." Is that a scary prayer for you? We are not talking about performance religion here. We are not talking about "do this and God will like you" we are not talking about "you can change yourself" we are not talking about "you can prove yourself". We are talking about practice. There is something radical that changes about your faith when you just allow the Word to constantly shine on your daily actions. You realize how weak you are. You realize how often you stumble and fall short. You don't ignore your flaws. You just bring them honestly to the Lord and you ask for his power all the more. THIS IS TRUE DISCIPLESHIP. This is truly honest and humble spirituality. "Jesus teach me to live like you." When you do this it becomes a lot easier to not see all the problems and flaws around you. It becomes a lot easier to close your mouth because you just know how much you have to grow. I am a thinker by nature. I love to read and reflect. To have big ideas. And its been God's great grace in the last few years to send repeated seasons of very little time to sit and read and think. Lots of sleepless nights. Lots of diapers and bills and decisions and changes. Lots of challenging moments as a parent, as a husband. Its easy to get up here and say a bunch of really nice spiritual stuff. The question is can I go and live it all out before my wife and my kids? If you allow your discipleship to Jesus to be real and honest LIFE WILL HUMBLE YOU. But it will also make you so much more powerful because you devote so much more attention and energy just trying to learn to walk with Jesus. Is your discipleship to Jesus a daily process of shining the mirror of God's Word to your daily life and daily actions? Are you honest with yourself and with God? Or do you listen and hear and walk away and forget everything - because at the end of the day, you just don't want anyone telling you what to do. 2. The action of obedience is motivated by freedom and blessing. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does. There is always going to be a person that says - this sounds like religion. We are not under law but under grace! Stop talking about obedience! This is a common misconception. The difference between human centered religion and true gospel faith is NOT the idea of obedience. The difference is the MOTIVATION. Human centered religion is always SELF focused. I can work hard. I can obey God. I can earn his love and blessing. I can change myself. Gospel faith says, "I can do nothing on my own. I am a hopeless and dead sinner. I look and I run to Jesus as my only hope and trust. I see him. He died for my justification when I was lost. His love and his goodness changes my heart. I want nothing else but to belong to him and walk in his ways. And even if I fail a thousand times I will still come to him and ask him for help because he is my life and my only hope." As Dallas Willard explained, "Grace is opposed to EARNING. Grace is NOT opposed to EFFORT." this gets to the core of our motivation for action. James calls God's instruction for our lives "the law of freedom" True freedom is NOT doing whatever I want. True freedom is having the power and the ability to do what I am made for. 1 John 5:2-4 2 This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. 3 For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, 4 because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. The difference between a true and false Christian is how we relate to God’s word. To the unbeliever God’s word is a binding limiting command that takes away our selfish freedom. To the true believer in God’s word is truth it is the way of life is the instruction that unleashes our full potential as gods created image bears Imagine a person who pays $15,000 to get into a exclusive personal class with top, most successful business people of their time, and get one on one coaching and very specific instructions on how they could work effectively in today’s market to be able to grow and achieve their financial dreams. Would they then complain about how much instructions they’re being given and how much they’re being told what to do? That’s absurd but that is how so many Christians behave. God has given his life to save us to transformer hearts to give us a new heart in a new way of life. And he gives us his word as the greatest gift of grace to teach us to walk in his ways.  But I response is to complain about how much instructions there are, and how much we don’t like being told what to do Obedience to God, and doing what he says, is the true path of our freedom The beautiful truth that is assumed in his words here is that as God gives you a new heart - his Word becomes your life and you have God's power working in your life to enable you to obey his truth. "Ugh I am so weak I always stumble" "Yes, but also you have a new heart and you have the Holy Spirit living inside you - you CAN obey God's word. The question is do you want to? Or are you just making excuses??" At the end of the day, we all do what we believe will bring us happiness. Your deepest beliefs always win Even if you are living a hypocritical life, and you are being lazy and neglectful in your life and not spending your money the way you should the reason you are doing that is because somehow your heart has come to the belief that doing what you’re doing is more satisfying than putting in hard work And being more responsible in your life James says here that the person who is persevering in the word, the person who is seeking to walk in the ways of God, the person who is always asking God to teach them to live differently the person who is always inviting the spirit of God and the word of God to invade their daily, lives to challenge them to teach them to confront them to change them a person who won’t settle until he sees God’s ways being lived out in his life. This person will be truly blessed. This person will be truly happy and joyful. What do you want more than anything else? What do you believe more than anything else is the key to your joy and blessings? Money, friends, marriage health? James says there’s just one key one thing that’s more than important than anything else James says more than anything else you should desire to walk in Gods ways. You should desire change. You should desire to do what God says. You should desire your own personal godliness. There’s this image in the old testament that keeps coming back over and over that’s been stuck in my mind it’s that image of the tree that is always green no matter what the season around it is The tree that is stable, strong and healthy in the midst of wind, or scorching heat or rain. This is the picture of the person who desires, one thing above everything else to know God into walk in his ways. As if we have not been punched in the gut enough. James goes from the action of obedience to the fruit of obedience. 3. True godliness is seen in what we say and who we serve. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. ok ok well yeah of course I want to obey God I ask him to change my heart all the time. In order to reallyIn order to really land the idea, James gives us a sampling of how to test ourselves This is of course, not a comprehensive list of what it means to be truly godly or truly religious. There’s a lot of different ways that people would like to describe their godliness or maybe make themselves feel spiritual, or religious or godly in a good way But James just casually pics three areas that are very hard to fake Now it’s also interesting to notice that these three ideas he will continue to weave over and over through the epistle as we go forward. So we will go a lot deeper and all three of these topics later on today they’re just a sampling a way to get us started a way to jog our hearts to poke our hearts to give us a deeper awareness of our own spiritual condition. First of all, he says that truly godly person is the person who bridals their tongue or teams their tongue We can do and say so many spiritual things, but what is it that comes out of your mouth when real pressure and real difficulties press down into our lives It’s really telling that often times conversations among people in the church, as true as they may be, can be a fertile ground for gossip in for destroying other people with our words it doesn’t matter how true it is question is, what are we doing with our words what kind of intentions are driving us from our hearts in the things that we say about others The person of true faith, the person whose faith is marked by action, is constantly inviting, gods strength, and gods power, and God‘s truth into his words. The second test James gives is our ability to serve people in need Again, we can meet at Bible’s and go to church and pray and do all those good spiritual things but the question is that does your love for God drive you and move you inevitably to seek to care for to help people in need around you One of the repeated topics in the old testament is how much God, who is all powerful and glorious him who reigns in heaven, how much he cares for the widow in the orphan how much he cares for those who do not have any power how much he cares for those who are oppressed and need help The third test that James gives us is our relationship to the sin and worldliness around us We can pray and go to church and do lots of spiritual things, but the question is is our life polluted by the sinful behaviors, values, and ideas of the world around us? What do we crave when we want to relax and rest do we crave sinful entertainment? What kind of music? What kind of contact? What kind of photos and videos fill our devices? True godliness does not mean you are PERFECT and have no sin. True godliness means you DON'T DESIRE the filth. And if you don't desire it you will pursue Jesus in your daily life so that these things do not fill your life. James is words are a two edged sword for us today. They cut deep. They convict a show us how far we fall short of the standard God’s truth. But we really need to press deeper than that question is not do we fall short the question is what do you really want today? If you are a Christian, his heart has been transformed. Do you not desire to walk in the ways of God? This passage doesn’t just end us in guilt. It should lead us to look to the one who walked in perfect obedience, for our sake, because he loved us when we did not love him. The one who spoke perfectly, the word of God, who’s words were always restrained and full of truth The one who serve those in need around him, in ways that we could never imagine The one who walked amidst all the sinners, and touched and hugs and love them, and yet remained perfectly untainted by their sin, and never ever entering into the simple things of the world around him If you’re not a Christian today, this is a perfect invitation to expose your heart to say you need to change your heart needs changing the only one that can change your heart is Jesus US look to him he must look to the amazing love that he has demonstrated for you to pull you out of your sin and your death, and to give you a new life and to teach you to walk in his Waze, because he loves you If you are a Christian today, this word must invite you into the joy of obedience It must challenge you to stir you to reevaluate your expectations in your definition of discipleship Is your discipleship about feeling and thinking or is your discipleship about your life your action about truly desiring to walk in the ways of God? Application: • Is your faith marked by a genuine desire to walk in God's ways? • What is the freedom that you are striving after? • What is the image of blessing and joy that captivates your heart? • Does your faith in Jesus move you to want to walk, talk and love like Jesus loved?

Mark of a Genuine Believer - The Letter of James - James 1:22-25

September 17, 2023 • Aleksey Khizhnyak • James 1:22–25

James 1:22-25 Mark of a Genuine believer James 1:18-27 I. Who are the self deceived? First converts from the preaching of John the Baptist Luke 3:7-8 7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance… First followers of Jesus Luke 6:46-49 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.” First believers in the Apostolic churches: 1 John 2:3-4 3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Paul’s call to the Corinthians to test themselves 2 Cor. 13:5 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test. II. What distinguishes a genuine Christian from a deceived Christian? Both hear the word Both look in to the word One forgets and doesn’t change One perseveres and changes III. What can I do to become a doer of the word? …The one who looks intently in to the perfect law of freedom, and perseveres in it and not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works… this person will be blessed… The same way how fake Christian can’t produce a real Christian life, the real Christian cannot produce a real Christian life. John 15:55 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. Matt. 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 1 John 5:3-4 For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, 4 because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. Ez.36:26-27 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.

Quick to Listen - The Letter of James - James 1:19-21

April 30, 2023 • Aleksey Khizhnyak • James 1:19–21

Quick to Listen James 1:19-21 19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. What is your relationship to the word of God? 1.Why should I read my bible? 2.What prevents me from reading my bible? 3.How I should read my bible? I. Why should I read the word of God? …By His own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures…V18 • He chose you • You were born through the word  2Cor.4:6 “For God who said, “let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” Ep.1:13 “In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.” 1Pet.1:23 “because you have been born again – not of perishable seed but of imperishable – through the living and enduring word of God.”  • He created you for a special purpose Ex.23:19 Bring the best of the firstfruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God. Jer.2:3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest. • It is able to save your soul http://ii.what prevents me from reading the word of God? I am being deceived My attention is somewhere else Prideful heart Specific sin and defilement  http://iii.how should I read the word of God? • Give it your full attention • Put your hand on your mouth I am so insignificant. How can I answer you? I place my hand over my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not reply; twice, but now I can add nothing. 6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: 7 Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me. 8 Would you really challenge my justice? Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like his? Job 40:4-9 • Repent of all sin • Humbly receive the implanted word (This passage is not for a slide) I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint. I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us. 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, 18 yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! 19 The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! Habakkuk 2:1; 3:16-19 Questions: • Do you have a guard post in your life? Do you have a lookout tower, where you positioned yourself to hear Him speak? • Where is your attention today? • What specific changes will you make today inorder to allow Gods word to fill your life and save your soul? • Are you able to celebrate in the Lord and rejoice in God of your Salvation nomatter the circumstances?