AF-S85-082805 James G
Alêtheia Christian Fellowship Sermon #85 James G, August 28, 2005.
Newsweek Poll August 2005.
2/3 of Evangelical Christians belief Jesus is only one way to salvation.
70% are Christians to, "Find happiness and peace of mind."
63% add it is to give, "Your life meaning and structure."
75% said it's also to, "help you be a better person and live a moral life."
§ James Chapter 3:1-2 ~
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
Some are position/power seekers.
Some balk at ministry because of this verse.
§ Luke 12:42-48 ~
42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? 43“Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 44“Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45“But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
It doesn't matter what you want to do. IF you have surrendered to God's Will then He will determine how to use you and assign you duties in keeping with His plan.
You can either reject God or obey.
Verse 2: We all, fail often and in many ways, IF we could control our tongue we could be perfectly controlled and that is the goal because we want to be like Jesus.
§ James 3:3-5 ~
Now if ("C," Pay attention) we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
Two examples. Then the transition and in that we see that once the match is dropped it's impossible to take it back.
§ James 3:6-8 ~
And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
Where is evil? It is inside each of us right now! How can Satan so easily influence us to do his will? Because the same evil that makes Satan who he is, is also the evil present in us all.
Evil is always restless, unsettled, unstable and God is the opposite. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow; He is unchanging; He is pure being.
§ James 3:9-12 ~
With it we bless our Lord ("A," {KJV} God) and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
Bless is eujlogou~men and curse is katarw>meqa,
§ Luke 6:27&28 ~
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Call down or wish for a supernatural negative effect on a person, we as Christians are only to pray for a supernatural positive effect for all people.
Then he gives three examples.
If you are a Christian you can only bless!
§ James 3:13-15 ~
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
Implied that you think you're wise because you're teaching, but his point is to all Christians as we all must be wise and understanding.
1---How is wisdom proved?
Luke 7:35 ~
“Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
2---God is stable, at rest, and He is gentle, mild and meek. True wisdom must demand nothing. prau`>thv, Strength that accomodates to anothers weakness.
James gives examples; if your God-given wisdom produces jealousy and selfishness of any kind it is of Satan not God.
3---Arrogance always lies against the Truth ajlhqei>a, because it is selfish pride that deceives us.
Earthly, natural, human and demonic. Flesh is as evil as Demons.
§ James 3:16-18 ~
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
How do you know what is of God and what is of Evil?
Selfishness, which produces strife.
Matthew 5:9 ~ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Righteousness is peace because peace is essential to the fruit of the Spirit. If you are right before God through genuine faith the Holy Spirit is in you and the Spirit of God produces the fruit, which is self-controlled.