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From Ben Fronczek... James (Part 6) Religion That God Likes


James (Part 6) Religion That God Likes

As Jesus, James, Jude, Joseph, Simon and their sister grew up together in the same household as their parents Mary and Joseph, I cannot help but wonder what kind of things they talked about behind closed doors. What kind of things did they talk about and what instructions did they receive from Mary and Joseph in the privacy of their own home, especially regarding religious matters.

We know that Mary and Joseph must have had good hearts for Father God to choose them to raise His one and only son Jesus. We are told that before Mary conceived an angel visited Mary and told her that the Lord was pleased with her and she was highly favored. (Luke 1:28)  I don’t believe that God would place His one and only son in a household of immoral, unrighteous perverts.    Did they sin? With the exception of Jesus they all did just like we all do, but they probably did their best not to live in an evil or worldly manner.

So behind closed door what did Mary and Joseph try to teach their kids? What kind of things did they warn their children to wary of? Well, probably much the same things we warn our children about today; to be wary of those who lie, cheat, steal, those who abuse themselves and others, those who live ungodly lives, especially those who take on the appearance of being good but then do evil, even if they call them self a religious leader.

We know that during this time as these kids were growing up there was a lot of religious people who were hypocrites. I am sure it did not escape the notice of these kids, especially as they entered their teen age years. Teens can be very perceptive. I can just imagine these kids coming home and sharing behind closed doors things they saw that just weren’t right. “Mom, dad, today when I was down town I saw the teachers and priests out in front of the synagogue chanting and praying. Then they talked about how much they give each week like show offs. Then a poor old lady hobbled over to one of them and asked if they could give her something to eat, maybe just a small piece of bread because she hadn’t eaten in two days. But those men were really mean and yelled at her, and pushed her and told her to get away. I went over and helped her up and gave her the piece of bread you gave me for lunch because I felt sorry for her. Mom, dad why were they so mean, she was just hungry?”

If Jesus got mad about anything, we see in scripture it was when people, especially ‘so called religious people’, acted like phony hypocrites.

In Matthew 23, we read how Jesus blasted those Pharisees and teachers of the Law for acting like this. In 17 verses, Jesus called these men hypocrites over and over at least six times. In the context He also calls them; 

“blind guides, sons of hell, blind men, blind fools, snakes, a brood of vipers, filled with greed and self indulgence, white washed tombs that look nice on the outside but  on the inside they are rotten.”  
And these were the ‘so called’ religious men they grew up with.

I think such behavior was a topic of conversation in their home and well as many other homes when doors were closed. I also believe that Mary and Joseph must have warned their kids about such evil behavior. They probably instructed their kids to obey the teachers and do what they say but  they should not do the bad things that they do..

Their others son Jude, also wrote about being careful in dealing with the same thing in his letter, how even selfish hypocrites can and will enter and try to lead the Lord’s church. 

Concerning them he writes, 

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.  (Then in Vs 16 he writes) 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”

And likewise James addresses the same issue about this kind of evil behavior as he concludes chapter one by writing, 

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.        26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”1:21-27

I can’t help but believe that these men were first taught these lessons at home, as boys, behind closed doors, along with their other siblings. Of course its meaning became fuller and clearer as they grew older and accepted God’s own guidance for their life.

As I mentioned before in each of the previous lessons on James, he gives us  good and practical instruction for holy living.  Let’s look at what he says here:

#1. The 1st thing that James tells us in this text is that we need to get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent . 

It was prevalent then, and it’s prevalent today. But just because it’s prevalent that doesn’t mean we have to take part in it. It comes down to the choices we each make for our life. James was writing to Christians here. He tell us that if we have polluted our life with things that God sees as morally unacceptable, he said that you need to get rid of them. I’m not going to give you a list of those things here in this lesson, but all you have to do is read thru the New Testament, especially the epistles, because many of those things which we should avoid doing are repeated over and over by those early writers.

#2.  The second thing he mentions here in this verse is that we need to humbly accept the word planted in us which can save us.

As I mentioned with the first point, it all comes down to what you decide to do, what you choose. Some of us only do what we want to do. Some of us are not yet humble enough to fully accept God’s will for our life even though we know what it is. God’s word which we have read and which is now planted in us tells us not speak in a evil or profane manner, it tells us not to gossip or judge others, we are told not to worry or fret but to trust in the Lord. It instructs us in many other things as well. But do we trust Him enough to heed His word? James tells us that we need to if you want to be saved. It’s that important!

#3. Likewise in Vs 23 he instructs,  ‘Don’t just listen to God’s word, Do what it says.’

James stops here and carefully illustrates what he means. Did you ever look in a mirror, and then a moment later forget what you look like? He said that’s what it’s like when you accept God wonderful gift of grace;isHis His forgiveness, the knowledge and reality we can be free from a vile life, knowing that you are His son or daughter and co-heir with Christ;  but then a moment later as if you forget, you turn away and act like the evil, ungodly, self centered people of this world… even though you claim to be a Christian.

Maybe you’ve seen or heard of people like that. I hope that you are not one of them. They go to church, they look good, The have  a big thick Bible, they talk the talk, they may even serve in different ways, but then after they leave the church building it’s like they forget who they are in the Lord. People on the outside see them act and speak like everyone else in the world.

I have known preachers and elders who have preached and served, but then I heard of ungodly scandals which they were involved in. They end up saying the wrong things, or doing ungodly things and they looked like one big phony hypocrite to those under their care and those outside the church.  
James said, 
‘Don’t just listen to God’s word, Do what it says.’                                                     

#4. Then James wrote, 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”

Just like those Pharisees and teachers of the Law of old, just because a person is Christian, and is a regular church goer, that does not give us the right to talk down to others.

#5.  James goes on to say, religion that God our Father wants is not a show, it’s not about portraying an image, or developing a routine. Rather I believe it involves how we use what we know about God. It’s seen in our attitudes and is demonstrated in how we act towards God and one another after we leave the church building.  James wrote 

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress….”

The knowledge and blessings He sends our way should overflow on to others. His love, mercy and grace should reflect in our own life.

I think that somehow Satan has effective tricked and robs many of us of the peace and joy we should be experiencing as a Christian. Over the years I have seen too many Christians going around feeling guilty and disturbed about things that they thought they should feel guilty about.

What does James say here? Does he tell us thatReligion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is… your need to bring a lot of people into this church and do your very best to make it grow? Does he say thatyou need to go out and pound on every do in the community and ask people to come to church. Does he say that we have to dress in holy garb, chant certain prayers, or make special sacrifices?

No. He specifically said that the kind of Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.  I believe that James is telling us that God not only wants us to accept and do His will, here He also lets us know that the most acceptable practice and expression of  true religion is seen by demonstrating love, mercy, and helping others  when and wherever we can.

In much the same manner when we read of the judgment scene Jesus talked about in heaven, when all people will be gathered and separated before Jesus with some to the right, and some to the left to be judged. Do you remember why those on His right we allowed into heaven? Was it based on how many people they got to come to church? How perfect they lived their life? How many times they made it to church on time?  No, none of those things are mentioned.  Rather how much they loved and serve others in need.  In Matt 25 it says,
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’   37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’                                                                                                 
… Maybe we are focused on and feeling guilty about the wrong thing? We wonder why people are leaving our churches, and why our numbers arn’t growing; is it possible some in our midst feel lonely, unconnected or even neglected? We all have busy lives and schedules, but I thinks is vital if not crucial to love our brethren, get to know them and evey once and a while spend some time with them. Otherwise they may decide to go elsewhere to fill that void.  I believe God will take care of our numbers when we learn to learn to start showing His love and mercy to those both inside the church as well as those outside.

#6.   And last of all James conclude by saying,
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: keeping oneself from being polluted by the world.” 

There is more than one way to poison one’s life. You can poison the body with chemicals and toxins such as mercury, and lead, and snake venom, toxic waste, and probably thousands of other unnatural or even natural compounds, but James tells us here that we need to keep our self from being polluted by the world. I believe he is making reference to those things that can sicken our mind, spirit, and soul.

In the same way you would not feed a little child mercury or lead, we also try to keep our children from being exposed to harmful, TV, movies, games, profanity and anything else perverse. Why? Because like poison those things can harm that child in so many ways psychologically.   Why are we any different? We shouldn’t expose our self to any kind of immoral, unholy garbage either. It can poison our thinking, and our spirit.
These are wise words for a Christian to life by. My encouragement to is put them into practice and what happens.

For more lessons click on the following link:

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan... FOR RICHER OR POORER

FOR RICHER OR POORER

Two texts come to mind right now. There’s Exodus 23:2 that insists we are not to “follow the crowd in doing wrong” and then there’s Deuteronomy 8:10-20 where God warns a blessed people against forgetting (8:11-14), “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God...Otherwise when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down...then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God.”

It’s hateful the way we can be seduced into the lynch-mob mentality and sometimes even justify it with verses from the Bible. And it’s both hateful and sad to see how we both create and are shaped by an evil environment so that we take evil for good.

But blessing has its awful dangers too, doesn’t it? There’s something about a “spoiled” kid that really irritates us.
[A “spoiled” adult is only a little harder to recognize because we’re shrewder and disguise it with words and acting. Though you might have noticed how some gifted Bible student swaggered or was irritated by someone who won’t agree with him just because he says it’s so. You might have had the misfortune of knowing some popular preacher who was envious if one of his colleagues was richly praised for a job well done.]

It’s often the case that the spoiled kid isn’t sufficiently aware that he’s being obnoxious so he does no acting and you don’t need to be Columbo to spot him. But his lack of hypocrisy isn’t enough to keep him or her from getting under our skin. A spoiled brat was terrorizing the people in a doctor’s waiting room and his overly indulgent mother remarked to one victim of his abuse. “I don’t know what to make of him.” The man with the hurting shin murmured, “How about a nice rug?”

That’s part of the reason that it’s marvelous to see an unspoiled child. A kid who loves life and who even at an early age has learned to live happily but not at he expense of those around him, not on the misery of others. And it’s even more striking and inspiring to see an unspoiled child grow into an unspoiled adult. I’ve come across a number of those down the years. I don’t want to come across as “too sweet to be wholesome” but I have come across such people and if there is one there can be a hundred and if there is a hundred there can be thousands and if there are thousands there can be millions and no doubt are. God is at work in the world; at work in the lives of multiplied millions who don’t as yet know the Lord Jesus, people who haven’t heard the gospel of God in Jesus Christ! We need to acknowledge loveliness when we see it, wherever we see, in whomever we see it—it’s the work of God!

For all his flaws—and there were many, some of them raw and crass—Scotland’s favorite poet remains Robert Burns. Had God not been at work in his life [as in ours] there would have been nothing of a wholesome nature in him [or us]. It’s said of him that when he became famous and courted by the lords and ladies and the cream of society that he never forgot his roots. In public, in conversation with the elite, he would immediately and sometimes abruptly end the conversation to run across the road to laugh and blather on for a long time with an old friend. Say “bah humbug” if you will but I know personally the deep pleasure of being warmly greeted and treated by those who rose in the world. If you’ve had the good fortune of such an experience, to be received as a friend by someone way out of your social position you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

In R.D. Blackmore’s book Lorna Doone Lorna was stolen away from her aristocratic family as a little girl and was raised by a community of robbers and brigands whose character matched their status. But John Ridd met her unexpectedly and finally fell in love with her and she with him. Nothing about her wicked company and environment seemed to have affected her and her love for the plain workingman was open and sincere. Later she was rescued and taken off to London, back into the highfalutin circles of the rich and powerful, away from John. The crass evil of the Doone society couldn’t destroy the fineness of her character but would her position and the power she now wielded change her?

It’s a serious question in real life because haven’t we known people who lived gloriously through tough times only to take a moral nose-dive when blessing and prosperity came their way? That’s what troubled the lonely John Ridd who finally made a trip to London, somehow managed to make his way into Lorna’s company, guarded and fawned over as she was. Had she changed? Not a bit of her! She was still the lovely girl that John Ridd had come to know and love; she was still the girl with rich character and tender loyalty. Unspoiled by harsh and immoral surroundings and unspoiled by prosperity, acclaim and luxury she could never have dreamed of earlier.

How the world needs such people. How individuals need such people. And how desperately I need such people! And, more, how desperately we need to be that kind of person.

But whether you or I are one of them and even if were true that there was no other, believers know One! As a child he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men and he grew into a young man like no other. Believers call him the King of Kings, the Savior of humanity, the Conqueror of Sin and Death—and many other astonishing things.

His mother and his adopted father called him Jesus and his followers sing such things as:
                  Jesus thy name I love
                       All other names above
                       Jesus my Lord
                       O thou art all to me
                       Nothing to please I see
                       Nothing apart from thee
                       Jesus, my Lord!

Spending Time with Jim McGuiggan

From Mark Copeland... Let No One Despise Your Youth (1 Timothy 4:12)

                                                    
                                                   "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                  Let No One Despise Your Youth (4:12)

INTRODUCTION

1. Who is useful to the Master when it comes to faithful service...?
   a. Is it only the elderly, those with the most experience?
   b. Do not the young have an important role to fulfill?

2. We can easily become guilty of looking down upon the young...
   a. Perhaps by not taking their obedience to the gospel seriously
   b. Perhaps by expecting little of them in regards to service
   c. Perhaps by even preventing them from service because of their age

3. In 1Ti 4:12, Paul was writing to the young evangelist Timothy...
   a. In which he tells him, "Let no one despise your youth..."
   b. Even then there was the danger of some looking down upon those who
      were younger

4. In this lesson, I wish to...
   a. Illustrate how God often used young people to carry out His
      purposes
   b. Point out the kind of young people God can use
   c. Remind those of us who are older of our responsibility to the
      young

[While God often used the elderly (cf. Moses, Joshua) to fulfill His
purpose, there are many examples of God using the young as well..]

I. GOD'S USE OF YOUNG PEOPLE

   A. TO SAVE ISRAEL IN TIME OF FAMINE...
      1. It was through Joseph that God provided Israel a means to
         survive a famine
      2. He was seventeen when sold as a slave to Potiphar - cf. Gen 37:2

   B. TO DELIVER ISRAEL FROM THE PHILISTINES...
      1. As when God used David to defeat Goliath
      2. Even though he was "but a youth", according to King Saul
         - 1Sa 17:33

   C. TO LEAD ISRAEL TO ITS GREATEST HEIGHTS...
      1. God had David appoint Solomon to succeed him
      2. Who when he became king, thought of himself as but "a little
         child" - 1Ki 3:7

   D. TO RESTORE JUDAH TO THE TRUE WORSHIP OF GOD...
      1. When eight, Josiah became king, and was a good one - 2Ch 34:
         1-2
      2. When sixteen, he sought to serve God - 2Ch 34:3
      3. When twenty, he instituted religious reforms throughout Judah
         - 2Ch 34:3
      4. When twenty-six, he restored the temple, and the Passover
         - 2Ch 34:8; 35:18-19

   E. TO PROPHESY TO THE NATIONS...
      1. Speaking of Jeremiah, who tried to escape his prophetic call
         - Jer 1:4-6
      2. But God told him to not say, "I am a youth", that He would be
         with him - Jer 1:7-8

   F. TO REVEAL THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVER THE NATIONS...
      1. This God did through Daniel, likely 12 to 15 when taken into
         captivity - Dan 1:3-5
      2. Making him 15 to 18 when starting as Nebuchadnezzar's counselor
         - Dan 1:18-20

   G. TO BRING THE SAVIOR INTO THE WORLD...
      1. Which He did through Mary
      2. Who was but a young virgin - Lk 1:26-33

   H. TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THE LOST...
      1. Referring to Timothy, selected by Paul to join him on his
         journeys - Ac 16:1-3
      2. Who must have been quite young, for it was about fourteen years
         later that Paul tells him to let no one despise his youth!
         - 1Ti 4:12

[It should be evident that God has often used young people to accomplish
great things!  I believe He can do much through young people today;  but
what kind of young people can He use?]

II. THE KIND OF YOUNG PEOPLE GOD CAN USE

   A. THOSE WILLING TO FLEE IMMORALITY...
      1. Like Joseph did, when it would have been so easy for him to
         acquiesce - Gen 39:7-12
      2. As Timothy was instructed - 2Ti 2:22
      -- When anyone is willing to keep their bodies pure, they can be a
         temple in which the Holy Spirit can abide and do much good
         - cf. 1Co 6:18-20

   B. THOSE WILLING TO TRUST IN GOD...
      1. Like David did when fighting Goliath - cf. 1Sa 17:37,45-47
      2. Who later proclaimed the value of trusting in God - 2Sa 22:31

   C. THOSE WHO HAVE THE PROPER PRIORITIES...
      1. Like Solomon, who realized the value of wisdom - 1Ki 3:5-9
      2. And later exhorted his son to seek after wisdom - Pr 3:1-6
      -- If we are willing to seek the kingdom of God first, our Father
         will provide - Mt 6:33

   D. THOSE WILLING TO SEEK THE LORD WITH HUMILITY...
      1. As did Josiah, even when he was eight years old - 2Ch 34:3
      2. Who later was told that he was blessed because of this - 2 Chr 34:26-28

   E. THOSE WILLING TO BOLDLY DO GOD'S WILL...
      1. As did Jeremiah, even though he had to be reassured at first
         - cf. Jer 1:6-8
      2. But then began his ministry by preaching at the gate of the
         temple - Jer 7:1-7

   F. THOSE WILLING TO BE TRUE TO THEIR CONVICTIONS...
      1. As was Daniel, who refused to compromise his beliefs - Dan 1:8
      2. But as a result found favor in the eyes of others - Dan 1:9

   G. THOSE WILLING TO HUMBLY SUBMIT TO GOD'S WILL...
      1. As did Mary - Lk 1:38
      2. Who accepted the premise that with God nothing is impossible!
         - Lk 1:34-37

   H. THOSE WILLING TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS...
      1. As Paul instructed Timothy - 1Ti 4:12-16
      2. An example in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith,
         in purity
      -- For then can one save not only themselves, but others as well!
         - 1Ti 4:16

[Certainly young people who are willing to emulate the examples of
Joseph, David, etc., can be of great service today!  But we who are
older can encourage them when we remember...]

III. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE YOUNG

   A. RECEIVE THEM...
      1. As Jesus emphasized when young children were brought to him
         - Mt 18:5; 19:14
      2. For in receiving them in Christ's name, we receive Christ
         Himself!

   B. DON'T PLACE STUMBLING BLOCKS IN THEIR WAY...
      1. We should be very careful in this regard - Mt 18:6-7
      2. The Father is very concerned about their spiritual well-being
         - Mt 18:10,14

   C. ENCOURAGE THEM...
      1. As Paul instructed the church at Corinth to do for Timothy
         - 1Co 16:10
      2. When young people are involved in the work of the Lord, the
         last thing they need is for the people of God to discourage
         them!

   D. DESPISE THEM NOT...
      1. As Paul admonished the church regarding young Timothy - 1Co 16:11
      2. As Paul admonished Timothy himself in our text - 1Ti 4:12

CONCLUSION

1. Yes, the young can and should be very active in doing the work of the
   Lord!
   a. We certainly have many examples of God using the young
   b. And we have the example of Jesus Himself, at age twelve - cf. Lk 2:41-49

2. We who are older should always be careful to encourage the desire of
   the young to serve, and let no one despise their youth!

In closing, we might all ask ourselves:  "Are we about our Father's
business?"  Whether young or old, we should be!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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From Gary.... Irony


I know, it caught my attention too!!!  Sometimes you see strange things in life and this picture sure fits the bill.  What was meant to be a tool in putting out fires- is on fire!!!  How ironic!!!  Is there irony in the Bible- you can count on it!!! Here is one of the many instances...

Genesis, Chapter 45

  1 Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he cried, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.  2 He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.  3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” 

His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.  4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” 

They came near. “He said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.  5 Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.  6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.  7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.  8 So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.  9 Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t wait.  10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.  11 There I will nourish you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’  12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.  13 You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here.”  14 He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.  15 He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him. 

Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and HE DELIVERS THEM!!! Irony at its best!!!  Joseph could have held a grudge, but didn't.  In fact he showed love towards those who did evil toward him.  Good lesson, good example, good thing to think about- and learn from as well.  Time well spent!!!!