James (Part 10) A Good Way To Live By Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1106

James (Part 10) A Good Way To Live

James (Part 10) A Good Way To Live   By Ben Fronczek

Text: James 3:13-4:10

My daughter works at a grocery store and this past she told me about one of her customers. A gentleman came up to her and asked if she could do him a favor. He explained that he wanted her to go to the flower department and buy another customer he had seen in the store the nicest and biggest bunch of flowers available and give them to the lady. He told her that he was a pharmacist an he knew that this particular lady was very sick and thought she could use a little encouragement. He also asked her not to divulge who gave her the flowers and then gave her money to pay for them. She went and picked out the nicest bunch of flowers and found the lady who looked very pale and gave them to her explaining that someone had seen her and thought that she needed a little bright spot in her day. Well lady broke out in tears of gratitude wanting to know who the generous person was that sent her the flowers because she wanted to say thank you. Not knowing that the gentleman was not very far away checking out, my daughter let her know that he knew. Another time she has saw this particular man at the checkout counter behind a family with a large cart full of groceries and he paid for their order.

As I heard about this gentleman I though, wouldn’t the world be so much better if there were more people like this man.

I would like to share with you a good thought, some good news  found in Galatians 6:9 where the apostle Paul states, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

I like this verse because I believe God is telling us to just hang in there, and not to get so weary, so burned out as you keep doing one good thing after another when no one seems to care, and you just feel like giving up and throwing the towel and live like everyone else. I believe that Paul wants us to know that just at the right time, when God sees fit, He is going to bless you for not giving up. That’s a promise for you and me from God.

If you know anything about farming you know that this is simply the law of the harvest. You don’t reap a harvest the same day that you sow a seed. It will take a while before your reap a reward usually after plowing, fertilizing, sowing, and cultivating that crop and waiting for it to mature.

And likewise Paul is encouraging Christians not to grow weary and give up doing what is right and good to soon. Why, because your efforts will not go unrewarded.

But what kind of good are we talking about here? In James chapter 3 and 4 James talks about not only the best way to live, he also talks about a foolish ways to live as a Christian. One is called ‘wisdom that comes from Heaven’ and the other is called ‘earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.’  (Read James 3:13-4:10)

I would like to think that if James learned these principles from anyone, I would like to believe that he learned it from his brother Jesus as he was growing up. I don’t believe anyone ever lived the good life and emulated these good traits, and revealed the evil and hypocrisy like Jesus.

So first of all let’s look at what James has to say about living in a good and wise manner.  First of all he says in verse 13 that if we are wise in this kind of understanding we should show it by how we live, or as he says, “Show it by a good life, deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

The NLT put it this way, “13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.”

So if we are a wise Christian we will prove it by how we live, by living a good and honorable life. We should be doing good deeds or good works, (not as a showoff, but rather done with a humble heart honoring the Father and Jesus).

James goes into a little more detail a few verses down starting in verse 17 where he says, “The wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all:

– Pure.  Is your heart pure? Do you have the right intention when you help someone? Or do you have ulterior motives?  Pure is pure. You want to do something because it is simply the right thing to do. Someone may need help, encouragement, or financial help and you help them because in your heart you know it’s what God would want you to do, so you do it with no strings attached.

James goes on to say that Wisdom from Heaven is also …

– Peace-loving. Some people may reject what you are doing. Others may criticize you for trying to do good, and like Jesus some may even persecute you for trying to do good. Like Jesus we should not plot to retaliate or get even. It takes two to fight. So if one is slow to speak, silent, and starts praying about the situation, a confrontation is less likely to erupt into a fight. In the Sermon on the Mt. Jesus said,  “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God” (MT. 5:9) In Verse 18 James writes, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest off righteousness.”

Like Paul said in Galatians,  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  If you sow peace you will raise a harvest of righteousness.”

James also informs us that wisdom that comes from Heaven is also…

– Considerate or will to yield to others. It’s knowing that everything is not all about you. Sometimes it’s about letting others go first, or letting others have more. It’s about showing honor and respect, and having manners. I think being considerate is about just being nice in all situations.

Next James says wisdom from Heaven is…

– Full of Mercy.  This is how we react when someone messes up or does something either to us or someone  we know or care about.

How do you react? Do you have a forgiving spirit or one that is critical? Sometimes some of us can be downright mean, hard or even nasty to others when they cross us. Want an example? I have learned not to get angry with other drivers who do stupid things around me when I am driving. What to know why? Because I have done my share of stupid things.

I am not a perfect driver. I have made mistakes and cut off people or have done other things so I don’t think I have any right to get upset when other drivers do stupid things. I have learned to just blow those things off almost immediately.   But with others, there is no mercy when they get cut off by another. Curses are spoken. Fists are shaken and the one cut off gets all worked up and hostile. Are you like that? James said that wisdom that comes from heaven shows mercy…. Not only in the car but at all times, by forgiving, by being generous to those in need and helping those who need help. It’s all about the the condition of our heart.

And finally James says Wisdom that comes from Heaven is…

– Full of good deeds impartial and sincere.. Earlier Jesus said you will know a tree by the fruit it bears. If you are good, you will just naturally bear good fruit.

And then in this section James talks a lot about the “earthly, unspiritual and demonic” ways to live.  How does he describe these worldly demonic traits?

– First of all in vs. 14 when harboring bitter envy. When we’re sickened by the fact that others have something we do not. Instead of being happy for them we actually are upset or even get angry that we don’t have what they have. Or when we aren’t loved or appreciated like someone else we just become bitter. I believe this no more than a self induced pity party.

 Another ungodly trait he mentions here is this text is:

– Selfish ambition. You know when it’s not about helping others, rather it’s all about me and what I can get out of it in the end; a complement, a blessing, a reward, the self gratification, an advancement. In the end it all about serving our self. James said that this is downright demonic. Yet how many of us do good things for this reason?  I believe we all do…. That is until we learn Heaven’s way, God’s way, Jesus’ way… and then as we become wiser and we slowly begin to do things to help others for God’s glory, not our own.

I believe that these two, envy and selfishness are  behind much of the grief and evil in this world.  My old friend Larry Deason use to say that he thought the very best definition of sin is selfishness.  In vs.16 James says “where you have evil and selfishness you will find disorder and evil of every kind. (NLT)

James goes on to elaborate on this in Chapter 4. “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.

Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”

He’s saying you are jealous and envious of what others have so you fight and argue and brood over it because you are selfish. Wars have been fought and people have been kill and are being killed for this very reason; because people jealous, envious, and selfish. And even if they ask God for something they are asking for the wrong reason. Even in their prayers they are self centered and selfish. In verse 3 he said all these people want to do is spend what they get from God on their own pleasures.

James said that mentality is not from heaven; rather it’s a earthly, worldly, and a demon-like mentality.

And James goes on to let us know that God is hurt like a jealous lover when we chase after things of the world just to please our self. In vss. 4-5 he writes, “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?”

Yes this verse says that God is filled with envy, but it is not for His sake, it’s for ours. Like someone who wants his loved one to return home from chasing after another, or like a parent who yearns for his child to return home from carousing (like the Prodigal son) God what’s people to return to Him after chasing after the things of this world.

And then in 4:7 James begins to give wise instruction on how to get back on the right path to God.  First of all he says that we need to submit to God. Humbly turn back to Him and choose Him and His way.

Next James tells us that we have to do our best to resist the devil and he will flee.  Sad to say, too many don’t even try to resist. The devil tempts and because of our own selfish desires, and because we don’t know or care what God wants for us we just lunge after that which will satisfy our own desire.

James wrote resist the devil, come near to God and he will come near to you. Actually I don’t think God has gone anywhere. We are the one who walk away from Him.

James goes on to say, “Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”  NLT

Close: So God wants us to keep on hanging in there doing good things. Not that you earn your salvation by doing good works, rather putting away envy, jealousy and selfishness and doing good should be the goal of those who are saved.

May challenge for you is this week to make it your goal to put on the wisdom of Heaven and seek to be  pure; peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

And last of all, do some good deeds this week to God’s glory.

Love One Another by Alfred Shannon Jr.

https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/2011/05/page/5/

Love One Another

When one part of the human body hurts, doesn’t the whole body suffer? Then why would any member of the body of Christ seek to harm another member? Let us perfect one another, edifying, admonishing, and teaching one another till we come in the unity of the faith.  We love, nourish, and cherish our own body, how much more should we love each member of the body of Christ.

Eph 5:19-33; Jn 12:34; Eph 4:12,13; Col 3:16; 1 Jn 4:11

REVELATION by Paul Southern

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Southern/Paul/1901/rev.html

REVELATION

1. THE TITLE
This book is called the Apocalypse, or Revelation, because it reveals or unveils what otherwise would be hidden. The first word in the Greek text means "revelation."

2. THE WRITER
The writer describes himself as John, a servant of Jesus Christ, "your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus" (Rev 1:1,4,9; 22:8). Both internal and external evidences indicate that the apostle John wrote the book.

3. THE DATE
Two dates for the composition have been given. A few modern critics place it near the close of Nero's reign, about A.D. 65-70. The early church and many modern scholars set the date around A.D. 95-96, toward the close of Domitian's reign, which extended from A.D. 81 to A.D. 96. Eusebius quotes the testimony of Irenaeus (A.D. 170) which favors the latter view: "revelation was seen no long time since, but almost in our generation, towards the end of the reign of Domitian." Irenaeus had known Polycarp, a disciple of John.

4. THE PLACE OF WRITING
The writer states that the vision of Revelation came to him on the isle of Patmos (Rev 1:9). Early historians affirm that John was banished to Patmos by Domitian toward the close of his reign, A.D. 95-96. In that lonely prison house of the Aegean Sea, John saw and recorded the visions of Revelation, though some scholars think that he waited until he had returned to Ephesus before writing them.

5. CHARACTER OF THE BOOK
Revelation, like Ezekiel and Daniel, belongs to that class of literature known as "Apocalyptic." The Greek word translated signified in verse 1 means "to give a sign, indicate." By means of symbolic images the book reveals great events in the progress of the church. The theme is the gradual triumph of the people of God. In a symbolic way it describes the fortunes of God's people across the centuries. The kingdom of Christ emerges victorious over all its enemies, and we see the Lord with His saints enjoying the wonders of the glory land.

6. SYSTEMS OF INTERPRETATION

Among Bible students there are four main classes of interpreters.

1. The Praeterist claims that the prophecies were fulfilled in Jewish history and in the early ages of the church. This system of interpretation connects many of the events with the history of pagan Rome.
2. The Futurist thinks all the events of the book will be fulfilled just before or just after Christ's second coming. This interpretation is the basis for many pre-millennial theories that contradict the scriptures.
3. Exponents of the Historical School hold that some prophecies have been fulfilled, some are now being fulfilled, and some will be fulfilled in the future.
4. The Spiritualist or Idealist thinks that the other interpreters make too much of the time element. He regards Revelation as the pictorial unfolding of great principles, and stresses the moral and spiritual elements. To him the book is "a representation of ideas rather than events."

Because of the formidable problems involved, it is impossible to include in this survey a detailed study of these various systems. In view of the apocalyptic style (1:1), the visions of the book must be treated accordingly. Perhaps it is safe to say that a combination of the historical and the spiritual approaches would be a good, conservative approach to an understanding of the book.

1. EXERCISES FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY


1. Study in detail the letters to the seven churches (2:1-3:21).
2. Describe each of the seven mystic figures (Chs. 12-14).
3. Note the points of similarity in the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven vials.
4. List all the symbols of perfection found in Revelation, such as words, numbers, instruments, etc.
5. Without any attempt to understand the symbolic details, read Revelation for the continuous note of victory which it sounds for the faithful saints of God.
6. List all the passages that predict the end of conflict and the ultimate triumph of the Lamb.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

A sign, a direction and a decision by Gary Rose

Just a one-way sign laying on the street about eventide. Someone wrote above it:”When you lead a sinful life...”. This is a true statement, for God says...

Revelation 20 World English Bible

  ¹¹  I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.  ¹² I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.  ¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴ Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  ¹⁵ If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. (Emphasis added)

Revelation 21 World English Bible
  ⁵  He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”   ⁶ He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.   ⁷  He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.   ⁸  But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Emphasis added)

Revelation 22 World English Bible

  ¹²  “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.   ¹³  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  ¹⁴  Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.  (Emphasis added) ¹⁵  Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.   ¹⁶  I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.” 

John 1 World English Bible

 ²⁹  The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (Emphasis added)

John 3 World English Bible

 ²¹ But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;  ²² even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³ for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;  ²⁴ being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;  ²⁵ whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;  ²⁶ to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. (Emphasis added)

Fact is: you pay for what you do! Simple understanding of cause and effect. If you sin and do not have a remedy for it, you will be condemned, period. It doesn’t matter it you see yourself as a “good person”, or if you do good things for others- if there has ever been sin in your life (even the tiniest sin) you will have to answer for it.

God does not want your eternal destruction. He has loved all human beings, even from the very beginning. Jesus has paid the price for all who trust and obey God’s will for their lives.

The change of direction starts out simply: Believe in God and his son, Jesus. Then it gets even more personal: turn your heart, mind and actions away from what God has defined as sin. Trust in what God has told you to do about it and do those things. And continue to do them until your Earthly life is over.

And here is an example...

Acts 2 World English Bible

 ¹⁴  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.  ¹⁵ For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.  ¹⁶ But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: 
  ¹⁷ ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
  ¹⁸ Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
  ¹⁹ I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
  ²⁰ The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
  ²¹ It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’


  ²²  “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in your midst, even as you yourselves know,  ²³ him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;  ²⁴ whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.  ²⁵ For David says concerning him, 
‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
  ²⁶ Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
  ²⁷ because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
  ²⁸ You made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’


  ²⁹  “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  ³⁰ Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,  ³¹ he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.  ³² This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.  ³³ Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.  ³⁴ For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,
  ³⁵ until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’


  ³⁶  “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 

  ³⁷  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

  ³⁸  Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  ³⁹ For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”  ⁴⁰ With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 

  ⁴¹  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.  ⁴² They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

The news I am happy to tell you is this: You do not have to continue in a life of sin. God has made a way out of sin- Jesus. Obey him and live, its just that simple! Right now is the time to change a lifestyle of sinful attitudes and actions! Now! Just do it and don’t look back!!!