“Righteous Gifts and Otherwise”

 Scripture:   James 1:16-26

In this, our second examination of James’ advise and guidance for our Christian walk, we must also be reminded that the world never gives up on providing  misinformation on what the truth of God is all about.  They don’t trust in God’s word, they don’t believe in all that the Bible has told us for nearly two thousand years, and they don’t believe that the Lord speaks to any one in a way that should be understood, appreciated and followed.

 But then, that’s their agenda!  To mislead, deceive, confuse, and everything else that they can possibly do to spread false teaching and doubts throughout the Church.  But the Church’s responsibility is to study scripture and share the truth of God with each other, as well as with the misguided throughout the world.  And, you might ask, what will that accomplish?  It will be our response and trust in God’s word, and it may, just maybe, lead another person back to the eternal truth of our Lord.

 Today’s lessons from James are as much words of encouragement as they are words of challenge and correction.  As we continue in this series, I trust that all will take James’ words to heart, and will live them to the fullest and best that each of us can.

 For today, we discover that the Lord’s word of truth is a gift that He has set down for people of all centuries and nations.  And so we begin.

 Read James 1:16-21

 “Every good and perfect gift is from above …”.  Unfortunately, James doesn’t seem to give us any obvious guidance on how to discern the difference between God’s perfect gifts, and the world’s imperfect ones!  The only hope we really have is through prayer, and study and discussion of the Word of God in the scriptures!  But the one help that James does give us is the assurance that the word that we have been given is unchanging.  Think about that!  The letters and gospels that were written so long ago are the same today as they were then.  The God inspired advice that James, Peter, Paul, and the gospel writers of the New Testament, as well as the prophets and sages of the Old Testament, will never change, as they are God’s gift that reassures and strengthens all who follow Christ. 

 Of course, there will always be those who believe that these words will never truly apply to their own life, or that scripture is outdated and needs to be rewritten to reflect the ways that we continue to hear about every day from our culture.  Wouldn’t that be convenient!  We hear about that approach in the news, of how some cities choose to either ignore or rewrite the laws of our nation, cities, towns and states, to suit their own personal desires or attitudes.  If some can do that, why shouldn’t they think that God’s word must also be up for reconsideration, to reflect and allow our own personal attitudes and norms to be lived out in our own way, regardless of what gifts of Truth and Light that have come directly from our Almighty God!

 God’s word is a gift that He never withdraws, never changes, never apologizes for, and never, ever offers us the right to choose, reject or revise, dependent solely upon our own will and desires!  We have been born anew through His truth.  James tells us that we have been born into the category of “firstfruits”, or in other words, those who give thanks and honor to God for all that He has provided, and live as the Lord’s priesthood in the light of 1Peter 2:9-10, where we read “⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 

 This is the call and promise that is on all who claim the name and way of Jesus.

 And James warns us that anger against both our neighbor and against the word of our Almighty God destroys that promise, and voids our life of the relationships that we so desire.  We are to reject the “moral filth” and “evil” that seek to control our lives, and let the true word of God be our salvation.  We are reminded that morality begins when we set aside those characteristics of prideful arrogance and rage that stand in direct opposition to holy righteousness.  Instead, we are to put on the truth of God in humble and faithful living, and allow the word of Light to refine us and transform us into the kind of person God has always intended that we should be.

 There is nothing that can ever be a satisfactory substitute for obedience to God’s word!

 Read James 1:22-26

 Have you ever known someone who could quote scripture applicably to nearly every situation that they find themselves in, but never quite live out the words that they speak?  They can be very impressive, and yet, what good will it ever do them?  In his book “Waldon”, Henry David Thoreau wrote “Say what you have to say, not what you ought!”  Thoreau was into transcendentalism - a philosophical movement that developed in the early 19^th century, that believed that all people were inherently good and are at their best when they live a self-reliant life.  In other words, neither the laws of God nor the laws of society should ever have any important function in our lives.  Thoreau would have vehemently disagreed with James!

 In Psalm 5:8-10 (NIV), though, the psalmist writes about the enemies of God, when he said “⁹ Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice.  Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.”  This is what James is warning us about.  When others begin turning against the divine truth, we need to stay strong in the gifts that God has already given us, and to do the things that we now know are the ways and word of our Lord.

 And the last bit of advice that James offers us today is that we should be especially wary of anyone who is in the church, but refuses to accept the fullness of God’s word.  They are nothing less that deceivers of both themselves and those they lead astray.  It doesn’t matter who that person may be, or what position they may hold – there is only one truth, and that is the one that the Lord has given us.

 We need to be a gift giver to others, in the same way that God has given to each of us.  His good and gracious gifts of life, truth, and salvation are the very hope that we all are in desperate need of.  

Should we ever offer others any less?

 

 

“Joy in Humble Perseverance”

 Scripture:   James 1:2-15

Considering the state that our world is currently in, not to mention the problems that our nation, as well as our denomination are experiencing, I thought that it may be time to consider some moral advice that God has offered us in scripture.  And I have chosen the Book of James to be our guide for the next few weeks.

 Of course, those who would probably need scriptural guidance the most would be the same ones who would reject it the quickest!  I heard some comments recently from a graduate of Harvard University describing how far it had fallen from its original standards.  As an example, the university’s crest displays three books representing the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Testament that Christ will bring when He returns on His Day of Judgment.  Scripture, and the return of Christ, have all but been removed from their educational focus.  Furthermore, I heard that even the Lead Chaplain for the institution is a self-proclaimed atheist!  And this from an alumnus of Harvard, not just some person with an ax to grind!

 Of course, there are some areas of our nation, as well as the world, where Christianity is still strong, if not prominent, which is encouraging.  But for the most part, faith is taking a back seat to government agenda and social ideology, and the world’s evil can even be seen creeping into the Church of today.

 Perhaps it's time for the Church to once again take a stand against the ways of the world, and for the ways of Almighty God.  And why did I choose James for this lesson?  Throughout his book, he presents a compelling comparison between the evil that exists all around us, and the goodness that God offers to all who will trust in Him and His ways!  So let’s begin our observation of those differences with some of the advice and encouragement that James has prepared for us. 

 Read James 1:2-8

 When James speaks of perseverance in this passage, he isn’t encouraging us to stay on track with our own desires and plans, but rather with the plan that God is working out for us and for our betterment.  In Romans 5:1-5, Paul wrote about perseverance and all that it can bring to our lives.  It seeks faith in spite of all that may come against us as we serve, believe, and trust in God’s blessings, even when the world’s ways seem so much simpler, brighter and easier!  In 1 Peter 1:6-9, he writes  “⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  Faith in the divine hope will always be of far greater value than anything that the world can provide, even when the struggles of worldly oppression are factored in.

 Of course, our dedication to remain true to the word of God is not intended to show others just how committed to the Lord we truly are.  It is not a bragging point – it’s a means to show honor to the one who sees us through the trials and brings us to the fulfillment of true faith. 

 In addition, James tells us that if we lack for anything in our walk of faith, we should pray for God’s benevolence and gifts to see us through.  But even as we pray, we must also believe that God can, and will, provide for all of our needs – after all, faith and prayer must always go hand in hand.  It’s about trusting in His understanding and seeking His means and reality for our lives.

 Read James 1:9-12

 In these verses, James continues with his thoughts on perseverance, and takes exception to the world’s attitude toward what is preferable and what is objectionable.  The world would say that power, authority and prestige is what makes for a good and successful life, but James tells us that when we are humble in life, that is what makes for a victory in God.

 What kind of life do we really desire?  One that is praised and honored by humanity, or one that is blessed and glorified by Almighty God?  James reminds us that the admiration of humanity will fade like the flowers of the field, while the one who stands the test of sinful men in order to bring glory to the true Authority, will be known as a perseverant person, and will be remembered as one who loves the Lord.

 Perseverance!  Staying true to divine Truth!  Rejecting human opinion!  Resisting the temptations of evil that constantly keep us under attack!  These are the signs of a person of God.  But those who seek after, and depend upon the riches of earth will quickly discover that their hopes are subject to the winds and storms of this life, and will soon lose all when confronted by these other worldly forces.

 Read James 1:13-15

 James now goes on to address the tests and temptations that try to draw us away from Godly ways, and he makes a very important and interesting point.  Those who believe that God has been testing them throughout their life need to read this passage!  James tells us that the Lord never tests us, nor tempts us!  Those trials are under the sole control of Satan. 

 James has set the record straight!  Even though we read time and time again in scripture that God had tested someone, James tells us that this was a misconception.  “..God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone;”  It may be more accurate to say that God challenges us to reconsider the attitudes and standards that we are living under; that He allows us to enter into a situation that leads us to examine the strength and truth of our faith; that He allows Satan to tempt and test us to prove a point to the evil one. (see the book of Job, and Luke 4:1-13 – where we discover that even Jesus was tempted by Satan!)

 And the reverse is also true – in Deuteronomy 6:16, we read that we are not to put God to the test either!  Now, this does not preclude our asking the Lord for a sign so that we are certain that it is truly Him who is asking us to follow in a certain way and to a certain task.  In scripture, both Old and New Testaments, there are a number of passages that refer to “casting lots”, which was a means to ascertain God’s agreement in a certain decision.  God will never refuse us certainty when it comes to following His will in our life.  Whatever it takes to convince us that He truly desires that we should walk closely with Him, He will do.

 James goes on to say that any tempting that we may find ourselves in is usually because of our own “evil desire”. And that it is Satan who is doing the tempting.  And in the last verse of today’s passage, James tells us that when we succumb to temptation, our desires turn to evil, which will then lead us to sinful ways, and those will lead us to death.  The pleasures of earth don’t last very long, so they!

 So I believe that the lessons for today are this – First, strive to remain true to God’s call on our lives, and never let the world sway you by their lies.  Second, listen the Lord when He shows you what the better life is all about, and stay clear of the world’s standards of excellence.  Third, when we feel as though our faith is being tested, remember that it is Satan who is trying to lead us away from the eternal truth of God, and treat his words as the deceitfulness that they are.

 In Thomas Payne’s pamphlet that begins “These are the times that try men’s souls”, we read “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.”  Of course, when this 18^th century philosopher wrote these words in December 1776, he was writing about political and national freedom, but his words are just as appropriate and challenging for us in our Christian faith.  Our struggles in this life may seem to be overwhelming at times, but faith in God – faith in His truth and authority – will see us through each and every trial that Satan’s world can throw at us.

 May we humbly stand strong in our Lord Jesus throughout our days, regardless of what the world offers us.  Amen.

“Fishermen on the Beach”

 Scripture:   John 21:1-19

This will be our final look at the response of the faithful as Jesus began to appear to His followers as the Resurrected and Living Savior.  In our previous messages regarding Jesus’ appearances, they all seemed to be focused on individuals – Mary, Thomas and the other disciples, and the 2 men on the road to Emmaus.  In this account, though, the theme seems to have a much larger focus.  In Jesus’ message to the fishermen, it very well could be a message that is intended for the greater Church that was about to be born, and lives on even today.

 T The previous 3 accounts are promises for us as individual members of the Body of Christ, while this encounter is for us to consider as the Body of Christ itself.  Does Jesus want each of us to believe in His resurrection?  Absolutely.  Does Jesus want us to trust Him, in ministry and teaching, in suffering, in death, as well as in New Life? Of course He does!  Does He want us to believe and never doubt that His life has prepared us to follow His way throughout this life and beyond?  That’s His great desire, and it will never be withdrawn!

 But the greater call for us is for unity and harmony as His Church.  Without commonality in faith, the Church is in trouble.  This doesn’t mean that in some matters we can never have differences of opinion - issues such as styles of worship and types of missions - but when it comes to believing in the “root” issues of faith, John Wesley tells us in his tract “The Character of a Methodist”, that there is only one faith, and there must never be any disagreement in that!

 But what is this call on the Church that it is so important for us to understand?

 Read John 21:1-6

 This “new life” story takes place in the Galilee, while the others that we have seen were either in Jerusalem or relatively close by.  In our passage for today, Jesus meets His disciples about 100 miles to the north – far away from the conflict that is so prevalent in Jerusalem.  This isn’t surprising, as in Matthew 28:9-10, the risen Christ reassures the women that He is, indeed, alive, and that they are to “tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 

 We only read of 7 disciples who decided to go fishing that day, and we might wonder about the other 4, but these may have been the only ones who were from the area, and were familiar with the lake.  For these, fishing may have been more than just a former occupation, but also a familiar means of relaxation while they waited for Jesus’ arrival.  And Jesus uses this time to give them a glimpse of what was to come their way.

 When they cast their nets into the water, they knew very well what the empty net signified – that the spot where they were located was not one where fish might congregate.  But Jesus changes that meaning significantly – without moving their boat to seek a more fruitful spot, and by throwing the net on the opposite side of the boat, the fishing became incredible.  On their own, they gained nothing, but by following Jesus’ word, the net was filled to near overflowing!

 And so will the Church always be, when we, too, follow God’s word faithfully!

 Read John 21:7-14

 As with the other sightings that we have considered in the last month or so, those who initially noticed Jesus on the beach didn’t realize who He was either.  But all the same, it would be John who was the first to proclaim the truth about that stranger.  And as soon as he announced “It is the Lord!”, impetuous Peter grabs his clothes and jumps into the water.  Later in this passage, we read that the others still don’t actually recognize the Lord, but just the same, they still know that it is Jesus.

 This is an interesting comparison to Peter’s experience on the waves of the storm!  (Matthew 14:22-33) Then, he knew who the apparition was, but he just couldn’t keep his eyes on the prize of Jesus.  On this morning, though, he wouldn’t be the first to understand, but he never hesitated to leap into the water and head straight for his Living Lord!

 But what about those 153 large fish?  Many scholars have debated the significance of the number, but few agree on a  common explanation.  Personally, I’m not sure that the number itself matters all that much, but that there is a much greater lesson that has been presented for us.  First, they were all “large” fish – none were too small, all would be kept.  No one who gives their life to the Lord will be denied.  Second, the net didn’t break, implying that there was room for all and that all who come to Christ will be accepted and welcomed.  Third, the men are told to bring some of the fish to shore, even though verse 9 tells us that fish were already being cooked on the fire!  So why would Jesus want more?  It was to show the disciples that the netted fish weren’t for their nourishment or edification – they were all to be presented to Jesus.  After all, who was the authority behind the catch – the men or Jesus?  And fourth, after the catch had been presented, Jesus fed the fishermen with the “food” He had provided and He had prepared for them.

 When the Church follows the word and way of God, we will be amazed at what He will do through our faithful service.  And when we present the Lord with all of the success, all of the glory that comes from the task laid out for us, and claim none of it for ourselves, we will be filled with the gracious love of our Almighty God.

 For the Church, it is always about the relationship that we have with the living Son of God.  After all, what were the fishermen asked to do?  To simply cast their net on the opposite side of the boat.  Nothing more than that.  And when they trusted and did what they were told, the Lord did all the rest.  And so it can be for us.

 Read John 21:15-19

 This portion of our passage is almost an aside that Jesus had with Peter.  And what was Peter to learn from it?  First, Jesus was acknowledging that Peter’s two missteps, first at the Passover meal when he tried to refuse Jesus’ offer to wash his feet, and second at Caiaphas’ house when he denied even knowing Jesus, not once, but three times - both had been forgiven because the Lord knew that Peter truly loved Him.  Second, Jesus used two Greek words for love – agape and phileo – implying both sacrificial love and love through fellowship, essentially saying “Do you love me sacrificially as well as in our walk together?”  Do we?

 And what is there about the reference to sheep and lambs?  Peter, and all who follow Jesus, are being called to be shepherds of Jesus’ flock – both young and mature members alike.  This is the call that the entire Church must respond to – will we be Christ-like shepherds for Jesus, or will we be the thieves and robbers that He speaks of in John 10:1-3 – “¹Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper [Jesus] opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.”

 Peter, in the life and ministry that would soon become his, would not have an easy go of it, but would, in every way, bring glory to Almighty God, just as Jesus’ death at Calvary had.  We know what the faithful lives that were lived by Peter and many others have accomplished for the Kingdom, but how about our own confession that Jesus Christ is Lord, Redeemer, and Savior of our lives?  Is it as sincere as the confession that Peter made when he was able to say three times – “You know that I love you!”?

 Do we show that kind of love to both God AND those who He brings into our lives?  Are each of us committed as both “fishermen” AND "shepherds" for Jesus?  Are we fully living as the Church of Jesus Christ, and bringing glory to Him and Him alone? 

 Don’t you think that we should be?

Spiritual Power

 Scripture:   Acts 2:1-21

Today is Pentecost, the day that the Spirit of God revealed Himself to the world.  John’s gospel tells us more about the coming of the Holy Spirit than any of the other gospels -  passages such as in John 14:26 – “²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  It appears that the advocacy of the Spirit will center on the truth of God as revealed through the teachings of Jesus Christ.  He brings us nothing new and nothing that we shouldn’t already know.

 And in John 16:7, Jesus speaks of the connection between His ascension and the coming of the Spirit – that unless He leaves, the Spirit will be unable to come to our aid.  And No – I don’t know why.  I just know that God’s timing always has a purpose, and nothing will ever be able to change it.

 Pentecost occurs 50 days after Passover, and for Israel, it was a celebration of the harvest.  Faithful Jews from all over the known world came to Jerusalem to make sacrifice to Jehovah God for His benevolence and providence. 

 So today, we consider the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and what it means for our walk in faith.

 Read Acts 2:1-13

 At the conclusion of Luke’s gospel, he records these words from Jesus - “⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:46-49) And in the passage from Acts 2 which we just read, we discover what the Father would sent to them, and the extent of the Power that it brought for the faithful.  But first, we need to remember who those people were who were gathered in that “house” – they were common, everyday Jewish people who believed in and trusted Jesus as their LORD and Savior!  OK – so maybe God didn’t see them as so common after all, but from the world’s perspective, they certainly were.

 They had no power or authority that had come from the leaders of earth; they had no wisdom that established them as learned men and women; they had no credentials that proved the truth of their worth and abilities.  They were ordinary men and women like you and me who had given their lives to the LORD Jesus, and had credited their being to the One God of all creation.  And these simple men and women had received the all-powerful gift of God through the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

 And what preceded the gift?  A demonstration of power and presence unlike anything that had never been experienced before.  In Acts 1:4, Luke reminds the faithful of what Jesus said about this moment -  “wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  This was no parlor trick, nor was it magic, nor a means to personal glory – it was God’s baptism for ministry in the name of Jesus Christ!

 This would only be the beginning of the many gifts that God would convey upon the faithful. (1 Corinthians12:7-11; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:9-13)  And this time, the Holy Spirit came in such a spectacular way that it could never be ignored or explained away.  It came in a sound like a violent wind blowing through the house, and what seemed like tongues of flame resting on each and every person gathered there.  And the first gift of the Spirit was that of tongues – the ability to speak in languages that were unknown to the individual.  And the gift was given so that many who came running to see what was happening that day would understand just who Jesus Christ was.

 Remember that Jesus’ ministry had been fairly well confined to Israel and Samaria, with an occasional excursion into Gentile territory.  Now, those who would hear about Him were primarily descendants of the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles who never returned home, as well as others whose ancestors may have migrated to other lands in an attempt to escape persecution or other trials.  But regardless, all had come to celebrate the blessing of harvest.

 But for Christians, it would no longer be a celebration of grain harvest, but rather one of “soul harvest”.  It was now a time to remember and proclaim the ministry of truth that Jesus had already established, just as it is for each of us today.

 Read Acts 1:14-21

 There will always be scoffers when Jesus is proclaimed, regardless of the situation or time, but there will also be those who will hear and will believe (Acts 2:40-41).  When Peter begins to preach, his previous life as a fisherman of Galilee would no longer hold a place of prominence in his life.  He was about to live the prophecy of Jesus when the 4 fishermen were called to be His disciples –“¹⁹… Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18-22)

 He tells the crowd that the charges of drunkenness are false, and goes on to show that everything that is happening in that moment was proclaimed hundreds of years before.  Israel had always assumed that Joel’s prophesy was tied to the coming of their Messiah, but Peter’s intent in quoting these words was to show that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who is available to all who believe in the Christ, and that there is no other! 

 He takes the lead among all who had received the gift of the Spirit that day, and would now be recognized as the leader for this new branch of Judaism.  He quoted the prophet Joel; he proclaims the gift that is Jesus Christ; and he would tie it all together in a powerful message of salvation. (Acts 2:22-41)

 These “last days” had become “new days” for Israel and the entire world.  Salvation is no longer dependent upon strict adherence to the law of Moses; it is no longer about perfection as defined by human understanding; it is no longer the exclusive right for Israel and them alone – even gentiles and servants can now know the glory of Almighty God; and sin would no longer be the final word, resolved only through preestablished means of sacrifice.

 Pentecost brought an entirely different newness to our world, and yet, there are still many who believe that anyone who seeks after the Holy Spirit and all that God would have us know through Him must either be ignorant or deranged!  But we still wait for the Day of Truth to arrive, when “every knee should bow … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

 May that day come soon!