Week 13

Read James 4:1 - 10

1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

James 4:1 Where do you think these wars and fights come from among you?

• Wars – this strife, these struggles, this conflict
• Fights – struggles, battles, quarrels

Wars are between nations/ fighting is amongst yourselves

What is causing the strife and quarrels among you? What causes (root) cause of fights and quarrels among you? The small quarrels amongst us lead to wars between nations.

Do they (these conflicts, battle, strife) not come from your desires (wishes, cravings, where you put your attention, your wants)

for pleasure (diversion from what is Truth)

that war (chaos, disorder, undisciplined)

in your members (a part of the human body). Where is this continuous conflict going on? It is in the heart.

2 You lust (selfish desires lead to conflict as well as to wars … an overwhelming desire or craving) and you do not have.

You murder (deliberately kill) (when did war between men begin? Cain/Abel and has not stopped ever since.

It all begins in the heart.

Selfish desires lead to war!

What would you say the definition of worldliness is?

What movies you watch, do you dance, do you drink, smoke, cuss, do you hang around with the wrong crowd? Do you dress like the world?

James is saying that the definition of worldliness stems from our own selfish desires. The examples of worldliness are the result of our selfish ambitions.

If a clock doesn’t keep time, do you blame it on the hands? What is the root cause? The battery/mechanisms?

The spirit of strife, envy and jealous that lie within our wicked hearts is James’ definition of worldliness. That is the clock’s battery.

Always get to the root cause.

How does the spirit of the world enter into the church? We walk through the doors. Who can heal our wicked hearts?

If the people walking through the church doors have a spirit of the world in them, you are in a worldly church.

James is saying: You think there is a war going on in Iraq, what about inside the hearts of Christians?

covet (to desire something belonging to another. To wish for something strongly; crave)

and cannot obtain (the result of your personal planning to gain possession of).

You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

A servant to a master, not as if you “deserve” anything.

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss – an improper or defective way not the right way.

That you may spend it on your pleasures.

We ask God through prayer, but are we asking God with a worldly spirited heart?

Instead tell the Lord everything. Just be honest. Pray, but pray not with selfish motives.

We compromise with the world in order to attain our goals.

4 Adulterers and adulteresses – who is James say you are having an adulterous relationship with ???? – the world??? Should you not be married to HIM?

Why does he call us adulteresses? Take what doesn’t belong to you. Cause strife because you don’t get your way.

Do you not know that friendship with the world in enmity with God.

Enmity – deep seated/mutual hatred.

Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain (not yielding the desired outcome, fruitless, lacking substance). The Spirit who dwells in us years jealously”?

The spirit that is in us is envious. The only solution is to go to the Father and tell Him our problems.

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resist the proud, But give grace to the humble.”

He gives grace – unmerited (we don’t deserve it) favor

By His grace we are saved. Go to God and tell Him – and ask Him for grace to overcome whatever it is!

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Believe – submit – do not resist…

You cannot do anything in your own strength, because you are bombarded by evil influences …mainly yourself!

The way to resist the devil is to draw near to God. If you are close to God, the devil will flee. You fall away from God, the devil slips in. When does a wolf attack sheep?

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.

God comes to the door of our heart through His Word. He knocks, but YOU have to let Him in.

Ask and it will be given, knock and the door will be opened. Seek and you will find.

9 Lament and mourn and weep! (over your sinful self) You are not to treat sin nonchalantly. You are to mourn over your sins.

What does mourn mean? To be truly broken over your sin. Sadness over your sin.

Do you cry because of the sin you are allowing to remain in your life?

Let your laughter turn to mourning and your joy to gloom.

This laughter could be our outward embarrassment of our sin…our the laughter of thinking that the world has something to offer us. Worldly pleasures. Be sorrowful over your sin.

10 Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

He shall lift you up – we don’t have the ability to lift ourselves up.

Humble means to make oneself low.

Ps 75:6

Once we get a small glimpse of who God truly is, we will fall to our knees in repentance, and in awe of HIM. We will realize that we cannot make it alone and that truly we can do nothing to save ourselves. We must turn everything over to HIM and stop trying to do it alone. We must set aside our selfish ambitions and begin today making Him Lord of our Life.

j.

Week 12

Genuine Wisdom
Two Kinds of Wisdom
The Test of Humble Wisdom
Heavenly vs Demonic Wisdom

As we begin studying these verses together, I pray that your heart is open to whatever Words God will be speaking to you. I personally was extremely convicted. I cannot say that I have had a radical change in my tongue, but I know for certain that I am “thinking” about everything that I speak. The first step in any type of change is first acknowledging that there is sin in your heart. I want to encourage you to evaluate your words, and measure them against the characteristics of God’s wisdom. Let’s dig in!

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his
good life, by deed done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if
you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about
it or deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is
earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish
ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace- loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

13 Who - James is asking the question … Which one of you…WHO! Which one of you is truly skilled in the art of living?

is wise (sophos) spiritually wise, showing the character of God in your behavior). Whom among you have learned naturally from turning to God as you have gone through the trials in your life.

Wisdom – the kind that comes only from God. Being able to apply our understanding of our faith into practical living.

1 Cor 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

God is the source of and the reason for our personal and living relationship with Christ. Because of that union with Christ, we have God’s wisdom and knowledge, possessing right standing with God (righteousness), being holy (holiness) and having the penalty of our sins paid by Jesus (redemption).

and understanding among you? Understanding means – having the mind of Christ thereby living our faith.

Let him show it (that Godly wisdom) …. HOW? by his good (godly character which is consistent with the WORD. Maintain, hold fast, not grow weary of doing good.

life, (from now on…….till you die. No turning back.

by deeds (doers, works, working at, becoming whole spiritually, mentally, and physically)

done in the humility (lowliness of mind) Humility means lacking vanity – regarding yourself as unimportant…no self importance, not putting the emphasis on yourself.

that comes from wisdom. James is making a contrast between the tongue of the wise believer and the tongue of the foolish believer.

If you want a GOOD LIFE you must being doing GOOD DEEDS.

14 But if (you have a choice)

you harbor - harbor means to shelter, to hide the feelings in your mind.

bitter –cynicism – faultfinding character

envy – harsh, resentful attitude towards others

and selfish ambition – care more about yourself than others. Your motives are to distinguish yourself above others.

Do not boast – talk/brag too much about something one has done. This could be about what one has (possessions), ones looks, how spiritually you are, how much you have accomplished, how mistreated you are…What you had to do because no one else would or could. Martyr mentality.

about it (your wisdom) or deny the truth. Refuse to acknowledge where that wisdom came from.

REPHRASED: Do you think I can say unkind, unnecessary remarks about people Monday through Friday and then come in here on Wednesday and lead a Bible Study?

Do you think you can do whatever you want to Mon-Saturday and then waltz into to church on Sunday praising the Lord?

We have one tongue and it can speak righteously or stir up strife. The Mon- Saturday mirror (don’t turn away from it) is more important to God than the Sunday mirror.

15 Such wisdom does not come down from heaven (is not what God wants)

but is earthly, - limited to flesh – disharmony, disagreement

unspiritual, - sensual – characteristic of human frailty. .an unredeemed spirit

of the devil. – demonic – generated by satanic forces (1 Cor 2:14) The devil wants your soul.

16 For where you have envy, and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Envy – selfishness leads to disorder in your life. Confusion, instability, chaos results from human wisdom.

Disorder – undisciplined – lack of regular arrangement
Envy – desires to deprive another of what she has
Jealous – desires to have the same thing as someone else.

The confusion of the mind that we find in the world today is a confusion brought about by earthly wisdom, responding in the flesh.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; (TRUTH from the WORD not mixed with anything, not combines with anything, undiluted and with original meaning)

then peace-loving, freedom from strife

considerate, - thoughtful to others and their feelings

submissive – yielding to power, control, authority of another; obedient; humble

full of mercy – kind feelings, sympathy, compassion for those in trouble

and good fruit – result of a good life. Fruit of your saving faith.

impartial – showing no more favor to one side than the other

sincere – free from pretense or deceit – genuine, real, honest.
(without hypocrisy).

18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Peace – no external battles…no internal battles.

Peacemakers – one who brings harmony – not strife, not contentiousness, not hostile living.

Anxiety (uneasy thoughts or fears over the possibility of a coming misfortune; troubled, worried, or uneasy feeling) is often our first reaction to conflict, problems, or even our own fears.

Our best problem-solving resource is peace. Solutions arise easily and naturally out of a peaceful state. Often fear and anxiety block solutions.

Peace is available if we choose it. In spite of chaos and unsolved problems around us, all is well. Things will work out.

Relax. Your Father is perfect. Whatever happens is perfect. Why sweat it?

Today, let go of the need to stay in turmoil. Cultivate peace and trust that timely solutions (God’s timing) and God’s goodness will prevail.

Who sow in peace – sow means to scatter/spread the peace that you have that it will grow in others

Harvest means results – results in doing right (righteousness).

Righteousness flourishes in a climate of spiritual peace.

Matt 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.

Would you like to be called a son of God?

Romans 12:9-21

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the yes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God gives us a choice: Choose between the two kinds of wisdom:

Harboring bitter envy and selfish ambition type worldly wisdom

or

Pure peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy godly wisdom.

Remember we are to be-

Gentle – such a person will submit to all kinds of mistreatment and difficulty with an attitude of kind, courteous, patience, and humility.

Willing to yield – someone who is teachable, compliant, obedient to God

Full of mercy – showing concern for those who suffer pain and hardship

Without partiality – a consistent unwavering person who is undivided in his commitment and conviction, and does not make unfair distinctions

Keep the following handy as a reminder of what true wisdom is:

Learn the Wisdom of God. True wisdom comes ONLY from God.

1. The wisdom of God is pure. It isn’t mixed with selfishness. It seeks the good of others.
2. The wisdom of God is peaceable. It doesn’t quarrel. It is willing to be insulted but doesn’t insult others.
3. The wisdom of God is gentle. It isn’t forceful. It listens to others and speaks at the right time.
4. The wisdom of God is merciful. It doesn’t pass by people in need. It reaches out to help wherever it can.
5. The wisdom of God treats everyone fairly. It doesn’t play favorites.
6. The wisdom of God is sincere. It doesn’t pretend to be something it is not.

One final thought -


Talking too much is dangerous!


I have nothing else to say!

j.

Week 11

This lesson is all about the most dangerous weapon in the world; the human tongue. Why would it be called a dangerous weapon? Because more people have been destroyed by the tongue than any other weapon because of its powerful destructive abilities.

Honestly, these verses have been a brick wall for me because of their content. I can’t talk anymore without feeling convicted. That’s good….

I am guilty.

Before the multitude of medical tests were available that doctors run these days, a doctor would have a patient stick out their tongue. The condition of the tongue could diagnose the patient’s illness. For instance, a reddish tongue means the patient is fighting an infection and has a fever. A white coated tongue meant that the patient was allergic to a particular food they had been eating. A purple tongue indicated that the circulatory system was not working and blood flow was stagnant. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could stick out our tongue and we could diagnose our spiritual condition!

Verse 1 My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

In verse 1 of chapter 3, the word tongue is not mentioned, but the verse does mean that since a teacher uses their tongue in teaching the Scripture, there is added responsibility before God and to her students.

I know I have said this before, but I started teaching because it holds me accountable to learn. I let my students know that I am literally a student teacher because I learn as I go. So if you are in my class, I make it clear that I am learning along with you and by no means do I know it all and have it all together.

To the contrary. It sounds like I am just trying to feel better about this verse!

This verse says that Kelly and I will receive a harsher judgment than those who do not teach. Wouldn’t it be easier to just not teach so that I wouldn’t have to worry about judgment day? I think Kelly would agree with me that if we would stop teaching and be disobedient to God, that would result in misery far greater. I feel that obedience comes first and as long as we or any other teacher is teaching Truth, we don’t have to worry about judgment day.

1 Cor 14:9 Unless you speak clearly with your tongue, no one will understand what you are saying.

So as teachers we are to speak the Word clearly so that it is understood.

But James tells us that it is not just about teaching the Word, it is about doing the word. If I just teach it, and fail to practice it, then I will receive a heavier judgment.

This is likened to having a stroke to wake you up to the condition of your physical body before having a heart attack!

God is waking me up to the condition of my spiritual heart before I cause a forest fire of destruction.

That’s when I realize, this is serious. Do you see this repeated message here? Doers and not just professors. (Those who just profess their faith, but don’t practice it? )

The teacher has to obey…not just standing up there teaching what the Word says…but doing what she is teaching. That puts a whole new angle to it.

Verse 2 We all make mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too.

We are all prone to stumble (sin). But if you can control your tongue, you are a disciplined person who can control your whole body.

I think we would all agree that we are not perfect and never will be and I truly believe that our desire is not to sin. But discipline is tough. And for the most part we don’t like discipline. We know that the more we tell our body NO, the more resistant it becomes.

This verse is saying, that if you can control your tongue, you will be able to control all the other aspects of your life. Diet, exercise, behavior, mood, ..…….can you think of others that you have lost control of?

Becoming the woman God created you to be means to continue striving for perfection, continue striving for spiritual discipline, continue striving for spiritual maturity.

Verses 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 gives us metaphors to explain how amazingly powerful the tongue can be.
First James compares the tongue to a bridle. A bridle harnesses the horse’s head and holds the bits in the horse’s mouth. Connected to the bit are the reigns. The person holding the reigns control the bit, thereby controlling the behavior of the horse.

Who is holding the reigns that control your tongue – which in turn controls your behavior? You are, of course.

A ship’s rudder is the same way. Although very small like the bit in the horse’s mouth. When the rudder is turned, it controls the direction of the ship. But who controls the rudder? …the captain is. You are the captain of your ship.

Just like the tongue is very small compared to your body, it can control a lot about who you are.

A match can begin a brush fire because the fire is contagious. This brush fire turns into a forest fire. A small match could destroy an entire forest.

The tongue’s potential for destroying an entire family, an entire church, and entire city, not only is possible, it has been done.

Verse 6 – And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of our bodies. The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell, and it starts a fire that influences all of life.

The Greek word for hell here is gehenna. It refers to the valley of Hinnom where the fire never went out. I have never seen a forest fire, but I have read that they sometimes have to burn themselves out to stop . I believe it is only us that can make the choice today to stop our burning tongues.

The tongue is like a fire. When it is under control it is pleasing to God, when it is out of control it is pleasing to satan.

Proverbs 12:18 Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.

3:7 People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison.

How much poison does it take to die? Milligram?

I am guilty. I talk too much. I justify it by saying if I don’t talk about it, I’ll lose my mind. God gave us a tongue for which to use to glorify Him. It is all about HIM. I can talk but in a disciplined controlled manner pointing people to HIM!

It scares me to think that I may have been a part of destroying someone or something because of what I have said. It would be completely heart wrenching to be shown on a video what the rippling effects were of something that I said to someone. I may have killed/murdered someone with my words.

If I say something during my teaching that is from the pit of hell, tell me. We are to a place in this class where we should speak to each other in love, to help each other stop the destructive path the tongue can take and get our tongues on the perfect path.

Verse 9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself. 10 Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My sisters, this should not happen! I am guilty over and over. Be careful.

Then in verses 11 and 12, James uses metaphors to tell us exactly what our tongues are doing.

11 Do good and bad water flow from the same spring? 12 My sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good waters.

There have been so many emotions running through my head as I have been preparing this lesson. I realized that I have a whole lot of tongue control exercising that I need to begin. And no excuses.

So let’s spend the rest of the time naming these excuses and committing them to Christ. For as we know, it is only through Christ will we ever get control over any out of control member of our body.

1. Lord, I ask you to make my speech consistently impeccable. (not capable of sinning or liable to sin – Webster!) Synonyms: flawless, faultless, immaculate, free from imperfection, unblemished! Sounds like we are called to be perfect!
   
   Lev 22:21 - (speaking of the sacrificial lamb) it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it.
   
   Matthew 5:48 Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
   
2. Lord I ask you to stop me when I give advice to others for things I do not have control over myself. Did you know that the things that bother you the most about others, especially your children, are the things that you do not have control of in your own life?
   
3. Lord I want to stop criticizing and judging others behind their back because of my own insecurities and fears.
   
4. Lord, make my speech consistently clear, clean, and edifying. Clear – meaning that our speech is not filled with useless words mixed with gossip, or a slant to make me look good. Clean – no slang, slurs, or vulgar words. Edifying means to instruct or improve spiritually.
   
5. Lord help me to no longer exaggerate a story just to impress people.
   
6. Lord help me to always tell the truth even if it makes me feel rejected, uncomfortable, or different from the crowd.
   
7. Lord help me not to change my speech in the presents of a different crowd just to fit in.
   
8. When I talk, Lord, make my words be Your words not my words. Help me to point my words back to YOUR Word.

Ask yourself these three questions before you speak.

1. Is it true?
2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary?

Also, ask yourself: Am I a part of the problem or a part of the solution? If not, then stay out of it.

This next statement might help us get our tongue under control. Put it on your refrigerator and let’s make bracelets out of this one:

God Bugs My Conversations!
He listens to our every conversation. Not just when we are praying, but every thing that comes out of our mouth and out of our heart as well.

People know you by your words:
Matthew 12:33-37 If you want good fruit, you must make the tree good. If your tree is not good, it will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. 34 You snakes! You are evil people, so how can you say anything good? The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. 35 Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things. 36And I tell you that on the Judgment Day people will be responsible for the careless thing they have said. 37 The words you have said will be used to judge you. Some of your words will prove you right, but some of your words will prove you guilty.

I don’t have another thing to say!

j