Adult Quarterly SUNDAY SCHOOL SUMMER QUARTER, 2004 Living for Christ in the Last Days A Study in James, 1 and 2 Thessalonians QUARTERLY AIM: By the conclusion of this quarter the students will gain a better understanding of how to live for Christ in view of His imminent return. JUNE 6 Conquering Temptations........................................... 3 13 Good Works...................................................... 10 20 Controlling the Tongue.............................................. 17 27 Submissive to Separation........................................... 24 JULY 4 Prevailing Prayer.................................................. 31 11 Reputation of the Church............................................ 39 18 Review of the Church.............................................. 46 25 Characteristics of a Model Church..................................... 53 AUGUST 1 Rapture of the Saints............................................... 61 8 Responsibilities of the Church........................................ 68 15 The Day of Vengeance.............................................. 75 22 The Day of the Lord................................................ 82 29 Patiently Awaiting the Return of Christ...................................89 ADULT QUARTERLY, Sunday School, Vol. 91, No. 3, issued June 1, 2004, is published quarterly at $1.05 per quarter. Prepared by David Robinson; cover design by Jeff Allen; Larry E. Clements, Editor in Chief, <larryclements@abaptist.org>; Wayne Sewell, Business Manager, <wsewell@abaptist.org>. Copyright 2004, BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE of the American Baptist Association, 4605 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, TX 75503-2928.
American Baptist Association Through-the-Bible Series Sunday School Lessons Winter Spring Summer Fall 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 Mark Galatians Luke 1 13:21 Isaiah 1 39 2 Chronicles 29 32 2 Kings 17 20 Nahum Ephesians John 13 21 1, 2, 3 John Genesis 1 11 Job Exodus Joshua Judges Ruth 2 Samuel 5 24 1 Chronicles 11 29 1 Kings 1, 2 1 Kings 3 22 2 Chronicles 1 24 2 Kings 1 13 Joel, Obadiah Luke 13:22 24 Isaiah 40 66 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Daniel Ezekiel Nehemiah Malachi Genesis 12 50 Romans Acts 1 14 James 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Corinthians Hosea, Amos, Micah, Jonah, 2 Kings 14 16, 2 Chronicles 25 28 Philemon Philippians Colossians Jeremiah 2 Kings 24, 25 2 Chronicles 36 1 Peter 2 Peter Jude Revelation 1 7 Matthew 1 13 Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Acts 15 28 Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon 2 Corinthians 2 Kings 21 23 2 Chronicles 33 35 Zephaniah Lamentations Habakkuk John 1 12 Zechariah Ezra Haggai, Esther Revelation 8 22 Matthew 14 28 Hebrews 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 4 1 Chronicles 1 10
1 Conquering Temptations Text: James 1:1-27 Focus: James 1:12-16; 19-25 June 6, 2004 Key Verse: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12 Sunday Devotional: A Warning Example, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. Aim: By the conclusion of this lesson the students will discuss how to cope with temptations. A FIRST LOOK Today we begin a five-part study of the book of James. Obviously, we will not be examining this book in depth, but we will be examining some of the practical doctrines taught in this book. The book of James deals with the practical problems of behavior that confront Christians. The book was addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. It had a personal and immediate application to them and it has one for us today. During the last years of the first century AD and the beginning of the second, a time of great persecution came on the people of God. These years saw the death of all the apostles of Jesus and a formal attempt by the Roman government to outlaw and eliminate Christianity. James offers divine advice for such troubled times. The direction that God gives through James is for believers to return to the 3 Daily Devotionals M. Temptations of Israel, Deuteronomy 4:31-40. T. Temptations of Jesus, Matthew 4:1-11. W. Manifold Temptations, 1 Peter 1:1-9. T. Kept from Temptation, Luke 11:1-4. F. Delivered from Temptations, 2 Peter 2:4-9. S. Watch and Pray, Mark 14:32-38.
4 Conquering Temptations basics of applied Christian behavior. The ideas that we read in this book are bedrock truths that have been tried, tested and illustrated in the lives of many of God s people. This is practical truth for everyday living. We know that, as we approach the second coming of our Lord, we will once again face a time of trial and testing of our faith. This is why we need to study these truths anew and build our service for the Lord on these firm foundations of understanding and practice. Understanding can be the difference in happiness and misery. It can even be the difference in success and failure in any endeavor. In our relationship with the Lord, properly understanding the Word of God means everything. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Source of Temptation James 1:12-14 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Note that James deals with temptation in a practical way. He does not tell us that we are to simply avoid it. In verse 2 we learn that we are to count it all joy when we encounter various temptations. This is because these situations give us an opportunity to try our faith and to exercise our faith. Faith that cannot be tried also cannot be trusted. When we have faced temptations and conquered them, we can see the real strength of what we believe and practice. There is a crown of life promised to those who love the Lord,
Text: James 1:1-27 5 and we learn that dealing with temptation is a matter of heart. It is a matter of loving Jesus more than we love the things that tempt us. Furthermore, we see the source of temptation. God is not the source of any sin for any human being. We cannot charge God with our sin. We cannot blame it on Him. Some have the idea that sin is inevitable and that we have no choice, but this is a wrong idea. A child of God has an inner resource, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God, and God is not in us to lead us into sin. God leads us into the paths of righteousness. Sin does not come down from Heaven; instead, it comes up from the pits of hell. Sin was born in the mind of Satan, and it has been adopted by fallen humanity. Neither can we say the devil made me do it. Satan can and will tempt us, but, if we resist him, he will flee from us. It may be comforting to think that all temptation comes from external sources and that we are powerless to resist it, but nothing could be farther from the truth. We read plainly that temptation comes from within our own hearts. It begins with our own lusts, those sinful desires that live in the heart of every human being. Jesus pointed this out forcefully in Matthew 5:21-27. Although men might keep the Law on the outside, the lust that leads to sin is born in their hearts. Lust acts as a powerful magnet and draws us toward temptation. It entices us. Enticement is the process that makes something look better than it really is, and that is just how temptation works. Temptation makes sin look desirable and righteousness look ugly. It slants things so that we can easily move from temptation to action and make sin a reality as well as an imagination. But the process begins in us. God cannot be tempted, and God does not tempt any man. Satan will tempt us, but we do not have to listen to him; however, we cannot refuse to hear our own voices, and we all know how easy it is to talk ourselves into something. This is the process of temptation. We use our god-given ability to decide, and we decide to act self-
6 Conquering Temptations ishly and satisfy fleshly desires. Then, suddenly, we are confronted by temptation on every side. II. The Course of Temptation James 1:15, 16 15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Verse 15 is vital to understanding the process of temptation and the results that yielding to temptation produces. Remember that this is not human philosophy; this is the Word of God. This is one of the spiritual laws that governs our universe. As with any such law, when we try to break it, we will only succeed in proving it. Lust, left to its conclusion, will bring forth sin. Sin is the product of unchecked and unresolved lust. The enticement that brought us into temptation, if not stopped, will lead us to commit sin. When faced with temptation, only two things can happen. We can conquer the temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit, or we can yield to the temptation and commit sin. Now we need to know that it is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted, but He did not sin (Heb. 4:15). The sin occurs when we give in to the lust and follow where the lust leads. Note that, when we do give in, a process begins that has an inevitable outcome. Sin is the child of lust. If we cannot control our lust, we will never be able to control our sin. But thanks to God we have that divinely given ability. Any person who is in Christ is a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). A child of God has the Spirit of God in his heart to help him think and reason differently (Rom. 8:9, 10). The Spirit of God does not lead any man to sin. Instead, He teaches us to control our lusts and to redirect our thinking into heavenly paths. If lust is unchecked, and sin is brought forth, then the inevitable result is death. This process is concluded with the stern warning given in verse 16. Many have erred over the
Text: James 1:1-27 7 years by believing that they could give in to lust and sin without paying the penalty of death, but this spiritual law is as binding as any physical law that governs our universe. Take temptation seriously. Lust can seem like a small matter to us, but we should know that, if lust is not properly controlled in our hearts, it will lead to death. III. Dealing with Temptation James 1:19-25 19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. As important as it is for us to understand the process of temptation, it is still more important for us to understand how to deal with temptation and conquer it. Words such as wherefore indicate that a conclusion is coming and indeed these verses tell us how to conclude temptation successfully. We would all be wise to pay close attention to them. First, we have to arrange our priorities properly. We need to be quick to hear, especially when we are hearing the Word of God or listening to the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God. Then, we need to be slow to speak. Our mouths can cause our bodies to sin (Eccl. 5:6). We should think before we speak.
8 Conquering Temptations When we speak in haste, we have a lot of time to regret for what we have said afterward. We should be slow to wrath. The reason is simple. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. This means that our anger will not lead others to be righteous. Having taken these first steps, we can go on to others. We should put unnecessary things out of our hearts. We should do our best to eliminate filthiness from our lives and from our minds. We should set aside the superfluous naughtiness that can so easily enter into our thinking. These are the thoughts that are not edifying or profitable that can occupy so much of our thinking. Now this sounds negative, but, before you can put positive virtue into your heart, you have to get the bad things out. Note that this does not say that one has to be sinless. We are sinners and, as long as we are in the flesh, we will be sinners, but we can be forgiven sinners and we can do our best to control our sinful nature. When we have done so, then we can begin to add the positive things of God s Word. We should receive the Word of God meekly or humbly. We should engraft it into our hearts, literally making it a living part of ourselves. In this way the Word of God can govern or even take the place of our fleshly lusts. So equipped, our real heart s desire can be to do the will of our Father in Heaven, not to seek the satisfaction of our fleshly lust. But a word of warning is now in order. Merely hearing the Word will not be sufficient in dealing with temptation. Those who hear the Word but never apply it to their own hearts are only deceiving themselves. The illustration is like a person who looks into a mirror. We all look into mirrors, but we have to do it again and again, every time we pass one. This is because we quickly forget what we looked like the last time we saw ourselves. God seeks to do a permanent work in our hearts, and He can do that through our knowledge and acceptance of His Word. The man who listens to the Word of God applies it to his own heart and makes the Bible a part of his thought
Text: James 1:1-27 9 processes is prepared for temptation and will be blessed in the things that he does. Note the admonition to look into the perfect law of liberty, the Bible. The Bible is about being free. It is about being free from sin, from the curse of sin and from the control of sin, and we gain that freedom when we continue in it. Instead of hearing and forgetting, we hear and remember. We learn and we use the lessons we learn everyday. This is a truly blessed way to live. A FINAL WORD In contrast to these wonderful principles, we can observe the lives of those who constantly give in to their lusts. There are people who yield to any and every temptation. They use their time on earth to attempt to satisfy every lust and craving that is born in their hearts, and the sad truth is that these are not happy people. We can get everything that we ever wanted only to find that we truly are not satisfied with any of it. Or worse yet, we can learn too late that the real issues of life are spiritual, not physical. There is no profit in gaining the whole world and losing your own soul (Matt. 16:26). God will give us wisdom if we ask Him for it (James 1:5, 6). We have to ask in faith, and we have to be absolutely sincere in our desire to learn and to resist temptation. Everyone will face temptation. No one is exempt, but we have a wonderful example to follow in Jesus. We can learn about His life and read about how He dealt with temptation, and we have a great resource in the Word of God. We can read it, hear it and apply it to our lives. If we will do what the Bible teaches us to do, we can face temptation, knowing that we can do the will of God in the most difficult of circumstances and that we can win a crown of life in the process.
2 Good Works Text: James 2:1-26 Focus: James 2:14-26 June 13, 2004 Key Verse: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26 Sunday Devotional: Full of Good Works, Acts 9:36-43. Aim: By the conclusion of this lesson the students will understand the importance of good works in the life of the believer. A FIRST LOOK In understanding the truth of these verses, we must first understand the difference between a result and a cause. Good works are the result of faith; they are never the cause of faith. This is a one-way street, and we err in our reasoning if we believe that we can somehow produce faith by doing good works. Our faith, which must come first, justifies us before God, for as we read in Hebrews 11:6, Without faith it is impossible to please him [God]. It is not difficult; it is impossible. The justification spoken of in Romans 3 and 4 is justification before God. But the justification mentioned in James is the result of faith. We are speaking of justification before men. The only way others can see our faith is by observing what we do, and, as we shall learn, there is a vital and direct connection between 10 Daily Devotionals M. Abraham s Good Works, Genesis 22:1-19. T. Created To Do Good Works, Ephesians 2:1-10. W. Good Works Displayed, Matthew 5:13-16. T. Adorned with Good Works, 1 Timothy 2:8-15. F. Pattern of Good Works, Titus 2:1-10. S. Provoked to Good Works, Hebrews 10:19-25.
Text: James 2:1-26 11 the two. What we believe will always manifest itself in some way in our conduct. Our hearts are justified before God by our faith, but the evidence of our faith is seen in our works before men. In our good works our faith and our relationship with God is shown. Unless we understand this important distinction, we will not be able to realize the important lessons of these wonderful verses. One of the greatest tragedies in churches today is the notion that we can profess Christ without any subsequent change in our behavior. The Bible is plain on this issue. Second Corinthians 5:17 declares Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. In James we learn how this new life is shown to others. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Folly of False Faith James 2:14-17 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Dead faith is defined the same as a dead body. The form is there, and everything may look as if life is present, but there will be no movement and no activity. The principle is that of profession without possession. In other words, faith is more than what we claim with our mouths. To be real, faith has to produce some change in the person who has it. Through the ages, there have been those who made lofty and grand claims about their faith. They have declared the
12 Good Works wonderful things that they believed about God and about Jesus in beautiful language. In spite of these claims there was no work or effect of that claim evident in their lives, and the lack of works made the claim of faith a lie. The kind of faith that only exists in the testimony of men and not in the hearts of men will not justify men before God or others. The illustration of this is given in the powerless words of the man who would wish good on those in need without actually helping supply their needs. A cold, naked and hungry person needs warm clothing and nourishing food. The needy person is not profited or benefited by the admonition to merely be warmed and filled. Note that the hungry person may believe the words. He may accept the well-meaning sincerity of the one who says them, but he will still be naked and hungry. This is illustrating the need for faith to be evidenced in some positive change that can be observed in the life of an individual. This should be an obvious example to us. The application is made extremely clear. As a hungry brother is not fed by empty words, so the convincing evidence of faith is never in the things that we say with our mouths. Now the Bible clearly teaches us that we are to make a profession of our faith (Rom. 10:9). But that profession is not to be alone. It is to be accompanied by the life changes that come from truly believing the truth in our hearts. At the end of the day, we are what we believe. What we do springs from our faith, and, if our faith is real, our works will also be real. They will be observable and satisfying the same way that a hearty meal and warm clothing would be observable and satisfying to a cold hungry brother. We read the statement twice that there is no profit in false faith. There is no profit for the person who claims it, and there is no profit for the one who observes it. As sad as it maybe for the cold, hungry brother to encounter false faith, it is equally sad for the person who made the empty proclamation, thinking that he had actually done some good by admonishing the hungry man to be filled. Those who are somehow satisfied with false faith will not be seeking the real thing.
Text: James 2:1-26 13 II. The Arrogance of False Faith James 2:18-20 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? The key thought in these verses is the phrase show me thy faith. Clearly, this is not about having faith in the first place; instead, it is about the demonstration and proof of faith. Proving or demonstrating our faith is important for two reasons. First, it is important to others. Only as faith is demonstrated, can faith be truly spread. What we do often speaks so loudly that no one can hear what we say. All through the New Testament, we have example after example of people who were moved to believe by what others did as well as by what others said. Perhaps this is illustrated most forcefully in the exchange between Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3. Nicodemus declared that he knew that Jesus was a Teacher who came from God because no one could do what Jesus did unless God was with him. In other words, the activity of our Lord was proof of the message of our Lord (John 3:2). Faith and veracity are demonstrated by what we do, based on what we believe. But there is a more personal reason for demonstrating our faith. Faith without works is dead or powerless. It is powerless to help others, and it is also powerless to help the person who professes it. There is a trial of our faith, and for our faith to stand the trial, it must be genuine. We can say that we have faith, and we can try to convince ourselves that we do, but, if our hearts are hollow and our lives are empty of good works, our so-called faith will fail when trials come. A good example of a dead or empty kind of faith is illustrated in the kind of faith that the devils have. Faith is not
14 Good Works merely admitting to an obvious fact. The devils believe in one God and tremble at the prospect, but they are not changed at all by simply admitting what is obviously true. This is teaching us that we cannot claim to have saving faith just because we admit that the truth is true. That kind of admission never really changes anyone. We read in Matthew 7:22 of a group who will be rejected at judgment because they will have acted on false faith. They will not be condemned for having done what they did; they will be condemned for not having known Jesus in the first place. This is the kind of devilish faith that only deludes the heart but never changes it. Real faith must have the accompanying proof of good works. A person who truly believes in Jesus will serve Jesus. Jesus Himself gave us this haunting question that goes to the heart of this matter. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46). I do not have an answer to that question, do you? If we profess our faith and if we call Jesus our Lord, then there should be some evidence in our lives that we have been born again. The application is that the man who has faith but no works is arrogant and vain. It is vanity or emptiness of spirit that would lead anyone to conclude that we could believe without that belief changing our behavior. III. Examples of True Faith James 2:21-26 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Text: James 2:1-26 15 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. For us to fully understand the connection between faith and what faith produces, James gives us two of the many examples of faith in the Old Testament. One of these is Abraham, a well-known figure of history, and the other is Rahab, a lesser-known person. This is to show that this kind of faith is available to all members of all parts of society. Abraham was a wealthy and prominent man who was literally the father of his nation. Rahab was a converted harlot who was among the lowest members of her society. Both Abraham and Rahab demonstrated their faith by what they did. Note that verse 21 is not saying that Abraham was not justified until he actually put Isaac on the altar. We read in Genesis 15:6 and also in Romans 4:21, 22 that long before this incident, Abraham s faith was imputed to him for righteousness. What James states is that, when Abraham offered Isaac in complete and total obedience to the Word of God, Abraham completely proved to everyone who reads this account that he was justified. He proved it by what he did and by what he was willing to do. Abraham s confidence in the promise and plan of God was shown to be absolutely unshakable by his offering of Isaac. Abraham knew that God had given Isaac to him, and he completely believed that God could either resurrect Isaac if necessary or somehow work things out so that all the promises God had made would come to pass. Abraham was called the friend of God because he allowed God to so completely control his life that he was willing to follow God even when it made absolutely no sense to his flesh. In stark contrast to this is presented the picture of a man who has faith that will not produce any evidence in his life. The other example is Rahab, a harlot of Jericho, who hid the spies in the days of Joshua and was spared when Joshua
16 Good Works conquered the city because she hung a scarlet cord from her window. This woman believed God, and she believed what the spies told her. She acted on that belief, and her life was saved as a result. Had she only heard about Israel and had she only listened to the spies without acting, she would have died in the battle for Jericho. A FINAL WORD A lifeless body cannot move, act, feel or work. It is there, but without the spirit that makes it alive, it is dead. So it is with the kind of faith that produces nothing in the life of the individual who claims it. A living, vital body has both a whole physical component as well as a whole and well spirit inside it. That is life. Real spiritual life consists of true faith and the consequent physical works that will naturally follow. No matter how plausible or desirable a profession of faith is to us, we must listen to what the Word of God tells us. False faith, the kind that produces no works, will not save us. Neither will the works that are not born of true faith. But we do not need to make this a difficult matter. Real faith is not difficult to come by, and good works will quite naturally flow from it. As seed produce fruit, real faith will grow and blossom into a life of service for our Master. This is not a difficult or burdensome thing. It is the natural result of salvation. As Jesus so wonderfully put it in Matthew 11:30, For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. No true believer has to strain to do good works. They flow readily from a heart that knows Jesus Christ as Savior.
3 Controlling the Tongue Text: James 3:1-18 Focus: James 3:1-12 June 20, 2004 Key Verse: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8 Sunday Devotional: A Noble Resolve, Psalm 39:1-8. Aim: By the conclusion of this lesson the students will grasp the importance of controlling the tongue. A FIRST LOOK Words are extremely powerful. Most of us have been harmed by words, and most of us have been encouraged and strengthened by words. The gospel comes to us in words. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Like any powerful thing, words can be used for evil purposes. Our lesson today concerns how to control our gift of language. As it is with many powerful things, we can use it or abuse it. We must keep in mind that this letter was written to people who were going through a difficult time. They were scattered over the face of the earth and perhaps were understandably discouraged and disheartened. They needed the real physical ministry of good works that we learned about last week, but they also needed the encouragement of genuine friendship. As we learn about the power and pitfalls of language, we can also learn how to say the right things and use our abilities to speak to 17 Daily Devotionals M. Wholesome Tongue, Proverbs 15:1-7. T. Glad Tongue, Acts 2:25-31. W. Flattering Tongue, Psalm 5:1-10. T. Lying Tongue, Psalm 78:32-39. F. Word of Hatred, Psalm 109:1-8. S. Deceitful Tongue, Romans 3:9-18.
18 Controlling the Tongue edify. Edify is a biblical word and it has a wonderful meaning. Its root meaning is to build. When applied to our character, it means to promote the spiritual growth and development of believers by teaching or by example. Such growth is the result of patient and consistent labor, and that includes teaching with words as well as with the example of things that we do. As words can never be substituted for deeds, deeds can never substitute for words. Both should work together to allow us to do God s will. A CLOSER LOOK I. Speech Can Control James 3:1-4 1. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3. Behold, we put bits in the horses mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Perhaps the greatest instrument ever developed for controlling others is the simple ability to communicate and use our language. As our text verses point out, this control is shown in at least two ways. First, it is evident in the control that we have over ourselves, and second, it is evident in the control that we exercise over other people. The first admonition is that everyone should not try to be a master. It is true that we need leaders, but we also need followers. When one becomes his own master, there is greater
Text: James 3:1-18 19 condemnation. We should strive to hear the words of Jesus and to let Him be the true ruler of our lives. The desire for one to be a master will inevitably lead to offense. Others will demand the right to be their own masters and confusion will be the result. Harmony and true fellowship can only come as all of us allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to rule in our lives. The apostle Paul wisely tells us in Romans 14:19, Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. When we seek to serve and edify each other, we will not worry about who gets the credit. The complete or perfect man will control his speech and not offend others with his words. In this way he will control himself and influence the others he contacts. Some examples of this kind of control are given so that we can see how powerful it really is. We read of the bit that controls the horse and the rudder that steers a large ship. Both the bit and the rudder are small relative to the size of the thing that they control, but they do a wonderful job at magnifying and applying the controlling force of the one who is really in control. The application is that the ability to speak might seem like a small thing. A word here and a word there might seem irrelevant and little noticed, but a word in the right place can literally steer a life and turn the course of history. There is no greater example than the simple message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This message, conveyed in the wonderful words of hope and faith, brings life to our spirits and joy to our future (Rom. 10:10-16). A word of witness may seem like a small thing, but it can change a life and bring a person into contact with the saving grace of Jesus. Here is the potential for great good in our ability to communicate. As the rider can direct his mount to safety and the captain can steer his ship away from the storm and the rocks, so the message of the gospel can offer hope of salvation and eternal reward to those who hear it.
20 Controlling the Tongue II. Speech Can Do Great Harm James 3:5-8 5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. But sadly, we can also use the ability to communicate to do harm. Because we are sinners by our nature, harm is the use that is most often made of language. When we use our speech carelessly, or even worse, maliciously, it is likened to lighting a small fire that can become a raging inferno. A few words spoken rashly or angrily can kindle feelings of resentment and distrust that can spread like wildfire and destroy everything in its path. The reason is simple. We all have a sinful nature, and, like the dry underbrush of a forest welcomes the flames, that nature is ready to hear and believe the worst in every situation. All it needs is a small spark of gossip, and the fire is burning out of control. Notice the process. The tongue first defiles the whole body. Jesus taught that what defiles us is not what goes into our mouths, but what comes out of our mouths (Matt. 15:11). What comes out of our mouths comes also out of our hearts (Matt. 12:34). We have evil in our hearts and it overflows from our mouths and we are defiled. Have you seen this happen? You meet a person who appears well-groomed and gentle until that person speaks. Then the words he uses and the thoughts behind them identify him as belonging to the world, not to Christ. Then the defiled speech spreads to influence the course of nature and to release the ability of the devil to disrupt and destroy in the affairs of men. The evil that once was confined
Text: James 3:1-18 21 to the heart of an individual has now been spread abroad to influence and corrupt everyone who hears it. The ability to hear is not used to receive the Word of God and to be blessed; instead, it is used to further the causes of evil and all this is because of words that are spoken. This process is so built into us and so much a part of our nature that there are literally no natural forces that can contain it. Beasts, birds, serpents and sea creatures can be tamed and controlled by mankind, but this evil comes from our own hearts. No man can tame the tongue. Now notice that this does not say that the tongue cannot be tamed. It says that no man can do it. We cannot control ourselves, but God can control us. When we trust Christ, we become new creatures in Him (2 Cor. 5:17). When we learn to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh, we can have new life in our hearts, and the abundance of our hearts can be good (Gal. 5:16). We can be controlled by the teachings of the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God. Man is not a hopeless case, but for any of us to be changed, we have to submit ourselves to Jesus Christ and to His Word. When we do, God can change the way we think, and that will change the way we speak. The change will be for the better. III. Speech Can Cause Confusion James 3:9-12 9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. We should note that the change must be genuine. A false profession only causes confusion. Real edification requires
22 Controlling the Tongue genuine faith. As we learned previously, it is a small thing to declare our faith. The real test of our faith is in the changes that come in our behavior as a result of what we truly believe. True belief will always result in changed behavior. We are what we believe, and our words will reflect that fact. A man may indeed curse men and bless God, but, if he does, he is showing to all who hear him that he really does not know God. We read in 1 John 4:20, If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? These are strong words, but they are true words. The man who blesses God and curses his brother at the same time has a problem with God, not his brother. When we truly know God, we will regard others exactly as Jesus did. Jesus spoke truly and plainly, and He sometimes may have seemed harsh, but He always spoke in love. He spoke to turn men from their wicked ways and bring them to salvation. A heart that is filled with the love of God will not send out curses and blessings at the same time. These things ought not to be and, if we will allow God to control our hearts, they will not be. The illustrations from nature are interesting. A fountain will not send out sweet and bitter water at the same place. It will be one or the other, but not both. A fig tree will not bear olives. A vine will not bear figs. You see, it is the nature of the vine or the tree that determines the kind of fruit that is produced. No outside change can change the internal nature of the plant. You will not teach a fig tree to bear olives by showing it olives or even by hanging olives all over it until the fig tree finally gets the idea and bears olives. This is ridiculous; yet, men still try to change the inward soul through outward works. Change the nature, and you will change the fruit that is produced. In the same way you will not change a saltwater fountain by pouring some sweet water into it. The unseen source of the water must be altered to change the water that you see on the surface.
Text: James 3:1-18 23 External attempts to produce internal change only result in confusion. This is truly sad because internal change is possible. God is willing to save anyone. He is ready to save to the uttermost those who come unto Him through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and He is willing and able to change the bitterest nature into the sweetness love that Jesus showed to the whole world. A FINAL WORD Be careful about what you say. Long after we have forgotten words of encouragement, we will still cling to the criticism that has been sent our way. Perhaps criticism is needed and just, but we should be careful about what we say and how we say it. When you speak, you are dealing with dynamite. It can do great good or it can do great harm, and the difference is in the way you use it. Be careful! But even more, we should be aware that there is a connection between what we say and who we are. Nothing reveals our character more completely than the words we choose. The place to start in improving your language is in your own heart. When your heart is completely right with God and when your life is led and controlled by the Holy Spirit, good communication will naturally flow from your mouth. As a good tree produces good fruit, so a good man will produce good works. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45).
4 June 27, 2004 Submissive to Separation Text: James 4:1-17 Focus: James 4:1-11 Key Verse: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. James 4:8 Sunday Devotional: The Warning of Esau, Hebrews 12:14-17. Aim: By the conclusion of this lesson the students will comprehend the principle of godly living. A FIRST LOOK We live in a crazy world. Few who really observe the things going on around them would deny this statement, but those who know Jesus Christ as Savior and follow Him as their Lord have a way to keep from becoming a part of the craziness of this present age. To avoid being condemned with the world, we have to learn to live separated from the world. Now this can be confusing, because we are surely in this world, but we are not of this world. In this as in all things, Jesus is our great example. Jesus was in this world. He lived here, and every day of His life He walked as a man in the world, but Jesus was never of this world. He was here to do the will of His Father in Heaven, and He acknowledged from the first that He would be about His 24 Daily Devotionals M. Kept from Wickedness, Psalm 17:6-15. T. Treasurers in Heaven, Matthew 6:19-24. W. Deceitfulness of Riches, Matthew 13:18-23. T. Lovers of Pleasure, 2 Timothy 3:1-9. F. Love of the World, 2 Timothy 4:9-18. S. Love not the World, 1 John 2:12-17.
Text: James 4:1-17 25 Father s business. It is our decisions to seek and to do the will of God that separates us from the world. Godly living is not an accident that will just happen to us as we go along; instead, it is the directed choice of a child of God. It is a decision to set our affections on things above and to place our hope in things to come and, in truth, it is the only wise and rational choice that we can make. Everything here will perish, but what we do for God is eternal. When we understand these two simple truths, the choice is obvious. Then we need to know how to follow the Lord. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Source of Trouble James 4:1-4 1. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Before we can solve any problem, we have to identify it. We have to know where trouble comes from so we can at least avoid it. The questions here are not rhetorical. They have real answers, and God expects each of us to face them and to deal with the problems that are at the root of bad behavior. The source of wars and fightings is the lust that constantly struggles within us. We read of this constant battle in Romans 7:14-25. A child of God has two natures, and these natures are in a constant state of spiritual conflict. The flesh-
26 Submissive to Separation ly nature opposes the spiritual nature, and the spiritual nature does its best to impose the spiritual standards of right conduct on the entire body. The obvious observation is that, when we give over to our fleshly nature, we always lose. Even though we lust and desire to have and even commit murder, we still do not have what we seek. The flesh is never satisfied. No matter how many things we get, we will never have enough. There will always be one more that we just have to have to be happy. It is sobering to realize, but there is literally no thing in the world that can truly make us permanently happy. We will only find fulfillment and satisfaction in the things of the Spirit. The really sad part is that we lack spiritual blessings simply because we do not ask for them, and, when we ask, we still lack them if all we want to do is consume them on our own lusts. We can never experiment with faith. We either have it or we do not and, when we pray simply to satisfy our lust, our prayers will fail. The answer is in understanding the relationship of the world with the things of God. Friendship with this world system and looking to it to satisfy our needs is enmity with God. This means that our friendship with the world separates us from the true source of blessing. As we read in James 1:17, God is the source of every good thing in our lives. When we make this world system our friend, we also make God our enemy, and we cut ourselves off from the source of real blessings. James is a practical book, and it is never enough to simply know about these truths. We will only be blessed by them when we put them into practice. There are those who act out the part of being a Christian. They are playing a role, not living a life. This hollow and hypocritical approach will not fool others. Worse than that, it will not help those who are trying it. Real troubles call for real solutions. We have them, but to access them, we need real, life changing faith in Jesus Christ. It is not what we say that shows change, but it is how we live, and how we live must be based on a real belief that
Text: James 4:1-17 27 Christ lives and that He is able to reward those who follow Him. II. The Solution of Grace James 4:5-8 5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Sin is powerful, and our world is mostly sinful, but the wonderful truth is that God giveth more grace. His grace is not only sufficient; it is overcoming. Through it we can truly be more than conquerors. Note first that the Bible is to be taken as our all sufficient guide in these matters. The Scripture never speaks in vain. The Bible means what it says and it says what it means. The Bible is never just another opinion that should be considered as we make up our minds about a matter. The Bible is the Word of God. When Heaven and earth will have passed away, the Word of God will still be there and it will still be true. The Bible declares that the spirit in us, that is our fleshly nature, is motivated by lust and envy. Think about it; how many times are these two spiritual forces part of the decision making process? We see something that we want and we get it. We see something that our neighbor has and we want one, too. If we are ruled by lust and envy, we will be as confused as our confused world. There is a better way. This is the grace of God. What does that grace teach us? It teaches us to take control on a spiritual level. It says that we can understand the Word, the way and the will of God. We can learn that God resists those who are proud of themselves. We can learn that God adds even more of His grace to
28 Submissive to Separation those who are humble. It is by the grace of God that the proud are not destroyed, and it is by the grace of God that the humble truly understand what blessings are. Human beings are not basically good creatures who may occasionally do bad things. Human beings are basically sinners, even when they occasionally do something good. Even saved people have an Adamic nature. Only death will separate us from it. We have to die so that we can put on immortality. This is why Jesus saves us from our sins and then asks that we walk in newness of life. We do this by resisting the spirit that moves us to lust and envy and by yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit who urges us to follow Jesus. In the next few verses we read of seven things that we can do to choose to follow the Lord. Each of these things is a deliberate and rational choice. They will not just happen to anyone. The first thing we have to do is submit. This means to give in or give over to another power. This is not submission that is forced on us from outside; instead, it is reflexive. We do it ourselves. It is not submission without direction. We are to direct our submission to God. We are not to submit to the world we live in or even to each other. Submission to God is the first step. No matter where we might want to go, we will never get there unless we take the first step. Those who will not submit themselves to God will forever be bound by the lusts and envy of a sinful nature and a sinful world. When we submit, we then gain the power to resist. Here is the first gift of grace. We do not have to be ruled by lust and envy. We can resist them and all the other forces of evil. When we submit to God, we are putting ourselves under the power and protection of God. God then looks out for us, and we are easily able to deal with Satan, but, if we try to resist Satan in our own strength, we will fail. Satan will tempt our Adamic nature, and we will yield, but, if we will first submit to God, we will be able to deal with all kinds of temptation. Then we draw near to God. We are as close to God as we want to be. We are not neutral. We are either growing in grace and knowledge or we are reverting to our old ways.