CHEW ON IT

Ephesians 5:15-21

2009-03-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

As we get into the Word this week, let us not be deceived by the empty words of this world. Instead, let us walk as children of light whose lives have been captured by Jesus and are seeking to please the Him. Let’s get into Word so the Word can get into us and change us from the inside out!

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: careful, wise, foolish, drunk, filled, speaking, songs, giving thanks, and subject.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 5:15-21 (NASB)

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

DIGGING DEEPER

List all of the characteristics of God and any promises of God that you find in this passage.

Many times we think that in order to be wise, you must be a genius. What does a wise person look like according to verses 15-17? How can you live wisely according to this passage and make the most of the time God has given you?

Take a moment and think through what you do on a daily and weekly basis. What is it that you are doing that would be considered wise and in agreement with God’s will for your life? What is it that you are doing that would be considered foolish and against what God would have for your life?

After you have answered the questions above, ask God to give you grace and strength to carry out His will for your life and make the most of the time He has given you.

Verses 19-21 look like four separate commands in English. In Greek, however, they are actually linked to verse 18 and describe several results of being filled with the Spirit. In your own words, explain the characteristics of those who are filled with the Spirit below and one way you can live that out in your life today!

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

Singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord

Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father

Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ

After looking at these verses, what characteristics are you lacking in your walk with God? Pray right now and ask God to fill you with His Spirit and give you the grace to live out these characteristics.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 5:6-14

2009-03-03T06:44:00.000-08:00

In Ephesians 5, Paul continues to outline what it means “to live a life worthy of the calling you received” (4:1). As we are seeking to be culture warriors in this world and not culture imitators of the world, it is crucial that we are seeking to imitate and follow God! This passage will show us how we can do this and not be deceived by the darkness but to walk as children of light who please the Lord. Let’s get into Word so the Word can get into us and change us from the inside out!

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: deceive, partakers, darkness, Light, unfruitful, expose.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 5:6-14 (NASB)

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14 For this reason it says, Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

DIGGING DEEPER

List all of the characteristics of God and any promises of God that you find in this passage.

Verse 6 tells us to not be deceived with empty words and to not join up with those who disobey God. What are some of the empty words of the world that can so easily deceive us? Evaluate your life right now and see if you are being deceived.

The Scriptures are full of warnings about being deceived. Check out the following passages and really think about what God is saying through them. Then, write down what each verse is saying about being deceived and how that applies to your life today.

Romans 3:13

1 Corinthians 15:33

Galatians 6:7

2 Timothy 3:13

Titus 3:3

James 1:13-16

1 John 1:8

From these verses, how will you seek to live in the world but not be deceived into becoming just like the world?

From verses 8-14, we see Paul contrasting light and darkness in showing us how to live holy lives. According to this passage, what does it mean to live as children of light?

From verses 8-14, what does it mean to live in darkness?

What are the unfruitful works of darkness? Explain.

What kind of interaction should we have with the works of darkness? What are we commanded to do?

Spend time right now praising God for His work in your life, and pray that He will continue to give you the grace to obey Him by walking in His way and worshipping Him with your life.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 5:1-5

2009-01-16T05:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to the Ephesians Edition of “Chew On It.” I hope that you are excited about what God is teaching us through these incredible verses of Scripture! We all know that not doing what is wrong is one thing. But sometimes it can be even more difficult to do what is right. In Ephesians 5, Paul continues to outline what it means “to live a life worthy of the calling you received” (4:1). He begins by telling us to walk in such a way that is patterned after God Himself! Some of you might be wondering, “How is this possible? How can I imitate God?” Paul shows us the way and what to avoid that will keep us from living out the truth that was lived by Christ.

I hope that this study in Ephesians 5 will be a blessing to you. As we are seeking to be culture warriors and not culture imitators, it is crucial that we are seeking to imitate God! This passage will show us how we can do this in how we talk and walk. Let’s get into Word so the Word can get into us and change us from the inside out!

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: imitators, walk in love, sacrifice, impurity, filthiness, idolater.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 5:1-5 (NASB)

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God and any promises of God that you find in this passage.

We are told to be imitators of God, as children who are loved by God. How do children imitate? (Give some examples of your own observations of small children)

Just as children imitate their parents’ behavior (which can be a VERY humbling experience!), we are to imitate God. What do you see in the Scriptures about God that you can imitate?

From your list above, what are some characteristics or attributes of God that you will commit to begin imitating today?

Wednesday:

How is Christ the perfect example of what Paul asks of us in verse 2? How can you walk in love toward others this week by following Christ’s example?

In verse 3, some translations render the verse this way: “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” Explain this verse in your own words and then explain what needs to change in your life so you can live it out!

Commit the list you just wrote to the Lord in prayer right now. God’s grace was more than sufficient to cleanse you from all unrighteousness when you were saved. That same grace is still more than sufficient to empower you to say no to sin and live righteously in this perverse world (Titus 2:11-12)!

Friday:

How is giving thanks with your lips an appropriate replacement for spouting the filthy and profane language that Paul condemns in verse 4?

How can you use thanksgiving to replace sinful language in your life?

In verse 5, why will immoral, impure, or greedy people be unable to inherit the kingdom of Christ and God? Why does Paul call these kinds of people idolaters and who are they worshipping?

Spend time right now praising God for His work in your life, and pray that He will continue to give you the grace to obey Him by walking in His way and worshipping Him with your life.

Ephesians 4:26-32

2008-12-26T19:06:00.000-08:00

Jesus said in Matthew 12, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks...the mouth speaks." Whatever comes out of the mouth is a revealer of the heart. In other words, when others hear you talk, they get a glimpse of the state of your heart. Paul continues to teach us in this passage how we should talk to and treat one another in our words and actions. As you read these verses, ask yourself what kind of lifestyle am I imitating – the world’s or Christ’s? Thankfully, Paul gives us hope by showing us how we can embrace the Christ-centered life and lay aside the self-centered life.

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: anger, steals, word, grace, grieve, bitterness, kind, forgiven.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:26-32 (NASB)

26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God and promises of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

In these verses, what does Paul tell us to put off and what does he tell us to put on?

What reason does Paul give for putting off these things?

Wednesday:

How does Paul’s teaching in these verses show the importance of healthy communication promoting unity?

Which of the commands in this passage are the hardest for you to follow? Explain why.

Friday:

What practical steps could you take this week to improve your relationships with others?

Which of these commands in this passage have you seen God strengthen you to obey this year?

Spend time right now praising God for His work in your life, and pray that He will continue to give you the grace to obey in these areas?

Ephesians 4:17-25

2008-12-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

The way in which we live our lives is the topic of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians as we look into this passage together. Paul opens this passage by giving us a contrast between how the world lives versus how a unified group of Christ-followers should live. As you read these verses, ask yourself what kind of lifestyle am I imitating – the world’s or Christ’s? Thankfully, Paul gives us hope by showing us how we can embrace the Christ-centered life and lay aside the self-centered life.

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: walk, hardness of heart, callous, sensuality, Christ, truth, old self, new self, renewed.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:17-25 (NASB)

17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God and promises of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

In this day and age, do you believe there is a difference between how Christians live and how non-Christians live? If so, what are the differences you see?

According to verses 17-19, how do the Gentiles live? Explain how you might struggle in these areas as a Christian.

Wednesday:

Paul says that the Gentiles are afflicted with a spiritual condition known as a hardness of heart (verse 18). What does this hardness of heart mean?

What are the effects of having a hardened heart (verses 17-19)?

How have you personally struggled with a hardness of heart toward God? (Be specific!)

Friday:

What does it mean to put off the old self and put on the new self? What does it require you to do?

Verse 23 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. What does this mean and how do you do this?

According to verse 24, our new self has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Because of this, how should this affect our relationships with others in the church (verse 25)?

Ephesians 4:7-16

2008-11-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

Paul tells us in this passage of Scripture that the body of Christ is wired to serve! The Holy Spirit has gifted and equipped each one of us to serve in the local church and carry out the Lord's ministry. Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: grace, gifts, equipping, body of Christ.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:7-16 (NASB)

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8 Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

Read verse seven again and explain it in your own words.

Wednesday:

In verses 8-10, Christ is compared to a conquering hero whose victory march fills the whole universe, from the highest heaven to the lowest earth! He then generously gives out gifts to His loyal followers. What is the nature and purpose of these gifts? See verses 11-13 for help.

List all of the gifts that you find in verse 11. What spiritual gifts do you believe that God has given you?

While Ephesians 4:1-6 sets forth the unity we have as believers, Ephesians 4:7-11 describes our uniqueness through the individual gifts we have received by the Spirit of God. According to verses 12 and 13, what is the purpose and goal of these gifts? In other words, why did God give them to the church?

Friday:

How does spiritual immaturity differ from spiritual maturity? See verses 14-16 for help?

What winds and waves are blowing and tossing the church today?

In verse 16, Paul says that the body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” What steps do you need to take in order to work toward this goal?

CHEW ON THIS: (This one is long, but keep reading!)

These verses speak of that which Christians individually possess uniquely, which is another contributing factor to Christian unity. So, maybe you are wondering, "How can diversity contribute to unity?" God has purposed unity for His body, the church. We share in common all of the things mentioned in verses 4-6. Nevertheless, we also are distinct in that God has given each one of us different spiritual gifts and different spheres of service. But when each believer finds his place of service and plays out his or her part, the whole body grows and fulfills its mission and ministry (4:16).

There are other texts which also teach us about spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Our text in Ephesians 4 has some unique areas of emphasis. Let me identity these for your consideration...

The emphasis in our text is on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the giver of these gifts. Spiritual gifts are gifts “of the Spirit,” but they are also gifts “from Christ.” It is as a result of our Lord’s victory, climaxing in His ascension (see 1:20-21), that spiritual gifts are bestowed upon believers. The gifts which are named are a small and distinct group. This list of spiritual gifts is very different from any other list. These gifts are those which are necessary and essential for all other gifts and ministries. The apostles and prophets have laid the foundation for the church and ministry and evangelists proclaim the gospel defined by the apostles and prophets. They are the obstetricians of the faith. And pastor-teachers are the pediatricians. All Christian ministry is dependent upon the operation of these gifts. The first two gifts of apostles and prophets I would understand to have been fulfilled by the apostles and prophets of the Old and New Testament eras. The latter two gifts continue to function in the church today.

The emphasis is also not on knowing your gift, but on finding your place of service. From Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Peter 4:10-11, it seems impossible for one to be a good steward of the grace of God without knowing what his or her spiritual gift is. Having said this, many Christians are waiting to serve because they have not "discovered" their gift. This text in Ephesians chapter 4 provides us with a happy solution. In this text Paul does not urge the saints to "discover their gift," but rather to find their place of service in the body of Christ. Finding our place of service is not really that difficult, as I understand the Scriptures. We know that we are to minister to the orphans and the widows (James 1:27). We are to "contribute to the needs of the saints" and "practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13). We are to "admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). All we need to do is to look around us for those things which need to be done, which our Lord has commanded us to do. In so doing, we will discover not only our place of service, but those gifts which God has given us to enable us to serve.

The focus here is not on the individual, but on the contribution which the individual makes to the body of Christ. Spiritual gifts are not given to us for our benefit as much as they are given for the building up of the body of Christ. They are for the building up of the body of Christ, and for carrying out the ministry of the church as the body of Christ. Christ indwells the church corporately (2:21-22) and the church corporately ministers on Christ’s behalf. The church is the visible manifestation of Christ on the earth. Christ not only dwells in it, it visibly manifests Christ to the world. So often, when the saints go to church, the go to be ministered to, not to minister. They go in order to be blessed, not in order to be a blessing. They leave, not asking whether Christ was exalted and whether others were edified, but whether or not they were blessed. Our text tells us that we are given gifts so that we may contribute something to the body of Christ, so that we may fulfill our mission to the church and become more like Christ.

In this plan, there is no room for self-serving religious people who sit and do nothing. The goal is that due to the active involvement and ministry of every member, the church will grow up to maturity. It will be marked by doctrinal purity and stability where people will stand firm for the truth of God's Word. It will discern those who hold to a different doctrine and refuse to be turned away from the truth. The mature church will be growing in Christ-likeness, never arriving at it in this life and never being content with how far it has grown. The mature church is committed to the truth of God’s revealed Word and ever seeking to be more closely conformed to Christ, its Head. The mature church, Paul says, is "growing up into Him who is the head" (verse 15). On the face of it, this statement seems difficult to understand. How can the body grow up into its head? We are not growing up into the Head, we are growing up to be more and more like the Head, Jesus Christ. Let me try to illustrate what I think Paul means. Christ is the "Head" of the body in several ways. He is also the one who provides for the needs of the body, and He also guides and directs the body. He is the One who is to be preeminent in the church, to receive the glory and honor. He is also the one who created the church, who brought it into existence by His incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection.

In conclusion, the Christian's conduct is to be based upon and consistent with his calling in Christ. He has been called to become an active, functioning member of the body of Christ. He has been called to obedience. The church is the dwelling place of God in the Spirit, and the instrument by which God demonstrates the glory of His wisdom, power, and grace. As we obey Him and manifest His likeness, we fulfill our calling. Christian unity is not an option, it is a command! It is both that which we possess and must preserve, and that for which we continue to strive. It is rooted in the origin and the life of the church. It is to be preserved by those who possess a servant’s spirit, and who respond to the grace of God by being gracious to their brothers and sisters in Christ who, like them, are not yet perfected.

Are you an active and vital part of a local church? The Bible never conceives of anyone coming to faith in Christ apart from becoming associated with a local church and then finding your place of service to the body of Christ. Every true believer and follower of Christ should be associated and involved in a local church and should actively pursue a place of service. May God help us to build up the body of Christ and serve one another!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 4:1-6

2008-11-23T13:46:00.000-08:00

While Ephesians 1-3 gives us a solid foundation of doctrinal truth, Ephesians 4-6 shows how we can practically apply this truth to our lives and give glory to God in the church. In these verses, we will discover the life of unity and peace that is demanded of all believers!

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: walk, calling, humility, diligent, peace, one.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:1-6 (NASB)

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

“To have unity we all must be the same.” Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.

Wednesday:

Paul is so concerned for us as Christians that he pleads with us to live a life that is worthy of our calling. What have we been called to? See Ephesians 1-3 for some clues.

According to verses 1-3, what are the characteristics of a life that is worthy of our calling? Explain each characteristic in your own words.

Why are these virtues so important for maintaining unity?

Which of the qualities that Paul mentions will help you cultivate unity with others in your life? Which of these do you need to work on by God’s grace? Write them down and note the reason that is stopping you from living out each characteristic.

Friday:

How many times in these six verses does Paul use the word “one?” Do you think that is significant to the unity that should exist in the church? Explain.

We are commanded in this passage to keep the unity of the Spirit. What does this mean?

Paul also tells us that we have one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. How do these truths contribute to actually living out true unity in our church?

CHEW ON THIS:

Here Paul speaks of our calling as one to live together in a way that displays the unity God has intended for His church. This passage thus sets the tone for the remainder of the letter, and provides the link with what has gone before. That link is made not only in the summarizing theme of unity in these verses but specifically in the ‘therefore’ grounds the appeal in the earlier teaching. The passage consists of two parts: the appeal to unity (verses 1–3) and a seven-fold confession emphasizing it (verses 4–6).

By introducing himself here, again, as a prisoner for the Lord, Paul points to the level of commitment he expects of himself and of others. His readers will not have failed to note that he was a prisoner precisely because of his zeal for the sort of unity he now requests of them. But first his appeal is the more general one to live in a way that is worthy of God’s calling (see 1 Thess. 2:12; Rom. 12:1; Col. 1:10). It is a call to the mutual humility, gentleness and patient, forgiving love that exemplifies reconciliation, and then clarifies this as the appeal to a life that promotes unity. This is a call for men and women to keep and hold the line on the unity God has already begun in Christ and into which we are brought by the Spirit who brings us Christ and his benefits (verse 3). The Spirit brings us the peace of God-given harmony as a uniting bond. However, this bond can be put in harm’s way when there is arrogance, deceit, pride, and selfish ambition.

In verses 4–6, Paul reminds us of how important this call to unity is with a sevenfold repetition of the word “one.” We are first given the first three components: One body, one spirit, and one hope. These “ones” point to the universal body of Christ (in other words, there are more people outside of our city that belong to Christ!), the invisible Spirit who gives our church body harmony and peace in Christ, and the hope of our calling in Christ. The second group of three (verse 5) unpack this calling we have in Christ. We have faith in Jesus as one Lord, whom we are identified with in one baptism. For a Jew in this culture to confess Jesus as the one Lord was equal to confessing Him as one with the Father.

In this passage do you see the “oneness” of your relationship with God and your unity with fellow believers? What are you doing to contribute to this kind of unity? Let’s be people who are solely committed to God and one another!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 3:14-21

2008-11-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

What is your view of prayer? Is it something that is an add-on to your busy day, or is it an essential component of your life that you cannot live without? As we look into our next passage of Scripture, I am challenged by this prayer that Paul prays for his readers and how it is a prayer for their inner spiritual growth and knowledge of God. In light of this, I wanted to share with you an e-mail I recently received from Pastor Tim. Consider these words….

“Suppose you get up tomorrow morning and open your Bible for devotions. But much to your surprise, you discover all the references to prayer and the Holy Spirit have been removed, leaving lots of empty spaces. Here’s the question we must all face: What difference would it make in my life if there were no such thing as prayer? What if there was no Holy Spirit? Would your lifestyle be affected? How much would your heart, your home, and your church be affected? In some cases, it would make little or no difference, for much of the activity is being carried on in the energy of the flesh. The Christian Life and ministry is dependent on the inner work of Christ in you. Prayer is our declaration of dependence upon God” (Vaughan).

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: bow my knees, strengthened with power, dwell in your hearts, rooted and grounded in love, love of Christ, fullness of God, more abundantly.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 3:14-21 (NASB)

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

Paul now turns from instruction to prayer. What was the reason for Paul’s prayer in this passage?

Wednesday:

In verse 17, Paul prays that Christ would “dwell in their hearts through faith.” What is this statement referring to?

Three times in verses 14-21, Paul mentions “love” and “power.” What do we learn about power and love in these verses?

Try to comprehend the love Christ has for you – how He created you, came to earth for you, suffered for you, died for you, and rose again for you. Think about how deep His love is for you and then write down what comes to your mind.

Friday:

How do verses 20-21 apply to what Paul has been praying for his readers? How does it apply to your life?

As you look at all of the things you are going through and struggling with, explain the ways in which Paul’s prayer can encourage you.

Take these verses and make it into a prayer of your own. Pray this passage back to God for a family member, a friend, and for yourself.

CHEW ON THIS:

I hope that your view of prayer has been shaped by the example of Paul in this passage. Paul begins his prayer by showing his submission to his Father. Here we see Paul falling down before God, on his knees with his head bowed to the ground. Paul then reminds us that this Heavenly Father is over all of heaven and earth, which includes the angels and all of mankind (v.15). From verses 16–19, Paul’s prayer is made up of two main requests. These requests are not the typical prayer requests that you hear in our churches today. We tend to focus on the physical prayer requests (sickness, pain, travel, finances, etc.) – which is not necessarily wrong. However, we tend to overlook the spiritual requests that Paul mentions in his prayer. The first request that Paul prays is for God’s mighty empowering by the Spirit in their hearts (also known as the inner man). God has an unlimited supply of power and He delights in enabling and empowering us to fulfill the purpose he has given us. But notice that Paul does not pray for more physical strength or ability, but "heart strength." This is really where we need to be strengthened and God is able to do it! The reason for this is so that "Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith." This does not refer to salvation, but rather that Christ would be at home in our hearts. In other words, Christ should not be an unwanted guest whom we tolerate, but the ruler of our heart and life. As we say no to the flesh we can truly become an unclogged channel and vessel for God to use.

Paul’s second request is for deep spiritual comprehension and a real knowledge of the love of Christ. It seems like a contradiction, however, since Paul is praying for his fellow believers to know something that beyond any human knowledge. However, Paul is seeking to highlight the awesome height and depth of the love of God. The dimensions of God’s love are boundless and Paul desires for us to experience this in our hearts! And, once this love is active in our lives there is no limit to what God can do in us and through us. In fact, He can do above and beyond what we could ever ask of Him or think in our minds, and we will be able to glorify Him as a result of His working! Let’s pray this for one another this week and seek to live out these truths like we truly believed them!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 3:1-13

2008-11-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

What do you think of when you hear the word church? A building on the corner? A stuffy group of religious hypocrites? A vibrant fellowship of people who love God and one another? In this passage, the Apostle Paul gives us the right perspective of the church and exalts its place in God’s plan.

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: revelation, mystery, gospel, minister, power, grace, wisdom, and boldness.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 3:1-13 (NASB)

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

Think of two or three adjectives which summarize your attitude and experience in the church and youth group. Explain.

Wednesday:

What gifts of God’s grace does Paul say he has received in verses 2, 3, and 8?

Explain the meaning of the mystery revealed to Paul in verses 2-6. How is it connected with the ministry that was given to him?

According to verses 10-11, what purpose does God have for the church?

How does this mesh with God’s overall purpose in Christ that is described in Ephesians 1:9-10?

Friday:

Paul says that he was in prison “for the sake of you Gentiles.” The Jews who arrested him reacted against the kind of teaching Paul has just expressed in Ephesians 2. Namely, Jesus has put an end to the divisive elements of the law and is creating a new people and building a new temple. How then was Paul’s imprisonment to the glory of his readers in verse 13?

CHEW ON THIS:

I know that in this passage we are given a great deal to chew on! In fact, if we are not careful, we could easily become overwhelmed with a passage like this since it is stocked with so much truth. So, let’s stick together and walk through these verses one step at a time. Paul continues his conversation about the church and the gospel as he begin chapter 3. Paul claimed to be a prisoner of Christ Jesus, knowing that Christ (not the Roman government) was sovereign over his current situation. His statement, “for the sake of you Gentiles” is what needs more explanation. Paul had devoted his ministry to traveling extensively to most of the known world to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. In verses 2-4, Paul emphasizes to us that God entrusted him with the grace of the gospel for the Gentiles by revealing the mystery to him (which he has already written in chapters 1 and 2), and that the we can begin to grasp the significance of the heart of the gospel from what he says. Then, in verses 5-6, Paul calls our attention to this mystery being revealed to the prophets in the Old Testament, but was not made known in previous generations. Now, God is revealing the gospel to the Gentiles and making them co-heirs, co-body members, and co-sharers of the promise of becoming a new creation in Christ. Unless you are of Jewish descent, this applies to you and me! This is an unbelievable privilege that we have because of what Christ accomplished through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead! We now have access to being a part of the family of God, the promises of God, and the blessings of God!

In verses 8-12, Paul tells us that grace was given to him to preach the incomprehensible riches of Christ to these Gentiles. And not only that, but that the eternal purpose of God was that the church would be the way that God’s manifold wisdom would be seen and heard throughout the physical and spiritual realm! This is an awesome thought that we could chew on for some time.

The Apostle Paul had devoted his life to bringing the Gentiles the gospel, and desired for there to be unity within the church. This is why his bonds and chains were their glory. In fact, Paul pled for unity over and over again in his letters to the body of Christ. There is a deep challenge here for our churches today, who so easily split, and redivide again, over issues of “the truth,” often without realizing that in doing so we are compromising the central truth of the gospel of reconciliation and restoration of unity in Christ!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 2:11-22

2008-10-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

What comes to your mind when you think of the word “unity?” Many of us desire to have unity within our church body. However, division and strife begins to set in when we find ourselves at odds with others within the church that come from different backgrounds or even live and believe differently than we do. Such problems were just as common in the Apostle Paul’s day as they are in ours. In these verses, Paul gives us several vivid images of the church and shows us how the Jews and the Gentiles are fellow citizens of the same body and that they had been purchased by the same cleansing blood of Christ.

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: strangers, peace, enmity, foundation, cornerstone, and built.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 2:11-22 (NASB)

11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;
18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

What groups of Christians do you disagree with or have trouble getting along with? What causes these tensions?

Wednesday:

In this passage, Paul uses several images to point us toward unity as a church. What are some of these images? What are these images intended to teach us?

How does verse 11 emphasize the bad feelings between the Jews and the Gentiles? What was happening to the Gentiles?

How many types of people exist in our church and our youth group? Are there any divisions that exist within those groups of people? Explain.

What kinds of name-calling do Christians engage in today with one another that contribute to disunity?

Read verses 13-15 again. How does the bond that we have in the blood of Christ unify us? What do you think would change in our church and youth group if we all focused on this?

Friday:

There was a literal dividing wall of resentment in Jerusalem. The Court of Gentiles was separated from the Temple by a stone wall. This wall signified that foreigners and Gentiles would not be allowed to enter. In what sense did the cross break down the walls of division according to verse 15?

We still see divisions among Christians today even though Christ is our peace. How do the images Paul used in 2:19-22 point out the unity Christians can have with one another?

What practical first step toward unity can you take with those in our youth group and church? For more help on this subject, read Romans 12:9-21, Ephesians 4:3, and Colossians 3:14)

CHEW ON THIS:

This passage begins with Paul highlighting the two people groups that existed in the church at this time – the Jews (also known as the “circumcision”) and the Gentiles (also known as the “uncircumcision”). Circumcision was the seal of the covenant God made with Israel, and it is what distinguished Jews from the rest of the world. The Gentiles were on the outside of this covenant and without hope in this world (verse 12). As unbelieving Gentiles, the readers of this letter would have had no part in the Christ, for the Messiah is first and foremost the king of Israel. They were not a part of the “people of God” and God’s blessing. Now that these Gentiles had become believers in Christ, their situation has dramatically changed! They were now near to God through the blood of Christ on the cross! Christ’s death on the cross broke down the wall of division between the Jews and the Gentiles. Christ is said to be our peace in that He joined these two great divisions into one, destroying the hostility and resentment! In the Old Testament, only the high priest, as Israel’s representative, had immediate access to God in the sense that only he could enter the Holy of Holies, and then only on the Day of Atonement. Israel stood at a distance, and the Gentiles were forbidden to be included. But now, through Christ’s death and resurrection, both now have immediate access to God through the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 18). Paul uses several images to capture this truth for us - circumcision, a wall, a body, and a building. I would like to draw our attention to the last image that Paul mentions. In this passage, believers are portrayed as the very stones with which the heavenly temple itself is gradually being built. Jesus Himself is identified as the “chief cornerstone,” the One from which the rest of the foundation is built along the line of the each wall. All is built on Christ, supported by Christ, and the shape of the building is determined by Christ, the Cornerstone.

As Paul concludes this chapter, we are reminded of the enormous privilege that we are a part of this whole construction. And we are included in it because of our union with Christ, in whom all things are being brought into the harmony and peace that came by the cross. As we look at the divisions and walls that exist in our church community, let’s remember the blood of Christ and what He accomplished on the cross for us. He did not suffer, bleed, and die so we could be divided by walls of resentment and hostility! The ultimate price was paid to create new creatures in Christ who are one in Him and who are fellow citizens of the same kingdom. We can live in peace and harmony with one another because of what Christ has done for us!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 2:1-10

2008-10-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

Do you consider yourself a good person? If you say yes, you are in for the shock of your life as we look at this passage! The depth of our sin is so great, that the Bible pronounces us dead before salvation. We were dead in our sins and without hope! There is no way that we could somehow transform ourselves or make ourselves righteous. That is why the Gospel is not merely good advice, it is GOOD NEWS! We are not people who need to be awakened from our slumber, but people who need a radical transformation from spiritual death and darkness to spiritual life and light. These ten verses in Ephesians point us to how that radical transformation takes place – God’s boundless love and grace conquering our boundless sin!

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: dead, sins, lusts of our flesh, rich in mercy, riches of His grace, faith, workmanship.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 2:1-10 (NASB)

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

How might your life be different if God ceased to be a God of grace? Think about it and explain.

Wednesday:

In verse 1 Paul tells us that we were dead in our trespasses and sins. How did this happen and why does our sin separate us from God?

In verses 2-3, Paul outlines for us what our lives looked like before salvation. We followed the world, the flesh, and Satan himself. According to Paul, what impact did these influences have on us as non-Christians? In what way do these influences still impact you and how have you personally seen these influences at work? Please explain.

According to verses 4-7, what motivated God to save us? Why are these motives so remarkable, when you consider our boundless sin?

What does Paul mean when he says in verses 5-6 that we have been “made alive,” “raised,” and “seated” with Christ?

For those of you who want to dig a little deeper, here’s a great question to chew on: How does our union with Christ relate to the fulfillment of God’s purpose stated in 2:7 and 1:9-10?

Friday:

According to Ephesians 2:8-9, how are we saved? Do you and I have anything to do with our salvation according to these verses? Explain.

What does the word “workmanship” mean in verse 10?

Paul also tells us in verse 10 that just as God is sovereign in our salvation, He is also sovereign in our sanctification, creating us unto good works. What good works does Paul have in mind here?

Evaluate your spiritual life for a moment. Are you living in the bondage of verses 2 and 3 or are you living in the grace of verses 4-10?

List all of the things you have learned about God’s grace from Ephesians 2:4-10.

CHEW ON THIS:

In these powerful verses of Scripture, Paul draws our attention to the grace of God that brought us out of death into life. Verses 1-3 should serve as a huge wake-up call to us concerning the total sinfulness from which believers have been redeemed. We were not just totally depraved, but also totally unable to be rescued from our depravity if not for God’s grace! The cravings of our flesh, the influence of the world, and the presence of Satan in the world can seem so overwhelming. At times we may still find ourselves “indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind,” even though we have been set free by God’s grace. So, let’s dwell on that grace for a moment. God is rich in mercy and great in love – even when we were dead in our sins and without hope! And if that was not enough, God also breathed spiritual life into us and raised us up to share in His glory in heaven (this is mind-blowing!). He did all of this to display how rich His grace and kindness is and how it can conquer our seemingly limitless sin! This is a stark and breathtaking contrast to the doom of verses 1-3 and it dramatically reveals the power of God at work in us that brings us from death to life. This transformation is not a product of our works, but of His grace. Even the faith to believe this is a gift that God gives us, enabling us to trust Him and repent in salvation. However, this does not mean works are unimportant. Our former life was made up of the works of the flesh and disobedience. By contrast, verse 10 shows that we have been created in Christ Jesus unto good works! These good works (which will be seen in chapters 4-6) are still a work of grace in our lives and it is in the sovereign plan of God that we walk in them.

Are you thankful for God’s amazing grace in your life? As we ponder this grace and love that God gives us, this should cause us to have joy in their hearts, thankful worship on our lips, and strength to our fight against sin!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 1:19-23

2008-10-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I came across the following article recently and it really caused me to stop and evaluate my priorities…

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the Text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

Where are our priorities?

How much value do we place on the Word of God?

These are some good things to ponder as we look into the Word this week and see the power of God and His absolute control of the universe! Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: power, raised, above all, subjection, head, and church.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:19-23 (NASB)

19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

Read Ephesians 1:15-23 to get the full context of this passage. How does Paul emphasize the tremendous power available “for us who believe” (1:19? According to verse 20, where does this power come from and when/where was it most clearly displayed?

How has this great power been active in your life? In other words, explain how you have personally experienced the power of God.

Wednesday:

Read Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 4:9-11, and Ephesians 1:21-23. How do these verses impact you when you think about Christ being above all and in control of all?

Paul mentions Christ as head of all things, which includes the church (v.22). How is the church, the body of believers, so important to God’s plans for the universe?

Verse 23 tells us that the church is the fullness of Christ’s body who “fills all in all.” What does this statement mean?

What role does the church play in your life and how important is it?

Friday:

In Ephesians 1:3-14, Paul spends a great deal of time praising God and Jesus Christ. In 1:15-23, Paul’s prayer is dominated by intercession for his fellow believers. Explain the significance of why our intercession for others should first flow out of praise to our God.

Take a few moments and pray Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians back to God for someone you love (family member, friend, co-worker, etc.).

CHEW ON THIS:

Paul continues to pray in these verses that the readers should understand the nature and strength of the power of God already at work in them. If we only look to what we see God doing in our own lives now, it is possible that we may easily underestimate God’s power. This power Paul speaks of is the same power that God revealed in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. This is a picture of what God will accomplish in us by that same awesome power (see 1 Cor. 15:45–49; Phil. 3:21)!

Paul also assures us of God’s power in us, for he finishes by saying that Jesus has been given all power by God to the church, which He fills (22–23). This means that the full authority and power that is in Jesus is at work in the church! This should give us great encouragement, once again reminding us that we have the power of God at our disposal! These verses also prove that Christ is in the place of ultimate authority over matters on earth. There are no other powers or rulers, in the world or in the heavens, whether good or evil, that can compare to Him!

As far as the church is concerned, Paul calls the church Christ’s body (23a). In 1 Corinthians, the church as Christ’s ‘body’ includes its own ears, eyes and head (1 Cor. 12:16–21)—it is a whole body belonging to Jesus and closely united with Him. Verse 22 describes Jesus as the head or ruler, which proves that He is in complete control of the church (see Col. 1:18). In conclusion, Paul prays that his readers will understand that the power at work in the church is not only the presence of that same power which raised Christ from dead, but also that raised us from spiritual death to spiritual life. Paul also reminds us that God is at work and is in full control of everything. Why not pray this prayer of praise and power for your fellow believers like Paul? We have every reason to believe Him and trust His Word!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 1:15-18

2008-10-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

If you’re anything like me, the morning comes all too suddenly! My alarm clock blares. I hit snooze. Minutes later, I press it again. Then, finally I’m up and awake. I have a lot to do, and I rush to get ready. I debate between spending time with God and doing all the things that are “so important.” I have a decision to make. Will I spend time worshipping the God who created me to worship and treasure Him above all else? Let’s face it. We are in a struggle and if we are not careful, the most needful thing in our lives can become the most neglected thing. Let’s be people who are consumed with worshipping our God!

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: prayers, spirit of wisdom, enlightened, hope, and inheritance.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:15-18 (NASB)

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.

When you pray for fellow Christians, how do you usually pray for them? Give some specific examples.

Wednesday:

In verses 15-16, Paul says, “For this reason…I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” What are reasons why Paul is so thankful in his prayers for the Ephesian believers? Why do believe these things we so important to him?

Where is Paul’s focus as he prays? In other words, what is he praying for the Ephesians? Are these the things that you are praying for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, or do you just focus on physical needs? Explain.

Why do you think Paul’s prayer focuses on wisdom, revelation, and knowledge? Explain why these things are so significant and vital to our Christian walk.

Friday:

Compare and contrast Paul’s prayer in this passage with the prayers you normally pray to God. How are they different? What areas of your prayer life need to change in light of this?

CHEW ON THIS:

Paul’s regular prayer for his readers is for spiritual illumination (17), to know God more deeply, and to understand the nature of the Christian hope (18) and the nature of God’s power already at work in Christians (19a). In verse 16, Paul looks back to 1:14, and through it to the whole of 1:3–14. Paul gives thanks for the readers of Roman Asia because of their faith and love. He briefly gives thanks too for what he has heard of their faith and love, indicating that he sees these as fruits of God’s grace. In verses 17-18, we see the content of Paul’s prayer. Paul prays that God would give them spirit of wisdom and revelation. These are two things that we desperately need in our spiritual walk! We need God’s perspective in wisdom and His revelation of truth. Note the purpose of the request is not for special information, but deeper perception and knowledge of God himself (as he is revealed in Christ). This even takes us back to our recent study in James 1:5 – “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

The prayer in verse 18 is equally a prayer for spiritual understanding: the heart here signifies the mind, will and emotions. The heart is also the center of perception and decision. Our hearts do not need to be merely instructed in theological concepts, but we need the work of the Spirit applying these truths about God so that it our hearts are changed and we are living the God-centered (not self-centered) life. Paul also prays that his readers might be able to know and understand the eternal hope that lies ahead of them in a full sense. If you and I would dwell on the truth that God intends to make us (along with all believers) into a wonderful inheritance for Himself, then that knowledge will transform the way we perceive our existence. It is my prayer that you and I would come to understand this great hope that is wrapped up in our salvation. Rejoice in the hope that is yours in Christ!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 1:13-14

2008-10-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. Remember that this is an awesome privilege – you and I get to talk to the Creator God of the universe whose love for you endures forever (Ps. 118:1)! After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: gospel, salvation, sealed, Holy Spirit of promise, pledge, and redemption.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB)

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

Read Ephesians 1:1-12 again. List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

List all of the promises of God that you can find in Ephesians 1:1-12.

Who is the “Him” referring to in verse 13?

Wednesday:

What is the message of truth in verse 13?

Who is the One who has sealed your salvation? What does that mean?

Explain how verse 13 can be a source of encouragement to you when you are doubting your salvation.

Friday:

What is the inheritance that God has given us?

Who is God’s special possession?

CHEW ON THIS:

Those who are in Christ, having believed the gospel, have been marked out as God’s people. (See e.g Ezk. 9:4–6 and Rev. 7:1–8 for the idea of God putting his identifying mark on his people.) The seal used to mark them was nothing less than the promised gift of the Spirit. Through this gift of the Spirit, we receive wisdom and illumination to understand the implications of the gospel (1:17–20; cf. 3:5); inner strengthening in the gospel (3:16; cf. 6:17); access to, and the indwelling presence of, God and of Christ (2:18, 22; 3:16–17); inspiration to godly living and thankful worship (4:30; 5:18–20) and help in prayer (6:18). All of these activities are what marks believers as God’s people and are indispensable to our Christian walk. The seal of the Spirit is not some second blessing—the having believed (13b) means ‘when you believed’, (i.e. ‘once you had put your trust in the gospel’). In other passages of Scripture, the Spirit with whom God marks us with his stamp of ownership is also called the ‘pledge’, ‘guarantee’, even ‘first installment’ of our inheritance (cf. Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). But the blessings we receive now are just a foreshadowing: according to Paul we still await our inheritance in the final and total redemption of the world by God at the end of time. Ephesians 4:30 re-emphasizes this, reminding us that we are sealed with the Spirit ‘for the day of redemption’ to come. Then God’s purpose, begun in Christ, will be brought to consummation; and seeing it from beginning to end will be reason enough for us to praise Him! This gives us great comfort in knowing that once we put our faith in Christ, He puts His stamp of ownership on us and we are secure in our relationship with Him!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 1:7-12

2008-09-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

Good morning! If you are like me, you may already feel overwhelmed with all of the things you have to accomplish this week. The unfortunate thing is that the first thing to go in the midst of our busy lives is our time with God. Most of us would not skip class, miss a sports practice, or forget to spend time with family and friends. So, why does our time with God get so easily crowded out of our lives? I can only speak for myself, here, but I believe that it is because we do not hunger and long to be with God. We do not see the time slot as valuable enough or precious enough. I pray that God will give each one of us an unquenchable desire to spend time with God in His Word so that even if life is busy, our “God and I time” is still the most vital part of our day.

This week we get to see Christ's redemption for us, the mystery of His will, and the comfort of knowing that He is control! Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. I encourage you to continue following the plan of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication as you spend time on your knees, worshiping the Lord. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: redemption, grace, mystery of His will, fullness of the times, after the counsel of His will.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:7-12 (NASB)

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8 Which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
10 With a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him,
11 Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
12 To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

What is redemption and who does it come from? How do we get redemption and forgiveness from our sins according to verse 7?

What does the blood of Christ accomplish for you?

How does the Apostle Paul describe the grace of God in verses 7 and 8?

Wednesday:

What is the mystery of God’s will? According to verse 10, what person is Paul referring to when he talks about the mystery of God’s will?

So we can better understand verse 10, let’s take a look at the New Living Translation: “And this is the plan: At the right time He [God] will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.” What does it mean when Paul says that God will bring everything under Christ’s authority?

Read Philippians 2:9-11. These verses tell us more about what is happening in Ephesians 1:10 and the importance of Christ’s authority. According to these verses, who is going to bow the knee when Christ’s name is spoken? Who will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? How should this truth change the way we live since Christ has authority over everything and everybody?

Friday:

What is the inheritance that God has given us?

Do you really believe that God is in complete control and works ALL things according to His plan? How should this truth comfort you and change the way you live?

CHEW ON THIS:

The words “redemption through His blood” related to paying the required ransom to God for the release of a person from bondage. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid that price for every person – buying them from the slave market of sin and giving them true freedom in Christ! This is all accomplished by the riches of His grace - and it never runs out! It the end of this world’s history, God will gather all the believers in the millennial kingdom. After that, God will gather all things to Himself and the new heaven and new earth will be created. This new universe will be totally unified under Christ. We know that Christ will have complete authority over everything and everybody! It is also interesting to point out that Christ is the source of our salvation, and that this was something that was decided beforehand by Christ Himself. Within this plan, God works all things according to the counsel of His own will. This means that everything works according to God’s plan and that He is in control. And, as we are used by God to carry out His plan, it is all to be done to the praise of His glory.

I hope that these verses will be an encouragement to you as you consider your salvation and what you have in Christ. I also pray that we will be spurred on by these verses to live to the praise of His glory and not for ourselves!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 1:1-6

2008-09-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

We are set to get into the book of Ephesians by looking at the first six verses this week. I encourage you to follow the prayer plan of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

Let’s dig into the Word and see what God has to teach us!

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: grace, peace, spiritual blessing, chose, holy and blameless, predestined, and praise.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:1-6 (NASB)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love,
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

In verse 1, who does Paul say that he is writing to (try to recall what you read last week in Acts 19)? What is significant about these people (hint: see the last 5 words of this verse)?

How does Paul greet these believers in verse 2? What is grace and peace? Explain your answer.

Explain how comforting it would be to know that grace and peace come from God the Father and Jesus Christ. How does God's grace and peace help you in your life?

Wednesday:

What are the spiritual blessings that Paul is referring to in verse 3? What has God blessed you with personally? What are some practical ways that you can praise God for these things on a regular basis?

What are the heavenly places in Christ referring to in verse 3?

According to verse 4, what is the end result of God saving us? In other words, what kind of Christian does He want you to be?

Friday:

How did God adopt us into His family according to verse 5?

According to verse 6, how should we be living our lives?

CHEW ON THIS:

These verses are a HUGE source of encouragement for us as believers! These verses tell us about how much the Lord has done for us and how He has given us so many wonderful blessings. We can also find assurance in the salvation God has given us since He Himself secured our adoption into His family. But it does not stop there. The Apostle Paul tells us that we have been chosen by God to be holy and blameless, to the praise of His grace. And, all of this has taken place as a result of the “kind intention of His will.” We have so much to be grateful for in the blessings God has given us and for His gracious salvation that He has so freely given us. We were not seeking Him, but He sought us and made us His children by the power of His grace! Spend some time reflecting on that grace today and embrace the life of righteousness that God has planned for you.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Introduction to Ephesians - Acts 19:1-41 and Revelation 2:1-7

2008-09-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings to everyone! Welcome to the Ephesians edition of “Chew On It.” We began this study back in June, but I think it would be good to re-start our journey, so we can all get back on the same page together.

I truly hope that it will be an encouragement to your daily walk with God. Some of you might be new to this, so let me explain. The “Chew On It” series is a way for us (teens and parents alike) to walk through a book of the Bible together as a Youth Group Family. As Christians, we need to see God’s Word as a necessary part of our life, not just an add-on to our busy day. It must be something we hunger for, instead of merely an item on our spiritual checklist.

So, my challenge to you and myself is to take a journey through the book of Ephesians together. My desire in all of this is to get us to go beyond just reading Scripture by spending quality time meditating on the Word and then seeking to apply it to our lives in obedience to Christ. In other words, I want you “chew on it” and think about what the Scriptures are really saying.

Here is how it’s going to work for this semester. I will be e-mailing all of you on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the Scripture reading for the week, some questions to answer, and some thoughts to chew on (on Friday) that will be designed to help us dig into the Scriptures. I encourage you to begin each time in prayer, asking God to open your eyes and mind to what He has to teach you through His Word and to supply you with the courage and grace to live out the truth. Please feel free to e-mail me and let me know what you are learning or any questions you might have so we can encourage one other in this study. I truly hope that you will come to treasure the Word of God and learn to find your ultimate joy in Him.

As we study the Word this week, think of it as your daily dose of fuel that will keep you going throughout the day. Ask God to give you a hunger for His Word and a desire to spend time with Him. Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. I encourage you to follow the plan we have been doing in our prayer focus times as a youth group - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

Passage for the week: Acts 19:1-41 and Revelation 2:1-7

Before we get into the book of Ephesians, I believe it would be beneficial for us to take a look at the church and city of Ephesus itself. Take note of the challenges that Paul faced in the city and what he faced as he went into this as a missionary. We will take time to read through Rev. 2:1-7 on Wednesday and Friday.

NOTE: If you would like to listen to the book of Ephesians, I found a website that will allow you to download the whole book for free! Check it out at http://www.listenersbible.com/free_downloads/download_now .

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

What was Paul’s greatest challenge in going to Ephesus?

What it a difficult place to preach the gospel in? Would you want to go there on a mission trip during that time with Paul? Why or why not?

What kind of miracles did the Lord do through Paul? How did the people respond?

Wednesday:

Read Revelation 2:1-7. What happened at the church at Ephesus?

What was Christ’s evaluation of them? Explain whether it was positive, negative, or both.

If your life was under the same examination as the church of Ephesus, what would we discover about your walk with God? Would it be any different? Explain your answer.

Friday:

What was the thing that Christ had to say against this church?

What does it mean to leave your first love? How do you know if you have left your first love – are there any signs that will show up in your life?

How can we get back to loving Christ as we should according to verse 5?

CHEW ON THIS:

Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire and was the home to the goddess Artemis, also referred to as Diana. The temple of Diana was one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it stood on a hill in full view of the city. It was a place of immorality, sorcery, and devil-worship. Can you imagine coming into this city on a mission trip, like the Apostle Paul? I think it is safe to say that most of us would have been terrified! But the gospel of Christ can break through anything. God was able to do amazing things in that city for His glory to show those people who the true God really was. However, after the Apostle Paul left and the church was established, people began to drift in their spiritual walk. We see this in Revelation 2:1-7. They were doing a lot of good things, but they had neglected to do the main thing – love God! This should have been their first love, but they drifted away from it. This is so easy for us to do as well if we are not careful and intentional in our walk with God. Pray to God right now and ask Him to help you to live your life in light of who He is and to love Him with all of your heart!

I hope that by reading Acts 19 and Revelation 2 that you are now more acquainted with the people that Paul is writing to in the book of Ephesians. This will help us to understand why Paul wrote this letter and how we can apply it to our lives. It will also help us understand why the book of Ephesians deals with spiritual warfare and our secure position in Christ. We will begin next week by looking into Ephesians 1. Have a great weekend!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Chew On It continues...

2008-08-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I have decided to continue our "Chew On It" times in Ephesians once September begins. Since the summer began, it has been hard to keep it going with people on vacation, going on mission trips, etc. However, I hope and pray that you have still made getting into the Word your top priority! This week, I would like for each of you to post a comment on our "Chew On It" Wall on Facebook. Just take a few moments to share with us one thing God taught you this summer that has changed your life. I know that this will be a HUGE encouragement to all of us as we head into the fall semester of school.

I also thought it would be good to give you all something to chew on as we head into this week. God has been teaching me about the compassion that Christ had for the lost and it has revolutionized my thinking. I hope that this will encourage you!

VERSES ON CHRIST'S COMPASSION:

Matthew 9:36-37 “He felt great pity (compassion) for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few."

OTHER PASSAGES TO CONSIDER:

Matthew 20:30-34

Mark 1:40-42

Mark 6:34

Luke 7:12-15

COMPASSION..........DO YOU HAVE IT???

This is a topic that crosses my mind often. How in the world would the God of the universe care about me? What have I done to ever merit anything from Him but wrath, pain, torment, and judgment? Why would He even take notice of me in a pleasant or kind way? Why … above all this… would He ever do anything to me that would give me love and eternity in heaven to the point that it costs a great sacrifice? WOW … what an amazing thought. As we look at this familiar passage, the core issue is evident. Christ cared … REALLY cared about others. It was evidenced not only by the fact that He came and submitted to the will of the Father, but even more so as we see example after example of moments when the heart of Christ seems to break as he ponders the helpless and lost condition of those He created and loves.The thing that has stopped me in my tracks is the way in which I can care … REALLY care about those I love and know, but that I have so little love and compassion for everyone else. Do you know what I’m talking about? Perhaps this is truly at the root of why there are so few sharing the gospel … and even fewer desiring to go to other countries to do the same.Even though we are supposed to care, most of us don’t. When was the last time that our emotions were even the slightest bit stirred as I drove to a destination and passed HUNDREDS of people who may not know or understand the Gospel and most of whom are clearly destined for eternal torment and separation from God. How COMPASSIONATE are we for the lost souls all around us?I pray that we will put serious thought into this. I pray that we will strive to see God and others in a TRUE and BIBLICAL way that will force us to be moved with compassion. This is a burning desire and goal in my life. I pray that you will be convicted on this same issue and strive to see that it is changed. “Lord, cause us to be people that are moved with compassion for the things that MOVE You!”

I guess this brings a few questions to mind, especially in light of our mission trips for the summer:

1. Does the need of the lost have any impact on your life with any consistency, or is it simply a passing thought occasionally?

2. How will you impact the lost for Christ this month? Ask God to give you the courage to seize the opportunities He gives you to be a light in the darkness of this world!

3. What will you do to develop a greater burden for and outreach to those who need Christ and those for whom Christ cares?

4. As far as missions is concerned, what is God calling you to do? How are you fulfilling the Great Commission?

God has given us this privilege and responsibility of carrying the Light of Gospel and sharing His Word with others. May He find us serving Him joyfully and faithfully!

My desire is that you would...

Love Christ PASSIONATELY

Know Christ DEEPLY and

Enjoy Christ FULLY!!!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 5:12-20

2008-05-09T06:36:00.000-07:00

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. Ask God to "fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” as the Apostle Paul did in Col. 1:9. As we learned already from James 1:5, God promises to answer this prayer and give you His wisdom! After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: swear, oath, suffering, sick, anointing, confess, prayer, and Elijah.

Passage for the week: James 5:12-20 (NASB)

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,
20 Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Digging Deeper:

MONDAY

· List 5 specific things that you noticed about the passage.

· List characteristics of God that you find in the passage (what God is like, His attributes, etc.).

· How does this passage connect with the rest of the book of James? Where else does James talk about going through trials or suffering?

TUESDAY

· What does James mean in verse 12 when he says “do not swear?” Is he speaking of using foul language or in general or something specific? Explain your answer.

· James says that those who do not let their yes be yes and their no, no will fall under judgment. What does this mean and how can you avoid being under judgment? See the words of Christ in Matthew 5:33-37 for help.

· According to verse 13, how are we to deal with suffering? What should we be doing when we are cheerful?

· Read these verses to see the power of praying and singing to God: Ps. 50:15, Ps. 55:22, Ps. 100:1-5, Phil. 4:6-7, Col. 3:16, 1 Peter 5:7. Write down what you learn through these passages.

WEDNESDAY

· In verse 14, James tells his readers that if they should call for the elders of the church when they are sick. Have you ever invited the elders of the church to pray over you when you were sick? Should you have done this or is James speaking of a different kind of sickness? What type of sickness is James speaking of here?

· In verse 14, the elders of the church anoint the one who is sick with oil in the name of the Lord. What is the significance of the anointing with oil?

· Later in verse 15, James writes that “the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.” Is he saying that if someone prays in faith, he will be cured of a disease? What is he saying here?

· According to verses 15 and 16, does prayer really accomplish anything? Explain your answer.

THURSDAY

· What is the purpose of Christians confessing their sins to one another? To what extent should this be done? How does this command affect your view of fellowship and the interaction with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

· James recounts the prayer of Elijah. Where is this story found in the Old Testament? What is the point of James including this story here?

· James says that the prayer of a righteous man avails much. What are 2 examples in Scripture (besides Elijah) of the power of prayer?

FRIDAY

· How do the final two verses of this chapter relate to Matthew 18 and Galatians 6?

· How are you demonstrating the pattern of love for the brethren that James describes in this passage?

· How are you demonstrating the dependence on God in prayer that James describes in this passage?

· Pick a verse or two from this passage that has really challenged you and memorize it.

Chew on this:

James begins this section by stressing the importance of our words. As he has done throughout this letter, James shows us that our speech will reveal to others what our spiritual condition really is. We should not swear an empty oath or vow; but instead, we should speak straightforward and honestly to one another. This means that our words have integrity and can be trusted.

The next section James gives us the antidote to suffering caused by the evil treatment or persecution that was attacking the church at this time. We are to seek God’s comfort through the power of prayer and minister to one another in singing praises. To those who are sick (could mean weakened by persecution or in to be afflicted with an unbearable disease), James directs them to call for the elders or pastors of the church for strength, support, and prayer. This was important because many of the people who were sick in the church were being neglected – just like the poor in chapter two. The anointing the sick with oil refers to a normal practice of that time period, although it could have some significance to ceremonial anointing or medical treatment. The most important thing here is NOT the oil, but that the elders of the church are praying over the sick “in the name of the Lord.” The power to heal does not come through the oil, but through the Lord! We must also keep in mind that the sick person who is being prayed for has a contrite and repentant heart, for they have confessed their sins to God and are right with Him.

Likewise, we should also be transparent with one another by confessing our sins to each other and praying for each other. For those of you who are wondering, James is not telling us to confess our sins to a priest. What he is saying is that mutual honesty, openness, and sharing of our needs will enable us to uphold each other in our spiritual struggle with sin. Some of us might feel uncomfortable with this, but we are told that the end result of this is healing! James tells us that these effective fervent prayers that we pray to God for one another will accomplish great things! And, just in case you think that prayer does not work, James gives us the illustration of Elijah. As we know, Elijah struggled just like we do, and yet God still used him and his prayers in a mighty way.

James concludes his letter by telling us to watch out for each other. It you and I see someone who is straying from the truth, then it is our responsibility to seek them out and bring them back to the truth. Rather than condemnation, restoration is the goal. And that is what James hopes will happen. For the unbeliever, this person will not just be turned from the error of his way, but will also be saved from eternal death. For the believer, Galatians 6:1 still applies here. Meekness and love acts through bringing a person as gently as possible back to repentance. That repentance will be accepted by God, who will forgive their sins. Then, the forgiven person can continue on the right way, rejoicing in their tests, for they know that their reward is coming.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 5:1-11

2008-05-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. Ask God to "open the eyes of your understanding" to the wisdom of His Word, the hope of your calling, and the greatness of His power (Eph. 1:17-19)! Then read the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: riches, weep, Lord of Sabaoth, patient, farmer, prophets, and Job.

Passage for the week: James 5:1-11 (NASB)

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

DIGGING DEEPER:

MONDAY

· List 5 specific things that you noticed about the passage.

· List characteristics of God that you find in the passage (what God is like, His attributes).

· How does this passage connect with the rest of the book of James? Where else does James talk about the rich people who were abusing the poor?

TUESDAY

· Why would the riches of those in verses 1-3 be “rotted”, garments “moth-eaten”, and gold “rusted”? How will the rust of the gold be a witness against them and consume their flesh like fire? What does James mean here?

· When will the judgment of verses 2-3 come? Is James speaking of the present or the future? Explain your answer.

· James notes that the rich have stored their treasure in the last days. Compare and contrast Jesus’ parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21 to James 5:3. Are you laying up treasure in Heaven or on earth? Remember, where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is too!

WEDNESDAY

· The laborers in this passage are the field workers for the rich. What have they done to “reach the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth”?

· In verse 4, James uses the highest name for God in the Hebrew mind. Be careful - the text says, “The Lord of Sabaoth” and not “the Lord of the Sabbath.” What does the Lord of Sabaoth mean? What is the significance of James using it here?

· In verse 5, James condemns the rich for having “fattened [their] hearts in the day of slaughter.” What is this “day of slaughter”? What is James referring to?

THURSDAY

· What is a life of “wanton pleasure”? What does that look like? Is the term “pleasure” used anywhere else by James?

· What does James mean in verse 9 by the “Judge is standing right at the door”? Why would that keep them or you from complaining against each other? Why would you complain if you were in this situation?

· Why do you think they would kill a righteous man? Why doesn’t the righteous man resist?

FRIDAY

· James mentions Job as an example of endurance. Why does he choose Job? Why is he such a great example of endurance? Read Job 42:10-17. How did God bless Job for his endurance?

· Pick a verse or two from this passage that has really challenged you and memorize it.

Chew on this:

James now turns to the wealthy outside the church. These people are not only failing the test of having wealth, but they are also the source of some of the pressure on the church as they take advantage of poor Christians. James does not waste any time telling them that they should be weeping over their sin and that their wealth will be the end of them. James takes the rich people on a trip into the future. He shows them what their great stores of possessions will look like – rotted or corroded! The “corrosion” of their wealth is evidence that they did not need it as bad as they think.

Just like the rich in this passage, our wealth is not the most important thing in our lives. James even shocks us in this verse by telling us that the riches that we believe will bring us happiness will actually eat your flesh like fire! This reminds me of the rich man in Jesus’ parable in Luke 12:13-21. The end of the world is coming, and it is time to put treasure in heaven, not store it on earth.

Far from giving, these people have done even worse in that they have failed to pay the workmen who harvested their fields. What made it worse is that no one would hear the cries of the workers. The workers, however, appealed to heaven, and the Lord Sabaoth heard their cry. The term Lord Sabaoth is the term means “Lord of Hosts or armies.” God Almighty does not hear and then do nothing as people are living luxuriously, robbing the poor, and even condemning those less fortunate; He hears and acts with awesome power. Instead of a day of harvest for the rich, it will be a day of slaughter with God’s judgment behind it! In fact, God is already standing at the door – His judgment may come sooner than we think! In the midst of all these things, however, we should be sure to not complain or grow impatient, but to trust God to make things right in His timing when He returns. Just as the farmer waits patiently from the planting of his seeds (early rain) to the harvesting of his crops (latter rain), so we should wait patiently for the Lord’s return.

James concludes by telling how we can strengthen our hearts as we persevere. We are told to remember the suffering of the Old Testament prophets who suffered as they spoke in the name of the Lord. Men like Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all went through incredible hardship, but remained faithful to the God they served so well. What is interesting to me is that the example of Job, not a prophet, but a righteous man, is tacked on to this. Even though we may not be able to relate to the Old Testament prophets, we can certainly all connect with Job. He was not always perfect, and even questioned God and doubted His promises. However, God had not forgotten him. In fact, one of the main lessons we learn from Job’s life is not his suffering, but God’s unlimited compassion and mercy!

The point of all of this is not to condemn people who have wealth. It is those who “desire to be rich” that will face ruin and destruction (1Timothy 6:9-10). Life is not about ownership, but stewardship! We have to remember that God is the source of everything we have and that He expects us to use it for His glory by investing it in what will count for eternity. James also encourages us to focus on the promises and compassion of the Lord. We can trust Him to be the righteous Judge and to be a gracious and merciful God!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 4:11-17

2008-04-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Before you start your time with God today, start by praying that God would open your eyes to the wonderful things in His Word through your study (Ps. 119:18). Then read the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: speak against, judge, Lawgiver, life, vapor, boast, sin.

Passage for the week: James 4:11-17 (NASB)

11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.

12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.”

14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.

17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Digging Deeper:

MONDAY

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

What is the command in verse 11? What are some ways that we can violate this command?

Who is the Lawgiver and the Judge in verse 12? What is He able to do according to this verse

TUESDAY

In light of God being the ONLY Lawgiver and Judge, how should we treat others?

What does James have to say about the man who is banking on tomorrow?

According to these verses, are we guaranteed that we will be able to do what we planned on doing tomorrow? Explain how this should change our perspective on life.

WEDNESDAY

In verse 14, what is our life compared to?

From these verses, it is evident that our lives are but vapors of smoke. What does Job 7:7 and Psalm 39:5-6 say about our lives?

According to verse 15, what should be our approach to the future? How is this perspective different from the man who thinks he is in control of what will happen tomorrow?

THURSDAY

Have you ever boasted about what you think that you are going to accomplish in the future? What does James this kind of boasting in verse 16?

This kind of boasting is also found in other passages of Scripture. Read 2 Timothy 3:2-5 and 1 John 2:16. In both of these passages, where does this boasting and arrogance come from?

FRIDAY

List all of the things that you plan on doing today and tomorrow. Then, pray that list back to God and ask Him to give you His perspective on those events. Pray by saying, “If the Lord wills, I will do this or that.” This will increase your dependence on God and help you to realize that your life is not just about what you have to do today, but rather it is about God’s plan for your life.

What is James telling us in verse 17? So, how does that change the way you are going to live today?

Pick a verse or two from this passage that has really challenged you and memorize it.

Chew on this:

The first group addressed consists of wealthier Christians. Their plans are normal plans: travel to a certain city, sell the goods they brought with them and perhaps purchase others, and make money. Is this not the way business is done? James’s criticism is that they are in fact carrying on their lives and businesses just the way every other worldly person does. As Christians, they should be well aware of not only how uncertain the future may be, but also Who actually controls the future.

The picture James paints for us is that our lives are like a puff of smoke from a camp fire. It appears over the fire for a few seconds, but then it disappears. We learn from this picture that the idea of planning without taking God’s values into account is foolishness. James’s point is not simply that we ought to just merely say, “If the Lord wills,” before we carry out our plans. This would a lip-service to God, without it being genuine. Instead, James is trying to tell us that we need to seek God’s plan and follow God’s will in their use of our time and the things God has given us. This is a contrast of boasting or bragging. What type of pride is this? 1 John 2:16 uses the same term for the boasting of (or pride in) what a person has and does. When we have this kind of pride, we think that we are laying plans that God did not make and claiming an ability to control our lives (which God actually controls!), and boasting about all the things we are going to accomplish.

When we choose to live in our pride and refuse to live according to the Scriptures, then it is sin! Many of us know these things, but we sometimes do not live this way. Why not consult God and ask Him what ought to be done with our time and possessions? Let’s remember to acknowledge God everyday and to seek to follow His will!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 4:7-10

2008-04-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

April 14-18, 2008

Good morning! Before you start your time with God today, start by praying that God would open your eyes to the wonderful things in His Word through your study (Ps. 119:18). Then read the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: submit, resist, draw near, purify, miserable, humble, and exalt.

Passage for the week: James 4:7-10 (NASB)

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.

DIGGING DEEPER:

MONDAY

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

What are the 9 commands that James gives us in these verses?

List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage

TUESDAY

What does it mean to submit yourself to God?

How do you actually resist the devil? See 1 John 2:14 and 4:4 for some insight on this.

WEDNESDAY

What does God do when, in humility, you draw near to Him?

After we have drawn near to God and are close to Him, what will be our response?

How do we purify our hearts and cleanse our hands?

THURSDAY

Where else in the book of James is the word double-minded used? What does it mean?

What is the point of James telling us to be miserable, to mourn, and to weep? Why would we have a reason to do this? Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 for help on this.

FRIDAY

When we sin, it offends a holy God. Does your sin before God ever cause you to weep or do you just see it as no big deal?

As we repent and become humble before the Lord, what does the Lord promise to do for us?

Pick a verse or two from this passage and memorize it.

CHEW ON THIS:

James next shows us what humility looks like. Submit yourselves, then, to God. This means to “line up under.” James is using this word to describe a willing surrender to God’s authority as the One who is in control of everything. When we are truly humble, then we will then be able to be loyal to God, obey His commands, and follow His leadership in our lives.

James then tells us to “resist the devil.” This literally means “to take your stand against.” We are able to do this ONLY when we have submitted to God and are operating under His power. We need to remember that the devil is a defeated foe, and that Christ has already won the battle against him! When we take our stand against the devil in the power of God, he flees; he may threaten disaster, but it is all a lie. It only has power if believed.

In the next verse we are encouraged to come near to God. The picture is that of a person coming to offer sacrifice in the temple and coming near to God in the ceremony. We are told to wash our hands and purify our hearts. This is another OT picture (Ex. 30:19–21), illustrating the removal of sinful practices. The double-minded is the person who tries to serve both God and the world needs to have a heart that is completely devoted to God alone. These actions should be also be accompanied by a mourning and a sorrow for our sin against God. Repentance consists of sorrow for sin plus a turning from sin and, where possible, making restitution for the damage caused by one’s sin.

However, James does not leave us there in our sadness over our sin. James includes promises within his call to repentance. As we come near to God, God will come near to us. He will lift us up and will not leave a humble heart mourning! He will accept our repentant heart and respond with His love, raising us up from our mourning into the warmth of His love.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 4:1-6

2008-04-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I wanted to let you all know that I will be changing our “chew on its” a little bit to make them more effective for you. We will be focusing on one passage each week so we can really chew on what the passage is saying as opposed to just “covering the material.” The whole purpose behind this devotional is not to just stuff your inbox with tons of e-mails each week that you don’t have the time to read or digest. My desire is that all of us will truly dig deeply into the Word of God, discover its life-giving truth, and then seek to live it out in our everyday lives.

Here’s how it will work. I will send you a few questions to answer each day to get us all to dig deeper into the passage we are studying. Take your time and don’t rush! Push everything else out of your mind and focus on listening to what God is saying to you! Once we have worked through the passage, I will e-mail you the “CHEW ON THIS” section later in the week to encourage you in your study.

As we take apart one passage a week, this will allow us to post discussion topics (on Facebook) as well as encourage others with the principles that God is teaching us. This will help us to fulfill Hebrew 10:24 which says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (NLT).

Start by praying that God would open your eyes to the wonderful things in His Word through your study (Ps. 119:18). Then read the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: conflicts, war, lust, ask, motives, friendship, enemy of God, the Spirit, grace, proud, and humble.

Passage for the week: James 4:1-6 (NASB)

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.”

DIGGER DEEPER:

MONDAY

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).

What are the questions that James asks in the passage? What is the point of all of these questions?

TUESDAY

What does James mean by “pleasures?”

What does James mean by “you lust” or “you covet”? What were they coveting?

WEDNESDAY

James calls his readers “adulteresses.” Why does he address them in this way? (Hint: "friendship with the world")

James’ mentions fights and quarrels in his rebuke of his readers? What did this fighting look like?

THURSDAY

In James 1:6, James writes that prayer must be conducted in faith. What does he say about prayer in James 4:2-3? What two ways were his readers sinning in the area of prayer?

To whom does God give grace and why? Does your behavior reflect this reality?

FRIDAY

Read Luke 15:11-32. What insight does this give to the condition of James’ readers who asked that they might spend what God gives them on their pleasures?

James warns against being a friend of the world. Where else in his epistle does he speak about this? Where else in the Bible is this spoken of? (ex. 1 John 2)

Pick a verse or two from this passage and memorize it.

CHEW ON THIS:

James paints a picture of the church as he saw it: they were fighting and arguing, battling, killing (with words) and coveting. Wow! Does any of this sound familiar? Unfortunately, this picture is not too far from what we see in the church today! The church should be a place of love, encouragement, friendship, and service. However, it is our desires to please ourselves that get in the way of this. All of those who were fighting in James’ church probably felt like they were doing the right thing, but James tells them God’s perspective on the situation. The source of these conflicts is not found in their love of God but to their desires, the evil impulses that we have already learned about in James 1:14–15. The same goes for us as well!

All of this arguing is fruitless: they do not get what they want, because you do not ask God. “But I do pray!” might be your response. “You pray, but it is not effective, for your motives are wrong.” We are not seeking God’s will or God’s wisdom, but our own will. In other words, we come to God saying, “God bless my plans.” Instead of us focusing on God’s plans, our motives are wrapped up in our own desires and pleasures. God’s goal is not to give us what our own impulses demand. His goal is that we will learn to love what He loves. It is not that God does not want people to have pleasure, but that he wants to train them to take pleasure in what He knows is truly good.

In claiming to trust in God and yet living according to their own desires, James calls these people adulterers. They were being unfaithful to God and had been focusing their love on the world. When we try to become a friend of the world you are actually God’s enemy! Sure, we are still in the world as “salt” and “light,” but we are not to be of the world. At this point James talks about how God jealously longs for the spirit He made to live in us. That means that God gave to each person their spirit and He jealously longs for pure love in return (see Exodus 20:5–6). You cannot serve God and the world!

James’s argument might drive people to despair because of their sin. However, we find hope in verse 6! James claims that God offers more grace rather than condemnation, to the believer who is humble and repents. To back this up James quotes Proverbs 3:34, also quoted in 1 Peter 5:5: God does give grace to the humble! This grace that God gives is a grace that is sufficient for every struggle we are facing or any need we have.

So, let’s make our church a place where there is a genuine love for one another, a committed love for God, and a true heart of humility that will be ready receive God’s grace!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 3:16-18

2008-03-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2008

Good morning! I hope that this study in James has been encouraging for you. Instead of moving ahead, I believe that it would be very profitable to go back over chapters 1-3 this week. I don't want us to lose sight of the entire message that God is communicating to us. So, go through the last 3 chapters and meditate on what God has taught you so far and how it has changed you from the inside out. Remember, you are meeting with God Himself and He is meeting with you!

Enjoy your time with God today and don't forget to share what you are learning with others. It may be just what they needed to hear! We will begin chapter 4 next week.
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As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: jealousy, selfish ambition, wisdom, gentleness, mercy, and fruit.

Passage for the day: James 3:16-18 (NASB)

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What does jealousy and selfish ambition lead to according to verse 16?

What does true wisdom from above look like according to verse 17?

How is the wisdom in verse 17 contrasted with the wisdom of verse 15? You can notice a progression in this verse. Meditate on each characteristic and evaluate whether your life demonstrates this kind of wisdom (pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy).

Explain the picture given in verse 18. How is the seed planted? Who are the ones who plant it?

CHEW ON THIS:

James picks up right where he left off in this passage. Envy and selfish ambition are seen as the “secret agents” behind evil and disorder in the church. It is no wonder since this kind of attitude comes from a wisdom that finds its source in hell itself! But is this situation any wonder? Envy and selfish ambition will destroy our church if we do not take action. The way we do this is to live out the wisdom of God! James shows us in this passage exactly what wisdom from above will look like: pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. This wisdom is, first of all, pure. The pure religion of James 1:27 has this wisdom as the source of its purity. This pure, divine wisdom leads to the second dimension as peaceable or “peace-loving.” This fruit of wisdom which counteracts the disorder caused by envy— reminds us of the blessing of those who are the peacemakers, which Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:9. Those who make peace are committed to the unity of the body of Christ, and not seeking to divide or break up the fellowship we have with one another. In other words, peacemakers are unity-protectors! In this progression, the next fruit of God’s wisdom is quality of gentleness or the act of being “considerate.” This wisdom, when applied, is seen in Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” We also see this same exhortation in Titus 3:2. The gentleness of Jesus Christ is the greatest example, especially as He hung from the cross, forgiving those who sought to kill Him. Along with gentleness comes reasonableness, or a willingness to yield or submit. This reveals a teachable and humble spirit. Beyond that, James tells us that this divine wisdom is linked to the virtue of fruit-bearing faith. When we are living this way, our lives will produce a harvest of mercy and good fruit. Mercy forgives others and does not hold sins against them – when it is not deserved. Mercy is also to act generously to others – especially those in need. James then builds upon this good fruit by telling us that divine wisdom will result in a life that is unwavering and genuine. This means that we are people of integrity whose actions match our words.

James ends this chapter by telling us that the ones who have this kind of wisdom from God are called “peacemakers.” Peacemakers act like a sower who sows the seed of peace. Like God, who sows the seed of the living Word (cf. Matt 13:19), believers are to sow peaceable deeds that will produce a harvest of righteousness. These acts that make for peace are the deeds of mercy, as we show genuine love for one another.

How will you live out these truths this week? Will you be someone who is filled with the wisdom of God? If you are, then it will be evidenced in your genuine actions of peace, gentleness, and mercy toward others!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 3:13-15

2008-03-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

March 28, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: wise, gentleness, jealousy, and selfish ambition.

Passage for the day: James 3:13-15 (NASB)

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What is the difference between “understanding” and “wisdom?” See Proverbs 9:10 for help on this one.

What does James mean by “gentleness of wisdom?” Give a practical example.

What is bitter jealousy and selfish ambition? What are you jealous about and why? Is that true wisdom with gentleness? If not, what steps do you need to take to change?

Why do you think that James describes earthly wisdom as demonic in verse 15?

CHEW ON THIS:

In these verses, James introduces us to true wisdom. Those who are truly wise and have knowledge according to God’s standards will prove it by attitudes and good actions. So what is understanding and wisdom? Understanding comes from getting to know God and seeing His wisdom in action. Understanding knows where to how to get wisdom and why wisdom is worth getting. Wisdom takes that knowledge of God and applies it in everyday life. Wisdom knows what is good and knows how to do the good, as a result of knowing God. Wisdom then concerns the conduct of one’s life. Wisdom from God gives birth to deeds and a way of life that grows in understanding.

However, there is another kind of wisdom – the kind that is found here on earth. The character of this kind of wisdom is bitter envy and selfish ambition. It is also seen as earthly, natural, and demonic! Wow. James is really going for shock value in these verses! He does not want us to miss the comparison. Any wisdom that does not come from God is not worth getting. It is Satanic and will result in a life of jealousy and selfishness. This is in complete contrast to the wisdom God gives, which results in a life that is characterized by gentleness and humility. We see this lived out even in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned. They listened to Satan’s so-called “words of wisdom” and it resulted in selfish ambition – not a life of humble submission and obedience to God’s words of wisdom. The words from Proverbs 14:12 characterizes this “wisdom” as well as any in the Bible: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

So where are getting your wisdom to live your life? Don’t buy into the lie that the world’s wisdom has all of the answers! Only the wisdom of God will give you what you need – and it can only be acquired by getting to know Him. Let's be committed to knowing God and then humbly obeying Him with our actions and attitudes.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 3:7-12

2008-03-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

March 26, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: tongue, tame, bless, and curse.

Passage for the day: James 3:7-12 (NASB)

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no man can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10 From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

James says that no man can tame the tongue. How does this relate to Psalm 141:3 and Proverbs 21:23?

According to James, is the root of the problem of evil speech in the mouth or tongue? What does Matthew 15:11, Mark 7:20-23, and Luke 6:45 say about the tongue?

Why ought not both blessing (praising) and cursing to come from the same mouth? Explain.

Do you bless God with your words and then use your words to curse and destroy others? How you will guard yourself from sinning with your tongue this week? What is your plan?

CHEW ON THIS:

If you have not gotten the picture already – WAKE UP! Your tongue – the words you speak have incredible power! Here James emphasizes what we learned in the previous verses. Even though man has been able to tame wild beasts, no man can tame the tongue. The tongue is not like the domesticated animal, technology, or even wild beasts. There is nothing that a man can do in his own strength to control this great power within him – the power of speech. The tongue, the power of speech, is a restless evil and deadly poison. WOW! Now that is some harsh language. However, it is the real picture of what our tongues are capable of doing. We are capable of using our words to destroy and poison others. But where does this poison and evil come from? According to Christ’s words in Matthew 15:11, Mark 7:20-23, and Luke 6:45, it all stems from the heart. So where is the hope of ever being able to control our speech and change our heart?

As you read earlier in Psalm 141:3 and Proverbs 21:23, the answer is that we must look to God for control. We also read in Galatians 5:16 about walking in the Spirit so that we won’t fulfill the desires of our flesh. God has given us the power to change and the hope we need to keep going! Without Him, we are hopeless. With Him, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13)!

James also confronts us on how the tongue can praise God one moment and curse others the next. This blessing is the act of speaking in adoration of your God in both private prayer and in the public assembly of the believers. To use the gift of speech to praise the Lord is the proper use of the tongue. But at nearly the same moment the same tongue turns against others who have been “made in God’s likeness” and curses them, while professing faith in God. You’ve seen this happen. You’re in church on Sunday praising God with your fellow Christians, and then on Monday you are using the same tongue that praised God to curse and destroy others. Just as fresh water and bitter water cannot flow from the same source, blessing and cursing should not flow out of our mouths.

Why is this such a BIG deal? We are taking the tongue that God gave us to praise Him and using it for our own ends. We are all made in the image of God and when we use our words to tear down each other, we are really dishonoring God Himself! Let’s seek to build and encourage each other and use our words to bring honor to God today.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 3:1-6

2008-03-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

March 24, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: teachers, horses, ships, tongue, and fire.

Passage for the day: James 3:1-6 (NASB)

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

Why are teachers held to a stricter judgment?

Look at the examples of horses and ships in verses 3-4. You can bridle and lead horse, and you can steer, but how do you bridle or control your tongue?

James uses the example of a little fire that starts out small, but quickly turns into a blaze that destroys and wreaks havoc on anything in its path. How can someone use their tongue to do this kind of damage to others? In other words, what are your words capable of doing?

Read verse 6 again. What is the tongue compared to? What is it capable of doing to you?

CHEW ON THIS:

James begins the third chapter by talking about those who desire to teach. He is not telling us that desiring to teach is wrong or sinful – only that those who teach are going to be held accountable by God. We know that all of us will be held accountable by God for our lives, but James’ message here is those who teach will be judged with even greater severity. But what kind of judgment, you may ask? We are left without an answer, since James does not say. However, it serves as a warning shot to all of us who are teaching the Word of God – God is not absent, but is watching us and will keep us accountable.

The next statement is all-inclusive: everyone stumbles and sins in many ways, falling short of what is taught and required by the Lord. This statement balances the warning of the previous verse. Even teachers stumble at times – as well as those who do not teach. James wants us to keep all of this in perspective so that we will learn control our tongues.

This leads us into the next section, which contains some very powerful and graphic illustrations of the tongue. The tongue is compared to a ship and a horse. A controlled tongue is like the bit under the horse’s tongue by which the rider controls the entire horse. Just as the rider can control the horse, the body’s willfulness and appetites can be controlled. Though a horse is much larger than a human being, the rider is able to make the horse obey by employing a small, simple device. As we have learned already in James, it is wisdom from God that provides the capacity for bringing usefulness out of these things, whether they are the physical body, institutions, or movements of people. Only if the Word of God is actively applied to the situation will there be the guidance required for virtuous action and beneficial results.

The bringing under control of a very large object by a small but effective instrument hardly could have been better expressed than by the analogy of the ship and the rudder. Against the wind an immense, rudderless boat is uncontrollable. Out on the sea, without a mechanism for steering, the pilot would have no way of keeping the ship on any course. The ship would be tossed and driven with the wind and the waves. But with the rudder, the will of the pilot is sufficient to direct the ship.

James pointed to the small size of the rudder. Like the small bit in the horse’s mouth, the rudder, James said, is among the smallest of instruments on the ship. The rudder’s size is insignificant by comparison to the rest of the parts of the ship. The effectiveness of the instrument is what counts. Even in the harshest winds the boat will turn in the direction the pilot desires. The tongue, representing the believer’s speech, is not easily mastered. But the tongue must be mastered by acquiring the great skills of wisdom through careful and diligent study of God’s Word. Only by such study can the skill to face the great issues of life be obtained.

However, as James tells us, if our tongue is uncontrolled and left to do as it pleases, evil speech will result. As such, evil speech proves its true nature as an extension of hell itself! In a most powerful image, the fire that is the little tongue, a little spark that causing great fires and destruction, has its source from the wickedness of hell. This should cause us to re-evaluate our speech and how we are using our tongues. Just as the tongue has the power to destroy, it also has great power to build up and encourage!

How are you using your tongue today? Let's seek to build each other up with our tongues today instead of using it to destroy!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 2:21-26

2008-02-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

February 22-29, 2008

Today’s “Chew On It” is a lot to digest all at once, so I recommend that we meditate on this passage for the next week. So, take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. Feel free to take your time on these verses and in answering the questions. There are two Bible characters that are mentioned that require us to go back to the Old Testament and read their stories of faith in God. Also, there are some things in this passage that need to be resolved with the whole context of Scripture. It’s comforting to know that God did not just intend for us to understand the easy passages of Scripture, but even the hard ones! With the Holy Spirit’s illumination and power, we are able to grasp these truths and live them out! If you are able to do so, discuss this passage with your family and study it together.

Since I will be gone on the TCS Senior Mission Trip from March 2-8, we will begin James 3 when I return. In the meantime, chew on James 2:21-26, and then go back and read over the James 1-2. You will be surprised at how much you will grow by reading God’s Word over and over so that it works itself into your mind, heart, and actions. Until then, keep on chewing on the Word!

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: faith, works, Abraham, justified, and Rahab.

Passage for the day: James 2:21-26 (NASB)

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

Take some time and read Genesis 22:1-18 and compare it to James 2:21. How is this a good example of faith producing works?

In light of this story, how would you have responded in Abraham’s situation? Would you have trusted God completely even though it did not make sense?

Read Romans 4:1-5 (below) and then answer this question: Why was Paul using the example of Abraham and why was James using it, for what purpose?

“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.” - Romans 4:1-5 NLT

How do you reconcile verse 24 in light of Ephesians 2:8-9? Is James promoting a works-based salvation?

How was Abraham “reckoned to God”? How can a sinner be called “the friend of God”?

Read Joshua 2:1-21 and Hebrews 11:30-31. How did Rahab live out her faith in midst of a culture that hated God and the Israelites? What made her different?

Chew on this:

James takes us now to an example of true faith showing itself in works. God regarded Abraham as righteous for offering up his son Isaac. By this time, Abraham was already a believer in God, since he had faith in God’s promise in Genesis 15:1-6. But at this point, Abraham’s belief in God was put to the ultimate test. Abraham obeyed the command of God that tested him by an extraordinary trial. By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son. What would go through your mind if you were Abraham, knowing that you were about to kill the promised son you had waited for? How would you respond as God asks you to go all the way with your faith in Him? You see, Abraham proved that he was justified and that he was a righteous man, based on the works that were produced.

We must look at this from the whole context of Scripture, so we can see clearly what the Apostle Paul and James wrote, and how they are not in conflict with each other. The difference of perspective rests in this: James looked to the Abraham story to show how genuine faith operates, while Paul looked to the Abraham story to show how God is willing to forgive sinners. In salvation, God must work in us (since we are dead in our sins) in order for us to believe and trust in Him as Savior. And, because of that working in our hearts, we are then able to respond in faith to God. Our justification by faith is seen in our actions, but those actions would not be present if it was not for God working in us.

After salvation, we see this process continue. In Philippians 2:12-13, we are told to work out our own salvation and then we discover that it is God who works in us to give us the desire and the ability to carry out His good pleasure for our lives. Here in James, we are told repeatedly that faith without works is useless and dead. But remember – you are dead in the water without God giving you the strength and grace to have faith in Him and see that faith lived out in your life.

Abraham’s faith was made complete by his actions, or literally, “his faith works.” James wanted it known that without action, faith cannot be complete. There is an important connection between deeds that complete faith and perseverance itself. Abraham’s actions were his perseverance in faith. It showed that his faith was genuine. True faith will always show itself in works.

James also gives us an unlikely example of “Rahab the prostitute” to emphasize that our faith must be real. Ironically, Rahab is mentioned in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11, so evidently her faith was something God wanted us to learn from. As her title shows, she was not someone who had a great past. But, God saw her faith in Him by the way she mercifully hid the Israelite spies from her own countrymen and cared for their needs before the destruction of Jericho. She showed true faith in that she recognized the truth of God in his works of delivering Israel, and she demonstrated that faith, even though her life was in danger. This is a great reminder to us of the mercy of God – when we put our faith and trust in God, He will not reject us because of what we have done in the past.

James wraps up this passage by presenting an image of a body without a spirit. Without the spirit, the body has no life. Without works, faith is dead. Keep in mind that works do not justify you in God’s sight, but prove that your faith is real – toward others inside and outside the church. I pray that we would all have a growing and working faith!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 2:18-20

2008-02-20T05:39:00.000-08:00

February 20, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: faith, works, believe, and useless.

Passage for the day: James 2:18-20 (NASB)

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without
the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

Do you think that it is important to show your faith by your daily actions?

What are 2 ways that you can show your faith by your works?

What is the significance of James saying “You believe that God is one”? (Read Deut. 6:4, Mark 12:29, and 1 Cor. 8:4-6)

What does James’ mean by the phrase, “demons also believe and shudder”? Does that make them Christians? Why or why not? Why doesn’t that faith save them? (Hint: see verse 20)

Chew on this:

Once again, James lets us know that faith cannot be disconnected from what you do. Instead of just saying that you have faith (which many in this world will tell you that!), James points out that we must have an active faith that is working and growing. The works alone do not save a person, but if your faith is genuine, then it will show up in what you do on a daily basis. We need to move beyond just being merely “hearers of the Word” to those who are “doers of the Word!”

In verse 19, James tells that faith without works is merely believing that God exists. But this kind of “faith” has nothing to show for itself – no personal trust in God and no pursuit or love for God. In fact, this kind of “faith” is nothing more than a religious mask of hypocrisy. Sure, they believed that God is the only God and that He exists, but such a faith benefits no one (v. 14) and is useless. Why? Even the demons possess this kind of faith and believe that God exists. They know of the reality of God, but they are still wicked. Many will tell you that they believe that there is a God, or that a “higher power” exists. But that is as far as it goes. There is no genuine trust and desire for God – only the mask of religion.

The problem is that there is no such thing as inactive faith. For James mere faith was an empty boast that masked great evil. Faith is trust in God alone, but it must be whole-hearted and produce works based on the mercy of God. How is your faith? Is it living and active? Is it growing and working for God and others? Let’s seek to live out our faith and be doers of the Word today!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 2:14-17

2008-02-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

February 15, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: faith, works, go in peace, and dead.

Passage for the day: James 2:14-17 (NASB)

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What is “faith” and what are “works”? What do they mean practically and in the context (see verses 15-16 for help).

Can faith be shown without works? Explain

What is the situation of the individual that is coming to the brother in Christ in verse 15?

In verse 16, why do the members of the church tell the brother or sister “go in peace?” What point did their words serve?

What does James mean by saying that our faith is “dead” in verse 17?

Chew on this:

Let me first clarify that James is not telling us in this passage that we are saved by works. The entire gospel is about Christ’s work on the cross, not us saving ourselves by our own merits. James is speaking of the man who “claims to have faith,” but does not show it in the way he lives. In other words, his faith is not authentic or genuine, because true faith is seen in someone’s actions toward others. In this passage, James plays out another familiar scene in the church. Much like the poor man who visits the local church and is shunned because of his dirty appearance, the brother or sister in need is also neglected. This time, the members of the church actually speak to the one in need and tell them to “go in peace, be warmed, and filled.” In our culture, that would be like one of us telling someone who is starving and homeless the same thing. What do these words accomplish for someone in need? When we tell them, “God bless you,” or “Have a nice day,” how have we really helped them? The problem is, we don’t want to help them! It’s inconvenient, it’s bothersome, and I am just too busy to help. James even asks the question, “What good is it—this faith that does nothing, that helps no one in physical need?” Inactive faith is empty! Our claim of faith means nothing when we can look someone in our church in the eye that needs help and just walk away from them without an ounce of compassion in our heart. Our faith instead must be Christ-centered, not self-centered. We must follow Christ’s pattern of compassion and love!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Chew on it (again)

2008-02-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

February 13, 2008

Instead of moving ahead, I believe that it would be very profitable to go back over chapters 1-2 for today. I don't want us to lose sight of the entire message that God is communicating through this wonderful letter He has written to His children. So, for today's chew on what God has taught us so far and how it has changed us from the inside out. As you read through these chapters, here are some suggestions:

When you come to a passage about how to respond to trials in your life, pray that God would give you wisdom and endurance to count it all joy.

When you come to a verse where God is commanding you to be like Christ and reach out in love toward others in need, call out to God and ask Him to give you the grace to be faithful in your obedience.

When you come to a passage that encourages your heart and makes you want to praise God, feel free to express it to Him! We are told in the Psalms to shout to the Lord, to sing out praises to His name, and to share what He has done in your life. Does this describe your time with God? It doesn't have to be boring and quiet - in fact, it should be the most exciting time of the day! You are meeting with God Himself and He is meeting with you!

Enjoy your time with God today and don't forget to share what you are learning with others. It may be just what they needed to hear!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 2:10-13

2008-02-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

February 11, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: keeps, guilty, transgressor, law of liberty, and mercy.

Passage for the day: James 2:10-13 (NASB)

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

How can you be guilty of violating the entire law if you only broke one of the commandments?

What is the law of liberty?

Since we will be judged by the law of liberty, how should we act toward others?

What are 2 ways that you can show mercy to others this week?

Chew on this:

Sometimes we think that if we keep most of God’s commands, then we are okay. James explains to us that there is no middle ground. James tells us in this passage that if we violate even one of God’s commands, then we are guilty of all of them. How is this possible? Think of it this way. Sin is never a question of breaking a single command but of violating the integrity of the whole law. Each of the Ten Commandments are connected, like links in a chain. We offend the whole law through every single sin because we are actually refusing to submit to the Law-Giver, God Himself. The two extreme examples of adultery and murder show how this works. If you say, “Well, I only committed adultery, but at least I did not kill anybody,” then you have missed the entire point of obeying God’s commands. It is not the carrying out of the command but the heart attitude of submission that is required. Every time we sin, we are refusing to submit to God and are in opposition to God’s plan for our lives.

Instead, James tells us to speak and act as those who are to be judged by a law that makes them free. The law of freedom does not condemn – it liberates us! This law sets free those who obey it when they, in turn, set free those who are oppressed by the world. We obey this law of freedom through including the poor and unfortunate as people God has called us to serve. God will delight in showing His mercy to those who do this. However, if you refuse to show mercy and love your neighbor as yourself, then you will be in danger of judgment. Love and mercy define the “law of freedom.” Rejecting this liberating law means falling under judgment of the whole law.

It is interesting to me that James is so harsh about this concept of showing love and mercy. He does not come down on the adulterers and murderers in this passage (although they too will be judged). Instead, James’ focus is on getting us to see life from God’s perspective. Showing favoritism and refusing to show mercy to others is a very serious sin! It is not something that we can just overlook or take lightly. Failure to show mercy to those in need calls into question whether there has been any true act of repentance in face of God’s mercy. We have been shown great mercy and love from our God – why should we withhold that same mercy and love to others who are in need?

As we go throughout the day, let us remember to be Christians who submit to God’s commands with a heart of submission and be marked by our love and mercy toward those God has called us to serve!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 2:5-9

2008-02-08T06:36:00.000-08:00

February 8, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: poor, rich, blaspheme, and love your neighbor.

Passage for the day: James 2:5-9 (NASB)

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What does it mean to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom? Who has God promised this honor to?

How have the rich oppressed the poor in this passage?

What command of Jesus is found in these verses?

Are you mistreating others or are you fulfilling Christ’s command? Name 2 ways that you can apply this passage to your life today.

Chew on this:

In these verses, we see how God has not forgotten about the poor in their distress. God has chosen the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and receive eternal life. Once a person is a child of God, he is no longer poor and destitute. They will reap the benefits of saving faith because God makes them rich in their belief in God and in the eternal treasures of the kingdom of God. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul tells us about how this happens: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Eternal riches cannot be bought. They are a gift from God to those who believe in Him. Clearly not all who are poor are lovers of God. We know that God saves the poor and the rich, but here the emphasis is placed on how much glory God receives by saving those who go from having nothing in this world to having eternal “riches” in heaven.

In these verses James is concerned that the poor are being mistreated as opposed to being loved and honored. To act this way, the people had to disregard the honor God has bestowed on the poor who love him. No matter what our status, we who are in the body of Christ should not be seeking to dominate one another. This kind of spirit which takes advantage of others has no place in the church.

The rich in this group were literally dragging the poor into court and Christians were to do this no longer. As this was happening, the name of the Lord (“the fair name by which you have been called”) was being blasphemed or slandered. As the rich were using the resources God had given them to attack the poor, it was as though they were attacking the Lord. The name of the Lord was dishonored by those who were showing favoritism. As we have already seen, favoritism is a sin among the people of God. It leads to division within the church and violates Christ’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. This point in the teaching of Jesus is the solution to the problem of favoritism and hypocrisy. No one is outside the boundary of loving one another, not even the poor! In this loving way, the rich believer and the believers who enjoy life above the poverty line can live life as Jesus intended for them – serving one another through love.

How are you treating those less fortunate than you? Are you seeking to dominate or show favoritism? Or, are you looking for an opportunity to show the love of Christ? This is not an easy way to live, especially since everything in our culture tells us to do the opposite! However, we are called to follow Christ’s pattern, not our culture’s direction. Let’s live out our faith by loving one another without favoritism!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 2:1-4

2008-02-06T05:25:00.000-08:00

February 6, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: poor man, one dressed in fine clothes, and judges.

Passage for the day: James 2:1-4 (NASB)

1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
3 And you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
4 Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What are the main differences between the two visitors in this passage?

How does James say that the people in the church responded to each man? How would you respond to these people if they walked into our youth group?

What are some ways that a person could show an attitude of favoritism and judge with the wrong motives?

Chew on this:

It is clear from this passage that we should not play favorites. But yet we do, sinners that we are. The world shows its true nature in its lack of love for the many who suffer under desperate circumstances. For the Christian, can showing favoritism to others coexist with the love that Christ has shed abroad in our hearts? Impossible!

In this passage, we see a well-dressed rich man and an unattractive poor man show up at a meeting of Christians (most likely a church gathering). The rich man is decked out with luxury which invites many oohs and ahhhs from the rest of the group as he walks in. His very presence requires that he deserves special treatment as a VIP. He is immediately given the finest seat in the church and many people are drawn to him. The other man is poor and in a desperate situation. It is clear that his clothes are shabby and grimy. As he walks into the room, people in the congregation start to feel uncomfortable and wish that he had not showed up. He is told that he can sit on the floor by a footstool. They ignore the neediness of this poor man and seek the favor of the man who is well-dressed. Unfortunately, the one who is in the greatest need is the one who is neglected and forgotten.

Picture this happening in our youth group on Sunday morning or Wednesday night. You’re sitting there talking with your friends and in walks a professional athlete or movie star that you know. You are immediately drawn to them and run up to meet them! Then, almost at the same time, a teenager walks in who looks like a freak of nature. His clothes are filthy and tattered, and he reeks of body odor. What will you do? Will you embrace this poor person and give them your seat? Will you show Christ’s love for them regardless of what others will think of you? Or, will you show favoritism and judge the poor person with evil motives?

So many times we are guilty of being judgmental of others and we do not show the love of Christ to those who are in desperate need of it! Let’s seek to do what Christ did by showing love, not favoritism.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:26-27

2008-02-04T05:22:00.000-08:00

February 4, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: religious, tongue, religion, and visit orphans and widows.

Passage for the day: James 1:26-27 (NASB)

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What makes a person’s religion worthless?

What does it mean to bridle your tongue? Take a look at your life for a moment and evaluate whether this is true about you or not.

What is true religion when it is lived out before God (v. 27)? Are you doing these things in your life?

What are two ways that you can remain unstained from the world?

Chew on this:

In these verses, James talks to us about “worthless religion.” One of the chief characteristics of self-deception in the Christian life is that believers can make an empty show of religious devotion. “Religion” is a way of life that either demonstrates hypocrisy or true faith. The problem then is that you can seem to be religious, that is, rightly related to God, and yet in the most basic way be failing to be so. You can be a person who talks a lot about your religion and how much you love God, but your speech will reveal if that is real or not (Luke 6:45 – “out of the heart the mouth speaks”). The tongue, then, becomes the test case for true religion.

The tongue must be bridled, or controlled. The image used here involves the harnessing of a horse at the mouth. It is not that the tongue or speech is at all bad; James would later affirm it as an instrument of blessing. Unfortunately, an unrestrained tongue is a highly destructive force and an instrument of deception. By drawing attention to the tongue, James takes our attention away from just doing good things for people. Control of the tongue stands for control of the whole self against temptation to give into evil desire. James called the religion that goes with an uncontrolled tongue “worthless.” Worthless religion is then merely external, with no value.

Genuine religion is that which is “pure and undefiled before our God and Father.” Genuine religion means that everything in the believer’s life is to bear the mark of service to God. We bring this service before God our Father as a pure and genuine form of religion that has eternal value; not a fake form of outward religion that is worthless! And, when we are practicing this “true religion”, we will look after orphans and widows, the most vulnerable members of our church and society. Orphans and widows may be outcasts to the world, but they must be embraced into the relationships of believers! This is simply living as Christ lived. He went to where these people lived and ministered to their needs in love.

But James does not stop here! Along with genuine service to orphans and widows, we are to avoid whatever will pollute or stain our lives in the world. In other words, the world must have no hold on the believer. Instead, believers hold themselves apart from the ways of the world. Having received the life-giving Word, we are able to live out these truths through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s be people who are living out true religion that will show itself in a controlled tongue and a consecrated life of service to others!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:22-25

2008-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2008

As we spend our time “chewing” on the Word, let’s remember of the end goal of this study – to taste the Word of God for ourselves! Simply showing up at Sunday School and church will not help you grow, just like simply showing up at the dinner table each meal will do nothing to make your hunger go away and give you what your body needs. You’ve got to actually pick up your fork and taste the food for it to help you grow and live. The Bible is no different! You’ve got to be daily tasting God’s Word and studying it for it to help you grow in your walk with God. I don’t just want you to know that God is good; I want you to taste and see for yourself that God is good! I don’t just want you to know that God’s grace is sufficient; I want you to taste and see that God’s grace is sufficient! Some of us, however, are just content to show up, go through the motions at church and at home, instead of tasting God’s Word and growing. Let’s feed on the Word and then follow Christ with passion!

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: doers, hearers, mirror, and blessed.

Passage for the day: James 1:22-25 (NASB)

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What are the major differences between a hearer and a doer?

Examine your life for a moment and think about all of the times during the week when you hear the Word (church, school, personal devotions, etc.). Would you consider yourself just a hearer of the Word, or are you a doer of the Word?

What is the result of being a doer of the Word?

Chew on this:

Where would we be without mirrors? We would have a hard time knowing what we looked like! With a mirror in front of us, however, it is very clear to see what we look like. Mirrors do not hide the truth, but reflect what is true. They are always honest. Ever notice that? Many people will lie to you, but a mirror never will. Mirrors are very helpful because they show us what we look like. In James, the Word of God is spoken of as a mirror. As you read God’s Word and hear it preached, you see what you look like spiritually. Just like a mirror, the Bible will reveal the real you and show you what needs to change. We are to receive the Word and hear what it says, but we cannot just stop there. Hearing the Word of God and accumulating knowledge is not the end – it’s only the beginning! The man who looks intently into the mirror of God’s Word can still ignore its message once it is received. The mere glancing at the Word without taking action is of little use – just as the mere glancing in the mirror as you are getting ready in the morning will not help you. James says that the person who just glances in the mirror will walk away and forget what kind of person he really is before the God and His Word.

In contrast, the believer who learns about himself and what God requires by concentrating on the mirror of the Word will be blessed. We must intentionally look into Scripture for the purpose of change. This exercise is one of careful attention to learn what is wrong and to discern what ought to be done to correct it. This kind of continual gazing into the Word guards against forgetting and motivates doing. Only by remembering to do what Scripture says (as we continue to hear and read it), can we apply it to our lives. In other words, apply yourself to the Word so you may be able to apply the Word to your life!

What James referred to as the “Word” in vv. 18, 21, 22, 23 he calls the “law” here. As the “Word” brings new life according to v. 18, it also sets us free and points to the free obedience of the Christian life. The blessing that is promised in this passage follows closely the words of Jesus, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28).

Let’s seek to apply ourselves to the Word so that we can apply the Word to our lives!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:19-21

2008-01-30T04:36:00.000-08:00

January 30, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: quick, slow, anger, and humility.

Passage for the day: James 1:19-21 (NASB)

19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

What does it mean to be quick to hear and slow to speak?

Is your first response in a tense situation to be angry or to listen? Why?

What are we commanded to do in verse 21? How do we obey this command?

What is the word implanted in you? What is it able to do?

Chew on this:

It is interesting that James begins this section by telling us that we should already know what he is about to write – the discipline of a controlled tongue. Normally when we see a command to be quick to do something, we think of taking action. Here we are told to not act in anger, but to actively listen. We are told to be slow to anger, but ready to hear. This is a foreign concept for us outside of the grace of God! How many of us actually listen? Are we characterized by a quickness to show love or by a readiness to pour out anger? Contrary to some who would defend anger as the last resort for the Christian under trial, James declared they are simply wrong. In Paul’s writings, we see this same response for the Christian - “in your anger do not sin,” “do not let the sun go down on your anger,” and to rid yourself of anger (Eph 4:26; cf. Col 3:8). This is all comparable to being slow to anger. Anger is dangerous even when expressed in speech. Angry speech is part of the temptation to seek vengeance and was of deep concern to both James and Paul (Rom. 12:9-21). Whether in relationship with God or in relationship with others, anger must be ruled out. Human anger will injure the merciful peacemaking required for the relationships among fellow believers and those who are unbelievers. How can the world know that we are the disciples of Christ, when we are showing anger toward one another? Love is one of the defining characteristics for the disciple of Christ and we should love each other as Christ loved us (John 13:33-35)!

James does not just stop with anger, but commands us to rid ourselves of anything that does not please God. James uses the metaphor of taking off and putting away soiled clothes. However, we cannot do this on our own power. We must receive the Word of God that has been implanted in our hearts. It has the power to rescue your soul! God has already put His Word in your heart if you are a Christian, but you must still receive it with meekness and gentleness – the opposite of anger. This means that you and I must allow the word to become deeply rooted in our hearts, so that we are able to live it out in our daily responses to life’s challenges. Rather than speaking out in anger, the wise believer listens to the Lord speak through His Word. When we are listening to God’s voice, we will be able to respond correctly in any situation.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:17-18

2008-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

January 28, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: gift, Father, word of truth, and first-fruits.

Passage for the day: James 1:17-18 (NASB)

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first- fruits among His creatures.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

According to these verses, what is the source of good things?

Name at least 5 good things that God has given you

What does “no variation” or “shifting shadow” mean?

What is the word of truth in verse 18?

Chew on this:

Last time we learned that God is not the source of evil temptation, but here we read that God is the source and true giver of “every good and perfect gift.” God is the only the source of good in our lives. He is the source of the good fight within us that resists temptation and strengthens our heart to pursue a growing and living faith. The gifts of God are good because they never cause us to fall into sin. The gifts of God are perfect because they are the fulfillment of God’s will for His people. The range of God’s giving includes both the goodness that God has created in this universe as well as the perfect gifts God gives to all who put their trust in Him and seek His wisdom. In Psalm 84:11, God promises to not withhold any of these good things to those who do what is right! Truly, God is good in all that He does! And, as the Creator and Ruler of all things, He is called the “Father of lights.” God orders the sun, moon, and stars and controls all the changes in his creation. But He Himself does not change! The light and the shadows change from day to day, but God never changes and is always the same.

In verse 18, we see how God creates new life through His Word and His sovereign plan. The contrast here is that God does not cause us to be tempted by sin; instead, He gives us spiritual life! In the previous verses, we learn that the result of sin is death. Before salvation, we were dead in our sins, with seemingly no hope (Eph. 2:1-10); but now God has breathed spiritual life into our dead bodies by the His truthful and powerful Word! This “word of truth” is the gospel. The same God who spoke the world into existence is the same God who speaks the gospel to us and we are given new life in Him! Those of us who are saved will be first-fruits of God’s saving grace. In the Old Testament the “first-fruits” of living things, were those offered to God in thanksgiving and became His precious and special possession. We are God’s precious ones – above all else in His wonderful creation.

So, how do these verses apply to our lives today? First, we can find hope and satisfaction in God because He is always good and will never change! Second, we can be thankful to God because of the new life we have been given by the gospel. He considers us to be His prized and precious possession in the midst of all of the beautiful things He has created. Let’s taste and see that God is good!

(I encourage you to read Psalm 34 if you want more encouragement in tasting and seeing the goodness of God).

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:13-16

2008-01-25T04:59:00.000-08:00

January 25, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: tempted, lust, sin, and death.

Passage for the day: James 1:13-16 (NASB)

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

According to these verses, who or what actually tempts us to sin?

What is the progression from being tempted with sin to actually committing the sin?

What is the end result of sin?

What is it that you are being tempted with that is causing you to sin?

Chew on this:

In these verses, James gives us one of the most penetrating discussions of the nature of temptation in the whole Bible. But this raises many questions. Where do trials come from? Are some from God, but not others? Are they from God at all? If not, how can we say He rules the universe? Are all trials from God and therefore his goodness is compromised? There are many examples in Scripture of God testing a person’s faith (Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac, children of Israel in the wilderness, Gideon and the Midianities, etc.). So how are we to understand this? First we need to understand that the words for tempt and trial are two separate words in the Greek text. The word for “trial” in verse 2 is not an enticement to sin, but rather a test of faith. The word for “tempt” in verse 13 focuses on being persuading or luring someone into sin.

James tells us right from the beginning here that God is not the origin of temptation, for “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” No evil can have its way with God. He is immune to any of sin’s enticements. Therefore there can be nothing evil about God’s ways with His people. God does not lead us into temptation, but He delivers us from evil. Temptation to sin is the operation of evil forces and the devil. In this case the believer himself is the source of temptation. There is already something within the flesh by which any temptation can arise and become activated. This is why we desperately need God’s wisdom and should cry out for it as the previous verses tell us to do!

In this passage of James, we read that it is one’s own “evil desire” that is the cause of temptation. Where we might expect the “devil, like a roaring lion” (1 Pet 5:8), to be dragging us off into sin, it is our flesh that drags us into sin. The old excuse that “the devil made me do it,” no longer holds water. Sure, the devil is tempting us, just like He did with Christ, appealing to Christ’s desire for food, power, and prominence. But it is our decision to choose to please God or our flesh. Satan knows how to tempt us in the areas that we are weak and remind us of past failures. However, the blame for temptation then can never rest upon God, but entirely upon us. Temptation entices or lures us by our own appetites.

In Galatians 5:16-17, we find hope in a seemingly hopeless situation: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” Life in the Holy Spirit is the antidote to the power of evil desire! Temptation to sin is the problem of the person’s own condition as a sinner. The personal struggle with evil desire is not usually a confrontation with the devil, but rather a confrontation with our own worst enemy – OURSELVES! The pain of temptation is a self-inflicted attack. This is the sense of being “dragged away.” Desire gives birth to sin. Sin, the offspring of desire, grows up, matures, and finally, sin gives birth to death. Our own desires are like a prowling beast that would consume us if not for God’s powerful grace! James’s “beloved brothers” were to hear his strongest appeal so as to develop whole-hearted trust in God. They must be on their guard against self-deception. They should accept trials from God, and realize that it is not God who tempts them to sin.

Let me tell you a story to put this in perspective…

Back in medieval times, there were two brothers who were dukes of Belgium in separate provinces. They never really got along and would often quarrel and fight between themselves. After an argument between them, the older brother led a successful revolt against the younger brother and captured him. Instead of putting him to death, the older brother decided a different kind of punishment. He built a room around his brother in his castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size. None of the windows or doors were locked or barred. The problem was that the younger brother was too fat and could not fit through the windows or the doorways. To regain his freedom, all he needed to do was lose weight, so he could leave the room. But that was not going to be easy, because the older brother sent him a variety of delicious foods every day. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, he grew fatter. When the older brother was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: "My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills." The brother stayed in that room for ten years and eventually died because of his poor health. He was a prisoner of his own appetite.

We all struggle with sin, and many times we feel as if we are prisoners to the desires and appetites that are within our flesh. Let me encourage you and tell you that there is a way out! You do not have to be a slave to the flesh if you are a child of God! Christ came to set you free from the sin you are struggling with! He has given you new life and the Holy Spirit dwells within you. He is guiding you, giving you strength, and making intercession in heaven for you. And if that was not enough, God is at work within us, giving us the desire and the ability to obey Him as we face temptation (Phil. 2:13)!

If you like to learn more about this freedom that we have in Christ, see “Stop Living In Your Old Cell!” on our website (www.timberlakesm.blogspot.com).

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:12

2008-01-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

January 23, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: persevere, trial, and crown.

Passage for the day: James 1:12 (NASB)

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

How is it possible for us to be happy or blessed when under a trial?

What do you think it means to persevere in the midst of a trial?

What does God promise to those who endure? Who receives this reward?

Chew on this:

In this short verse, we are told that God rewards those who persevere in trials. The Greek word of persevering or enduring in this text has the idea of refusing to give up, standing firm, or holding on tightly. It means that we are living out our faith with action. We put the promises of God ahead of the cares of this life and hold on to the assurance of eternal life with God. When we cross the finish line, we will be greeted and rewarded by God Himself. We are blessed because we possess the living hope of salvation of the soul – the crown of life. This was the victor’s wreath that was given at the Olympic games in Greece to the champion who endured to the end. The people James was writing to were going under extreme persecution and many were facing death. Some of them may have questioned and doubted whether it was worth it to go through such suffering. James reminds them that they were blessed as they endured, and that they could look forward to eternal life with God as they faced physical death here on earth.

God is using trials to produce believers who stand their ground through a life shaped by the Word of God. The approval that James speaks of does not come about because we were perfect. Rather, it acknowledges a faith that perseveres and loves God. This love for God is an obedient love. Obedience through love is the nature of a right relationship with God, a relationship of wholehearted commitment to Him. So, as we persevere, let’s pursue a genuine love for God and trust God to be faithful as we endure!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:9-11

2008-01-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2008

Let’s be honest. Sometimes, you come across a passage of Scripture that leaves you scratching your head. And, that’s okay! When you come across a passage that is hard to understand, don’t get discouraged, give up, and close your Bible in frustration (although it sounds tempting sometimes!). Let that fuel your passion and desire to get into the Word, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the understanding you need. Remember, God inspired the hard-to-understand passages just as much as He inspired the easy-to-understand passages. And, God does not waste ink or paper! It is put in the Bible for a divine purpose. So, let’s dig into today’s passage and see what God has to teach us!

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: humble, rich, and glory.

Passage for the day: James 1:9-11 (NASB)

9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;

10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.

11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

Why is the poor man (brother of humble circumstances) able to boast?

Who do you think placed the poor man in a high position?

What is it that humbles the rich man?

What is the end result of the rich man’s wealth and achievements?

Chew on this:

Why are we talking about rich and poor in the midst of a passage about trials and temptations? If you have ever gone through a difficult financial situation, then you understand why this fits perfectly in a passage about trials! What James is attempting to do is show us the big picture from God’s perspective on the poor and the rich.

The first person seen here is the poor or lowly man. This man feels seemingly insignificant and is possibly even perceived as a man incapable of influence. God tells this man that he can rejoice because Christ will lift him up to a position of honor. James is encouraging these men to boast or to “take pride” in their coming exaltation. Although these poor men and women had nothing visible to boast in, their boasting was greater than those who boasted in themselves. Their poverty, then, had turned into a double benefit, for it encouraged the humility and faith God requires. In 1 Peter 5:6-7, we read “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” As the poor man walks in humility by faith, God will exalt him and take care of him with His mighty hand!

The other person who is mentioned is the rich man. It is interesting to point out that the rich man is to boast in his “humiliation.” What does this mean? Well, I want to make it clear that God is not saying that if you are rich, then God is going to make a fool out of you or take you down. Instead, the rich man is encouraged to see the big picture, just like the poor man. Knowing that his riches will not last forever, the rich man should boast in his future position of humility and lowliness. Instead of basking in the artificial light of the borrowed time his wealth has brought him, the rich man should humble himself in order to guard against the temptation of trusting in wealth as opposed to God. James reminds us that the riches of this world are like wildflowers that are being scorched by the hot sun. It is beautiful for a time, but will soon die and fade away.

In regards to the church, God places the poor and the rich on the same level when they stand before Him. Neither one is to glory over the other, since all we have is from God anyway. It is not wrong or better to be rich or poor. The poor and the rich are encouraged to see life from God’s point of view. The poor can be encouraged, knowing that God will honor them as they walk by faith and trust God for their needs. The rich are encouraged to carry their wealth and position under an umbrella of humility, remembering to place their confidence in God, and not in their riches.

Let’s be sure to live our lives for eternity, putting our trust in God alone!

If you want to go little deeper on this, see these verses for more study on God’s perspective of the poor, the rich, and where we should place our confidence: 1 Sam. 2:7; 1 Chron. 29:12; Prov. 8:17-18; Prov. 28:6; Jer. 9:23-24; Matt. 6:19-34; Luke 1:52-53; 2 Cor. 6:10; 2 Cor. 8:9; 1 Tim. 6:9,17

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

James 1:5-8

2008-01-18T07:19:00.001-08:00

January 18, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: wisdom, faith, doubting, and double-minded.

Passage for the day: James 1:5-8 (NASB)

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.
What should our response be when we need wisdom in the midst of a trial?

How should we ask for wisdom?

Do you believe that God will give you wisdom? Why or why not?

After reading this passage, how would you describe your faith – confident in God, or doubting God?

Chew on this:

I think it is interesting that we are encouraged to go to God and ask Him to give us wisdom in the midst of trials. Why, you may ask? Wisdom is needed because we need to know how to persevere in the midst of trials. We need God’s perspective – not only to help us keep the right focus during trials, but also to strengthen us against temptation. We must turn to God, not to man’s wisdom, to endure the diverse trials of faith.

So, what happens when cry out to God for His perspective? Wisdom is given out of God’s generosity and gentleness. To request wisdom in the midst of trial is precisely what God intends for us. Wisdom is always God’s gift to His children, and is necessary to endure the testing of faith. God’s genuine generosity is emphasized and is central to Jesus’ own teaching (Matt 7:7-11). God does not criticize or seek to find fault in us as we ask. This promise of wisdom from God belongs only to those who have a faith that does not doubt. In other words, it is an active trust or confidence in God, not a wavering hope that does not truly believe that God is able. Here James inserts the analogy of a wave of the sea that is blown this way and that by the wind. True faith is grounded in who God is and does not doubt God’s character and ability; instead, true faith trusts God without hesitation. We must be loyal to God, who is faithful to keep His promises!

James also cautions us against being double-minded. This person claims to trust in God, when they really do not. They may pray the prayer, but they do not pray the prayers of surrender to God’s will. This person is unstable in everything he does. Why should such a person expect anything from God through prayer, when he really does not believe that God will give wisdom? There is no middle ground or fence-straddling here. James makes it clear that you either have a genuine faith or not. Although the doubter cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord, the wholehearted believer should expect to receive wisdom for the journey of faith—this is the divine promise. With simple and undivided faith in God, wisdom is freely given by God!

Don’t buy the lie that God is not able to keep His promises. God is the sovereign Creator of the universe and loves you more than you’ll ever know! He delights in His children coming to Him, placing their full trust in His ability to do “exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20)!

For His Name,
Pastor Stephen

James 1:2-4

2008-01-18T07:18:00.001-08:00

January 16, 2008

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: joy, trials, testing, and endurance.
Passage for the day: James 1:2-4 (NASB)

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.

According to verse 2, what should our response be to trials? What is your first response to the trials you face in your life (no Sunday School answers – be honest!)?

How is it possible to have joy in the midst of pain or difficulty?

When God tests your faith through trials, what is the result? How is God testing your faith right now?

Read Romans 5:2–5, 1 Peter 1:6–7, and James 1:4. If God continues to build endurance into your life as you submit to God by faith, what will happen?

Chew on this:

It is clear from these verses that God uses the trials in our lives to accomplish His purpose. And, we are told that our response to these trials should be joy! I don’t know about you, but this did not make sense when I first read this. In fact, I wondered how it could be possible, since joy is not my usual first response when tough times come. What I often fail to see is that my focus is on the wrong thing! Joy is not the product of good circumstances but rather, joy is the most basic and essential expression of faith. You and I can consider a horrible situation to be a reason to rejoice because of our faith in an all-powerful God who is in control and who is always good.

James is writing this to encourage us! Remember, the believers who first read this were going through incredible pain and suffering – and God was not going to be silent. God told them then and tells us now to embrace our trials – not for what they are, but for what God can accomplish through them. As in the passages of Romans 5:2–5 and 1 Peter 1:6–7, James here teaches that trials serve as a test for genuine faith. This is clearly seen in the story of Abraham and his son Isaac (Genesis 22). God tested the genuineness of Abraham’s faith by asking him to do the unthinkable – kill his own son. That would blow me away if I was in Abraham’s shoes (or sandals in this case)! But, Abraham had such a great trust in His God that he obeyed Him completely, even when he could not understand – and God blessed him for it. Trials form an essential part of God’s plan for us and it will prove whether we have a faith that is real or not. We can have joy because God is maturing us in our faith and preparing us for the trials that come.

It is God who makes us strong and prepares us to serve Him. God will always be faithful and promises to take us through the trials we face (1 Corinthians 10:13)! It is my prayer today that we would all possess a real, genuine faith that is fully resting on God’s grace.

For His Name,
Pastor Stephen

James 1:1

2008-01-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2008

Greetings to everyone! Welcome to the James edition of “Chew On It.” I truly hope that it will be an encouragement to your daily walk with God. Some of you might be new to this, so let me explain. The “Chew On It” series is a way for us (teens and parents alike) to walk through a book of the Bible together as a youth group family. As Christians, we need to see God’s Word as a necessary part of our life, not just an add-on to our busy day. It must be something we hunger for, instead of merely an item on our spiritual checklist.

So, my challenge to you and myself is to take a journey through the book of James together. My desire in all of this is to get us to go beyond just reading Scripture by spending quality time meditating on the Word and then seeking to apply it to our lives in obedience to Christ. In other words, I want you “chew on it” and think about what the Scriptures are really saying.

Here is how it’s going to work. I will be e-mailing all of you Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the Scripture reading for the day, some questions to answer, and some thoughts to chew on that will hopefully cause us to dig into the Scriptures. I encourage you to begin each time in prayer, asking God to open your eyes and mind to what He has to teach you through His Word and to supply you with the courage and grace to live out the truth. I do also encourage that you keep a journal of what God is teaching you and what you are learning. Your journal will be an INCREDIBLE resource for you as you will be able to see in days to come how God has been leading you and growing you in His grace. Also, please feel free to e-mail me and let me know what you are learning or any questions you might have so we can encourage one other in this study. I truly hope that you will come to treasure the Word of God and learn to find your ultimate joy in Him.

As you read today's passage, look for these words or phrases: James, bond-servant, and dispersed.

Passage for the day: James 1:1 (NASB)

1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

Questions for thought: Take a few moments to answer these questions before you go on to the next section.
Which James of the Bible wrote this letter and when was it written?

Who was this letter written to? Why do you think that these people were scattered (Hint: Acts 8:1-4; Acts 11:19).

James could have opened this letter with any kind of greeting, but he chose to identify himself as a “bond-servant” or slave. What comes to your mind when you think of a slave?

Do you see yourself as a servant of God like James? Why or why not?

Chew on this:

The James of this letter is none other than the half-brother of Jesus Christ, and it is the first book of the New Testament (written between A.D. 44-49). These are God’s first words to the New Testament church. He is writing this letter to those Jewish Christians who had gotten out of town due to the intense persecution. He is not writing to people who were sipping lemonade in a hammock somewhere. Many of them were facing loss of employment, loss of family support, and even the loss of their very lives! These were people who were going through incredible pressure. If you find yourself going through a similar situation or difficulty, take heart! This letter was written for you!

James begins by identifying himself as a servant or slave. In our day and age, slavery is not a positive thing, but James sees it as the very essence of who he is. He was a slave of God! Only, this kind of slavery is the ultimate freedom. We are given new life in Christ so that we may gladly and eagerly serve the God who redeemed us. It is the picture of the slave that is loved and given his freedom, but willingly gives himself back to a lifetime of serving the one who purchased his freedom.

When I read this passage for the first time, I saw this idea of being a bond-servant as something to dread or fear, and not something to take pleasure and comfort in. Service to God is not a brutal, overbearing, inflicted slavery. Instead, it is a privilege and something that we were created to do. We have been bought with the blood of Christ and have been adopted into God’s family. We are now freed to serve God and bring glory to His name!

In all of this, let us be careful to not think of this service as paying God back for what He has done for us. In fact, every time we serve God, it does just the opposite of paying Him back. It puts us ever deeper in debt to His grace that He so freely gives us. We can never repay God – and He does not need us to pay Him back! God is not looking for our assistance; instead, He desires our devotion. So, what is our motive then? God commands us to obey Him, not out of duty to pay back a debt, but by giving us everything we need to bring glory to Him and by giving us divine rewards in Heaven. Human energy alone could never accomplish the work of God, yet God has chosen to accomplish His work by working through us! What a privilege to be called God's servant!

For His Name,
Pastor Stephen