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But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

James most likely wrote this epistle to believers scattered as a result of the unrest and persecution recorded in Acts ch.12. James, with his direct and often sharply incisive statements on wise living, reminiscent of the Book of Proverbs. Gives us practical emphasis, stressing not theoretical knowledge, but godly behavior. He wrote with a passionate desire for his readers to be uncompromisingly obedient to the Word of God. By the fact that here in our text, James calls professing believers to be “doers” rather than simply to do, emphasizes that their personality should be characterized in this manner. Deceiving yourselves—Literally “reasoning beside or alongside” as in “beside oneself ” This word was used in mathematics to refer to a miscalculation. Professing Christians who are content with only hearing the Word are finding out that they have made a serious miscalculation. The Book of James is known for a reference made in Ch. 2, “Faith without works is dead”. Meaning if we confess to be a Christian, it should show in our behavior of obedience and in the pursuit of doing good, and not in deceptive works of darkness.  If not, then by the world’s standard of judgment, they see us as not what we say we are, and thus will not take heed to our testimony of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that can transform them from dead in their sins and trespasses to being made alive in Christ. And even more serious than that, use our lives of inconsistency as a reason of not becoming a Christian. Observing himself— A forceful Greek word meaning to look carefully and cautiously, as opposed to taking a casual glance. First century mirrors were not made of glass, but metallic, made of bronze, silver, or for the wealthy—gold. The metals were beaten flat and polished to high gloss, and the image they reflected was adequate but not perfect (1 Corinthians 13:12). Unless professing Christians act promptly after they hear the Word, they will forget the changes and improvements that their reflection showed them they need to make. Perfect law of liberty—In both OT and NT, God’s revealed and inerrant sufficiently comprehensive Word is called “law” (Psalm 19:7). The presence of His grace does not mean there is no moral law or code of conduct for believers to obey. Believers are enabled by the Spirit to keep it by daily presenting their bodies to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) and have genuine freedom from sin. As the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer in Christ enables the principles of Scripture to be applied to the believer’s hearts, they are freed from sin’s bondage and enabled to obey God and give Him the glory (John 8:34-36).

Beloved friend, Jesus said, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Those whom Jesus Christ liberates from the tyranny of sin and the bondage of legalism are really free. But Christians are still struggling with their freedom not only from sin, but the perception that their freedom isn’t really freedom because we haven’t paid the cost. A lie from Satan. But a truth from God is that Jesus paid the price for us, thus we’ve no need to worry over our redemption by God through Jesus Christ for us, just simply believe!

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

 

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.  Jude v. 20-23

Jude, rendered “Judah” in Hebrew and “Judas” in Greek, was one of four half-brothers of Christ. Jude lived in a time when Christianity was under severe political attack from Rome and aggressive spiritual infiltration of gnostic-like apostates and libertines who sowed seeds of abundant discord through doctrinal error. Apostasy – meaning defection from the true, biblical faith, Jude wrote this short one chapter epistle to urge Christians to contend for the faith. When apostasy arises, when false teachers emerge on the scene, when the truth of God is attacked, it is time to fight for the faith. And only believers who are spiritually “in shape” can answer the call. Every true believer has a sure foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11) and cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) in Jesus Christ. The truths of the Christian faith have been provided in the teaching of the apostles and prophets, so that Christians can build themselves up by obeying the Word of God. But even in this, without God’s help we can’t do anything that resembles a life of faith that is rooted in the Word and demonstrated with His power. Praying in the Holy Spirit—As we call on the Lord the Holy Spirit brings to God on our behalf divine articulations that cannot be expressed in words, but carry profound appeals for the welfare of every believer (Romans 8:26-27). No words are necessary because the Father understands and agrees with what the Spirit thinks. This is not a call to some ecstatic form of prayer, but simply a call to pray consistently in the will and power of the Holy Spirit, as one would pray anything in the name of Jesus Christ. Keeping yourselves in the love of God— The response of every believer is to be faithfully living out what God is working in (for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure) Philippians 2:13. Although the believer is responsible to work, the Lord actually produces the good works and spiritual fruit in the lives of believers (John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 12:6). And the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22.) It means also of a firm stand in the place of obedience where God’s love is poured out on His children so we will not lose hope (Romans 5:5), as opposed to being disobedient and incurring His chastisement. How can this be you may ask? By looking ahead in anticipation to Christ’s second coming, and to receive our eternal life in Him, in it’s ultimate resurrection form, which is the supreme expression of God’s mercy on one to whom Christ’s righteousness has underservedly been imputed to. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3).

Beloved friend, The time of apostasy is now here, the Church is being inundated with floods of false teachers and their false doctrines, Israel, whom we are told to always keep our eyes on, is in the process of soon to be rebuilding another temple to which they may resume their sacrifices. All these are indications that Christ’s return is near. To know that you can have eternal life in Christ is possible, the Scriptures make this clear, but to remain undecided, or remain in unbelief and try and make it out of this life without God’s offer of forgiveness, is eternal damnation. I leave you with this thought from the end of Jude’s epistle: Glory to God— Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen v.v.24-25

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!

 

 

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Here Paul is near the end of his life, and is giving Timothy a very sobering reminder, “I charge you “ Or better “command” the Greek word has the idea of issuing a forceful order or directive. In the presence of God, even Christ Jesus, is probably the best rendering since He is about to be introduced as the judge. For everyone who ministers the Word of God is under a closer watch of scrutiny because of the importance of rightly dividing the Word of truth. Christ, who will judge—Paul is emphasizing the unique accountability that all believers, and especially ministers of the Word of God, have to Christ as Judge. For service to Christ is rendered both under His watchful eye and with the knowledge that as Judge He will one day appraise the works of every believer (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). This is not a judgment of condemnation, but one of evaluation. With regard to salvation, believers have been judged already and declared righteous -Through Christ they are no longer subject to the condemnation of sin. The entire written Word of God His complete revealed truth is contained in the Bible. Be ready in season and out of season—The Greek word word has a broad range of meanings, including suddenness, or forcefulness; Here the form of the verb suggests the complementary ideas of urgency, preparedness, and readiness. It was used of a soldier prepared to go into battle, or sentry guard on alert of enemy attack. These attitudes therefore are imperitive for a faithful preacher, especially one as young as Timothy was. The faithful preacher must proclaim the Word of God when it is popular and or convenient, and when it is not; when it seems suitable to do so, and when it seems not. The dictates of popularity of culture, traditions, or reputations of esteem in the community, (or in the church) must never altar the true message of God’s Word spoken of by any preacher, who’s commitment is to preach all of God’s Word. Convince, rebuke—The Greek word for “convince” refers to correcting behavior or false doctrine by using careful biblical truth to counter any argument against it.

Beloved friend, There is certainly much more on this subject, my desire is to feed those who are beggining in the Word a steady diet of sound biblical truth that will be of great help in your spiritual growth. Being ready for Christ’s return should be everyone’s focus, and preaching His Word, is how we prepare for His return.

May the Lord bless your walk!

O Lord, to You I cry out; For fire has devoured the open pastures, and a flame has burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field also cry out to You, for the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the open pastures.  Joel 1:19-20

As the first to call others to repentenance, the prophet Joel had to be the first to heed the warning. He had to lead by example and exhort the people to respond. In the midst of proclaiming judgment, God’s prophets often led in intercessory prayer for mercy and forgiveness for God’s people. True prayer of repentance will always be in response to the Word of God, and is characterized by fervency and self-denial, and identifies itself unselfishly with God’s people. We are always strengthened by confession knowing that weakness in us, brings strengthening grace given by God to overcome our sinful desires and turn to the ways of glorifying God. Moses, Jeremiah, Daniel, to name a few of the prophets of God who interceded for their fellow man. And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that I may consume them. And I will make you a great nation.” Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the Land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Exodus 32:11-14  could have consumed all the people and started over again with Moses, just like he had earlier with Abraham (Genesis 12). Moses appeal for God to change His mind to relent succeeded because God had only threatened judgment, and not decreed it. A divine intention is not an unchangeable divine decree.

Beloved friend, Today, we do not have to plead with God to turn away His wrath from us, He loves us, and wants to save us. But we do need to confess our sins to Him in true repentance. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10  Continual confession of sins is a part of the genuine Christian’s life. The term “confess” means to say the same thing about sin as God does. Where does my example do the most good? To those I love most! My family, my friends, my church family, and my neighbors. The greatest need in our world is the need for more godly men, and women  leading the way for others to follow after their patterns of authentic Christian living. There is no substitute for God’s people in our society!

May the Lord bless your walk!

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear   1 Peter 3:15

God knows our future, rules over every circumstance, and cares for us in ways that are far beyond our understanding.” Christ ” is to be preferred here, so the reading is “set apart in your hearts Christ as Lord.” The heart is the sanctuary in which He prefers to be worshiped. As we live in submission to God’s Word, we have fellowship with the Lord Jesus, loving and obeying Him brings us an absence of fear. There is a huge problem with many Christians not knowing the Word of God, and worse yet, many churches are not teaching the Word of God they way it should be taught. Always be ready to give a defense— The English word “apologetics” comes from the Greek word here translated “defense”  The apostle Peter is using the word in a informal sense and is insisting that the believer must understand what he believes and why one is a Christian, and then be able to articulate what and why one believes the Word of God. Yet, it must be humbly answered, thoughtfully used to the benefit of others, reasonably and biblically sound doctrine; which brings out the hope that is in you. A salvation with its anticipation of eternal glory. Jesus tells us, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

Beloved friend, we’ve been given both a command and an exhortation in our text today. God says, We are to be letting our light so shine before the world, and that we should be salt preserving truth Christians. We need to study the Word of God to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us, for the reason we have hope? Paul wrote to the Corinthians, For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corithians 2:2  Knowing God’s Word is the best answer to give as to what you believe.

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another.1 John 4:7-11

The gospel writer John, true to his pattern to develop the same subjects, each time broadening and expanding, and enhancing their significance, returns again to the moral test of love. Describing what perfect love is, is to describe what the heart of God looks like. Yet, it is personafied in Jesus Christ, and John is emphatic about it being availiable to all men. John introduces the reader to the first of 5 reasons why Christians love: because God is the essence of love. The gnostics of John’s day believed that God was immaterial spirit and light, but never defined the source of love as coming from His inmost being. As He is Spirit (John 4:24), Light (John 1:5), and a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), so He is love. Love is inherent in all He is and in every act He does. Even His judgment and wrath are perfectly harmonized with His love. Let us love one another—This phrase is the key to the entire text; That we must be sure that love is a habitual practice and that those who are truly born again do exhibit the characteristic habit of love, because those who are born again receive God’s nature inside of them. And since God’s nature exhibits love as a chief characteristic, God’s children will also reflect that love too! Propitiation—The word means “appeasement” or “satisfaction” The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross satisfied the demands of God’s holiness for the punishment of sin.

Beloved Friend, Someone may profess to be a Christian but only those who display love like their heavenly Father actually possess His divine nature and are truly born again. Is this the love that describes you?

May the Lord bless your walk today!

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121:1-8

 

The psalmist does not look to creation for help, but to the Creator. From the place of utter helplessness God can be found from the viewpoint of looking up to the heights of the hills or in the banks of the valleys below. God can be found when He is sought for for by those who are looking for no other help other than the one true God. Being a Christian today, you are in the cross hairs of the enemy, Satan our adversary who opposes God and the truth of His Word. Yes, the enemy of our soul is seeking to destroy us and make into nothing our faith. How can we stand against such villainy? Where do we turn to for aid in the spiritual war in which all the children of God are engaged? Turn to the Lord! He is your help. The Creator of heaven and earth will not allow your foot to be moved into unbelief, He who holds power over every living thing neither slumbers nor sleeps. He will keep you under His wings of protection, The Protector of His sheep, protects and preserves His child from every spiritual harm.

Take comfort and love Christ! His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace {Isaiah 9:6}.

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to your fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.  Joshua 1:5-7

The promise of God’s blessing on this great responsibility God had given Joshua, hinders on the principle theme that is central to all spiritual effort and success, namely the deep understanding and application of Scripture at all times. God ‘s promises had guaranteed that Israel would be delivered from bondage in Egypt. Here in our text, God promises now to fight for His people, assuring them of victory in battle as they entered the the promise land. There would be many battles ahead for Joshua, and the children of Israel as they moved ahead into their new territory for ungodly nations would always oppose them. Moses as God’s spokeperson, expressed the Lord’s commitment to do battle for Israel, The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place {Deuteronomy 1:30-31}. God’s pledge to Joshua, like Moses before him had also enjoyed, “As I was with Moses, so I will  be with you.” Now the Lord has added the ultimate words of reassurance, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” When facing the certainty of battles, there is nothing greater than having God committed to always be present to fight against our enemies.

We are also engaged in warfare as a Christian today, The promises of God to these biblical figures are a part of our spiritual weaponry. For though we walk in the flesh, we do war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds {2 Corinthians 10:3-4}. I believe our nation was founded on Biblical principles, and God blessed America in its foundation acknowledging Biblical truth as a part of our early settlers way of life. The warning God gave Israel “do not turn to the right hand or the left” is where Israel failed to follow God’s guidance through obeying His Word. I believe It’s the same mistake our country has taken. In less than 236 years, our country has turned to the right hand, and the left in it’s obeying the Word of God. We can have victory in the Christian life, as we realize: It is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. His death, His resurrection, His glories that we get to experience as we live under the authority of the Word of God.

Lord, help us be a nation again, that is completely dependent upon You, and Your whole counsel of Thy Word.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

 

 

 

Let no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edication, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.Ephesians 4:29-32

The word for “corrupt” refers to that which is foul or rotten, such as spoiled fruit or putrid meat. Foul language of any sort should never be a part of a Christian’s vocabulary, because it is totally out of character of the new life in Christ. The Christian’s speech should be instructive, encouraging, good for necessary edification even when it must be corrective. Look to Jesus as our example, So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth ( Luke 4:22). And because believer’s have been saved by grace and are kept by grace, they should live and speak with grace. Our Lord Christ set the standard. Grieve the Holy Spirit of God – – –God is grieved when His children refuse to change the old ways of sin for those righteous ways of the new life. This reminds me of when I first read the story of Noah, I was amazed at what I read. For in the days before the judgment of the flood, God made known His thoughts to us. And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years. Genesis 6:3 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. v.v.5-6  I was so moved because this is one of strongest and clearest examples of about man’s sinful nature. Notice that God says, sin begins in the thought life, something the N.T. says in agreement James 1:13-15. Through all of this it should be noted that such responses by the Holy Spirit indicates He is a person. The Third Person of a Triune Godhead. If your a Christian today, you have been sealed by a guarantor of eternal redemption in Christ for those who believe in Him. This Holy Spirit of God, and His saving power is what were grieving, when we don’t allow for His power to fulfill us.

Beloved friend, Stay encouraged. God loves you, and He is still on the throne inspite of all that this world is trying to do. We are sealed for the day of redemption through the Holy Spirit, what great joy! and what great priviledge it is to be a part of God’s plan of salvation!

May the Lord bless your walk!

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and who are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.   1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

If you are attending a church, where the pastor is all about teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word, then this word of exhortation is for you. Paul, a man chosen by God, a man who at one time was a persecutor of the early church, yet now is recognizing, or in this case, teaching others to recognize the efforts of their pastor teachers in their church’s. That they ought to esteem them very highly in love, as they learn to know them well enough to appreciate and value their labor in first knowing, then teaching them sound doctrine. The work of Pastors can be summarized by three character traits: 1st.) Laboring in the Word of God, both to know it’s content, but also to know to whom it is being addressed to, and finally to make others understand their need of it in their own lives. 2nd) Overseeing—Literally standing before the congregation and leading them forward in righteousness both in word and deed. And 3rd.) Admonishing — To instruct in truth the whole counsel of God’s Word, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, all of the Bible is to be taught, and adhered to it’s warnings, as well as to it’s promises. The church body is to think rightly about their pastor teachers, not because of charm or by their personalities, but because God has chosen and ordained them to feed His sheep, and it’s their obedience to God by the congregation to submit to his authority, since he too, is under submission to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. And which will also promote peace among it’s members. Paul, wrote this epistle to show how the pastors are to serve the people and show the Christian how to respond to their pastors. Because there will be unruly members, The Lord showed through Paul’s admonishing that they are to be warned and taught to be submissive to the authority of God’s Word. The fainthearted must be encouraged to remain steadfast in Christ. The weak, those without spiritual or moral strength, must be held up firmly in prayer. These acts should be promoting patience, forgiveness, and good works between all the body of believer’s.

Beloved friend, Paul has written for us a summary of the Christian virtues to provide solid foundations not just for the early church, but for us as well. Always pursue what is good, for others first, then yourselves. You will be a influencial member of your church that is about glorifying God the Father, through Christ our Lord, and the Holy Spirit working in you!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him.