“Is
any among you afflicted? let him pray”!
Been
afflicted lately? How about conflicted? Maybe restricted, or wrongly
depicted. I hope you haven't been evicted, but if you're like myself,
you may have felt convicted. But the fact of the matter is, one of
those terms could very well describe your life's situation at any
given time.
So
how do we get through the things we're going through? Well James
advises...”let him pray”. Now just maybe some of you already have
a rich prayer life. I'm a great believer in the power of prayer...in
private, in public, on the phone, at church, away from the church, in
people's homes... wherever and whenever. You see, it makes me feel
better, and I believe it makes others feel better when we pray with
or for them. But prayer is not about feeling, is it? It's about
communicating. With God...and He with you. So James says...“Is
any among you afflicted? let him pray”.
Now,
man has been talking with God since we have existed. And God has been
talking with us. It may be interesting to note however, that the
first recorded words of God to man were in the form of a command, and
a dire warning...
Ge. 2.15-17..."And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat...But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Well
from that time on, man has had a very shaky relationship with the
Creator, to say the least. In fact, it's mostly downhill, from his
eviction from the Garden, to the first recorded murder, committed by
Cain, to the Great Flood. And then, the slow, seemingly eternal climb
from God's covenant with Abraham, to the cross on Calvary's hill,
where the very last covenant sealed the relationship between God and
man...at least for those who believe and receive! It was there that
the most costly and most pained, but most welcome prayer of all time
was uttered...”Father forgive them, for they know not what they
do”! And then, the very last prayer recorded in
scripture...”Even so, come, Lord Jesus”! But from cover to
cover, the prayers that are found there are both soulful and joyful,
and everything in between.
For
example, let's take a look at Ge. 18.22-23, where Abraham
asks...”...Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the
wicked?” And in response, we witness an offer of mercy, from
our Great God. Then in Exodus 3.11, Moses asks...”Who am
I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” And God replies...”I Am
that I Am”! In Joshua 7.7, he prayed...”Alas, O
Lord God, why have You brought us over the Jordan to...destroy us? We
would rather You allowed us to stay on the other side, in peace!”
And the Lord's response...
Joshua 24.12-13..."And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow. And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat."
In the Psalms we have a record of King David's rich prayer life. And believe me,
the king needed prayer (“Is
any among you afflicted?...).
In fact, the Psalms contain a wealth of prayer...they are chock
full of praise and adoration and instruction, and of course,
confession. And when you consider it, those really are the main
ingredients of prayer, aren't they. Only God is worthy of our praise,
and He needs to hear it often! And only God can hear our confession,
and He needs to hear it often! But He also deserves our thanks, and
often. And finally, He loves to hear our petitions...that is, we make
our requests and He makes His bequests. What a Great God we have!
So
this is where we find James
in
the last couple of paragraphs in chapter 5, giving his treatise on
“the
prayer of faith”.
First of all, as we have already observed, James expresses concern
for our affliction, and in each of vss.
13-16 he
speaks to one of the greatest of our self-concerns...our health. Who
of us has not had at least one scare with cancer, heart disease
or...? And the “big one”, like a San Andreas earthquake, is
roiling away inside us even as we speak. “Is
any among you afflicted? let him pray.”
Even
consider calling in the big guns...the elders of the church, as he
advises in vs.
14.
If your prayer alone is good, corporate prayer is better, and
combining it with an anointing makes it better yet. But even at that,
the proviso is clear, in vs.
15...pray
in faith, believing! And from what we read in vs.
16,
adding a little confession at the same time, will go a long ways as
well. In fact, James goes on to say there, that...”The
consistent, fervent prayers of the righteous will take us into realms
where we never expected to go”!
And
the example that he gives, of Elijah, that great man of faith, is
proof positive of the impact of the prayer offered in faith, by a
faithful believer.
But
before we finish this study, we mustn't neglect that couple of
phrases that we overlooked back in vs.
13...”Is any merry, let him sing Psalms”.
This seems to be James' one and only concession to the possibility
that there may be any small hint of joy to be encountered in the life
of a Christian! However, when and if you may experience a twinge of
it, raise up your voice in a song of praise to the Lord, with the
expectation that He'll respond with another dose! Going back to
David, I've already referred to his Psalms of praise, instruction and
confession, but he also recorded many hymns of joy.
For
example, consider 16.8-11,
66.1-4, and 95.1-3...
So
sing for joy in the midst of your affliction!
And
finally, keep yourself, but keep others also. I'm sure you're
saddened along with our Lord, by the defection of so many from
“...the
household of God” (Eph. 2.19).
Much good seed has fallen along the wayside and we have an obligation
and a responsibility to...”convert
them from the error of their way”, vs. 20.
You know, recovery is so difficult...in some cases, impossible. How
much sweeter to be a consistent source of learning and leading and
loving to our brothers and sisters in the faith, before the grass of
fellowship fades, and the flower of faith falls away!
Remember...“If
you fulfil the royal law according to the scriptures...loving your
neighbour as yourself...you do well” (Ja. 2.8).
So
be it. Peace, love and joy be on your days!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Week 7...“Faith and Your Future”, James 5.7-12
Read James 5.7-12...
"Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace;
I wanna' see my Saviour's face, 'cause Heaven is a wonderful place!"
Well how was your yesterday? And how are things today? And how will your tomorrow be? Our yesterday may have been hard, and today may be better or worse, but our future is uncertain...unless your trust is in Jesus! As we read last week from Prov. 27.1... ”Boast not of tomorrow, because we just don't know what another day will bring”. However, your faith, if it counts for anything at all, has secured your eternity.
Now some may say...”What is he on about now?! This moment is momentous enough!” And that's true; every moment of every day is fraught with notions, emotions and commotions that tend to erode us away. But there is hope for the hopeless. Check out what Paul has written for our encouragement in 1 Cor. 2.9...”But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” And Jesus has told us in His word, the Gospel of John, chapt. 14.1-3...(read).
So Jesus has set the stage for a discussion about a future that is available to every single one, but when He explained that truth to His disciples, they responded with scepticism...”Lord, we don't know where you're going so how can we know the way?” (vs. 5). The question of the ages...where did He go, and how do we get there. Well, Jesus answered the second part of that question in vs. 6...”I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father but by Me”. But that matter of “where” still remains pretty much a mystery to us. The fact is, Jesus reveals very little in the gospels about our eternal future, and the rest of scripture has only a little more to offer.
Billy Graham has this to say about Heaven...
“Jesus mentions Heaven about seventy times in the book of Matthew alone. It appears by name from Genesis to the last reference found at the end of Revelation. In fact, fifty-four of the sixty-six books in the Bible mention Heaven. Remember...the Bible is our only authoritative source of information about Heaven.”
(By-the-by, the term “heaven” occurs 551 times in the KJV and 622 times in the NIV, so your version may record some verses differently)
And the very best information we have about eternity is of course, found in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, where Heaven is described as being a place of everlasting peace and joy. Let's turn there simply to review what we've already learned over the years, of the glory of the place, and what occurs there.
Read Rev. 19.1-10, 21.1-8, 9-27, 22.1-5...discuss each section.
What is your perception then, about our future in “the place (He) has gone to prepare...” for us?
Here are some things we know for sure about that “place” the scriptures refer-to as Heaven...
1. First of all, it is the dwelling place of God...1 K. 8.27-32 (note...”Thy dwelling place...”, vss. 30, 39, 43, 49)
...and of Jesus...He. 9.24, 12.2, Rev. 1.13
...and of H.S...Ps. 139.7-8
..and the angels...Matt.18.10 (note cherubims, Ge. 3.22-24, 2 Sam. 22.5-21; and seraphims, Is. 6.2; archangels...Michael (Jude 9) and Gabriel (Luke 1.19), and ordinary angels, or messengers)
...and other privileged chosen ones (as described below)
2. Secondly, there are certain things that will not be there, such as...
...no marriage, Luke 20.34-35
...no death, Luke 20.36-38. Rev. 21.4
...no fleshly bodies, 1 Cor. 15.50-54
...no hunger or thirst, Rev. 7.16
...no sorrow or tears, “ 7.17, 21.4
...no pain, “ 21.4
...no temple, “ 21.22
...no curse, “ 22.3
...no night, “ 22.5
...no artificial or natural light, “ 22.5
...no wickedness (no Satan, no temptation), “ 22.15
...no end, “ 22.5, Matt. 25.46 (note that, by-and-large, what is true in Heaven will be the opposite in Hell!)
3. Third, there are certain things that will be there, like...
...eternal joy, Luke 15.7,10
...eternal rest Rev. 14.12-13
...eternal peace, Luke 16.19-25
...eternal righteousness, 2 Pe. 3.10-13
...eternal service, Rev. 7.15
...eternal worship, “ 19.1-6
...the church (the saints, the Bride of Christ), “ 19.7-9
...rewards, Matt. 5.12, Col. 3.22-24, Rev. 11.15-18, 22.12
...inheritance, 1 Pe. 1.3-4
...glorified bodies, Ro. 8.16-17
4. Last, everything is prepared and waiting...
...the Son of Man, Rev. 1.10-20
...the keys of hell and of death, “ 1.18
...the throne room of God and of the Lamb, “ 4.1-5, 22.1,3
...the books of judgement, “ 5.1-5, 20.12, 21.27
...the 4 horsemen, “ 6.1-8
...the 144,000 servants from the 12 tribes of Israel, “ 7.2-4
...the 7 trumpeters of judgement, “ 8.6
...the 7 vials of judgement “ 15.1, 16.1
...the marriage supper and the marriage garments, “ 19.7-9
...the thrones of judgement, “ 20.4,11
...a new, holy Jerusalem, “ 21.2, 10-27
...a new heaven and a new earth, “ 21.1
...the river of the water of life, “ 22.1
...the tree of life, “ 22.2
Heaven IS a wonderful place...! But never forget that the gospel road is the only way to get there; in fact, it is THE way to God, Who alone makes Heaven the destination of choice!
"Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace;
I wanna' see my Saviour's face, 'cause Heaven is a wonderful place!"
Well how was your yesterday? And how are things today? And how will your tomorrow be? Our yesterday may have been hard, and today may be better or worse, but our future is uncertain...unless your trust is in Jesus! As we read last week from Prov. 27.1... ”Boast not of tomorrow, because we just don't know what another day will bring”. However, your faith, if it counts for anything at all, has secured your eternity.
Now some may say...”What is he on about now?! This moment is momentous enough!” And that's true; every moment of every day is fraught with notions, emotions and commotions that tend to erode us away. But there is hope for the hopeless. Check out what Paul has written for our encouragement in 1 Cor. 2.9...”But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” And Jesus has told us in His word, the Gospel of John, chapt. 14.1-3...(read).
So Jesus has set the stage for a discussion about a future that is available to every single one, but when He explained that truth to His disciples, they responded with scepticism...”Lord, we don't know where you're going so how can we know the way?” (vs. 5). The question of the ages...where did He go, and how do we get there. Well, Jesus answered the second part of that question in vs. 6...”I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father but by Me”. But that matter of “where” still remains pretty much a mystery to us. The fact is, Jesus reveals very little in the gospels about our eternal future, and the rest of scripture has only a little more to offer.
Billy Graham has this to say about Heaven...
“Jesus mentions Heaven about seventy times in the book of Matthew alone. It appears by name from Genesis to the last reference found at the end of Revelation. In fact, fifty-four of the sixty-six books in the Bible mention Heaven. Remember...the Bible is our only authoritative source of information about Heaven.”
(By-the-by, the term “heaven” occurs 551 times in the KJV and 622 times in the NIV, so your version may record some verses differently)
And the very best information we have about eternity is of course, found in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, where Heaven is described as being a place of everlasting peace and joy. Let's turn there simply to review what we've already learned over the years, of the glory of the place, and what occurs there.
Read Rev. 19.1-10, 21.1-8, 9-27, 22.1-5...discuss each section.
What is your perception then, about our future in “the place (He) has gone to prepare...” for us?
Here are some things we know for sure about that “place” the scriptures refer-to as Heaven...
1. First of all, it is the dwelling place of God...1 K. 8.27-32 (note...”Thy dwelling place...”, vss. 30, 39, 43, 49)
...and of Jesus...He. 9.24, 12.2, Rev. 1.13
...and of H.S...Ps. 139.7-8
..and the angels...Matt.18.10 (note cherubims, Ge. 3.22-24, 2 Sam. 22.5-21; and seraphims, Is. 6.2; archangels...Michael (Jude 9) and Gabriel (Luke 1.19), and ordinary angels, or messengers)
...and other privileged chosen ones (as described below)
2. Secondly, there are certain things that will not be there, such as...
...no marriage, Luke 20.34-35
...no death, Luke 20.36-38. Rev. 21.4
...no fleshly bodies, 1 Cor. 15.50-54
...no hunger or thirst, Rev. 7.16
...no sorrow or tears, “ 7.17, 21.4
...no pain, “ 21.4
...no temple, “ 21.22
...no curse, “ 22.3
...no night, “ 22.5
...no artificial or natural light, “ 22.5
...no wickedness (no Satan, no temptation), “ 22.15
...no end, “ 22.5, Matt. 25.46 (note that, by-and-large, what is true in Heaven will be the opposite in Hell!)
3. Third, there are certain things that will be there, like...
...eternal joy, Luke 15.7,10
...eternal rest Rev. 14.12-13
...eternal peace, Luke 16.19-25
...eternal righteousness, 2 Pe. 3.10-13
...eternal service, Rev. 7.15
...eternal worship, “ 19.1-6
...the church (the saints, the Bride of Christ), “ 19.7-9
...rewards, Matt. 5.12, Col. 3.22-24, Rev. 11.15-18, 22.12
...inheritance, 1 Pe. 1.3-4
...glorified bodies, Ro. 8.16-17
4. Last, everything is prepared and waiting...
...the Son of Man, Rev. 1.10-20
...the keys of hell and of death, “ 1.18
...the throne room of God and of the Lamb, “ 4.1-5, 22.1,3
...the books of judgement, “ 5.1-5, 20.12, 21.27
...the 4 horsemen, “ 6.1-8
...the 144,000 servants from the 12 tribes of Israel, “ 7.2-4
...the 7 trumpeters of judgement, “ 8.6
...the 7 vials of judgement “ 15.1, 16.1
...the marriage supper and the marriage garments, “ 19.7-9
...the thrones of judgement, “ 20.4,11
...a new, holy Jerusalem, “ 21.2, 10-27
...a new heaven and a new earth, “ 21.1
...the river of the water of life, “ 22.1
...the tree of life, “ 22.2
Heaven IS a wonderful place...! But never forget that the gospel road is the only way to get there; in fact, it is THE way to God, Who alone makes Heaven the destination of choice!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Week 6...”Faith and Your Stuff”, James 4.13-5.6
Wow!
Have you ever taken a slow drive around the Island during Spring and
Fall garbage pick-up? I'll tell you, you see some pretty interesting
“stuff” along the side of the road. Last Spring I picked up a
practically new “box” stove in South Side, which was exactly what
I wanted for the barn, and in Stoney Island, enough chimney to vent
it. And this was someone's garbage! What is it they say...one man's
trash is...
As a matter of fact, many people throw out their treasure as well. I've talked with a few scroungers like myself who find brand-new-still-in-the-box items in trash piles. Does that mean that we are becoming careless with our “stuff”, or that we are indifferent about our “stuff”, or maybe that we have too much “stuff”? Well sometimes I think that our “gotta have”, pack-rat way of thinking has lowered the standard of modern society, rather than raising it. We've been so wickedly bombarded by the ad agency that we have unwittingly become their stooges...just so many rats scrambling after their bait! And if you think that analogy is too strong, just pay a visit to the Salvation Army Thrift Store on bag day...just kidding. But for sure, check out the check-out line at Walmart on the 24th of December. Our “stuff” has become our master, rather than us mastering our “stuff”.
Well, Jesus noticed the problem in His day as well, and He had no qualms about addressing it. We read in Matt. 6.19-21 (read...).
And of course, vs. 33, which is so often quoted...”But seek ye first the kindom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”! In fact, take a closer look at all the verses in between, because we mustn't miss out on Truth, with a capital “T”, from the very heart of “the Way, the Truth and the Life”! In fact, vs. 34 gives us a perfect transition to our study for tonight...”Take therefore no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow shall take care of itself. Today's problems are enough to deal with for now”.
Read vss. 22-34...
OK, let's get back to James 4.13-17...read
So...let's consider some of the not-so-well-hidden truths contained therein. First of all, what about today and tomorrow...is James really justified in making such a brash observation? Well, as usual, good King Solomon has recorded some sage God-speak in the Proverbs. For example...27.1. The fact is, we don't control our future; we don't even know what our future holds for us...every day is the secret of the Lord, so simply put, we can't afford to boast of our plans, even for the next 24 hours! In fact, most people die without ever having accomplished everything on their “bucket lists”
(I despise that term, by the way, to think that we're in a race against time to do all, see all, and be all before we kick it!). To be sure, we all have an appointment with God, but I can still only deal, as Jesus advised, with one day at a time. On the flip side, don't become like the Stoics of old and just grind your teeth with a “grin and bear it” attitude. Our great God has provided better than that for us!
Now what is James' justification for his commentary on tomorrow? Well for one thing, he tells us in vs. 14 that...”life is like the morning mist...come and gone by the time the sun gets above the tree tops”. In Is. 40.7 we read that...”The grass withers and the flower fades, because the Spirit of the Lord blows upon it...surely the people is grass”. And of course, Peter's take on the same passage, in his first letter, chapt. 1, vs. 24...”For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls away”.
So what would the Lord rather our attitude be? James records for us in vss. 15-16 that, considering the brevity of life, we ought to put our plotting and planning aside and put our trust in the Lord's soverign will. We must learn to give over to Him, because to do otherwise, is sin.
And then James changes gears. Back to Proverbs, chapt. 15.6 we read that...”In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the wealth of the wicked is trouble”. From a man who knew!
Also Consider Luke 12.16-31...
And then Read James 5.1-6...
Here's James' point...if God rules our todays and our tomorrows, He should also have some say over our “stuff”. We often think of these kinds of passages as warnings to the rich, but for the record, even the poor lust after more! In fact, these warnings are not about money or about abundance, or the lack that someone has at all, but rather, the attitudes of the heart. The point is, that one who has adopted the word of God should certainly know better than to conduct their lives in worldly and wasteful ways, because the very force of these words speaks-to the severe punishment for the dishonest rich. And that judgement can occur during one's lifetime or on the final Day, but it will come! Again, Solomon, in his finite wisdom, makes this observation about a man and his “stuff”, in Prov. 15.16...”Better is little in the fear of the Lord, than a great treasure and the troubles that come with it.”
Wealth rots like a bad apple, and is ultimately worthless no matter how much of it we accumulate, even if it's for good reason...like a legacy for our grandchildren, because indeed, it may never come. And when God judges our deeds “in the last days”, our treasure will be of no eternal value. So don't overlook the needy, and don't waste your time looking for self fulfillment, because God puts no stock in such things. His concern is for our concern for others and their material and spiritual poverty.
So just do it!
As a matter of fact, many people throw out their treasure as well. I've talked with a few scroungers like myself who find brand-new-still-in-the-box items in trash piles. Does that mean that we are becoming careless with our “stuff”, or that we are indifferent about our “stuff”, or maybe that we have too much “stuff”? Well sometimes I think that our “gotta have”, pack-rat way of thinking has lowered the standard of modern society, rather than raising it. We've been so wickedly bombarded by the ad agency that we have unwittingly become their stooges...just so many rats scrambling after their bait! And if you think that analogy is too strong, just pay a visit to the Salvation Army Thrift Store on bag day...just kidding. But for sure, check out the check-out line at Walmart on the 24th of December. Our “stuff” has become our master, rather than us mastering our “stuff”.
Well, Jesus noticed the problem in His day as well, and He had no qualms about addressing it. We read in Matt. 6.19-21 (read...).
And of course, vs. 33, which is so often quoted...”But seek ye first the kindom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”! In fact, take a closer look at all the verses in between, because we mustn't miss out on Truth, with a capital “T”, from the very heart of “the Way, the Truth and the Life”! In fact, vs. 34 gives us a perfect transition to our study for tonight...”Take therefore no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow shall take care of itself. Today's problems are enough to deal with for now”.
Read vss. 22-34...
OK, let's get back to James 4.13-17...read
So...let's consider some of the not-so-well-hidden truths contained therein. First of all, what about today and tomorrow...is James really justified in making such a brash observation? Well, as usual, good King Solomon has recorded some sage God-speak in the Proverbs. For example...27.1. The fact is, we don't control our future; we don't even know what our future holds for us...every day is the secret of the Lord, so simply put, we can't afford to boast of our plans, even for the next 24 hours! In fact, most people die without ever having accomplished everything on their “bucket lists”
(I despise that term, by the way, to think that we're in a race against time to do all, see all, and be all before we kick it!). To be sure, we all have an appointment with God, but I can still only deal, as Jesus advised, with one day at a time. On the flip side, don't become like the Stoics of old and just grind your teeth with a “grin and bear it” attitude. Our great God has provided better than that for us!
Now what is James' justification for his commentary on tomorrow? Well for one thing, he tells us in vs. 14 that...”life is like the morning mist...come and gone by the time the sun gets above the tree tops”. In Is. 40.7 we read that...”The grass withers and the flower fades, because the Spirit of the Lord blows upon it...surely the people is grass”. And of course, Peter's take on the same passage, in his first letter, chapt. 1, vs. 24...”For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls away”.
So what would the Lord rather our attitude be? James records for us in vss. 15-16 that, considering the brevity of life, we ought to put our plotting and planning aside and put our trust in the Lord's soverign will. We must learn to give over to Him, because to do otherwise, is sin.
And then James changes gears. Back to Proverbs, chapt. 15.6 we read that...”In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the wealth of the wicked is trouble”. From a man who knew!
Also Consider Luke 12.16-31...
And then Read James 5.1-6...
Here's James' point...if God rules our todays and our tomorrows, He should also have some say over our “stuff”. We often think of these kinds of passages as warnings to the rich, but for the record, even the poor lust after more! In fact, these warnings are not about money or about abundance, or the lack that someone has at all, but rather, the attitudes of the heart. The point is, that one who has adopted the word of God should certainly know better than to conduct their lives in worldly and wasteful ways, because the very force of these words speaks-to the severe punishment for the dishonest rich. And that judgement can occur during one's lifetime or on the final Day, but it will come! Again, Solomon, in his finite wisdom, makes this observation about a man and his “stuff”, in Prov. 15.16...”Better is little in the fear of the Lord, than a great treasure and the troubles that come with it.”
Wealth rots like a bad apple, and is ultimately worthless no matter how much of it we accumulate, even if it's for good reason...like a legacy for our grandchildren, because indeed, it may never come. And when God judges our deeds “in the last days”, our treasure will be of no eternal value. So don't overlook the needy, and don't waste your time looking for self fulfillment, because God puts no stock in such things. His concern is for our concern for others and their material and spiritual poverty.
So just do it!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Week 5...”Faith and Humility”, James 3.13-4.12
Knowledge is a wonderful thing. I've never heard anyone complain that they have too much of it. In fact, just the opposite is true...we often wish we had gone further in school, or taken up a better-paying job, or had known more about investing and finances. We may even have a deep admiration for the doctor or lawyer or teacher because they are thought to have so much knowledge. But there can be a problem with having too much knowledge as well. For example, way back in the Garden of Eden, the Lord Himself wisely advised the first humans to avoid the tree in the center of the Garden, known as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In fact, He made it clear that to gain the knowledge that it offered would lead to spiritual death. And of course, we know how that turned out...and it's been a downer ever since! So it's critical for us to understand that knowledge is recommended to us so long as it's tempered...with wisdom.
Here's what we read in 1 Kings concerning Solomon and his wealth of knowledge...
Read 3.5-14...
But as we know, even Solomon couldn't handle the responsibility that comes with the gift of wisdom. In fact, we read the result of his arrogance in 11.9-12...(read). And we read in Is. 13.11 the judgement of God on such an attitude...”And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their sin; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the pride of the terrible.”
Humility is getting to be a lost art...so much so, that a truly humble person is hard to come by. A brother once told me of how he had mentioned to someone that he only knew three really humble people, and that someone wanted to know if he (the someone) was one of them. Humility is a rare commodity indeed! That same Solomon, in all his wisdom, recorded in Prov. 15.33 that...”The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” So, as always, we learn that absolute humility is absolutely required if we expect ever to have an absolute relationship with God.
Well let's see what James has to say on the matter...
Read 3.13-18...
Here we have James' thesis, and to begin with, he says in vs. 13 that wisdom and meekness are inseparable if one is to walk God's walk. And to further his argument, he states the obvious in vss. 14-16. And exactly what is James' point? Note that in vs. 15 he brings someone else into the equation. But what is the anti-thesis?
Read vss. 17,18...
Just look at the fruit that's borne on that God-vine...it's pure, peaceful, considerate, submissive, merciful and fruitful, impartial and sincere. And to top it off...”righteousness is the fruit produced in the one who sows peace”, the wisest and the most humble one of all...the peacemaker! But let's take a closer look at that other “one” whose shadow we detected in vs. 15. In the next chapter we can see his fingerprints all up and down the page, and a sticky lot they are, too...no humility to be found here...
-Read 4.1-5...
-fights and quarrels, the battle of self-will...vs. 1
-lust and covetousness, murder, fighting, poverty and ignorance of the grace of God, or even of the existence of God...vs. 2
-selfishness and self-fulfillment...vs. 3
-unfaithfulness to God...vs. 4
-poverty and disobedience of the scriptures...vs. 5
But...you know, there's always a “but”...God has His ways, and more often than not, it involves His grace, because as we read in vs. 6, we need more and more of that precious gifting every day! And if you really want to experience it at that rate, you need to brush up on your humility. But it doesn't stop there, either. In the next few vss. we have a list of seven recommendations from God through James, to help us along the way...
-first of all, humility requires submission to God, vs. 7(a);
-and submission to God requires resisting the devil, vs. 7(b);
-thirdly, get closer to God and you'll find He's closer to you, vs. 8(a);
-then if you sin, confess it and purify your heart, vs. 8(b);
-fifth, repent with tears rather than laugh it off, vs. 9;
-next, put your pride to death along with the rest of your sinful ways, and God will bless you for it, vs. 10;
-and finally, stop judging one another, because there is only one Judge, and He has the power to save or to destroy, according to His own righteous judgements, vss. 11-12!
Remember...”Who is a wise man and gifted with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good life his works with humility and wisdom.”
Here's what we read in 1 Kings concerning Solomon and his wealth of knowledge...
Read 3.5-14...
But as we know, even Solomon couldn't handle the responsibility that comes with the gift of wisdom. In fact, we read the result of his arrogance in 11.9-12...(read). And we read in Is. 13.11 the judgement of God on such an attitude...”And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their sin; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the pride of the terrible.”
Humility is getting to be a lost art...so much so, that a truly humble person is hard to come by. A brother once told me of how he had mentioned to someone that he only knew three really humble people, and that someone wanted to know if he (the someone) was one of them. Humility is a rare commodity indeed! That same Solomon, in all his wisdom, recorded in Prov. 15.33 that...”The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” So, as always, we learn that absolute humility is absolutely required if we expect ever to have an absolute relationship with God.
Well let's see what James has to say on the matter...
Read 3.13-18...
Here we have James' thesis, and to begin with, he says in vs. 13 that wisdom and meekness are inseparable if one is to walk God's walk. And to further his argument, he states the obvious in vss. 14-16. And exactly what is James' point? Note that in vs. 15 he brings someone else into the equation. But what is the anti-thesis?
Read vss. 17,18...
Just look at the fruit that's borne on that God-vine...it's pure, peaceful, considerate, submissive, merciful and fruitful, impartial and sincere. And to top it off...”righteousness is the fruit produced in the one who sows peace”, the wisest and the most humble one of all...the peacemaker! But let's take a closer look at that other “one” whose shadow we detected in vs. 15. In the next chapter we can see his fingerprints all up and down the page, and a sticky lot they are, too...no humility to be found here...
-Read 4.1-5...
-fights and quarrels, the battle of self-will...vs. 1
-lust and covetousness, murder, fighting, poverty and ignorance of the grace of God, or even of the existence of God...vs. 2
-selfishness and self-fulfillment...vs. 3
-unfaithfulness to God...vs. 4
-poverty and disobedience of the scriptures...vs. 5
But...you know, there's always a “but”...God has His ways, and more often than not, it involves His grace, because as we read in vs. 6, we need more and more of that precious gifting every day! And if you really want to experience it at that rate, you need to brush up on your humility. But it doesn't stop there, either. In the next few vss. we have a list of seven recommendations from God through James, to help us along the way...
-first of all, humility requires submission to God, vs. 7(a);
-and submission to God requires resisting the devil, vs. 7(b);
-thirdly, get closer to God and you'll find He's closer to you, vs. 8(a);
-then if you sin, confess it and purify your heart, vs. 8(b);
-fifth, repent with tears rather than laugh it off, vs. 9;
-next, put your pride to death along with the rest of your sinful ways, and God will bless you for it, vs. 10;
-and finally, stop judging one another, because there is only one Judge, and He has the power to save or to destroy, according to His own righteous judgements, vss. 11-12!
Remember...”Who is a wise man and gifted with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good life his works with humility and wisdom.”
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Week 4...”Faith...and the Tongue”, Ja. 3.1-12
Well
so far in our study we've considered faith in light of our trials
and temptations, and then faith, and the effect it has on you, and
last week, the effect of your faith on others. And we found last
week, that if Jesus really is the focus of our faith, then the effect
of our faith, on us, will be to root us in Him, to build us up in
Him, and to establish us in Him (Colossians 2&3). And when that
happens, it won't only be you who will benefit, but so will everyone
you come in contact with...your spouse, your children, your friends
and the church...everyone will benefit!
Well tonight we're sort of continuing that theme, in terms of how often we allow our faith to lapse, just long enough to offend someone...often the ones we love the most. And I know you know what I'm talking about!
Read James 3.1-12...
Well as we see from what James has written by H.S authority in vs. 2...”In many things we offend, all”. Now of course, we can find throughout the entire word of God, very practical truth regarding our problem of offending others. We're told in the Proverbs, 18.19 that...”An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city; their differences separate them like a barred door.” And in vs. 21 of the same chapt. we read that...”Death and life are within the power of the tongue, and anyone who indulges it will eat the fruit it bears.” Now I think we can all agree tonight that it's in the “heart” where the root of all evil is found, but indeed it is the tongue which most often carries out the thoughts and intents of the heart. In Matthew 15:19-20 we read...“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; these are the things which defile a man...” So, this small matter of the tongue, is not so small after all! King David was painfully aware of the damage the tongue can do, and from what he wrote in the Psalms, the darts hurled from his enemies' tongues may have caused him the greatest pain of all. Let's look at some examples...
5.8-9; 10.2,7; 12.1-4; 15.1-3; 31.17-18; 78.36-37; 109.1-3; 120.2-4; 140.1-3...etc.
The Scriptures describe many different forms of ungodly speech...for example, taking the Lord's Name in vain, lying (the two mentioned in the Ten Commandments), hateful talk, worldly talk, filthy talk, boasting, gossip, criticism, anger, slander, speaking without thinking...
And of course, Jesus gives us a pretty stern warning regarding the foulness of the language that sometimes comes from a person’s mouth. The way a person talks is a very revealing clue as to his character. Let's read this warning from the Judge of the universe...
Matthew 12.31-37 (read)...
And...Ephesians 4:29-31, Colossians 3.8-9;
And...Proverbs 26:20..."Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”
And 21:23..."Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles."
And of course we should also consider God's displeasure with His people murmuring in the wilderness...
Exodus 15:24..."And the people complained against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?"
And 16:2..."Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness."
Well tonight we're sort of continuing that theme, in terms of how often we allow our faith to lapse, just long enough to offend someone...often the ones we love the most. And I know you know what I'm talking about!
Read James 3.1-12...
Well as we see from what James has written by H.S authority in vs. 2...”In many things we offend, all”. Now of course, we can find throughout the entire word of God, very practical truth regarding our problem of offending others. We're told in the Proverbs, 18.19 that...”An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city; their differences separate them like a barred door.” And in vs. 21 of the same chapt. we read that...”Death and life are within the power of the tongue, and anyone who indulges it will eat the fruit it bears.” Now I think we can all agree tonight that it's in the “heart” where the root of all evil is found, but indeed it is the tongue which most often carries out the thoughts and intents of the heart. In Matthew 15:19-20 we read...“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; these are the things which defile a man...” So, this small matter of the tongue, is not so small after all! King David was painfully aware of the damage the tongue can do, and from what he wrote in the Psalms, the darts hurled from his enemies' tongues may have caused him the greatest pain of all. Let's look at some examples...
5.8-9; 10.2,7; 12.1-4; 15.1-3; 31.17-18; 78.36-37; 109.1-3; 120.2-4; 140.1-3...etc.
The Scriptures describe many different forms of ungodly speech...for example, taking the Lord's Name in vain, lying (the two mentioned in the Ten Commandments), hateful talk, worldly talk, filthy talk, boasting, gossip, criticism, anger, slander, speaking without thinking...
And of course, Jesus gives us a pretty stern warning regarding the foulness of the language that sometimes comes from a person’s mouth. The way a person talks is a very revealing clue as to his character. Let's read this warning from the Judge of the universe...
Matthew 12.31-37 (read)...
And...Ephesians 4:29-31, Colossians 3.8-9;
And...Proverbs 26:20..."Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”
And 21:23..."Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles."
And of course we should also consider God's displeasure with His people murmuring in the wilderness...
Exodus 15:24..."And the people complained against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?"
And 16:2..."Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness."
Numbers
11:1... "Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD;
for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the
LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the
camp."
And 14:27..."How
long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against
Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make
against Me."
So let's go back
to James 3 and examine the dangers of the untamed tongue...
...”Be not many teachers because teachers will be judged
by a higher standard”, v. 1;
-Romans 2:21...“Thou therefore which
teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a
man should not steal, dost thou steal?”
...”We all often stumble, and offend”, v.
2(a);
-1 Peter
3:10...“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him
refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no
guile...”;
...”Control your words and you will control your whole
body”, vss. 2(b)-5;
-horses are controlled by small
bits in their mouths, v. 3
-large ships are controlled by a small
rudder, v. 4
...”the
tongue is small (but)...”,
vss. 5(a)
-Luke 6.45...“A good
man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is
good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings
forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of his heart his mouth
speaks.”
-it boasts great things, v. 5(b)
-it can produce a great fire, v. 5(c),
6(a,d)
-it is a world
of iniquity, v. 6(b)
-it can defile the whole
body, v. 6(c)
...”the
tongue cannot be tamed...”, vss. 7-8(a)
-it is an undisciplined evil, v. 8(b)
-it is full of deadly poison, v. 8(c)
-it can bless God and curse men, v. 9
-if the tongue
blesses God, it should not curse men, v. 10
-a fountain cannot have sweet and bitter
water, v. 11
-a fig tree cannot bear olives, v. 12(a)
-a vine cannot
bear figs, v. 12(b)
-a fountain cannot have salt
and fresh water, v. 12(c)
Small but mighty, and often a little salty...indeed!
Small but mighty, and often a little salty...indeed!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Week 3...”Faith...and Others”, James 2.1-26
Now
if you remember, last week we considered the effect of your faith on
you, and the command was short and to the point, as stated in
1.22...”But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
merely deceiving yourselves”. God is not mocked...if you
profess to be a Christian, then make like a Christian. Seeing is not
believing, believing is seeing...seeing Jesus and His works and
hearing Jesus and His words, and making them your own. The fact is,
we might fool each other, but you can't fool God!
Well this week, we're going to consider the effect of our faith on others, which we had just a hint of, last week.
Read Ja. 2.1-13...
The first thing that James needs us to know is that there is no room for prejudice, or for partiality in the faith family! After all, God did not show any partiality when He chose you to be saved...if He had, you could still be groping in the darkness of your sin! Let's consider what people of faith look like at first glance...in fact, we could start right in this room. For instance, a few years ago a bunch of us were sitting around talking and someone blurted out... ”I never thought I would ever be friends with ..........!” So what does James have to say about discrimination in the church?
- vs. 1...don't do it!
- vss. 2-4...it can be very tempting;
- vss. 5-7...why is it wrong?
- vss. 8-13...What is “the royal Law”? How can we apply the law to these attitudes among Christians? Well let's go back to the Law as it's recorded in Leviticus. As we know, God gave Israel the Law to instruct them in their management of every issue of life...from murder to land disputes to eating habits, and yes...even our interpersonal realtionships! So let's turn to Lev. 19 to get an idea of what God feels about how we relate to others...
Read vss. 9-18...
Now the N.T, as we know, is fully built upon the love principle which is so clearly stated in Lev. 19.18, and enforced and enhanced by Christ in the Gospels. But as usual Paul has some pretty direct advice on our relationships with others, particularly our relations with our brothers and sisters in the faith. Let's turn to Ro. 12. Now Paul spends most of the first 11 chapters describing man's need for salvation, but very early on, he refers to the not-so-small matter of judgement, in 2.1...”Therefore you have no excuse O man, if you judge another. For in doing-so, you only condemn yourself...”. How do we sometimes judge one another in the church? But back to Ro. 12...(read 1-5...). In 12.1, Paul begins his instruction by saying (considering what God has done) that it's only reasonable for us to willingly give ourselves over to God as an act of worship. And once we have done that, love, and respect become second nature (read 9-21...).
Now let's get down to brass tacks concerning the effect of our faith on others as described by James. We've seen that true faith gives no place to discrimination. In fact, true faith does just the opposite...it goes far out of the way in order to accomodate others. And that's where James starts to play hardball! Read Ja. 2.14-26
The question that James would ask you tonight is, do you really have the kind of faith that can save you (vs. 14)? That one question could change your whole concept of salvation, just that quickly! So let's crack the case that James is making here...
First, he says...”let those well-to-do folk that we've been talking about (vss. 1-4), fend for themselves...we need to consider others who most need our care.” (vs. 15)
Note vss. 15-17...let's consider what Jesus had to say about you, your faith, and others.
See Mark 12.38-44...what do we see there about Jesus' attitude toward the needy?
Also see Luke 5...toward a leper, a paralytic and sinners...
Luke 6.27-38...kingdom living...
Luke 10.29-37...neighbourly concern...
And John 13.3-14...humility...
So, why? Because...vss. 15-17; to see someone in need and brush them off profits no one...not them and not you;
So, what?...vss. 18-22; note faith without works, faith by your works, faith in God, the faith of demons, the faith of Abraham, mature faith;
So, how?...vss. 23-26; righteous, friend of God, justified.
And the confirmation...faith without works is dead...vss. 17,20,26.
Pray the Lord opens our eyes and then opens our hearts, to the will and the work of our compassionate God!
Well this week, we're going to consider the effect of our faith on others, which we had just a hint of, last week.
Read Ja. 2.1-13...
The first thing that James needs us to know is that there is no room for prejudice, or for partiality in the faith family! After all, God did not show any partiality when He chose you to be saved...if He had, you could still be groping in the darkness of your sin! Let's consider what people of faith look like at first glance...in fact, we could start right in this room. For instance, a few years ago a bunch of us were sitting around talking and someone blurted out... ”I never thought I would ever be friends with ..........!” So what does James have to say about discrimination in the church?
- vs. 1...don't do it!
- vss. 2-4...it can be very tempting;
- vss. 5-7...why is it wrong?
- vss. 8-13...What is “the royal Law”? How can we apply the law to these attitudes among Christians? Well let's go back to the Law as it's recorded in Leviticus. As we know, God gave Israel the Law to instruct them in their management of every issue of life...from murder to land disputes to eating habits, and yes...even our interpersonal realtionships! So let's turn to Lev. 19 to get an idea of what God feels about how we relate to others...
Read vss. 9-18...
Now the N.T, as we know, is fully built upon the love principle which is so clearly stated in Lev. 19.18, and enforced and enhanced by Christ in the Gospels. But as usual Paul has some pretty direct advice on our relationships with others, particularly our relations with our brothers and sisters in the faith. Let's turn to Ro. 12. Now Paul spends most of the first 11 chapters describing man's need for salvation, but very early on, he refers to the not-so-small matter of judgement, in 2.1...”Therefore you have no excuse O man, if you judge another. For in doing-so, you only condemn yourself...”. How do we sometimes judge one another in the church? But back to Ro. 12...(read 1-5...). In 12.1, Paul begins his instruction by saying (considering what God has done) that it's only reasonable for us to willingly give ourselves over to God as an act of worship. And once we have done that, love, and respect become second nature (read 9-21...).
Now let's get down to brass tacks concerning the effect of our faith on others as described by James. We've seen that true faith gives no place to discrimination. In fact, true faith does just the opposite...it goes far out of the way in order to accomodate others. And that's where James starts to play hardball! Read Ja. 2.14-26
The question that James would ask you tonight is, do you really have the kind of faith that can save you (vs. 14)? That one question could change your whole concept of salvation, just that quickly! So let's crack the case that James is making here...
First, he says...”let those well-to-do folk that we've been talking about (vss. 1-4), fend for themselves...we need to consider others who most need our care.” (vs. 15)
Note vss. 15-17...let's consider what Jesus had to say about you, your faith, and others.
See Mark 12.38-44...what do we see there about Jesus' attitude toward the needy?
Also see Luke 5...toward a leper, a paralytic and sinners...
Luke 6.27-38...kingdom living...
Luke 10.29-37...neighbourly concern...
And John 13.3-14...humility...
So, why? Because...vss. 15-17; to see someone in need and brush them off profits no one...not them and not you;
So, what?...vss. 18-22; note faith without works, faith by your works, faith in God, the faith of demons, the faith of Abraham, mature faith;
So, how?...vss. 23-26; righteous, friend of God, justified.
And the confirmation...faith without works is dead...vss. 17,20,26.
Pray the Lord opens our eyes and then opens our hearts, to the will and the work of our compassionate God!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Week 2..."Faith...and You", James 1.17-27
If
you remember, last week we considered the rule of faith and
temptation...the one, unfortunately going hand-in-hand with the
other. True faith results in trials and temptation. But the news is
good, because as we read in James 1.2-4, our trials work patience,
which works maturity, which works abundant life, which works
joy...the real fruit of our faith.
This week, we're going to consider the effect of our faith...on us!
You recall the last verse that we looked at last week...vs. 16 (read...). Well as the saying goes...“To err is human...to forgive, divine”. And that saying perfectly describes the work and the will of God for our sinful selves. We are tempted...and more often that not, we sin...and God forgives us, and that cycle is repeated over and over again in the life of every Christian. But God's greatest wish for His church, is that we not be misled about this, which is a better interpretation of vs. 16, because as we read in vs. 17... ”Every good and perfect gift is from above...”. It's not at all about our problem with Satan...it's all about the solution provided by our great God...and don't ever forget that! Change your focus from you, to Him! So let's read vss. 17-27...
Now then, what is the effect of our faith...on us (See John 1.12-13.. ”to them gave He power...”)? Does faith really result in us becoming new persons, or in being born again, as Jesus put it to Nicodemus in John ch. 3? And if it truly does, what is the evidence of that new birth? Well as James says in vs. 17, if there is to be any change, it must “come from God, the Father of all light”, both literally and spiritually. There is, after all, no greater gift than our salvation...a Father-son relationship with God, is there?! But back to the effect of our faith, on us...
Read Romans 12.1-3, Colossians 2.6-7, 3.1-4...
So here we have the expected result of our new lives in Jesus. The fact of the matter is, although His purpose in coming to us was to save us from the damning effect of sin, He didn't live His life in a vacuum...the example He set during His life here has never been equaled before or since. But the command that God gives us through Paul in these vss. from Romans and Collossians, go much broader and deeper than merely observing and living our lives as Jesus lived His. The effect of our believing and receiving should not only result in our “walking in Him...”, but also in our “being rooted and built up in Him”, and in our becoming “established in the faith” (vss. 6-7). Or maybe, more to the point, having the depth and breadth of faith that roots us firmly in Jesus!
Paul puts it another way in Colossians 3.5-17...put off the old man and put on the new man! Put to death your old ways! Note that the first part of vs. 5 deals with sins of the flesh...the second part of vs. 5 and vss. 8,9 deal with sins of the mind...while vss. 10-17 deal with our spiritual selves. And as you can well imagine, the effect that this new birth, or of wearing our faith has on our lives would be so very obvious to those who come to know us. As my friend in the Salvation Army puts it, referring to his uniform...”I wear my baptism every day!”
Let's go back to James 1.17-27.
So what effect has your faith had on you? Keep in mind now, as James says in vs. 18, we have been re-born...born again, begotten into the family of God by the “Word of Truth”, which in fact identifies two of the most obvious and most powerful and most descriptive Names used of the Savior in all the New Testament...”Word” and “Truth”. And so it is by Him, and by His Name alone, that we become the “begotten son(s) of God”! Now keeping Jesus in view, consider what a “begotten son of God” looks like. He is...
- vss. 19(a,b)...a thoughtful listener and a careful speaker;
- vss. 19(c)-20...he is not easily offended;
- vs. 21(a)...he has forsaken wickedness;
- vs. 21(b)...he humbly receives and plants the soul-saving word of God in his heart;
- vss. 22-24...he is an obedient doer of that word which he has received into his heart, rather than a forgetful hearer;
- vs. 25...he is faithful and obedient to the law of liberty, resulting in blessing on his being and doing (see Romans 14 to contrast the “law of liberty” and the “law of love”);
- vs. 26...he keeps a bridle on his tongue, demonstrating the true worth of his faith;
- vs. 27...he practices pure and honest worship before his God, demonstrated by his care of the orphans and widows of the church, as well as by his resistance to the temptations of this world system.
In fact, true faith results in faithfulness and fruitfulness in the life of the believer. As we have read in Colossians 3.1,2...”If you are raised with Christ into a new life, aim to follow those things which are from above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. And set your mind on, and keep it on those higher things rather than on the things of this life.” When you focus your attention on the glorified Jesus, your faith will take you to where He wants you to be!
This week, we're going to consider the effect of our faith...on us!
You recall the last verse that we looked at last week...vs. 16 (read...). Well as the saying goes...“To err is human...to forgive, divine”. And that saying perfectly describes the work and the will of God for our sinful selves. We are tempted...and more often that not, we sin...and God forgives us, and that cycle is repeated over and over again in the life of every Christian. But God's greatest wish for His church, is that we not be misled about this, which is a better interpretation of vs. 16, because as we read in vs. 17... ”Every good and perfect gift is from above...”. It's not at all about our problem with Satan...it's all about the solution provided by our great God...and don't ever forget that! Change your focus from you, to Him! So let's read vss. 17-27...
Now then, what is the effect of our faith...on us (See John 1.12-13.. ”to them gave He power...”)? Does faith really result in us becoming new persons, or in being born again, as Jesus put it to Nicodemus in John ch. 3? And if it truly does, what is the evidence of that new birth? Well as James says in vs. 17, if there is to be any change, it must “come from God, the Father of all light”, both literally and spiritually. There is, after all, no greater gift than our salvation...a Father-son relationship with God, is there?! But back to the effect of our faith, on us...
Read Romans 12.1-3, Colossians 2.6-7, 3.1-4...
So here we have the expected result of our new lives in Jesus. The fact of the matter is, although His purpose in coming to us was to save us from the damning effect of sin, He didn't live His life in a vacuum...the example He set during His life here has never been equaled before or since. But the command that God gives us through Paul in these vss. from Romans and Collossians, go much broader and deeper than merely observing and living our lives as Jesus lived His. The effect of our believing and receiving should not only result in our “walking in Him...”, but also in our “being rooted and built up in Him”, and in our becoming “established in the faith” (vss. 6-7). Or maybe, more to the point, having the depth and breadth of faith that roots us firmly in Jesus!
Paul puts it another way in Colossians 3.5-17...put off the old man and put on the new man! Put to death your old ways! Note that the first part of vs. 5 deals with sins of the flesh...the second part of vs. 5 and vss. 8,9 deal with sins of the mind...while vss. 10-17 deal with our spiritual selves. And as you can well imagine, the effect that this new birth, or of wearing our faith has on our lives would be so very obvious to those who come to know us. As my friend in the Salvation Army puts it, referring to his uniform...”I wear my baptism every day!”
Let's go back to James 1.17-27.
So what effect has your faith had on you? Keep in mind now, as James says in vs. 18, we have been re-born...born again, begotten into the family of God by the “Word of Truth”, which in fact identifies two of the most obvious and most powerful and most descriptive Names used of the Savior in all the New Testament...”Word” and “Truth”. And so it is by Him, and by His Name alone, that we become the “begotten son(s) of God”! Now keeping Jesus in view, consider what a “begotten son of God” looks like. He is...
- vss. 19(a,b)...a thoughtful listener and a careful speaker;
- vss. 19(c)-20...he is not easily offended;
- vs. 21(a)...he has forsaken wickedness;
- vs. 21(b)...he humbly receives and plants the soul-saving word of God in his heart;
- vss. 22-24...he is an obedient doer of that word which he has received into his heart, rather than a forgetful hearer;
- vs. 25...he is faithful and obedient to the law of liberty, resulting in blessing on his being and doing (see Romans 14 to contrast the “law of liberty” and the “law of love”);
- vs. 26...he keeps a bridle on his tongue, demonstrating the true worth of his faith;
- vs. 27...he practices pure and honest worship before his God, demonstrated by his care of the orphans and widows of the church, as well as by his resistance to the temptations of this world system.
In fact, true faith results in faithfulness and fruitfulness in the life of the believer. As we have read in Colossians 3.1,2...”If you are raised with Christ into a new life, aim to follow those things which are from above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. And set your mind on, and keep it on those higher things rather than on the things of this life.” When you focus your attention on the glorified Jesus, your faith will take you to where He wants you to be!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Let's take a short break from John...My notes on an 8 week Bible Study at our home in Centreville, CSI
“Eight
Rules of Faith”...A Study of the Book of James”
(Sept. 17- Nov. 19, 2013)
Week 1...”The Rule of...Faith and Temptation”, Ja. 1.1-16
What is Faith? Read He. 11.1...faith is substantial...that is, having considerable value, or worth; it's considerable, solid and essential. So how much is faith worth...how essential is it, and how firm is it? Well, as an illustration, take that chair for example (the brown pleather one in the corner). When I came into this room tonight I thought...I like to sit in this chair (my Lazyboy rocker-recliner!), because I know this chair. I know it's value, and it's solid...it's stood the test of time and use. But that other chair...I wouldn't sit in that because I don't have faith in it's ability to hold me up. When we bought it, it was on sale because of a crack in one of the legs, but we liked the look of it, so we went ahead and bought it anyway, thinking...well, it doesn't really matter because neither of us plan to be using it! But I figured that chair would some day let someone down! I don't have much faith in its ability to stand the test of time...it's not of very good quality...it's not worth a whole lot, it's not solid, and it certainly isn't essential to either Mary or me. It may look substantial at first glance, but it's not (I have since made a seamless repair by the by).
Well that's the way with faith. Faith reflects trust, and it reflects value and it reflects substance. The Divine Author of Hebrews says that...”Faith is the substance (or the confirmation) of all that we hope for, the proof of things we cannot see but believe to be there, resulting in the conviction that they are real.” So the letter of James to the church is about that kind of experience...the act of trusting in things that we only read and hear about, resulting in our belief that they are in fact, true; in other words...faith. So having said that, let's read James 1.1-16...
Now James starts his letter with a very curious saying...”Be joyful when you fall into temptation”! Now I don't know about you, but I don't find much joy in being tempted! In fact, I hate it when I'm tempted, because when I'm tempted I don't want to make a decision. I have that little imp on one shoulder whispering in my ear, and a little angel on my other shoulder whispering in my other ear. Paul explains it perfectly in Ro. 7.14 where he says...”I am just a creature of the flesh, sold into slavery to sin”. Let's turn there...
Read vss. 14-24...
So when you give in to your temptations...shame on you! No, not at all. The fact is, even we believers are still creatures of the flesh, as Paul says in vs. 25...
But He doesn't hang us out to dry, or does He?
Read 8.1-6, 11-18, 24-25...
That describes the end of our faith, our hope in what we cannot see, which brings us right back to James 1...the matter of our patient faith.
Read Ja. 1.3-8,12...
So here we have the order...the trial of our faith-->patience--> maturity-->abundant life--> joy.
Note “...the trial of your faith”...1 Pe. 1.5-9, 4.12,13
So, just for the record, since we've had a glimpse of the end of our faith (the salvation of our souls), what about the potential end of our temptation, without that endurance of our faith that we read of in vs. 12?
Read vss. 13-16...
So here is the “anti-thesis” of the formula given in the previous paragraph...
But first, note where temptation does not come from, although many are heard to complain...”why does God...?!”.
...temptation-->lust-->sin-->death.
Compare vs. 12...the crown of life, offered to the enduring believer. In fact, there are various crowns for the Christian...
- "Crown for eternity"...1 Cor. 9.25
- "of the soul-winner"...Phil. 4.1, 1 Thess. 2.19
- "of righteousness"...2 Ti 4.8
- "of life"....Ja. 1.12, Rev. 2.10
- "of glory"...1 Pe. 5.4
It's important to note that these crowns can't be earned by trying...for eg., the crown of life can't be earned, any more than eternal life can be earned. Christ paid the price for us, and I believe that there is nothing worthwhile we can add to that, other than to believe and receive! So the Crown of life is our reward for enduring the trial of our faith, in its many forms and on its many occasions, and coming through even stronger on the other side. As I read it, if you fail, or fall into sin during the time of your trial you will not lose your salvation, but you may certainly suffer some consequence, as a result of the lapse in that most important aspect of life...your enduring faith.
But there's one other crown that we cannot overlook...the crown of thorns...John 19.5-16. The very reason for faith in the first place...a considerable faith, a substantial faith and an essential faith!
(Sept. 17- Nov. 19, 2013)
Week 1...”The Rule of...Faith and Temptation”, Ja. 1.1-16
What is Faith? Read He. 11.1...faith is substantial...that is, having considerable value, or worth; it's considerable, solid and essential. So how much is faith worth...how essential is it, and how firm is it? Well, as an illustration, take that chair for example (the brown pleather one in the corner). When I came into this room tonight I thought...I like to sit in this chair (my Lazyboy rocker-recliner!), because I know this chair. I know it's value, and it's solid...it's stood the test of time and use. But that other chair...I wouldn't sit in that because I don't have faith in it's ability to hold me up. When we bought it, it was on sale because of a crack in one of the legs, but we liked the look of it, so we went ahead and bought it anyway, thinking...well, it doesn't really matter because neither of us plan to be using it! But I figured that chair would some day let someone down! I don't have much faith in its ability to stand the test of time...it's not of very good quality...it's not worth a whole lot, it's not solid, and it certainly isn't essential to either Mary or me. It may look substantial at first glance, but it's not (I have since made a seamless repair by the by).
Well that's the way with faith. Faith reflects trust, and it reflects value and it reflects substance. The Divine Author of Hebrews says that...”Faith is the substance (or the confirmation) of all that we hope for, the proof of things we cannot see but believe to be there, resulting in the conviction that they are real.” So the letter of James to the church is about that kind of experience...the act of trusting in things that we only read and hear about, resulting in our belief that they are in fact, true; in other words...faith. So having said that, let's read James 1.1-16...
Now James starts his letter with a very curious saying...”Be joyful when you fall into temptation”! Now I don't know about you, but I don't find much joy in being tempted! In fact, I hate it when I'm tempted, because when I'm tempted I don't want to make a decision. I have that little imp on one shoulder whispering in my ear, and a little angel on my other shoulder whispering in my other ear. Paul explains it perfectly in Ro. 7.14 where he says...”I am just a creature of the flesh, sold into slavery to sin”. Let's turn there...
Read vss. 14-24...
So when you give in to your temptations...shame on you! No, not at all. The fact is, even we believers are still creatures of the flesh, as Paul says in vs. 25...
But He doesn't hang us out to dry, or does He?
Read 8.1-6, 11-18, 24-25...
That describes the end of our faith, our hope in what we cannot see, which brings us right back to James 1...the matter of our patient faith.
Read Ja. 1.3-8,12...
So here we have the order...the trial of our faith-->patience--> maturity-->abundant life--> joy.
Note “...the trial of your faith”...1 Pe. 1.5-9, 4.12,13
So, just for the record, since we've had a glimpse of the end of our faith (the salvation of our souls), what about the potential end of our temptation, without that endurance of our faith that we read of in vs. 12?
Read vss. 13-16...
So here is the “anti-thesis” of the formula given in the previous paragraph...
But first, note where temptation does not come from, although many are heard to complain...”why does God...?!”.
...temptation-->lust-->sin-->death.
Compare vs. 12...the crown of life, offered to the enduring believer. In fact, there are various crowns for the Christian...
- "Crown for eternity"...1 Cor. 9.25
- "of the soul-winner"...Phil. 4.1, 1 Thess. 2.19
- "of righteousness"...2 Ti 4.8
- "of life"....Ja. 1.12, Rev. 2.10
- "of glory"...1 Pe. 5.4
It's important to note that these crowns can't be earned by trying...for eg., the crown of life can't be earned, any more than eternal life can be earned. Christ paid the price for us, and I believe that there is nothing worthwhile we can add to that, other than to believe and receive! So the Crown of life is our reward for enduring the trial of our faith, in its many forms and on its many occasions, and coming through even stronger on the other side. As I read it, if you fail, or fall into sin during the time of your trial you will not lose your salvation, but you may certainly suffer some consequence, as a result of the lapse in that most important aspect of life...your enduring faith.
But there's one other crown that we cannot overlook...the crown of thorns...John 19.5-16. The very reason for faith in the first place...a considerable faith, a substantial faith and an essential faith!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
55. Lesson 27..."The Master, in a Servant Role!"
Chapter 13 of the Gospel of John, particularly the first 20 verses or so, without question constitute one of the greatest and most important of all passages in New Testament scripture. If you have never thought of Jesus as a Servant of grace, then you have not yet come to realize the extent of the importance of His work on the cross, for you! A true servant will not only face death for you, but He will wash your feet! He will not only bear your sin-burden, but He will bear your life-burdens as well. In fact, what He's done for others, He'll do for you! (sounds like a hymn lyric, don'tcha think?)
I've pointed out before, that Jesus, by now has pretty much concluded His public ministry, and in these last details of some of the most intimate moments of His life, we see Him preparing His disciples for some of the most important lessons they would ever learn that side of Pentecost (Acts 2). He had told them, as recorded over in Matthew 20.28..."the Son of Man came not to be ministered-to, but to minister", and believe it or not, He still makes that His business, over on the other side. And that's the message that He tries to impress on John and Peter and the others, from here to His ascension to His eternal throne. And as we read there in verse 1..."He loved them to the end...and not just His disciples either, but all of mankind, to the end of time as we know it, and every one of His sheep, on into eternity. So here we can see the very clear shift in focus, from the Jews in the last section of Chapter 12, to the Father here in verse 1, and to His own spiritual children.
Read verses 1-12...
Now we need to understand the context here. Passover is a spring feast, instituted by God as recorded for us in Exodus 12, as a memorial to His "passing-over" of the children of Israel in the last and most decisive act of God upon the Egyptians before their release of Israel from slavery. The "Passover supper" itself is celebrated on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which on our calendar is a period somewhere between March and April, depending on the phase of the moon (roughly coinciding with our Easter, which always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox...the 21st of March). Anyway, the feast started with the Passover supper and continued for seven days, so that is why Jesus and His disciples find themselves there in Jerusalem, in an upper room (as recorded elsewhere in the gospel record), having their last meal together. Of course, little did they know that the sacrificed lamb which had been prepared for their supper, represented the very Lamb of God, prepared from eternity past both for their sins and ours!
"When Jesus knew that His hour had come...". Do you realize that Jesus was the only One to come to this earth, who was never surprised by anything that happened during His lifetime? He knew every event He was to experience, before He ever arrived in Mary's womb...His birth, life, death and resurrection! And notice, again in verse 1, Jesus' focus on His future; He was not just returning to Heaven, but to His Father! How different our focus is, from His. We talk about heaven this, and heaven that...I wonder what Heaven will really be like? How beautiful Heaven will be! I wonder if I'll recognize my loved ones gone before me? Well let me tell you, none of those questions are relevant. Our God is the only One Who will be relevant when that time arrives. If you have any selfish intent whatsoever in your heart, then you're in for a beautiful awakening...and believe me, you won't be disappointed! The world is, and has been a place of woe; you know that and Jesus knew that, and His desire should be our desire...to be with the Father. The cross before Him was a place of horror, but to be with the Father would be joy unspeakable and full of glory! But in the meantime...verses 2-3...
What a change in tone from verse 1 to verse 2...from the Father to the devil; from Jesus to Judas; from love to betrayal. But notice that Satan only knew what the plan was...Jesus knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. And He knew that the very best way to disarm the enemy, was to "blindside" him, so that's what He did (verses 4-5)...He washed his feet! Now we need to keep three things in view here...first, Jesus' hour had come; second, He loved His own; third, all things had been given into His hand. God in the flesh, preparing for the role of a servant!
What a cleansing that was for those disciples. But Jesus didn't cleanse, so much as He convicted; we must get convicted before we can get cleansed, from the spiritual view of things. And believe me, the air in that room was ripe with, not only smelly feet, but the overpowering stench of unresolved conviction! You and I might have been cleansed, but our spiritual feet need to be washed every single day. Our walk in this world takes us into all kinds of situations and conditions, and no matter how careful we are, we still end up with dirty feet. But, you see, Jesus was not so concerned with dirty feet as He was with clean hearts. He loved those disciples, and He intended to give Himself up for them...a work that was only His to do.
But..."Lord, dost Thou was my feet?" (verse 6). You know, Peter really is a very good example of the immature Christian. Was he in complete subjection to his Lord? If he wouldn't allow Jesus to wash his feet, what assurance does Jesus have that, when the cock crows, Peter won't already have denied Him...not once, but three times? How strong was his faith? How strong is our faith? When the Lord reached out to him as a servant, Peter took a step back..."Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?" Neither faith, or love in action here! We really can see just how great a need we have, when we look at Peter...too much pride, too much power and too many plans, while Judas only had a purse! It seems that sometimes, we tend to overlook the obvious. Judas would soon reveal himself for who he really was; but Peter might have lived out his life without ever soaking his feet in Jesus' wash basin. And he thought he was the humble one! Sometimes it can be very surprising to see where our pride can take us. You see, it's when we think we know something that we often show our ignorance. Peter had no idea what Jesus had in mind for this motley crew of disciples. And just like many of us...impetuous, egotistical and world-minded; not a very good profile, is it? But that was Peter...ready to cut off someone's ear if need-be.
"Dost Thou wash my feet?" "Thou shalt never was my feet!" You know, we need to be oh-so-careful of what we may become guilty of; not only questioning the Lord's desire to wash us, but denying Him from washing us! How one sin often does lead to another. Oh, we may not actually use the same words Peter did, but we certainly often do act them out. So what's the difference between us and him? Well if you don't know, take careful note of the Lord's response...verse 8(b). And how scary is that?
You know something? When our feet are dirty from our walking where we've been, we had better let the Lord do for us what only He can do. That's what humility is all about...yielding. Don't take a Peter-attitude toward Jesus! To think that our pride and our stubbornness can actually keep us from Him. It's no wonder we have no power in the church today; or that we feel Jesus is a world away. In fact, He is...when we won't allow Him to do for us what only He can do! We may profess that..."My life is in His hands", but the real proof of our commitment to Him is in allowing a very simple, but a very effective foot washing. And do you realize how often our spiritual "feet" need to be washed? Every day! (See Psalm 139.23-24)
So how did Peter, and how should we respond to the Lord's offer to wash our feet (verse 9)? All Jesus really wanted was for Peter to be given a lesson in humility, and foot-washing served the purpose. He really didn't have to take over the entire exercise...he very nearly took the focus off Jesus completely, so the rest of the disciples would have been talking about Peter's antics long after Jesus' death and resurrection. But..."Just let Me teach you, Peter..." (verse 10). What Jesus wants us to learn is that, when you present your spiritual "feet" to Him, you'll get washed from the inside out...a cleansing that will prepare you for eternity; a cleansing that will fit you for salvation, for sacrifice and for service. But you know what...and it's horrible to have to say it...but there are some who won't "come clean", not even for Jesus (verses 10-11)! In fact, we all have a little bit of the "Judas attitude" in us, just as we all have a little bit of the "Peter attitude". Both are shameful, but the one leads to eternal destruction, while the other still leaves the possibility for confession, repentance and joy in the Lord and in His work.
Can you imagine the callous that must have been on Judas' heart...that not even the humbling, if not humiliating process of foot-washing could break down the barrier? So was Judas a true Believer? Not likely. Is it possible to refuse and even deny Jesus, but then confess and repent, as Peter had done? By all means, yes! And that's the purpose that Jesus had in conducting this exercise...to show the difference between the one and the other...to "separate the sheep from the goats", as it were. And to prove to those closest to Him, and to the world, that He is the Suffering Servant of His Father, God. Can you imagine the implications that has for me and You! God bless you as you have your "soles" washed by our Lord!
I've pointed out before, that Jesus, by now has pretty much concluded His public ministry, and in these last details of some of the most intimate moments of His life, we see Him preparing His disciples for some of the most important lessons they would ever learn that side of Pentecost (Acts 2). He had told them, as recorded over in Matthew 20.28..."the Son of Man came not to be ministered-to, but to minister", and believe it or not, He still makes that His business, over on the other side. And that's the message that He tries to impress on John and Peter and the others, from here to His ascension to His eternal throne. And as we read there in verse 1..."He loved them to the end...and not just His disciples either, but all of mankind, to the end of time as we know it, and every one of His sheep, on into eternity. So here we can see the very clear shift in focus, from the Jews in the last section of Chapter 12, to the Father here in verse 1, and to His own spiritual children.
Read verses 1-12...
Now we need to understand the context here. Passover is a spring feast, instituted by God as recorded for us in Exodus 12, as a memorial to His "passing-over" of the children of Israel in the last and most decisive act of God upon the Egyptians before their release of Israel from slavery. The "Passover supper" itself is celebrated on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which on our calendar is a period somewhere between March and April, depending on the phase of the moon (roughly coinciding with our Easter, which always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox...the 21st of March). Anyway, the feast started with the Passover supper and continued for seven days, so that is why Jesus and His disciples find themselves there in Jerusalem, in an upper room (as recorded elsewhere in the gospel record), having their last meal together. Of course, little did they know that the sacrificed lamb which had been prepared for their supper, represented the very Lamb of God, prepared from eternity past both for their sins and ours!
"When Jesus knew that His hour had come...". Do you realize that Jesus was the only One to come to this earth, who was never surprised by anything that happened during His lifetime? He knew every event He was to experience, before He ever arrived in Mary's womb...His birth, life, death and resurrection! And notice, again in verse 1, Jesus' focus on His future; He was not just returning to Heaven, but to His Father! How different our focus is, from His. We talk about heaven this, and heaven that...I wonder what Heaven will really be like? How beautiful Heaven will be! I wonder if I'll recognize my loved ones gone before me? Well let me tell you, none of those questions are relevant. Our God is the only One Who will be relevant when that time arrives. If you have any selfish intent whatsoever in your heart, then you're in for a beautiful awakening...and believe me, you won't be disappointed! The world is, and has been a place of woe; you know that and Jesus knew that, and His desire should be our desire...to be with the Father. The cross before Him was a place of horror, but to be with the Father would be joy unspeakable and full of glory! But in the meantime...verses 2-3...
What a change in tone from verse 1 to verse 2...from the Father to the devil; from Jesus to Judas; from love to betrayal. But notice that Satan only knew what the plan was...Jesus knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. And He knew that the very best way to disarm the enemy, was to "blindside" him, so that's what He did (verses 4-5)...He washed his feet! Now we need to keep three things in view here...first, Jesus' hour had come; second, He loved His own; third, all things had been given into His hand. God in the flesh, preparing for the role of a servant!
What a cleansing that was for those disciples. But Jesus didn't cleanse, so much as He convicted; we must get convicted before we can get cleansed, from the spiritual view of things. And believe me, the air in that room was ripe with, not only smelly feet, but the overpowering stench of unresolved conviction! You and I might have been cleansed, but our spiritual feet need to be washed every single day. Our walk in this world takes us into all kinds of situations and conditions, and no matter how careful we are, we still end up with dirty feet. But, you see, Jesus was not so concerned with dirty feet as He was with clean hearts. He loved those disciples, and He intended to give Himself up for them...a work that was only His to do.
But..."Lord, dost Thou was my feet?" (verse 6). You know, Peter really is a very good example of the immature Christian. Was he in complete subjection to his Lord? If he wouldn't allow Jesus to wash his feet, what assurance does Jesus have that, when the cock crows, Peter won't already have denied Him...not once, but three times? How strong was his faith? How strong is our faith? When the Lord reached out to him as a servant, Peter took a step back..."Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?" Neither faith, or love in action here! We really can see just how great a need we have, when we look at Peter...too much pride, too much power and too many plans, while Judas only had a purse! It seems that sometimes, we tend to overlook the obvious. Judas would soon reveal himself for who he really was; but Peter might have lived out his life without ever soaking his feet in Jesus' wash basin. And he thought he was the humble one! Sometimes it can be very surprising to see where our pride can take us. You see, it's when we think we know something that we often show our ignorance. Peter had no idea what Jesus had in mind for this motley crew of disciples. And just like many of us...impetuous, egotistical and world-minded; not a very good profile, is it? But that was Peter...ready to cut off someone's ear if need-be.
"Dost Thou wash my feet?" "Thou shalt never was my feet!" You know, we need to be oh-so-careful of what we may become guilty of; not only questioning the Lord's desire to wash us, but denying Him from washing us! How one sin often does lead to another. Oh, we may not actually use the same words Peter did, but we certainly often do act them out. So what's the difference between us and him? Well if you don't know, take careful note of the Lord's response...verse 8(b). And how scary is that?
You know something? When our feet are dirty from our walking where we've been, we had better let the Lord do for us what only He can do. That's what humility is all about...yielding. Don't take a Peter-attitude toward Jesus! To think that our pride and our stubbornness can actually keep us from Him. It's no wonder we have no power in the church today; or that we feel Jesus is a world away. In fact, He is...when we won't allow Him to do for us what only He can do! We may profess that..."My life is in His hands", but the real proof of our commitment to Him is in allowing a very simple, but a very effective foot washing. And do you realize how often our spiritual "feet" need to be washed? Every day! (See Psalm 139.23-24)
So how did Peter, and how should we respond to the Lord's offer to wash our feet (verse 9)? All Jesus really wanted was for Peter to be given a lesson in humility, and foot-washing served the purpose. He really didn't have to take over the entire exercise...he very nearly took the focus off Jesus completely, so the rest of the disciples would have been talking about Peter's antics long after Jesus' death and resurrection. But..."Just let Me teach you, Peter..." (verse 10). What Jesus wants us to learn is that, when you present your spiritual "feet" to Him, you'll get washed from the inside out...a cleansing that will prepare you for eternity; a cleansing that will fit you for salvation, for sacrifice and for service. But you know what...and it's horrible to have to say it...but there are some who won't "come clean", not even for Jesus (verses 10-11)! In fact, we all have a little bit of the "Judas attitude" in us, just as we all have a little bit of the "Peter attitude". Both are shameful, but the one leads to eternal destruction, while the other still leaves the possibility for confession, repentance and joy in the Lord and in His work.
Can you imagine the callous that must have been on Judas' heart...that not even the humbling, if not humiliating process of foot-washing could break down the barrier? So was Judas a true Believer? Not likely. Is it possible to refuse and even deny Jesus, but then confess and repent, as Peter had done? By all means, yes! And that's the purpose that Jesus had in conducting this exercise...to show the difference between the one and the other...to "separate the sheep from the goats", as it were. And to prove to those closest to Him, and to the world, that He is the Suffering Servant of His Father, God. Can you imagine the implications that has for me and You! God bless you as you have your "soles" washed by our Lord!
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