August 23, 2010

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:13-20

Next Sunday, the Lord willing, I will be closing out the Summer Sermon Series on James. In preparation for that I am sitting here trying to get my mind around the incredible truths of these concluding verses of this intensely practical book.

I have a lot of studying and meditation to do in order to do justice to these important insights. But, let me share an initial thought with you as we begin a new week.

James, in his book has been painting the picture of a healthy church. The Church of Jesus Christ has lost its initial momentum and has been scattered due to persecution so James writes this letter to call them back to what they should be. As one who has a passion to build a healthy church, James is a book I lean on heavily.

Summing up his counsel James ends with an admonition on pray. Makes sense doesn't it?

All this week and in my message Sunday we will be exploring prayer and its proper place in the Church but first let me establish a basic premise to build upon.

I believe one of the mistakes people make with prayer is they see it as a resource for getting what they desire from God.

How is that a mistake? Isn't that what prayer is for?

As I understand it prayer is a relationship with God and God is our resource. Prayer is NOT the resource it is the connection to our Resource.

Brad, that sounds like you are splitting hairs.

Not really. I think that is a significant distinction. If you prayer because you want to get something FROM God you will approach it much differently than if you want to pray so you can be WITH God. Do you see what I mean?

When I am in relationship with God I have everything I need! He IS what I need! There is nothing I need that He cannot provide for me. I don't ask God to give me what I want, I give God what HE wants - me! - all of me! I love Him. I lose myself in Him. I lead my life through His power and His truths. And in that relationship with Him, prayer becomes something that happens THROUGH me not something that happens TO me?

You may not agree with me on this at first thought. But I challenge you to give it a second thought. Meditate upon it. And then read James 5:13-20 from this perspective and see if it makes a difference in how this portion of Scripture plays out.

This IS a blog so give me some feedback!

August 22, 2010

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord." James 5:10

James never says, "If you suffer", he assumes that Christians WILL suffer. And with good reason - you will!

I am not being morbid or negative but think with me why it must be true that believers will necessarily suffer. Either you will try to conform to the thoughts and behaviors of this world or you will surrender to the Lordship of Christ and follow Him. Those are your two options and either one will result in suffering.

If you are a believer and yet you are chasing the world filled with worldly desires and attitudes, God is going to discipline you through suffering. He loves you too much to allow you to walk away from Him and return to your self-centered life so He will allow difficulties to enter your life to chasten you.

And, if you are a believer and you sincerely and whole-heartedly follow Christ in humility obediece you will please your God BUT you will think and act in a way that is contrary to the world. So, at the same time you are pleasing God you will run into conflict with the people of the world.

Christians are stretched between two worlds. You can only live in one, so you will always be in opposition to one of them. That causes conflict and suffering.

Those James wrote his letter to were suffering because of their testimonies. They were trying to live for God and were running afoul of the world. The ways of the world and the people of the world were trying to push him into their mold. Their refusal to do so was bringing suffering upon them.

So, the decision is yours. You can suffer for doing right or you can suffer for doing wrong. Which will it be?

I know - you want another choice! You would rather not suffer at all!

Good luck with that one!

You can suffer for doing right now or you can try avoid suffering now and put yourself at risk of terrible suffering forever.

Choose how you will suffer!

August 21, 2010

"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord." James 5:7-10

This section of Scripture combines to concepts that we neither welcome or understand well - patience and suffering.

I guess that is precisely why James writes about it! We need to understand.

In our fast forward, full speed ahead world, we tend to think of patience as something passive - a waste of time. We don't wait well and we don't do silence very well.

Would it help if I told you that is not what is required here?

Just look at the illustration James uses to show what he means by patience. He uses the illustration of a farmer. I don't know if you grew up around farmers but I did. They are busy people. It is not like they plant their crop in the Spring and sit around all Summer waiting for the harvest. Their waiting for the crop to grow and ripen involves fertilizing it and weeding it and maybe even irrigating it during a prolonged dry spell. Waiting is an activity for farmers and they wait well because they know the payoff is coming with the harvest.

He also points to the spiritual fathers that we all admire. All of them suffered and all of them showed great patience during their period of pain. None more that Job, of course. But we learn from them another version of the same concept. While they were suffering they made positive use of their time. They sought God through prayer and fasting. The meditated on His Word. Mostly, they watched expectantly to see what He would do in the midst. These men of God knew that God never waists pain. He always uses suffering to shape us and mature us and give us understanding of Who He is and how He works. Through our suffering we identify more closely with His sufferings.

It is important to understand that James' admotion to be patient in suffering is not an encouragement to do nothing. We are not to resign ourselves to fate and wait like some helpless victim. Patience understands there are seasons in life and that each season has its purpose. Patience looks for God. Patience longs for God. Patience lives out God's word in obedience and faith. Patience understands that the harvest is coming and the pay off will be sweet!

August 20, 2010

"Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned." James 5:12




As I began studying this portion of Scripture it looked at first glance that it might be misplaced. I didn't immediately see how it fit in this section about suffering. But on further meditation I came to see it differently. In fact, the entire section hinges on this one verse!



How so?

What James is telling us in this verse is essentially, "don't play fast and loose with God's truth."

There is never a time when you can afford to depart from God's truth, but ESPECIALLY when you are suffering you need to cling to the truth of Who God is and what He can do. Pain has a way of negatively affecting our thinking. When you are hurting your mind is more susceptible to the lies of the enemy. Suffering can distort your perspective on God and put your future in doubt. That frame of mind can cause you to doubt God and doubt yourself and despair for your future.

Sound familiar?

Here are some ways your thinking gets distorted in the midst of suffering:

You tend to speculate.

When you don't understand what is happening to you or why you are going through it, your human tendency is to speculate why it is happening. You speculate that you may have done something wrong that caused the suffering - that God is puniching you. Or you speculate why God caused this thing to come upon you. Speculating leads you away from the truth and into doubt. If you want answers prayfully search His Word. Meditate don't speculate!

You tend to exaggerate.

If you allow yourself to get immersed in your own suffering you will give way to self-pity. Self-pity leads you to exaggerating your pain and underestimating God's power. Obviously, that is not a good combo.

Make sense?

When you consider the perils of speculation and exaggeration you begin to understand the importance of "letting your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'" Stay firmly rooted in the truth! Do not deviate one inch from what you know to be true about God. Let God be true and your pain, your doubt, your specualtions, your exaggerations - anything else be false!

What are you listening to?

August 19, 2010

"Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned." James 5:12

I find it interesting that when a witness is sworn in by the court to testify he promises to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

Hold that thought as you take a look at our text this morning. Let's first take a look at this oath and then take a look at this verse and see how they intersect.

First, take a look at the oath. Does the oath imply that it is possible to tell a partial truth? It almost sounds like it. We know better. There is no other truth but the whole truth!

Second, by taking this truth are you conceeding that you are normally a liar? It almost sounds like that. To me it sounds like when you take that oath you are in effect, saying "I normally lie but this time I am going to tell the truth."

How much confidence does that inspire?

Third, if you can choose to tell the truth sometimes then why would you not tell the truth all the time?

If you appreciate the irony of this then you can understand the point that James is making in verse 12. Remember, too, that he is giving counsel and advice to Christians. That being true you would wonder why he has to tell them not to lie.

What are we called to do within a local church?

Right, we are to love each other.

What is important to being able to love each other?

Trust?

Right!

Respect?

Correct!

Trust and respect are foundations upon which love is built. You will find it hard to love someone you can't trust or respect. That is one reason why truth telling is essential to a healthy church. Who wants to be part of a fellowship where you can't trust one another?

Me neither.

So, the purpose of a legal trial in a court room is to arrive at the truth via evidence and the testimony of witnesses. Understanding that, how many lies would it take to subvert that process? Not many! Maybe one!?

The purpose of the church is to proclaim the truth through the evidence of honest living and truth telling. How many dishonest people does it take to negatively impact the testimony of a church? Not many! Maybe one.

In a court room, a false testimony could cost the life of a defendent.

In the church fellowship distorting the truth could cost an eternal soul.

When you made the decision to become a Christ-follower you committed to become a truth-teller. As a Christian you are in a personal faith relationship with Jesus - The Truth. So how can you walk in faith and not live in truth. You don't need an oath you need obedience. Seek the truth and speak the truth.

Will you walk in truth today?

August 18, 2010

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:10-11

Dustin Johnson is a young golfer who has risen to fame on the PGA Tour this year because he had a chance to win the last two major championships in 2010.

In June he had the lead heading into the final round of the US Open at Pebble Beach and then shot a terrible round in the 80's to finish well out of the lead. That's rather embarrassing for a pro.

Last Sunday, Johnson was on the 72nd and final hole of the PGA Championship and just had to make par to win the tournament. But he accidently broke a rule and was charged a two-stroke penalty that cost him another chance to win.

That has to be tough to take. But when he was interviewed Monday after returning to his home in Myrtle Beach he replied, "It's over! I've put it out of my mind!"

He has decided not to look back.

Usually, it is good to put the past behind us. But in regard to our Scripture today, there are times when it is good to look back - way back.

One of the things suffering does is to compress time. When you are under stress and in pain each moment seems like an hour. Mired in such misery causes you to think you may never find relief. It can bring you to despair and can also cause you to have regrets over actions or decisions you made.

Such morbid self-analysis only adds to the pain.

So, what does James say about this? That brings us to his third piece of advice in this Scripture, Look Back And Be Challenged.

In other words, James tells us, "If you are going to look back - look WAY back!" When you are suffering look back to the prophets and the saints and the Savior Himself to learn how they handled suffering.

What can that do for you?

Look At Their Example - "Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord”

Somewhere along the way we Christians arrived at the impression that suffering because of our faith is an unusual occurance. Nothing could be further from the truth. You would be hard pressed to find Fathers of the Faith who did not suffer.

When you choose to live godly in an ungodly world, what makes you think you won't run into some opposition?

Since you will suffer as they suffered why not learn how they handled it?

Look At Their Excellence – “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about”

Few people have suffered more severely than Job. And none have handled it better. He displayed excellence in his attitudes, his actions and his words. Not once did he accuse God or impugn God or even complain against God. How good is that!? He proclaimed humbly and sincerely, "Though He slay me yet will I serve Him!" Excellent!

Look At Their Experience – “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy”

How does one come to know the compassion and mercy of God? By needing it! By finding Him faithful and able when you need Him! When you need His strength - you'll find it. When you need His comfort - you'll have it. When you need His courage - you'll have it.

Faith begins from hearing about God. Faith grows by accepting Him and coming to know Him. But faith is established by experiencing Him in all His glory, and power, and love. The only thing better than a powerful and perfect God is a PERSONAL God!

Are you suffering? If not, you will be at some time. When you face that time, look up and be courageous, look in and become clean and look back and be challenged!

August 17, 2010

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:8-9

Of all the virtues that are in short supply these days, patience must be near the top of the list. Who among us couldn't stand to be a little more patient? I see you raising your hand! Well, at least you are not like this guy:

A man in Los Angeles, California was arrested for negligent discharge of a weapon after shooting his toilet bowl five times with a 38 caliber handgun. He claims that he just got upset. He couldn’t take it any longer. His daughter had flushed a hairbrush earlier in the day and clogged the pipes. So he shot the offending toilet. I have no word on the toilet’s condition, but the man’s patience was long gone.

To protect your toilet or your cat or whatever else becomes the target of your impatience, I am sharing some insights from James 5 to help you develop in this vital area.

In the last post I pointed out how James encouraged you to Look Up And Be Courageous.

Today, he counsels you to Look In And Become Clean.

This insight is based on verses 8-9. Take a look with me.

Just be honest with yourself. Impatience and all the negative thoughts, attitudes and actions that come with it do not issue from a heart that is pure. So, your impatience is evidence that there needs to be some heart cleansing done. The guy in California didn't blast his toilet because he had an attack of maturity.

So, the intensely practical James deals with some solutions for the impatience problem. You must deal with it from the insight out.

V. 8 - "be patient" - the cure for impatience is to consciously and intentionally choose to act patient. Don't pick up the gun to shoot your toilet. Instead, pick up the plunger or pick up the phone to call a plumber. Those are the actions of a mature person concerned about practicing patience. Patience, like everything else in life, is mastered one decision at a time by the grace of God.

Think about the options. You can wait (impatiently) until you somehow manage to FEEL patient or you can choose to DO something patient. And, if you prove to yourself that you can do it once, then you know you can do it again!

V. 8 - "stand firm" - do you know what one of the hardest things is for impatient people to do? To stand still! James says stand firm! How do you stand firm? Find something firm and then stand there! What is more firm than your faith in God and His Word. In the context of this verse Paul is saying, "stand on the firm promise of Christ's return!" Know that He is in control. Know that your struggles and your suffering are not forever.

V. 9 - "Don't grumble against each other" - one of the things impatient people do is grumble. If you want to master impatience get a grip on your grumbling. Ever notice how impatient people are not only impatient with themselves they are impatient with others, too? James says to deal with that! You can stop yourself from grumbling and when you do you have dealt a blow against impatience.

How about this? While you are standing firm on the precious promises of God, why not rejoice that your Christian brothers also have the same promises!

In his counsel for dealing with impatience, James says, "Look inside and cleanse yourself from the causes of impatience." Memorize the promises of God. Believe in those promises. Cling to them! And when you know them and when you REALLY believe them it will help you with impatience because it is as though have already happened! When you wait ON God you wait WITH God!

Practice patience patiently while God removes the impatience through the power of His presence and His promises!