VoM - Entries from April 2009 James 3:13-18 on T.A.P.
TEXT: James 3:13-18
Theology
- Everyone either teaches/leads/influences another person and the confession of your life is more important than the confession of your mouth. If we claim Jesus as Savior we are called to be good, moral, honorable, excellent and commendable in what you do and humbly use your wisdom for other people. [James 3:13]
- This must permeate your work (i.e. job) too. If you hate your job, you aren’t fit to give advice, lead or influence others because you are not consistent. [James 3:13]
- If you are harsh with people, jealous of others or get into selfish arguments this proves your heart is not fit to be an influence of others. So do yourself a favor and stop lying to God and others.[James 3:14]
- Because that kind of life is not is not from the creator but from the created. You worship the created over the creator and therefore you are generating confusion and chaos among your family, friends, coworkers and brothers & sisters in Christ.[James 3:15-16]
- If you really had wisdom from God then it would be Holy. It would be free of sin, submissive, gentle, yielding to leadership, full of compassion and full of mercy [James 2:13] for others and its product would produce good benefits that are certain and sincere. [James 3:17]
- Because the product that is sown in peace produces peace. [James 1:21 ;James 3:18]
Application
- What stops you from listening and following through with God’s Wisdom?
- What earthly wisdom has captured your mind?
- Read 1 John 2:16.
- What “Lust of the Flesh” (Personal idols) are between you and God? Is it your work, what about your family responsibilities, do you fear repentance (or who you have to repent to) or what are you enslaved to; the internet, reading, materialism, pornography?
- What “Lust of the Eyes” (Cultural idols) are between you and God? Do you put Oprah, movies, friends or other couples before what God says in your life?
- What “Boastful pride of Life” (Religious Idols) are between you and God? Do you seek prestige in the church, seeking the most popular church goers, do you seek to be involved in front of the church, is your only ministry in front of others to show you are religious?
Prayer
- Read Matthew 4:2-10 and praise God for Jesus and his example of destroying Idols.
- Confess to Jesus your lust of the flesh, eyes and pride.
- Thank the Father you have an advocate in Jesus.
- Ask God to grant you wisdom to expose such idols in your life.
 James 3:7-11 on T.A.P.
TEXT: James 3:7-11
Theology
-
James quickly begins to speak about what man can control/tame (i.e. every specifies, beasts, birds, reptiles) This cross references with Genesis 1:26-30; Where God said we are made in His image (Imago Dei) and we are to rule over the fish of the sea, birds of the sky, cattle, creeping things and subdue the earth. Therefore, mankind was given the authority to rule over all creatures of the earth and creation itself.
-
In Verse 8, James quickly tells us that no person can control/tame the tongue. This cross references with the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus say that what is in our hearts, we will speak. [Matthew 12:34, 15:18, 10:26]
-
James also gives us two more characteristics of the tongue. It is a “restless evil” (restless can be defined as “twitchy, fidgety or impatient). This gives us the idea that this evil reacts rather than “thinks things through”; it also gives the impression that it is not comfortable.
-
The tongue is also characterized as being “full of deadly poison”. As we read in James 3:6, the source of this poison is Hell (Ghenna). The idea of poison tells us it is infectious and because we have an infection it will kill us from the inside out. Giving credence to the power within us, sin. When you take this in context, you see that a human needs something “added” to it to control this power of sin. Just like the horse needs a bit and ship needs a rudder. The Christian needs the Holy Spirit synergistically working with a pastor/teacher.
Application
-
There are five systematic results of those teachers who aren’t guided/controlled/lead by the Holy Spirit in their teaching/preaching.
-
Religion – Read Acts 15:1-26. There were Jews who taught you can have faith but need to do add “works” to really be saved. What do you believe about salvation? What verses would you reference?
-
Hypocrisy – Read Romans 2:17-24. Some people believe they are teachers and guides; yet, they do not apply the Word to themselves; the rubber doesn’t hit the road in their life. Look at your life. Do you minister to other Christians? Does your walk resemble what you talk?
-
Wrong Jesus – Read 2 Corinthians 11:2-15. Some teachers want to teach for prestige and therefore, are preaching a different Jesus; thus they are not orthodox in their theology. Do you live a life that is different from what the Bible says? Read Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 to compare your life to scripture rather than another person.
-
Arguments – Read 1 Timothy 1:3-7. Some teachers want to teach because they would rather argue and divide than converse and unify. This is prideful. When you speak about theology, do you tend to get into mental battles or do you have a peace in your discussions?
-
Selfish Ambitions – Read 2 Timothy 4:1-4. Some teachers teach because they want the lime light. They don’t preach parts of the Bible but leave out all the “bad pr” and they stay “pc” in all their theology. When you speak about Jesus, do you let your “yes be yes and no be no” or do you water down the Gospel to include those who God doesn’t include?
Prayer
-
Adore God for His clear truth in the Bible. Adore Him for those in your life that are in authority over you that use the Bible and show their love for you.
-
Confess to God your love for His word and your love for Jesus. Confess any watering down of the gospel you may have committed.
-
Thank God for the opportunity, today, to get into His Word and read it.
-
Ask God to work in the lives of teachers, preachers, elders and deacons in your local community. Particularly mention local young adult ministries in your region.
Grace & Peace, You Are Loved,
Judson
    
 James 3:6 on T.A.P.
TEXT: James 3:6
Theology
- The tongue has 5 Characteristics:
- Fire, and we know fire consumes, leaves long lasting effects (i.e. scars, callousedness) and generates fear.
- World of Iniquity, meaning it is “larger than life” and against God
- It has the ability to defile/stain the entire body, meaning what starts out as a little bit of sin it has the ability to spread like an infection throughout the entire body of believers.
- Therefore it will set on fire the course of life, meaning a teacher’s teaching of Jesus, if taught wrong, will not only set on fire one’s entire life but also the lives of others in the Body of Christ.
- This fire is sourced from Hell (Ghenna), where waste and useless things that one wants anyone to have is burnt to be utterly destroyed. Ghenna (Hell) is where executed criminals were burnt. This place smelled really bad and the stench will carry. A teacher/preacher who shouldn’t be teaching/preaching will leave a stench of hell in your life and it will follow you around. Just like a smoker doesn’t know they smoke, but someone who doesn’t smoke will know if someone was smoking around them, because the stench is “stuck” on them and will follow them around until they clean themselves.
Application
- Hebrews 5:12 tells us we are all teachers. We must ask ourselves who is watching our life and speech and do we “Walk the Talk”? So, who do you teach? A younger brother or sister? Does the youth ministry in your church “look up to you”? What about unbelievers – what about your life are you “teaching” them?
- 1 Peter 3:15 tells us that we need be able to explain why we believe what we believe. This is a great question for those who serve in ministry in the youth group, or AWANA’s or another ministry. If a child came to you and asked you to explain the Gospel – could you do it? Better yet, can you do it with scripture? What verses would you show them? What if they asked if you “Why did Jesus have to die”? Could you show the person with scripture? Notice, I am not asking you to “know” the answer – that is implied and we can all “know” the answer, but can you show it with scripture? How sad it is for a people to pass the buck on all the spiritual questions about Christianity to their pastors.
- What would you do if your child came to you and told you they don’t believe Jesus is God? Could you show them scripture indicating He is?
Prayer
- Adore God today about your salvation and opportunity to open the revealed Word. Praise God for revealing Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
- Confess to God your life. Confess He is right in all things and you desire to grow.
- Thank God for the teachers, pastors, elders, deacons you have in your life today and praise Him for the leadership you submit to.
- Ask God to grow you by the living and active word.
Grace & Peace, You Are Loved,
Judson
 James 3:1-5 On T.A.P.
Theology
-
The Jews desired to become teachers (Rabbi’s) because that title came with prestige, popularity and recognition. It was said, if you had to choose who would live between your parents and your Rabbi, you should choose your Rabbi, because your parents bring you into “This World” and your Rabbi brings you into “The Next World”; thus their job was “more important”.
-
Therefore, James encourages the Jews, who are scattered abroad, not to desire to become teachers; for a couple of reasons.
-
One, they will incur a stricter judgment [James 3:1]. Two, they are sinners [James 3:2]
-
James correlates the control of our tongue with Jesus’ teaching of controlling the heart [Matthew 12:34, 15:18, 10:26]. If one can do this they are perfect and able to control the whole body.
-
However, gives us two practical examples of why this is impossible. You must put a bit into a horses mouth to direct it and you must add a rudder to a ship to guide it. Without those “additions” the horse will go where it wants and the ship will be blows around by the wind and you will never get to your destination.
-
James correlates a teachers responsibility to be the bit to a horse or a rudder to the ship. When we become a child of Jesus, we get something added to us, the Holy Spirit and we get the church. The church has a hierarchy of those blessed with specific gifts of the Holy Spirit to various things. One of those is teaching, a teacher is the bit or rudder working synergistically with the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you through your lives.
-
If a teacher doesn’t know how to respond to trials [James 1:1-18], God’s word [James 1:9-17], discrimination [James 2:1-13] or religion [James 2:14-26] their teaching is not from above and is demonic [James 3:15].
-
A teacher must be able to rebuke, correct and sanctify their students with scripture and not just words or feelings, but the living and active Word of God [Hebrews 4:12; John 17:17] and we must be willing to put ourselves under the authority.
Application
-
James is calling out these Jews on their lack of alignment with their walk in the name of Jesus. James tells us In Chapter 2, a person’s works show one depth of faith and a in Chapter 3 he tells us one’s speech is the spiritual thermometer.
-
Think of your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon etc., do their works show their faith? If so, is it a shallow faith or a deep faith? Do they sacrifice? How much time and effort do they put into their ministry?
-
Do you know what your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon does for the church or do you only see them teaching? Reach out to your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon and get to know them, ask them what they do and ask if you can assist them.
-
Think of your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon etc., what does their speech look like? When they speak to do speak scripture or do they speak about “good ideas” or “catchy lines”?
-
It is highly important a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon know how to use the Word of God; therefore, evaluate your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon speech and see if it reflective of scripture.
-
Have you been corrected by a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon, if so, did they use scripture or did they just talk?
-
Have you reached out to your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon for discernment? If so, did they use scripture or did they just “talk through it”.
-
Do you need a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon whose works and speech align with scripture? Most people who have a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon whose works and speech align with scripture can offend us, because we are being confronted, for the purpose of redemption, about our sin and this creates a anger for those “calling us out” [John 15:18]
Prayer
-
Praise God for His Word that progressively sanctifies you.
-
If you have put yourself under a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon who is not congruent with what scripture says one is, confess to God your sinfulness and begin to look for that new teacher/pastor/elder/deacon to put yourself under their authority.
-
Thank God for time and effort teacher/pastor/elder/deacon put into the Jesus. Find out what yours does and thank them for it.
-
Ask God to give you the wisdom to make Biblical decisions and provide you with a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon you can submit to.
Grace & Peace, You Are Loved,
Judson
 James 2:14-26 On T.A.P.
TEXT James 2:14-26
THEOLOGY
- People show what they believe by how they live their life.
- If you say you believe “one thing” and do not show, through your actions, you believe that “one thing” then you are proving by your actions you do not believe that “one thing”.
- A demon’s theology is more orthodox than an unbeliever’s theology.
- Abraham was justified by faith before God and works before mankind.
APPLICATION
- Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Why would God have created “good works” for a Christian?
- Read Galatians 5:19-26. Make two columns on a piece of paper. Name one column “works of the flesh” and the other “fruit of the spirit”. In each column write out what that verse specifically say are in each column.
- Using your list from, Galatians 5:19-26, write out specific outward physical indicators indicators, that people can see (public or non-public) of each “work” and “fruit”.
- Still using your list from, Galatians 5:19-26, write out how someone can “cover up” or “mask” the “works of the flesh” and fake the “fruits of the spirit”. Then write out how what you are going to do to kill the “works of the flesh” and build up the “fruits of the spirit”.
- Take time this week and evaluate yourself, according to the scriptures in the same way as you did with Galatians 5:19-26; except use Ephesians Chapter 5, Colossians Chapter 3, Matthew Chapter 5 and Mathew Chapter 7.
PRAYER
Take a moment and pray:
- Adore God love for you.
- Confess any shortcomings/sin you discovered/realized in this study and His Word that proves it.
- Thank God granting your repentance of sin and administering grace in your life to be conformed into His Holy Image.
- Supplicate (Ask) God to correct, reprove and train you in righteousness this week.
Grace & Peace, You Are Loved,
Judson
|
Search
VoM by
Here you will find Vessels of Mercy (VoM) Posts.
Vessels of Mercy is a cooperative blogging effort between three young men: Brandon Melton, Robbie Melton, and Judson. Being bound together by our love for God, our commitment to His truth, and our passion for His glory, we seek to magnify God’s worth by discussing cultural/doctrinal issues as they relate to the Body of Christ. It is our prayer that through this ministry you will grow in your love and understanding of God and His Word. Most of
|