James Week 4

We’ll pick right up where we left off last week ……….

Read James 1:16-18

What do those verses speak to you?  What is James trying to make clear?

Once again James is making it crystal clear that we are clueless if we think God ever tempts us to do evil!

It is just the opposite!  God is responsible for the GOOD!!!!! 

Satan would love us to get that mixed up and start blaming God for the bad…and we often do.  Ever hear questions such as “If God is a God of love, how come he allowed such and such to happen…”?!?!?!?!??

We have been telling God to butt-out for the last 600 yrs, and he does just that by honoring our free will!  But ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE!  Eventually he comes in, takes all the bad and turns it to good! 

James explains that God who created the sun, stars and moon, does NOT change like the shadows they cast.  In today’s world where things change so fast and come and go, it is good to know that God is an unchanging rock! 

• What moral changes have you seen in your lifetime?
• How have these changes affected your lives?
• How have they affected God and his truth?

Read vs 19,20

There is something about us humans….why do we always say and do the dumbest things when we are angry??????  Any ideas?

You could take the smartest most reasonable person you know, but when they get mad and act out of that anger…they will ALWAYS sound like a stupid jerk! J  WHY?

Proverbs is full of comments about folks who don’t control their tempers and those who do.  Read these aloud:

• Prov 12:16
• Prov 14:17
• Prov 14:29
• Prov 22:24-25
• Prov 16:32

And the list goes on and on……………………….

SO, this is what James is addressing!!!!!!  Basically he says “if you want to seem smart…keep your cool!” 

So how do you do this?  How is it possible to stay calm in extreme situations?

THE TRICK IS TO LISTEN!!!!!!............ this is what James says!  Listen patiently to the other person.  Don’t snap back.  Let it sit in your ears.  And…only once you are sure you aren’t answering out of anger….THEN RESPOND! 

What is so important about listening?

God wants this for you….so that (and we circle back to the beginning)…a person who truly listens and does not talk in anger is one who is “mature and complete, not lacking in anything”.  J  Remember that…..it all comes together! J

Read vs 21

In this single sentence I hear James make 3 distinct and important points.  Let’s break them down:

1-     Get rid of the garbage!!!!

How much should you throw out?  ALL OF IT!  Not some of it, not even most of it.  All that stuff we know is wrong but do anyway…take it to the dump!  He is VERY clear…He doesn’t say “That’s ok, we all sin so don’t worry” or “do your best to TRY and give it up”..God’s word says: GET RID OF IT!

2-     There is something powerful about God’s word!!!!!

This is so true.  It is an amazing and supernatural power!  During Paul’s entire description about the “armor of God” in Ephesians 6, the ONLY offensive weapon mentioned is what?    IT IS THE WORD OF GOD!!!!

Everything else mentioned is for defense…but God’s word can be used for offense!!!!!

3-     Be teachable!!!!

Let God do His work in you heart!  Don’t fight Him or argue.  Don’t try to defend yourself.  Let him correct you if needed….accept his forgiveness. 

Being teachable is like being good clay in the potter’s hands!  If you are soft and pliable, he can do amazing things with you! If you are stiff necked and stubborn, it will be MUCH MUCH harder!