James 1:4-5... (11.28.2010)

The first thing, I want to do today is look back at Colossians 1:9 to briefly refresh our memories concerning what Paul told the Colossians about wisdom (we spent almost a year in Colossians) :-)

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding"

*** Paul and James are both discussing wisdom in the Scriptures we are looking at this week. Here is our first question, "What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?***

One of the lesson writers this week says, "Wisdom in Scripture always means knowledge of the course of that will please God."

QUESTION: Do you agree with our lesson writer?

I once heard a set of definitions and thought they were really good for Knowledge and Wisdom.

Knowledge is the facts.
Wisdom is seeing God in the facts.

An example is if your child is dying of a serious illness (that is the facts). If you approach your child's illness knowing God has a plan (that is seeing God in the facts).

Verse 5...the Greek tense of the word "ask" is a continual & repeated asking. This is not a "one time ask"

We learn four things about God in verse 5:

1) God is a God who gives. When we are in the midst of trials it is easy to forget God is a God who gives but He is.

2) God gives generously.

3) God gives generously to all. Look at the verse that is exactly what it says. However, when we are in the middle of a trial...we may agree God is a God who gives and He even gives generously but just not to me.

4) God gives without reproach...(to express disappointment in or displeasure with (a person) for conduct that is blameworthy or in need of amendment). God is not like us who wants to make sure our children, spouse, etc...are truly sorry and know how disappointed we are before we forgive them. 

James 1:3 Part 2…November 7th

 

In the last blog, we discussed the different Webster’s definitions for the words, perseverance, endurance, steadfast, and patience. All words used in different translations for James 1:3. However, we come to the conclusion that the best definition is when you researched the original Greek and derived the meaning from there.

As overview here is that definition again:

“THE CHARACTERISTIC OF A MAN WHO IS NOT SWERVED FROM HIS DELIBERATE PURPOSE AND HIS LOYALTY TO FAITH AND PIETY (REVERENCE FOR GOD OR DEVOUT FULFILLMENT OF RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS) BY EVEN THE GREATEST TRIALS AND SUFFERINGS.”

Sorry, I just realized in the last blog I left out part of the definition

According to our definition perseverance and patience are a “characteristic”…so what is a characteristic?

Webster defines characteristic as “a distinguishing trait or quality.”

Stay with me for a minute…

How do we get distinguishing traits or qualities?

People like to say “I am stubborn, impatient, etc. because their Mom, Dad (insert person’s name) were that way.

I propose the reason we are like that is because of the time we spend with those people. There is an old saying that goes “We become like the people we hang out with, the music we listen to and the books we read.”

This in my personal opinion is the answer to how and when we start seeing the traits, i.e. characteristics, of God in us is when we spend time with HIM.

Remember we have said from the beginning that James is instructing the scattered in this letter on how to achieve spiritual maturity. Hopefully, as we continue our journey, we will see trials can be faced w/joy because when faith is added perseverance is the result. As perseverance develops the result will then become spiritual maturity.

However, none of this is possible unless you first belong to Jesus (He has been accepted as your personal Savior) and second you have surrendered to His Lordship in your life.

We will continue our journey through James this Sunday, November 21st. Jesus Cave at RBBC at 9:30am. See you there.

James 1:3 Part 1…November 7th

 

We did not have normal class last week (those present got to be with the Jr & Sr High class). I was out of town seeing my brother play in the NAFL Championship Football Tournament. Here are the notes from November 7th’s class.

We started by looking at some of the different words in James 1:3 used for perseverance in different translations of the Bible? This is what we came up with:

1. NIV: perseverance

2. NLT & NASB: Endurance

3. ESV: Steadfastness

4. KJV & NKJV: the dreaded “P” word of Patience

Question: What do these words mean to you?

According to websters.com these are the definitions of each word:

1. Perseverance: The action, condition or instance of persevering: steadfastness

2. Endurance: permanence, duration, the act or an instance of enduring or suffering

3. Steadfastness: firmly fixed in place not subject to change, firm in belief, determination or adherence

4. Patience: the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient

Honestly, all of these definitions from Webster's don’t give the same understanding as when you go back to the original Greek.

I am not going to tell you the Greek word cause frankly, you won’t remember it. Anyway the definition is what we want to remember:

“The characteristic of a man who is NOT swerved from his deliberated purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety (reverence for good or devout fulfillment of religious obligation) by even the greatest trials and sufferings.”

QUESTION: What does that definition say to you…if anything at all?

What that definition tells me is that when my known faith is tested, I want to be known as a servant of Jesus that is NOT swerved from my belief in Jesus. That no matter what test comes my way that I am close enough to God to realize that if He allowed it…then He will in HIS TIMING bring good from it.

Perseverance and patience according to our definition are a “characteristic” so what is a characteristic?

Look for Part 2 of this blog tomorrow.

Shopping for OCC...

Reminder we will be shopping for OCC (Operation Christmas Child) on November 6th. We will leave the church at 12:30.

Bring $5.00 to go towards filling our boxes.

See you there!