Montco Bible Fellowship Blog

I’d like to use this time and space to take an in-depth look at some books of the Bible and some topics which are crucial to victorious living in Christ. Starting on Monday we’ll be getting into the book of James. Your comments and feedback are welcomed, but beware: there will be questions to answer after each lesson.

As I approach the Word of God, it is with the firm conviction that it is His desire to make Himself  known.  If we do not see or understand the Truth of God, the fault lies not with Him, but with us.  I gain my greatest joy from the study of the Holy Scriptures. The only thing that comes close to that  is the opportunity to share it with others. Thanks for spending some time in the Word with me.

 Pastor Sam

Monday October 26th

Greetings again and thanks for stopping by. Let’s continue our look at James chapter one by considering the next three verses: 

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ¹⁸ Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

The writer exhorts us to not be deceived. Many are deceived. Don’t be one of them. After giving us some ammunition by which we can resist and overcome temptation (that which comes from satan) he reminds us of what comes from God: every good and perfect gift. satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. God on the other hand gives good gifts. Hear me: if it’s stealing, killing or destructive, it’s not God. The question becomes, what is good? Many will point to the blind man of whom Jesus said (after asked why he was blind in the first place) “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”

Wow. Notice this: Jesus said that the blindness had as its ultimate end that the works of God should be revealed. Jesus then states that he Himself “must” work those works. The next thing He did was to heal the man and open his eyes. That my dear friend was the work of God. EVERY good gift comes from God.

The goodness of anything must be viewed through eternal standards. Winning a lottery may seem good, but it could lead to destruction. Being sick may seem bad but it could ultimately bring glory to God. Question: Is there anything or was there any time in your life when God took something that looked bad and used it for His glory?

The passage reminds us that God does not change. God’s goodness does not change. You won’t wake up tomorrow and find that God doesn’t love you anymore.  You won’t ever hear Him say, “Oops! I made a mistake.” There will never be an addendum to God’s Word. There’s nothing He forgot to put in it.

The passage ends by reminding us that we see God’s goodness in the gift of salvation, which He initiated. Read it again. I’ll wait.

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

Well, that’s enough for today. Thanks for spending some time in the word with me.

 

Monday October 19th

Greetings. We stopped at James 1:12 last week. Let’s pick it up at verses 13-15. I think this will stimulate some thought. Go ahead and read the passage. I’ll wait.

The passage says that temptation does not come from God.  The subject is “temptation.”  There is a difference – a big – difference between testings and temptation. Understand this: the difference between the two is based in the motivation behind them. The ultimate goal of temptation is to get you to sin. That’s what the devil does. The ultimate goal of testing is to “determine and sharpen true character” (Strong’s). That what God does. God never- is trying to get you to sin. Never.

Here’s another thing about temptation. Remember when Jesus had fasted for 40 days and was tempted by the devil? The Bible says that Jesus was “tempted of the devil.” Jesus was tempted. satan was trying to get Jesus to sin. Jesus never sinned. So then we can conclude that being tempted is not a sin. Did you get that? If Jesus was tempted and Jesus never sinned, then it can’t be a sin to be tempted. Don’t beat yourself up because you’re tempted. That’s not a sin. The sin lies in how we respond to the temptation. But more on that later.

Think about this: 

If I ask you to help me rob a bank you’d probably say that the offer isn’t tempting because you have no desire to do it.

  I have a question: does temptation mean that the thing presented to you is desirable? In other words does temptation mean that I want the thing being offered? When satan asked Jesus to worship him, do you think that idea had any appeal to Jesus? I don’t think so. But, it was still called temptation. Give me your thoughts.

Verse 14 gives us a real good definition for temptation. Here’s the Amplified version: ^“But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).” Here’s the NIV: “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” Here’s the NLT: “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.”

I like the NLT because it doesn’t connect the desires to being evil necesarily.  We have desires that are natural. Jesus’ desire to eat wasn’t an evil desire, but satan wanted to use that desire to get Him to sin. The natural desire that a man has to be physically intimate with a woman is of itself  not an evil desire, but satan would have you fulfill it in a way other than the way God has ordained. Agree? Disagree?

Picture a fisherman out on the sea. He puts something on the hook that will entice his prey. They actually use something called a “lure.” A lure. Imagine that. The idea is to take the natural desrie of the fish to eat, and lure him to his death. That’s what satan wants to do to you.

The passage ends by saying that our desires can give way to sinful actions. And, as we all know, sin ultimatelybrings death. Enough for today. I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for spending some time in the Word with me.

 

 

 

 

Monday October 12th

This week we’re looking at James 1:9-12. Start by reading the passage. Again, you may want to read from verse one. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

So, who is this “lowly brother” in verse 9?  He seems to be contrasted with “rich” folks in verse 10. So are we talkin’ about “po folks?” (No, that’s not a typo)

In the early church there were members from all classes of society. Just like today. The literal translation turns out to be something like “the brother of “humble circumstances.” The exhortation from James is a reminder that regardless of our station in life at any given time we can rejoice because of our “high position” in Christ.

Vaudeville singer Sophie Tucker said, “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor- and believe me, rich is better.” I won’t argue with that. But I’ll tell you what: I’ve been saved and I’ve been lost- and believe me, saved is better. My standing and position in Christ trumps any circumstance the world brings.

Conversely, those who find that their current station in life affords them more material wealth than others need to remember the frailty of human flesh and thus be humbled. James reminds them that like the wild-flowers of grass, all things not eternal will whither and die away.

Check out verse 12. Have you ever been tested? Ever gone through any trials? That’s what this “temptation” in verse 12 is all about.  James says that when you meet them head on and “stick it out” you’re blessed. We used to use this phrase: stick-to-it-tive-ness. To endure is to “Bear up under.” Ever see one of those Olympic weight lifters with arms extended, holding the weights over his head? He’s enduring. He’s “bearing up under” the weight.

What ever you’re going through the promise of God is that if persevere, you’ll receive the crown of life. And, it is a further indication of your love for God. That’s all for today.

Questions: How should the Christian view poverty? How should the Christian view riches? Is poverty one of the “trails” James is talking about? Talk to me.

Thanks for spending some time in the Word with me.

 Monday October 5th

Welcome back. By the way, if you stop by for some study time, please leave a comment so I’ll know you’re out there. Now let’s continue our trek through the book of James. This week we’ll be looking at chapter one, verses 4-8. Get your Bible and read the text first. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

 Last week James ended in verse three by reminding us that the trials of life can produce endurance in our lives. Later in our study in chapter 1 verse 21 we’re told that the Word of God “is able to save your souls.” There is no question regarding God’s ability. Salvation doesn’t just “happen.” We have to allow it to do its work in us. In verse four the same principle applies. We must let patience do its thing in us. James says that it must “have its perfect work” in us. Have you ever seen one of those time-lapse photos of a flower blooming? When it starts the flower is closed and in a matter of seconds we see it take full bloom. Wouldn’t it be nice if things worked like that in our lives? Well, forget it.

 Look at what James says is the result of letting patient endurance run its course: “that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing?” Is there anything in your life that you think you lack? Could it be that in that particular area you haven’t let patience do its thing? If you feel lack because you’re single (for example) could it be that you’ve run out of patience? This applies to every area of life and every life situation.

 One of the things we need most in trying times is wisdom. We have the facts. We have the information. But what in the world do we do with it? What should I do? What shouldn’t I do? What should I say? What shouldn’t I say? I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just don’t know. Thank God for James 1:5. If I need wisdom, all I have to do is ask God for it. Kinda seems too simple doesn’t it? We often make this thing harder than it has to be.

 The idea of God giving liberally “without reproach” (I’ll be using the NKJV unless otherwise stated) means that God doesn’t find fault with us when we come. You ever ask somebody a question and they make you feel like a dork for not knowing the answer? God doesn’t do that. It also means that we can’t come to the well too often. We can get tired of those who constantly come to us for the same thing over and over and over. God doesn’t do that either. You need wisdom? Ask for it. He gives it “liberally.”

 The next word in the text (verse 6) is crucial: “But.”  Here’s the condition: if you’re going to come to God and ask for wisdom,  you’ll get it like you get everything else God gives: by faith. Salvation? By faith. Grace? By faith. Healing? By faith. Wisdom? By faith.  Ask, but ask not doubting God’s ability or God’s readiness.

 This summer my wife and I spent a week in Ocean City, MD. We had a room right on the ocean front. One of my favorite things is to sit and watch the ocean. I love the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Waves being tossed around on the ocean are nice, but wavering in our faith is not.  Verse seven says that the person who is like that should not “think that he will receive anything from the Lord.” Wow! Now be clear, it doesn’t say that God doesn’t want to give. It says that the person is in no position to receive. James calls it being double minded.

 In the movie Dick Tracy there was a character named “Two-Face.” One side of his face was normal and the other side was hideous.  Nobody wants to be double minded. It’s hideous. The further tragedy is found in verse eight. This double minded person is unstable in “all” his ways. Wow again. This lack of faith and double mindedness will manifest itself in every area in your life, not just in the one you’re seeking wisdom for at the moment. Let’s stop here.

 Here’s your homework. Why is faith so crucial in the life of a believer?  What’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom? How can we learn to endure?

 Thanks for spending dome time in the Word with me. See you next week.

Monday September 28^th

 Greetings.

 Let’s begin our study of the book of James.

 Each Monday we’ll tackle a passage and you’ll have the rest of the week to do some reflection and answer some questions. I’ll do my best to make this time informal yet comprehensive.

 Do you drink tea? Let’s consider the difference between a strong cup of tea and a weak cup of tea. The same ingredients are used for both: water and tea. Hers’ the difference: a strong cup of tea results from the tea leaves being in the water longer, which allows the water more time to get into the tea and the tea into the water. The longer this process, the stronger the cup of tea.

 Similarly, the amount of time we spend in God’s Word determines how deeply we get into it and how deeply it gets into us. I encourage you to commit yourself to the discipline of study.  Let’s get into some background and set some context. Okay, here we go.

 First, let’s consider the writer himself. We want to differentiate between James the author of this letter and some of the other men mentioned in the NT with the same name. This is James the Lord’s half brother. They had the same mother (Mary) but Jesus of course was conceived of the Holy Spirit. He is the natural son of Mary and Joseph after their marriage. Read Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; and Galatians 1:19. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

 Many in Jesus’ own family did not believe in Him as the Messiah. Read John 7:2-8. Go ahead, I’ll wait again.

 In the previous chapter (John 6:66) many of those following Jesus stopped following Him. Add to this the disbelief of His very own family. How sad. The ones who should have known Him best did not believe in Him. But, there did come a time when James was converted. He is numbered with those who “went up into an upper room” before the event on the day of Pentecost.

 This week we’ll consider James 1:1-3. I suggest that you read the first chapter in its entirety, and then the passage we’re going to delve into. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

 In verse one James identifies himself as “a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Here’s the first question I want you answer: What does it mean to be a servant of God? Most of us have heard that this refers to a “bondslave.” The background of this practice can be found in Exodus chapter 21. Read verses 5 and 6. You know the drill: I’ll wait. Now tell me what that says about our relationship to God.

 James identifies those he’s writing to as “the twelve tribes which are scatted abroad.”  He calls them “brethren” in verse 2, so we believe he’s writing to Christians who have been the objects of persecution. Imagine the pressure these saints lived under. Many of them were dealing with issues not of their own making. He says they “fell” into these trails. (“Temptations” in the KJV) Their only “crime” was being a follower of Christ. Question: How does this relate to us today?  Socially? Politically? Religiously?

 In spite of it all, James exhorts them to “count it all joy.” Another question: How do you consider the trails in your life? How do we cope with the external circumstances we are often faced with? I think verse 3 has the answer: “Knowing” something.

 satan’s temptations (I never capitalize satan’s name. That’s just a personal thing) are design to make us sin and to steal, kill and destroy. When God allows our faith to be tested the intended result is to strengthen us and give us endurance.

 Are you being tested? In your marriage? On your job? At school? At church? Know this: God wants you to come out of it stronger in your faith towards Him. Once I am convinced of God’s intentions, I can breathe a sigh of relief even in the middle of my circumstance.

 That’s all for this week. I think you have enough to chew on. I expect to hear from you with answers to the questions we’ve posed today. You have all week to consider them. Your reflections are also welcome. God bless, and thanks for spending some time in the Word with me.