Study of Prayer ~ Week One Lesson Five

  “Magnifying God in Prayer”

Let’s begin this lesson by reading Psalm 34:1-3 again, but this time we’ll read it in the King James Version. I will supply the text for you:

I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continuously be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear it and be glad.

O magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

Please underline: bless, praise, boast and magnify. These words help us focus on the Lord Almighty. They are essential to magnifying Him in our prayers.

If you ever took a science class you should remember looking through a microscope at some pond water? What looked like a clear liquid on a tiny slide, when viewed through a microscope, was in fact teaming with the activity of tiny organisms. In order for you to see clearly, when you looked into the microscope, you had to turn the fine tuning knobs and line up the slide so the microorganism could be brought into clear view. 

This is the case with prayer. Blessing, praising and boasting in Him, are the “knobs” that help magnify God. He is magnified in our honor of Him. The unseen things of God are brought into plain view. This is the first essential step in our approach to Him. The fuzziness of life and the daily distractions we encounter fade away and our view of God is made clear.

This week we have focused on the fine tuning process of magnifying God by learning to:

1. Recognize God’s Position
2. Honor God
3. Celebrate God
4. Extolling God

These elements of glorifying God fine tune our vision of Him. He is magnified and we can see Him. He is brought into plain view. 

Turn to Psalm 63:1-3. Let’s break these verses down:

Verse 1: Why do we seek God according to the Psalmist?

Verse 2: What do we see in the sanctuary of God?

Verse 3: Why do we glorify God?

We read in this Psalm that when we seek God, we behold His power and glory and glorify Him in our lives. Let’s take a closer look at these three verses individually.

Behold His Power and Glory!

Seeking God

We seek God because our souls need to be filled by Him. This world offers only temporary satisfaction. Just like a candy bar leaves us feeling hungry shortly after we have eaten it, so does the satisfaction the world offers.

In our communication with God, we seek Him so He can fill us. This life and this world do not offer the essentials for our souls, only God does. He’s the only one who can meet our needs.

Turn to Psalm 42:1 & 2. What does our soul pant for?

What does the Psalmist ask in verse 2?

The two Hebrew words used for “meet with” are “ra’ah” which means “to see, to understand intellectually and perceive,” and “pa’neh” which means “before, in front of; face or in the presence of.” When we pray, we seek fulfillment in the very presence of our Holy God. We understand that He is God and the supplier of our every need. He quenches our thirst and fills us with the sustenance of His love.

What do you suppose is the answer to the Psalmist’s question, “When can I go and meet with Him?”

We can meet with God at any time. He is brought into clear view when we bow in His presence through prayer. We magnify God by being in His presence. We are in His presence anywhere and everywhere as followers of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. Our physical bodies and this physical world cannot confine us. We are always in the presence of the Lord. We just need to acknowledge this and seek Him.

God is present.

Seek Him.

Beholding God’s Power and Glory

By being in the very presence of God, we clearly see His power and glory. The unseen power and glory of God is magnified, brought into focus, as we behold Him. We cannot behold the unseen attributes of God without being in His presence. Throughout our day, we can walk in His presence as we glorify Him in our thoughts, words and actions.

Read Psalm 27:4. (NIV) Fill in the blanks:

“One thing I ________ of the Lord, this is what I _________: that I may __________  in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to ________ upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

The Psalmist asks one thing of the Lord, but it has three elements to it. What are they?  

1.

2. 

3.

Employing these elements in our lives magnifies God. This is how:

1. “To dwell” means “to live our lives in the presence of God.”  We are never without Him. He is part of us because we have chosen to live in His presence.

2. “To seek” means “to direct all our questions to God.” We seek direction from Him. We want to be in His presence and to do this, we must inquire of Him. This is an act of obedience. To remain in His presence, we must seek Him.

2. “To gaze” is “to keep our eyes focused on Him.” He should always be in our sight. This keeps us on the right path and in a right relationship with Him.

Glorifying God

We glorify God because His love is better than life! His love, His provision, is better than what this earthly life provides.

Read Psalm 36:5-9. Answer the following:

How far does God’s love reach?

How far does His faithfulness reach?

What is His righteousness like?

What is His justice like?

What is priceless?

Who takes refuge in the shadow of His wings?

When refuge is taken in God, what do we feast on?

Where does God give us drink from?

In God we find the what?

In His light we see what?

God’s love is infinite and His faithfulness is eternal. His righteousness stands strong and majestic. His justice is deep, reaching all the hidden places we think we can hide from Him. His love is priceless, because it never fails. Everyone who seeks Him finds refuge in His strong arms.  The Lord not only provides refuge for those who seek Him, He gives from the abundance of His house. We have access to all He has and when we drink from His living water, we are filled with delight in Him. The river of delights is supplied by the Fountain of Life ~ Jesus Christ ~ and we bask in His light. We see Him clearly when He is brought into plain view through our time with Him in prayer.  He is magnified! When we live our lives for Him and in Him, He is magnified. 

God’s love is infinite and His faithfulness is eternal!

Prayer Time

Go to your Prayer Journal and take this time to bow in prayer, allowing Him to be brought into plain view. Adjust the fine tuning of magnification by:

• Recognizing God’s position. 
• Honoring God by telling Him what you know to be true about Him.  
• Celebrating God and all He has done. 
• Extolling God.

Study of Prayer ~ Week One Day Lesson Four

 “Extolling God”

Extolling God, what is that? The dictionary defines it as, “To praise lavishly.” So, what does it mean to praise lavishly? Looking further, I discovered it to mean, “To proclaim excellence repeatedly and abundantly.” Our praise to God in our prayer time shouldn’t be just a quick “Praise God!” but should extol Him, which means to proclaim His excellence repeatedly and abundantly!

Look up Psalm 34:1-3. Answer the following:

When are we to extol God?

Who are we to boast in?

Sounds like an impossible task, doesn’t it? However, extolling God is acknowledging His supremacy over us. In and throughout our day, our attitude should be one where we extol God. In situations where we find ourselves crying out to Him, we must have the attitude that He is supreme and sovereign. 

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. What three things does the Apostle Paul instruct the reader to do?

1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________

What reason does he give for these three things?

Whoa! What a list! How can I be joyful always? How can I pray continuously? How can I give thanks in all circumstances? I know that it is God’s will for me in Christ Jesus but this seems impossible. Yet, if I am to extol God at all times, this is how I do it.

Let’s look at these three elements of extolling God at all times:

1.  Be Joyful Always

Read Philippians 4:4.  What do you think Paul is saying?

Even though it goes against human reasoning, this verse teaches us an important lesson. Our inner feelings do not have to line up with what is currently happening to us. When we rejoice in the Lord, we acknowledge to ourselves and to God that He is superior to our circumstance. To extol God is to rejoice in Him.

Extol God by rejoicing in Him always!

2. Pray Continuously 

Staying on our knees 24/7 is an impossible task. The command to pray continuously means to have a constant prayerful attitude that keeps the communication open with the Lord. This attitude is built upon the solid foundation of God’s supremacy and sovereignty. Christians should realize their dependence on God and tap into His power. Our obedience to Him is essential in our walk with Him. These elements make up the continuous life of prayer.

Look up the following scriptures and describe what each one says about prayer:

Luke 18:1

Romans 12:12

Ephesians 6:18

Colossians 4:2

In essence, our Christian walk is to be one of consistent and continual prayer. We must have regular prayer times alone with God. There are quick, “I need you to intervene now!” prayers throughout our day and other types of prayers, but our lives should have a prayerful attitude acknowledging God’s supremacy over us. We extol God in our continuous prayers.

Extol God through continuous prayer!

3. Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Look up the following scriptures and describe what each one says about thanks or praise to God:

Colossians 3:17

Hebrews 13:15

These passages teach us that in our lives, all we do and say, must be lives of praise and thanksgiving. We can’t do it on our own power. The source of power to give praise or thanksgiving is given to us by the power of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. Sometimes we don’t feel like praising God. This is when sacrifice becomes a real part of our praise to God. 

Extol God through giving thanks in all circumstances!

Glorifying God in prayer should consist of extolling Him. We must proclaim His excellence repeatedly and abundantly. Rejoice always in Him. Pray continuously to Him. Thank Him in all circumstances through Jesus Christ and His power given to us by His Holy Spirit. Hallelujah, what a Savior!!!

Prayer Time

Go to your Prayer Journal and write out a prayer extolling God. Allow the power of the Holy Spirit to flow through you, to your pen and on to the paper. Glorify God! 

Prayer Study Week One Lesson Three

 “Celebrating God in Prayer”

As I write this lesson, we are approaching the Holiday season. Thanksgiving is in a few days and it is the kick-off to a time of celebration.  Every year people celebrate Thanksgiving, then Christmas and then wrap it up with ringing in the New Year. The word “tradition” is often used when folks talk about this season of celebration. There is rejoicing, feasting and gift giving on the schedule for many. But, for others it is ritualistic, a bother and even depressing. For whatever reason, these folks dread this time of year. Their minds are on whatever is causing them sorrow and they may be angry or depressed.

The approach to prayer is too often viewed the same way; ritualistic, boring and useless. It is something to just get through. The thought of praying sends some people into a spiral of depression because of a disappointment experienced in a previously unanswered prayer.

Prayer should be a celebration! It should be a time of rejoicing. It should be a regular and productive time in the presence of the Almighty. Unlike usual celebrations, prayer should’nt just focus on the hustle and bustle of problems and chaos in our lives. Rather, it should also include a time of communion ~ rest and rejuvenation~ thanksgiving and supplication ~ feasting and filling first. It is to be a time of true celebration in the wondrous truth that we even can enter the Throne Room of the King, where, unless invited by Him, we dare not go. By invitation from the King Himself, Jesus bids us to enter. He wants to be with us and this is meant to be a true time of celebration.

We often forget, or maybe we don’t even know, that we have a tremendous reason for celebration. God Himself and all He encompasses, the infinite nature of who He is, is our reason to celebrate the Almighty. 

Celebrating God in prayer includes:

1. Remembering God’s Accomplishments
2. Reciting God’s Accomplishments
3. Rejoicing in God’s Accomplishments

1. Remembering God’s Accomplishments

We can see a perfect example of remembering all God has done in the celebration of Communion (The Lord’s Supper). This symbolic act of partaking in the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ reminds us of what He has done for us. It is a cause for great celebration.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Answer the following:

What did Jesus take and break and why?

What does the bread represent?

What does the brokenness mean to you?

What does the cup represent?

Why does He want us to remember this?

What is proclaimed when you eat of the bread and drink from the cup?

How long are we to do this?

How do you view communion?

We celebrate what Christ did on the cross for the redemption of our sinful lives through the act of taking communion. Every time we eat of the bread and drink from the cup of communion we must remember what Christ has done. It isn’t just a ritual. It reminds us of the severity of our sin and the extreme love of our Savior Jesus who took our punishment. 

It should be the same in prayer. We must take time to remember what Christ has done as we communicate with Him. Celebrating God in prayer includes remembering (calling to mind) all the Lord has done for us.

2. Reciting His Accomplishments

Speaking of God’s accomplishments aloud, during our time of communicating with Him in prayer, is part of our celebrating God. King David is a good example of this. He sang to the Lord and wrote out His thoughts to the Lord in the act of celebration.

Read Psalm 29:1 & 2. What does David say?

What does the word “ascribe” mean?

In our prayer time we recite His abilities and accomplishments to help remind us of God’s glory, strength and holiness. He deserves acknowledgement during our prayers. We recognize who He is and what He has done and what He will do. When we go to God in prayer we give Him the credit for all good things and that He knows best.

3. Rejoicing in God’s Accomplishments

To rejoice in God’s accomplishments is to be filled with joy because we share in the riches of His accomplishments through His Son. By remembering and reciting all God has done for us we are filled with His Holy Spirit and the rejoicing is automatic. His joy floods our being and we rejoice.  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit there is no room for anything else.

Read 2 Chronicles 5:13 &14. Why do you suppose the cloud, which represented God’s glory, filled the temple?

The presence of the cloud of God in the Old Testament was a sign that God was pleased to dwell with those who worshiped  and served Him. The same is true of you and me. When we rejoice in Him, He fills us, His temple, with His Holy Spirit because He is pleased to dwell within us. In our rejoicing, we partake in all that God is! Give glory to His name.

“God is good; His love endures forever.”

Prayer Time

Take this time to celebrate God in prayer. Go to your Prayer Journal and:

1. Remember God’s Accomplishments. Just relax and allow the Holy Spirit to bring to mind all He has done and all His attributes.
2. Recite God’s Accomplishments. Vocalize all He has done and will do in your life. Just tell Him what you think of Him.
3. Rejoice in God’s Accomplishments. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with His joy. You are His temple and He is pleased to dwell within you.

Study of Prayer ~ Week One Day Two

   “Honoring God”

Have you ever had someone pay you a compliment and you know that they didn’t mean it? You knew they were not genuine because you suspected their motives were not to pay you a compliment, but to get something for themselves. Their tone may have been patronizing or drippy-sweet. Maybe they were looking over your head or around the room for a better, more important person to talk to.  You were just a means to the next best thing. 

We’re like that with God sometimes. In fact, often we just give Him lip service. We do our perceived “duty” to Him and then move on to the next thing. He’s just a means to whatever is next. God deserves more than that from us. He deserves our full and honoring attention. 

Turn to Isaiah 29:13 and answer the following:

What does the Lord say about how people approach Him?

How does He describe their worship?

How does this fit with the way you may be approaching God?

What needs to change in your life concerning your approach to God?

Approaching God with lip service and with an insincere heart doesn’t get past Him. Just because we may follow all the rules and regulations of our religion doesn’t mean we are showing honor to the Almighty. 

Read Colossians 2:20-23. Why do you think human commands and teachings do not lead us toward the Lord?

In our arrogance, we think we are honoring God by doing all the “good things,” like going to Church, teaching Sunday school, having a fish symbol on our cars, or always listening to Christian radio. These outward behaviors do not hide what’s inside to the One who knows us best. 

In other words, because we have followed our list of “good things,” we may have a tendency to think He owes us something. This is not honoring God. Think about it. If we are following a list to get brownie points with God, so that we can get a favor from Him, we will find that we are sorely mistaken. Our goal should be to honor God by obedience to Him because we love Him not what we can get out of Him.

Read Revelation 4:11. (NIV) Fill in the blanks:

“You are _________________, our Lord and God, to receive ______________ and ______________ and _________________, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”

God is worthy of glory and honor and power. We don’t supply Him with these things. He is glory, honor and power. When we acknowledge who He is we honor Him and place Him in the correct position of supremacy over all things. By recognizing God’s position, we acknowledge that He is greater than we are and assume our position with humility and truth. Honoring God is essential in our daily lives and prayers.

Prayer Study Week One Lesson One

“Recognizing God’s Position”

Who is God? Can you describe Him? Mere words can’t possibly cover the magnitude of the Almighty One. He alone is worthy of our praise, because He alone has the infinite power to do all things. We must learn to recognize His attributes in order to approach Him in the fear and respect that is due Him.

Read a prayer that King David wrote in the Psalms that includes his recognition of God. He truly pours his heart out and tells God what he knows to be true about Him. Turn to Psalm 86 and write out as many attributes of God that you can find:

King David recognized God and His position. He acknowledged the abilities of the Almighty One. The attributes of God that David wrote about found in Psalm 86 are just a tiny fragment of God’s attributes. It is one man’s attempt to recognize the position of the Lord God. It is important that we follow King David’s lead and acknowledge God and His power. He is worthy! He is worthy! He is worthy!

Why do you think it so important for believers to acknowledge the attributes of God?

We are not equal to God. This statement stands in direct opposition to the world’s opinion. The world tells us that we all have the power to direct our lives. It holds that man is “god” and we can tap into the “god” within. This is the world’s way of justifying actions that oppose God.

His Eternal Power

God’s power is without beginning or end. It has always existed. It is the greatness and omnipotence of God.

Read Revelation 15:3b-4. (NIV) Fill in the blanks: 

___________ and ___________________ are Your ___________, Lord God Almighty. ___________and ___________are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not ____________ You, O Lord and bring glory to Your Name? For You alone are _____________. All nations will come and ________________ before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.

From this verse we glean the golden kernels of His truth. We harvest knowledge of His majesty and power. God’s eternal power encompasses:

1. Great and marvelous deeds
2. Just and true ways
3. Holiness
4. Righteous acts

1. The Great and Marvelous Deeds of God

Read Psalm 111 and describe God’s great and marvelous deeds:

Look again at verse 10. What is the beginning of wisdom?

 What do we have when we follow God’s precepts?

The word “precept” is used in this particular Psalm. The dictionary defines it as “a rule or principle prescribing a particular course of action or conduct.” 

I thought that it was cool the way “prescribe” was used in the definition. The dictionary defines it this way, “to lay down, in writing or otherwise, as a rule or a course of action to be followed.”

When we go to the doctor he/she writes down a course of action on their prescription pad. But, in order to be effective in our lives, we have to fill the prescription. We have to follow what they have directed us to do. Otherwise, it won’t help us and is just another piece of paper.

When we go to prayer and read God’s Word we must put into action the “prescription” He has laid out before us. Applying His precepts to our prayer life and our daily walk with Him in faith draws us closer to Him. He knows the best way, but it is our decision to accept His way over ours.

When we acknowledge God’s deeds as great and marvelous, we spiritually bow to His power. We accept that His power is far superior to any perceived power we think we possess.  This understanding is the fear (respect) that God requires of those who approach Him.

2. Just and True Ways

Read Psalm 145:17-20. (NIV) Fill in the blanks: “The Lord is _________________ in all His ways and ________________ toward all He has made. The Lord is ____________ to all who _____________ on Him, to all who call on Him in ______________. He fulfills the ______________ of those who ___________ Him; He ____________ their cry and _____________ them. The Lord __________________ over all who ____________ Him, but all the ________________ He will destroy.”

God’s just and true ways encompass righteousness. This means that God’s response to mankind is always right. Toward all those who love Him, He shows love. Toward all those who call on Him in truth, He is near. To all those who fear Him, He fulfills their desires, hears their cries and saves them. He watches over all who love Him. But to those who are wicked, those who do not love Him and fear Him, He will destroy. In forsaking God, wicked man will receive the consequences of His wrath.

By following the prescription of God ~ His best ~ for our lives, we will walk with the confidence that God is watching over us. This doesn’t mean we won’t have problems and struggles. It means that God is with us and will work His best for us, in us and through us. As we approach Him in prayer and seek His precepts for our lives we will hear from Him and He will direct us. 

3. The Holiness of God

Read Revelation 16:5. What did the angel say?

 God is called Holy because He is faithful to Himself and to His character. “… You who are and You who were the Holy One…” God is Holy and God was Holy, and may I add, always will be Holy. Because of this truth, we have confidence He will never change.

In our prayer lives we should acknowledge that He is Holy. He is set apart from sin and to approach Him we too must be set apart as holy. We can only do this by the favor we have found in Jesus. 

4. The Righteous Acts of God

Read Romans 6:15-23. Summarize verses 15 & 16:

When we obey God, we are set free from what?

What are we slaves of when we are obedient to God? 

What is the benefit we reap? __________ The payment for sin is what? ___________ The gift of God through Jesus is what? _______________

Obedience to whatever or whoever we choose to be obedient to makes us slaves to the object of our obedience. Our indulgence in sin makes us a slave to it.

Sin + Obedience = Slavery to Sin

What is the payment for slavery to sin? ____________________

Righteousness + Obedience = Slavery to Righteousness

What is the payment for slavery to righteousness? _____________________

God is righteous and Jesus is the physical manifestation of God’s righteousness. God’s righteous acts were exhibited through His Son as He gave Himself up as a payment for our unrighteous acts. We must recognize the righteous acts of God as His eternal power which is without beginning or end. Understanding this moves us closer to the Almighty One. In fact, it places us in the very throne room of the God of all creation. Only in the presence of God is prayer truly powerful and effective. Acknowledging Jesus as God and accepting Jesus as the Leader of our lives gives us entrance and audience with God the Father. God the Son has made the way. God the Holy Spirit unites with our spirits and calls us to a right relationship with God.

His Divine Nature

God exists in the unity of Three. This is a sacred truth that is set in supernatural revelation and is not based on human reason. The Three make up what is known as The Triune God:

God the Father ~ God the Son ~ God the Holy Spirit

The Trinity is NOT 1+1+1=3 ~ It IS 1x1x1=1

Read 2 Corinthians 13:14. (NIV) Fill in the blanks: “May the ___________ of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the ____________ of God, and the ___________ of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

In this benediction to the Corinthian Church, written by the Apostle Paul, we see an example of the Triune God. Let’s look at what each member of the Trinity offers:

1. The Grace of the Lord Jesus (God the Son)
2. The Love of God (God the Father)
3. The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit (God the Holy Spirit)

God is: Grace ~ Love ~ Fellowship!!!

1. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

The meaning of “grace” is found in the Greek word “charis.” It derives its name from the root word “chairo,” which means “to rejoice; to cause joy, pleasure and delight in the recipient.” It causes all these things because it describes an action of favor done without expectation of return. Christ’s grace is a reflection of the loving kindness from God the Father.

Read Romans 3:22 & 23.  Who has righteousness?

Where does righteousness come from? 

What does the phrase, “There is no difference” mean?(Hint: The answer is in the next verse) 

 How does grace come into play in verse 23? What do you think this means?

That’s right, we’ve all sinned. There is only one person who has ever lived a sin-free life and that is Jesus. It was the sacrifice of His perfect life for our imperfect lives that made a way for you and me to be made right with God. This is the meaning of grace. Even though He was totally right and mankind was totally wrong, He gave Himself up for us so that we could live. We don’t deserve this kindness. We deserve death. Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to lay Himself down for us. This is powerful! God’s grace is marvelous and free to all who humble themselves and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. 

2. The Love of God (The Father)

The Greek word for “love” is “agape,” which is “the divine attribute of God that has allowed for the possibility of our relationship with Him.”  In other words, if it weren’t for the love of God, we would have no hope. Praise God for His love which has allowed for our redemption. It is the catalyst that raised Christ from death, giving us victory over death when we fully accept the love of God through His Son, Jesus.

Read John 3:16. Write it out here in your own words and make it personal by adding your name:

3. The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

The Greek word for “fellowship” is “koinonia,” which literally means “being in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit  to share or participate in the divine nature of God.” In other words, we benefit from the relationship of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We are called by God into fellowship with His Son, who is in fellowship with the Father, and the Holy Spirit envelopes, those who love God, into this holy relationship. 

Read 1 Corinthians 1:9. What has God called us into?

How is God described?

We must recognize who God is in order to effectively communicate with Him through prayer. This recognition is automatic when we submit ourselves to His sovereignty. Let me repeat. God is God and we are not. It is as simple as that.

Prayer Time

Take this time to humble yourself before God.  Go to your Prayer Journal and write out a prayer recognizing who you believe God is. Allow Him to reveal Himself to you. Enjoy being in the presence of the Trinity ~ God the Father ~ God the Son ~ God the Holy Spirit.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.”James 4:10

The Book of James Week Six Lesson Five

“Turn Them Back”

“My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”         James 5:19-20

This is the last lesson from the Book of James Study. I hope you have discovered many new or renewed truths from this short book written by our Lord’s brother. God’s Word is multi-faceted and gives us new lessons each time we read and study it. 

Read James 5:19-20. What should we do when we see another believer wander from the truth?

What is important to remember?

James is speaking to believers in Jesus about other believers who have wandered from the truth of God’s Word. It is our responsibility to turn our brothers and sisters in Christ, who have wandered from God’s Truth, back to Him. It isn’t an easy task.

Read Matthew 18:15-18. What are we to do when a believer sins against us? 

If they listen to you, what is the result?

What happens next if they don’t listen to you?

What is the next step if they don’t listen to the testimony of others?

What is the result if they do not listen to the church body as a whole?

Jesus gave us these steps to follow when we have disputes between one another. It is orderly and should be followed as He instructs us in the Bible. The purpose of disciplinary action is to correct the immoral character of people who claim to be Christians. This is hard, but, Christ has called us to take such action. This is not judging behavior, this is God judging behavior and is what He commands us through Christ Jesus to do.

There is right and wrong and we as Christians need to understand the line we cross when we sin. Otherwise a blurring of the lines takes place  and we slowly begin to turn away from God’s truth. We must hold each other accountable. 

Read Romans 16:17-19. This is a powerful portion of Scripture. The Apostle Paul redefines the line between right and wrong. What does he tell us to “watch out” for?

What do you think “serving their own appetites” means?

What are the obedient expected to do?

We must stop believing there is a gray area in the behavior of believers. This study of James has taught us just that. For too long, we have turned our heads to the way people justify worldly behavior. It has infiltrated our churches at an alarming rate. 

Truth without grace is wrong. Grace without truth is wrong. Truth and grace must prevail. We cannot function correctly within our Churches without both. We’ve been told we aren’t suppose to judge others, but the Word doesn’t say we are suppose to allow sin to flourish because we think we can’t judge. God gives us discernment to deal with sin among believers. The judgment and discipline is left to Him. He reveals to His people what He wants removed from His Church. 

Read Hebrews 10:26-27. What happens if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth?

The Spirit of the Living God speaks to those who are His and calls us back to Him. He employs believers to turn fellow believers back to Him. Christ Himself gave us the process for doing so. If the person refuses correction, they are living the will of Satan and not the Lord’s. Again, this is hard but necessary.

We save lives when we bring others to Jesus and they give their lives to Him. One of our responsibilities is to bring others to Christ. Do you ever look at your Christian walk this way? Our main concern, aside from loving God, is to love others. If we love others as Christ commanded, we should care what happens to them.

Saving someone from death is a major thing. Rescuing a drowning person or pulling someone from a burning car is stuff heroes do. Someone who is brave enough to do this should be honored. Do we think of saving someone from eternal death in the same way? This should get our adrenalin pumping even higher than rescuing the living from physical death.

Both the Old and New Testaments speak of death as a result of our sinful nature; they also speak of death in comparison to the Living God. We’ve learned over the last six weeks of studying James that sin equals spiritual death.

As a kid, my family would go to to the lake. We’d load up the ’65 Chevy station wagon with all six kids, two dogs, our picnic and pull the boat filled with life jackets, inner tubes and skis. When we’d get there we’d unload everything and then go out on the boat to ski. We’d come back to shore and swim a little while before we’d eat. 

I loved getting in the black inner tubes to float on the water. I’d pick the biggest one I could handle, climb on and float off daydreaming as I drifted along. I remember one time when I wasn’t paying attention and drifted out into deep waters. My mom happened to see me and sent one of my big brothers, who were strong swimmers, to rescue me. They pulled me safely to shore.

It’s the same way with those who drift away from the safety of God’s truth in Christ. Sometimes believers are floating along, not paying attention and the current of life pulls them away from safety. Others choose to swim away  from the truth. Whatever the case, the Lord sends out His strong swimmers to bring those adrift back to safety. Some refuse to be brought back and that is their choice. Those who the Lord sends to rescue those who have left the safety of God’s Son must be obedient so those adrift may be brought back to safety.

Read Jude 17-13. What we as believers supposed to do?

What are we to keep ourselves in?

Look closely at verses 22-23. There are three things, we as believers, are to do for “others who doubt.” What are they?

1. 

2.

3.

Show mercy to doubters - There are those who doubt. They are divided in their thoughts. These folks have heard the truth and they hear the message of the world and are drifting. We are to show them mercy from Christ.

Snatch them from the fire - There are those falling forward towards the fire. We see them heading that way and we must respond. A gentle tap on the shoulder won’t do. A forceful grasp of the collar is more like it.

Show them mercy mixed with fear - There are the ones with a strong smell of smoke. It is the stench of seared hair, clothing and flesh which permeates the air they breathe. Mercy mixed with fear means we remind them of Christ’s mercy, but we also remind them to fear God and the discipline He gives.

It is the responsibility of those who place their faith in Christ Jesus and live their lives for Him, to turn those who have drifted away back to the Savior. We really are in the business of saving lives.

As we close our study of James, let us remember we are called to serve the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the Royal Law of our King Jesus. My limited earthly love cannot cover sins. The infinite love of Jesus, demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary, can cover all sin. It is this love in us which enables us to love others as Jesus does.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. It has been a honor to study the Word of God with you. Keep seeking Him and He will always reveal Himself to you. May we “count it all joy” to follow Him right into eternity.