IN COVENANT TO GROW
#472 IN COVENANT TO GROW
Scripture Ecclesiastes 12:10-14; Acts 10:35 NIV Orig. 3/3/1968
Rewr. 10/1969, 9/20/1976
Passage:
Ecclesiastes 12:
10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.[a] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
Acts 10
35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Introduction
I read an article last week that began, “The old taboos are dead or dying. A new, more permissive society is taking shape.” One man was quoted as saying, “The emphasis is on the senses and the release of the sensual. All the old codes have been broken down.”
Let me tell you about two men whom I knew. About 15 years ago one was working on the then-new Red River Bridge in Alexandria. He lost his balance and fell 86 feet to the river bank, not into the water, or soft mud, but onto a pile of plywood sheeting that had been used on pier forms. I saw him a few months back, and one who didn’t know would say “the law of gravity has broken down.”
Another, not yet old enough to vote, jumped from a plane as a paratrooper only to look up and face the horror of an unopened chute. To see him today one who didn’t know would say “the law of gravity has broken down.”
I, for one, am glad that prudery and hypocrisy in morality are dead or dying. But to think that we can exist without morality and codes of conduct is as foolish as saying that we can exist without gravity and natural law.
Let us not think that out of the ashes . . . (illegible).
I. Growing in Community Consciousness. Psalms 15:1-33, “Lord, who will abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.”
Walking circumspectly. The word “circumspectly” means looking about cautiously in all directions. It is like the soldier on patrol—the needing to keep in contact with his unit, his primary duty is to search for hidden danger. Not an injunction to search for inconsistencies in others. A warning to stay away from threats, temptations.
Just in our dealings. A word with many meanings. For our use here it is to be consistent, impartial. We are to treat all men fairly. We are to take advantage of none. Romans 12:17, Provide things honest in the sight of all men. I still get amused at these movies that continue to beset us. The Indian chief speaks to the army major and says, “White man speaks with forked tongue.” It is too often true.
Faithful in our engagements. We could begin by saying it is an injunction for the deacon to take the office seriously. Active, energetic, faithful. We could call attention to laity on part of church workers—absenteeism about 25%. Sometimes I think preachers have created some of the problem. We left impression that the record is tithing—the very Sunday you lay out may be the Sunday God needed you for something great.
Exemplary in our deportment. God does not call us to go on crusades against the sins of the world until we have learned to deal with our own sin. But God is not ashamed to have any forgiven sinner, no matter how heinous his sin, to speak a word for Him.
Christlikeness is the order of the day. Living so as to reveal God’s love to those around us and those we chance to meet.
II. Growing in Family Faithfulness. Genesis 18:19, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do what is right and just.”
Maintain family devotions. This does not refer to grace at meals. Let us observe grace at home and abroad in the land. It is a time of planned Bible devotion. A parent or parents and children, reading together the word of God. Praying together for greater grace. (More strength to use prevailing grace.) It is one of the most difficult acts of Christian consciousness. I don’t know how often we have started on a few days, and some interruption or other [gets in the way]. Teaching our families to love and respect, but not worship, the Bible.
Religiously educate our children. It is first of all a job to be done at home. Most tragic verse in Bible is Jeremiah 7:18, “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.” We stop helping them in school work when they get beyond our school experience. Could this be the reason you do not help them in their spiritual exercises?
Then there is Sunday School. Sunday School is a Bible teaching organization—the sincere application of Bible truth is the teacher’s first responsibility. Gossip handled tactfully and discreetly. Training Union is Training for Christians. You say “I don’t get anything.” Of course not, you don’t give anything. You don’t enjoy it. You enjoy Ed Sullivan more.
Missionary organizations—115 million lost Americans above age of accountability.
Avoid all tattling, backbiting, excessive anger. This does not refer to temporary occasions of misunderstanding: husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and parents, neighbors, relatives, any two people who spend time in association or chancing a misunderstanding.
This speaks directly to the person who delights in someone else’s troubles. It also directs us to seek accord when occasions of misunderstanding arise, and room is left for anger, but not excessive anger.
III. Growing in Personal Perceptivity. Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways.” I Corinthians 11:31, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
Maintain secret devotions. A time of reverent study. I Timothy 4:13, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” A time of quiet meditation.
Seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances. This you must settle at home in quietness of your own life.
Abstain from the sale of and the use of intoxicating beverages. Anything that limits our performance as a person, anything that weakens our witness. New Orleans pot party—2-year-old killed on Friday—mother reported him missing 7 hours later. Charged with negligence.
Closing
Morality is the way a man reacts in regard to his fellow human beings. For the Christian, morality is the effort to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour.
Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice—A man is chargeable and punishable for bringing discredit upon the military establishment.
Paul’s admonition to Timothy—Endure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
JAMES: A FAITH THAT WORKS
#72b JAMES: A FAITH THAT WORKS
Source: Joel C. Gregory
“Religion that is pure and undefiled . . . is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” (James 1:27)
I. Authorship
a. What we know! James
b. There are five in the New Testament.
i. Son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19; 3:17*; Acts 2:1-2).
ii. Son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18*).
iii. The younger (Mark 15:40*; 16:1*).
iv. Father of Apostle Judas (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13).
v. The brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3*)—the Just.
c. Reasons for the choice of this latter.
i. A witness of the resurrection (I Corinthians 15:7).
ii. A known church leader (Acts 12:17; 15:13,20f).
iii. He matches this conservative Jewish outlook (Galatians 1:19; 2:2,12; Acts 21:18).
iv. Similarity with letter (Acts 15:23f).
v. Identified as Jesus’ brother (Galatians 1:19).
vi. Linked with second name of brother (Jude 1).
d. Problems identified by some.
i. Late agreement (Third Century).
ii. Use of stylized Hellenistic Greek.
e. Biographical review of this James.
i. Half-brother not step-brother.
ii. Became believer in Jesus as the Messiah after the resurrection (I Corinthians 15:7; Acts 1:14).
iii. Became a respected leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12; 15:14f; 21:18).
II. Date
a. Some say end of First Century (von Soden, Bruckner, Spitta).
b. Most scholars opt for an early date (48-54a.d.).
i. Terminology basically Hebrew as the early church was (twelve tribes, dispersion).
ii. Terminology similar to Sermon on the Mount.
iii. Does not mention controversies.
iv. James the Just stoned A.D. 62—prompted by Ananus (High Priest). Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews.
v. Reference to poverty best reflects that early period. (Compare Romans 15:25f.)
III. To Whom Was the Letter Written?
a. Again, what we know: “To the tribes of the dispersion.”
b. What this may mean.
i. Jews
ii. Jewish Christians
iii. Both
iv. All Christians—twelve tribes a metaphor.
v. The early date would favor Jewish Christians who were finding it necessary to leave Jerusalem
vi. Its message clearly Christian. (James 1:1, 2:1, 5:7-8).
IV. Relationship of Author to Readers
a. James became the leader of Jerusalem church after departure of Peter (Acts 12:17).
b. In that role, he was chief spokesman for conservative Jewish Christians. Had some influence in Syria (Galatians 2:12).
c. Called upon to negotiate early disagreement among the believers (Galatians 2:1-10; Acts 15:13, 20-21).
V. What Prompted the Letter?
a. Reflects the economic and social conditions of Palestine and Syria in the years prior to Jewish revolt of AD 66-70.
i. Wealthy merchants (James 4:13f)/farmers (James 5:1-6).
ii. Considerable poverty (James 1:9-11, 2:6-7 and 14-17).
iii. Additional oppression of the poor (James 2:6-7, 5:1-6).
b. Reflects moral and spiritual problems as well.
i. Disunity and behavioral problems.
ii. Misunderstanding of Paul’s teaching of salvation by faith alone.
VI. What Can Be Established As the Author’s Intent?
a. The church must not discriminate against the poor.
i. Injunction to wealthy as to dangers in materialism as well as oppression of poor.
ii. Injunction to the poor not to let distress produce bitterness and disruption.
b. The wisdom of God produces character, consistency, community (relationships).
c. Tests of faith will come: God’s wisdom and strength produces the ability to endure and overcome.
d. Saving faith and its confession.
i. More than belief in Jesus.
ii. Gives expression in obedience.
iii. Magnifies compassion for the poor.
VII. Various Outlines
a. C.E. Colton
i. Concerning trials James 1:2-18
ii. Concerning true religious service James 1:19-27
iii. Concerning partiality James 2:1-26
iv. Concerning the tongue James 3:1-18
v. Concerning avarice and pride James 4:1-5:6
vi. Concerning the sick James 5:13-18
vii. Concerning compassion James 5:19-20
b. H.E. Dana
i. The problem of trials James 1:2-18
ii. The nature of true religion James 1:19-2:36
iii. The responsibility of the teaching office James 3:1-12
iv. A protest against prevalent evils James 3:13-5:6
1. Strife James 3:13-4:2
2. Avarice James 4:13-5:6
c. A.T. Robertson
i. Joy in Trial James 1:1-11
ii. The Way of Temptation James 1:12-18
iii. The Practice of the Word of God James 1:19-27
iv. Class Prejudice James 2:1-13
v. The Appeal to Life James 2:14-26
vi. The Tongues of Teachers James 3:1-12
vii. The True Wise Man James 3:13-18
viii. The Outer and Inner Life James 4:1-12
ix. God and Business James 4:13-5-6
x. Perseverance and Prayer James 5:7-20
d. Howard P. Colson
i. Some marks of genuine religion James 1:2-27
ii. The practical meaning of Faith James 2:1-26
iii. Tongue control and true wisdom James 3:1-18
iv. Sins of worldliness and Pride James 4:1-17
v. Social Justice and Christian living James 5:1-20
e. Virtus E. Gideon
i. Trials and the Christian Life James 1:2-27
ii. Works and the Christian Life James 2:1-26
iii. The Tongue and the Christian Life James 3:1-18
iv. Worldliness and the Christian Life James 4:1-17
v. Patience and the Christian Life James 5:1-20
Links/Citations
Gregory, J. (1986). James: Faith Works! Convention Press.
JAMES: AN OUTLINE
#72a JAMES: AN OUTLINE
Lamar Skinner
First Baptist Church
February 8/15, 1987
Greeting, James 1:1
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”
I. When Temptations Abound, James 1:2-18
1. Joy in the face of it, James 1:2-4
2. Strength from God, James 1:5-8
3. Consistency of spirit is the key, James 1:9-11
4. Trials and temptations distinguished, James 1:12-15
5. The source of all good, James 1:16-18
II. Beyond Hearing to Doing, James 1:19-27
1. Communicating our faith, James 1:19-25
2. Communicating through our actions, James 1:26-27
III. Respect for Others, James 2:1-13
1. Without favoritism, James 2:1-7
2. The royal law, James 2:8-10
3. Reviewing the commandments, James 2:11-13
4. Faith and its counterpart action, James 2:14-20
5. Old Testament examples, James 2:21-26
IV. The Measure of Our Words, James 3:1-18
1. Advice to teachers, James 3:1
2. Control of the tongue, James 3:2-12
3. True wisdom is from God, James 3:13-18
V. The Spirit Within, James 4:1-5:6
1. Evidence of worldliness, James 4:1-2
2. The weakened prayer-life, James 4:3-4
3. Submitting and resisting, James 4:5-10
4. Evil speaking, James 4:11-12
5. Assertiveness and the Will of God, James 4:13-17
6. Wanton wealth breeds pleasure not godliness, James 5:1-6
VI. Patience As a Christian Virtue, James 5:7-12
1. Patience expected, James 5:7-9
2. Patience examined, James 5:10-11
3. Patience cultivated, James 5:12
VII. The Power of Prayer, James 5:13-18
1. Prayer for the sick, James 5:13-15
2. Prayer wrought in confession, James 5:16
3. Prayer in Old Testament example, James 5:17-18
VIII. Help for the Backslider, James 5:19-20
IF HE DOESN’T COME
#309 IF HE DOESN’T COME
Scripture II Peter 3:3-10, NIV; Hebrews 10:35-39, NIV Orig. 9/18/1966
Rewr. 7/24/1981
Passage:
II Peter 3:3-10 3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]
Hebrews 10:35-39 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
37 For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”[a]
38 And,
“But my righteous[b] one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”[c]
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Purpose: To conclude a three-part series on the second coming sharing with my people the posture of the Christian while waiting for the return of the Lord, in light of the confusion brought on by scoffers and doubters in a secular age.
Keywords: Christian Life Revival Second Coming
Timeline/Series: Second Coming
Introduction
It was another news story out of Southern California. It was not the first, nor will it be the last. There can be little doubt that the fantasy world of Hollywood induces people to engage in the spectacular and the dramatic.
It was early morning, near Los Angeles, and a group of people were gathered together on a roof-top. They were robed in white bed-sheets that were being whipped by the wind. They were waiting to greet the Lord, who was coming on a time-table that they had computed.
They had accomplished a very successful PR job because a number of reporters were on the scene. One newspaper had even set up a camera and had it directed toward the eastern sky. They were not there to record a happy reunion, but rather a dismal failure. Another weird group of people had declared somewhat about the return of Jesus What’s-His-Name, and nothing has come of it. Wow!
They probably were sincere. After waiting through much of morning, then one by one the aspirants of the return of Jesus began to slip away.
Then the reporters found out from the leader of the group how they had come to believe that this was to be the day. He had multiplied his age by the number of his children, then added 666 from the Book of Revelation, and then had divided this sum by the number of puppies in his dog’s new litter, and in this way had derived the date.
It is no wonder that the unbelieving world scoffs at any mention of the second coming. Again and again there have been such groups who, for whatever reasons, have laid the foundation for such ridicule by abusing what we are clearly taught in scripture relative to His coming.
Mark 13:32, But of the day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Luke 12:40, Hold yourselves ready, then, because the Son of Man will come at the time you least expect Him (NEB).
I. As Our Lord Delays His Coming, We Must Respond with Vigilance. V9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Too many of us as Believers act as if we wait for some kind of escape. TS Eliot1 speaks of an inherent danger. “Hell is one’s self; there is nothing to escape from and nothing to escape to.”
We have a Biblical parallel of the danger of one’s attitude as he begins to think too strongly of his own personal safety Psalm 141:10, Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape. The Bible likewise gives us the correct believing stance, John 10:10, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 14:18, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. Colossians 3:4, When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Understand that what we wait for is the return of Jesus, and this waiting must be with vigilance.
We are not just awaiting the fulfillment of prophecy. David foresaw a day when Messiah would reign over Jerusalem. Psalm 24:7, Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in. Malachi closes the vigilant Old Testament with such a message of hope (Malachi 4:2), But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings.
What we wait for is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus. John 14:1-3, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.
Many of you came to this place from other farms where your Father and Mother just barely managed to eke survival out of marginal cotton land. Those farmers had to surrender the land to pasture and forest. But here, the promise is in the soil and the climate and every spring you begin with renewed vigilance the wonderful challenge of harvest. Even so spiritual vigilance.
II. It is a Time Also for Vision. Vv10-11, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, the heavens . . . shall pass away . . . ; the elements . . . shall melt . . . ; the earth . . . shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be . . . ?
Vision requires knowledge of the Word. We will never understand the TIMES unless we understand the WORD. Habakkuk 1:2, How long, O Lord, have I cried to thee, unanswered? I cry, violence, but thou dost not save. Why?
His question—Why doesn’t God do something about the human leeches who live off of the blood sucked from God’s saints? Habakkuk agrees, however, to wait in a posture of vigilance and vision. 2:1, I will stand at my post, I will take up my position on the watch-tower, I will watch to learn what He will say. . . . Then God gave Habakkuk His answer, V3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry long.” And Habakkuk concludes 2:20, “. . . The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be hushed in His presence. 3:2 . . . In the midst of years thou didst make thyself known, and in the wrath thou didst remember mercy. 3:19, The Lord God is my strength, who makes my feet nimble as a hind’s feet as he sets me to walk upon my high places.
That word tells us all that we shall ever need to know of His coming. Acts 1:11, This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner from heaven. Philippians 3:20, Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:37, Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.
Our day is beset by the sudden and unexpected happening. On a quiet October morning 5 or 6 years ago a ship crushed a ferry crossing the river in New Orleans. Over 60 dead. Just before Christmas a year later, a grain elevator exploded and collapsed on the block house. 37 dead. I watched from Ochsner Foundation Hospital. A soft summer dance in Kansas City and 111 dead, 108 injured. [Survivor stated], “I kept asking mother, is it a dream?”
III. This Time of Delay—This Time of Vigilance and Vision—is a Time of Victory. Hebrews 10:35, Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward, 37 For yet a little while and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
For the believer, there is victory in death. If Jesus chooses to tarry through our life time, it will be to the end that others say be saved. John 1:11-12, He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name.
For the believer, there is victory in a life cut short by the return of our Lord. He will come during the lifetime of some of us or of our children, or of our children’s children. Only then will we acknowledge this life to be what it truly is. The world’s picture is that death is unacceptable. This is life, and death is the void of life. But in reality, this place where we now live is the land of the dying, and that ruled over by Christ is the land of living.
Make no mistake, our victory is in our vision and our vigilance as we live out our lives in this, the land of the dying, waiting for the glorious reckoning of our Saviour’s kingdom.
Closing
Dr. Wayne Ward, in one of his books, tells of a trip to the Holy Land. While walking on the Mount of Olives, he came upon a man in the garb of an Arab who seemed to understand the place where they stood. Being a teacher of Hebrew and Aramaic, he greeted the man. But strangely, the man answered, “Howdy!” Dr. Ward questioned the man about his homeland. He was told, “I’m a Holiness preacher from Kansas City. I live in that shanty right over there. I intend to be Johnny-on-the-spot when Jesus comes.” You don’t have to live in a shanty on the Mount of Olives to be acceptable to Jesus when He returns, but you do have to be ready.
1 Eliot, T. S. (1988b). The Cocktail Party: A comedy. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Eliot: https://fleurmach.com/2013/03/27/t-s-eliot-the-cocktail-party-1949/
Dr. Ward: https://www.christianitytoday.com/1961/03/gospel-of-jesus-christ/