James 4:11-17, A Proper Perspective
James 4:11-17
April 15, 2007
Intro: Think of all of God’s WORD, WORK, and WILL accomplished by the Spirit through out the Bible. Then consider that there’s a human undercurrent, of the flesh, that flows in the form of WARS, FIGHTS, AND DIVISIONS.
Psalm 133:1, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
A- So true BUT CONSIDER:
1- Uncle Abraham and Lott who quarreled.
2- Absalom literally went to war against dad David.
3- The Apostles were always arguing.
4- There was contention between Paul and Barnabus.
a- The Corinthians were suing one another.
b- The Galatians were “biting and devouring” one another.
c- The Ephesians were called to cultivate unity.
d- And the Philippians had 2 problem women.
Philippians 4:2, I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
Ø All minor skirmishes compared to compared to what James observed occurring in the churches.
Ch. 2:1-9, There were wars between the classes.
Ch. 5:1-6, There were labor wars.
Ch. 1:1-20 & 3:13-18, There were Church fights.
A- And now in Chapter 4 it’s personal wars.
Read Verse 11-12
1- So if this is a reality in your life PRAY that the Holy Spirit will give you PROPER PERSPECTIVE on the matter.
#1- The 1st perspective is having the accurate analysis of one
another.
James 4:11, Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother,…
A- Paul is making the point of family, it’s the relationship we share with one another.
Galatians 4:4-6, But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
1- This is a family that we were ALL brought in:
a- Because we were all failures (sinners)
b- And because God was victorious in our lives (grace).
1 Corinthians 4:7, For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? V:13, We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
- The world rejected us all, God accepted us
all, and the church should receive all.
2- NOTICE the word for “Judge” = Krino.
a- “Krino” = Does not mean making a evaluation but speaks of condemnation.
Read Matthew 7:1-5
#2- A 2nd perspective, when it comes to relationships with-in the
church, is having A consideration of the Lord’s
commandments.
James 4:11, Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
A- This is not a legalistic regression BUT A remembrance of Jesus primary principles.
Matthew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
1- It’s all about your heart towards God and then your
heart towards man.
Remember: You can’t change your heart but you can change your mind. GOD can change your heart but won’t change your mind. SO if you change you mind God will change your heart.
a- The law is an articulation of the principles of love
- Look at the corralation between love and
the keeping of the 10 commandments:
* Remember the 1st 4 = GOD; The 2nd
6 = MAN.
Turn to Exodus 20 & “Read Verse 3”
A- Do you love only God? Then don’t commit spiritual adultry through Idolatry.
1- “Before me” = Before may face.
a- Remember we deal with an omnipresent/omniscience God.
Read Verses 4-5
B- If you love God you’ll worhip only Him.
Isaiah 42:8, I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
1- We are not to worship be sight but in spirit and truth.
Deuteronomy 4:12, And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.
Read Verse 7
C- If you love God you will rightly represent Him.
1- My children/Urciuoli, A member of this church/CCO, Christian/Jesus Christ.
Romans 2:24, For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
Read Verse 8-11
D- If you love God then spend some time with Him.
1- The actual Sabbath is for the Jews and the Jews only:
Exodus 31:17, It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
2- The Spiritual Sabbath is for all:
Colossians 2:16-17, So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Ø Elements of loving God BUT the greatest expression of loving God is loving one another.
1 John 3:16, By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Read Verse 12
E- If you love God then you’ll love man, if you love man you’ll start with those whom He has chose to represent Him in the household.
1- If a child has no respect for godly leadership he will have no respect for God.
Read Verse 13
F- Goes without saying
1- This is the intentional slaying of another person
a- Man was created in the image of God.
b- We are to honor the sanctity of life.
Jesus brought this to heart in Matthew 5:21-26
Read Verse 14
G- How strongly does God feel about this.
1- The breaking of this commandment required the death penalty. (Lev 20:10)
Read Verse 15
A- As a child one day I came to the realization that everything I called mine was really my fathers.
1- As a Christian I have come to the realization that everything I call mine is really my Heavenly Fathers.
a- That makes me a steward.
b- If you are stealing from me you are really stealing from my master.
Read Verse 16
A- Integrity is everything.
1- If a man has integrity you will totally trust him, believe him, and rely on him.
a- Not bearing false witness is the basis of our legal system and God Knew it.
- Even HE demanded two or more witnesses
Read Verse 17
A- IF all good things come from God then shouldn’t you be content with what you have instead of being grieved over what your neighbor has.
1- Nine other commandments focus on outward actions that begin in the heart.
a- The first and last commandments focus on what’s in the heart.
- My neighbor’s Ox.
James 4:11, Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
#3- A 3rd perspective, when it comes to relationships with-in the
church, is based upon your PERCEPTION OF GOD.
James 4:12, There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy…
A- Do you submit yourself to God as God, to love Him and fear Him, OR do you usurp God’s place of authority and blaspheme Him by your better ideas???
1- It can be so easy to be an outward believer and an inward atheist.
Proverbs 14:12, There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
#4- A 4th perspective, when it comes to relationships with-in the
church, is based upon your PERCEPTION OF SELF.
James 4:12, There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
A- Consider THRE FINAL THINGS THAT YOU ARE NOT!
#1- yOU ARE NOT A KNOW IT ALL ONLY GOD IS.
1- The man coming to church for the 1st time with booze on his breath.
a- Maybe he just experienced a personal disaster?
Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
#2- You are not THE authority.
Read Romans 14:1-4
#3- Do not condemn BUT when an examination is needed 1st
examine your own heart 1st.
2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
James 4:11-17
April 15, 2007
Psalm 133:1
Philippians 4:2
Galatians 4:4-6
1 Corinthians 4:7
Matthew 7:1-5
James 4:11
Matthew 22:36-40
Exodus 20
Isaiah 42:8
Deuteronomy 4:12
Romans 2:24
Exodus 31:17
Colossians 2:16-17
1 John 3:16
Matthew 5:21-26
Proverbs 14:12
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Romans 14:1-4
2 Corinthians 13:5