Week 5 Day 1

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 1

Introduction…in the early church the teachers were of critical importance, highly honored and essential to the discipling of the many new believers that came to Christ. As in nature, caring for the new borns makes the difference between life and death. In Christ, that meant the role of the teacher was to take a new believer from the point of salvation and the milk of the Word to the ultimate goal of establishing them in the faith until they became mature and could teach others. Those with the gift of teaching had a supernatural ability to explain clearly and apply effectively the truth of the Word of God.

Read James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers (reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we teachers will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity (than other people). Thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation.” The Amplified Bible
Bible Study

• The Bible speaks of Newborn’s in Christ as needing to grow, by being taught and applying the Word. We need a teacher of the Word. Often times it is the Pastor.
  • An unteachable or haughty spirit will keep you from coming to Christ, but God reveals His purposes to the humble, to the ‘hungry babes in Christ’. See Matthew 11:25
  • “Like newborn babies you should crave, thirst for, and earnestly desire the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto completion, since you have already tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.” I Peter 2:2 Amplified
• Understand that it is the will of God for each of us to grow, become established and mature in the Word and in the knowledge of God.
  • Hebrews 5:12-14 describes the God intended pathway to maturity
  • “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
  • Spiritual discernment, recognizing good from evil, and choosing the good is a sign of spiritual maturity.
• God’s will for us and our goal should be to grow, “study to show ourselves approved unto God” (see 2 Timothy 2:15), so that we are self sustaining, true disciples of Jesus Christ, who like Christ, minister/serve/help others.
• Galatians 6:1-6 gives us God’s picture of a mature believer. “Brethren, if any person is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual (mature), restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work…for each one should carry his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.”
• There is accountability that comes with knowing and with teaching the Word of God. “To whom much is given, much is required.” Luke 12:48
  • We should live up to the light we receive. As we receive the light/understanding of God’s Word, we should live in, or apply the light given to us.
  • We should share/teach what we know with humbleness, not to lord it over another.
  • We should do what we say.

Application

• Beware of false teachers and false teaching:
  • Hypocritical teaching. Those that do not do what they say.
  • Pandering teaching. Those that teach only what people want to hear.
  • Heretical teaching. Those who do not teach the full counsel of the Word of God, by comparing Scripture with Scripture, rightly understanding and teaching the Word of Truth

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 5 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 2

Introduction…Relationships are a top priority of life. So much of our relationship with God, our wife, family, and others depends upon our communication . The words we choose to say and the conversations we have are the crucial elements in building, keeping and improving our relationships. Knowing what to say and how to say it is such a valuable skill. Controlling what you say is key?

Read James 3:2-4 “For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech, never says the wrong things, that person is a fully developed character and perfect, able to control his whole body and curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise look at ships, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.” The Amplified Bible

Bible Study

• Regardless of what language we speak, there is power in the tongue, what we say. The fact is we all offend in what and how we say things. So this Scripture should be getting the attention of all of us.
• Words may seem insignificant, but they are absolutely crucial and should be chosen carefully.
• Understand that the words and communication we use, comes from within us, from our hearts. What we think on and is resident in our heart comes out in what we say and how we say it.
• The Bible explains this truth so well in Luke 6:45 “A good person, out of the good stored up treasure in his heart, brings forth good. And an evil person out of what is in their heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
• If your heart, your inner person is in peace and you have the love of God in you, your words can heal and help, but if not you can damage people and relationships and sin against God’s standard.
  • “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger…a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:1-4
  • Jesus said, “On the day of judgment we will have to give account for every idle word spoken, for by your words you will be justified and by our words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

Application

Do you have control of your words? Could you improve in your communication skills?

Consider this story:

There was a young boy who  had a bad temper. One day his father gave him a bag of nails and told the boy, every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back fence. The very first day found the boy loosing his temper a few times and hammering nails as a result. Over the next few weeks there were 37 nails driven into the fence, but the boy was controlling his temper better especially as he thought about the many times he had to go out back and drive more nails. Finally the day came when it seemed the boy had learned his lesson. No more nails were being driven into the fence. Now the father suggested that the boy pull out 1 nail each day that he was able to control his temper. The days passed and eventually all the nails were gone. At this point the father took his son to look at the fence and said, “You have done well, but look at all the holes that damaged the fence. Please remember my son that when you say things to a person in anger, they too damage and leave a scar.”

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 5 Day 3

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 3

Introduction…There is great power in this little member of our body, the tongue. Power to do such good and yet, so much damage. Who can tame it? How?

Read James 3: 5-8 “So the tongue is a small part of the body and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity. The tongue is set among our members as that which delies the entire body and sets on fire the course of our life and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds…has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue, it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”

Bible Study

• A fire describes the danger of our tongue, when it is out of control and certain destruction of our words.

o      It is wide ranging meaning, like fire, the destruction of our words spreads from me to you and the negative affects move to others as well.

o      It is uncontrollable, like fire, because once the wrong thing is said, who can take it back or reverse the negative impact.

o      Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city…”

• What we say matters to God, who hears all and will hold us accountable. For example in Scripture…

o      Miriam grumbled/complained against God’s anointed leader, Moses, and it was negatively impacting God’s good plan for the Israelites. God struck her temporarily with leprosy. Numbers 12:1-10

o      When God instructed Moses to send spies into the Promised Land/Israel, 10 came back negatively and fearfully saying it will be impossible to enter this land, even though God said He would give it to them. Only 2 came back and with faith spoke well of the land filled with plenty. God judged the 10 nay sayers and all those who believed the bad report by not letting them enter Israel. Numbers 13:30-33

• Realize God’s warning about the misuse of words and the importance He places on our communication.

o      Realize our words are like weapons when misused. They injure, do damage and can kill. “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

o      Realize wrong words are sinful…lying, blasphemy, criticizing, murmuring and judging others. Ephesians 4:31 says, “let all bitterness, wrath, anger…and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.”

o      Realize God hears and cares about our communication

o      Realize we can ask God and others for forgiveness, repent and begin to live speaking the truth in love. See Ephesians 4:25-32

• Realize God’s best for yourself, others and all affected by your words:

o      Realize how much He loves you. 1 John 4:16 “We know how much God loves us and we have put our trust in His love.”

o      Realize we do not need to fear with God on our side. Psalms 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”

o      Realize God has made promises to you. Matthew 21:22 “And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and truly believing, you will receive.”

o      Realize God is with you so have faith in Him. Matthew 17:20 “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain be moved…and nothing will be impossible for you.”

o      Realize you are God’s love extended to others. John 13:34 “So now I am giving you a new commandment. Love each other just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Application

• Realizing all God has for us, we must guard our heart and mouth from thinking and speaking evil.
• A great prayer related to this topic that has helped me is found in Psalms 19:14. It says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 5 Day 4

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 4

Introduction…sometimes the split personalities of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde come out of us via our words. Amazingly enough we can bless God with our tongue and later cut down and curse people, the very creation He loves. How can this be? How can I be consistent with my words?

Read James 3: 9-12 “With it (our tongue/words) we bless the Lord and Father and with it we curse the men who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth there emerge blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers. Surely the  one stream from the same cleft in the rock does not gush forth fresh and salt water? Surely brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a vine figs, nor can salt water produce fresh water?

Bible Study

• It is unnatural for water, or fruit to come from anything else but its source. Figs/Fig Tree, Olives/Olive Tree and fresh water from a fresh water spring. So good and Godly words of blessing and encouragement should come from a disciple of Jesus Christ, from a true born again believer.
• It is tragic and unnatural when and if we bless and curse from the same tongue
• What must be do if this is happening in our life? Consider the source!
• Understand the dynamics at play in this situation of blessing and cursing:
  • The source of blessing and cursing is different even though it comes from the same person.
  • Within each of us there is a battle between good and evil, the Spirit and the flesh. These forces are diametrically opposed to each other.
  • Our fight is not physical, or against people or circumstances, our battle in life is spiritual. See Ephesians 6:12 “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood (people), but against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness…”
• The Spirit of God in us as believers is the source from where comes the blessings to God and words that edify, or strengthen others. This describes the new man in us at work that is led by His Spirit.
• If not Spirit led, the source from where anger, jealousy and cursing comes is from the flesh, the carnal, worldly person that is not yet totally turned over to God, nor given over to His control. This is the old man, not yet regenerated by God and not Spirit led.  See Ephesians 4: 22-23.
• What is the answer? How do I sustain speaking words that heal, help and encourage? How do I bless God and bless people His precious creation?
• Keep turning over all areas of your life to God. Be filled with the goodness and truth of God. Be filled with His Spirit by meditating on His Word. Speak to yourself in psalms, hymns and spiritual sayings. See Ephesians 5: 18-21
• Jesus declared that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit within “from out of our innermost being would flow rivers of living water”…that is His goodness, peace, joy, love. John 7: 37-39

Application

• Let’s desire to learn with His help to control your tongue. Ask God to guard your words.
• Let’s desire to be filled with His Spirit.
• We must choose to put on the new man by the renewing of our mind. See Ephesians 4:24

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 5 Day 5

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 5

Introduction…everything hinges on leadership. We are all leaders since people are watching us and we are all responsible as leaders, at the very least for our own lives. Our own life, marriage, family, church, business, sports teams, government, education…every sphere we can name…all need leadership and the right kind of leadership! The Servant Leadership modeled by Jesus Christ, for over 2000 years, continues to positively influence our world. Since we are His disciples and leaders in our own right, Jesus said to us, “He who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself, will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12

Read James 3:13-14 “Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let this person by his noble living show forth his good works with the humility of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and contention in your hearts, do not pride yourself on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the truth.”

Bible Study

• Once again, James follows Jesus’ teaching and indicates that the inner man, the character of the person is key. We have to first get it right on the inside. Do an assessment of your leadership:
  • The heart…what is your motivation as a leader?
  • The head…what are your beliefs as a leader?
  • The hands…what are you doing and saying? Do they align?
  • The habits…what is developing in you? Is it good and of God?
• When we get it right on the inside of ourselves, the source, what flows out from us, what we say and do, our words and actions are right and consistent.
• Jesus said, “you will know a tree by its fruit.” You will know a person by the fruit displayed in his/her life. What fruit do you and others see from your life?
• A life led by the Spirit of God yields certain fruit. See Galatians 5:22-25. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.
• A life that is not led by God’s Spirit, but led by the flesh displays the works or fruit of the flesh. See Galatians 5:19-21. The works of the flesh are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, factions, seditions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, reveling.
• Jealousy and fighting your way up the ladder of success may seem the right motivator to get ahead, but it is being led of the flesh.  Proverbs 14:12 says, “there is a way that seems right to a person (without God’s leading/principles), but the end thereof is death and destruction.” Destruction to yourself, your leadership and others.
• A life or leadership that is not Spirit led is envious, angered, fearful and prideful. It is not sustainable. It will not stand or last…it will fall under the storms of life.
• The truly wise and intelligent are not full of pride. The Scriptures declare that, “pride goes before destruction.” Proverbs 16:18

Application

• Where do you lead? Family? Church? Business? Community?
• How do you lead?
• What is the impact of your leadership?

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10