Author: missionspaul

Your value must be seen from the perspective of God and not of this world. How easy it is to fall into the temptation that our worth is based on material possessions or popularity.

James refers to the rich several times in his letter. It is difficult to determine whether these are believers within the community and he is addressing the behaviour of the poor and the rich together or whether the rich are the unbelievers oppressing the poor of the church. I am sure there are many who have a better viewpoint on that. I don’t think it matters too much but I am just noting it.

“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” (James 1 v 9-11)

James tells us that our bank balances can impact our spiritual perspective negatively. The poor can complain, become bitter and miss what God offers them. The rich can get their worth from what they hold and they miss the fact that what is in their hands is temporary, it can fade away even when they live but definitely when they die.

When I am with the Christian poor in every nation of the world I am always drawn to the thought that of all the stages of the world where God could be, He is here the most. He is here with the broken, the bruised and the forgotten, the poor. He is not here in weakness but with power, glory and great joy. There is a richness that I have never experienced and have longed for all my life. Better a poor man who can see heaven open than a rich man whose worldview is the earth. James reminds them not to hold their head in shame but recognise that they have a high position in the economy of God and in the community of the Church.
In contrast whereas the poor should lift their head, the rich should bring their head down from any lofty position to realise that it is not what is in their hands that counts but who is in their life. You will know several Christian rich people who God uses to bless the poor. And you are most probably one of them! You might not call yourself rich in comparison to others but you give to the Church and to missions, charities and people in need. You do not glory in your possessions and your money. You know every earthly thing that you have is fading away. You know if there is any arrogance because of your prosperity it will be exposed and humiliated by it not lasting just like a flower in the garden. You know it is never about how much you have or how little you have. It is seeing this world through the perspective of God.

“When they were up they were up and when they were down they were down and when they were half way up ……… they were Christians”

The Grand Old Duke of York! What a great Pastor?! He had his work cut out, he had 10,000 in his church!

Sorry for those who haven’t a clue who the Grand Old Duke of York is!

It is just so difficult considering our trials and difficulties with ‘all joy’. It can be a difficult message to hear. How do I know whether to ask God to deliver me from these trials or to strengthen me within them?

But James knows this, that’s why in his next breath he says:

Get wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (Hebrews 1 v 5-8)

We desperately need heavenly wisdom, if we are going to be able to go through the trials. Note the repetition of the word lack, James is wanting the Jewish Christians to aspire to completeness, wholeness, and he gently says ‘if any of you lacks’, but probably he’s saying ‘since you all lack’, the realisation that we as followers of Christ do lack, ‘ask God for wisdom’. 

Wisdom helps us to see more clearly.

Wisdom is knowing God with a living heart-knowledge which gives real insight into life, into right and wrong, which regulates conduct and shapes our whole selves, it goes way beyond knowledge, it illuminates our intellect. Wisdom is equivalent to practical religion. It is far superior to knowledge.

Wisdom is to see things clearly, having a godly insight into things as they are. Seeing earthly things and temptations as they really are. If we have this wisdom we won’t lack. 

And to encourage us to ask for this James reminds us just what God is like:

He is generous – whenever we ask for wisdom God will give it, and he gives it to all, to anyone who asks. 

And wonderfully he gives without finding fault – he doesn’t meet us in our trials and suffering and say to us, ‘What on earth are you doing now, don’t you know how to get out of this!?’ Or ‘Look at the fine mess you’ve got yourself into now!’

We must ask!

How? With confidence and certainty. These verses are not meant as condemnation by James, he’s not saying those of you who doubt or struggle or wrestle with stuff, won’t receive from God, rather he’s saying don’t be looking to God half-heartedly, looking to God but really looking to other places for help as well. 

Be sincere when asking God for wisdom, just in the same way he is completely sincere about giving it to you. 

How amazing it is, that to obtain such godly wisdom all we have to do is ask. 

We don’t have to study harder or get qualifications. James isn’t saying to us if we lack wisdom we should read more, go and visit more teachers, or become more learned. If you want to learn theology you have to study it, to become a doctor or lawyer or anything else you’d have to study. But this is different.

This isn’t about a head knowledge but about the heart. This wisdom is seated in the human spirit, God’s spirit dwelling within us. If it’s divine wisdom we require, we are to ask. The insight, that is so clear and vivid and so perfect, is from God. It comes to us from the Spirit that dwells within our hearts.

May our prayer be one today of ‘Lord, grant me wisdom, wisdom to see things the way you see them. Wisdom so that I will lack nothing.’ 

Sometimes we’re so keen to pray and ask God to remove the suffering, to get us out of it, rather than ask for wisdom through it. We need wisdom to make the right use of it. 

We need to see wisdom as the prized possession.

It is about 50 AD, so after the death of Jesus. James writes to those ‘scattered among the nations’. He urges them to be patient and to persevere during the trials and temptations, to continue to live consistently with what they learnt previously in Christ and to live humbly in God. 

The Apostle’s heart was to bring comfort, to reassure them that they haven’t done anything wrong to be in this situation, but they can still trust God, still rejoice in the things of the kingdom, wherever they are, in all places, and at all times. 

Above all, James is wanting them to get the wisdom of God in this terrible time for their life. Despite what they are going through he encourages them to press on to seek the wisdom of God, and become complete and whole, moving towards living in the likeness of Christ. 

7 times the book of James refers to making us perfect, the true meaning of that word, is whole, complete, living a life of consistency and being authentic. 

Authenticity is choosing heavenly wisdom, trusting God, deciding to listen and do, serve and love others, speak in love, care for the poor, devoted wholly to God, despite the situation of life.  

The two main influences of James’ letter come from the Sermon on the Mount teaching where Jesus introduces us to an upside down Kingdom but also the Wisdom found in Proverbs especially ch 1-9. It is the wisdom of God that we will see come through time and time again.

The Holy Spirit through this book of James says to us this morning, whatever you are going through, no matter how tough …

Consider it pure joy … or

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (Hebrews 1 v 2-4)

Now we need to hear James right here. He’s not saying be joyful about suffering, but rather be joyful in suffering, because we know what God can and does do for us through suffering. 

James is not saying to us, pretend your trials are fun. He’s urging us to remember what God is doing in this. It says ‘count it all joy’ or ‘consider’ it joy. He’s not saying how we should feel, but rather how we should think. 

But why am I going through this? That is often the question. James says it is for the testing. He uses the word ‘dokimos’ and it means approval. The word is found underneath many ancient pieces of pottery that archaeologists have discovered. It meant that the pieces had gone through the furnace without cracking: it had been approved. God’s ultimate desire for our life is to bring us through it having stood the test of time and to stand before Him approved, mature in every way in Christ Jesus. Job understood this: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

I’m currently re-reading a classic, ‘Man’s search for meaning’ by Viktor E Frankl. He was a psychiatrist who died in 1997 but a Nazi concentration camp survivor. He lost his parents, brother and his wife all in the camps. How do you survive this? Here is his most famous quote and it is about finding a new perspective: “Everything can be taken from a man except one thing: the last of the human freedoms – this is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

James says this new perspective is productive, it brings steadfastness which is an endurance to remain in the toughness of life and keep your spiritual fervour. Doing so means it will be worth it. For you will be approved.

That is what it means to find a new perspective when it is tough.

On this day of Pentecost I begin a new book and it is from an apostle who was there on the first outpouring, James.

Jesus appeared to James following his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7).  Jerome, a fourth century Christian author, records a legend which says that James had made a vow to not eat or drink until he had seen Jesus raised from the dead.  Supposedly, Jesus appeared to James and said, “My brother, eat thy bread, for the Son of man is risen from the dead”

Galatians 1: 18-19 Paul mentions James as the brother of Jesus.

The appearance to James changed his brother’s life.

But of course before this appearance we see James the seeker after His Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ in the days leading up to Pentecost.

Acts 1: 14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

In that place were people who were angry, disappointed, failures, the unworthy and the ignorant. In that place were those in grief and dealing with the trauma and loss of what they had experienced. In that place all had a sense of fear of what would happen now.

And yet, in this place they began to do what they would do throughout the years of the early Church, they would pray. And by doing so they would begin to experience the divine exchange when heaven touches earth. It would not be in the Temple as they and every Jew believed was the place for this but it would be in the ordinary places of life. In an upper room. In any place where you stay. In this place here right now. This is the space and the time to do what is the most important thing on earth, to pray. No matter who you are or what you have done or what you have experienced, you can pray.

James became a leading figure in the church at Jerusalem.  When Peter was released from prison he came to the house of Mary and told of how the Lord had instructed him to tell James and the brethren of his prison escape. Acts 12

When the controversy arose over certain Judaizers who were demanding the circumcision of Gentle Christians, Paul and Barnabas met in Jerusalem with the apostles and elders, and James played a significant role in that meeting (Acts 15)

Paul who referred to James, along with Peter and John, as pillars in the church who had extended to him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, and encouraged their work among the Gentiles (Galatians 2:9-10).

It is moving to hear James refer to his brother as “our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” James 2:1. Can you imagine what this phrase meant for James? The Lord of glory had once slept beside him, ate at his dinner table, played with his friends, spoke to him like a brother, endured his unbelief, paid the debt of his sin, and then brought him to faith.

It may have taken 20-30 years of faithful, prayerful witness by the Son of God, but the miracle occurred: his brothers believed. May the Lord of glory grant the same grace to our beloved unbelievers.  Legend has it that James was stoned to death in Jerusalem.

James writes to Jewish Christians who have been displaced and dispersed. They are in the biggest storm of their life since they found Christ as Saviour.

This is the first Christian community, forced to leave their home, scattered all over the place, they’re suffering, they’re facing despair and they’re being persecuted. The Jewish nation is crumbling into parties and fractions. It is the half-brother of Jesus, James, who is trying to navigate them through this storm? It is about 50 AD, so after the death of Jesus.

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.” (James 1:1)

James writes to those ‘scattered among the nations’. He urges them to be patient and to persevere during the trials and temptations, to continue to live consistently with what they learnt previously in Christ and to live humbly in God. 

The Apostle’s heart was to bring comfort, to reassure them that they haven’t done anything wrong to be in this situation, but they can still trust God, still rejoice in the things of the kingdom, wherever they are, in all places, and at all times. 

As we close this amazing letter of Hebrews we do so by reading of 3 very important truths to live by. Your relationship with God, having friends in your life and living by grace.

“Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. ²³ I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. ²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. ²⁵ Grace be with you all.” (Hebrews 13 v 22-25)

The writer says that this letter was brief. Well this is my final blog on Hebrews (the 138^th one!). Whether you think Hebrews is brief or not I guess it would have not taken too long to read it aloud in one go. The questions is what is the impact? Will they be obedient to its challenge? Will they remain devoted to Jesus Christ and resist the return to Judaism?

And you? Will you do what God has called you to do?

Secondly, don’t rush past the individuals. Timothy having been released from prison is wanting to come to see them along with the writer of the letter. ‘All your leaders’ and ‘all the Lord’s people’ and the Italians who are obviously living in the writer’s region. The point is: community. Relationships, belonging, fellowship. This is so important. I have just come from my denominations annual conference and what a joy to see so many people who are classed as friends. Guests from overseas commented of what they saw in the depth of friendship being witnessed.

And you? Which people are you so grateful for today?

And finally, Grace.

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15)

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. (Hebrews 13:9)

Grace be with you all. The final verse.

This whole letter has not been an easy listen for its readers. There is much to challenge them. But it ends with grace. These early Christians were thinking of giving up, some already had. They needed to persevere just like Jesus endured the cross. We don’t know who this writer was nor to who it was written for. It was written for us.

It was written that we might trust what God has said in His Word.

It was written that we might walk in holiness within the finished work of Christ.

It was written that we might honour the person of Christ and not water down this orthodox position.

And it was written that we might not fall away into heresy.

And you? How will you continue as a Christian? It has to be Grace. There is no other way.

We are not given the detail of what they thought they needed. But going through persecution and the doubts of their faith it is not too difficult to realise that they are reliant on God. It could be that they feel they have failed in some way, perhaps because of their desire or even decision to return to Judaism and now wonder if they can be brought back to the position they once held. Don’t we all experience that at times?

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13 v 20-21)

You have not been put here to simply struggle, to be overwhelmed by life’s predicaments.

God has a purpose for your life and it is to do good works.

The ultimate is not just faith in Jesus, following Him and going to heaven. It is also to do good to those here on earth.

Imagine for a moment if every disciple of Jesus woke today with one thought only and that is to do good. To alleviate someone’s hurt, to listen to someone, to kneel before a sword-wielding child with the soothing words to heal that troubled soul.

The immature enter ‘their’ church and are more interested in ‘serve us’ than ‘service’. After a while they begin to say ‘it’s not working for me here.’ NO. The church was never meant to work for you.

The mature follower of Jesus stops asking ‘who’s going to meet my needs?’ and starts asking, ‘whose needs can I meet?’

You don’t need a title or a trophy to do a good work. You don’t need training to be nice to someone, to help them smile and to make life a little easier. You just have to think less of yourself.

Wherever you are you can do good to others and that is the calling on your life. Many years ago I buried a man who thought he would be healed because ‘God has something for me to do, I don’t know what it is yet Pastor but I know He will tell me.’ I buried him with regret that this man had not seen the importance of good works. He died before he realised God was his equipper.

Your Equipper tells you to move today.

You may feel paralysed by your situation: Move is the command. You might be incapable but move and see that you are more than capable. He is your equipper.

Your hand may be shrivelled: Move is the command. You may feel your best days are over but move and you will see everything restored. He is your equipper.

You may drifted asleep in the garden of Gethsemane. Move is the command. You may have slipped away from where you should be but move and you will be reconnected to God. He is your equipper.

With this command comes the ability to do just that. That is the equipping.

I have seen those in self-pity get up, those who used to have passion for Jesus get up, those who gave away their potential get up, those paralysed by a stronghold in their life get up, those in the grip of guilt and self-condemnation get up.

He is your equipper.

The Bible is full of God who loves as a shepherd.

Joseph described God, “God who has been my shepherd all my life” (Genesis 48:15)

Isaiah prophesies, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (40:11)

And of course David says, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1)

^“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13 v 20-21)

Lean into Jesus your shepherd today:-

1. He is speaking to you through His Spirit, listen to Him.
2. He is leading you, follow Him.
3. He lays down before you during the night to protect you, trust Him.
4. He knows everything there is to know about you, relax in His love.
5. He has all authority, be confident.

When we are the sinner we cry for mercy. But the natural response when we are sinned against is to cry for justice.

The blood of Abel in Genesis 4 cried for justice. It was a prayer of ‘Get him God.’

The blood of Jesus is not ‘Father get these murderers’ but “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

^“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13 v 20-21)

What has the blood of Jesus done for you?

It has forgiven you.  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7)

It means God will never be angry with you. “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. “ (Romans 5:9)

It gives you a relationship with Jesus. “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53)

It gives you a close relationship with Jesus. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)

I am cleansed now and tomorrow. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (I John 1:7)

I can silence the voice of my enemy. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11)

I am good in God’s sight.  “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed…” (Romans 3:24-25)

Never lose sight of the power of the blood of Jesus.

The only time in this whole letter does the author refer specifically to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is here.

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

It is the centre of what we believe. It is the offence of the gospel. It is why there is only one way to heaven through Jesus Christ. It is why Jesus is more than a prophet. It is why Jesus is the Son of God, God himself. It is why those who put their trust in him will never die but be raised to new life.

This one thing, the resurrection of Jesus.

It is what unites and divides.

Resurrection, it is not only the foundation of our faith but the true essence and meaning for our faith.

Why so?

If Jesus Christ was not raised then he lied about his own resurrection (Mark 9:31).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then the cross has no power to save (1 Corinthians 15:3).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then there is no hope that anyone be raised (1 Corinthians 15:18-19).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then God who raises the dead has not vindicated him (1 Corinthians 15:20).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then sin and death cannot be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then there is no new life in God now (Romans 6:4).

You speak to people today and many will hold to a nice thought that people are still alive after their death. But it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and all of the effects of that amazing act which changes everything.

1. Every mistake, every failure, every regret needs to be brought to look at the empty tomb of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus makes everything okay.
2. All your question marks, the decisions for your future, wondering which way to go and what to do needs to be brought to look at the empty tomb of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus gives purpose to your life.
3. Every challenge, every obstacle, every enemy needs to be brought to look at the empty tomb of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus gives power to you to overcome whatever you are facing.
4. All your fears, perhaps even life-threatening diseases, infirmity and old age creeping in, they all need to be brought to look at the empty tomb of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus gives eternal life to you no matter what you are carrying or however old you are.

No need to rely on your own strength because Jesus has been raised by God!

If you have never seen the clip from America’s Got Talent show and a man called Archie Williams then you must search for it on Youtube!

Archie sang “Don’t let the sun go down on me.” It is hard to watch without tears. He went onto the stage and opened up with this sentence: “I was just incarcerated for 37 years for somebody else’s crime. DNA freed me.” He later explained, “On the morning of December 9 of 1982 a 30-year-old white woman was raped and stabbed in her home. I was arrested on January 4. I couldn’t believe it was really happening. I knew I was innocent. I didn’t commit a crime. But being a poor black kid, I didn’t have the economic ability to fight the state of Louisiana.”

He continued: “At the trial, none of the fingerprints at the scene matched mine. Three people testified that I was at home, but they wanted somebody to pay. I was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole or probation.  Days turned into weeks and into months and into decades. It was like a nightmare.”

He concluded with these words, “Freedom is of the mind. I went to prison, but I never let my mind go to prison. This is how I got peace from praying and singing”

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13 v 20-21)

However you would describe your situation today. In your pain; with all your mixed emotions; perhaps distractions and even your failings. This morning you can either wake with those thoughts the most prominent or with this truth if you begin with God: He is your God of peace.

Don’t be tortured by your ‘prison’ today. Don’t allow this ‘prison’ to be the place you live in. Bring your God back into the centre of your ‘prison’. He is the source and the giver of peace. He creates peace and He makes peace. In the worst of disasters your God is in the middle making peace even if it is you that has created the disorder. If today you lay down your weapons of judgment for others and for yourself and invite your God of peace to come to you, He will.