Someone is praying...

Someone is praying for something that you already have.  We must focus on what we already have and be thankful.  

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

English Standard Version

16 Rejoice always, 

17 pray without ceasing, 

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

We don't have time to diagnose other people's sins.  We have more than enough sin of our own.  We must stick to loving and leave the judging to God.  

 

James 4:11-12

Living Bible

11 Don’t criticize and speak evil about each other, dear brothers. If you do, you will be fighting against God’s law of loving one another, declaring it is wrong. But your job is not to decide whether this law is right or wrong, but to obey it. 

12 Only he who made the law can rightly judge among us. He alone decides to save us or destroy. So what right do you have to judge or criticize others?

 

If you don't believe in God, don't you miss Him?

 

James 4:8

Living Bible

8 And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you...

Wisdom from Heaven

 

James 3:17

New International Version

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 

 

1. Wisdom starts with purity.

We can't have the 5 other traits mentioned in this verse above without purity.   

How much of the world will we allow into our lives?  We must take out of our lives what contaminates us.   

James 3:17

New International Version

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is...peace-loving...

2. The wise love peace.

Conflict cannot continue without our participation.

James 3:17

New International Version

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is... considerate... 

3.  The wise consider other people's point of view.

Give your thoughts a break.  You already think them.  John Maxwell.   

James 3:17

New International Version

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is...submissive... 

4.  The wise are willing to yield to others.  They are not locked into a position.  

Are we reasonable?  Can we be reasoned with?

James 3:17

New International Version

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is ...full of mercy and good fruit... 

5.  The wise minimize the mistakes of others.  

I'd rather stand before God for having loved too much than for having judged to much.  What do we need to stop bringing up to other people?

James 3:17

New International Version

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is ...impartial and sincere. 

 

6.  The wise are authentic.

 

What are we hiding?

Why does God want us wise?

James 3:18

Easy-to-Read Version

18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.

 

Wisdom is knowledge applied.  

Allen Pedram

Learning a new language

 

1. We must only speak words of affection (that's how God spoke to Jesus His Son).  

 

Matthew 3:16-17

New International Version

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 

17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

 

2. We must only speak words of praise.

 

 Proverbs 25:11

New King James Version

¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.

 

3. We must only speak words of encouragement.  

 

Ephesians 4:29

New King James Version

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

 

4. We must only speak words of healing.

 

Proverbs 15:14

New Living Translation

¹⁴ A wise person is hungry for knowledge,

    while the fool feeds on trash.

 

5. We must only speak words of faith.  

 

Romans 4:17

New King James Version

17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

 

Point out things that you don't yet see in others, but could be if God got involved.  Tell people who they could become as they surrender their lives to Him. 

How to have a change of heart

1. We must allow God to change our hearts.

 

Galatians 2:20

New Living Translation

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

*God doesn't want to make us a new person, but a dead one.  

 

Hebrews 8:10-12

New Living Translation

10 But this is the new covenant I will make
    with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds,
    and I will write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors,
    nor will they need to teach their relatives,
    saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’
For everyone, from the least to the greatest,
    will know me already.
12 And I will forgive their wickedness,
    and I will never again remember their sins.”

 

*The heart and the mouth are always connected in the Bible.

 

2.  We must put a filter on what we allow into our hearts.

 

Matthew 12:34-35

New Living Translation

...For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 

 

*Actively store good thoughts  into your heart throughout the day, but eliminate the bad thoughts.

 

Proverbs 4:23

New International Version

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.

 

3. Decide to think healthy thoughts to only speak them.  

How to read the heart

 

James 1:26

New Living Translation

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

 

1. My words determine my direction.

 

James 3:3-4

New Living Translation

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.

 

 

2. My words shape what I keep (or lose).

James 3:5-6

New Living Translation

⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 

⁶ And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

Proverbs 10:19

New Living Translation

19 Too much talk leads to sin.   Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

 

* Pass negatives up to God, but praise down to one another.

 

3. My words always reveal into my heart.

 

James 3:9-12

New Living Translation

9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

 

In the Bible, the spring is the heart.  

The real problem isn't the tongue but the heart. If your heart isn't right, your words will be wrong.  You can't tame them.  We must surrender our hearts to God daily to tame our words.  

 

 

James 3:7-8

New Living Translation

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

The Purpose of Problems

You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your response to it.  God will not help you if you react in the flesh.  

Don't let critical people to poison your life.  

 

James 1:2-4

New Living Translation

 

2 Dear brothers and sisters,] when troubles of any kind come your way (expect problems), consider (God's purpose of the problem) it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow (from problems), for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

 

 

1. Expect problems.

2. Think about God's purpose in the problem.  

3. Grow from the problem. 

 

God is wanting to use problems to build something in you. 

Problems are a means of training.

Don't think about why is this happening, but ask God what are you trying to teach me? 

 

There is kingdom potential in every earthly problem. 

 

1. Problems produces compassion. 

2. Problems produces dependence upon God. 

3. Problems produces strength to stand our ground.  

Faith Yes. Works Yes.

We are not saved by works, but saved for works.  

 

Titus 3:8

Easy-to-Read Version

8 This is a true statement.

And I want you to be sure that the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help everyone.

 

If the church is divided, it is the lost who will pay.  

 

 

James 2:14-26

Easy-to-Read Version

 

14 My brothers and sisters, if a person claims to have faith but does nothing, that faith is worth nothing. Faith like that cannot save anyone. 

15 Suppose a brother or sister in Christ comes to you in need of clothes or something to eat. 

16 And you say to them, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you don’t give them the things they need. If you don’t help them, your words are worthless. 

17 It is the same with faith. If it is just faith and nothing more—if it doesn’t do anything—it is dead.

18 But someone might argue, “Some people have faith, and others have good works.” My answer would be that you can’t show me your faith if you don’t do anything. But I will show you my faith by the good I do. 

19 You believe there is one God. That’s good, but even the demons believe that! And they shake with fear.

20 You fool! Faith that does nothing is worth nothing. Do you want me to prove this to you? 

21 Our father Abraham was made right with God by what he did. He offered his son Isaac to God on the altar. 

22 So you see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did. 

23 This shows the full meaning of the Scriptures that say, “Abraham believed God, and because of this faith he was accepted as one who is right with God.” Abraham was called “God’s friend.”] 

24 So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone.

25 Another example is Rahab. She was a prostitute, but she was made right with God by something she did. She helped those who were spying for God’s people. She welcomed them into her home and helped them escape by a different road.

26 A person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead. It is the same with faith—faith that does nothing is dead!

 

 

Faith is the surrender we make.  Works  are the actions that we take. 

 

Matthew 5:14-16

Easy-to-Read Version

14 “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. 

15 People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. 

16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.