Faithful on Fridays Blog

Chapter Three

This chapter begins with a warning to teachers letting you off the hook since you’re not teaching anything … so you think. Realistically a teacher is one who has mastery in a field and helps others in that area. Pastor James warns his congregation that if you tells others how to live, then be sure you’re living it as well. Your attitudes, words, and  actions should reflect in that life-mirror someone who’s different from the world; we call it sanctification.

In Luke 6:27-49 Jesus explained what a sanctified life in Christ looks like.

• Love your enemies, do good to them, bless them, and pray for them. Think about that, it’s difficult, but with the Spirit’s help not impossible.

• Be generous to everyone, even those who steal from you. 

• Follow the golden rule: Do to others what you’d have them do to you.

• If you show love to others expect nothing in return you’ll be rewarded by God.

• Don’t allow your words to plant seeds of judgment, condemnation, or unforgiveness, consequently, you won’t experience them either.

Our goal is be like Jesus, flowing from our heart to our words and finally our actions. Use your words to bless your Lord and Father (vs. 9) and all those made in God’s likeness.

Using word-pictures like Jesus, James gives us ways to picture this kind of life: bridled horses, a ship’s rudder, taming animals, water, and agriculture. He effectively shows  how crucial for his people to dominate their tongues, therefore, teaching others. As you read over Chapter Three hear this pastor’s cry for his people to remember who they are while representing Christ to the world. 

Faith and works must exist in synergy, like a team, so that bitter jealousy or selfish ambition don’t enter your hearts and pollute your church. In fact, James instructs us that it’s demonic! When we allow envy, competition, or personal agendas to drive our opinions or perspectives it’s like Satan’s poison to our souls. Listen to people, show respect for everyone’s opinion even when they differ from yours; don’t open the door to the prideful temptations of your old, sinful nature (Gal. 5:16-17, 19-26). 

Consider what seeds you are planting in your church: seeds of purity, peace or wholeness, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, impartiality, and sincerity.

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:7-10 NLT

What your mother taught you is true: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

The Bride: Scene Seven

One of the first things you learn as a new believer is that God is Three in One, a trinity. No one can adequately explain it, but we put our faith in that truth. 

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Deuteronomy 6:4 

And the Lord will be King over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be One and His name One. Zechariah 14:9 

The Hebrew word is echad which means united as one, altogether, or solitary. He alone is God: El Echad.

Running parallel to that truth is mankind who was created in God’s image and likeness; we are His representatives in the world. He is solely one and we are one with Him, … so … if God is a divine union, united as One, and we represent Him in that unity then what Jesus said makes a whole lot more sense.

Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. John 6:56 

We have a oneness with Christ.

… even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:17

We have a oneness with the Spirit.

In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. John 14:20

We have a oneness with the Father.

This divine union is a marriage, so to speak, and the Bridegroom is jealously waiting for the consummation of that union: His Second Coming.

… for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—Deuteronomy 6:15a

Names describe God’s character, His attributes, and His nature: His spiritual identity. Therefore El Kanna, our passionate Bridegroom is jealous for our time and attention as any Bridegroom would be for His Bride constantly drawing us to develop our relationship with Him.

Jesus discussed this relationship via metaphor when He spoke to the crowds in His Sermon on the Mount.

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:22-24

The Greek word for ‘healthy’ actually means to be undivided or single in focus. If our daily focus begins with God then we’ll be light in this dark world; we won’t be divided but devoted. Devotion in this context means that there are two opposing forces vying for our attention and we have the freedom to choose.

Choose today whom you will serve (Josh. 24:15b). 

2:8-26

If you turn to these passages you’ll find this pastor using the word ‘law’ five times in six verses; he’s making a point. Laws are principles for living a good life, whether in the world or in the spirit, and God expects you to keep them. Pastor James alone uses the phrase ‘royal law’ meaning God as King has shown you the way to experience this good life. Believers in Jesus are considered royalty, kings and queens in the kingdom of God, a high bar for sure, however, when we love God first and foremost, then love others as ourselves, we are fulfilling this royal law. When you show favoritism to people it’s like breaking the law and God considers it sin, not unforgivable, but sin nonetheless. 

The solution is found in verse twelve: freely choose to speak and act toward others as Jesus would since you represent Him. Keeping two laws, royal and freedom (‘law of liberty’ again), determines your witness of Jesus to the world around you. We’re encouraged by James to judge ourselves and make the necessary changes; there’s that mirror again. Judging means you determine an opinion or make a decision and in this context it’s regarding your freedom to show mercy to needy people thereby fulfilling your royal position in Christ. Mercy must always triumph over your decisions.

But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 

Repetition is the key to learning so James addresses being a ‘doer of the word’ once again (vs. 14-18) for emphasis. If you say you have faith in Christ then let there be evidence, not simply empty words or promises, but actually doing what you say: that’s integrity. We follow the pattern of our Savior who went about doing good, showing compassion and kindness, and healing people spiritually and physically. We have some work to do.

The example of Abraham is used by Paul (Romans 4) and now by James to his congregation; Abraham’s faith drove him to obey God with action giving evidence of his faith. For that reason God justified or declared Abraham in right standing due to his active, not passive, faith (vs. 22). His second example is Rahab (Joshua 2) who was also justified in God’s eyes due to her active faith. Not only that, she became the great-grandmother to King David whose bloodline gave us Jesus, the Messiah. Her scarlet cord that protected the Hebrew spies is a picture of Jesus’ shed blood that protects the believer from the punishment of death and entrance into eternal life. 

That’s the power of faith and works together bringing life to our spirits and showing the world that God is our friend and we trust Him above all. Let’s live as royalty glorifying Christ by our faith and actions.

The Bride: Scene Six

Last week I wrote that enjoying the Presence of God should be a priority for a believer: priority is a strong word. Let’s think about that. 

The Tabernacle, a lower story, included a private room behind a veil or curtain where animal blood was offered to cover the sins of the people for a year. That shadow or image was a preview of the first coming of Jesus the Messiah: the final sacrifice. 

Hebrew 10:1-25 explains that truth from a Jewish perspective so we can understand that sacrificial blood reminded the people of their sins every year, but could never take them away (vs. 3). This passage makes it clear that Jesus was sent in a physical body to fulfill the Father’s will: the blood offering that was final and for all (vs. 10). 

What does that have to do with the Bride? Let’s stay in the lower story and consider a bridal veil. Many brides wear a veil covering their faces as they draw near to their bridegroom at the altar; can you envision that scene? There’s a sense of anticipation as she finally arrives and he lifts the veil seeing his bride face to face.

It’s the same way in the spiritual realm or the upper story when we draw near to Jesus in the secret place and intentionally spend time with Him. There’s no veil or curtain separating us from God anymore: the curtain was split in half allowing us entrance into the Holy of Holies.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom … Matthew 27:51a 

… whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 

As a bride, our upper story veil has been lifted and now we have the privilege of face to face communion with our Lord. Heb. 10:20 reminds us that this freedom brings us life and refreshment: it’s a new and living way. Allow the Holy Spirit to draw you into His Presence and be assured that you are forgiven, washed clean, and stand before Him as a Bride before her Bridegroom.  

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Hebrews 6:19

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. Romans 5:2 

1:19-2:7

There’s an approach to criticism called the ‘sandwich technique’ that Pastor James used when writing to his church family, they’re beloved brothers, that’s the top layer of bread: positive feedback. James lets his congregation know he loves and appreciates them before he delivers the filling for the sandwich: constructive criticism. He finishes this section with the bottom layer of encouragement by repeating for the fourth time, they’re brothers and sisters of faith. Let’s look at the filling.

Whether James listened to his brother Jesus when He taught The Word or heard others teaching it, his criticism is undeniable. The warning: be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. In fact, the Greek word to ‘hear’ is our word ‘acoustics’; as we intentionally listen to others, it slows our response times, and often tenderizes our words. While we sharpen our acoustics in conversations or discussions God gives us wisdom leading to righteous behavior and not anger. We control our minds (remember ‘counting’ is ruling our thoughts) by rejecting those angry or critical words toward others in disagreement with us. 

Instead of allowing our mouths to control us, we ask for God’s Word to be planted in our souls; that’s our minds, wills, emotions, attitudes, motivations. Soul in Greek is psukee where we get the word psyche or psycho. When we vomit out destructive words we’re acting like a spiritual psycho and this pastor clearly warns his congregation to get rid of them! Don’t forget that we have the Holy Spirit helping us control evil behavior, He’s the pneuma (Spirit) of God, our pneumatic driver enabling us to hit the mark of holiness and spiritual maturity.

This shepherd/pastor encourages his flock not to simply listen to a message and walk away unchanged, but to put action to what they heard. Being a ‘doer of the Word’ means you pursue whatever God puts on your heart with a promised (vs. 25) blessing for following through. The Greek word for ‘doer’ is where we get the word ‘poetry’; when we obey God’s leading it’s like a beautiful poem to Him. Look into the mirror as you reflect on your words and deeds noticing if you’re a doer or hearer only; that’s the way to practice true religion: loving people.   

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:17 

His second criticism is partiality in our churches. That’s judging people based on ‘face value’: how they look or sound without really knowing them. As you read Chapter Two look in that pesky mirror again evaluating your own heart; we are all heirs of the kingdom whether rich or poor, sharing faith in Christ. 

We are beloved brothers and sisters (2:5), that bottom layer of our sandwich: encouragement. 

Take to heart Jesus’ teaching from Luke 6:46-49 to be wise, not foolish believers by hearing and doing His Word like a house built on rock … not sand. Hope you enjoyed your sandwich.

The Bride: Scene Five

Let’s recap what we’ve learned so far viewing Scripture through the bridal lens of intimacy.

• Before the foundation of the world Father God planned for a Bride for His Son.

• The Spirit was hovering over the earth because the Bride was on the horizon.

• This chosen people would know God in bridal intimacy and be spiritually joined to Him.

• This type of jealous, bridal love was burning in God from the beginning and continues to burn for us today.

• Enjoying intimacy in the Presence of God every day should be our priority.

Some people think the Old Testament isn’t very important; as New Covenant people we don’t need the ‘religion’ of the first covenant. I respectfully disagree. The lower stories of the Old Testament give us insight into our lives as believers when we live out those upper stories in Christ. Let’s look at two of these stories and make the connections.

The father of our faith, Abraham, was privileged to have one-on-one conversations with God and encountered Him in an intimate meal (Gen. 14:18-20); Jesus briefly became man to entertain His servant and friend. God called Himself the King of Salem (shalom) and Melchizedek, the King of Righteousness. He’s truly the only One who brings wholeness and awards right standing in His Presence. During this special alone-time they enjoyed bread and wine (foreshadow of communion) as the Son of God pronounced a blessing on Abram. He also called Himself God Most High, Possessor or Redeemer of heaven and earth. Abram would need these promises of God’s character, the coming Spirit, in his future,

… so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14 

Next we come to Moses: the Deliverer. After leading the chosen ones out of their bondage these same people proceeded to turn away from God offending and angering Moses. How did he respond? He built a tent in the wilderness away from everyone where God met him; in that secret place he experienced FaceTime with God. These two men were familiar with bridal love; they met with God because they intimately knew Him. That type of relationship is available to any believer today if you’re willing.

When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend … Exodus 33:9, 11a 

Abraham and Moses were not superspiritual men; they were men who knew where their help was. Sometimes I wonder if we realize that the Holy Spirit was sent for that purpose: to help us know Jesus. Abraham and Moses had the Spirit working through them, but we have the indwelling Presence of the Spirit. Understanding bridal love may be new to you, but it’s available, nonetheless, every time you sit privately with Him.

1:1-18

Pastors have a serious responsibility to preach and teach every week, but also to warn their people when needed and Pastor James took this opportunity to address issues that were appearing within this first church. Ruling over your thought-life is crucial (vs. 1-4) when troubles come your way and remembering that they’re allowed by God will strengthen your faith. Endurance is the truth you count on and, like a long-distance runner or hiker; you never give up until reach your goal. 

How do you endure the pressures of life to the finish line? Asking God for wisdom is the first step (vs. 5-8), in faith and without allowing doubt to slip in, as you stay single-focused. When doubt enters your thought-life and you don’t rule over it (counting, vs. 1) you become a spiritual schizophrenic! Being double-minded is when you say one thing and do another; you haven’t leaned into joy and God’s wisdom, but have allowed your outward circumstances to rule your emotions. Bad idea. 

This pastor moves on (vs. 9-15) to warning his church family of the contrast between the poor and rich evaluating how they handle their outward circumstances. When the poor are in a low place they’re joyful when God lifts them up, on the other hand, when the rich experience humility of any kind, they’re joyful as well. He encourages his congregation to not base their spiritual life on anything other than God; He’s eternal and riches are temporary. 

There’s a blessing waiting for those who don’t give up under trials; it’s the athlete’s crown of victory, a life that’s pleasing to God, with proven love and trust in Him. That’s not to say we aren’t tempted: we are, however, it’s not God that tempts, but our own desires. When we allow ourselves to be led into situations that feed our natural desires, love of money, taking offenses or unforgiveness, alcohol/drug abuse, sexual immorality, you name it, we open the door for Satan. He brings death: of relationships, of health, of trust in God. James desired his people to understand their weaknesses, standing against them in the Spirit’s power. How do we accomplish that? By taking control of our thought-life, admitting we need God’s power, and humbly asking for it. 

Finally (vs. 16-18), he declared God to be the Father of Lights, our Heavenly Father giving good gifts to everyone who believes, and lightening our way to victory. We are His prized possession, His children, and He wants only what’s best for us. When we do life God’s way, not our own, we can be confident we’ll triumph over trials, testings, and temptations because we’ve followed the Word of Truth, Jesus Himself, who led a perfect life, but also endured the sin of the world as He hung on that cross.

As you read this first chapter of James’ letter to his church family, make it your own, and pray for your own congregation and pastor. Like God, these truths never change: they’re eternal.

The Bride: Scene Four

I chuckle when I remember Elvis singing that song Burning Love; here are a few of the lower story lyrics,

Lord Almighty, I feel my temperature rising; higher and higher it’s burning through my soul. Lord, have

mercy …

The writer of this song, not Elvis, was obviously thinking of human, erotic love but notice the God-language? I think when we lift up our thinking from that lower story to the upper story of our union with Jesus we begin to understand what David was thinking when he penned:

I love you, O LORD, my strength. … Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from Him. Psalms 18:1, 8 

David declared His love to God and God responded with fire? Let’s think about that. 

The Brazen Altar of the Tabernacle and Temple was a visual reminder that God is a consuming fire of judgment, true, but also of burning love. Moses was instructed that the flames were never to go out, consequently, that passionate fire still burns today … yet in a different way. Jesus’ Bride has partially come forth, Jew and Gentile, she’s already here, but not fully yet. That means that the Bride will be reunited to her Bridegroom when He reappears on the scene: the Second Coming.

Until then we devote time in developing our relationship with God. Read what other Psalmists wrote describing their emerging passion for Him.

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2 

O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalms 63:1, 8 

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1 

That secret place is anywhere you choose to be with Jesus; maybe in your favorite chair, a quiet walk, or even your drive to work. No music, no texting, no reading: just you and God. Choosing to put yourself in that solitary place of rest and fellowship with Him, alone with the Alone, sets the tone for your whole day. His passionate love begins to burn in your heart when you express yourself to Him. That’s intensely personal, but also intensely intimate. His burning love will drive you to that secret place every day and the Spirit will fill you with all you need. Devote time to Him and you’ll begin to experience His bridal love as amazing as it is, whether male or female.

For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5 

James was what we call an ‘influencer’ of the believers in Jerusalem as their Lead Pastor. Protestant theologians agree that this man was Jesus’ younger brother, whose Hebrew name is Jacob, growing up alongside the Savior. He would’ve enjoyed meals, played and wrestled as brothers, attended Hebrew school, and enjoyed family life with Joseph and Mary, Jesus, Joseph, Simon, Judas, and several sisters (Matt. 13:54-56). How intriguing that during His ministry they didn’t believe He was the Messiah (Mark 3:21; John 7:2-9), and yet we know that James and Judas came to faith in Him since they authored letters included in the New Testament.

How did James become equipped to shepherd (pastor) the first church in Jerusalem? Did he accompany Mary during Jesus’ three years of ministry observing signs, wonders, and miracles? Was God reminding him of the Old Testament passages he knew from Hebrew school foretelling the coming Messiah? I have no answers except what we know from Scripture. For example, from the cross Jesus chose the apostle John to care for His mother after He ascended: not James. Why is that? However, after Jesus rose from the dead He surprisingly appeared to His brother James,

Then He (Jesus) was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:7 

He specifically chose His brother, among His other apostles, to witness His supernatural appearance. Was that the final miracle he observed sealing his faith? Paul also wrote that James is an apostle, not one of The Twelve, but a ‘sent one’,

The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:19

James eventually came to salvation and considered himself a servant of his Lord, Jesus Christ (vs. 1) recognizing his crucial role as Pastor some twenty years later. The believing Jews were scattered from Jerusalem to surrounding areas of Israel due to the persecution by the religious leaders; Stephen’s martyrdom was proof. As a good pastor writing to his flock or congregation out of love and care, he warned that trials, testings, and temptations inevitably will come to believers, however, we have prepared strategies to be triumphant in faith when they arrive. Joy is the first strategy.

In verse 2 James instructed his church family to ‘count it all joy’ because that’s how they’ll develop vital perseverance. To count in Greek means to rule, lead, and even dominate, in this case your emotions. That joyful recognition of God’s grace, even when you don’t feel like it or see it, is ‘counting it all joy’ because we know that’s where our strength is (check out Neh. 8:10; Ps. 28:7, 73:26; and Is. 12:2) That’s what we do with our thought-life: we dominate and control it so that when trials and testings arrive, and they will, we can be prepared to lead our perspectives toward joy. James is clear, you’re empowered by the Spirit to be triumphant in any circumstances. Take advantage of it!

The Bride: Scene Three

Of all the types of relationships we experience with God He chose the Bride as the final connection for His Son. Think about it; God is pictured as our father, friend, savior, guide, and energizer, however, only God’s Son receives a Bride. 

This special relationship is considered sacred and entitled a sacrament of matrimony. Why is that? Why are classes often required for pre-marriage counseling? Undoubtedly it’s due to the sense of this sacred, holy, and revered promise between two people.

Marriage vows are spoken by the bride and groom in order to solidify the unbreakable bond of love. Bridal love seems to be the quintessence or highest relationship we can have with God and we should consider it holy or sacred as well. Jesus must’ve thought so too:

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.’ Mark 10:6-9 

This lower story of marriage, being joined together by God, should direct our attention to the upper story more and more as we get to know Jesus as our Bridegroom; He’s the perfect embodiment of bridal love. 

And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.

I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:3, 23, 26 

When we read in the Bible about ‘knowing’ there’s an experiential component associated with it: Adam knew Eve. Everyone knows what that means. They experienced one another in the highest degree of knowing, sexually, and that human union was also a picture of the divine union.

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 

Eternal life is experiencing a union with Jesus, consequently, it’s no surprise that His first miracle was performed at a wedding! It’s also not coincidental that the village was Cana, which means jealousy in Hebrew. Jesus has intense, jealous desire for His Bride that burns with an unquenchable flame. 

Set me as a seal upon Your heart, as a seal upon Your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Song of Songs 8:6 

A bride and groom are encouraged to leave, weave, and cleave to each other; that’s a beautiful word-picture of our marital relationship with Jesus.

Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Joel 2:16b