"The Gospel According to Jesus" Part 7 of 22
"Jesus Delivers His People From Fear"
Colin Smith
Passage: Mark 4:35 - 5:43
Jesus Calms the Storms
4 miracles are a glimpse of living under God's grace and blessings
NO storms
NO demons
NO death
NO sickness
- because this world rejected Jesus, this world is scared with storms, demons, death and sickness
- still, in the storms, demons, death and sickness, Jesus Christ is with us
Christ in in the boat when you face the storm
Fear that Jesus brings
- fearing the power of God is a fear Jesus brings to us
-it is a better fear to fear the Lord, than it is to fear the storm
-Imagine facing your greatest fear and how insignificant that fear is compared to the fear of facing God, HELLO!
-So what is this fear of the Lord? To know who he is and to know what it would be to be in his presence.
5:15 Men fear the demons
5:17 Men fear Jesus and request that he leave the region
-When God's power is misunderstood he is rejected, and his power is feared. This is not the fear of the Lord that reveals reverence.
Fear that Jesus relieves
5:33-34 A. Jesus relieves fears by giving peace
-When Jesus asked who touched my clothes the disciples didn't even understand his question but the woman who was healed did. She answered Him, in her fear.
"Amazing Grace"
"Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved"
5:36 B. Jesus relieves fear by bringing hope
-We will still have fear, God asks us not to give into it but to believe in him.
Grieving Losses:
There will be death, there will be a delay, there will be a resurrection. HOPE IN HIM. DO NOT TURN FROM HIM.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Oct 21: James Chapter 4
OBSERVATION:
SINS to avoid:
quarrels, fights, slander; V12, do not judge
PROMISES to claim:
V2, ask and receive; V6, give grace to the humble, being humble brings life
EXAMPLES to follow:
V6, the Spirit's grace to us, to give grace to others
COMMANDS to obey:
V7, resist the devil, submit to God, V8-9, repent, V16, don't brag
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
quarrels and battles, V4, don't be a friend of the world
INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
don't procrastinate, don't judge, don't boast; a warning against such things
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
as a warning against our desire to be right and be first, when God should be and always is the best and in first place
HOW?
pray for humility to accept our position on earth and accept that God reigns over us God's strength and His desires for us to be in our every thoughts :)
APPLICATION:
Theme? Full submission to God
Best verse? V6, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Challenging? V11-12, keeping the judgement to God alone
Difficult? V9, grieving sins and lost opportunities to honor God
Encouraging? V2, we do not have because we do not ask
Favorite? V8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Gift? V8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Helpful? V1, V3
Informative? V17
Just do it? God, keep us humble so that we may know your power and mercy
SINS to avoid:
quarrels, fights, slander; V12, do not judge
PROMISES to claim:
V2, ask and receive; V6, give grace to the humble, being humble brings life
EXAMPLES to follow:
V6, the Spirit's grace to us, to give grace to others
COMMANDS to obey:
V7, resist the devil, submit to God, V8-9, repent, V16, don't brag
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
quarrels and battles, V4, don't be a friend of the world
INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
don't procrastinate, don't judge, don't boast; a warning against such things
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
as a warning against our desire to be right and be first, when God should be and always is the best and in first place
HOW?
pray for humility to accept our position on earth and accept that God reigns over us God's strength and His desires for us to be in our every thoughts :)
APPLICATION:
Theme? Full submission to God
Best verse? V6, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Challenging? V11-12, keeping the judgement to God alone
Difficult? V9, grieving sins and lost opportunities to honor God
Encouraging? V2, we do not have because we do not ask
Favorite? V8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Gift? V8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Helpful? V1, V3
Informative? V17
Just do it? God, keep us humble so that we may know your power and mercy
James Chapter 4:1 - 17
Submit Yourselves to God
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."[b]
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Boasting About Tomorrow
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Oct 14: James Chapter 3
OBSERVATION:
SINS to avoid:
being evil with our words
PROMISES to claim:
V18, living in peace
EXAMPLES to follow:
V12, fresh vs. salt water; fig tree vs olive or grapevine
COMMANDS to obey:
V14, do not boast, V13, heavenly wisdom
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
V12, do not be a hypocrite, V14, do not envy
INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
strength in the tongue, our words can be both evil and good, our tongue is powerful, a warning to think before we speak!
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
so that we have integrity with our words
HOW?
pray for wisdom from God, seek others who model speaking with a good purpose
APPLICATION:
Theme? the tongue is a powerful force
Best verse? V17 & 18, wisdom comes from heaven
Challenging? V8, no man can tame his tongue
Difficult?
Encouraging? V17 & 18, heavenly wisdom is awesome
Favorite? V18, peacemakers raise a righteous harvest
Gift? V17 & 18, heavenly wisdom
Helpful? V16, envy and selfish ambition result in disorder
Informative? V16, envy and selfish ambition result in disorder
Just do it? God, give us kind hearts and minds that speak with heavenly wisdom to others; let us encourage and built each other up with our words
James Chapter 3:1-18
Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But 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. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
SINS to avoid:
being evil with our words
PROMISES to claim:
V18, living in peace
EXAMPLES to follow:
V12, fresh vs. salt water; fig tree vs olive or grapevine
COMMANDS to obey:
V14, do not boast, V13, heavenly wisdom
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
V12, do not be a hypocrite, V14, do not envy
INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
strength in the tongue, our words can be both evil and good, our tongue is powerful, a warning to think before we speak!
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
so that we have integrity with our words
HOW?
pray for wisdom from God, seek others who model speaking with a good purpose
APPLICATION:
Theme? the tongue is a powerful force
Best verse? V17 & 18, wisdom comes from heaven
Challenging? V8, no man can tame his tongue
Difficult?
Encouraging? V17 & 18, heavenly wisdom is awesome
Favorite? V18, peacemakers raise a righteous harvest
Gift? V17 & 18, heavenly wisdom
Helpful? V16, envy and selfish ambition result in disorder
Informative? V16, envy and selfish ambition result in disorder
Just do it? God, give us kind hearts and minds that speak with heavenly wisdom to others; let us encourage and built each other up with our words
James Chapter 3:1-18
Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But 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. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Oct 7: James Chapter 2
OBSERVATION:
SINS to avoid:
V1, showing favoritism
PROMISES to claim:
V10, stumbling at one point is guilty of breaking all of the law;(this is not a positive promise however it seems to be a promise regarding what to expect for our behavior) V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
EXAMPLES to follow:
V16; V21, Abraham; V25, Rahab
COMMANDS to obey:
V1, don't show favoritism, V12, speak and act as those who are going to be judged
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
V9, showing favoritism
INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
making judgment that is suppose to be left to God who is the ultimate lawmaker and judge; we are asked to use our best judgment but not to be the judge of others
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
God does not show favoritism to his children and he doesn't not want us to act as if we are in the position to be the judge; only his authority will judge us, we must not assume we have such power
HOW?
pray for acceptance of others, seek others who model generous spirits
APPLICATION:
Theme? do not judge, show faith and works together
Best verse? V22, faith completes our deeds
Challenging? V4, we have been discriminating to others even when it's not our desire to be so evil
Difficult?
Encouraging? V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
Favorite? V18, "I will show you my faith my what I do."
Gift? V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
Helpful? V14, what good is faith without deed
Informative? V14-15, our action is evidence of our faith
Just do it? God, let us trust you as the lawmaker and judge, make our actions reveal our faith to the world
James Chapter 2:1 - 26
Favoritism Forbidden
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Faith and Deeds
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
SINS to avoid:
V1, showing favoritism
PROMISES to claim:
V10, stumbling at one point is guilty of breaking all of the law;(this is not a positive promise however it seems to be a promise regarding what to expect for our behavior) V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
EXAMPLES to follow:
V16; V21, Abraham; V25, Rahab
COMMANDS to obey:
V1, don't show favoritism, V12, speak and act as those who are going to be judged
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
V9, showing favoritism
INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
making judgment that is suppose to be left to God who is the ultimate lawmaker and judge; we are asked to use our best judgment but not to be the judge of others
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
God does not show favoritism to his children and he doesn't not want us to act as if we are in the position to be the judge; only his authority will judge us, we must not assume we have such power
HOW?
pray for acceptance of others, seek others who model generous spirits
APPLICATION:
Theme? do not judge, show faith and works together
Best verse? V22, faith completes our deeds
Challenging? V4, we have been discriminating to others even when it's not our desire to be so evil
Difficult?
Encouraging? V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
Favorite? V18, "I will show you my faith my what I do."
Gift? V13, mercy triumphs over judgment
Helpful? V14, what good is faith without deed
Informative? V14-15, our action is evidence of our faith
Just do it? God, let us trust you as the lawmaker and judge, make our actions reveal our faith to the world
James Chapter 2:1 - 26
Favoritism Forbidden
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Faith and Deeds
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
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