James Chapter 5 - Get Your Attitude Straight

1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

You often hear of wealthy men and women who pour millions and even billions into impoverished nations and people’s lives.  If you are not psychotic or mentally damaged in some way you begin to realize that there is more to life than simple money making.  I suppose I should be comforted that I don’t have this money making gift but I often wonder if it would be a blessing or curse.  Making money is not a sin, in fact it is taught at an early age in Hebrew families and schools.  Scripture does not say that making money is a sin.  It says the love of money is (1 Timothy 6:10). 

Because many wealthy love making money and especially having it, they fall in the trap and it causes all manner of grief in their lives.

Archaeologists would love us to believe that every shard of pottery and every bone fragment is absolutely priceless and to be preserved.  God has a different take on it.  He’s not nearly as concerned about greenhouse gasses as we are or whether a particular species of animal might go extinct.  His concern is that Hell, which was created for fallen angels, will be enlarged by the vast numbers of souls who will be lost eternally (Isaiah 5:13-15).  Our modern activists protect a dog and kill an unborn child.  They once again call good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20).  Those who want to kill children are called PRO-choice.  Those who fight against abortion are said to be against women’s rights. 

These are the treasures the unsaved are heaping together for the last days.  They are treasures of murdered children, denial of responsibility by releasing murderers against God’s Word.  They are treasures of lies and rhetoric that reach to Heaven and have become a stench in the nostrils of God.  They shall never succeed nor will they prosper.  They have denied the Holy One and mocked His servants.  In the final battle, they shall fill Meggido with acres of blood.

4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

These are those who promise a day’s wage for a day’s work and on payday tell your workers, “So sue me.”  God has heard the pleas of these little ones and the Lord of the Sabbath, the Lord of Rest will not let it stand.  Your grain will grow worms and your finances given to another more worthy (Proverbs 13:22).  Your hearts are cold and the violence of your answer will be required by God’s own hand. 

Many ask, “Why should we treat others differently?  It’s have’s and it’s have not’s and if I don’t climb higher faster I’ll be a have not.”  Have you watched the world these days?  Fewer and fewer will step up and like the parable of the neighbor, care for that man beaten and robbed (Luke 10:30-35).  You might look at the world around us and say you are justified, but God has something to say to you.  1 John 4 says, “7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 

God is love.  God’s love comes with unlimited faith because faith operates by love (Galatians 5:6).  God is unlimited.  His love is unlimited.  Because faith operates by love, his faith is unlimited.  The more we are perfected in love the more we are perfected in faith.  The more faith we have the more we are able to affect the world around us for the Lord.  It is love that moves the entire world, not power.  Dunamis, God power, comes from love turned into faith.  This is the true power of God, the power of love.

A Jewish sage once said that God could not really love man because man was too evil and devilish for Him to love.  The truth is that that sage forgot or never learned that our minds and bodies are the lowest and least important part of who we are.  God said, “Let us make man in Our image and Our likeness.”  God is a Spirit.  We are spirit.  God does not love our flaws and failures but His grace is sufficient to see past them to who we are in the spirit.  What that sage missed was the fact that God loves mankind enough to send Jesus to die on our behalf. 

The flesh of God died for the flesh of man.  The flesh of God could not remain in Hell because He had done no wrong (Acts 2:24).  With a shout and with a trumpet from the angels Jesus arose from the dead and appeared before us with many incontrovertible proofs.  In other words, He proved He was Christ, God, Messiah and Lord to anyone who did not want to believe the lie.  Sadly, Israel chose the lie for a season to allow the gentiles in.

Now that I have gone off on a long rabbit trail, I hope you understand that Jesus came so we might have life more abundantly IF we are willing to follow God’s plan of redemption.  That plan requires you to be gracious, to forgive, to be merciful, to help others more than you help yourself.  Can you do it?

5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Those who rob God’s little ones have it all; fancy cars, large homes, personal jets, the admiration and respect of those around them.  People take their pictures and want to shake their hands.  They continue to take it all in and suck up all the benefits until that day when God cries, “Time!”  On that day your life is forfeit, your money goes to someone else and your future spirals downward into the depths of Hell.  Scripture says you will cry out for someone to touch your tongue with only a drop of water.  Those in Christ who have served God and incurred your contempt will be received into everlasting glory and heavenly habitations while you will live in a place of torment and pain.  You had all the benefits of sin for a short season but they will reap the rewards for their humility and faith for eternity.

6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

Even the humility of the just ones make you angry.  You “baa” at them as if they are sheep and in rage would kill them if you could.  Seeing them go to churches you cry with emotion, “Fools and idiots!  Weak minded and flawed!”  You lash out and they continue to worship the God of Heaven.  It is almost too much to be endured and you try to find ways to tear them down.  You might have respected them if they had fought back but because they were too busy serving their God you wish them dead as all sheep must ultimately die.  Sadly for you, the Shepherd God has promised an unending answer of eternal suffering or eternal joy and His children receive the Joy.

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

First of all, the promises of God are yea and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).  They will only be withheld for so long before God says enough.  Satan may be expecting you to take the highway while God sends you along the mountain paths.  The way is somewhat slower to be sure but ultimately will lead to every promise of God.  There was a time when the king of Syria asked his generals who was spying on him for Israel.  The astonishing answer was that God’s prophet was telling the king of Israel the king of Syria’s plans. 

We think that just because we have received the early rain things ought to be ready for reaping the rewards but this is not true.  Between the early rain and the latter rain is a time of intense preparation and growth.  Many times the plants look completely ready for harvesting after the latter rain but even then there is a final growth and ripening before the reapers may move in.  Perhaps you have completed your initial growth and appear to be tall and strong.  It may be that you have even received your latter rain, but you must trust God to be sure you have completed every test required that your skill and temperament is fully prepared for God’s great blessings.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

This first part is most difficult.  There is always a testing to establish your heart’s trust and that takes patience (James 1:4).  James is all about patience and waiting on God.  Whether His coming is actually, in fact, HIS COMING; or simply his movement in the next stage of your life, it draws closer with every moment you patiently wait on Him to prepare you for this victory.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Not only aren’t we supposed to begrudge one another, but according to 1 Corinthians 13:5 we are supposed to be rooting for one another’s benefits.  Just the mental act of begrudging is a sin whether it causes you to treat the other person differently or not.  Jesus is our intercessor, but if we do not live for and trust in Him through actions and thoughts, God stands as the judge of all.  Jesus stands at the door and knocks, but if you do not willingly answer and invite Him in to rule your life, the Judge of all stands beside Him.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

I know people who love God and yet insist that we need not endure suffering to serve Him.  I am astounded when I read scripture after scripture that says we are partakers in Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:13, Romans 8:17, 2 Timothy 2:12).  Prophets suffer the worse because they speak the IMMEDIATE Word of God and that Word will make the godless gnash their teeth in anger.  Even many in the church are terrified or infuriated by a sure word of prophecy. 

In spite of this, 1 Corinthians 14:1 states that we ought to seek the gift of prophecy above all others.  This means that God, knowing full well that we are likely to suffer persecution from without AND within; has admonished us to seek to prophesy.  Under those circumstances we should acknowledge that prophecy is for us today AND that the ministry of the prophet is with us today.  These truths come with a major admonition however…

Apostles and Prophets have been the FOUNDATION of the church from the very beginning (Ephesians 2:18-20).  Is it any wonder that of all the ministry gifts, priests, evangelists, pastors, teachers, bishops, deacons, etc…, that apostles and prophets are the two most maligned and ignored ministries?  How is it that we have allowed Satan to steal our FOUNDATION?  Are we so afraid of the supernatural that the two most supernatural gifts should be cast out into the cold of disuse?  Few are called to the ministry of prophet and apostle and those who are have endured years, often decades of abuse, attack and painful preparation to walk in those callings.

I have seen ministers call themselves apostles and prophets without preparation or consecration.  This is an anathema to God and ought never be.  If we examine the prophets and apostles lives, we see men who often die young, endure great affliction that would cause many of us to stumble, and live with ridicule for much of their lives.  These men are called of God.  Even the act of prophesying does not make you a prophet.  Prophet is a called ministry, not the mere gift given to a broader group of people.  Apostle is a called ministry and every one of those called has seen God in a vision.  Just acknowledging your calling can open you up to ridicule as one who sees God and hears Him speak.  Most people are as uncomfortable with this idea just as Israel was uncomfortable with God on the mountain of God with all the thundering and shaking.  They finally told Moses they could not endure God’s great presence and Moses would have to be their go-between. 

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

This section tries to open our eyes to the difficulties of ministry and an acknowledgement of our own flesh and its inherent weakness.  Why would anyone want to claim a calling that God has not given?  Many famous pastors and evangelists have traveled the world over and have ministered to thousands and tens of thousands but they represent a very small percentage of those actually called to ministry.  The average American church today is under 100 members.  That makes up 56% of church attendance.  The next most is between 100 – 500 members and makes up 35%.  The early church met from house to house and not in centralized houses of worship.  Less than one half of one percent of all churches are over 2000 members.

What am I trying to say?  If you accept your call to ministry you are unlikely to become famous or wealthy.  Your reasons for ministry MUST NOT BE for fame, honor or prestige.  They must be for the purpose of service, obedience and an overwhelming desire to nurture others.  You show up at the hospital because you have a heart for the people, not because the people are paying.  You weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice because it is in your heart to do so.  People can recognize a false spirit and if you have no love for them, they will know and move on.

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Why?  If you ask the world they will say church people are idiots who pray and fast and afflict themselves when they should eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.  If you know God is real then you should believe His Word.  The idea that God has only a passing interest in us and in keeping His Word is foolish.  God is either God or not.  If He is, then He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  If He is then the weapons of our combat are truly MIGHTY THROUGH GOD to the pulling down of satanic strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).  That scripture continues on to say that much of our battle takes place in our minds and spirit.  If we win there, the natural universe must follow.

God rejoices when we rejoice and answers when we pray.  If we believe this then He will continue to bless us and anoint us to grow and prosper.  God will comfort our hearts and encourage our souls.  We will prove the Word of God in our very lives.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

I love this passage.  These two verses promise your healing and forgiveness.  It is not dependent upon the faith of the elders but upon God keeping His own word.  The act of faith is for you to call the elders and thereby acknowledge their place in the hierarchy of the kingdom and for them to obey the scripture and pray.  What could be simpler?

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Little is fraught with as much personal danger to your reputation as confessing your faults one to another.  It requires a faithful (James 5:20) saint to help you work through your difficulties without spreading it abroad.  God has the right to punish and publish.  We do not.  God has given us the responsibility to comfort, nurture and forgive.  How can we call ourselves forgiving when we are spreading our brother and sister’s weaknesses around?  It’s not possible or right to do both. 

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Elijah (Elias) killed hundreds of prophets of Baal and then ran away from a woman.  He performed great miracles and still got scared and fled.  God knows your flaws and while He is not pleased with any of them and expects you to work on them, He insists upon using you for kingdom work.  It doesn’t matter what you think about a matter; if you have His heart, you will do great things.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

This is the end of the matter and the most important part of it.  Our purpose in life is to win, rescue, encourage, drag, and motivate souls away from Hell.  Nothing else really matters.  Their current sins or your past sins make no difference to God in the long run because Jesus came to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11).  Our personal opinions and emotions do not matter when God says to forgive. 

Beloved, God desires to be all powerful in your life to bring salvation to pass for the greatest number of people.  It’s up to you to adjust your mindset to place salvation and forgiveness above your desire for justice and retribution.  I pray you will love with all the love of God.

Bishop J

Faith - You Can See it Coming!

Faith is only mentioned twice in all the old testament.  Deuteronomy 32:15-20 states that, ‘God will hide His face from those who forget Him, His own children who say there is no God.’  Many think, “So what?  God is only for the superstitious and frightened.  He is an imagination and a falsehood.”  Others say, “Faith is overrated.  God only expects us to do our best.”  The trouble with this attitude is that God’s plans will not waver because of our opinions or beliefs and as He continues toward His goals and the very earth trembles under His mighty hand He looks upon these lost souls with amusement.  “What will you do LITTLE ONES?  Will you make war against your God?  Will you battle Him along with all the nations of the earth?”  Verse 20 says that his own children have no faith.  They have become His enemy and seek to somehow destroy God from the earth.  How sad to hear these things from former Jews and former Christians.

We know from Psalm 2:1-3 that one day all the kings of the earth will indeed fight against God.  We know from Revelation 16:16 that this battle against God will decimate earth and all life on it.  God says that if He had not shortened our days we would have destroyed all life on this planet.  Our political leaders in America used to believe in God and while each of them wished for different things for their people, they ultimately wanted what God wanted.  During this time our country prospered and became the greatest and most prosperous land on the planet.  Now however, we want what we want and few enough are willing to limit themselves to obedience of God’s Word.  We have little enough faith in the church, and much less on the earth. 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has publically stated that he would rather go to hell than go to a homophobic heaven or serve a homophobic God.  The Pope said, “Who am I to judge whether a priest is homosexual or not?”  They do not even see the madness of their stance.  A priest may not marry and raise a family and be in line with nature but they may have homosexual encounters with children or each other with no penalty?  Well does scripture say, “Woe to them that call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).”  This year Hollywood has begun a reality show of pastors in their sin and the statements above have happened just this week.  Satan has sped up his timetable. 

Remember Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

If we have no faith in our God in this time of peace in America then how can we expect to stand by faith in the soon coming time of trouble.  Make no mistake beloved, the time of trouble is upon us.  It does not tarry.  The days will wax worse and worse and many who stand beside you in faith and service to God will fall and be swallowed up by sin.  I believe that many will be tested to failure like Peter but will get back up like Proverbs 24:16 states.  Which will you be, the one who fails and stays down or the one who fails and gets up?  Perhaps you will be the miracle who never falls? 

The only other place in the Old Testament that speaks of faith is Habakkuk.  In chapter 2 verses 1-4 it reads:  1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint. 2 And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay. 4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.

God warns us to be vigilant in our faith.  It is one thing to stand when wind and wave crash around you, it is much wiser to watch out for the coming storm and be prepared for it.  God said the storm will not take us as a thief in the night if we are prepared like the five wise virgins.  If we fall because we have not studied and meditated on God’s Word until His Word is all we see then we are like the five foolish virgins who failed to keep the lamps of wisdom filled with oil and lit at all times, night and day (Matthew 25:1-13).  Look deep into your heart beloved.  How full is your supply of the oil of wisdom?

Are you proud?

Are you certain of your righteousness? 

Or are you humble, believing in the grace and mercy of God to get you in? 

Do you know and believe that God will meet your needs and feed and clothe you?  Matthew 6:30.

Jesus’ disciples were terrified about the storm that raged around them and thought for sure they would die.  The problem is that they were professional fishermen and knew just how dangerous the current storm was.  Their past knowledge overshadowed their current knowledge of who they traveled with and caused them to be terrified.  Are you terrified with sudden amazement?  Matthew 8:24-26.

Does your faith in God motivate you to action, or do you wait around for God to drop it in your lap?  Perhaps you are frightened and this keeps you from moving forward.  Faith moves you to move mountains; it does not move mountains for you.  Faith defeats failure because God honors and turns failure into success.  I am reminded of a saying that says, ‘a waiter is someone who waits ON God and not someone who waits FOR God.’  Wait I say on the Lord and He will give you a great tip.  Matthew 9:1-2.

God has given every man the measure of faith.  My grandson is not quite two yet.  If I was to arm wrestle him I would win.  In twenty years that might be different.  Still, in twenty years I ought to be able to out pray him wouldn’t you agree?  I might not get physically stronger every day but I ought to get spiritually stronger day by day.  Peter stepped out of the boat to walk beside Jesus on the water but stepped past his faith when he saw the waves.  We each need to pray in the spirit until our faith is greater than the wind and waves Satan sends against us.  Matthew 14:28-31.

The Pharisees for all their negative press were the ones who lived holy according to the law in Jesus’ time.  Some churches place faith above all else, but Jesus gave us His own order of importance.  The Pharisees were self righteous and arrogant but they tried to live holy in all things.  Jesus chided them, not for what they did, but for what they did not do.  He expected them to live holy and upright while still keeping three important duties in front place. 

The first was judgment.  Pride and a sense of entitlement destroys judgment.  You begin to see yourself above all else and you do not acknowledge the benefit of others when you see it.  The second is mercy.  People will fall short and unless you are something very odd, you are people too.  God requires you give mercy when judgment won’t help.  God is a God of mercy and we ought to be merciful to those who fall short.  This includes ourselves too.  The third is faith.  Faith moves God because faith works by love (Galatians 5:6).  It is third after Judgment and Mercy.  Mercy will stop you in your tracks when you are feeling self righteous.  Matthew 23:23.  None of us are without sin.

Faith is the substance, the foundation and reality of those things we hope for and have not as yet seen registered by our five senses.  Faith aligns us with God’s miraculous power and allows us to take a step where no bridge is and not plummet to our death.  Faith is powerful and even violent in its action but in spite of that, faith is loving and kind.  Because it works by love, faith does not keep a record of wrongs suffered.  Faith operates when the vessel is unworthy because faith, like the love that empowers it, does not keep a record of wrongs.  God will not abandon you or fail to recognize your faith simply because you have fallen short.  Many unworthy and faulty men and women over the years have had their prayers answered simply because they believed and God in His mercy set aside their judgment and answered their prayers.  Faith also hopes for the best and seeks the benefit of others.  1 Corinthians 13.

Faith is an action and must be seen to be real.  When the friends of the man with Palsy brought him to Jesus, tearing a hole in the roof to get to Him, scripture says that Jesus SAW their faith.  Mark 2:5.

Since it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), and since faith works by love, faith in Christ can also forgive sins (Luke 5:20).  This is why scripture says, “By grace through faith we are saved (Ephesians 2:8).  Salvation requires an ACT of faith.  When Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, it made him visible to his Lord who invited himself to dinner at the chief tax collector’s home (Luke 19:1-9).  On the one hand scripture says the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just (Proverbs 13:22), but on the other, how much better for the wicked to be saved as Zacchaeus was.  This sinner displayed faith in abundance, first climbing the tree to be noticed and then to freely offer to restore the money stolen by falsehoods with a trespass offering.  This complete repentance made Jesus declare he was saved.  Would we be so quick to forgive?

Luke 12:28 shows us we ought to know God is working on our behalf at all times by watching the wonders of the natural kingdom around us.  The very heavens declare His glory, how can we continue to doubt when even scientists can’t explain it all?  What do I mean?  The giraffe and woodpecker are two wonders that can’t be explained.  They shouldn’t be able to do what they do.  Both should die before they manage to take a drink of water in predator filled areas or go blind by the violence of their hammerings.  A single cell cannot be formed in the presence of oxygen but it requires oxygen to function.  How can those contradictions occur?

Each day scientists discover new things about ourselves and while they apply those things to the list of truths, they refuse to examine the falsehoods in their belief system.  Some of the most colorful fish in the world live so far down that light never penetrates.  No living creature will ever see their colors so why did they develop.  The colors are not to find a mate as they are on dry ground or to blend in with the flora and fauna, the colors serve no useful purpose to the fish.  The only one who might appreciate the color is God Himself.

Some of us are grumpy in faith.  We’re buoyant enough when things are going our way but cranky as can be when disappointment comes.  Paul said, “I have learned to be content no matter what my condition.”  Are you at peace in all circumstances?  It’s easy to rise and fall with our apparent status, but that status is blind and empty without taking into account our faith.  Once you step out into the terrifying truths of faith you will be able to release your dependence on sight to be at peace. 

Nobody’s faith is perfect.  Abraham, Paul, Isaac, Peter, Sarah, Jacob and many others named in scripture lived lives of stumbling failure in the eyes of many.  God alone looked into their lives and declared them to be the pillars of faith.  He doesn’t require perfection on your part or mine.  He merely requires your very best.  It grieves me that we struggle so with our flawed brethren when God, our true judge, has accepted us. 

Beloved, do not allow others to tear you down and don’t you go around tearing others down.  It is by God that we stand or fall and He alone is our judge. 

Bishop J

Your Part is Key!

Ephesians 1:15-23

In this passage of scripture Paul is letting the church in Ephesus know that they are in his heart and under his apostolic covering.  I have had people tell me their faith is private and many do not believe you need to attend a local church where your presence is acknowledged by a pastor.  This is one of the most foolish ideas to filter through the church.  In the first place we are the BODY of Christ and as His body we must function with some measure of unity and cohesion to be effective. 

You can’t really say, “Hey, there’s a church in Botswana that is doing good things,” unless you know of the church and they are a unified entity.  You can’t have heard of them unless they fellowship with other ministries that eventually connect to yours.  A disconnected church is a dysfunctional church whether it is a church of one or ten thousand, and will never flow into the work of God.  It’s bad enough that so many churches these days fight against one another and blaspheme God’s good name by their anti-Christian words and deeds.  A church is empowered by faith and faith works by love.  Without God’s anointing we are nothing more than a club who bears some resemblance to a church.  Without His love and grace we are wolves in sheep’s clothing driven by our own desires whether good or evil.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Paul had originally brought the word to Ephesus and had sent his spiritual son Timothy to watch over it and care for the flock.  Notice it says Paul heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus.  Faith without works is dead (James 2:20-26) so what Paul heard is how the church went forth in faith, ignoring the danger of preaching the Gospel in a pagan society and winning converts.  They must have prayed for the sick and seen them healed, fed the hungry, helped the poor and given purpose and hope to the dispossessed. 

Paul wasn’t referring to some utopian society but was talking about their actions and faith in the face of adversity and grief.  Revelation 2:2 speaks about their labors and good deeds, but Jesus had some strong words against them for leaving their first love.  Faith requires works to show it is vibrant and alive but never mistake works for the love which is to motivate them.  If you lost that love and struggle to care, motivated only by habit or the good feeling you get by the recognition of your acts, you are in danger of God’s judgment.  Faith requires works but MUST be motivated by love.

The beauty of their FIRST LOVE was their love for Jesus which motivated the good works Paul was mentioning.  It was their love for our Savior that motivated him to give glory to God on their behalf and to pray for their continued progress in that love and deeds.  Ask yourself; do your acts and the motivation behind them shine for the world to see?  God is willing to put you on a pedestal as long as it is to lift HIM higher.

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Of all the motivations behind his prayer Paul desired they receive the wisdom of God.  Following a close second he desired they receive God’s revelation and prophetic leading.  I’ve heard lying prophets, wishful prophets and confused prophets.  I guess you could say that the last two haven’t arrived and the first one never will.  People lie to make themselves look better and some read 1 Corinthians 14:1 and just KNOW that God has made them a prophet.  I suspect God would be more willing to give the prophetic and revelatory gifts to those who are not so quick to pad their utterances with some personal hurt feelings here and there. 

If your motivation is not to raise up God while maintaining your humility (difficult in the best of times for powerful prophets), then God has no use for you.  He will not share His glory with us.  He honors us enough to allow us to walk along side Him in this life.  There is a certain glory we are given as you can read in the following verse.

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Ask yourself a question.  Would you say that the body of Christ in its entirety is enlightened?  I sometimes wonder what percentage of ‘Christians’ have never asked Jesus into their hearts to forgive their sins.  How many believe in speaking in tongues or the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit as given in 1 Corinthians 12:8-.  Why have so many churches raised the office of bishop to the highest office and denied the present apostolic movement of the Spirit of God. 

We’re supposed to be healthy, not by a visit to your local doctor, but by Jesus’ stripes.  I have been reading a WONDERFUL book on forgiveness by T.D. Jakes entitled, “Let It Go.”  In this book he explains how we drain ourselves emotionally and physically by holding onto unforgiveness while expecting to receive all the blessings of our Lord’s forgiveness.  In another book written by Joel Osteen’s father John Osteen he speaks of our constantly growing faith as it says in Romans 1:17.  Your faith isn’t just there all at once.  You get a small measure with salvation but it is up to you to make it grow.

Faith is a process and not a destination.  The great preacher and friend of orphans, George Mueller once said that you must first learn to believe for toothpaste before you can believe for Steak dinners.  One of his orphan children said, “Pastor Mueller, I’m hungry.”  He asked the child, “Have you prayed?”  When the child said he didn’t know how to pray George led him in prayer.  A short time later one of the local women realized she had purchased too many groceries for her household and asked if the orphanage could use the extra food.  Faith is a process like body building.  Exercise it.

You may spend a lot of time in Gold’s Gym, but how much time do you spend in God’s Gym?  (Gold’s Gym is a well known gymnasium in America)

I have frequently heard of wealthy parents who disowned their undisciplined and lazy children, preferring to give their wealth to an organization that will help people in need.  All the blessings and wealth of God is available for our use but He will not release it to you unless He knows where it will go and what it will accomplish.  Sitting on the sidelines comes from failing to develop and faithfully operate your gifts.  God needs YOU to know that YOU will do what HE WANTS with what He gives you. 

It’s not a surprise to HIM but often is to each individual He tests.  Peter stepped out on the water and stumbled afterwards; but it did build his faith.  He denied Jesus again and again, but it continued to build his faith.  At the end people were healed by the touch of his shadow alone.  Failures need not drive you out of the promise if they move you to greater steps of faith.  I’ve heard people say, “Do not attempt…do.”  I say, “Continue to attempt until you do.”  Growth is a process.  Sometimes you stumble.  Don’t let someone bury you after a failure.  Get it right and get on with it.  Do better next time.

F.B. Meyer said:  “Fit yourself for God’s service; be faithful.  He will presently appoint thee…  In some unlikely corner, in a shepherd’s hut, or in an artisan’s cottage, God has His prepared and appointed instrument.  As yet the shaft is hidden in His quiver, in the shadow of His hand; but at the precise moment at which it will tell with the greatest effect, it will be produced and launched on the air.”

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us- ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Look at verse 19.  What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us?  It isn’t good enough to say the greatness of His power toward us but the EXCEEDING greatness; surpassing and going beyond any expectation we had any right to hope for.  I am reminded of king Joash during a time when Elisha was sick and about to die (2 Kings 13:14).  In this case he told Joash to shoot an arrow out the window Eastward toward Syria who had been plaguing Israel.  He gave the king direction and made sure the shot went true so the strength of Israel would not be misdirected. 

That first part was guided and directed by God Himself through the prophet.  In the second part God tested the king to see where his heart was.  Was Joash passionate in his hatred of this enemy of God’s people?  Did a fire burn that would consume their enemies?  In verse 18 Elisha told the king to take several arrows and strike the ground.  Notice God did not give an explanation for this act.  He did not tell Joash through Elisha that this was both a test and a promise.  Joash took hold of the arrows and struck the ground three times. 

The purpose was not to seek the help of our triune God or past, present or future or any other cute analogy a preacher might come up with.  The purpose was to determine the FIRE in Joash’s heart.  His hatred and fury toward God’s ancient enemy should have caused him to take the arrows in both hands and strike the ground until his breath came in ragged gasps.  Elisha was furious.  His final prophecy for his people, God’s people and this king wasted it.  He failed to show a passion and zeal for God’s service.  Israel would not destroy Syria; they would only defeat them three times.  Today, thousands of years later, Syria is still a thorn poking Israel in the side; all because of a weak king.

In John 2:15, Jesus drove the bankers out of the house of God in fury.  This caused his disciples to remember that in Psalms 69:9 it was written, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”  Has the zeal for God’s work eaten you up yet?  How can you expect to receive the EXCEEDING GREATNESS of God’s power if you do not passionately desire it and FIGHT FOR IT? 

It is rarely SAFE to receive the ‘exceeding greatness’ of God’s power.  The danger does not come from God Himself, but from all the principalities and powers of wickedness that strive to prevent your success.  YOU have a part in this great work.  Your part is not to merely be a vessel for the power of God to flow, but to be driven and motivated by your love of God to accomplish great works using His power.  Do you have the heart for it?

You may die or be hated for using this power in its fullness.  Jesus did.  You may be tortured and abused.  Peter, Isaiah and Paul were.  I have always found it amusing to hear that a preacher retired.  How can you be a man or woman of God and retire.  If we are in Christ, our rest comes after we are dead.  It is not safe to walk in Christ but it is rewarding.

In the verse above we see that God has seated Christ at his right hand.  The right hand is a place of power and authority.  Where are we while our Lord sits in this exalted position?  We are seated at God’s right hand of course.  We are the body of Christ.  He is the head.  The head sits upon the body so the body is in the seat.  If we are seated the victory is won.  God is fighting.  Matthew 22:44 says, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

The amplified version says it this way, “21 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.”

We stand above presidents and potentates; above situations and financial status.  We are not beneath.  If you live in a mud shack in the middle of a field of dirt you are greater than the wealthiest sinner on Earth.  The question I suppose is whether or not you are ready for this honor or will you fall short like Joash?  Only God knows but you have a great deal to say about it.  Scripture says we will rule and reign over cities in the world to come. 

Mankind largely misses the fact that this planet we live on is temporary.  God never intended it to hold us forever.  Most would rather call faith in God foolishness and reduce the benefits of life in joy in Christ so they can preserve this fallen globe in the politically correct name of Greenpeace or the Sierra Club.  I was raised to respect this home God has given us and to treat it with respect as a gift from God but I NEVER forget that WE are created in the image and likeness of God and it is an important planet only because WE live here and not some gorilla in Africa or rodent in South America.  We are the reason for God’s notice, not this ball of dirt.

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

All things are under Christ’s feet and therefore under the church’s feet.  We carry the head.  We are the body, the fullness of HIM that fills all in all.  We are the fullness of Christ and send His power out to others.  We bring the saving Word of God to the lost and unsaved.  We smite the sin of the Earth with arrows of faith until we utterly defeat our enemies. 

Beloved, do not allow your fears to steal what God has promised.  Always remember that it is not dependent upon God alone.  You too must do your part and fulfill your purpose.  The very first commandment of God says that you must love the Lord with all your heart; your soul; your mind AND your strength (Mark 12:30).  You must POUR yourself into this life so God can use every bit of you to accomplish His purpose. 

YOU MATTER BELOVED.

Bishop J

James Chapter 4 - You Want What?

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Paul said, “I have learned to be content in whatever state I find myself (Philippians 4:11).  How many church members can say this applies to them?  It’s one thing to have a passion for your work or to want to succeed.  It’s another to want what someone else has and work to get it away from them.  That is lust and according to this verse it causes our very members to combat one another.  With the fields white (past the point of harvest) with wheat what do we do in the church?  Try to win someone else’s members.  I do understand finding the church God has chosen for you but why would you want to take from another church or saint of God?  James is not writing to the unsaved alone here but also to the church.

The unsaved often run to these lusts and desires, but the church frequently falls into the very same ones.  This is a sad truth which displays a serious lack of integrity and consecration on our part.

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Cain had a brother who loved him but Abel did what was right in God’s sight and that angered Cain.  He killed Abel.  Joseph had ten brothers and God began to receive visions and dreams from God.  He was his father’s favorite and Jacob gave him many gifts.  Jealous brothers sold him into slavery.  David took another man’s wife and slept with her making her pregnant.  Then he had the husband killed when the man proved to be too honorable to go home and enjoy his wife while all Israel lived in tents on the battle field.  David had him killed. 

In the last case God rebuked David by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:7-8).  He told David that had he but asked God would have given him even more wives and concubines.  Because he took what was not his God allowed David’s son Absalom to rise up against David’s house and defile all his concubines before all of Jerusalem.  Ultimately, even after repenting, David was forced to see his own son killed and God would not allow David to be the one who built the temple.

Many of us fail to ask God for our hearts desire.  Perhaps we saw our neighbor’s wife or car or other ‘thing’ and chose to take it.  It’s likely we never asked God for one like that because we refused to stand in faith.  Because we failed to ask God, our eyes remained focused upon that which belonged to another.  Because we stretched forth our hands and took that unrighteous thing God brought great sorrow down upon our house.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

BJV - Ye church folks ask and receive not, because your heart is wrong and you only want it because someone else has it.  Remember, James is writing primarily to church members.  Even then the faith movement was alive and well.  Not sure how you say, ‘name it and claim it’ or ‘blab it and grab it’ in Greek, but there was a faith group, a holiness group, a traditional group and every other group we still have today.  There were Christian looking false sects and gross ignorance as well.

Well does scripture say, “there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).”  Lessons like this aren’t saying you can’t pray in faith.  They say you need to pray in faith, be holy, be diligent, be humble, be bold, be gracious and loving, be unyielding, be flexible.  All these attributes, even those that seem to be contradictory, are necessary in the body in their season and in their proper time.  I know I’m going to get slammed here but I still believe there are those who will experience great hardship and privation because God expects us to have some understanding of what people are going through.  Not everyone will be wealthy and that is not such a terrible thing. 

The Bible lets us know that it is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy man or noble man to get into Heaven (Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25).  Some saints are weak and some are strong.  God tailors our life to keep us spiritually safe and in a place where we can continue His work and purpose for our lives.  Just as some can partake of food offered to idols with no fear, others must avoid that same food because it is not in their faith to feel secure in that area.  Know thyself.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

In the previous verse James spoke of lust and now he clearly is calling church members adulterers and adulteresses, men and women of God who cheat on their Lord and have made bed partners of the world.  I wrote earlier about those who frown on interracial marriage but think nothing of marrying someone unsaved and not of the same species (we are God breathed, not dead flesh).  We are a new creation and should live as such.  If you are too in love with the world to live a sanctified (set apart) life toward God then you have made yourself an enemy of God.  You are living in two worlds, half and half, and that makes you lukewarm.

Partnering with the world does not merely mean in marriage.  It also means in business practices or how you deal with others.  If you allow the current throat cutting business practices to be part of your life, then you do not allow God to help others through your choices.  You have become an enemy in business, love, social circumstances and life in general.

God will spit you out.

5-- Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

I was thinking of someone who said, “I have to get me one of these.”  I look at all the ultralight aircraft and hang gliders and think, “I really want one of those.”  When I was a kid watching a movie and they dumped a brand new motorcycle into a lake so there was no evidence I said, “Noooooo!!!”  I wanted it.  When Paul wrote, “I have learned that in what ever state I find myself, to be content,” he was writing about a Godly spirit and not the flesh spirit that rules this current world.

Thou shalt not covet is one of the ten commandments.  It’s right up there with thou shalt not commit murder and thou shalt not steal.  You may ask what makes envy so terrible.  Corinthians says, “God divides to us special gifts, He gives several to each of us as He desires.”  Each and every one of us has these gifts.  We look at the gift to make money (and it is a gift) and the gift to lead people and we think, “I want those.”  We look at our own gifts and say, “No!  Not those.  I don’t want my gift to work that way.”  Here we are, angry with God over a gift He has given us and haven’t even stopped to consider that God, the Creator of the universe has specifically chosen our gifts to operate a specific way.  How can we possibly not want that?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Scripture says to let the one who would be ruler of all first be the servant of all.  There’s a song we have sung in church often, “Victory, victory is mine.  Victory, victory is mine.  If I hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battles, victory, victory shall be mine.”  If we know that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, then where do we get the idea we should be arrogant and cocky?   I have made many mistakes over the years and suppose I will still make my share no matter how much I pray or study His Word.  Children can teach me how to praise and a babe in Christ might give me a much needed infusion of zeal.

I have said and done things over the years that I am not particularly proud of and am thankful for God’s saving and forgiving grace.  In the wisdom I have gained after more than thirty years in this life I understand certain things.  Most important of all after salvation itself is that God has a use for me.  It might not be what I am naturally talented at but it will use all my spiritual gifts.  Frankly, I am happiest repairing broken things and I suppose this pours out over my walk with God allowing me to help mend broken lives.

Neither gift is mine to lord over, because they all come from God above.  As long as I remember who I am in Him and remain faithful to His purpose for my life, I believe He will continue to use me to His glory and will have no need to ‘put me in my place (Luke 14:8-11).”  God rejoices in exalting His children but too often we make His job a long one by exalting ourselves which forces Him to abase us so we can be exalted to a higher position while still maintaining our humility.  Humility is good.  Arrogance?  Not so much. 

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The loudest argument offered by non-Christians is that we are out of step with the times and that things have changed.  I have it on good authority that the more things change, the more they remain the same.  God has given us absolutes and we strive to whittle those down into something we find more comfortable.  During Roman times they had temple prostitutes, now we have the internet sites that cater to our every whim and desire.  The only difference between people when Jesus walked on the Earth and now is that we are more technologically savvy.  Intellectually and spiritually  there is no difference.

We struggle to find meaning to life while watching more hours of television or playing more video games than we do working, much less getting to know our neighbors and bringing the knowledge of the Word of God to those around us.  People of other religions are moving into our neighborhoods and inviting US to come over for dinner so they can win our souls to their god.  If we are serious about this life, if we really intend to continue in it then we need to live it His way and for His purposes.  Our will must die so His might bear fruit.

Satan will not go quietly into the night.  He will fight you tooth and nail for the souls you win.  I wonder how many of us really believe that when we pray, “Satan the Lord rebuke you,” he must flee.  I hope we’re not like the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14) who sought to stand in a power they did not understand or believe in and get beat down to their underwear.  It would be a shame to hear demon possessed say, “Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are YOU?” 

We are required to resist the devil.  That means to stand against him forcefully.  When an airplane propeller turns it pushes against the air.  You can’t see it but the force is enough to push the plane down the runway and up into the sky.  Our power is greater and just as invisible.  When we pray in the spirit realm, Satan is forced to acknowledge our superior power and flee from us.  The problem is that if we do not believe in our OWN power in Christ, how are we going to apply that power to our spiritual warfare.  The battle may be invisible but it is mighty and it is vicious.  Satan asks for no quarter and offers none.  He will kill you if he can.  The promise of God says he will flee from before you.  Believeth thou this?

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

What a wonderful truth that God rejoices, honors and blesses His children when they draw close to Him.  One of the greatest revivals in US history, the Azusa Street Revival began as one man humbled himself, bowed his head in an empty wood crate, and prayed until God moved in a powerful way.  He wasn’t the smartest or most famous; he was simply the faithful and most hungry for God’s presence.  His sacrifice bubbled up and flowed over thousands of lives and ministries.

Are your hands clean?  Pray with me.  Lord, forgive me for my sins.  I have fallen short in so many ways and my heart’s desire is to fulfill your will in my life.  Cleanse me Father.  Purify my soul and strengthen me to be faithful and to obey your will.  I love you Lord and desire to serve you fully.  Make me strong and full of your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Once you have prayed and sought God’s grace and mercy, you need to abstain from all the ‘mess’ you have filled your mind with and pray that God’s Word will work great miracles in your life.  Let the words of your mouth and the attitudes of your heart be fully and completely sold old to God.  It is easy to surrender to flesh and sin.  Living in the spirit takes a real effort of will, yours and His.

Once your hearts have been purified by God’s grace, it’s time to embrace and walk in His Word.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  No matter how much you might want to do a thing, if you don’t focus on God and release all the various inconsequential parts of your life to Him, you will never truly succeed.  You can only serve one master.  Save yourself a great deal of pain and make that master God.  Sin and flesh are terrible and wanton taskmasters who are never full. 

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Most of us read this and think … what?  We don’t understand why we should be afflicted or mourn or weep, but the truth is this passage speaks to those who have chosen the world’s system of happiness and joy rather than God’s.  All worldly pleasures will come to an end.  Illegal pleasures will end quicker still as this fallen flesh we live in ages and decays.  The fifteen year old who fights against her parents and authority will soon be thirty, possibly unemployed or raising children alone without help.  Perhaps she’ll get her act together and shine, but without God her every choice just leads her deeper down that road of sin and shame.

I watched this nice kid, Justin Bieber, who gradually made bad choice after bad choice and because of his money he gets away with his decisions for a season.  He has money, fame and finds himself in trouble regularly because of immature choices.  It’s possible he may remain on top or find someone who inspires him to do better, but with certainty, one day, his life will end and his truth begin.  Fame and wealth will prove fleeting in the face of a God who demands obedience and reverence. 

God does not allow us to carry our sin into the Christian walk.  It must die as we must die to self.  He gave us skills and insists they be used for His glory.  Whatever is not done in faith to God and according to His Word is sin, and sin cannot live in the sight of God.  We will not live forever and we must choose to serve God or not while in this life.  If we choose not we will weep and howl and lose everything.  If yes, we have a chance to grow.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Our God has no problem making a positive example of us, i.e. making us famous or wealthy.  He says, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.”  God wants to save souls.  If that means we will be raised to a level in Christ where we can be seen and set an example, so be it.  Hard nails get hammered.  Soft material gets sanded and shaped.  There is a difficult process for us all but if we look to Him, the author and finisher of our faith, we will be used for great things.  We are the body of Christ and in that position, we must be lifted up if we are to lift Him up.  Our problems come when we are lifted in pride and forsake HIS honor.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

During my military years this was explained to me a certain way, but I can’t use that example.  Let me try to make this clear.  There are few examples of speaking evil of one another that come across as powerfully as the educational system in America today.  From the grade school to university there  is more than a bit of pride to be found in school teachers and professors.  Everybody wants to believe that their way of teaching is superior to the person next to them.  They back stab and back bite one another regularly, especially if you are a college professor with your doctorate and some upcoming whippersnapper tries to shoot down your thesis or theories. 

We talk about others for their hair, their relationships, their intelligence, their direction in life, their jobs, their life habits, their strengths, their weaknesses.  I could go on for hours here because it seems to be a part of the fallen human condition that if someone is different from us, there is something wrong with them.  The one thing I noticed when I traveled to Kenya a couple years ago was the lack of racism.  Racism is prevalent in the United States and appears to fall within that same concept, you’re different; I don’t like you.

Racism falls apart when two people get to know one another and discover a kindred spirit.  This makes those on the outside crazy because all they can see is the differences and fail to make the connection of your valid interconnection with someone else based on deeper things than skin color or sex.  Because they are unable to see what you see from their shallow understanding, they are by our very human nature quick to throw stones of disgust and anger.  The ultimate judge is alluded to in verse 12 below.  It is He and He alone that can truly choose what is right or wrong.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Verse 11 and 12 speak a warning to our human arrogance and judgmental spirit.  The words ought to be spoken with authority and more than a hint of threat.  “WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE MY SERVANT!!!  DID YOU CREATE THE WORLD?  WAS IT YOU WHO SET THE UNIVERSE IN MOTION?  I ALONE AM GOD AND I ALONE AM JUDGE!!!” 

Think of these things the next time that old nature rises up in your hearts and you want to scream, “You Moron!!!” when someone cuts you off on the freeway or you don’t like a decision a court has made.  Remember that God is the judge and He will make everything right in His time.  Your dislike of a situation is not the problem, your failure to trust God to make it right is.”

13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

A few years ago I was riding my motorcycle up in Washington State.  I might have told myself, “When we get done riding tonight I’m going to buy the biggest steak dinner they have at that restaurant.”  Five minutes later I was sliding down the road with a 900 pound motorcycle pinning me to the highway after it had hammered me in the chest and almost stopped my heart.  Miraculously, though I was bleeding internally, I got up and walked over to my motorcycle and picked it up, got on it, and continued my ride.  Sixty miles later I began to get dizzy and pulled over, collapsing over my handlebars where my riding partner found me and thought I was dead.

An hour later I was in the cardiac ward of the Olympia Washington St. Bernardine hospital with tubes running into my arm and my pelvis and hip swollen to the size of a football with my own blood.  They told me I could not go home because my heart was bruised badly and might tear during the night.  Enjoy the jello.

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

I still ride that motorcycle though I am a bit more careful these days.  My hip hurts every day where the bike pinned me to the moving highway.  I can hear my heartbeat in my left ear because of the damaged valve and my doctor is reluctant to go in there and fix it because heart surgery is not like getting a tooth worked on.  You might live.  You might not.  I’ve never been a good gambler.  My heart, he says, is strong and healthy.  Let’s just watch it for a while.

I’ve been electrocuted, dropped onto concrete, slid down a highway and fallen out of innumerable trees.  I have scars, aches, pains and both shoulders hurt when it rains due to operations.  Not once did I start my day and think, “I’ll go out and fall off a ladder onto my back on the concrete today.  That sounds like fun.”  We can plan our days and keep our hands busy but lately my one prayer has become, “Lord, more than anything else, I want Your direction.”  MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE…I want Your direction. 

More than fame, health, wealth, love, safety, joy, happiness, I want God’s direction.  I feel confident praying this because even though I have thrown myself onto God’s mercy and trust Him for my future, He loves me more than I love myself.  One way or another, I will have the live I need and didn’t even know it.  It’s not by my wisdom or ability, but by His love and compassion that I find myself in this place today.  I trust Him!

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

I am pretty good at putting a sentence together.  I have a gift of gab (I can talk).  There are other skills and gifts that God has given me and oddly enough, they do not work without His input.  I can rejoice in how God uses me for His glory but I cannot rejoice in my boasting.  I can’t say, “I have done all this by my skills and talents.”  Nebuchadnezzar tried this and God put him in the penalty box for a long long time (Daniel 4:30).

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Your gifts were given to you to bless God and man.  They were not given to fill you with pride and arrogance.  God does not approve of pride nor does he put up with it.  I often watch famous performers parade their opinions out for others to hear, acting all the world like their words carry the voice of God by reason of their fame.  For the most part they live lives of sin and consumption while looking down upon the very people who made those lives possible.  They give no credit to the very God who gave them the gift they exploit to their own benefit.  The wages of sin are death and using your gifts to your benefit and not God’s is also sin.

Beloved, identify your gifts.  Ask God how you might honor Him by using your gifts accordingly. 

Blessings,

Bishop J