James 5:19, 20
"19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
As we look at the very lst verses of James I am reminded of the importance of sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others. God has given us the mission of saving people from death. the reality of it all is that if people do not know Christ - they will spend eternity apart from Christ. God has left to us - His followers to point people to Christ and to live out our faith so that others can see.
This is a great responsibility but He does not leave us alone in accomplishing this mission. He has entered our life and lives within us. His Spirit lives within us and when we are responsive to His leadings we can be used to save lives. As we live out our faith in front of people - sometimes with warts and all and they can see that God is making a true difference in our lives and we combine that with a simple explanation of what God has done and is doing in our lives - the Spirit is able to take that and begin to lead them to Christ.
This is a our great mission - it is worth giving our lives to because it involves the eternity of people we know - love work with and with who we share this planet. Listen to the Spirit - look for opportunities to share and love and head out on a world changing rescue mission.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
It's About Prayer - August 29
James 5:13-18
"13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."
This summer has been about prayer - we studied it on Wednesday nights at Borderland - we have been working with the Prayer Team in preparation for the 40 Days of Community - we have been praying for God to do amazing things in our lives as He makes us more and more like Him.
Powerful and effective prayer is the backbone of a healthy church because it is the path through which we admit that doing anything of lasting importance is beyond us except for the power of God which is released through prayer. When we truly become a people of prayer - we begin to live with expectation that God is at work and that lives will be changed and people will be healed and restored.
I want to ask you join us in prayer as we approach the 40 Days of Community. If you are willing to pray with us during that time - please email me at prayer@bridgeschurch.net. This is an exciting time at Bridges as we look for God to move. Pray - pray today and tomorrow and the next day. Pray with excitement and expectation and anticipation. God is on the move.
"13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."
This summer has been about prayer - we studied it on Wednesday nights at Borderland - we have been working with the Prayer Team in preparation for the 40 Days of Community - we have been praying for God to do amazing things in our lives as He makes us more and more like Him.
Powerful and effective prayer is the backbone of a healthy church because it is the path through which we admit that doing anything of lasting importance is beyond us except for the power of God which is released through prayer. When we truly become a people of prayer - we begin to live with expectation that God is at work and that lives will be changed and people will be healed and restored.
I want to ask you join us in prayer as we approach the 40 Days of Community. If you are willing to pray with us during that time - please email me at prayer@bridgeschurch.net. This is an exciting time at Bridges as we look for God to move. Pray - pray today and tomorrow and the next day. Pray with excitement and expectation and anticipation. God is on the move.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Yes & No - August 28
James 5:12
"12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned."
"A simple yes will suffice" - James is saying that swearing - promising on anything out of your control - is unnecessary and actually is counter productive. Swearing on your mother's grave - or on heaven or anything else is pointless because those things are beyond our control. If our "yes" or "no" is not enough - if it takes more than that to convince people that ...1. we are telling the truth or 2. we will follow through on what we say ... then there is something wrong with our character and trustworthiness.
We should be able to say "yes" or "no" and be believed. It is as simple as that.
"12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned."
"A simple yes will suffice" - James is saying that swearing - promising on anything out of your control - is unnecessary and actually is counter productive. Swearing on your mother's grave - or on heaven or anything else is pointless because those things are beyond our control. If our "yes" or "no" is not enough - if it takes more than that to convince people that ...1. we are telling the truth or 2. we will follow through on what we say ... then there is something wrong with our character and trustworthiness.
We should be able to say "yes" or "no" and be believed. It is as simple as that.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Don't Give Up - August 27
James 5:9-11
"9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. "
Perseverance - this is a hallmark of a Christ follower. The ability to wait and endure and trust that God will come through in any situation. God is full of mercy and compassion James reminds us - He will not forget you nor abandon you. He will be there for you.
What are you facing today? What is something that you are dealing with that if God does not come through you will not make it? Where are you with your problems today? Don't give up - trust in God! He will come through!
How many people have abandoned hope and trust right before God moves and works? How many people have grown impatient and giving up before giving God time to act? Perseverance is one of those great traits that identifies the Christ follower. We live by faith and not by sight - no matter how dark it might get. The light is coming - don't give up!
"9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. "
Perseverance - this is a hallmark of a Christ follower. The ability to wait and endure and trust that God will come through in any situation. God is full of mercy and compassion James reminds us - He will not forget you nor abandon you. He will be there for you.
What are you facing today? What is something that you are dealing with that if God does not come through you will not make it? Where are you with your problems today? Don't give up - trust in God! He will come through!
How many people have abandoned hope and trust right before God moves and works? How many people have grown impatient and giving up before giving God time to act? Perseverance is one of those great traits that identifies the Christ follower. We live by faith and not by sight - no matter how dark it might get. The light is coming - don't give up!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Patiently ready - August 26
James 5:7,8
"7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."
Be patient and stand firm - Jesus is coming again. In the beauty of God's planning each generation has wondered - Will Jesus come again in my lifetime? Will I see Him return in the same way He left through the clouds? Will I experience being taken up in the clouds with Him?
Each generation before us has waited - mostly patiently to see Him come back. Perhaps He will come tomorrow - perhaps He will come today.
The Bible tells us to be ready and be patient - two things that don't always seem to go together. Being ready implies that it could be now - being patient means it may take awhile. But for each generation it is essential that we do both - be ready and be patient. God works on His own time and in His own way and it is all about trusting in Him.
"7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."
Be patient and stand firm - Jesus is coming again. In the beauty of God's planning each generation has wondered - Will Jesus come again in my lifetime? Will I see Him return in the same way He left through the clouds? Will I experience being taken up in the clouds with Him?
Each generation before us has waited - mostly patiently to see Him come back. Perhaps He will come tomorrow - perhaps He will come today.
The Bible tells us to be ready and be patient - two things that don't always seem to go together. Being ready implies that it could be now - being patient means it may take awhile. But for each generation it is essential that we do both - be ready and be patient. God works on His own time and in His own way and it is all about trusting in Him.
Monday, August 25, 2008
How Not to Deal with Financial Resources - August 25
James 5:1-6
"1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you."
This is a tough passage to take in - especially for those of us who live here in America where even the average person is rich compared to most of the world who live on less than $2 per day. Why is James so hard on those with resources? Why such harsh language?
When reading through this passage some things really stand out which point out not so much about wealth but what the rich were doing and not doing with wealth.
In verse 3, James talks about the wealth that was being hoarded. In context with the rest of the book, it becomes clear that people were not using their resources to take care of the widows and orphans, they were not helping those who needed food and clothes. They were keeping their wealth to themselves and not helping others in need. Their wealth was exposing their selfishness. They were living in luxury and self indulgence - it was about them.
In verse 4, he takes on those who were cheating their workers out of their pay. These wealthy people were exploiting those who were working for them and getting rich off those who made money for them. This was not pleasing to God. The manager/boss/owner of the company has the role of taking care of his/her employees, showing them God's love through tangible - real actions.
The last thing he took them to task for was in the way that they were misusing power - condemning those who are innocent and using their influence execute the people who opposed them. It wasn't the wealth itself that James was upset at it was what the people who doing with the authority and influence that affluence brings brought them. They were not living out their faith and their wealth revealed that.
"1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you."
This is a tough passage to take in - especially for those of us who live here in America where even the average person is rich compared to most of the world who live on less than $2 per day. Why is James so hard on those with resources? Why such harsh language?
When reading through this passage some things really stand out which point out not so much about wealth but what the rich were doing and not doing with wealth.
In verse 3, James talks about the wealth that was being hoarded. In context with the rest of the book, it becomes clear that people were not using their resources to take care of the widows and orphans, they were not helping those who needed food and clothes. They were keeping their wealth to themselves and not helping others in need. Their wealth was exposing their selfishness. They were living in luxury and self indulgence - it was about them.
In verse 4, he takes on those who were cheating their workers out of their pay. These wealthy people were exploiting those who were working for them and getting rich off those who made money for them. This was not pleasing to God. The manager/boss/owner of the company has the role of taking care of his/her employees, showing them God's love through tangible - real actions.
The last thing he took them to task for was in the way that they were misusing power - condemning those who are innocent and using their influence execute the people who opposed them. It wasn't the wealth itself that James was upset at it was what the people who doing with the authority and influence that affluence brings brought them. They were not living out their faith and their wealth revealed that.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tomorrows & moments - August 23
James 4:13-17
"13 Now 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." 14 Why, 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. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
Who knows what tomorrow brings? Some people live in the future - "I will be happy when...I get married...I finish school...I get a new job... I make the following changes..." Living in the future is impossible because we are always in the present. the future is not guaranteed to us.
Our lives are like steam James tells us - steam that is visible for a moment and the is gone. We must live for the moment - live for God every moment of every day we have. Live is precious - the most precious gift we have. our choice is then - how will we use it. What will we do with this gift from God? We have this moment - let's live!
"13 Now 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." 14 Why, 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. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
Who knows what tomorrow brings? Some people live in the future - "I will be happy when...I get married...I finish school...I get a new job... I make the following changes..." Living in the future is impossible because we are always in the present. the future is not guaranteed to us.
Our lives are like steam James tells us - steam that is visible for a moment and the is gone. We must live for the moment - live for God every moment of every day we have. Live is precious - the most precious gift we have. our choice is then - how will we use it. What will we do with this gift from God? We have this moment - let's live!
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