A little more about mercy, and judgment:

James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

These verses have to do with both mercy, and with judgement. We are encouraged to so do and speak as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

What does this mean? Well, it's clear that overall it means, that while we are here on the earth, that both our actions and words will one day be judged by what is called the law of liberty.

James is saying that one day, we will be judged for the things we have said, and the things we have done. So, we ought to live with that judgement in mind. Or to be personally accountable with regards to our words and actions.

Jesus spoke about this accountability also. Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

The other very interesting thing that is said here, is that we don't have to live in fear of the judgment to come if we are living now in a merciful way towards others. On the other hand, there is a warning. That, the person who lives now without mercy towards others, will not be shown any mercy in the future judgment.

But, a person can smile in the face of judgment to come, if now they are living in, and walking in, and showing mercy towards others. It's very interesting, that we never ask God to give us justice for ourselves, but we ask for mercy. But, we may think He should give others justice. Interesting.

At any rate, God is so merciful. He has new mercies every morning. His mercies are eternal. He bestows His mercies on us. Mercy is something we can pray for daily. It's something we need daily.

Oh Merciful God. Have mercy upon us now, and may we walk in mercy now towards people we know, and come in contact with day by day. You have shown us mercy, You have not given us justice, You gave that to Your Son, but to us You have been merciful. Thank You Father.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

Application/Promises

1. It's by His mercies we are saved.

2. God's appeal to us now, is based on His mercies ( Rom 12: 1 )

3. Why not be merciful towards others?

4. Does God ever run out of mercy?

5. Would He give You mercy today?

6. Shall we not rather be merciful now?

7. I want mercy later from God also.

8. Blessed be the Lord of mercy.

A little more about mercy, and judgement:

James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

These verses have to do with both mercy, and with judgement. We are encouraged to so do and speak as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

What does this mean? Well, it's clear that overall it means, that while we are here on the earth, that both our actions and words will one day be judged by what is called the law of liberty.

James is saying that one day, we will be judged for the things we have said, and the things we have done. So, we ought to live with that judgement in mind. Or to be personally accountable with regards to our words and actions.

Jesus spoke about this accountability also. Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

The other very interesting thing that is said here, is that we don't have to live in fear of the judgment to come if we are living now in a merciful way towards others. On the other hand, there is a warning. That, the person who lives now without mercy towards others, will not be shown any mercy in the future judgment.

But, a person can smile in the face of judgment to come, if now they are living in, and walking in, and showing mercy towards others. It's very interesting, that we never ask God to give us justice for ourselves, but we ask for mercy. But, we may think He should give others justice. Interesting.

At any rate, God is so merciful. He has new mercies every morning. His mercies are eternal. He bestows His mercies on us. Mercy is something we can pray for daily. It's something we need daily.

Oh Merciful God. Have mercy upon us now, and may we walk in mercy now towards people we know, and come in contact with day by day. You have shown us mercy, You have not given us justice, You gave that to Your Son, but to us You have been merciful. Thank You Father.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

Application/Promises

1. It's by His mercies we are saved.

2. God's appeal to our lives now, is based on His mercies ( Rom 12: 1 )

3. Why not be merciful towards others?

4. Does God ever run out of mercy?

5. Would He give You mercy today?

6. Shall we not rather be merciful now?

7. I want mercy later from God also.

8. Blessed be the Lord of mercy.

Are you in a pit of despair today?

God can pull you out. He did it for David, and He can and will do it for you. See Ps 40:1-5

Are you in a pit of despair today?

David was in a pit. And, the Lord brought him out of it.

There are about 6 things that he shared from his own experience.

Ps 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.

Ps 40:2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

Ps 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

Ps 40:4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Ps 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

The above portion of Ps 40, was one of David's many Ps's and testimonies of what the Lord had done for him. There is so much to be said here about what David went through in difficult times, what he did, or how he acted, and then what the LORD did for David. May it be an encouragement to us.

Here's what David said happened to him......

First of all, how David waited was "patiently"

which means, to wait, to look for, to hope, and to expect, and to look eagerly for. While David was in this particular difficulty, he was nonetheless hoping in the LORD, and expecting that the LORD would help him, and He did.

Secondly, the LORD brought him up and out of a horrible ( destructive ) pit. It's the imagery of being in spiritual clay, not able to move, or being a prisoner, who cannot get out of his confinement. But, David's point is that the LORD brought him up and out of that horrible pit.

Thirdly, the LORD set David's feet upon a rock. Or a stronghold, a place of security. He went from the clay pit to a rock of stability.

Fourthly, the LORD established David's way. Or, made him stable, secure, and steadfast. The Lord put him on a straight path.

Fifthly, the LORD put a new song in David's mouth. It was praise to our God.

Lastly, David's makes this most profound and true statement. "Blessed ( means, happy, to go straight, to advance, make progress ) is the man who makes the LORD his trust, or confidence.

How wonderful to have this and other Ps's to encourage us in our own experiences in life. Maybe you are in a pit today. Maybe someone has put you in that pit. Or, perhaps, you have gotten yourself in that pit. May what happened to David, be your testimony and personal experience. May you have a song to sing because of what the LORD will do for you.

Thank You LORD for this Ps, and the many others which testify of YOUR greatness, and YOUR faithfulness to us. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. Even Kings, ( those in leadership ) can get into a pit.

2. Being in the pit's is very difficult.

3. In a pit, it seems like there is no way out.

4. In fact, there really is no way to get yourself out of pit.

5. God is able to reach down if you will, and pull you out.

6. God is a pit puller if you will.

7. How many people do you think He has pulled out of a pit.?

8. How many times has He already pulled you out?

9. May He reach down and help you today if you need help.

Are we judges with evil thoughts?

God calls us to treat each other the same way He treats each of us. That is with unconditional love, not based on who we are, but on who He is.

Are we judges with evil thoughts?

I hope not, James hoped his readers were not, and the Lord calls us to love our neighbor, not judge them. James was trying to correct a problem among his readers, of "showing partiality" See the 4 verses below.

James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

James 2:2For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

James 2:3and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”

James 2:4have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

As those who hold the faith of Jesus Christ, we are called to not be partial to people. We are called to avoid treating a person a certain way because of who they are. James gives in the next portion of his letter, that partiality shown to the rich and to the poor. And, he says if your doing this, then you have become judges with evil thoughts. Ouch.......that's serious, and it's of great concern to God, who is the judge, and who has called us to relate to one another by loving each other, and avoiding partiality.

Human nature is such, that it can do things that are evil and destructive. This is one of them. None of us would appreciate it if we went into an assembly of believers, and because of how we look, or how we are dressed that we would be treated without the respect shown to others. And, if we were told to "just go stand over there, or sit in this really low place" It would not be a blessing to us, and of course, it's not a blessing to anyone else if treat them that way.

So, James is laying out this issue, and calling all who believe in Jesus Christ, to fulfill the royal law, which is, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" and, if we do that he says, we "doing well" See James 2:8.

We must admit, at least I must admit, I can see this tendency within myself, and I imagine that any christian would say, that they have had to deal with this. But the blessing is, and the good news is, that we change that behavior, and we can put partiality aside, and make a real concerted effort, to just be genuine lovers of all people.

We needs God's help, power and grace to do it. And, God would never ask us to do something that we can't do in Christ.

Lord, we admit it, we have this kind of thing in us from time to time, and we pray to be delivered from it, and to established, more and more in your kind and unconditional, impartial love, and find ourselves pleasing You. You are so great, that You command us to love one another. What a command. Thank You Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. God is not partial.

2. God loves everyone the same.

3. God's church is not to be partial.

4. God's love in the church is to be the same to each one.

5. God will give us His love for every person.

6. God corrects us and changes us if we let Him

7. God is so wonderful. He loves You.

8. God says, "love one another"

Will God bless You?

Does God really want to bless You? How does He do it? Do you have a part in it. ?

How does God bless our lives?

No one wants misery, trouble, or affliction, and difficulties ( though they come ) but, we all desire blessing from God, and the fact is, He wants to bless your life also.

Numbers 6:24 tells us so “The LORD bless you and keep you;

And so does James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Blessed, means, to be fortunate, happy, well off. It means to experience blessing in direct relationship to being a doer of God's Word, and not a hearer only. When a believer in Jesus Christ, hears God's Word, and then responds to it by obeying it, doing what God says in His Word, the net result is blessing.

God uses His Word being received into our lives, understood, and responded to as the means of bringing blessing into our lives. Remember, Jesus Christ is Himself the Word of God. He is the supreme blesser of any and all who place their faith in Him.

Oh Yes, sometimes, many times in fact, we are in the fire of a trial, and dark nights of the soul, but even then, we can find blessing from God.

But in James 1, the point is made a number of times, that when we receive God's Word, we hear God's Word, and we respond to God's word in obedience, it brings blessing into our lives.

What is the blessing? How does it look when it comes? One of the main ways, in how the Lord works in our hearts personally, building us up, freeing us from guilt, sin, temptation, sadness, depression, hatred, bitterness, etc, etc. He leads us in the paths of righteousness, and satisfies our souls, giving us spiritual wisdom and understanding about life. He also energizes our lives with His Holy Spirit, and we become more interested in the things of God, then the things of this passing world. Probably the biggest blessing, is the expansion of His love in our hearts and souls and minds.

Father in Heaven, we love You, and lift Your name on high today. Come and bless us Lord, fill us Lord, baptize us Lord in the Holy Spirit again today. Show us Your ways, and lead us in Your paths, all the days of our lives. Cause Your face to shine upon us, and give us peace. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. No matter what your condition, God can bless you.

2. A simple step of obedience to the Word lays before all of us.

3. It's step by step, day by day.

4. When He speaks through the Word, let's receive it in humility.

5. Hearing and doing are meant to do together.

6. Blessing comes through hearing, and doing.

7. Abiding in His Word, is Abiding in the truth of God.

8. May blessings abound in your life.

A promise for the tried, and the poor.

If you are going through a trial, there is a promise for you. If you are experiencing poverty in the area of finances, then, there is a promise here for you also.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

What has God promised?

What a question. It would take volumes to answer that question from the Bible. But, let's look at 2 of them from the Book of James. They are listed below.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

The word promised, means, to announce that one is about to do or furnish something. It's a voluntary act...something that one does on their own. So, we have then, 2 promises that God has made. Again, let's take a closer look.

1. These promises are for "those who love Him"

2. Each promise is a little different then the other.

The first promise is to those who endure temptation, or trials. They will receive the "crown of life." This is reserved specifically, for those who have patiently endured, and persevered the testings of their faith down here on earth. What a person may be going through now, has the potential then, to put them in line for this crown. If you are going through a trial, hang in there, God will get you through, and He will wind up giving you the crown of life someday.

The second promise, ( it's stated in James 2:5 more as a question ) is to those who the poor of this world, who are said to be rich in faith. They are heirs of the kingdom. And, God is going to give them His kingdom.

Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". The kingdom of heaven is that period of time here on earth, when Jesus is going to reign and rule upon the earth.

One last thing about God's promises. He is always faithful to fulfill them, and accomplish them. There has never been one promise He has made that has not been carried out by Him.

God is faithful, God is dependable, God can be counted on, and trusted completely.

Father, these things make us rejoice, and we find great comfort in them. Thank You for who You are, and what You have done for us, and what You will do for us in the days ahead. We will spend eternity thanking You. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. How many promises do you know from God?

2. Can you list a promise you know from God?

3. Has God already accomplished some promise for you?

4. Please make a note when reading the Bible of promises.

5. Our God is faithful.

6. He is going to do more then we can ask or think.

7. What a glorious future awaits those who love God.

Is the tongue connected to the heart?

Yes, there is a very important relationship. The tongue says so much about the heart.

Pastor Bob Grenier, explains this from James 1:26

Is the tongue connected to the heart?

1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

In the verse above, James may be posing a supposed thought and possibly a statement that some people were making. I'm a religious person" or, "I think I'm religious" etc. But, they were not bridling their tongues.

Religious, or religion here, means, the person who is worshipping, or fearing God. So, when a person says, "I'm a worshipper, I'm a follower of the Lord, I fear God", but they are not at the same time bridling their tongue, they are deceiving their own heart, and their religion is useless, it's empty, it's vain.

To bridle the tongue, would be for the tongue to be led, or to be restrained. Or, for a person to be in control of themselves, and not unrestrained in what they are saying. They are watching what they say. They are controlling what they say.

James will have more to say about the tongue in chapter 3. But for now, he makes this one simple, short little statement. Jesus spoke about the connection between the heart and the tongue. Let's take a quick look.

Lu 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus had been talking about good trees and bad trees ( Luke 6:43-44 ) Good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. And, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Trees bear what they are, either for good, or for bad. A tree cannot bear something other then what it is. For example, an apple tree does not bear oranges, or pears, but apples, because it is an apple tree.

Now, turning to men, Jesus says that a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. And then Jesus gives an explanation. "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" Meaning, that what a man is full of, is going to come out in the way that he talks. You can tell what is in a man's heart, by listening to him speak. The tongue and the heart are connected in that sense.

Why would this kind of man's religion then be useless as James says? Useless, means, to no purpose, or of no purpose, barren, and futile. But, again, why is this person's religion useless? It is a good question. As some have said, "talk is cheap", and "actions speak louder then words" I believe that's true when it comes to our walks with the Lord. We can talk all we want about the Lord, but if it's not showing up in how we live, it's really useless. There is power in love. And, God's love can change our hearts, and make us careful and aware of what we say, and of how we act. God's love, can make us watchful over how we are living, and encourage us to live and act in His love.

We probably have all heard the statement, "Walk Your talk" In other words, if you are saying one thing, then show it in the way you live. James will also deal with that subject later in chapter 2. The relationship between our faith and our works.

Father, I'm sure we have all been guilty of saying and not doing. And, I know that You forgive sins, and cleanse us of all our un-righteousness. We thank You that You can not only forgive, but You can change us, and we can bear fruit in our lives, and we can seek to control our tongues and have our hearts pleasing before You. Help us Lord. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. God is so good.

2. God seeks to change us from the inside out.

3. God gives us self-control.

4. We need what God gives.

5. God does not condemn us for our sins.

6. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins.

7. God wants us to shine and bring glory to Him.

Why be interested in the Bible?

Pastor Bob explains why the Bible ought to be of great interest to us. It's because of what God can do through it, to the heart that is humble and receptive.

How does God bless our lives?

No one wants misery, trouble, or affliction, and difficulties ( though they come ) but, we all desire blessing from God, and the fact is, He wants to bless your life also.

Numbers 6:24 tells us so “The LORD bless you and keep you;

And so does James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Blessed, means, to be fortunate, happy, well off. It means to experience blessing in direct relationship to being a doer of God's Word, and not a hearer only. When a believer in Jesus Christ, hears God's Word, and then responds to it by obeying it, doing what God says in His Word, the net result is blessing.

God uses His Word being received into our lives, understood, and responded to as the means of bringing blessing into our lives. Remember, Jesus Christ is Himself the Word of God. He is the supreme blesser of any and all who place their faith in Him.

Oh Yes, sometimes, many times in fact, we are in the fire of a trial, and dark nights of the soul, but even then, we can find blessing from God.

But in James 1, the point is made a number of times, that when we receive God's Word, we hear God's Word, and we respond to God's word in obedience, it brings blessing into our lives.

What is the blessing? How does it look when it comes? One of the main ways, in how the Lord works in our hearts personally, building us up, freeing us from guilt, sin, temptation, sadness, depression, hatred, bitterness, etc, etc. He leads us in the paths of righteousness, and satisfies our souls, giving us spiritual wisdom and understanding about life. He also energizes our lives with His Holy Spirit, and we become more interested in the things of God, then the things of this passing world. Probably the biggest blessing, is the expansion of His love in our hearts and souls and minds.

Father in Heaven, we love You, and lift Your name on high today. Come and bless us Lord, fill us Lord, baptize us Lord in the Holy Spirit again today. Show us Your ways, and lead us in Your paths, all the days of our lives. Cause Your face to shine upon us, and give us peace. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. No matter what your condition, God can bless you.

2. A simple step of obedience to the Word lays before all of us.

3. It's step by step, day by day.

4. When He speaks through the Word, let's receive it in humility.

5. Hearing and doing are meant to do together.

6. Blessing comes through hearing, and doing.

7. Abiding in His Word, is Abiding in the truth of God.

8. May blessings abound in your life.