Some things ought not to be.

Some things ought not to be.......here's one of them.

James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

James 3:11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

James has been talking to those who would be teachers, and was not only warning them of the stricter judgement that they would face, but, then launches into a very, very detailed explanation about the smallest member of our body, and yet it's so powerful for good or evil.

And here in these 3 verses, he tells us what "ought not to be" Specifically, it is that it ought not to be where out of the same mouth proceeds cursing and blessing. So, this was no doubt going on, but again, James says, "these things ought not to be"

James, then gives some illustrations from nature. First of all, springs of water. He asks if a springs sends forth both fresh water and bitter? Of course they don't, and would not, and could not.

Secondly, he asks if a fig tree can bear olives, ( instead of figs ) or if a grapevine can bear figs ( instead of grapes ) No, they cannot.

Then returning to the spring illustration, he says " Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh"

And the point he is making is that we ought not to be having curses and blessings coming out of our mouths.

He will in the remaining part of the chapter teach about the wonderful wisdom of God that can be ours to have, and to give away to others. He will also give us a clear contrast of the wisdom that is from below, and the wisdom that is from above.

Father.......Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. And, give us wisdom Lord. May we shine for You, and bring glory and honor to You, in Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. We can be that one spring, yielding blessing.

2. Our tongues can be used for good or evil.

3. Let our tongues be used for Good Lord.

4. Our words can minister grace to those who hear us.

5. Help us Lord to take this chapter to heart.

6. God forgives our past sins.

7. He does not hold them against us.

8. He also forgets our sins.

The Tongue, small but deadly

The tongue can cause a great fire in life

This is the truth that James deals with in chapter 3. He says, many, many, many things about the tongue, all having to do with it's smallness, and yet, it's ability to do so many things. Much of what can be very destructive.

Below is a quick list taken from James 3:5-9......He will have more to say, but this is what he starts with.

1. The Tongue is a small part of our body.

2. The Tongue boasts great things.

3. The Tongue, like a spark of fire, can start a fire in life.

4. The Tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.

5. The Tongue is can defile the whole body.

6. The Tongue can set on fire the course of nature.

7. The Tongue is set on fire by hell.

8. The Tongue is something that no man can tame.

9. The Tongue is an unruly evil, and full of deadly poison.

10. The Tongue can bless God.

11. The Tongue can curse men who are made in God's image.

It's no wonder then, that he had warned those who would be teachers, to be careful before they entered into the teaching ministry of God's Word. It's because they have to use their tongues in their teaching. And, because the tongue is powerful, and can cause such damage, he gave that sober warning.

He will go on to talk about the way the tongue can be used to bring God's wisdom, and there is much said in Scripture about the power of the tongue for the good it can do......but, this first part of James as mentioned, deals with it's power to destroy.

The tongue is not just an independent power in our body, though it is powerful, it's connected to the person in whose body it is. And that person, that brother or sister in Christ, is connected to the Lord.

And, through the Lord we can learn to use our tongues in the way that honors Him, and blesses the lives of other people.

If you have the time to read through James 3, please do so, and ask the Lord to really impress the truths found there, and to guide you in the use of your own tongue, so that it brings and speaks about the "Wisdom that is from above"

May God use our tongues to do great good, and to bring great good, and may He help keep us from doing the harm that can be done by the tongue. He has given us a tongue, that is to be used as is every other part of our body for His glory.

Thank You Lord. May the blessings of God be in and upon our hearts, and shown by the way we speak. In Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. Warnings are a good thing.

2. Warnings about the tongue are very needed in our lives.

3. Warnings can help us this chapter seeks to do.

4. Warnings can help keep us from doing damage.

5. Blessings can flow where warnings are heeded.

6. Blessings are the intention of God through our tongues.

7. May Great and abundant blessings be yours today.

A word to those who want to teach Gods Word

A word to those who want to teach the Word !!!

Don't just jump into this if God has not truly called you. And, if He has called you, please notice the important instruction here in James 3.

Essentially, he says to be very careful, and very aware. See James 3:1

He speaks to his brothers in Christ, and says, "let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we ( those who teach the Word ) shall receive a stricter judgement"

He goes on to talk about the tongue and it's power in the rest of the chapter. But, the statement he made about not many being teachers is apparently because of the simple fact, that teachers have to use their tongues when doing their ministry. And, the tongue is something that can be a great cause of stumbling and trouble.

We all stumble in many things he says. ( By the way, that's a comfort in some way, to know that we are not the only ones who stumble. We all stumble in many things and in many ways ) But, the tongue is something that if a man is able to not stumble in it's usage, then, he has been able to bridle his whole body.

We use bit's in horses mouths so we can control them. And on ships, even though they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they can be controlled by a very small device, known as a rudder.

The tongue is a very small part of our body, but it is so powerful. It can cause alot of problems.

But, back to the advice given. He is not saying don't follow God's will if He calls you to teach. He is saying, don't put yourself in that role if God has not called you to it. Reason being, you will be judged by a higher standard, you will have a greater accountability and the more condemnation.

The rest of this chapter is devoted to explaining the power of this very little part of our bodies. And, James also shows us that there are two kinds of wisdom. The wisdom that is from below, and the wisdom that comes down from God. Demonic Wisdom, or Divine Wisdom.

If you are called to teach, then by all means, follow God's calling. If your not sure if He has called you to teach, then you probably should consider what James is saying here.

Father, we need guidance to know what You want us to do. You not only call us to serve You, but You show us how to serve you, when and where to serve You. Thank You for that Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. You do have a gift, or gifts from God.

2. He gave them to you to be used in serving Him.

3. He is telling us in James, be careful about appointing yourself to a teaching role

4. With opportunity comes responsibility.

5. By all means go for what God calls you to do.

6. Just be careful in doing it.

7. May God bless you in your service to Him.

Who am I living for?

Who am I living for?

When James opened his letter, ( The Epistle of James ) he used a very simple word to describe himself. And, he used this word in relationship to both Jesus Christ, and God. He then went on to greet those whom he was writing too.

So, what did he say? He called himself a "bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"

James 1:1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

So, what is a bondservant? The word bondservant, comes from a word meaning to bind, to tie, and to fasten, to be in bonds. And, it came to mean, a slave, a servant. A servant in that culture, was one who gave him, or herself up to another's will.

In this context, James meant, that he had given up his life in service to be used by Jesus Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men in this world.

He saw himself as one who was devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, to the disregard of his own interests. He was an attendant to Christ, he was a servant of Christ.

Some additional ways of describing and defining this word are. A voluntary act of service, prompted by love or duty. It's specifically speaking of one who serves in relation to a person. It was also used to describe the men on ships who were Under-Rowers. That is, they were down on the bottom of the ship, pulling oars at the lowest level. There was at least one level above them, if not more, but the under-rowers were considered the lowest of the low in that sense. They were in submission, they were in a subordinate position under a superior.

So, James was living for God and for Jesus Christ. He was their servant. He did it out of love, it was a voluntary act, no one was forcing him to do it. He wanted to do it.

It's a good question to ask ourselves, "Who am I living for?" There is an appeal made in Rom 12:1 for those who have been saved to be just like James, and just like Paul, and that is to be servants of God.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

The idea there in Rom 12:1 is to make ourselves available to God, to place ourselves at His disposal, and seek to carry out His will first and foremost before anything and anyone else.

Paul says that this is actually the only reasonable thing to do in light of the fact, that God has by His mercies saved us. It's our reasonable service and worship.

It's the logical thing to do. In light of what God has done for us, then it follows, and is reasonable for us to present our lives to Him.

To present, to place our lives beside the Lord, to at His disposal, to yield to Him, to be at hand to the Lord. ( By the way, the language used in Rom 12:1 speaks really of a once and for all decision. In other words, the christian is called to make a commitment of their lives once and for all to the Lord )

Well, it's a great question. "Who am I living for?"

Father, I want to live for You. And, I'm sure that deep down in the heart of any christian, that desire is there also. You have saved us Lord, it's by Your mercies that we are saved. You have done for us what we could not do for ourselves. Thank You.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. Go for it.

2. He is waiting.

3. God will receive you.

4. It's the logical thing to do.

5. Servanthood is the pathway to God's will.

6. Servanthood is based on the gifts God has given you.

7. What an exciting life to serve God.

8. God will lead you, and use you.

9. Let's live for Him.

What does Justify mean? And who can be justified?

What does it mean, and whom can God justify?

That is, what type of person, which persons, what people do you know, and perhaps even yourself, a family member, or a relative, a former friend, a distant friend, co-worker, neighbor, and maybe the most unlikely person you would ever think of. Any and all of these people can be justified.

First of all, what does it mean to be justified? James in his letter, uses the term three times.

Jas 2:21* Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

Jas 2:24* You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Jas 2:25* Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

The word justified is also translated be freed, and be righteous. It's used in the NT to speak of being rendered righteous, or for a person to be such as he ought to be. It's also used to speak of a person being what he wishes himself to be considered. And, finally, it means to be declared, or pronounced to be just and righteous.

James uses the word to speak of Abraham, and then to speak of people in general, and finally to speak of a woman named Rahab, who was a harlot. And, James indirectly spoke of himself, he was the writer of course of the letter called "The epistle of James" and was a younger brother of Jesus Christ.

So, when you start looking at the above list, you realize that anyone really can be justified. Someone in your family, someone like Abraham, ( who by the way, speaking for a moment of his human faults and such, he was known to have delayed in obeying God, he partially obeyed God, repeated the sin of lying and put his wife in mortal danger on two different occasions. He later took matters into his own hands, ( in the matter of having a son, and did not wait for God ). Rahab was a prostitute. Prostitutes were plentiful then, and are the same today. Immorality, destroying marriages, passing on of disease etc, etc.

Finally, you have the very worst person ( by his own account, the chiefest of sinners ) and that would be a man named Saul, who at the same time was a religious person. But, later, he changed his name to Paul, and became an apostle of Jesus Christ. James mentions some of Paul's writings in the 2nd chapter of his letter, in fact, he quoted Paul on the very subject of justification.

So, anyone can be justified. Another way to understand this term, and I love this, is that it means, "It's just as if I'd never sinned, or just as if I'd never done anything wrong". And it also means that all of my sins and transgressions are gone, and remembered no more. And, that I've been clothed by God with the same righteousness as Jesus Christ. I'm righteous and totally acceptable to God and in His sight, in Christ.

Lord, it takes my breath away so to speak, to understand, and accept the fact, that at this moment, before You, it's just as if I'd never done anything wrong. I can hardly believe it, but I do, and I know it's true. It's Your great gift to me. Thank You Father. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. He can do it for you also.

2. He has done it for countless millions, upon millions,

3. He has made it available for you.

4. He gives it to you by you receiving Jesus Christ.

5. He will do it for the worst person you know.

6. He can do it for your spouse, your kids.

7. He is the great Justifier.

8. He can do it for people who attend church.

9. He can do it for anyone.

10. He wants to do it for anyone who needs it.

What does faith cost?

What does faith cost?

In one sense, nothing, and in another everything.

As to it costing nothing, it's free. God gives you faith. God has given you a measure or a degree of faith. Rom 12 tells us this. Every man has been given a measure of faith. So, it's of no cost to anyone.

But, then, it does cost something, that is, in it's expression and in it's application.

What do we mean by this, that "it costs you something?

Three ways to define this cost.

Belief

Surrender

Sacrifice.

Belief in that, faith sees what the physical eye cannot see. Faith goes against what one might see going on in their lives. For example, when all seems against you, ( through circumstances and situations, ) yet, God calls you to have faith in Him. You can see your circumstances, but you cannot see God. Yet, you believe God, You believe God's Word. That is costly. It costs something to believe God when You cannot see Him.

Surrender. The giving up of my will to God's will. Not going my own way, not doing what I think is best, or right, but surrendering, submitting to what God says in His Word. It's the giving up of my will to His. Please make no mistake here, it's not a grief to surrender to God, and to His will, but it is costly. The price is your will, and your own wisdom or thinking and desires connected to that moment in your life.

Thirdly, it's sacrificial, it's going to cost something to believe God. You may be giving up something that you hold dear, a desire, a hope, a relationship, a job......perhaps, this sacrificial aspect of faith is the greatest cost of all.

Jesus is our great example in all things. Imagine what it cost Him to sacrifice His life for us. He gave up His life, and He gave up at least for a short period of time a relationship and fellowship with His father.

It's also true that we can never out-give the Lord. So, whatever you might give up in the will of God, you can be sure that God will give you more back then you have given up.

God is just like that. He is so gracious.

Sacrifice and tears, and heart-acke go together. But, the Bible tells us that while tears may endure through the night, joy comes in the morning.

So, with David, we bless the Lord. For He is good, and His goodness endures to all generations. It endures to us here today, and at this time. May the strength and power of God be yours in abundance at this time. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. You do have faith.

2. You will have trials.

3. You will be brought through your trials.

4. You will pay a dear cost from time to time in your faith.

5. You will have tears, but you will have JOY also.

6. You will get through you difficult times.

7. You will find your faith deepening.

8. You will be used by God.

9. You will be praising God before you know it.

What comes from above?

James mentions two of them in his brief five chapter letter. And, there actually is mention of a third.

First of all, we are told in James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. The Lord gives from above, His good and perfect gifts. The word good, means that which is of benefit, and or simply good things. So, that's the first thing. Rather then God tempting us to sin ( as some were apparently thinking and saying ......see James 1:13 ) James declares that God gives us good gifts. These gifts come from above.

By the way, the spiritual gifts of God are listed all through the New Testament. You can find a detailed list of them in 1st Cor 12, Eph 4, and 1st Peter 4.

These gifts are given to us to benefit the body of Christ, to build up the body of Christ, and we are to use them to serve the Lord. Incidentally, these gifts are not natural abilities, but rather supernatural abilities given to us by the Holy Spirit. Again, see 1st Cor 12.

Secondly, and seen in James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

God gives wisdom from above. He tells us how to live and, shows us how to approach the practical day to day issues and circumstances and challenges of life. God helps us by giving us His wisdom. The wisdom that is from above is explained to us, and defined in great detail in James 3:13-18.

There are eight specifics given to us about this wisdom.

1. God's wisdom is pure.

2. God's wisdom is peaceable.

3. God's wisdom is gentle.

4. God's wisdom is willing to yield.

5. God's wisdom is full of mercy.

6. God's wisdom is full of good fruits.

7. God's wisdom is without partiality.

8. God's wisdom is without hypocrisy.

Finally, in closing off this section about God's wisdom, James tells us that "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" See James 3:18.

And, that last and third thing that comes down from above.....it is a specific that the Lord gave to Elijah the prophet when he prayed. We are told "the heaven gave rain" , and as a result, the earth produced it's fruit. James 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

But, I think there is a lesson for us here. God is able to give good gifts into your life, good and perfect gifts, and, He is able to give you wisdom. And, when the Lord gives these things into your life, your life produces fruit. Just like the earth produced fruit in Elijah's day.

When we look up so to speak, we are looking through Christ, into the heart and face of God. He has a good intention for you. He gives good things to you. He has good thoughts towards you, not evil thoughts. He has plans for your life that He wants to bring about. He wants you to be fruitful. He will make you that way.

Would you pray with me right now? Father, You are good, and You give good gifts, You give perfect gifts, and You give heavenly, Divine wisdom. Thank You for what You give to us. You want to bring fruit in our lives. Thank You for Your plan for us. May You find us receptive and cooperative with you. We love You, in Jesus name. Amen.....

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. Keep looking to God.

2. He is looking at you.

3. Remember, He loves you.

4. Don't be mistaken, He has a good intention for you.

5. The Bible teaches us all of the above.

6. We have examples of how God works in the Bible.

7. God does not change.

8. God is with you in Christ.

9. May God bless you abundantly.