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ABRAHAM – Inheritance (Lesson 2)

One of the most important concepts in the Word of God concerning the legitimate relationship between the LORD God, the Lord Jesus Christ and Christians is the concept of full inheritance. If a child truly belongs to a parent, and both have relationship with each other, then that relationship is sealed with a promise of inheritance. Just as older parents leave their children share in the fortunes they have multiplied in their lifetime, the LORD God also leaves inheritances for His children that have developed over the ages since Creation time.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

In this lesson we are going to grasp what it meant for Abraham to leave his expected inheritance from his prosperous natural life, and go toward a promised inheritance within the spiritual realm. The founding patriarch of the Israelites, Christians and Muslims was once a normal man, living in a time where false gods inhabited every corner of his world. Traditional life for him was predictable; he had a natural life that brought comfort to him in his old age. He knew each day what the next would bring.

One of the first things you need to understand about Abraham’s natural life is his family structure. Abraham was the tenth generation from Noah, and the 20th generation from Adam. Abraham’s birth name was Abram, and his father’s name was Terah and his grandpa’s name was Nahor. His brothers’ names were Nahor and Haran. Lot was the son of Haran, which made Lot one of Abraham’s nephews. The family lived in Ur for most of their time together. Haran died in Ur, before Abraham was sent to Canaan by the LORD God.

“And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Now these [are] the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.” (Genesis 11:24-28)

Jewish legend says that Abram’s father Terah was a maker of false idols out of clay. This mythological account says that Abram was against the making of idols when he saw a man fifty-years-old purchase an idol that was only one-day­ old. This made absolutely no sense to Abram, and caused him to try to encourage his father to change professions (Spence 1917, 51). While we cannot confirm this traditional fable with any proof, we can surmise with some certainty that 1) The city of Ur’s population worshipped numerous false gods, and 2) something provoked Abram to seek after a God that was stronger than all of the false gods that his society worshipped.

Jewish tradition concerning Terah has taken on the character as being factual when an analysis of his things were recorded in the Midrash, the verse by verse commentary of Jewish scholars. The Midrash claims that Terah is an evil idol storeowner (E.g., Numbers Rabbah 19:1; 19:33.). The tradition says that Terah asked his son to watch after the store for a while. A woman brought in flour to offer to the idols; Abram broke all the idols and put a large stick in the hand of the largest.

When his father came back to the store, tradition says that Abram told his father that the largest idol had beaten the other idols up with the stick, breaking them all. Terah thought this ridiculous; Abram tried to make him realize that if he thinks this ridiculous, then there is no truth to the idols. Terah allegedly was so angry that he delivered Abram to King Nimrod, where he was placed in a burning fire for punishment (Genesis Rabbah 38:13.). When God saved Abram, his father Terah repented, and begin following after Abram’s God. (Zohar, Bereshit 1:77b.)

Quite a story isn’t it! Tradition is rich with stories that have no proof.
We should never attach more significance to tradition, fables and myths than we do to the Word of God. The Bible is fully Truth! The Word of God records the truth about Terah, and reliably presents a certain fact about him that is important to the whole picture of Abram’s faith.

”And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.” (Joshua 24:2)

Abram’s father and community worshipped false gods, confirmed by the Word of God!

Yet, Abram rejected the common false gods of his family, friends and society, and sought after the true LORD God!

In fact, it is that unique choice that Abram made, that reflects his early faith so powerfully! And it is that same deep faith that many new Christians choose, when they reject the things of their family, friends, society and world, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Just as Abram did in his time, so do numerous young Christians, as they are forced to make a choice between the true LORD God and the false idols of the world.

When the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior is made, a believer is often separated from everything that is familiar in their life, and found to be at odds with a life that was previously lived with regular beat. Suddenly, the new believer finds themselves in a brand new place, with no familiar landmark, pace, or flavor; they cling to the Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowshipping Christians placed in their lives to establish some sort of predictability and comfort in a very new life of faith.

One moment life is predictable; the next, new believers find themselves in a Kingdom that has full flavor and timely function with rituals and traditions that are foreign to them. In the beginning of their walk with Jesus Christ, they are often required to leave the familiar and choose the unknown, which creates an air of uncertainty as the new life becomes real. These first moments as a brand new Christian are made easier by mature Christians guiding their path toward Him.

Abram had no assurance! He had absolutely no idea of his destiny, yet, his belief in the LORD God, God above all other gods, was so sure and certain, that he had no choice but to take that chance. He left everything familiar about his life, to begin a new life, with a promise of inheritance to be given to him by the LORD God.
That is all the proof we need to understand the dire straits that Abram faced to follow after the true LORD God. Abram chose to leave the inheritance of his natural life father and to walk away from the worship of false idols. Instead, Abram trusted in the inheritance of his Father LORD God, and walked toward Him with a surety of faith. As a result, Abram became a Father to the future Tribes of Israel, the Jewish nation, and Christians, who are all promised to inherit through him.

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The Faith of Abraham (Early) Hebrews 11:8-10

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.”(Hebrews 11:8-10)

Ancient Civilization

To understand the faith of Abraham deeply, we must first look at both the history of mankind and the specific place he was coming from. First we must examine the first gathering of people, the Nomads, a tribe of people who moved around, rather than settling in one place. They moved constantly through the lands in search of food. The women and children would gather the food by digging in the ground for roots, searching for nuts and berries from the bushes and trees, finding eggs in birds’ nests and reaching into beehives for the sweet-tasting honey.

The nomadic men provided the food by hunting. They would use spears or bows and arrows to hunt bison, deer, elk, wild horses, fish, lizards and snakes. Sometimes they would capture the animal by digging a hole in the ground and making a trap, where it could fall in and make an easy target for their arrows. They used animal hides over wooden poles for their shelters, while those in colder rocky places used caves for their homes.

Eventually, the food would run out at their location, and they would have to pick up and move on again. They were accustomed to moving often in search of areas with plentiful food. On one of their journeys in search of food, the Nomads came to a place called the “Fertile Crescent”. It is called this because has rich soil and plentiful water from the rivers running through that area. The Fertile Crescent is located between Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley, known today as part of the lands including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Lower Egypt.

Unlike the desert areas they were accustomed to, the Nomads found that plants, trees, thick grass, wild barley and wild wheat grew abundantly in the fertile land. Roots, nuts and berries, as well as herds of wild horses and small deer were everywhere. The most exciting discovery was the huge rivers flowing through the land. The Nomads were used to small pools of water, or tiny streams trickling through the rocks. Water was so scarce to them in the desert, that it was rationed for drinking. When they came to the Fertile Crescent, they were able to bathe for the first time in their lives!

As they explored the land, they met other tribes who had also discovered the rich land. Soon, they learned to put seeds into the ground, and grow their own crops, which allowed them to finally stay in one area and be able to provide and survive for themselves, their families and their tribes.

Some of the first nomads settled right in the middle of the Fertile Crescent in the land of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia means “the land between two rivers.” It got its name because it was located right in the middle of two great rivers which were called the Tigris and the Euphrates. The settled nomads learned that they needed to tend to their planted crops, and keep them watered to ensure their growth. That meant the farmers had to tend to their corps for months at a time, requiring a change in their nomadic lifestyle. They began to build houses that would stay in one place, with materials they could find in the area, like reeds near the river, or hardened mud bricks from the soil.

Soon, they discovered that it was helpful to build their houses closer together, so they could help each other. That is how the first villages began. When the farmers learned that they could tame sheep and goats, they would put a central pen or field right in the middle of their villages. Eventually, the villages became successful at raising sheep and goats, growing grain and making breads and pottery. They began building boats so they could sail along the rivers and visit other villages. Soon, the villages began to trade with each other the items plentiful within their own villages, like sheep’s wool, animal skins, metals, pottery and wood.

When the villages began to grow rich, the inhabitants became fearful that they would be attacked and robbed by bandits. They built big stone walls around their villages, which became the first cities ever built. One of the earliest cities was Jericho. Jericho had one of the strongest, thickest walls in the ancient world, which stood 13 feet tall and 10 feet thick, with a circular tower on one side so lookouts could see their enemies approaching.

The people who settled in the Nile River Valley experienced life differently than those who settled along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Nile River was different, because it was often low, with very little water in it, and then other times it was so full that it flooded over all the farmland. The Nile River flows north from the African deserts to Egypt. The ground is dry and sandy.

Ancient Egyptians built their houses next to the Nile because it was the only water they could find, and that water had to be drawn and scooped with buckets every day. During the summer, the water from the Nile River was plentiful, but as summer turned to fall and winter, the water level would get lower and lower. By the middle of winter, there would be just a low, muddy stream running down the center of the river. The sun would dry the river more, and the ground would become dry and cracked. In the spring, it would start to rain in the distant mountains, far away from Ancient Egypt where rain seldom falls. But hundreds of miles away, rain would began pouring down, running down the mountains and straight into the Nile River. Suddenly, a huge flood of rushing water scooped up mud and rich soil from the bottom of the muddy Nile River Valley and tumbled it down the valley, straight to Egyptian lands. These lands filled the river bed and overflowed the banks on both sides.

Every spring that the Nile River flooded the Egyptians were very happy. The water soaked into the dry ground and prepared it for crops, as it left behind the rich soil from the bottom of the river. They found the flood placed silt grew excellent crops! The Nile River Valley is also part of the Fertile Crescent, but it needed something besides sunlight and water. It depended completely upon the flooding of the Nile. The Nile Delta, where the river splits into many different little rivers and runs into the Mediterranean Sea was particularly fertile as the spring floods brought life to the land.

As we proceed deeper into understanding the Ancient Civilizations that existed before Abraham, it is important to remember the two types of people that lived on the earth at that time. In our earlier lessons in our study we learned that there were two types of people created by the LORD God; those whom were patterned after earth’s evolution, and those who were created in the LORD God’s image with His breath placed inside them.

The Ancient Egyptians were part of the evolution patterned people. They did not understand that the floods were caused by rain in the faraway mountains. They attributed the blessings of the flood to false gods and goddesses, as they made stories up to explain the strange things that happened around them that had no apparent explanation. They mistakenly thought that a whole family of gods ruled the world, and that some were good and some were wicked. Egyptians spent a great deal of time praying to them because the false gods were so unpredictable.

They also believed that these false gods would bring their Pharaohs to an afterlife. The Pharaohs were thought to be gods themselves, who would rise up and join the other gods after death. That is why they built the pyramids, pointed upward to the sky, and filled with all the treasures needed for the afterlife. The pyramids became monuments to honor their gods, and to announce to the world that their gods were stronger than all others.

The Egyptians were not the only ones who had false gods. Mesopotamians also believed in false gods who lived in the sky. The ancient people were polluted with crossed blood of different people in past generations and did not know the LORD God.

The ancient people worshipped the sky and the sun because they thought that the false gods controlled the weather. They built great temples that pointed to the sun. These temples were called Ziggurats, and were made out of mud mixed with chopped­ up hay that were made into bricks and baked into ovens. Unlike the Egyptian pyramids which had smooth sides, the Ziggurats had steps on the sides so the priests could climb up and be closer to the sky false gods. They were used to make offerings to the false gods. The priests would offer loaves of bread, dates, sheep, lambs and cows to the sky false gods every day. Most of the large villages in Mesopotamia had their own Ziggurats for the worship of their individual false gods.

Ancient Egypt used to be divided into two parts, the Upper Egypt and the Lower Egypt. The two parts fought often with each other, until King Narmer conquered Lower Egypt and made Egypt into one country. When Narmer became king of a united Egypt, he wore two crowns together, colored red and white, to represent both the Upper and Lower Egypt combined. Under his rule, Egypt became rich and strong; focus was placed on farming and building instead of fighting wars.

The same division was happening in Mesopotamia between the Sumerians of the southern part of Mesopotamia. The villages of farmers became cities with walls and towers around them. Each city had its own king and its own army, and the city-states fought amongst themselves constantly. All of their energy was put into protecting themselves from their neighbors.

A man named Sargon wanted to be King of more than one city; he wanted to be king of the whole land of Mesopotamia. He ordered his army to attack the cities around them, and after 50 wars, conquered all of Sumer, the southern part of Mesopotamia. Just as King Narmer had united Egypt into one country, Sargon made Mesopotamia into one country under his rule. The cities that he had conquered were not happy about following his laws and rules, and he used his army to force them to comply with his wishes.
Soldiers were sent to live in each conquered city, and if the people disobeyed their laws, they were punished m the military dictatorship.

There was a town called Ur in ancient Mesopotamia. In Ur, there was a Ziggurat built by the ancient Mesopotamians to honor their false God. And that’s where we come to the place that is so important to all faithful Christians, law-abiding Jews, and servant Muslims. The one True LORD GOD JEHOVAH spoke to Abram (whose name was later changed to Abraham) and his wife Sarai (whose name was later changed to Sarah)! The LORD GOD JEHOVAH told Abraham to leave Ur and go to the land of Canaan (now known as the Promised Land of Israel). From that moment on, those chosen to know the LORD God were given the knowledge of His things that He willed in His time and way, so His works could be accomplished perfectly and established as the history of the men of nature and the history of the Men of God unfolded!

“Now these [are] the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife [was] Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she [had] no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with themfrom Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.”

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
“So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” (Genesis11:27-12:6)

And that brings us to the faith of early Abraham, who left everything he knew in life including his father and mother and siblings, his neighbors and friends, and the city he had grown up in, and he set out for a land unknown to him. The LORD God had told him to leave Ur and walk to the Promised Land of Canaan, and he set out with his wife for that destination because God told him to do it! It is that faith that Hebrews 11:8-10 recounts, and one that we will explore more deeply in the next lessons.

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JAMES – Lesson 8: The Faith of Overcoming the Things of the World

“1 ¶ From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 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. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:1-3 AVRLE)

85. The arguments and fights that occur among the fellowship of the faithful, spring from the lusts of individual members that do not have what they want. These members fail to ask the LORD GOD for their desires, because they will not submit to His Will. Often they ask Him with the wrong heart to gratify their lusts, rather than advance His Will and Word, and their desires for pleasure are never met. As a result of their desire and need for sensual pleasures never being fulfilled, they become bitter and angry and filled with strife, creating situations where arguments and fights can begin among the brothers and sisters in Christ.

“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. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” (James 4:4-5 AVRLE)

85. Christian men and women who hold a friendship with the world are apostates, and unfaithful enemies to the Word of God

86. The spirit of your nature is such that you have lust that occurs naturally within your being. This lust causes envy to be present, which then leads a Christian to become a friend of the world, to fulfill these desires that are ever present.

There is no other place in Scripture where the exact quote “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy” is written precisely. James usually is so precise in his writings, yet he even has left out a pronoun in this sentence that would make interpretation more clear to us. This is important…Just because the exact rendering of the sentence is not searchable in God’s Word, the concept of a natural lustful spirit in man that causes worldliness and separation of him from the Things of the LORD GOD, is valid and supported throughout Scripture.

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6 AVRLE)

87. When you are humble and accept the fact that your very nature is lustful and desires the things of the world, the LORD GOD will give you more grace to enable you to resist these cravings.

88. If you are proud of who you are and not ashamed of these lustful cravings, the LORD GOD will do nothing to help you overcome them, and will in fact resist you and oppose your doings.

“7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:7-10 AVRLE)

89. If you want the LORD GOD to give you more grace to help you overcome your human nature of lust, then you must submit yourself to Him.

90. You must resist the devil, and this will cause him to flee from you.

91. You must draw close to the LORD GOD, and He will draw close to you.

92. You must cleanse your hands if you are sinning. This means that you stop sinning and repent in accordance with Jesus Christ’s Will for the forgiveness of sin.

93. You must purify your hearts, and quit being double-minded, by having one part of your desire focused toward the worldly natural life of man, and one part of your desire focused toward the righteous spiritual life of your Lord Jesus Christ.

94. Toil heavily (work hard) to keep yourself in the spiritual life to the point of affliction.

95. Cry and grieve for the things of your human nature that attempt to separate you from your LORD GOD. Silence the laughter of your fulfilled lusts in the world, and let it be turned into mourning for your inability to fulfill; to do this will bring you a wonderful joy in the midst of your heaviness.

96. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up, away from the human nature of lust, and to the state of renewed righteousness and holiness!

Consideration for a Brother
“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. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” (James 4:11-12 AVRLE)

97. Brothers and sisters in Christ should not speak evil about each other.

98. If you speak evil about them and judge them, then you are speaking evil of the law and are judging the law.

99. If you judge the law, then you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

100. There is only one lawgiver and one Judge, our Lord Jesus Christ who is able to save and destroy. What right do you have to judge another?

“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 vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:13-15 AVRLE)

101. Don’t plan your spiritual and natural walks for tomorrow. You may not be alive tomorrow. Instead, let your attitude be that if the Lord Wills, you will do and live in the present and accomplish His Works and Will.

“16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:16-17 AVRLE)

102. Rejoicing in your self confidence and pride in your works is evil.

103. If you know to do good, and do not do it, it is a sin.

Footnotes:

adulterers – 3432. moicov moicov moichos moy-khos’; perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively, apostate:— adulterer. 1) an adulterer 2) metaph. one who is faithless toward God, ungodly (Strong’s Greek Lexicon)

resist – 498. antitassomai antitassomai an-tee-tas’-som-ahee; from 473 and the middle voice of 5021; to range oneself against, i.e. oppose:— oppose themselves, resist.

Worksheet for Lesson 7

141. Where do the arguments and fights among the fellowship of the Faithful originate from? James 4:1-3 (85)
A. Satan
B. Demons
C. A lack of Faith
D. From the lusts of members who do not have what they want

142. Why do these members fail to ask the LORD GOD for their desires? James 4:1-3 (85)
(May be more than one answer)
A. Because they know He will not give them what they want
B. Because they are too busy with their spiritual lives to keep track of their needs
C. Because they do not want to bend to the Will of the LORD GOD
D. Because they are too busy working hard to provide it themselves
E. Because they ask Him with the wrong heart to gratify their lusts rather than advance His Will and Word

143. What happens to these Faithful members when their desires for pleasure are never met? James 4:1-3 (85)
A. They leave the church
B. They repent of their sins
C. They become bitter, angry and cause arguments and fights among their Christian brothers and sisters
D. They become leaders and teachers of the Word of God

144. What are Christian men and women who hold a friendship with the world called? James 4:4-5 (85)
A. Apostates
B. Unfaithful enemies to the Word of God
C. Adulterers and adulteresses
D. All of the above

145. How does lust enter into a person? James 4:4-5 (85)
A. Through the doings of devils
B. It is in your nature naturally
C. Through the temptations of evil
D. All of the above

146. What does lust create? James 4:4-5 (86)
A. Envy
B. Conscience
C. Opportunity
D. All of the above

147. What does the envy lead to? James 4:4-5 (86)
A. A Christian becoming a friend of the world
B. Higher spiritual growth
C. Study of the Word of God
D. All of the above

148. What must you do to receive more grace from the LORD GOD to enable you to resist the cravings of lust? James 4:6 (87)
(May be more than one answer)
A. Struggle to be a better person
B. Avoid the places in the world that exploit your weakness and cause loss of control
C. Humble yourself
D. Accept the fact that your very nature is lustful

149. What will the LORD GOD do if you are not ashamed of your lustful cravings? James 4:6 (88)
(May be more than one answer)
A. He will do nothing to help you overcome them
B. He will resist and oppose your doings
C. He will have compassion and mercy on you
D. He will expose you to more spiritual things to remove you from your cravings

150. Let’s Talk
What struggles with lust for worldly things have you overcome through the Grace of the LORD GOD?

What struggles for the sensual and pleasurable things of the world continue to chase after you and your weaknesses?

How does a True Christian deal with the lusts of sexuality that are normally present in the body, when exposed repeatedly to the immoralities and sexually explicit materials that are constantly on view by the world?

How does a True Christian understand the difference between lusts of his sexuality, and normal, God-given expressions of sexuality that are good and right to experience?

How does a True Christian come to grips with the success and riches of a world full of people, who have every toy that they lust after, money that they desire, and every success they work for, when the Christian must often fight and work hard for every morsel received?

What experience can you share where you have witnessed definite wicked forces trying to destroy the Christian reputation by taking advantage of the lusts of the Faithful?

What types of lusts are being drawn out repeatedly through the use of the Internet, and what damage is being done to a Christian as a result?

What measures can Christian Brothers and Sisters take to uphold and protect each other from succumbing to their lusts?

151. What must you do to have the LORD GOD give you more grace to help you overcome your human nature of lust? James 4:7-10 (89)
A. Submit yourself to Him
B. Make promises that you can’t keep
C. Try to resolve the temptations of lust by yourself
D. All of the above

152. How do you cause the devil to flee from you? James 4:7-10 (90)
A. Hold up a silver cross
B. Ignore him
C. Resist him
D. Fear him

153. How do you have a relationship with the LORD GOD that He draws close to you, and lifts you up and away from the human natures of lust, and to the state of renewed righteousness and holiness? James 4:7-10 (91-96)
(May be more than one answer)
A. You must draw close to Him
B. You must cleanse your hands if your are sinning
C. You must purify your hearts
D. You must focus on the Kingdom of God, and not on the world
E. You must work hard to stay in the spiritual life, to the point of affliction
F. Cry and grieve to the LORD GOD for the things in your nature that separate you from Him
G. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord

154. What are you guilty of if you speak evil about a Christian Brother or Sister? James 4:11-12 (97-100)
(May be more than one answer)
A. Gossip
B. Malice
C. Speaking evil of the law
D. Judging the law

155. How should a Christian plan for and prepare the works of tomorrow? James 4:13-15 (101)

A. A Christian should not plan for tomorrow, for he may not even be alive
B. A Christian’s attitude should always seek the Will of God
C. A Christian should always do and live in the present and accomplish His Works and Will as they are revealed
D. All of the above

156. (Personal Contemplation) Why is rejoicing in your self- confidence and having pride in your works evil? Why is knowing to do good and not doing it a sin? James 4:16-17 102-103)

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Hallelujah!

By Kathy L. McFarland

I will never forget the first time I heard Leonard Cohen sing ‘Hallelujah!’ I was sitting in a car awaiting the rest of the family to finish the food shopping that I was physically unable to complete. It was late at night, and it had been a long and hard day; I was praying that my pain be hidden from their eyes when they returned, so they would not feel the despair that surely would come.

The radio began the broken chords of Hallelujah! I felt the minor lifts and the major chords swell within me, and recognized that the Holy Spirit was touching and healing me with the most secular of songs reaching to the core of my being. I sang Hallelujah, and another and another, until I felt the familiar strength surge through me, restoring my soul to a place of peace with a overwhelming joy of recognizing an answer from my Lord.

I may have made mistakes in this life. My body may not be the perfect creation He made me to be. “And even if it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the Lord of song with nothing on my tongue but, ‘Hallelujah!’

It was at that moment that I recognized that a true follower of Christ is ALWAYS broken before they come to Him, and once found in His embrace, is unable to say anything worthy of that hug, but Hallelujah!

Thank you, Leonard Cohen, for writing the words that reminds us to lift up our Hallelujah’s even when they seem broken.

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Revelation

The English title “Revelation” comes from the first word of the book in Greek. That word is apokalypsis, which means “the unveiling of something previously unrevealed. In Revelation Christ and His eternal program are fully revealed, so that the book provides a fitting capstone to the New Testament revelation. Revelation is prophetic in form. It was written during a time of persecution by John, the author of the Gospel John. The book is filled with visions and the style is generally figurative and symbolic. The book contains many symbols and signs, such as numbers, colors, animals, stones, persons, groups and places. Some symbols are interpreted in the text itself; others have to be interpreted in the light of the Old Testament; and others may have no previous biblical connection. Revelation is commonly referred to by the Christian believers when discussing things such as end times, rapture, tribulation, the mark of the beast and Judgment Day.

Revelation 1

1:1-3 The revelation of Jesus Christ
1:4-8 Greetings to the seven churches
1:9-20 A vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2

2:1-7 The message to the church at Ephesus
2:8-11 The message to the church at Smyrna
2:12-17 The message to the church at Pergamos
2:18-29 The message to the church at Thyatira

Revelation 3

3:1-6 The message to the church at Sardis
3:7-13 The message to the church at Philadelphia
3:14-22 The message to the church at Laodicea

Revelation 4

4:1-11 Around God’s throne

Revelation 5

5:1-4 The sealed book
5:5-14 The Lion and the Lamb

Revelation 6

6:1-17 The seals

Revelation 7

7:1-8 The 144,000 sealed
7:9-17 The numberless multitude

Revelation 8

8:1-5 The seventh seal
8:6-13 The trumpets

Revelation 9

9:1-21 The trumpets (continued)

Revelation 10

10:1-11 The angel and the little book

Revelation 11

11:1-14 The two witnesses
11:15-19 The seventh trumpet

Revelation 12

12:1-2 The sun-clad woman
12:3-4 The great red dragon
12:5-6 The man child
12:7-9 Michael
12:10-17 The blood of the Lamb

Revelation 13

13:1-10 The first beast
13:11-18 The second beast

Revelation 14

14:1-5 The Lamb
14:6-13 The messages of the angels
14:14-20 The harvest of the earth

Revelation 15

15:1-8 Preparation of the seven vials

Revelation 16

16:1-21 The vials of wrath

Revelation 17

17:1-18 The doom of Babylon predicted

Revelation 18

18:1-24 The fall of Babylon

Revelation 19

19:1-5 Those in heaven praise God
19:6-10 The marriage supper of the Lamb
19:11-21 The rider on the white horse

Revelation 20

20:1-15 Satan bound for a thousand years

Revelation 21

21:1-8 The new heaven and the new earth
21:9-27 The new Jerusalem

Revelation 22

22:1-5 The new Jerusalem (continued)
22:6-21 Christ is to come quickly

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JAMES – Lesson 7: The Faith of Teachers

“1 ¶ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:1-2 AVRLE)

72. It is a tough job being a Teacher of the Word of God. The Teacher exposes himself to a heavier judgment in the case he commits transgression in his teachings. A person should not even consider being a Teacher of the Word of God if he is not able to handle the Word perfectly, and able to control and restrain his natural and spiritual life. A Teacher of the Word of God is a dangerous profession and one that puts the Teacher at great risk of severe judgment.

“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.” (James 3:3 AVRLE)

73. A Teacher of the Word of God leads a student like a horse with a bit in his mouth. The teacher guides them, and they follow, as their entire life is turned around.

“Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.” (James 3:4 AVRLE)

74. Even the greatest of ships that are driven by the strongest of winds are easily turned with a small rudder, whenever the steering is violently shaken.

That is the job of a Teacher of the Word of God; to turn the sinner’s life around when his steering is being violently shaken by the conflicts of the spiritual nature of righteousness and the natural nature of sin, to encourage their walk with Jesus Christ.

It will probably come as no surprise that the topic of a Teacher of the Word of God is near and dear to my own heart. Every minute of every day, the responsibility that I am given by the LORD God to effect change in the students I teach is always on my mind.

My bosses are the LORD God and Jesus Christ, and they monitor my teachings very closely. If I do not do my job perfectly and to His Will, I risk serious judgment and even death. That is how dangerous the job of Teacher of the Word of God is. It holds tremendous accountability and is not a job one would want to take on without consideration.

I am a Teacher of the Word of God because that is what He has trained me to be for all of my life. It is the reason that I live, and it is my focus of everything I do. I have been prepared and groomed from my childhood to assume these responsibilities. I am not sharing this because of pride and self-focus, but because it is important to understand the extensive training, focus and responsibility that is given a Teacher of the Word of God long before he assumes that position.

I am deeply concerned with the newest movements that are occurring all over the world. False teacher movements in the guise of manipulated apostolic fervor are springing up all over. These movements are taking young Christians and calling them teachers and sending them out into the world to preach and teach. They were not made Teachers of the Word of God by the LORD God and Jesus Christ. Instead, they were made teachers of false doctrines by men who desired to accumulate wealth through their actions. As a result, many young Christian converts are being deluded into believing that they can receive baptism one day, and the next day, go out and teach the world, as respected Teachers of the Word of God. They are sorely mistaken, and are playing with fire, and are in danger of angering the LORD God greatly and facing terrible consequences.

I spoke to one young man who was spreading false teachings throughout the world using Internet forums (the maker of thousands of false teachers) as his platform. His teachings were so against the Word of God, and he had no accountability for anything he said. He was sincere in his faith, but tricked into believing that he was moved to teach. He did not know his Bible and relied on the moving of his spirit to say what he needed to say.

In my business, you can’t do things like that. You cannot become a Teacher of the Word of God and not have the accountability to perfectly handle the Word of God and assume the responsibility of all things that go along with it. This young man is in serious danger, and I hope he heeds my warnings and turns to the Word of God, for his future does not bode well without the Truth being present in his chosen work.

That is what James was talking about, and that is what I am talking about. To be a Teacher of the Word of God is powerful and dangerous work and must be performed to perfection. It is not a job that should be attempted by all Christians!

“5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:5-6 AVRLE)

75. The tongue of a person defiles the whole body. It is a little member of the body, but boasts great things, and can make a matter great with just a little use.

76. The tongue is a fire filled with sin. It controls the course of nature and derives its fire from the wickedness of hell.

“7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:7-8 AVRLE)

77. Every beast, bird, serpent and thing of the sea is tamed by mankind, but the tongue of man cannot be tamed.

78. The tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

“9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” (James 3:9-10 AVRLE)

79. Out of the same mouth we bless God and curse man. This is not the way it should be.

“11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:11-12 AVRLE)

80. A fountain can not have both sweet water and bitter. A fig tree cannot bear olive berries or a vine cannot bear figs. A fountain cannot yield both salt water and fresh…then how is it that a mouth can yield both blessings and curses?

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13 AVRLE)

81. A wise man with knowledge speaks good works in his teachings with the meekness of wisdom.

“14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:14-16 AVRLE)

82. If you have bitterness, envy and strife in your hearts don’t try to teach the Word of God or try to teach lies in contrary of the Word of God. Where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work coming from the sensual world. If you are trying to teach the Word of God in the midst of confusion and evil works, your effort will be in vain, and your spiritual and physical well being in jeopardy.

“17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:17-18 AVRLE)

83. The wisdom that comes from the LORD God is pure. This pureness of wisdom brings peace, is gentle, easily persuaded and obeyed, full of mercy and good results, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. This list of qualities of wisdom are the requirements that the LORD God has set forth to be a Teacher of His Word, as well as a good checklist for a student to compare to the one who teaches him, to verify the validity of his status.

84. A True Teacher of the Word of God gives the students teachings in peace, to only the students that make peace.

The chaos and wickedness of the world, embroiled in the envies and strife coming from the evil works, and making violence and anger a common environment, prevents the teaching of the things of God.

It is only when the students come to the Teacher in peace, and the Teacher exhibits that peace that comes from pure wisdom given by the LORD God, that one can be reassured that the instruction is being given in the Truth of the Word of God.

Becker Bible Studies Insert

Test for False Teachers

REMEMBER: ONE “YES” ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS PROVES THAT THE TEACHER IS A FALSE TEACHER, AND HIS WORDS SHOULD BE DISREGARDED!!!

A “true teacher” is a person who teaches the Word of God through divine direction.

A “false teacher” is a person who does NOT teach the Word of God through divine direction.

Characteristics of False Teachers

1. Grace-perverters Galatians 1:6-8
2. Money-lovers Luke 16:14
3. Christ-deniers 2 Peter 2:1
4. Truth-resistors 2 Timothy 3:8
5. Fable-lovers 2 Timothy 4:3,4
6. Destitute of truth 1 Timothy 6:3-5
7. Bound by traditions Matthew 15:9
8. Unstable 1 Timothy 1:6,7
9. Deceitful Ephesians 4:14
10. Lustful 2 Peter 1:12-19

#1 Grace-perverters
Gal 1:6-8

1. Does the teacher say that God does not love you?

2. Does the teacher say that God’s love must be paid for by money or possessions?

3. Does the teacher say that God only loves you if you are deserving?

4. Does the teacher say that God is not compassionate toward man?

5. Does the teacher accuse or ridicule our God for a lack of tolerance or patience?

6. Does the teacher say that God has chosen him to control the direction of his follower’s lives?

#2 Money-lovers
Luke 16:14

7. Does the teacher pay closer attention to the ministry of ritual, rather than the ministry of love and mercy?

8. Does the teacher base his teaching on or place excessive worth on money?

9. Does the teacher encourage students to be superior to others?

10. Does the teacher sneer, ridicule or condemn followers of Jesus?

#3 Christ-deniers
2Pet 2:1; 1 Tim 4:1-5; James 3:17

11. Does the teacher act secretive with his knowledge and teach that events or happenings will occur at specific times that only he knows?

12. Does the teacher deny or reject Jesus or His gift of salvation?

13. Does the teacher speak of things that are not sanctified by the Word of God or your prayers?

14. Does the teacher focus on the earthly, natural, demonic life and exclude the wisdom that comes from Christ?

15. Are the teacher’s teachings impure, chaotic, harsh, unreasonable, merciless, unstable, or hypocritical?

#4 Truth-resistors
1 Tim 6:5; 2 Tim 3:8; Ex 7:11; Rom 1:28

16. Does the teacher appear evil, depraved, unprincipled or wicked?

17. Is the teacher immoral or cause his followers to be immoral?

18. Is the teacher rejected by God and beyond salvation?

19. Does the teacher use trickery, sorcery, magic or enchantment to sway his students?

20. Does the teacher challenge God to prove his authority and power?

21. Does the teacher lead his students into mental error or false judgment?

#5 Fable-lovers
2 Tim 4:3,4; 1 Tim 1:4

22. Does the teacher speculate rather than confirm?

23. Does the teacher focus on genealogies by tracing family descent?

24. Does the teacher’s teachings involve supernatural or imaginary persons, embodying popular ideas on natural or social phenomenon?

25. Does the teacher instruct on widely held, but false notions?

26. Does the teacher “tickle the ears” by telling his students what they want to hear?

27. Does the teacher use popular media, special effects or flair to entertain rather than teach the gospel?

28. Does the teacher use music, TV, movies or computers to snare his students?

#6 Destitute of Truth
1 Tim 6:3-5

29. Does the teacher distort the truth by disagreeing with a known fact or a known reality?

30. Does the teacher fail to teach the words of our Lord, Jesus Christ?

31. Is the teacher unrighteous, unlawful or immoral?

32. Does the teacher’s knowledge conflict with his behavior?

33. Does the teacher’s beliefs and actions appear to be without a “good sense” basis?

34. Does the teacher’s teachings lead to wickedness or evil?

35. Is the teacher proud, showing a high opinion of his own dignity, importance or superiority?

36. Does the teacher appear to “know nothing”?

37. Is the teacher excessively fond of questions, to show off his intelligence rather than God’s glory?

38. Does the teacher vigorously focus on the words of his answers rather than the truth?

39. Does the teacher cause envy or jealousy among his students?

40. Does the teacher create bitter conflict or strife among his students?

41. Does the teacher create an air of evil suspiciousness around his students?

42. Does the teacher argue with other teachers, attempting to persuade with evil teachings?

43. Does the teacher think that the number of students indicates the godliness and rightness of his teachings?

44. Does the teacher treat the students meanly, worthlessly, disgracefully or dishonorably?

#7 Bound by Traditions
Matt 15:9; Is 29:13; 2 Tim 4:4,5; Titus 1:10-12

45. Does the teacher worship God in vain (without real significance, value or importance)?

46. Does the teacher rely on tradition and rote, rather than the moving of the Holy Spirit?

47. Is the teacher bound by traditions claiming divine authority without documentary evidence?

48. Is the teacher’s instruction based on myths and commandments of men rather than the truth?

49. Is the teacher an unruly, a vain talker or a deceiver?

50. Is the teacher unable to digest new knowledge because of laziness?

51. Does the teacher instruct for the sake of sordid gain?

52. Does the teacher attempt to undermine the teachings of the student’s family?

53. Does the teacher demand isolation from family and friends?

#8 Unstable
1 Tim 1:6-7
54. Does the teacher use idle talk and stray from sound doctrine?

55. Is the teacher unable to provide confirmation of his belief?

#9 Deceitful
Eph 4:14

56. Does the teacher educate using different types of doctrine?

57. Does the teacher use trickery, the practice of deception, shrewdness or fraud to gain students?

58. Does the teacher use forms of dishonesty, underhandedness, misleading or false scheming to instruct the students?

#10 Lustful
2 Pet 2:12-19; Phil 3:19; Jude 1:12; Rom 6:16

59. Does the teacher speak evil of the things he doesn’t understand?

60. Is the teacher prone to corruption, bribery, swindling or dishonest dealings?

61. Does the teacher partake in carousing, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity or sensuality?

62. Is the teacher’s character full of spots, stains and blemishes that he has tried to hide from others?

63. Does the teacher entice unstable souls?

64. Does the teacher follow the way of false gods?

65. Does the teacher have the presence but no message?

66. Does the teacher’s message change often?

67. Does the teacher manipulate, falsely flatter or entice lusts of the flesh?

68. Has the teacher been given knowledge of Jesus Christ, then turned his back on Him?

REMEMBER: ONE “YES” ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS PROVES THAT THE TEACHER IS A FALSE TEACHER, AND HIS INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE DISREGARDED

Footnotes:

Ten Characteristics from The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible; “Supplement” Copyright  1984, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Complete Topical Index to the Bible; page 72

Worksheet for Lesson 7

126. Why is being a Teacher of the Word of God such a tough profession? James 3:1-2 (72)
A. The Teacher exposes himself to a heavier judgment in the case of transgression
B. The Teacher must handle the Word of God perfectly
C. The Teacher must be able to control and restrain his natural and spiritual life
D. All of the above

127. What is meant when James likens a Teacher of the Word of God as “putting bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us”? James 3-3 (73)
A. The Teacher forces a student to be like a beast of burden
B. The Teacher guides a student, and through their obedience, their life is turned around
C. The Teacher uses a student to advance, and the student remains lowly
D. The Teacher guides a student to obedience to magnify his works in heaven

128. What is meant when James likens a Teacher’s power to the great ships “driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm”? James 3:4 (74)
A. The Teacher violently shakes the student into submission
B. The Teacher is able to turn the student’s life by blowing fierce winds of anger
C. The Teacher is able to turn the student’s life when he is being buffeted and violently shook from the conflicts of the spiritual nature of righteousness and the natural nature of sin.
D. I don’t know

129. Who are the bosses of a Teacher of the LORD GOD? (Notes)
A. The LORD GOD and Jesus Christ
B. The spiritual growth of the Teacher is the controller of all he teaches
C. The Church Council and committee of Elders
D. The students and their needs

130. When does a Teacher of the LORD GOD risk serious judgment, and even possible death? (Notes)
A. If the Teacher does not do the job, and uphold the Word of God perfectly
B. A Teacher of the Word of God is holy and righteous, and will not face serious judgment
C. If a Teacher does not have many students that receive his teachings
D. If a Teacher fails to follow the doctrines of the Catholic Church

131. Let’s Talk
What are some of the newest movements of False Teachers that are occurring today?

How are False Teachers able to gain students through manipulated apostolic fervor?

How can we protect the young and immature Christian from being overcome by the promises of increased power, respect, community and reward that is promised by the False Teachers?

How can we ensure that our Teachers of the Word of God are focused on the things that the LORD GOD Wills us to learn?

How effective is the “False Teacher Checklist” in exposing the False Teachers and revealing the True Teachers of the Word of God?

132. What member defiles the whole body? James 3:5-6 (75)

A. Mouth
B. Tongue
C. Speech
D. Ears

133. How does James describe a person’s tongue? James 3:5-10 (76-79)
(May be more than one answer)
A. It is a fire filled with sin
B. Its fire controls the course of nature
C. The tongue is set on fire of hell
D. Unruly
E. Evil
F. Full of deadly poison

134. What things are tamed by mankind? James 3:7-8(77)
(May be more than one answer)
A. Beast
B. Bird
C. Serpent
D. Thing of the Sea
E. Tongue

135. (Essay)What examples does James use to prove that we cannot bless God and curse man out of the same mouth and remain holy and righteous? James 3:11-12 (80)

136. How does a wise man with knowledge speak good works in his teachings? James 3:13(82)
A. With the meekness of wisdom
B. With the sensitivities to the students needs
C. With the natural affairs of man mixed with the spiritual things of God
D. All of the above

137. If a Teacher of the Word of God has bitterness, envy, and strife in his heart, what should he do? James 3:14-16 (82)
A. Hide it from his students
B. Don’t teach
C. Repent and restore his spirit
D. Pray for strength and continue teaching with endurance

138. If a Teacher tries to teach the Word of God in the midst of confusion, evil works, and strife, what results? James 3:14-16 (82)
(May be more than one answer)
A. No learning takes place
B. The teacher’s spiritual and physical well being are in jeopardy
C. Every teacher has a bad day every now and then
D. The students will leave that teacher and find another

139. (Essay) What is the nature of the wisdom that comes from the LORD GOD? James 3:17-18 (83)

140. What atmosphere is present when a True Teacher of the Word of God gives the things of the LORD GOD’s Word to students? James 3:17-18 (84)

A. Confusion
B. Anger
C. Emotional releases
D. Peace

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JAMES – Lesson 6 (Part 2): The Faith of Works

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” (James 2:14 AVRLE)

63. If a man has faith, but does not act on that faith, it cannot save him.

This statement is not the usual debate of the doctrine of salvation by faith, works for reward. Faith is what you believe and works is what you do as a result of that belief. It is through Faith in Jesus Christ that we receive salvation, and it is through our works that we receive reward.

In this statement, however, James is not discussing the salvation of a soul, but rather saving the life of a man. His point is that you can believe all things, but if you are not strong enough to act on your beliefs, you can not save yourself.

It is the doing of the belief that makes the saving possible. Thinking about it is without benefit, if action is not taken on that belief.

“15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (James 2:15-16 AVRLE)

64. If a brother or sister in Christ is naked and hungry, and you tell him to be at peace, warm and fully satisfied in hunger, rather than feed and clothe them, it is going to be unprofitable. If the natural life needs are not met in our Christian brothers and sisters, then the beliefs of the spiritual realm will not benefit them at all. A cold, hungry, naked person who is given teachings in faith, is still cold, hungry, and naked with no ability to understand. Clothe and feed that person with the works of your faith, and you will have a person ready to hear the Word of God, and become a worker in faith with you.

“17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18 AVRLE)

65. Faith without works is dead. Faith without works cannot be seen.

66. Faith can be shown by your works.

“19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20 AVRLE)

67. It is good that you know that there is only One LORD God, but that faithful knowledge does not make you uniquely righteous. Even the devils themselves know there is only one LORD God, and they tremble at His name. The difference between a man of faith, and the devils themselves, is the work that is accomplished as a result of faith.

A Side Note: Worldly people often profess their goodness and greatness by saying “I believe in God”, as they stand offended by a Christian in their presence. This arrogant profession of belief is neither noble nor notable. The devils themselves know there is only one LORD God! The difference between a person of the world, and the wicked devils, is that the devils fear the LORD God and tremble at His Name. How much lesser is a worldly person with the profession of a hollow belief said without fear?

“21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:21-24 AVRLE)

68. Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar. He did not just tell the LORD God that he had faith in Him, He acted on that faith in accordance with the LORD God’s Will. As a result, his faith was proven and made perfect.

69. Because Abraham believed the LORD God and acted in faith, he was made righteous and called the Friend of God. This work based on faith that was accomplished by Abraham is proof that through works a man is justified, and not by faith alone.

“Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (James 2:25 AVRLE)

70. Rahab the harlot was also justified by her works when she had received the messengers and sent them out another way to save them.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26 AVRLE)

71. Just like the body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without works is dead also.

Worksheet for Lesson 5 (Part 2

118. (Let’s Talk)

What use is faith, if works do not come from it?

If a person has faith in Jesus Christ, but lacks the will to build on the Foundation of Jesus Christ through the doing of His Word of God, does that man receive valid salvation?

If a person loves Jesus Christ and the LORD God, yet conforms to this world, with his personal lusts and desires being fulfilled, and neglects to implement the Word of God, is that man considered a Christian who walks with Jesus Christ?

If a person adopts a lifestyle of pleasure and worldliness, but at the same time confesses the Lord Jesus Christ, and gives tithes to the poor on a regular basis, does that person belong to the Kingdom of God?

If a person that claims to be a Christian, walks on a good path with Jesus Christ, yet often strays to fulfill his lusts, and then returns to the same walk over and over and over, does that person receive spiritual growth as a result?

What examples can you share of pretend Christians who know the Word of God, and understand what they should do, but instead do nothing but profess with their lips their beliefs, without implementing the things that the LORD God would have them do?

What examples can you share of fake Christian leaders who are guiding unsuspecting young and immature Christians off their spiritual path, who disregard the Word of God, and do works in conflict with the faith they profess?

What examples can you offer of a faithful Christian that has walked strongly in faith and demonstrated that faith through focused and faithful actions based on the Word of God, in spite of the hardship, trouble and oppression that has come?

What examples can you offer of the wicked and arrogant Christian fakes who gain benefit and recognition as a result of “being a person of God”, who can quote scripture and verse, who can sing praises in perfect pitch, yet who pervert and hide the Word of God from their actions when they are not being watched?

119. What results if you tell a naked and hungry Christian that he should have faith and fill peaceful, warm and fully satisfied in his hunger? James 2:15-16 (64)
A. It is unprofitable
B. You will make the hungry Christian less faithful because he would still feel cold and hungry
C. Confusion between the faith and resulting works would occur
D. All of the above

120. Why is faith without works dead? James 17-18 (65, 66)
A. It cannot be seen
B. Faith without works is not dead
C. You are saved by faith, and works are not necessary
D. You must have works to be saved, or you are dead

121. (Essay) What is the differences between a person of faith, a devil and a professing person of the world with regards to their belief in the LORD GOD? James 2:19-20 (67)

122. When was Abraham justified by his works? James 2:21-24 (68)
A. When His name was changed from Abram
B. When he offered Isaac to be sacrificed upon the altar
C. When he was praying to the LORD GOD in the desert
D. When he was contemplating all the good things of the LORD GOD

123. What results when you do an action on your faith in accordance with the LORD GOD’s Will? James 2:21-24 (68, 69)
(May be more than one answer)
A. Your faith is proven
B. Your faith is made perfect
C. You are made righteous
D. You are called a Friend of God

124. How was Rahab, the harlot, justified by her works? James 2:25 (70)

A. By repenting of her sinful ways
B. By receiving the messengers and sending them another way to save them
C. By converting to Judaism and becoming one of God’s People
D. All of the above

125. (Complete this Scripture sentence…) “For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without _______________________ is dead also.” James 2:26 (71)

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Jude

The half brother of Jesus Christ is likely the author of Jude. The writer gives his name and identifies himself as James’s brother, and the possibility exists that he can be the brother of one of four James, which creates some uncertainty among scholars. Jude writes to Christians who have been infiltrated by false teachers and people spreading the message that promotes immorality, theological error, destructive pride and divisiveness. Jude encourages his readers to stand firm against the pressure to dilute pure Christian doctrine.

Jude 1

1:1-2 Salutation
1:3-16 Judgment on false teachers
1:17-23 Exhortations to Christians
1:24-25 Benediction

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JAMES – Lesson 5 (Part 1): The Faith of Impartiality Toward All

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” (James 2:1 AVRLE)

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” (Leviticus 19:15 AVRLE)

54. The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ was first established with the laws, ordinances and statutes of His Jewish roots. He learned as a young child to respect the poor, and to not automatically honor the person of riches, but to judge each person in righteousness on his own merits.

“2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:2-4 AVRLE)

55. If you choose one person over another and treat them more special because of their appearance or station in life, then you are guilty of judging with evil thoughts. An example is given of a man entering into the presence of assembled faithful with a gold ring and great looking clothes. A poor man in dirty and shabby clothes enters also into the congregation of believers. James points out that to have respect to the splendid clothes and offer him the best seat in the house, but to the poor and dirty man ordering him to stand or sit at your feet, makes you a judge with evil thoughts.

I thought I did a pretty good job at showing impartiality for people; it is just part of my particular nature to not notice the things of wealth, poverty, race, stature, or station in life. It was nothing I did to not pay attention to these things; the LORD God just made me that way, and it’s never been a big deal to me.

Or so I thought. Several years ago, we celebrated the Jubilee Year, a time when the LORD God’s people forgive debts, and give freely in a dedicated way of all they have to those who need. We committed ourselves to honor our LORD God by accomplishing all that we could in giving to the poor when they came seeking. Our hearts were filled with joy daily, as we offered a hand up in the name of Jesus Christ. We opened our home to many who came and sheltered them, fed them and spoke the messages of Jesus. We would buy food for those who hungered, and gave clothes to those who had none. Anything asked of us during this year, we provided; if that took selling some of our beloved possessions, or spending our last penny, we would give what was asked, faithfully knowing that the LORD God would provide as we needed.

Then something terrible happened that ruined my pure heart. One of the homeless men that we had provided a house to live in, spoke some of the cruelest seven words to me that I have ever heard. These seven words nearly stopped my giving to anybody, ever again. He said:

“You’re a Christian. You have to provide”

I felt like a sap. I felt used. I felt angry inside. From that moment on, every time a poor person would come to me with a hand out, I would look to them with concealed disgust and know that they were not coming because of the grace of the LORD God and Jesus Christ, but merely coming because they knew that “I am a Christian. I have to provide.”

My heart was becoming hardened to the poor. I noticed that every time I gave, that it empowered them, and caused them to have almost an air of superiority over me, as they took more and more from me, with absolutely no interest in the things of Jesus Christ and the LORD God.

Then one day, I was visiting a small church in the Pacific Northwest. The congregation of believers were mostly upper middle class, and the Pastor was well spoken, well groomed and powerful in the local council of churches. As I entered into the church, I noticed a dirty, smelly, mentally challenged man walking in ahead of me. I saw the Pastor stand in front of him, and prevent his entry. The man started crying and pleading with the Pastor to let him in to pray. The pastor refused, and the poor man left cursing the Pastor and the congregation for their wickedness.

The Pastor turned to me, and those cruel words were spoken again. He said, ”He thinks because we’re Christians, that we have to provide. But I am responsible for the families of my congregation, and I cannot allow the dirty riff raff to destroy our good works and disrupt our praises to God.”

The words stung my ears, and brought focus to my hatred of the poor. I left that church, and I left my hatred, I left my self-focus, and I left my judgment of others with evil thoughts, on the steps of that church that day. If the people of the LORD God do not have room for the poor to pray with them, if they do not have the tolerance to allow differences to be in their midst, then they are not followers of Jesus Christ, worshippers of the LORD God, nor adherents to His Word.

I finally got it! There are wicked worldly people among the poor and there are holy, faithful people among the poor. I nearly let a very wicked act by a bad poor person cause me to remove the love of Jesus Christ from many righteous and holy poor people. And I nearly entered into a congregation of truly wicked rich people, who would prevent a poor man from praying in their presence. I suspect the hand of Satan himself was directing this orchestrated attempt to cause me to hate the poor, and I resolved from then on to aggressively prevent his attempts.

The ways of the world have caused many of our Christian brothers and sisters to resent the poor. There is a difference between the wicked worldly poor, and the righteous and holy faithful poor. That difference is the line that Christian brothers and sisters can use to measure their obligations. The LORD God does not want the wicked worldly to prosper, period. It is the righteous and holy poor person that James is speaking of, and it is the righteous and holy poor people that we are obligated and honored to respect and uphold when we are graced with their presence.

The Word of God is clear: “For if there come unto your assembly”… then they are coming into the spiritual realm and faithfully walking toward the LORD God, with a holy walk more righteous than a rich man can ever know!

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5 AVRLE)

56. The LORD God has chosen the poor of this world and made them rich in faith, and heirs of His Kingdom which he promised to those that love him.

“But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?” (James 2:6 AVRLE)

57. If you have been looked down upon and oppressed by rich men who thought themselves better than you, then it would make no sense that you would do the same as a Christian, to the poor.

“Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?” (James 2:7 AVRLE)

58. You are a CHRISTIAN, a follower of Jesus Christ! Do not cause evil to be spoken about those who choose to walk and serve Him!

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” (James 2:8 AVRLE)

59. You will do well to keep the royal law of our King Jesus Christ is his words “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”.

“9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:9-10 AVRLE)

60. Partiality is more than error in judgment. If you show favor toward some people, and discriminate against others, you are committing a sin. You are a transgressor because of this sin.

“10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2:10-11 AVRLE)

61. You can be righteous and keep the whole law of God, but if you break one law, you are guilty of all. You are a transgressor of the law regardless if the transgression was one of murder or one of discrimination against a person.

“12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (James 2:12-13 AVRLE)

62. The law of liberty gives you the freedom to choose what you will do and what you will speak. If you choose to judge others without mercy, you will be judged without mercy.

Footnotes:

blaspheme – 987. blasfhmew blasphemeo blas-fay-meh’-o; from 989; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously:— (speak) blaspheme(-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.

respect – 4380. proswpolhptew prosopolepteo pros-o-pol-ape-teh’-o; from 4381; to favor an individual, i.e. show partiality:— have respect to persons.

Worksheet for Lesson 5 (Part 1)

106. What was the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ first established on? James 2:1, Lev 19:15 (54)
A. Practice of the Catholic Religion
B. Laws, ordinances and statutes of His Jewish roots
C. Evangelism of the day
D. Christian Doctrine

107. What human relations lesson did Jesus learn as a child concerning the respect of people? James 2:1, Lev 19:15 (54)
A. Respect the poor
B. Do not honor a person of riches because of the riches
C. Judge each person in righteousness on his own merits
D. All of the above

108. What are you guilty of if you partially choose one person over another because of their riches? James 2:2-4
A. Judging with evil thoughts
B. Lust
C. Coveting
D. All of the above

109. (Let’s Talk)

What examples can you share that illustrates the use of partiality in world affairs?

What examples can you share that illustrates the use of partiality in spiritual affairs?

What is the description of a wicked, worldly poor person?

What is the description of a holy, faithful poor person?

What examples can you share that illustrates the differences between the wicked, worldly poor and the holy, faithful poor?

Where does your line lay in your contempt for the wicked worldly poor and your honor of the holy righteous poor?

Frankly speaking, how can you learn to not have awareness for the things that a poor man brings into your presence (such as unfamiliar odors, clothes and behaviors), and discover the nature of the man through a spiritual and natural process?

Frankly speaking, how can you learn not to be moved toward the rich automatically, desiring their attention and approval for the things that you do?

Frankly speaking, how do you lesson the power a rich man possesses in your congregation, when you are so dependant on his money for your church to survive?

Frankly speaking, how do you increase the participation of a holy and faithful poor person, so the faithful can be honored by his presence and uphold his walk with Jesus Christ?

110. What does the LORD GOD give the poor of this world? James 2:5 (56)
A. Richness in faith
B. Heirs of His Kingdom
C. Privilege of loving Him
D. All of the above

111. If you have ever been looked down upon and oppressed by a rich man, then what would make no sense? James 2:6 (57)
A. That you would feel inferior and lower than him
B. That you would do the same thing to the faithful poor as a Christian
C. That you would feel as if you did not belong in his presence
D. That you would feel that he has power over you

112. What can you do to uphold the name of “Christian”, and “Follower of Jesus Christ”? James 2:7 (58)
A. Give to the poor
B. Preach to the lost
C. Do not cause evil to be spoken about those who choose to walk and serve him
D. Establish ministries

113. (Essay) What is the “royal Law” of our King Jesus Christ that is recorded in scripture? James 2:8 (59)

114. If you show favor toward some people and discriminate against others, what are you guilty of? James 2:9-10 (60)
A. Committing a sin
B. Error in judgment
C. Being a human being
D. Bringing a social order to things

115. What is your spiritual status if you keep the whole law of God, but you break his law against discrimination? James 210-11 (61)
A. You are a transgressor of His Law
B. You are as guilty of breaking His Law as a murderer is
C. You are a sinner and have need for repentance and forgiveness of sin
D. All of the above

116. What law are you exercising if you choose to judge others without mercy? James 2:12-13 (62)
A. Law of sin
B. Law of man
C. Law of liberty
D. All of the above

117. (Essay) What will you receive if you judge others without mercy? James 2:12-13 (62)

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3 John

This brief epistle is attributed to the apostle John, though he does not give his name. He called himself “the elder” which seems to have been John’s self-designation in the final years of his ministry. The same stylistic and theological similarities apparent in the fourth gospel, 1 John and 2 John are a distinct feature of 2 John as well. The letter is addressed to Gaius, a common name that can not be identified as a specific person. John commends and exhorts Gaius for his steadfastness and for his care of Christian missionaries, and he uses Diotrephes as an example of how not to live as a Christian. John’s words are meant to encourage Gaius until John can see him personally.

3 John 1

1:1-4 Salutation
1:5-8 Service to the brethren
1:9-10 Rebuke to Diotrephes
1:11-12 A good testimony
1:13-14 Conclusion

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