Podcast appearances and mentions of christ james

Mature in Christ, week 12 - James 5:13-20Marcus Doe | April 6, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 11 - James 5:7-12Marcus Doe | March 23, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 10 - James 5:1-6Dave Goffeney | March 16, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 9 - James 4:13-17Dave Goffeney | March 9, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 8 - James 4:1-12Dave Goffeney | March 2, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

A very wealthy man was once asked, “How much money is enough?” His response was, “Just a little bit more.” Is the pursuit of financial wealth a worthy pursuit in life? In this episode of UNSCRIPTED we discuss where we can find true riches in life.

Mature in Christ, week 7 - James 3:13-18Dave Goffeney | February 23, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 6 - James 3:1-12Marcus Doe | February 16, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 5 - James 2:14-26Dave Goffeney | February 9, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 4 - James 2:1-13Marcus Doe | February 2, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 3 - James 1:19-27Dave Goffeney | January 26, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 2 - James 1:13-18Dave Goffeney | January 19, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Mature in Christ, week 1 - James 1:1-12Dave Goffeney | January 12, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

Pastor Chris Waldvogel  ~  16th Sunday after Pentecost    Old Testament:  Isaiah 35:4-7a  Epistle:  James 2:1-10, 14-18  Gospel:  Mark 7:24-37 The post September 8, 2024 ~ “What Good Is It? It All Depends on Christ!” ~ James 2:1-10, 14-18 appeared first on Beautiful Savior Fargo.

Join us as we explore the vital role of valuing and involving everyone in the church body, highlighting how Christ sustains us to be a loving community drawing others closer to their loving father. If you need prayer, we're here for you. Reach out at ⁠www.gatewaybaptist.com.au/prayer Gateway Baptist Church meets across six locations in South-East Queensland and also online. For over 90 years, we've been committed to guiding people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus. Learn more about us at ⁠https://gatewaybaptist.com.au

Join Kenny Russell for a live update from Israel.Today, our focus is on building the body of Messiahreading today from James 2:14-26 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.http://member.bulldozerfaith.com/givepaypal.me/bulldozerfaith https://cash.app/$bulldozerfaith https://member.bulldozerfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bulldozerfaith-Monthly-Magazine-October-2023.pdfDaily Devotional and teaching with Kenny Russell - Get connected with our Podcast Channelshttps://feeds.captivate.fm/what-then-shall-we-sayEmail kenny@bulldozerfaith.comNews Magazine - https://member.bulldozerfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BulldozerFaith-Monthly-Magazine-March-2024.pdf

This sermon is from our Sunday sermon series in the book of James preached by Pastor Chase Woodhouse Sojourn Galleria Church is an Acts29 church in Houston, Tx that exists to enjoy Jesus and join Him in the renewal of all things. To learn more, visit our website: www.sojourngalleria.org

As James Aubrey brings our series on the book of Ephesians to a close he talks about the strength that is available to us in God, to live, be led and be aware of the Holy Spirit/ Heavenly realm, praying in tongues, the importance of staying in touch with the Church family and more, listen now and be blessed!

Affliction in the School of Christ (James 1:2-4) by Faith Family Church Oak Grove

Message from David Bullock on April 14, 2024

James 4:1-3 addresses conflicts and desires within the Christian community. The passage starts with James asking why there are fights and quarrels among them, attributing it to their desires for pleasure that wage war within themselves. He highlights that these desires lead them to covet and not obtain what they want, leading to conflict and even murder. James points out that they don't have because they don't ask God or they ask with wrong motives, intending to spend what they get on their own pleasures. In essence, James is cautioning against selfish desires and urges the readers to seek God's will and align their desires with it to find true fulfillment. 'What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures' (James 4.1-3, NIV)

In this episode of the The TruthSeekah Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome James Hardin, one of the voices behind the revered Ancient Way podcast. Join us as TruthSeekah and James take a journey deep into the heart of Christian mysticism and the transformative power of faith.

In this episode of the The TruthSeekah Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome James Hardin, one of the voices behind the revered Ancient Way podcast. Join us as TruthSeekah and James take a journey deep into the heart of Christian mysticism and the transformative power of faith.

In this episode of the The TruthSeekah Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome James Hardin, one of the voices behind the revered Ancient Way podcast. Join us as TruthSeekah and James take a journey deep into the heart of Christian mysticism and the transformative power of faith.

In today's episode: King Herod tries to gain brownie points with the Jews A persecution of Christians starts James is killed; Peter is saved by an angel Why did the angel slap Peter? Why does God save some people's lives, but not others? Jenn gives a reading from Isaiah 57:1    Protect women in Ohio with Seven Weeks Coffee - Use code OHIO for 10% off  https://sevenweekscoffee.com/?ref=P40   Here's other amazing content from P40! YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries  Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com  Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk  Merch Store - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop  YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle   

As a newly called apostle and special witness of Jesus Christ, James E. Faust shares his testimony of the divinity and works of the Savior. Click here to access the speech page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your faith genuine? The sad reality is many people in the church have counterfeit faith. The book of James helps us determine what real faith looks like. Listen to Pastor Dave's sermon on James 1:1 as he introduces our new study:

Weekly Sunday sermons from Pastor Mike Powers and other members of our Pastoral Body. Richland Creek exists to make disciples who love God and love others. For more, visit richlandcreek.com.Main Idea: We are servants of Christ who long to be home1. Your greatest title is servant2. Your greatest home is heaven

April 22, 2023 - Equipped Day 3 2:30 PM MPR 2 Speaker Ty Rhymes discusses what it means to stand up or take action for what matters to you. He particularly looks at how we can stand up for God.   Slides: Stand Up! Stand Up and be full of character (James 6:8) Stand Up and be full of courage (James 6:9-14) Stand Up and be full of Christ (James 6:15) Stand up for Jesus... and He will stand up for you (Acts 7:55)   Duration 35:42

March 19, 2023 • Reconciliation & the Body of Christ: James Beitler by All Souls Anglican Church

Tony Coulombe (Warrenton Location)Series: James               Topic: In order to be a people of Christ, we must develop the character of Christ.Core Text: James 5:7-20Recorded: 2/19/2023For more resources check out cconline.cc or our YouTube page

Four Commands of Christ  James Ford pt 1 How many of you, listening to me right now, when you were born again, you were on fire for Christ? I mean, this was THE best thing ever!  You talked about your Faith at work and with friends. You attended church. If there was a special event or conference coming to town, you were there. It was AWESOME! Then, life began to creep back into your life. The devil started to whisper, “Is that all there is?” You started to skip the Bible study meetings. Not all of them, but it started. Then came a Sunday when you “just didn't feel like going…” Then…and then… and then… Until one day, you just felt like you let Jesus down. You were undeserving. You were, should I say it? “A SINNER.” Well, don't feel alone. It happens to everyone. Me as well. Our guest today has experienced that, too.  The only issue is when you allow it to take over your life. When you realize what has happened and don't do anything about it. That allows the devil to take the foothold and begin to build a castle in and around your life. You need to understand that and how to combat that. Once you do, then life begins to spring up all around you and in your spirit man – again!  With a renewed purpose and Love – the Love of God! Amen! James Ford was a carpenter by trade, with no formal training other than a high school graduate. But God had given him talent and natural abilities to be a blessing to others through construction. He was born again and on fire for the Lord at age sixteen…and immediately had an encounter with the Lord.  But just four years or so later, he left off following the Lord and questioning his Christianity. Let me just say here, that although John left God, God did not leave John. Amen! Many years later, James realized God had a mission for him. And was given the mission to share with the world, “The Four Commands of Christ, Disciplines of Faith.” His ministry name is “The Ark Project US.” John Ford has now published a book by the same name, “The Four Commands of Christ, Disciplines of Faith,” and he is here today to share with us his testimony, his ministry and all about this great book! Help me welcome to the program, James Ford, author of “The Four Commands of Christ.” James, thank you for taking the time to join us today. When were you led by the Lord to write and publish this book, “The Four Commands of Christ?” Your testimony, and mine as well, was basically trying to “find ourself” and our purpose in life. The purpose that God had for us to be born in the first place. Our purpose in the Body of Christ and how we were to serve our Lord. How do people find their purpose and mission in life? In your book, you talk a lot about the “Armor of God.” Can you share with us your points on living with the “Armor of God,” what it does and how we are to utilize it? You can talk to just about any believer today and they all will be in agreement, at least for the most part if they are Holy Spirit filled believers, that we are living in the last of the last days. How do you interpret the Bible in light of the

Four Commands of Christ  James Ford pt 1 How many of you, listening to me right now, when you were born again, you were on fire for Christ? I mean, this was THE best thing ever!  You talked about your Faith at work and with friends. You attended church. If there was a special event or conference coming to town, you were there. It was AWESOME! Then, life began to creep back into your life. The devil started to whisper, “Is that all there is?” You started to skip the Bible study meetings. Not all of them, but it started. Then came a Sunday when you “just didn't feel like going…” Then…and then… and then… Until one day, you just felt like you let Jesus down. You were undeserving. You were, should I say it? “A SINNER.” Well, don't feel alone. It happens to everyone. Me as well. Our guest today has experienced that, too.  The only issue is when you allow it to take over your life. When you realize what has happened and don't do anything about it. That allows the devil to take the foothold and begin to build a castle in and around your life. You need to understand that and how to combat that. Once you do, then life begins to spring up all around you and in your spirit man – again!  With a renewed purpose and Love – the Love of God! Amen! James Ford was a carpenter by trade, with no formal training other than a high school graduate. But God had given him talent and natural abilities to be a blessing to others through construction. He was born again and on fire for the Lord at age sixteen…and immediately had an encounter with the Lord.  But just four years or so later, he left off following the Lord and questioning his Christianity. Let me just say here, that although John left God, God did not leave John. Amen! Many years later, James realized God had a mission for him. And was given the mission to share with the world, “The Four Commands of Christ, Disciplines of Faith.” His ministry name is “The Ark Project US.” John Ford has now published a book by the same name, “The Four Commands of Christ, Disciplines of Faith,” and he is here today to share with us his testimony, his ministry and all about this great book! Help me welcome to the program, James Ford, author of “The Four Commands of Christ.” James, thank you for taking the time to join us today. First question I always start with is this. Other than that brief information I just shared, can you tell us in your own words, “Who is James Ford?” Let's go way back to the beginning, when you were born again at age sixteen. You said there was an encounter with the Lord that happened almost immediately. Can you share that experience with us and what happened? So you just continued on in the construction business, living your life, etc. Until 1980. Then what happened? You came back to the Lord because of listening to Christian radio? (You see folks, you don't have to go to church and ask the pastor to pray for you. Just like James, I was not born again in a church, I did not have anyone pray for me. I prayed to the Lord out of my desperation and He heard me and, without going into my entire testimony again, I WAS BORN...

"Who I Am in Christ" James 1 - January 27, 2023 - Michael Heaton Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/JAS.1.NIV . Welcome to the Daily Soap from New Hope. My name is Michael Heaton your guest host for today. We will be reading from the book of James Chapter 1 verses 1 through 18. I will be reading from the New Living translation I encourage you to read the whole chapter. I encourage you to read the whole book. Before I read the selected verses, I want to ask you a couple of questions. Who are you? How do you define yourself? Would you respond with your name, your age, your grade level? Do you define yourself by gender, race, hair color, your profession, the region where you come from, your family system? What about your identity in Jesus Christ? Let's read, James 1:1-18. Greetings from James 1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Faith and Endurance 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[c] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. So, what is the scripture all about? More importantly, what does this text teach us about our identity in Jesus Christ? The book of James is authored none other than James. There are several men named James mentioned in the New Testament, but reliable tradition assigns this book to the one called James the Just, the half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55) and the brother of Jude (Jude 1), who led the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). Yet the writer of this letter is the same James who received a special resurrection appearance of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7). This was probably the cause of his conversion, because up to that time the brothers of Jesus seemed unsupportive of His message and mission (John 7:5). The scripture we read begins by describing who James was…he describes himself as a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and that he was writing to the scattered believers. For you see the church was under attack and many believers were being persecuted. So, he writes to encourage them in their challenging times. James wrote an epistle to the scattered house of Israel, encouraging them to be patient in their afflictions and to seek wisdom from their Heavenly Father. James also taught them to resist temptation, to be doers of the word, to serve others, and to stay spiritually clean. This may supply information to how we are known. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you have an identity in Christ. We are no longer a part of this world soaked in sin, We are a child of God Let our hardships be an opportunity for joy as God shapes us. Every day we have an opportunity to grow in our identity in Christ. Let's pray. Lord, I pray that you would help me that I might be fully alive to my identity in you. I thank you that I am your child, that I am your friend, that I am forgiven, that I am a new creation. Help me to live out this truth in my life every day. In Jesus name, amen. . https://www.findnewhope.com Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study

On this Memorial of Saint Cecilia, James Herzog encourages us to consider whether or not our relationships are leading us and the others to Christ.Mentioned in this episode:I Believe in Love - Book Study - Beginning November 29th

Sunday Service "Finishing Well" To contact, tithe, or inquire...please go to www.ToddCoconato.com Finishing well: Notes for this Sunday's service. (2 Timothy 4 6-8 verses for this teaching) Let's face it: starting well is relatively easy. Finishing well is a different matter! Starting that new diet or exercise program is kind of fun, but hanging in over the long haul is the real test. Getting married is exciting and relatively easy. Staying married through struggles, adjustments, and trials is not always an easy matter. The same is true of the Christian life. Becoming a Christian is relatively easy: acknowledge to God that you are a sinner and receive by faith the free gift of eternal life that Christ provided by His shed blood. You cannot work for salvation nor do anything to qualify for it. God gives it freely to all that recognize their need and trust in Christ alone. But then comes the hard part—hanging in there as a Christian in a world that is hostile towards God and His people. The world constantly dangles in front of you all that it has to offer in opposition to the things of God. From within, the flesh entices you to forsake Christ and gratify your sinful desires. The enemy hits you with temptation after temptation. The real test of your faith is, will you endure? Genuine faith in Christ perseveres to the finish line. The Christian life is a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. Since finishing a marathon well is not easy, when you see a man who sprints across the finish line, you ought to try to find out his secret. The apostle Paul was such a man. It's as if he has crossed the finish line with energy to spare. He jogs back to where Timothy seems to be losing steam and exhorts him to keep running well. In the Bible, it is clear that Paul is looking death in the face. His words must have caused Timothy to burst into tears when he first read them. And, these words must have sobered Timothy with the reality that Paul had handed off the baton to him. Now, he had to finish well. Paul's words are not those of a discouraged, broken old man. There is no despair, no defeat, no cynicism, and no fear as he faces imminent execution. His calm assurance is all the more startling when you consider his circumstances. He was in the Mamertine Prison in Rome. Even the worst of our prisons today would be like the Hilton in comparison to the Mamertine. Paul's cell was a dark, damp dungeon, reached only by a rope or ladder from a hole in the floor above. He had no windows, no lights, no toilet, no furniture, and no running water. As Paul sat on the hard floor in the cold darkness, enduring the stench of his own urine and excrement, the circumstances outside were not encouraging. Many seemed to be turning away from the aged apostle, and even from the faith, following false teachers. Paul had labored for the past thirty years or more to preach the gospel around the Roman Empire, but at this point, it was at best a tiny sect, scattered here and there. Paul was not the world-famous apostle, appearing on TV talk shows, and autographing books, with invitations pouring in from around the world for him to speak. And yet, the man was clearly at rest, confident in the way he has spent his life, and calmly assured as he faces death by decapitation. What does the apostle have to teach us about finishing well? Note that verse 6 speaks about Paul's present: “I am.” Verse 7 refers to his past: “I have.” Verse 8 begins, “In the future…” To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the present, the past, and the future. 1. To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the present (4:6). Three key words here will help us finish well: reproduction, sacrifice, and departure. A. REPRODUCTION: PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE HAD REPRODUCED HIMSELF IN OTHERS. In the Greek text, verse 6 begins with the emphatic pronoun “I,” which contrasts with the “you” of verse 5, along with the connective “for.” The flow of thought is this: “Timothy, you preach the Word even in the face of opposition because I am about to die. I'm handing you the torch to carry!” Dying is easier when you know that you're leaving behind a number of people who can carry on with Christ because of your influence. Each of us needs to ask ourselves, “Am I working on that task?” I am talking about obeying Jesus' Great Commission, to make disciples of others. That Commission applies to every Christian at some level. If you know Christ as Savior and are walking with Him, then He calls you to make disciples of others. You can begin at home. Every Christian parent ought to be waging an all-out campaign to train up his or her children to know Christ and walk with Him. It doesn't happen by accident. It begins by setting the example: you must walk in reality with Jesus Christ if you want to impart that to your kids. Beyond that, dads, are you taking the time to read the Bible and pray with your family? Are you making sure that your family gathers with the Lord's people on the Lord's day for worship and teaching? Do you talk openly at home about spiritual things? Do you apply God's Word when there are tensions or trials on the home front? Beyond your immediate family, you ought to have a vision for reproducing yourself in the lives of others. Godly men should be handing off the faith to younger men in the faith (2 Tim. 2:2). Godly women should be training younger women in the things of God (Titus 2:3-5). When you're gone, there should be others who will carry on with Christ because of your influence. B. SACRIFICE: PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE VIEWED HIS LIFE AS AN OFFERING TO GOD. Paul did not view his execution as a cruel tragedy or as unfair treatment in view of his many years of dedicated service. Rather, he saw it as the culminating offering of a sacrificial life. After the sacrificial lamb had been placed on the altar, and just before it was lit on fire, the priest poured out on it about a quart of wine (Num. 28:7). It was the final sacrifice poured out on the existing sacrifice. That was how Paul viewed his own death. His whole life had been a living sacrifice presented unto God. Now, his death would be the drink offering poured on top of that (Phil. 2:17). This means that to finish well, you need to view all of your life as an act of sacrificial worship to God. As Paul put it (Rom. 12:1), “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” You don't serve Christ in order to get praise and acclaim from others. You serve Christ as an act of worship towards Him. If others turn away from you or badmouth you (as they were doing toward Paul), or if your earthly reward for a lifetime of dedicated service is to get your head cut off, it's okay, because all of your life has been an offering to God. This also means that to finish well, you view yourself as expendable in God's service. Here is the great apostle to the Gentiles, the man who did more for the spread of the gospel than any other man in church history. His influence was incalculable. Yet he could finish well because he saw himself as expendable, a drink offering. In language similar to our text, Paul told the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:24), “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” If you have inflated notions of your own importance, you will not finish well. All of us should view ourselves and all of our service as a sacrificial offering to God. C. DEPARTURE: PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE VIEWED HIS IMPENDING DEATH AS A DEPARTURE. “The time of my departure has come” (4:6). In the Bible, death is never cessation of existence, but rather, a separation of the soul from the body. It is departure. The Greek word that Paul used was a vivid one. It was used to describe the unyoking of an animal from a plow or cart. Death means the end of our labors and toils in this life. It was also used for loosening the bonds of a prisoner. Death is a release from the bonds of this corruptible body. It was also used for loosening the ropes of a soldier's tent. This suggests that at death, the battle is over, victory is won, and we are headed home. The word was also used for loosening the mooring ropes of a ship. At death our earthly ship leaves the shores of this stormy earth and puts in at the always-calm port of heaven. (These examples are in William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon [Westminster Press], revised edition, p. 209.) If you have Paul's view of death as departure, you will be able to finish without fear and even with anticipation, knowing that to depart and be with Christ is much better (Phil. 1:23). You will be able to say with him (Phil. 1:21), “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” So to finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the present: present ministry is reproduction; present life is a sacrifice to God; and, impending death is a departure to be with Christ. 2. To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the past (4:7). Paul was able to look back on his past in Christ and say confidently that he had done well. He is not implying that there had not been mistakes or times of discouragement—of course there had been. But through all of the problems and trials, Paul had stayed in the race. He could say, “I've done what God called me to do!” To be able to join Paul in saying that at the end of our lives, we must be able to make his three statements in verse 7: A. “I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT” (4:7A). When you come to the end of your life, will you be able to look back and say, “I have been involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ”? Paul is using an athletic metaphor, either of a wrestling match or a race. It conveys that the Christian life is not a Sunday School picnic, but rather, a struggle against the forces of evil. It is not just any fight, but the good fight, the fight of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Can you say, “I am currently involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ?” Let me help you answer that question. You cannot say so if you are living primarily for your own comfort and affluence, spending your time and money on your pursuit of the American dream. You may attend church every week. You may profess to know Christ as your Savior. But if your purpose in life is to be as comfortable and affluent as you can be, then you are not seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. You're not involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ. If, on the other hand, you live for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and extending His kingdom through your labors, your time, and your money, in accordance with the gifts and opportunities that God has given you, then you are involved in that struggle. What a fulfilling thing when it comes time to die, to look back on your past and be able to say, “I've been involved in that great struggle for the cause of Christ!” B. “I HAVE FINISHED THE COURSE” (4:7B). “I have not dropped out of the race.” Paul is referring to a long race. The word “marathon” comes from a geographic place where a decisive battle took place between Greece and Persia in 490 B.C. If the Persians had won, world history would have been much different. The glories of ancient Greece would not have happened. The legend is that after the battle, a Greek soldier ran the distance from Marathon to Athens (21-25 miles, depending on his route) with the news of the victory, and then fell dead. Based on that legend, the modern marathon race began between Marathon and Athens in the 1896 Olympics, and was lengthened to the present 26.2 miles in the 1908 Olympics. We all know those who began the Christian life with a flourish of activity and enthusiasm. Maybe they even went into full-time ministry. But when trials and disappointments hit, they dropped out. Sometimes, we need to take a break from serving to be refreshed and renewed. But then we need to get back in the race. Of course, we never should take a break from walking with the Lord. I've never ran a marathon, but I know that there's no such thing as an easy marathon. We need to get out of our heads that the Christian life is all glory and effortless bliss. There is joy, but there also are many trials that require endurance (Acts 14:22). So make up your mind to hang in with the Lord through the tough times, so that you can look back at the end and say with Paul, “I have finished the course.” C. “I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH” (4:7C). “I have guarded the truth about Christ.” Several times in these letters to Timothy, Paul has talked about “the deposit” that Timothy is to guard (1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:12, 14). He was referring to the truth of the gospel, the core doctrines of the Christian faith. When Paul says that he has kept the faith, he means that he has carefully guarded the truth about Jesus Christ that God had entrusted to him. He had not bought into any of the many errors about Christ that were circulating in his day. His life and his teaching had held to sound doctrine. You can't keep a faith that you are unclear about. To be able to look back on your life and echo Paul's words, “I have kept the faith,” you need to be clear on the essentials of that faith. It is just as much under attack in our day as it was in Paul's day. So sink down some roots in sound doctrine. Know what you believe so that you are not tossed around by all of the winds of false doctrine. Thus Paul could finish well because he could look at his present: he saw his present ministry as reproduction, his present life as a sacrifice, and his impending death as departure. He could look at his past: he saw that he had been involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ, he had not dropped out of the race, and he had guarded the truth of the gospel. But he also looked to the future: 3. To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the future (4:8). Paul could finish well in spite of his dismal circumstances because he had secure hope for the future. There are two aspects of Paul's future hope: A. PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE HOPED TO MEET THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. You may think that that sounds more like dread than hope! While there ought to be an element of awe and fear when we think of standing before the Lord, the prevailing emotion that we should have is expectant hope. The world, if they even think about standing before the righteous Judge, should be filled with dread. But Christians should love His appearing. Here's why: Paul wrote (Rom. 8:1), “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Jesus said (John 5:24) that the one who believes in Him “does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” Salvation is God's free gift given by His grace apart from any merit on our part. If your trust is in Jesus Christ as Savior, you do not need to fear the final judgment. The reason that you will not be condemned on judgment day is not because you have earned it by being a good person. Rather, it is that by His death on the cross, Jesus Christ satisfied God's perfect righteousness. When you trusted in Him, God imputed Christ's righteousness to your account (Rom. 3:21-26). That hope of meeting the Lord, the righteous Judge, who will welcome us into heaven on the basis of His perfect righteousness, should help us now to run the race with endurance. B. PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE LIVED IN VIEW OF THAT DAY. It is difficult to interpret what Paul means by “the crown of righteousness.” Is this a special reward given only to some believers who have lived especially righteous lives, but not to all? Or, is it the reward of eternal righteousness, given to all believers, who have already been justified by faith? In favor of the view that it is a special reward is that the word “crown” refers to the wreath that was given to the victor in the games. Not all received this crown, but only those who won (1 Cor. 9:24-25; 2 Tim. 2:5). The Bible teaches that while salvation is a free gift, God will reward us on the basis of our service for Him (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10), and these rewards will differ among believers. Some will have their works burned up, because they were not founded upon Christ, but they will be saved yet so as through fire. Others will receive a reward for their works (1 Cor.3: 10-15). In favor of the view that the crown of righteousness is given to all believers is that the phrase, “all who have loved His appearing,” seems to be a description of all believers. In this sense, it would be parallel to the crown of life that is given to all who love Christ (James 1:12). If Christ has saved you by shedding His blood for your sins, you long for the day when you will see Him. Perhaps Paul's meaning here is simply that even though his earthly judge (the evil Nero) had wrongly condemned him, he knew that the righteous Judge would vindicate him when he stood before Him. This is the third time that Paul has used “that day” in this letter (1:12, 18). Clearly, he lived in view of that day, when he would stand before Christ. So should we. The fact that we will stand before the Lord, the righteous Judge, on that day should motivate us to live righteously on this day. I read of a journalist who was in charge of the obituaries. One day when he didn't have any deaths to record, he put a sheet of blank paper in his typewriter and wrote his own name at the top. He then found himself writing his own obituary: “I have been a good husband and a fine father. I have contributed to a number of worthy causes. I have left a reputation of absolute integrity. My friends are many.” By the time he had finished the page, he had already committed himself to the task of living up to his own obituary (told by Robert Mounce, Pass it On [Regal Books], p. 153). Conclusion Perhaps your circumstances seem pretty dismal today. Maybe you're considering dropping out of the Christian race. From his dungeon, the aged apostle calls out to you: “Don't quit! Keep going! You can finish well! “Keep in focus my view of the present: You can reproduce yourself in others to carry the torch after you. View your life as a sacrifice to God. Your death will be a departure to be with Christ. “Keep in focus my view of the past, so that one day it will be your past. You will be able to look back and say that you engaged in the struggle for the cause of Christ. You didn't drop out of the race! You guarded the truth of the gospel. “Keep in focus my view of the future. Soon you will stand before the Lord, the righteous Judge, vindicated by His grace. Live in view of that day!” If you live with Paul's focus, you will finish well!

Can the pursuit of financial stability pull us from our foundation in Christ? YouVersion Live Event Link: http://bible.com/events/48939409 "Faith Works" is a sermon series with a verse-by-verse focus on the Epistle of James.

In today's episode, Dr. Starnes walks us through James 1:9-11, discussing the importance of how Christian's view material wealth and possessions. We hope this episode will deepen your walk with Christ. Support the show

As a newly called apostle and special witness of Jesus Christ, James E. Faust shares his testimony of the divinity and works of the Savior. Support the show: https://ldsp-pay.ldschurch.org/donations/byu/byu-speeches.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Thursday, May 26, 2022

We're studying the opening paragraph of James chapter 2, which forbids favoritism and discrimination. The past couple days we've looked at the world's solutions to those problems which are not solutions at all. They only make the problem worse. -Reverse discrimination, reparations, equality, and all that.- Today we'll see the real solution, and chances are, it's not something you would have guessed.-One reason most of us struggle as much as we do in the Christian life is that we focus a whole lot on what to do, but we lack the motivation and drive to actually do it. And the reason we lack that drive is because we don't spend enough time doing the one thing that will really change us-beholding the glory of God.-So in today's podcast, let's just do that. Sit back, and just take in all that is said about Christ's glory, and let it warm your heart toward him. That will do more to change your heart than a hundred tips on how to behave.