ABOUT THE ELDERS
1 PETER 5
1 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ,

• Peter likely has in mind his own personal observation of Christ’s suffering on the cross though he could be referring to the suffering present in the church.

as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:

• In contrast to the suffering existent in this life, there is a glory of which all Christians partake.
• This glory is our salvation in Christ.
• Salvation was Peter’s encouragement during the persecution he was enduring, and he wanted the church to find the same joy in the midst of suffering.
• The Christian possesses this glory in this life but will be revealed fully in Heaven.

2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly;

• Elders are to shepherd the flock of God.
• Peter's exhortation to his fellow elders was for them to care for those under their charge as a shepherd cares for his sheep (cf. John 21:16; Acts 20:28; Ezek. 34:1-16).
• In other words, elders are responsible for the pastoral work of the local church.
• A pastor is usually an elder who functions as a shepherd.
• The verb shepherd means to tend.
• Pastoring includes the duties of feeding, leading, guiding, guarding, and providing for the needs of those in the church—just like a shepherd does these same tasks for his sheep (cf. John 21:16).
• Notice that Peter sees the elders as a team not a solo act.
• No single individual can tend to the church.
• All elders must serve not because of pressure but out of pure willingness.
• This principle can be applied to any ministerial position.
• God is not strongarming us to serve but rather wants us to do so voluntarily.
• Motivation matters.
• We should never do anything in church that we are not eager to do.
• There is no place to “have to” do something in the kingdom.
• This is a law mentality.
• Instead, we are to wait on the Lord to motivate us to serve in whatever role we do in the church.

3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

• Peter is not referring to a specific reward earned by elders.
• The crown of glory is the full revelation of our salvation in Christ, and the glory referred to by Peter a few verses earlier (5:1).
• Every believer receives this crown.

5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.

• Peter encourages an attitude of humility to be expressed by believers.
• This humility is not the result of trying harder to live righteously or to follow religious regulations but rather arises as we understand the grace of God in Christ.

 
CONCLUSION
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

• In this context, Peter is not talking about false types of humility in which we try to humble ourselves through rigorous religious living.
• He has in mind a dependency on God in which we allow Him to carry our anxieties and stresses from life.
• Humility arises as we trust in God’s gracious nature.

8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

• Peter encourages Christians to rest in Christ's indwelling presence during spiritual warfare instead of engaging the devil verbally or rebuking him.
• This is similar to Paul’s view of the armor of God (Ephesians 6).
• We are to be strong in the Lord, not in ourselves.
• As we are strong in the Lord, we can resist what Satan is doing.
• The enemy’s main goal is not to get people to do bad stuff.
• Rather, Satan is trying to encourage people to disbelieve in God just as he did in the garden.
• Satan is also the accuser of the brethren.
• He tries to convince believers that they are somehow far from God or that they are too wicked to be in a relationship with God.
• But the Gospel says the precise opposite.
• There is no longer a relational distance between the Christian and God because of Christ’s finished work.

9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

• We often feel as if we are alone in our suffering.
• However, Satan makes a target out of all Christians.
• No single Christian is immune to persecution.

10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.

• Though sufferings are not of God He does use them to establish us in the faith.
• God works within His children amid suffering to mature us in Christ.
• This does not necessarily mean that the externals will change, but it does mean that internally we will know the fruit of the Spirit more intimately and enjoy God’s love in greater magnitude.

11 To him be dominion forever. Amen.
12 Through Silvanus, a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

• Peter encourages the church to know the true Gospel and to stand firm or resist false teaching.
• Just as is the case today, many false teachings were present in Peter’s time.
• Any teaching that violated Christ's nature or finished work was to be discarded.[1]

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.[2]

• My peace is shallow... His peace is infinite...
• His peace > my peace
• His peace is the only peace that can break through the noise of this world.
• I don't understand how I can have peace in the middle of the storm... Unless it comes from Him.

My peace is His peace, or it's not peace at all.

[1] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. 1 Peter 5.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Pe 5:1–14.

OUTREACH Brochure: “Our convention can change the future of your church.”
“I am a man who deals with pride and in pursuit of humility.”
​
Humility vs Pride
        1. John Stott said, “Pride is our greatest enemy” – humility is your greatest friend.
        2. Pride is demonic – first sin, cause satan to be kicked out of heaven vs. humility which is represent throughout Jesus’ life.
        3. Pride is the encouragement to compare ourselves to other people vs comparing to Jesus.
        4. Pride covets the success of other people vs humility causes us to rejoice in their success
        5. Pride is about me… what I deserve, what I want vs. humility that is to say it is all about Jesus.
        6. Pride is about my glory… Do respect me?, Do you want to be like me? vs. patterning your life after another… learning to be like Jesus.
        7. Pride - I am God vs. celebrating the fact that God has lovingly served me.
        8. Pride is arrogance, cockiness, smugness and is repugnant vs. humility leads to confidence.
        9. Point of pride is independence (doing what we want) vs. acknowledging that we are dependent on a Savior to lead and guide us through life.
        10. Augusta, “Pride is the mother of all sin, the root of all sin” vs. humility is the root of all joy.
        11. Pride is something we can achieve in this lifetime vs. humility is something that we pursue through this lifetime. “I am proud to report that I am now humble!”
What would our presidential campaign be like if it were based on humility?
What about athletes? What about rap music?
Today’s truth is counter culture…
CHRISTIAN HUMILITY
PHILIPPIANS 2
1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
 - Paul knew what some church workers today do not know, that there is a difference between unity and uniformity.
 - True spiritual unity comes from within; it is a matter of the heart.
 - Uniformity is the result of pressure from without.[1]

Basics of the Exchanged Life

1. We are created with a body, soul & spirit
2. Sin nature is problem
3. New nature is in sin nature is out
4. Law was an act of grace
5. Law came so you would sin more
6. New Covenant came in Acts 2, everything prior was law
7. Forgiveness is complete at the point of salvation
8. Behavior is a function of your nature
9. Sanctification is both past tense & present tense.
10. Jesus lives through you
11. You have the mind of Christ
12. Contrary thoughts are from the power of sin
13. Adversity leads to perseverance, perseverance proven character, proven character hope that doesn't fail
14. Hope leads to opportunities to make a defense for the hope you have

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

• How does pride break out in the church?
  Leavener specifically?
• Proud people only care about what they care about… humble people care about the needs of others.
• Family first, but not the only exception.

CHRIST’S HUMILITY AND EXALTATION
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.

• Only Christians have the opportunity to understand real humility because Jesus is the perfect example of humbleness.
• Chili con carne – carne=meat;
• incarnation – God becomes meat
           God became a man
           Creator entered into creation
           Timeless/eternal enters into time
           Omnipresent enters into place
          Seated on a throne but chooses to be born in a cave
           Surrounded by angels in glory but comes to be mocked and abused by sinners
           Living in heaven but comes to live in poverty on the earth
  Doesn’t mean that God ever quit being God to become man.
   - He set aside his divine attributes to be like us to live a full human life.
          - Gave up His wisdom to grow in wisdom
          - Emmanuel = God with us

And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death--
even to death on a cross.
Jesus’ death on the cross is the most humble act.
It was my sin that put Jesus on the cross.
It was Jesus who humbled Himself to die as my substitute.
The Great Exchange:
2 Corinthians 5:21 - He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.[2]
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name that is above every name

The most beautiful name of all… Jesus
Jesus came to reconcile all sinners.
The name of Jesus is the one we should exalt.

God has exalted Him
 
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow--
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth--
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.[3]

 - Nero was the greatest leader of that time
 - Every public event, the citizens would bend their knee and proclaim that Nero is the greatest leader of all time.
 - Paul is saying that EVERY KNEE WILL BOW…
 - You can try to straighten it out… but every knee will bow.
 - My name does not matter, “Leavener” does not matter… The only name that matters is Jesus.
 - It is not about us or our ministry!
 
1) God hates pride (Proverbs 8:13 - To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.[4])
2) God humiliates proud people (Proverbs 16:5 - Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.[5])

Proverbs 16:18 - Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble,
than to divide plunder with the proud.[6]

3) God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble
Proverbs 3:34 - He mocks those who mock
but gives grace to the humble.[7]
(James 4:6 & I Peter 5:5)
 
CJ MeHaney
        1) Follow the truth where ever it leads.
        2) Invite and pursue correction and counsel. (Don’t blame shift)
        3) Learn from everyone… including your enemies and critics
        4) Repent quickly & thoroughly (tapout)
        5) Seek and celebrate other work in other Christians
        6) Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness
        7) Listen to Scripture more than yourself
        8) Exalt the name of Jesus in whatever you do
        9) Laugh – proud people cannot laugh and cannot laugh at themselves.
 - We sat around dinner last night with friends and laughed about all the ways I pronounce different words. “What’s the big deal about saying ‘Here’s the dill.’”?
            (You are ridiculous… you are great comedic material, don’t waste it… redeem it)
        10) Sleep like a believer
 
I apologize in my failure…
I boast in what Jesus has done in me
(Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord)

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 73). Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 5:21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Php 2:1–11). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Pr 8:13). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Pr 16:5). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Pr 16:18–19). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Pr 3:34). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• Luke leaves Rome and travels to Philippi, where he stays with the church.

• Titus travels to the Island of Crete and plants a number of churches there.
• Spring 62 - Crisis in Philippi
• After some time, Paul decides to address the problems in Philippi that Epaphras reported to him.
• The problems are as follows: There are contentions, grumblings, and disputes present that are rooted in pride and petty jealousies.
• Two sisters in particular, Euodia and Syntyche (sin-2-key), are quarreling with each other fiercely. (These women, along with Clement, have helped Paul labor in the gospel every time he was present in Philippi.)
• The Philippians are receiving persecution at the hands of their pagan neighbors who are libertines noted for their loose living and bondage to their fleshly appetites.
• The Philippians are also being agitated by Jewish missionaries who are urging them to be circumcised and come under the Law.
• Epaphras recovers from his illness, and Paul sends him to Philippi.
• Paul plans to send Timothy to Philippi once he learns about the results of his upcoming trial.
• He wants Timothy to bring back a report on the church’s progress.
• Paul is optimistic that he will be released and plans to visit the church when that time comes.
• Philippians is Paul’s last letter to a church that is recorded in the NT.

 

• PAUL WRITES PHILIPPIANS
• Year: Spring 62
• From: Rome
• To: The church in Philippi (which is about 12 years old)
• Provocation: Paul wants the Philippians to know how he is doing in Rome.
• He gives them an update on Epaphras (also called Epaphroditus) and tells them that he is sending him back to them.
• Paul encourages the church in the face of opposition.
• He addresses their contentions by presenting Christ—His humility and His lack of self-preservation.
• Paul puts the church on guard against the Judaizers (“the mutilation party” as he calls them) and against the pagan libertines.
• He tells the Philippians of his plan to send Timothy to them when he has a better idea of his own future.
• That future includes his desire to visit them when he is released from prison.
• Paul speaks directly to Luke and asks him to help two sisters in the church to reconcile and live in harmony (chapter 4:3).
• He ends the letter by thanking the church for its gracious financial gift.
• A highlight of this letter is found in chapters 2:6-11 where Paul quotes an ancient Christian hymn regarding the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

 

• In spite of his difficult circumstances as a prisoner in Rome, Paul is rejoicing.
• The secret of his joy is the single mind; he lives for Christ and the Gospel. (Christ is named eighteen times in Philippians 1, and the Gospel is mentioned six times.)
• “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
• But what really is “the single mind”?
• It is the attitude that says, “It makes no difference what happens to me, just as long as Christ is glorified and the Gospel shared with others.”
• Paul rejoiced in spite of his circumstances, because his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the Gospel (Phil. 1:1–11), promoted the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil. 1:12–26), and guarded the faith of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27–30).[1]

 

• Philippians: Theme is joy
• What is the difference between joy and happiness?
• Can you be happy and joyful at the same time?
• Can you be happy and without joy?
• Can you be joyful and not happy?
• What makes you happy? What brings you joy?

 

• Happiness depends on circumstances
• Joy is independent of circumstances
• Joy is accessible to the believer when happiness is on vacation (nowhere to be found)

 

• Hebrews 12:2 - keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[2]

 

• Constitution: We have rights… among them… Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
• Happiness occurs in two places: culture and religion
•    Culture: people, places or things
•    Processes: There always steps…
•    Football Team winning
•    Favorite Starbucks drink
• Finishing a project
• Being with family or friends
• Ice cream
• Traveling – Trips – Vacation

 

•    Culture is not the answer for happiness

 

• Religion: Pop psychology (Oprah), creating your own God, Joel Osteen (health & wealth=prosperity)
• Just because it is in a book, magazine or even on religious television
• Galatians 5:19-21 - It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.[3]

 

• Walking in prosperity, incredible health, strong relationships, living in victory, without pain and anxiety excludes Jesus.
• Your plan should include God

 

• Jesus was born in a poor family… sometimes homeless, common job, hungry & didn’t even have enough money to pay his taxes.
• Relationships: Jesus have strange relationships? Family disowned him, friends abandoned him, Judas betrayed him & the crowd called for his death.

 

• Pain: Did Jesus ever experience pain? Cross…

 

• Victor or victimized: False accusations, false witnesses, false trial, false condemnation and false execution

 

• Worries & Anxiety: Gethsemane… sweated drops of blood.

 

• There are days of pain!!! We think we can live in the first couple of chapters of Genesis. The fall of man occurred!

 

• #1 prescription drug in America is anti-depressants (118 million people)
• 25% of adults and 8% of adolescents experience a major period of depression.
• #3 reason for death among teenage girls is suicide

 

• Our pursuit of happiness is not working…

 

• Three reasons why…
• We hang our hopes on someone or something
• (desire is ok… it is the discontentment that ruins us)
• We get those things think will make us happy… and they don’t make us happy.
• (spouse, child, job, car… Ecclesiastes… “Everything is meaningless”
• We create diversions
• (computers, television, Blackberries, sleeping, eating, internet, etc)

 

• CHRISTIAN WARFARE
• PHILIPPIANS 1
• GREETING
• 1 Paul and Timothy (Paul’s right-hand man), servants of Christ Jesus:
• To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi (Acts 16:11-38 – it was hub, strategic for church planting), including the overseers and deacons. (pastors & elders)[4]
• Christ Jesus (mentioned twice in first verse)
• There wasn’t a lot of talk about Jesus
• Philippians written in 62 AD (about the same time as the Gospels)
• Jesus rebelled against culture because he came as a humble servant. (Matthew 20:28 - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”[5])
• Saints – Those who believe in Jesus Christ…
• Saint Qualifications - In official Church procedures there are three steps to sainthood: one becomes Venerable, Blessed and then a Saint.
• Venerable is the title given to a deceased person recognized as having lived heroic virtues.
• To be recognized as a Blessed, and therefore beatified, in addition to personal attributes of charity and heroic virtue, one miracle, acquired through the individual's intercession, is required.
• Canonization requires two, though a Pope may waive these requirements. Martyrdom does not usually require a miracle.
• Christian: One step… Jesus… Check!!! Done!!!!
• Jesus rose for you and you are set apart… it is our identity!
• Put this on your resume… business card… REPRESENT!

 

• Servants
• Greek word is slave… not the same thing as America practiced.
• Be a slave to Jesus Christ
• Slave to sin, religion or Jesus
• Sin – Titus 3:3 - For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.[6]
• It usually starts kind of fun and then turns bad…
• It is selfish… it is about me… it demands service… it is “me” oriented

 

• Religion – 2 Peter 2:19 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.[7]
• Religion is horrible… it is about a list of things you must do… and you measure up according to how you act to things that are posted on the list.
• It is selfish again… it is about “me”… pride… external rewards…
• Man promises happiness in religion, Christ promises joy in understanding
• Jesus – You never know what is in store… it is fun…
• It is selfless… not selfish… it is not about me… it is about Christ doing things while I rest.

 

• Why would I become a slave? I’m free already… No… not really…
• You are a slave to someone or something… Who is your master?

 

• Slavery is the key to freedom!
• Humility is the key to joy!
• Servanthood is a great lifestyle for those who identity is a Saint.

 

• Our identity is a SAINT
• Our lifestyle is a SERVANT

 

• Knowing that I am a SAINT… makes me happy
• Living as a servant… brings me Joy…

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 64). Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 12:2). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Ga 5:19–21). NavPress.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Php). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Mt 20:28). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Tt 3:3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (2 Pe 2:19). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• August 22 – Romans 12:1-2 - Transforming of the Mind – Talk about eternal things.
• September 12 – Romans 12:3-8 - We are one body with many gifts.

 
CHRISTIAN ETHICS
Romans 12:9-21
9 Let love be without hypocrisy.

• Paul then talks about the many dimensions of love as it relates both to our fellow believers and to those people who are outside the Christian Church.
• It talks about relating well both to God and to other people—what some have called an “other-orientation,” that as a believer I am no longer oriented to myself.
• I am oriented toward God and to others as the very mode of my being and decision making.[1]
• ‘Love is not genuine when it leads a person to do something evil or to avoid doing what is right—as defined by God in his Word’ – Douglas Moo.[2]
• Here is the real issue… how do you measure/judge one’s heart?
• What makes one a hypocrite?
• I say one thing but do another.
• Christians (followers of Jesus) have been called hypocrites from day one.
• A follower of Jesus has an assumption that they are going to do exactly what Jesus does.
• That may be the desire of the believer but it doesn’t always occur because we are dealing with our flesh. (not our sinful nature).

Detest evil;

• Detest – is this a private or public response?
• As the Spirit leads you.
• I think at one point, it was easy to point out specific things (sin) that I detested and could be vocal about.
• As I get older in my faith, and realize that it is not me that changes other people’s minds, but it is the Holy Spirit.
• I tend to be less public about what I detest… that doesn’t mean I am more accepting or passive.
• I think it has more to do with trusting.
• I will continue to teach Truth from the stage and even my personal conversations.
• But I will trust that the Spirit will lead to repentance through His kindness.
• It is the Spirit’s responsibility to change the mind of other believers.

cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters.

• Did you ever fight with your siblings?
• Of course you did… but it never changed the fact they are still related to you… they belong to you.
• You may have had to set healthy boundaries with family members… but they are still your family.
• But as you go through trials and loss, you probably cling deeper to your family.
• Paul, is saying the same thing here in the body.
• Love each other deeply… even though we do “goober” things.
• We all do “gooberish” things. But we are all still forgiven and made perfect.

Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.

• You’re not going to find a spiritual gift analysis on our web site and a list of church duties.
• There are plenty of ways to serve your brother and sister in this body… but we are good if it is even outside of the body of Christ.
• It is as the Spirit leads you.

12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

• On this day, 16 years ago, the body lost a child named BJ Higgins. He was 15 years old.
• On this day, 3 years ago, the body lost a good man named Todd Dolbeer. He was a vital part of this ministry.
• We have suffered over the years with their loss here on earth but we rejoice to know they are forever home with Jesus.
• So we persistently pray for their families. For their needs and their grief to subside.
• I know the Higgins family shared hope with the Absher family because of their hope in eternity.

13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.

• This literally meant to feed one another at your homes.
• Hospitality may be defined as ‘the process by means of which an outsider’s status is changed from stranger to guest’.
• It is not something a person provides for family or friends but for strangers.
• Strangers need hospitality, for otherwise they will be treated as non-human because they are potentially a threat to the community.
• Strangers had no standing in law or custom, and therefore needed a patron in the community they were visiting.[3]
• In a big city, strangers have been vilified.
• We have trained ourselves not to even talk to strangers.
• Isn’t it refreshing when you can have a decent conversation with a stranger?
• In context of today, that has changed with COVID.
• How do you encourage one another in sharing now?

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

• Paul does not often quote the words of Jesus.
• Indeed, it’s been one of the issues in Pauline scholarship over the years to figure out why Paul does not make more reference to the earthly life of Jesus or to His teaching.
• Paul talks a great deal about Jesus’ death and its significance, about His resurrection, but about His earthly life, Paul is relatively silent.[4]
• Jesus taught the Law… and fulfilled the complete Law.
• Paul encourages to walk by the Spirit.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud;

• In Biblical terms, proud/pride has never been associated with good.
• In society, we have made the word “proud” acceptable and good… especially in light of our family.
• My wife and kids know that I personally refrain from using the word “proud”.
• It takes a little more thought to express my love and admiration for them by not using the word “proud”.
• I have to explain what makes me happy about them.
• Try it sometime.

instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

• This is simply revenge.
• Some people ask the question, “Don’t you just become a door mat?”
• Are we not to stand up for ourselves?
• There is a difference between revenge and healthy boundaries.
• Is it important to you that you don’t come across as soft or a pushover?
• What does it look like when the Spirit causes your emotions not to get ramped up during a disagreement?
• Can you think more rationally (and with love) when you are not letting your emotions control your physical body?
• Breathe… calm down… you can say the same things with no emotion.
• We are living in a world where protests are becoming so emotionally charged that people are actually dying.
• There is evil in this world… it is going to continue to happen.
• There is only one answer to evil… Jesus.

Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.

• Try to see the other side of things.
• You don’t have to agree with the other side.
• But you don’t have to be mean either.

18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But
If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing
you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. (Proverbs 25:21-22)

• In the Proverbs we have mainly the teaching of Solomon, of course, but Solomon himself apparently had been influenced by wisdom traditions in Egypt—something Old Testament scholars almost universally recognize.
• And we know from archaeological evidence that there was a custom in Egypt according to which someone who wanted to show their repentance or to express their sorrow for something they had done, would carry a tray full of burning coals on their heads.
• That is probably what’s going on in Proverbs 25, and I suspect Paul understands that context and meaning.[5]

21 Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.[6]

• How does that work in this world?
• It’s not up to me to determine.
• All of a sudden we went to thinking about the individual to world peace?
• Next week, Paul gets into the government.

[1] Moo, D. J. (2014). NT331 Book Study: Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (p. 475). Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England; Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
[3] Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (pp. 478–479). Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England; Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
[4] Moo, D. J. (2014). NT331 Book Study: Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Moo, D. J. (2014). NT331 Book Study: Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 12:9–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

James 4:1-12
PROUD OR HUMBLE
James 4:1-12
1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? (rhetorical?) Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you?

• Conflict comes out of inner sensual lusts or pleasures (hēdonōn).
• Hedonism, the playboy mindset that makes pleasure men & women’s goal.
• Fighting in the Church has gone on forever!
• Lot caused a quarrel with his Uncle Abraham (Gen. 13).
• Absalom created a war for his father David (2 Sam. 13–18).
• The disciples created problems for the Lord when they argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom (Luke 9:46–48).
• When you examine some of the early churches, you discover that they had their share of disagreements.
• The members of the Corinthian church were competing with each other in the public meetings, and even suing each other in court (1 Cor. 6:1–8; 14:23–40).
• The Galatian believers were “biting and devouring” one another (Gal. 5:15).
• Paul had to admonish the Ephesians to cultivate spiritual unity (Eph. 4:1–16).
• Even his beloved church at Philippi had problems: two women could not get along with each other (Phil. 4:1–3).[1]
• Explain the war inside… POS

2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

• In reference to class wars (rich vs poor)
• This is not the trusting child asking for a meal but the greedy child asking for the best piece or the spoiled child demanding his or her way.
• They are asking God to bless their schemes; God will have no part of it.[2]
• But the real battle is between your focus on God and worldly things.
• First, wanting what they do not have and second, coveting what they cannot obtain.[3]
• The essence of sin is selfishness.
• Often we veil our religious quarrels under the disguise of “spirituality.”
• We are like Miriam and Aaron who complained about Moses’ wife, but who really were envious of Moses’ authority (Num. 12).
• Or we imitate James and John who asked for special thrones in the kingdom, when what we really want is recognition today (Mark 10:35–45).
• In both of these instances, the result of selfish desire rubbed hard and brought division among God’s people.
• Selfish desires are dangerous things.
• They lead to wrong actions (“You fight and war,”)
• They even lead to wrong praying (“You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.”).
• When our praying is wrong, our whole Christian life is wrong.
• It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth.[4]
• Selfish living and selfish praying always lead to war.
• There is always war on the inside, but there doesn’t have to be war on the outside.
• It is called “walking by the Spirit”, rather than “walking by the flesh”

4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.

• A figure of speech designating the unfaithfulness of God’s people in their relationship with Him[5]
• By the “world,” James means, of course, human society apart from God.[6]
• Friendship with the world is compared to adultery.
• James is not referring to quit talking and loving on people with worldly behaviors.
• James is referring to not doing worldly behaviors.
• James is not talking about disassociating yourself from people who do worldly behaviors.
• James is referring to disassociating yourself from worldly behaviors.

5 Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely?

• Do not grieve the Spirit…
• How can you have what you have and not see this thing?

6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:
God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.

• God resists the proud… those who are not redeemed…
• I have been made humble… sometimes I walk in my flesh.
• Know who you are.
• James has taken the sword and said this is the enemy of God and this is the friend of God.
• Know the difference… know who you are.
• You can depend on your own pride… or you can depend on God’s grace.

7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

• This word is a military term that means “get into your proper rank.”[7]
• Submit… why do we have such a hard time with this word?
• Pride
• But resist the devil…

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

• You will have no problem with submission if this happens.
• The more you know God… the more you will feel His presence with you.
• The more you know God… the more aware you will become of the things God does around you.
• Submission becomes a fruit.

Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

• Don’t just say you believe in God.
• Believe in God.
• Pursue God!
• During this Corona Virus era, you are changing the way you do life.
• You are shedding your old habits… some that you have been doing a long time.
• Now you are having to re-think how to do life.
• You are creating new habits…even if it is subconsciously.
• Process what you are doing with your time.
• We are going to come out of this stage in life and it is going to impact you forever.
• How many times have you said, “If I just had time to pursue the Lord, I would do this or that.”?
• Now is the time.
• It is the same thing James was saying to the believers 2000 years ago.
• Think about what you are doing.
• Focus on the Lord. Pursue this living God that wants to literally help you breathe every breath.
• And wash your hands!

9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

• I imagine most people translate this as written to the believers since this is who the letter is written to.
• The previous verse is directed to non-believers… sinners.
• Be miserable and mourn about your worldliness…
• Let your laughter and joy that is based upon worldly things turn to sorrow and repentance.
• Humble yourselves… cast aside your pride.
• Let go of your old stone heart, be transformed by the grace of God and learn how to live out of your new heart.

11 Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? [8]

• The saints were speaking evil of one another and judging one another.
• Christians are to speak “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15); they are not to speak evil in a spirit of rivalry and criticism.
• If the truth about a brother is harmful, then we should cover it in love and not repeat it (1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.[9]
• If he has sinned, we should go to him personally and try to win him back (Gal. 6:1–2 - Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.[10]).
• James was not forbidding us to use discrimination or even to evaluate people.
• Christians need to have discernment (Phil. 1:9–11 - 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.[11])
• We must not act like God in passing judgment.
• We must first examine our own lives, and then try to help others (Matt. 7:1–5).
• We never know all the facts in a case, and we certainly never know the motives that are at work in men’s hearts.
• To speak evil of a brother and to judge a brother based on partial evidence and (probably) unkind motives is to sin against him and against God.[12]
• There is a Spirit inside of you that will provide you with wisdom on when to speak and even when not to speak.
• Know God and you will learn to live out of your new heart.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 366–367). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Davids, P. H. (2011). James (p. 100). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
[3] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, p. 174). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 367–368). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 4:4). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 368). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 369). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 4:1–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Pe 4:8). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 6:1–2). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Php 1:9–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 367). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.