Welcome Home everyone
Congratulations! You made it! Today is our last episode of James. And the third complete book of the Bible that we have gone though. You guys are really hanging tough, and I believe that exploring complete books of the Bible will accomplish a few things.
- It will give us a greater understanding and familiarity with God’s.
- It will lead us together into a more unified community.
- It will promote a broader biblical literacy that is truly transformational, we are transformed as individuals and also as a community.
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
In order to help me share with you today, I have separated my thoughts into 2 sections or points.
The Christian Community Must Be Close Enough To Be Accountable
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
First, we see the distinction of a family type bond, Brothers and Sisters. This indicates that we share a closeness, that we belong to one family unit. God’s family in Christ Jesus. This family has a culture and a code that centers around God’s word. And the expectation is to demonstrate Christ’s example to the world. But First, we must demonstrate His Example to each other. Pastor, how do we do this? I’m so glad you asked. In any community, we must be close enough to truly know something about our neighbors. It might be a personal issue. Or it might be a common struggle that is just understood within that community.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
We must care enough about each other to know how to care for our brother or sister. In addition, we must be able to both share our struggles, but recognize when something is wrong. No one of us here is a mind reader, but when we are focused on being a caring and unified community, these things will grow out of the love we have for each other
In my family we know some things about one another. I have 2 sisters that I love more than they will ever know. We know the types of things that each of us struggle with. And boy do we know how to push each other’s buttons. We know all of these things and love so deeply, because we have spent time together and grown up together. We can also have this community, because we spend time together and we grow in the Lord together. And we share our lives and hearts together. This is our opportunity and our responsibility as followers of Jesus. When we see a brother or sister wandering from faith or straying from truth, it’s your job, my job, our job to say hey are you doing ok? Can I help you; I can see that your struggling with something?
See we are looking at 2 ideas here,
1) the word here used for “wander” it’s not the innocent connotation where a child just wanders off innocently. It’s a leading astray or, leaving one path for a deviant one. In this case James is closing his letter by revisiting the dangers of false teachings and those who would disrupt the church. He’s warning of brothers or sisters being led astray by false teachings. He’s warning of brothers or sisters being led astray by the promise of attractive doctrines that lend to our selfish desires.
The 2) idea is from the word that is used to relate “truth.” This implies not just something that is to be believed, but something that is to be practiced or lived out. This word is very closely related to our word “conviction.” A belief that we hold dear and that drives us to conform to its way.
They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.
Matthew 22:16
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
Psalms 26:3
I’ll move on to my next point.
The Christian Community Must Maintain A Disciplined Heart Of Mercy
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
Many of us may have an idea of what it might look like or what we think we might say to a brother or sister who is being led astray. Here is the test. How would you react to this type of correction?
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12
We must learn to be disciplined through His word. We must learn to be obedient to His leading. We must move carefully and with mercy in our hearts. This is really about reconciling those who are wayward. Reconciling back to God. And reconciling back into the community of believers, back to the family of God.
In the world of Christian Apologetics/defending the faith, there is an idea that we are not trying to win an argument, we are trying to win a soul. One of the ways that we do this is by “putting a pebble in someone’s shoe” We do this by remaining gentle in spirit and by asking questions. The point is to demonstrate a Christlikeness and a probing question that forces the individual to notice the irritation of the pebble and take off the shoe and inspect the intrusion.
I’ll close with this…
The Holy Spirit will do His job. He will draw the lost through His power and love and he wants to use you to do it. Here’s the rub, we are not always good a doing or saying the right thing. We have allowed at different times to give the devil a foothold in our relationships or in our emotions and as a result, we have become neutralized in the fight. We have become useless to the kingdom. Most of us have grown and learned in these last 2 years, but its time that we start moving together in the Spirit. Coming soon we will be going through the book of Acts and there will be a more directed teachings on the Holy Spirit and the different gifts. And I believe that God is going to shift this church into position for a powerful move of the Spirit.
Will you join me as we seek an authentic relationship united in Christ and each other? Rejecting division, embracing God’s reality in Jesus, and encouraging one another. It’s just between you and God. Here’s the thing, If we love God and abide in Christ we will find ourselves more and more loving each other. You will we more and you will love better. We will experience God in spirit and in truth and we will share that amongst each other. Share all the ways God has shown you mercy and grace. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to stir faith in someone through your testimony? Would you join me as the Holy Spirit moves on us to be unified in the spirit of Christ? These are the kingdom values. This is truly the work of God. The intentional actions of the body of Christ. Remember the devil seeks only to kill steal and destroy. Steal your freedom, kill your joy, and destroy your destiny for hope and love. But God has a plan! He’s stealing from your neighbor, your family, and your loved ones today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today.
Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today. You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late
It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here.
Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me?
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’