Can I Be Real? Podcast

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Show Notes:

○ Romans 13

○ Lesson 10: "It’s All Love"

○ Verses 1-7: Pray for our leaders and government workers

§ Read 2 Chronicles 36: 17-23

§ Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4

§ Read Isaiah 61:8

□ "For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them."

○ Verses 8-10: It is my obligation to love you

§ Definition of obligation: something (such as a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom) that obligates one to a course of action; something one is bound to (DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY)

§ Read "Life Lessons" from book

§ Read John 15: 9-17

§ Read 1 Corinthians 13

§ Read Colossians 3: 12-15

§ 1 John 4:7-8

□ "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

○ Verses 11-14: Get it together because Jesus is coming back soon!

§ Read Ephesians 5: 1-9

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Show Notes:

○ Romans 12

○ Lesson 9: "We Belong Together"

○ Read "Reflection" from book

○ Read Romans 12

§ Verses 1-2:

□ This is a convicting scripture!

□ A question from the book for your own consideration: "The problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar." What does that say about our tendency to hesitate in surrendering ourselves to God?

□ Makes me think of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: (context deals with sexual immorality, but applies to sin in general)

® "Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

□ But it is also encouraging because there is a promise attached to it (verse 2)

§ We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other (the Church, both local congregation and the Body of Believers worldwide)

□ Read part of "Inspiration" from book

□ We each have a role to play in advancing the Kingdom of God and to do the good that God had planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:10)

□ Read 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27

□ Read Ephesians 4:1-16

§ From the book: "We lack obedience more than guidance"

□ God has told us what to do. So now what? We need to walk in obedience…love God, love our neighbors, pray for our enemies and bless those who persecute us…

Read Philippians 2:13

◊ "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."

○ Read Romans 12:21

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○ Romans 11

○ Lesson 8: "Am I Called by God?"

○ Read "Situation" from book

○ Read Romans 11

§ God wants ALL people to come back to him! That is why sent his Son, Jesus.

® Read John 3:16-17

® "For this is how God loved the world: HE gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal lie. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

§ Remember what we read last week in chapters 9 and 10:

□ God made a covenant with the people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Genesis)

□ As Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4:22- "…salvation comes through the Jews."

□ But the true children of promise, the children of God are not necessarily descendants of Abraham…

® Read Galatians 3:26-29

§ God's plan was for all of humanity to be reconciled back to him. So, "am I called by God?" -YES, you are!

□ Read Romans 8:28-29

□ Read Ephesians 1:3-14

□ Read Titus 3:3-6

□ Read 1 Thessalonians 5:5, 9-11

○ Read "Life Lessons" from book

RATE! REVIEW! SUBSCRIBE! Email me your thoughts, comments or questions at caniberealpodcast@gmail.com ○ Romans 9 & 10

○ Lesson 7: "God's Plan"

○ Read Romans 9 & 10

§ God's plan has been laid out from the very beginning!

§ I am going to share God's plan from different passages in scripture, but the point is the same!

□ Read John 3: 16-21

□ Read Acts 2: 22-41

□ Read Ephesians 3: 6-12

□ Read Hebrews 10:10 (The Point)

® "For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time."

§ God's plan was always for us to be reconciled back to him, for us to be back in right standing and relationship with him, as it was in the beginning in the Garden of Eden.

That's it, that's the point! So what are you going to do?

RATE! REVIEW! SUBSCRIBE! Email me your thoughts, comments or questions at caniberealpodcast@gmail.com ○ Romans 7 & 8

○ Lesson 6: Found NOT Guilty

○ Read Romans 7

○ Remember last week's lesson, we are free to choose who we will serve, God and righteousness or sin and death…

○ Read from the book, Life Lessons from Romans By Max Lucado

§ Reflections excerpt

§ Situation excerpt

○ Read Romans 8

○ Once again, Paul is reminding us that we are no longer obligated to sin! We have another choice, another way that we can choose to take.

○ God does NOT condemn you! If you have faith in Jesus, and believe that God sent his one and only Son to die once for all, to make us right with God, then God does not condemn you! If you have died to yourself and your sinful nature and have been raised to new life in Christ Jesus and have the Spirit of Christ living in you, then you are child of God, you belong to God!

§ See Romans 8:10-17

§ See Romans 8:34-37

○ NOTHING, absolutely nothing can separate you from the Love of God! We must remain faithful, for He is always faithful!

§ See Romans 8:38-39

○ You have been found NOT GUILTY!

§ Now remember, you deserved a GUILTY verdict! You are in fact guilty of all the sins you have committed.

§ But God, in His immense love for you, sent his Son to pay the price you should have paid on the cross for your sins, so that you could wear his righteousness instead of our own filthy sinful selves.

§ That is Grace and Mercy!

□ Read Hebrews 4:14-16

○ Read 1 Peter 2:21-25

○ Read Jude 1:24-25

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○ Romans 6

○ Lesson 5: Choose today who you will serve.

○ Easter was a week or two ago, and the whole point for us Christians of Easter is that Jesus rose from the dead! And when he died on that cross and rose three days later, He rose with all power in his hands!

○ Read Revelations 1:17-18

§ "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look- I am alive forever and ever! I hold the keys of death and the grave."

○ Reread verses 3 & 4…

○ Reread verse 14…

○ Read 1 Corinthians 15:57

§ "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

○ So now we are faced with a choice…choose to walk in freedom from sin and be servants of righteousness (remember righteousness means to have a right relationship with God) OR do we choose to continue to be lead by our sin and our flesh and remain slaves to sin which leads to death?

§ Read 1 John 3:1-10

§ Read 1 john 5:18-21 (…or keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts".)

§ Read Joshua 24:14-15

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Show Notes:

○ Romans 4-5:21

○ Lesson 4: The Promise comes by Faith.

○ Remember the first lesson: the righteous will live by faith…

○ Also, if you haven't listened to the Word for 2024, go listen to it after this episode, because I talk about how "God is not a man that he should lie, God is not a man that he should change his mind", so if God said something, trust Him to make it come to pass.

○ Read: Romans 3:28-5:21

§ The Bible is full of the many promises God has made to us, so I encourage you to take some time this week and dive into that if you never have!

§ That promise is the promise of reconciliation, forgiveness of sins, salvation from the wrath of God…

□ But that promise might also be what you have been asking and waiting on God for, maybe about your relationships, your job, your family, your finances, or your relationship with Him, wanting to grow in a deeper love and understanding of Him

□ Whatever that promise is, it can only be received by faith.

® Read Matthew 21:18-22

® Read 2 Chronicles 20:20

§ We read about the faith of Abraham, but as reminder of some of the things Abraham was trusting in God for, we will read Hebrews 11:6, 8-12, 17-19

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Romans 3:9-31

○ Lesson 3: Salvation is free, not cheap.

§ Verse 22: "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." [lesson #1]

§ Justification

□ The legal term referring to a right standing before God

□ to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation

® Read 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

§ Redemption

□ Refers to the act by which a slave is given freedom

□ redeeming means serving to offset or compensate for a defect

® Read John 3:16-18

§ Atonement

□ Reparation for an offense or injury

□ The reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ

® Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

§ Read Ephesians 2:8-9

□ "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift if God- and not by works so that no one can boast."

§ Read Hebrews 5:7-9

□ "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his fervent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience, from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…"

○ Read Isaiah 53

□ It cost Jesus Everything! God gave up his Son for us!

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○ Read: Romans 1:16-32

○ Lesson 1: "the righteous will live by faith."

§ Righteous can be defined as: acting in accord with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin

§ Righteousness means right relations between man and God

○ In verses 18-32, Paul lays out how the wicked live, and explains that God's wrath has been revealed against sinful humanity

§ God has made what may be known about Himself, plain to us

□ Verse 20…"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

® God has revealed himself not only in history but also in the beauty and order we experience in the His created world.

® Read Psalms 19:1-6

® Read Acts 14: 15-17

□ Verse 21…"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile (completely ineffective) and their foolish hearts were darkened."

§ Part of God's wrath involves abandoning individuals to the consequences of their wickedness

□ It says 3 times in verses 24-32 that "God gave them over…" . God won't take your free will away

○ Read Habakkuk 4:2 (NLT)

§ ""Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.""

○ Read Zephaniah 2:3 (NLT)

§ "Seek the LORD, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you- protect you from his anger on that day of destruction."

○ Read Galatians 3:11 (NLT)

§ "So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life.""

○ Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

§ "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

○ Remember the lesson: the righteous will live by faith. When judgement day comes, those who believe will stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus

○ Read Isaiah 61:10

§ "I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels."

○ And those who are godless are under God's wrath. Do not be misled, thinking that being a "good person" or doing "good things" is enough

○ Read Isaiah 64:6

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind."

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Show Notes:

○ Colossians 3 (NLT)

§ Colossians 3: 1-4

§ Think about the things of heaven…

□ Read Philippians 4:8

§ Colossians 3: 5-17

§ So put to death the sinful, earthly things…. And put on your new nature

□ Read 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17

□ Read Galatians 3:26-29

§ Clothe yourselves with… (think of the Fruits of the Spirit)

§ Live peacefully and in harmony with each other

□ Read Galatians 5:22-23

§ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives

□ Read Ephesians 2:4-10

§ Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of Jesus

□ Read 2 Corinthians 5:20- "So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead. 'Come back to God!'"

§ Colossians 3: 18-4:1

§ Paul calls out 6 groups of people- (this section is very similar to what Paul wrote in Ephesians)

□ Wives submit

® Submit means "to yield oneself to the authority or will of another; to permit oneself to be subjected to something

® Read Ephesians 5:21-24

® Submission requires humility

□ Husbands love

® Read Ephesians 5:25-33

□ Children obey

® Ephesians 6:1-3

□ Fathers don't aggravate

® Read Ephesians 6:4

□ Slaves obey & work willingly

® Read Ephesians 6:5-8

□ Masters be just and fair

® Read Ephesians 6: 9

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Show Notes:

○ Colossians 1:24-2:5 (NLT)

§ Colossians 1:24-29

§ Paul was tasked with bringing the Good News all over the world. God wanted people to know that Salvation was for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike!

§ The secret, that had been kept hidden for "centuries and generations" is this: Christ lives in you!

□ Read Romans 8:10-13

□ Read Colossians 3:11

§ "…warning everyone and teaching everyone…"

□ It is our duty to go out and tell people about Jesus

® Read Matthew 28:18-20

□ We were saved by grace through faith for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10)

® We have this good news, this secret- we know about the riches and glory of Christ…are you talking about it? Are you sharing your faith? Are you taking your faith with you into every setting you go into?

® How can we set back and watch the world, God's creation, burn, and not tell someone the secret- that Christ lives in you! That we are God's masterpiece! That Christ died for you to put you back into right relationship with the Father! So that you could be called holy and righteous!

□ We are called to love God and love people, and the most loving thing we can do for someone is tell them about Jesus!

§ Colossians 2:1-5

§ …I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love…

□ Read 1 Peter 1:22- "You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other with all your heart."

§ …I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself……so that no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments

□ Read 1 Corinthians 2: 7-16

§ Paul mentions the church at Laodicea

□ This is the church that in Revelations 3, John writes the church a letter on behalf of Christ

® Read Revelations 3: 14-22

□ I leave you with the reminder: live as you should and make sure your faith in Christ is strong

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Show Notes:

○ Colossians 1:15-23 (NLT)

§ Colossians 1:15-20

§ Supreme- "highest in rank or authority"; "highest in degree or quality"

§ To affirm the supremacy of Christ, is to affirm that Jesus is God (which is what we Christians profess; the triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit)

§ The first 5 chapters of the Book of Hebrews speaks on the Superiority of Christ

□ Read Hebrews 1:1-4

□ Read Colossians 2:9

□ Read John 1:1-5, 14

§ Jesus is fully God! He is not just a good man or teacher or prophet, or even simply a man made greater than the rest of mankind, but Jesus is Truly above all creation, as only God can be!

§ Christ is supreme over everything!

□ Matthew 28:18, Jesus says, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

□ Read Philippians 2:6- "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to."

□ Read Hebrews 9:11-12

§ Colossians 1:21-23

§ Verse 20: "He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth…"

§ We were once enemies of God, but He has now reconciled us back to Himself

□ Read Romans 5:10-11

§ In verse 23, Paul gives us our charge, and its one I will leave you with today: "But we must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News."

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• Colossians Background

○ Paul is the author of Colossians

○ Paul did not visit the Church at Colossae personally, because he was on house arrest in Rome when he wrote this letter (AD 60-63) [Acts 28:16-31]

○ Likely written around the same time Paul wrote the letter to Philemon and to the Ephesians

○ The Church at Colossae was predominantly a Gentile church

○ The faith of the new converts was being distorted and perverted by Greek mystery religions and mysticism as well as being threatened by some Jewish laws and customs.

○ Evidently, Epaphras had brought word to Paul of these heretical things that had begun to infiltrate the church. (Timothy had also evangelized in this city)

○ Paul's purpose behind this letter is to urge the Colossians to preserve true doctrine in the church regarding the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ.

○ The Letter to the Colossians also provided a practical theology for everyday living and growth in the faith.

• Read

○ Colossians 1:1-14 (NLT)

§ Colossians 1:1-8

§ Paul starts off by encouraging them…we have heard of your faith in Christ…..which comes from your confident hope.

□ Paul reminds them of what they already know- that God has treasures reserved for us in heaven.

□ Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

§ I want to point out briefly two things:

□ Verse 6: It [the Good News] is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives…

® Read: Acts 8:4-"But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went."

® Read: Romans 10:17-"So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ."

® Read: Hebrews 10:14-"For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made perfect."

□ Verse 8: …about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

® Remember Galatians 5:22-23

® Love is a fruit of the Spirit, that we cannot fully possess and bare without Him

§ Colossians 1:9-14

§ Paul mentions some of the prayers he, Timothy, and likely others, have been praying for the Colossians:

□ Ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will

□ Give you spiritual wisdom and understanding

® We need knowledge of God's will, spiritual wisdom and understanding to live lives that …always honor and please the Lord…produce every kind of good fruit…while learning to know God better and better

□ That you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have the endurance and patience you need with joy

§ Verses 12-14, Paul reminds them [and therefore us] of God's grace and mercy

Reread verses 12-14

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• LOVE

○ Love- unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another, such as: the fatherly concern of God for humankind, brotherly concern for others, a person's adoration of God

○ We saved the best for last! Love is the culmination of all the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As I have been saying since the beginning of the series, these fruit are all characteristics of God's nature.

○ It is out of the revelation of God's love for you, that you can truly experience joy, and a peace that surpasses all understanding.

○ And out of that outpouring of God's love, you are empowered to love each other, demonstrating patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

○ Read John 3:16- 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.

○ Read Isaiah 53

○ Read 1 John 3:11-24 (*16)

○ Read 1 Corinthians 13

○ I leave you with this:

○ Matthew 5:48- Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

○ God is the standard, not man, not your favorite pastor or Christian celebrity. God is the standard. And the standard is very clear.

§ Read 2 John 1:4-6

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Self-control

○ Self-control- the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.

○ Self control is the war between impulsivity and doing what's right or beneficial. It's the ability to control emotions, impulses or behaviors to achieve a greater goal.

○ Self-control, an aspect of inhibitory control, is the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses.

○ Self- control is not doing what

• Self-control in the Old Testament

○ David & Saul

○ In 1 Samuel 15, God rejects Saul as king over Israel and in 1 Samuel 16, God had Samuel anoint David to be the next king over Israel. In 1 Samuel 17, David defeats Goliath and by 1 Samuel 18, Saul is afraid and jealous of David and begins his attempts to kill him. In 1 Samuel 19, Saul is no longer discreet about it and he told Jonathan and his attendants to kill David, forcing David to flee Saul and leave Israel. David and his men go to several different places seeking refuge from Saul, one of those places was Nob, where the priests lived and where David and his men stopped to get food. They ended up eating the consecrated bread and Ahimelek the priest gave David the sword of Goliath. When Saul found out that the priests had aided David and his men, Saul had the priests at Nob killed.

○ So all this happens between David and Saul and in 1 Samuel 24, we are introduced to the first time that David spares Saul's life, and demonstrates self-control.

§ Read 1 Samuel 24:1-10

§ Read 1 Samuel 26:1-11, 23-24

○ Nehemiah & the opposition to the rebuilding of the wall

○ Nehemiah had the God-given assignment of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem, which was the beginning stages of making Jerusalem a city again.

○ Read Nehemiah 4:1-15

○ Read Nehemiah 6:9-13

• The Self-control of Jesus (so many examples to choose from!)

○ Luke 4 talks about how Jesus tempted in the wilderness for 40 days by the devil. ("Go read for yourselves!"_

○ Jesus demonstrated self-control time after time! He was constantly accused of some wrong doing despite the fact that all he did was good and preach Truth from God's word.

○ Read Luke 22:47-53

○ Read John 19:7-11

• What about Us?

○ Read Romans 7:18-25 (NLT)

○ Read 2 Peter 1: 5-11 (NLT)

○ We need Jesus to help us! We need the Holy Spirit daily to live like Christ!

○ Read Proverbs 25:28- A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

○ Read Proverbs 16:32- Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

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Show Notes: ○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Gentleness

○ Gentleness- the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered; softness of action or effect

○ An exert from a devotional by Lauren Abraham:

○ A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. It requires great strength and self-control. Gentleness comes from a state of humility. Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. (From )

○ Gentleness is the humble and meek attitude of wanting to help others instead of wanting to be superior to them- an attitude that flows from a spirit of real love.

○ (Humility- a modest or low view of one's own importance.)

○ God's gentleness is characterized by love, grace, mercy and judgement.

• Gentleness demonstrated by Jesus

○ Read Luke 5:27-31

○ Read Luke 6: 35-36

○ Read Luke 10:30-37

○ Read John 8:1-11

• What about Us?

○ Read Philippians 2:1-8

○ Read Philippians 4:5- Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

○ Read Colossians 3:12-13

○ Read Galatians 6:1-2

Hebrews 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Faithfulness

○ Faithful- steadfast in affection or allegiance; loyal; firm adherence to promises or in observance of duty

○ Trustworthy-worthy of confidence; dependable

○ To be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast and unwavering.

○ Read Deuteronomy 7:7-9

○ Read Numbers 23:19

○ Read Psalms 33:4-For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

○ Read Psalms 145:13b- The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

○ God is eternally reliable, steadfast, and unwavering because faithfulness is one of his inherent attributes. You can trust God! He is dependable!

• Jesus

○ Jesus's whole life and ministry is a picture of faithfulness.

○ In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted in the wilderness by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights

○ Jesus preached, healed, raised the dead, calmed storms, provided food for thousands, etc.- all with the sole purpose of giving God glory.

○ Jesus suffered ridicule, betrayal and abuse at the hands of the very ones he was sent to save.

○ In Matthew 26, Jesus prayed- read Matthew 26:39b, 42b

○ In Luke 23, while dying in agony, Jesus says- read Luke 23:34

○ Jesus is faithful!

• What about us?

○ When a person walks consistently with God, in humble service to Him, they are called "faithful".

○ Read Hebrews 11:1, 6

○ I challenge you this week to meditate on Hebrews 11, which is often called the "Hall of Faith" due to the writer of Hebrews listing several old testament individuals who put their faith in God into action.

○ I leave you with the same charge Paul leaves Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-16

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Show Notes: ○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Goodness

○ Goodness- moral excellence; virtue; the quality or state of being morally good or virtuous

○ The Greek word for "goodness" is "Agathosune" (ag-ath-o-soo'-nay), which means uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness

○ A quote from a weekly devotional by Lauren Abraham on the fruits of the Spirit: "when we act out true goodness of the heart and reflect the fruit of the Spirit, we are obedient to God's commandments and seek the benefit of others. Our actions come from a place of selflessness, and we place the needs of others before our own."

○ GOD is the standard of all that is good!

○ Read Genesis 1:31- "Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day." NLT

○ Read James 1:17-"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]." AMP

○ Read Psalms 34:8- "Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" NLT

○ Ultimately, God's goodness is demonstrated in the person and life of Jesus

○ Read John 3:16-21

○ Read John 10:1-18

§ (Ain't God Good!)

○ So…what about me and you?

○ Read:

§ Romans 12:17-21

§ Galatians 6:9-10

§ 1 Peter 2:12- "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

§ Proverbs 3:27 - "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act."

§ Hebrews 13:15-16

§ James 4:17- "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."

Ephesians 2:8-10

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○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God

• Kindness

○ Kindness- the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate; the quality of being generous, helpful and caring about other people

○ Read Isaiah 63:7-9

○ Read Ephesians 1:7-8 NLT

○ Read Ephesians 2:4-7 NLT

○ Kindness requires intentionality. We must constantly choose to shift our minds from ourselves to looking for the needs of others.

○ Read Matthew 5:44-48 NLT

○ Look at Jesus's ministry on earth, He was Kind

○ In John 4, we see a familiar passage, Jesus talking with the Samaritan Woman

○ Jesus disregarded some of the social rules at that time:

§ During that time and in that culture, women were seen as inferior to men

§ Jews and Samaritans hated each other because Jews believed that Samaritans had betrayed their faith because they had intermarried with foreigners

§ No self-respecting man, let alone a teacher, would ever speak to a woman with a reputation like the woman we see Jesus talking to at the well

○ But Jesus was Kind. He saw a woman, in need of something that she could not attain for herself…living water

§ Read John 4:7-14

○ Jesus did not sugarcoat her current situation…she was a woman who had been married and divorced (men divorced the women) 5 times, and was currently with a man who she was not married to.

○ Despite that, Jesus was Kind. He did not condemn her, but rather He showed her that what she really needed was a right relationship with God

§ Read John 4:21-26

○ In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are speaking to a group of people who, after seeing them heal a man who had been lame since birth, thought they were Zeus and Hermes. Paul after hearing this says:

○ Read Acts 14:14-17

○ Read Romans 2:2-4

○ Read Romans 11:22

○ Read Colossians 3:12-17

I challenge you to consider God's kindness to you, and to imitate Christ and show kindness to others, not just the people we know and like

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ 1st and foremost, remember that these Fruits of the Spirit are all characteristics of God!

○ Patience

○ Forbearance- a refraining from the enforcement of something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due; the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.

○ Longsuffering- having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people; patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship

○ Think about these two words, forbearance and longsuffering, and how God has displayed this for us a people throughout history, and especially for yourself

§ In the Old Testament, we see over and over again how merciful and gracious God was to his people

□ The Israelites in the wilderness often tested God's patience by their complaining, rebellions against Moses, building the golden calf, etc.

□ The whole book of Judges displays God's longsuffering and forbearance with us

□ Read Isaiah 30: 15-19

□ Read Nehemiah 9:13-21, 26-28

§ And even now, with everything going on God is still true to His nature! God is slow to anger because He is Patient!

□ Read Romans 3:25-26

□ Read Psalms 103:8-10

○ So now, for those of us who have been born again in Christ, we have been made new and called to be like Christ Jesus. We have been called to be patient and longsuffering with God and with people because God has been so patient with us!

§ Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16

§ Read Matthew 18:21-35

□ This is talking about forgiveness, but patience is also applicable here!

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5:22-23

○ Definitions of Joy:

§ Dictionary- "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; delight; to experience great pleasure or delight"

§ Bible Project- "biblical joy is more than a happy feeling. It's a lasting emotion that comes from the choice to trust that God will fulfill His promises."

○ Joy is a fruit and gift of the Holy Spirit

§ It is hard if not impossible to experience true joy apart from God

□ Joy comes when we are aware of God's grace and relish His favor

§ Read Romans 15:13- " I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

§ Read James 1:2-4

○ Jesus promised Joy

§ Read John 15:7-11

§ Read Psalm 4:6-7-"Many people will say, 'Who will show us better times?' Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine."

§ Read Psalms 126:5- "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy."

○ Our salvation is the root of our Joy in Christ

§ When you are feeling like you are lacking joy, always go back to what Jesus did on the cross!

□ Think of the Joy of your Salvation

® Read Isaiah: 61:10- I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God? For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in the a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels."

® Read Psalms 70:4-"But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!'"

® Read Romans 4:5-8

□ Express your Gratitude to God for all that he has done

® Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

○ Remember that Joy is a powerful source of strength that we all need to carry on the good work that God has called us to. The Joy of the Lord is your strength!

○ I leave you with this verse from 1 Peter 1:6- "So be truly glad, there is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure trials for a little while."

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Show notes:

○ Galatians 6 NLT

§ Galatians 6:1-6

§ Restore them gently and humbly…

□ Read Romans 3:23-24

§ Carry each other’s burdens…

□ Read Philippians 2:3-5

§ If you think you are too important…

□ Romans 12:3- “Because of the privilege and authority (or grace) God has given me, I give each of you this warning: don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us (you).”

§ ( Reread verses 4-5 in CJB)

□ “So let each of you scrutinize his own actions. Then if you find something to boast about, at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done and not a judgement that you are better than someone else; for each person will carry his own load.”

□ James 3:16- “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”

§ Sharing and caring for the teachers…

□ Read 3 John 5-8

§ Galatians 6:7-18

§ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked…so don’t give up

□ Read Hosea 10:12

□ Psalm 126:5- “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.”

□ Romans 12:21- “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

§ What counts is the new creation…

□ Paul ends the letter to the Galatians reiterating what he has been saying the whole time…(reread verses 12-14)

□ Ephesians 2:10- “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 5 NLT

§ Galatians 5:1-12

§ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…free from the law of sin and death

□ The first 12 verses of chapter 5 are continuing the thoughts from the last 4 chapters where Paul is driving home this idea that we do not have to abide by the old law, but rather by the law of grace which is faith in Christ Jesus.

§ Read verses 5-6

§ Paul ends the first half of the chapter with language that suggests he is quite fed up with those who teach a "false gospel" and contradict the Truth that he had been preaching from the beginning

§ Galatians 5:13-26

§ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself

□ From Lev. 19:18

□ Jesus also said it in the gospels

® Read Matthew 22: 37-40

§ Verses 16-18:

□ So I say walk by the Spirit….

® Read Romans 8: 5-8

§ Verses 19-21:

□ The acts of the flesh are obvious…

® Read 2 Corinthians 12: 20-21

§ Verses 22-26:

□ The fruit of the Holy Spirit…

Read Ephesians 4:17-32

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Show Notes:

§ Galatians 4:21-31

§ Back in Genesis, God made Abraham (Abram at the time) a promise:

□ Genesis 12:1-3

□ Genesis 15:5- He took him outside and said, "look up at the sky and count the stars-if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "so shall your offspring be."

§ In Genesis 16, we are introduced to Hagar, an Egyptian slave. Sarai comes up with a plan, one that is outside of the will of God…

□ Genesis 16:2-4

§ But when Hagar got pregnant and started to act different and despise Sarai, then Sarai had a problem with it and blamed Abram.

§ Flash forward 13-14 years to Genesis 21 when Sarah gives birth to Isaac…(v.2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.)

□ Genesis 21:8-13

§ So back to Galatians…

□ As Paul said, "these things are being taken figuratively" and goes on to state that those living according to the old law given to Moses on Mount Sinai, are slaves, while those under the covenant of grace are free from the old law and free from slavery to sin

□ So by believing in God and his saving grace, we…

® Galatians 3:7- Understand then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham

® Galatians 3:26- So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith

® Galatians 3:29- If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise

§ Now what?

□ Romans 7:4-6

□ Colossians 3:9b-14

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 3:23-4:20

§ Galatians 3:23-4:7

§ Verses 23-25

□ From bible commentary (paraphrased): the law was never intended to justify sinners, rather as a guardian, the law was given as a standard to reveal human sinfulness and inadequacy (specifically apart from God). The role of a teacher is to instruct, protect, and correct, and while the law is still a teacher, Jesus is the Savior and the Holy Spirit, which is God's Spirit, now is our teacher Read John 14:26-"But the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

§ Verses 26-29 & 4:1-7

□ We are now clothed in Christ, Covered!

□ Read Colossians 2:11-12

□ Read Romans 8:14-17 (sound familiar?)

□ Take some time to look up the promises of God, because as we have been talking about in this episode as well as in the last episode, we as believers are considered children of Abraham and more importantly, God's children and heirs of God, therefore all of the promises God made his children in the OT apply to you too! So go seek and find out what our Heavenly Father has to say in your personal devotion time with the Lord.

§ Galatians 4:8-20

§ Read verses 8-12 in the NLT

§ The "them" that Paul is referring to is the same "them" from chapters 1 & 2- false believers who had come in and "infiltrated our ranks" (Gal. 2:4) teaching that salvation for the Gentiles meant circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic law.

§ Paul, a spiritual parent or father to the believers at the churches he helped establish on his missionary journeys, was worried about his children who he labored and worked for, both physically and spiritually

§ The Galatians who were being turned by these false teachers had lost the joy of their salvation, so whenever you feel confused or discouraged when it comes to your faith, always go back to what Jesus did when he died on the cross and the grace of God when he chose to let his Son be the sacrifice for all sin, putting us back in right standing with Himself

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Show Notes:

○ Galatians 3:1-22

§ Galatians 3:1-14

§ Verses 1-5 (reread in NLT)

□ Remember chapters 1 & 2, Paul was adamant about the truth of the gospel message, which is that…read Galatians 2:16a

□ Paul is once again reminding the church at Galatia that it is by faith that they were saved and received the promised Holy Spirit!

□ Read Romans 8:1-4

§ Verses 6-14

□ Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" and therefore those who also have faith in God are considered children on Abraham

□ (Read all the footnote references, pointing out that they are all OT references)

□ Read Romans 4:3-12

§ Galatians 3:15-22

§ Verse 19: (NLT) "Why then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised.

§ Side note, verse 20: in Hebrews 6:13 it says "When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself", so when it says "but God is one" or "God did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham" like he did with Moses and the law, this is why

§ Read Romans 10:4

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Sermon Notes:

2 Chronicles 20: 5 - 12

Introduction:

1. As we go through life, we will face ups and downs trials as it seems for all sides.

2. These things in life can cause us to wonder and ask what should I do.

3. These trials are here to test and refine us like the refiner's fire of goldsmith and silversmith.

4. When these things come upon us we often wonder what should I do? We are tempted to:

1. Turn to our idols

1. Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, etc...

5. When our adversary comes to beat us up and cause us to give up our inheritance what are you going to do…

6. This morning I want to give us a word of encouragement and finish this statement" When You Don't Know What To Do

When You Don't Know What to Do:

1. Fix your Eyes on the Lord (vs 12)

1. This defines the tenor of King Jehoshaphat's life

1. 2Chr. 18:4 - (But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD.")

2. 2Chr. 20:3 - (Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah)

2. Psalm 25:15 - ("My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.")

3. Micah 7:7 - ("But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.")

1. Don't be afraid or discouraged (vs 15a)

1. When we are facing life's trials sometimes we act/respond out of fear or we become discourage (lose courage) and give up.

1. The lie from our enemy is "you can't", "you won't", "you stupid", etc

2. Don't let the anxieties of life pull you down

1.

3. 1Peter 5: 6 - 11

1. Remember the battle is not yours, but GOD's (vs. 15b)

1. Our problem is we spend too much time trying to come up with a battle plan and we waste time recruiting others

2. Psalm 44:6 - ("I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.")

3. 2Chr. 20: 17 - (You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.)

1. Give Thanks to the LORD (vs. 21b)

1. Receive GOD promise and give him praise and thanks.

1. Don't be like the Hebrews complaining but give HIM praise.

2. In the book of Job, Satan's objective was to cause Job to turn away from GOD….

3. In Acts, Paul and Silas was beaten and thrown into prison but at mid-night that sang and praised the LORD (Acts 16: 23 - 28)

2. 2Chr. 20: 22 - 24

Conclusion:

1. When You Don't Know What to Do:

1. Fix your eyes on the LORD

2. Don't be afraid nor become discouraged

3. Remember the Battle IS NOT yours, but GOD's

4. Give Thanks to the LORD

2. If perhaps you did like Ruth, her husband and sons and left your inheritance then know that your Kinsman Redeemer paid the price to bring back.

1. Jesus is our kinsman and HE's our Redeemer

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Show Notes:

§ Galatians 2:1-10 (read in NLT)

§ Similarly to how chapter 1 ended, with Paul defending the fact that the gospel message he was preaching to the Gentiles came from God and not from man, not even the apostles, chapter 2 is a continuation of those thoughts ( to the audience: read chapters 1 and 2 together for better context when studying)

§ The last time Paul was in Jerusalem was 14 years previous, when he went to stayed with Peter for 15 days and also met with James, Jesus's brother (who wrote the Book of James which we did a series on)

§ Paul came back to Jerusalem because God revealed that he should go (a revelation)

§ He went and met with the church leaders to make sure that the message he had spent the last 14+ years preaching was in agreement with the gospel message the other apostles where preaching

§ In verse 4, Paul brings up how false believers came in to take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, and force us to follow their Jewish regulations (or the Old law)

§ Paul mentions how Peter is the apostle to the Jews while he is the apostle to the Gentiles, and that Peter, James and John consider Paul and Barnabas to be co-workers, encouraging them to keep preaching to the Gentiles

§ Galatians 2:11-21 (read in NLT)

§ Paul confronts Peter

□ Paul publicly opposes Peter to his face (not behind his back) about the inconsistency and hypocrisy of Peter's actions towards the Gentiles.

® (We will get more into "holding ourselves and our brothers and sisters accountable later on in Galatians)

® Acts 15 is an account of another situation where Pharisees or legalists tried to say that the Gentile believers had to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses, and in Acts 15, Peter and James, saying the same thing that Paul says here in Galatians 2

◊ (read Galatians 2:16)

§ Verses 20 & 21

□ Read Colossians 1:26-27

□ Read Ephesians 2: 4-10

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Show Notes:

○ The exact date it was written is unknown; Paul wrote it either during his 1st or 2nd missionary journey to Galatia

○ The church at Galatia likely faced heavy Greek and Roman cultural influences, which would have been confusing for the new converts. Many members of a legalistic Jewish party taught that salvation for Gentiles must include Jewish circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic Law.

○ Paul rejects the legalistic view and strongly defends that a person is justified by faith in Christ alone, not by the works of the law.

• Read

○ Galatians 1

§ Galatians 1:1-10 (read in CJB)

§ What is the Gospel or Good News?

□ Paul says it in verses 3 & 4

□ Read: Romans 3:20-26

□ Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

§ Any gospel other than this, is not the gospel at all!

□ Read: 2 Peter 2:1-2

§ Galatians 1:11-24

§ In these verses, Paul defends that he was called by God, not by humans, nor was he taught by the apostles, but that he received the gospel message directly from a revelation from Jesus

□ Paul tells of his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9)

□ Some think that Paul spent some time in solitary during those 3 years, but the Bible is not conclusive; regardless, Paul was preaching the gospel in Damascus before he became personally acquainted with Peter and James

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Show Notes:

○ James 4:1-10

○ James 4:1-6

§ Read James 4:1-6 again in the CJB version 

§ You desire so you kill, you covet so you quarrel and fight

□ James could be talking about literal murder, or he could be talking about heart posture behind it, the hate or anger we harbor against people

® Read Matthew 5: 21-22

§ You do not have because you do not pray and ask God

□ James is telling saying that some of you don’t have what you want because you don’t even think to pray and ask God for it

® Read Matthew 7:7-8

□ The next sentence, however, is very telling…when you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives- you want only what will give you pleasure

® Read:

◊  Proverbs 16:2

◊ Jeremiah 17:9-10

§ Don't you know that friendship with the world means that you are an enemy of God? His Spirit that dwells inside of us longs jealously 

□ 1st, James calls the readers "adulterous people", which for the Jewish reader, would have been familiar, considering that God used various prophets to call out the children of Israel and Judah for their unfaithfulness to Him

□ Remember the 1st and greatest commandment: "And you must love the LORD your god with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength" (Deut. 6:5)

® Read Romans 8:5-8

§ And what does "friendship with the world" look like?

□ It looks like what we just read, fighting, quarreling, and it looks like what we talked have talked about for the past 6 weeks as we've gone through James

□ So what is the solution?

○ James 4:7-10

§ Submit yourselves to God

§ Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (think Jesus when he was tempted in the wilderness in Matthew 4)

§ Come near to God, and He will come near to you 

§ Wash your hands and purify your hearts

§ Grieve for what you have done

□ Read 2 Corinthians 7:10-11

§ Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up

□ Read 1 Peter 5:6

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Show Notes:

○ James 3:13-18

○ James 3:13

§ Read NLT: “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom”

§ This sounds like something out of Proverbs:

□ Read-

® Proverbs 15:33

® Proverbs 19:11

® Proverbs 24:3-4

○ James 3:14-16

§ James calls this “worldly wisdom” demonic and evil because it is selfish and flesh-driven

§ It started in the garden, when Adamo and Eve took it upon themselves to listen to the whispers of satan rather than the command of God

§ If you aren’t living by the power of the Holy Spirit, then you are living according to the flesh or our sinful nature 

□ Paul refers to satan as “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” in Ephesians 2:2

□ Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

□ Read Galatians 5:19-21

○ James 3:17-18

§ That was worldly wisdom and this is Godly wisdom

§ James says it is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial, sincere and good fruit (starting to sound like the fruits of the spirit, and like the fruit or good deeds that our faith should begin to produce in us 

§ Remember in James 1:5, he says “if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you”

§ Pay attention to some of these promises in these verses

□ Ask for God’s wisdom and he will give it to you

□ Peacemakers who sow in peace will reap a harvest of righteousness 

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Show notes:

James 3:1-12

James 3:1-2

James 3:3-6

Read Proverbs 12:18-22

Read Matthew 12:33-37

James 3:7-12

Read James 1:26

Read Ephesians 4:26, 29-32

Read Romans 3:20-26

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Show notes:

○ James 2:14-26

○ James 2:14-17

§ What good is it if someone claims to have faith but has no good deeds?

§ Remember, James just got done telling the believers to NOT show favoritism because by doing so, you dishonor the poor and break the royal law of "love your neighbor as yourself"

§ He just said in verse 12, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom…" 

§ James goes into an example- you see a brother or sister in need of clothes and food and all you do is tell them "go in peace; keep warm and well fed" but you don't actually DO anything to address their present physical needs…James says what's the point

§ Then James makes the statement: "in the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" 

□ Some may think, but wait, I thought Paul said something contrary to that in Ephesians

® Read Ephesians 2:8-10

◊ We were created to do good works, not for salvation, but as a response to it

◊ As a response to the love God showed us FIRST; as a response to the grace and mercy shown to us

○ James 2:18-19

§ Read John 15: 5-8

§ Read Galatians 5:22-23

□ The fruit or evidence that we are in fact remaining in Jesus, that we are truly his disciples is in how we conduct ourselves and show the love of God by our love of others

○ James 2:20-26

§ Abraham, Rahab and some many others put their money where their mouth was, so to speak

§ Read Hebrews 11:1, 6-8, 17-19,31 

□ Chapter 11 goes on and on with the "by faith…" statements…

○ I don’t want to overwhelm you but there are so many more scriptures that support the faith & action statements that James is making….(read Matthew 25:31-46 on your own time)

○ But I want you to walk away with this: you are saved by grace through faith, to do good works…this is how we show the world that we are truly Jesus followers

○ Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Listen and enjoy! 

Let me know what you think! 

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Hello and welcome back!

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Show Notes: 

○ James 1: 19-27

○ James 1:19-21

§ Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry

§ Human anger does NOT produce the righteousness that God desires

□ (Becoming angry at injustice, like Moses when he saw the golden calf the children of Israel had made, or when Jesus flipped tables in the temple is NOT the anger James is talking about here)

□ Read:

® Ephesians 4:25-30

◊ (This is Paul talking about putting off our old selves that have been corrupted by deceitful desires, and being made new in the attitudes of our minds, putting on our new selves)

○ James 1:22-25

§ Don’t just listen to the word, actually do what it says…otherwise you are only fooling yourselves (NLT)

§ The children of Israel did this in Exodus 32

□ Read Exodus 32:1

® Moses had only been on the mountain for 40 days!

§ Don't get the revelation of what you actually look like, warts and all, and then turn around and think " ahh I'm not so bad" as if you didn’t see the eye crusties, dried up drool or day-old spinach in your teeth. 

§ James tells us how to not look in the mirror and then turn around and forget:

□ Look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom

□ Continue in that perfect law (new covenant)

□ Not forgetting what you heard, but putting it into action

§ This is not impossible to do because James already tells us that the word has been planted in us, we just have to humbly accept or submit to it

§ When we start to look intently into this mirror (the word) we are able to see the areas we need to work on and most importantly, we come to the understanding that Jesus has already taken care of it. He is sanctifying us, cleaning us up, so that we will be a truer reflection of the word to others

○ James 1:26-27

§ …Consider themselves religious, but can't control their tongue… is lying to themselves and their religion is worthless

□ Will talk more about taming the tongue in chapter 3

§ What God does consider as a pure and faultless religion, is to take care of people and keep oneself from being polluted by the world

□ Read Matthew 25:35-36, 40

Listen and enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

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Hello and welcome back!

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Show notes:

○ James 1:1-18

§ James 1:2-4

□ Perseverance = endurance 

® Endurance- the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adversity 

◊ Read Isaiah 30:20-21

§ James 1:5-8

□ If you lack wisdom, ask God for it, who gives it generously

® Read 1 Kings 3:9-12, Psalms 19:7

□ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt….like a wave of the sea, tossed by the wind

® This reminds me of Matthew 14, when Jesus was walking on the water. When Peter first asked Jesus to call him out onto the water, he believed and was walking on water! But it says in verse 30 "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink"

□ Double-minded

® The NLT says "their loyalty divided between God and the world; the definition means undecided

◊ We like to live in this "gray area" when it comes to our faith sometimes. We live in the "sorta" mentality, but when it comes to maturing in our faith, there comes along with it a decision to be certain and steadfast

◊ Reference the Book of Daniel, with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego…whether God saved them from the fiery furnace was God's business, but regardless they refused to compromise their faith

§ James 1:12

□ We can persevere under trial because God is faithful. That "crown of life" is the promised eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15)

§ James 1:13-15

□ We are tempted because of what we have going on within ourselves, don't put that on God.

□ Reminds me of Adam's response in Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve ate fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil….Adam blamed his actions on God and Eve, negating any responsibility, as if he wasn’t the one who also ate the fruit  

§ James 1: 17-18

□ Every Good and Perfect gift comes from God

□ God does not change

The Jewish believers were the "first fruits" or the first yield of a greater harvest that was yet to be gathered as a result of the gospel spreading throughout the world. 

Listen and enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

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Welcome back and longtime no see!

It has been a minute since I last did an episode, but I am back! The Holy Spirit put this episode's lesson on my heart to do, so I pray that you will open your hearts to receive whatever God has for you from this message and may it bless you! 

Scriptures: Luke 11:17, Ephesians 4:3-16, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, John 17:20-23

Listen and enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

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Welcome back!

Scriptures: Genesis 17; Galatians 3:26-29

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Welcome back!

Scriptures: Genesis 16; Galatians 4:21-5:1; Hebrews 7:24-25

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Welcome back!

Scriptures: Genesis 15; Hebrews 11:8-12; 12:1-3

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Welcome back!

Scriptures: Genesis 13 & 14; Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-22

Listen and enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

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