Evaluating Acts of the Apostles Study

As you know post of my posts are relative to my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) studies.  We have finished the study of the “Acts of the Apostles” for this BSF year.  As you look back on this wonderful study I hope you take inventory of your life.  We learned that the details of our world is different for each of us.  Paul taught us that Jesus is worth it whatever the cost and that our past doesn’t define us.  From Barnabas we learned we should be an encourager.  From Stephen we learned to keep our focus on God.  From James we learned about authentic faith.  

What did you learn about God this year?

What did you learn about yourself?

What difference has it made in your life?

Has your thoughts, attitude or desires changed?

Has your relationship with Jesus grown?

Have you drawn closer to God?

Has your faith been ignited?

I think the main lesson we learned it that God is truly an Unstoppable God!  Not even the coronavirus can stop God.  He is still working and He will use this pandemic for good. 

BSF will start up again in September with the book of Genesis.  I will be posting then on what God reveals to me through this study.  You are invited to follow me again this fall.  Also please follow my posts throughout the summer where I will post on a variety of topics.

This September we will begin the study of Genesis.  That’s where it all began.  We need to understand that God exists because of what we see in the created world.  We believe the Bible and that it is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  In other words it is God speaking to us.  The Bible gives us history, events that actually happened, prophecy of events to come and instructions on how to life.  It reveals the nature, heart and mind of God – at least as much as we can comprehend.  We need to believe and accept the facts He tells us in Genesis.  This book sets the stage of the entire Bible.  It teaches Biblical doctrines of sin, the fall, redemption, justification, and the promise of the Messiah to come.  It shows us the origin of the universe, life, marriage, and of good and evil.

I encourage you will find a BSF class and register for the Genesis study.  I am sure there is one near you.  The BSF studies are all over the world and are studying the same lesson each week.   Classes in Kentucky are studying the same lesson as those in Australia.  Each class meets about 2 hours weekly.  It’s non denominational and is for everyone - those who are not familiar with the Bible to those who are very familiar.  There are women’s, men’s and children’s classes.  Go to https://www.bsfinternational.org/bsfindex to register.

This world is evil and people get caught up in all kinds of sin even when they don’t realize it.  We need to spread His Word as much as we can.  Satan is hard at work continuing to tempt us, because he knows his time is running out.  He is the ruler of this world and enslaves sinners to sin.  Everyone needs to hear the gospel before it’s too late.

We are all sinners and deserve eternal death.  God has a plan to save us from the judgment to come.  He loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus to pay the price for our sins (John 3:16).  He took on the punishment that we deserve.  The punishment for sin is death, but through Jesus Christ our sins can be forgiven.  We can become part of His family and spend eternity with Him.  

In case you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior or are not really sure of your salvation, I feel at this time I need to tell you how you can receive the salvation Jesus offers.

How do I get Salvation?

Admit to yourself and God that you are a sinner.  You have ignored God and wanted to do your own thing leaving God out completely.
Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death.” (You are a sinner and you are condemned to death – eternal separation from God in Hell)

Confess your sins

That means tell God what you’ve done wrong. (He already knows it, but He wants you to admit them to Him.)
Romans 10:9 – “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”.

Repent of your sins

That means stop sinning and turn to God.
Luke 13:5 – Jesus said: “….. But unless you repent, you too will all perish”.

Believe in Jesus

John 6:47 – “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.” Believe that Christ went to the cross for you, taking your guilt upon Himself and enduring God’s judgment in your place. He took God’s judgment of our sins on Himself.  This means that God has pardoned and cleared you from any guilt.

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.”
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
Romans 10:13 – “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Once you have accepted Him as Savior, be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus as a public testimony of your salvation.  Then unite with a Bible-believing church.  Other Christians will be there for you with encouragement and will pray for you as you walk closer with God.  Remember - don’t judge other Christians, because they are not perfect.  If they were, they wouldn’t need to go to church.  Only God and Jesus are perfect.

Can it be that simple?
It’s hard to believe it’s that simple, but it is.  Don’t trust your feelings.  They change.  Stand on God’s promises.  They never change.

There are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth.
Pray – you talk with God, but don't forget to listen for Him to guide you.
Read your Bible – God will speak to you through His Word, if possible get in a Bible study group at your church or one like Bible Study Fellowship - they are all over the world.
Witness – you talk for God telling others about Him and what He’s done for you.

The word salvation means you are saved from Satan and the consequences of sin against God.  You are saved from the wrath of God’s judgment of sin.  If you reject Jesus, you will spend eternity in hell, separated from God and experience eternity judgment.  After you die you will have eternal life.  It’s either in heaven with God or in hell with Satan and his demons.

Join me here next time.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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James 3 - 5

James tells it like it really is and sometimes it’s hard for us to hear.  He gives more practical advice on how Christians should act - things like fighting, anger, quarreling, showing favoritism, controlling the tongue, boasting, patience and prayer.  Remember your actions may be the only Bible someone reads.

James 3 – Godly Speech & Wisdom

James warns that many of us should not be teachers.  Why?  Instructing in the Word of God is such a serious responsibility that God will judge teachers more harshly than others.  Teachers are held to a higher standard.  People look up to teachers as they are in positions of influence and authority.  They are molding minds.  God has given us an instrument called the tongue and is to be used in the service of teaching, but we should be cautious.  Without preparation teaching is like the blind leading the blind.  He said that we all stumble in many ways, because we are not perfect (James 3:1-2).

 

We should realize that the smallest objects have great power.  He used the examples of the bit in the horse’s mouth which guides and controls the horse, a small rudder steers a large ship and a small spark starts a forest fire.  The tongue is small, but has great power and can do harmful things.  We should be careful what we say.  Words have a lot of power.  We always remember the negative words, but most likely we will forget the positive words.  Before speaking ask yourself, “Does it give a blessing?” or “Is it going to better the other person?”  So James said to watch our tongues. – (James 3:3-10).  How can we do that?  Recognize we need to watch what we say and then ask God to help us control our tongues and of course think before we speak.

One little word of discouragement to someone can stay with a person the rest of their lives.  The childhood saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” isn’t really true.  Experts say it take 5 positive comments to offset 1 negative.  When people are called dumb, stupid, lazy, hopeless, etc, they never forget.  Some of the sins of the tongue are:  coarse jesting, gossip, lying, slander, swearing, ungraceful speech, criticism, unkind words.  “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” – (Matthew 12:37).  Instead use the tongue to comfort, encourage, warn, worship and pray.

When have you been challenged with your speech?

Do your words speak blessings and encouragement or are they hateful?

If we surrender our minds to God, our tongues will follow.  Paul speaks of mind control, which will lead to tongue control.  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Rom. 12:2.  Not only should we control what we say in a negative way, but we should speak positively.  Say something to encourage someone this week.  Praise God for how He’s provided, protected, comforted, or guided you.  Be a witness to others how He has done this in your life.

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.  The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” –Prov. 10:19-21.

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” – Prov. 16:24. 

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Prov. 18:21

How has your tongue been tattling on your heart?

Does your tongue show who you really are?

Have you surrendered you mind and tongue to God?

James tells us there are two kinds of wisdom – earthly and heavenly.  Earthly wisdom harbors bitter envy, selfish ambition, is boastful, denies the truth and is not from heaven.  It shows itself in inconsiderate actions, arrogance, selfishness and bitterness.  It is unspiritual and from the devil.  Heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, gentle, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, sincere and comes from heaven.  True wisdom is evident by meek actions.  It shows us how to do good works.  Doing good works in a way designed to bring attention to yourself shows lack of true wisdom.  (James 13-18).

 

Wisdom is not only knowledge, but application.  When we hear words of wisdom, it reshapes our thinking and focus.  God’s wisdom is totally pure, because He is holy.  Man’s wisdom is competitive and leads to strife and can make a person hard and stubborn.  Take time to evaluate those places when you have been stubborn.  His wisdom is impartial and brings strength and is sincere.  Man’s wisdom is insincere and fake.

How can we gain more heavenly wisdom?  God gives heavenly wisdom by the study of His Word.  The book of Proverbs is a good book on wisdom.  We can ask God for more heavenly wisdom.  Don’t try to please everyone, only please God.

What kind of wisdom do you have?

What sources do you turn to for wisdom? 

Have you ask God for heavenly wisdom?

Where does the Bible fall on that list?

Where is disorder in your life? 

Can you trace it back to worldly wisdom?

Do you see the wisdom of God as an option or an obligation?

Principle:  Applying God’s wisdom by His Spirit will change how we talk and think.

James 4 – Problem and Solution to Worldliness

We are to have self-control.  When we believe, we put on a new nature.  Our old nature is not transferred instantly, but is a process.  The cause of all quarrels is inside our hearts and comes from our own desires.  James said that if we are friends with the world, then we hate God.  We can’t be both friends of this world system in rebellion against God and be friends of God at the same time.  The Holy Spirit in us yearns for our friendship with God.  The Spirit convicts the Christian who lives in compromise.  He wants total devotion of our hearts.  – (James 4:4-5).  The world hates God and hates us for following Him.  If you choose to be a friend of the world, you become an enemy of God.  As believers we are in a relationship with the Lord.  Being friends with the world is an adulterous relationship.

Pride is a great sin. “God opposes the proud, but give grace to the humble.” – James 4:6.  We are to rid ourselves of worldly thinking.  We are to submit to God and resist the devil.  “Come near to God and He will come near to you… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” – (James 4:8-10).  True submission is outward and inward.  You can go to Bible study and church, but you also need confession. 

Why should we submit to God?

Because He created us.

Because His rule is good for us.

Because all resistance to Him is futile.

Because submission is absolutely necessary to salvation.

Because it’s the only way to have peace with God.

Because He gave His son to die for what we deserve.

What does it mean to draw near to God?

We are near to Him when we worship, praise and pray to Him.

We enjoy communion with Him.

We seek and follow His ways in the course of your life.

It helps us resist the devil.

It helps us to become more like Jesus.

It helps us to think of eternal things.

We depend on Him.

How can we draw near to God?

We can get to know Jesus.

We can get in His Word.

We can get to praying.

We can praise and worship Him.

We can go the church regularly.

We can be thankful and stop complaining.

We can make Him the center of our life.

When was the last time you brought a sin to God?

What kind of worldly thinking do you have? 

Are you depending on God or on yourself?

We are not to slander each other.  We are not to judge others.  When we do that, we put ourselves in the same place of judgment.  People are criticized for their appearance or if they don’t meet the right standards.  They compare one person to another or to themselves.  People want others to measure up to their own standards.  Only God can judge and only He knows the heart.  Christians are to speak the truth in love. (James 4:11-12).

James warns about boasting.  We should not have the kind of heart that lives and makes plans apart from the awareness of God.  We should be aware of our limitations.  He wants us to realize that human life is fragile.  We live this life that He gives us only by His permission. We can plan and do things, but we need to do in on the reliance of God.  It is arrogance and prideful when we move about being independent of God.  James said it is easier to think about and talk about humility and the dependence on God than to actually live it.  If we know what we should do and don’t do it, it’s a sin. (James 4:13-17).

Principle:  As we humbly surrender our desires and plans to the Lord, He will lead us by grace into His perfect will.

James 5 – Patient Endurance

James gave a warning to the rich.  There are 4 crimes of the rich man mentioned in James 5:1-6:  hoarding wealth, failing to pay workmen (theft), living in self-indulgence, condemning and murdering innocent men.  Are these actions the actions of Christians?  We are not supposed to judge, but these actions are not how Christians are supposed to act.  Remember James was writing to all Christians so he is reminding them how to act.  None of us are perfect and will never be until we reach heaven.  That’s why we need scripture and the Holy Spirit to convict us and guides us.  Wealth in itself is not sinful.  It’s one’s attitude toward it and how you use it.  God always knows how we are being treated and how we treat others.

Jesus is coming so be patient and stand firm.  We are not to grumble against each other or we will be judged.  Be an example of patience when faced with suffering.  We are also not to swear. – (James 5:7-12). 

There are many lessons in James about prayer.  You are to pray when in trouble, call the elders of the church to pray over you when you are sick.  A prayer offered in faith will make you well.  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so you may be healed.  The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective. – (James 5:13-18).  I think this is talking about spiritual weakness or a sick soul and spiritual healing not physical; however it isn’t limited to physical healing.  We can never limit God.  With God all things are possible.

We as Christians have the privilege to bring those back who have wandered from the faith.  If we turn a sinner from the error of his ways, it will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. – (James 5:19-20).  There are times when a Christian has been deceived by immoral friends or false teachers.  Maybe he has strayed from the truth in worship, doctrine or morals.  This could happen to any Christian.  We can have an impact on him by turning him back to God.  Then the person sees his sins and is restored.  He is forgiven by God.  These verses show God’s heart.  He will come after us when we wander away, because He loves us so much.

Prayer is a privilege and at great cost, the life of Jesus Christ and with that comes a great power.  Prayer will change your heart.

Principle:  Humbly surrendering to the Lord in prayer provides us with strength, hope and love for others.

How are you praying today for someone in trouble?

Who is in your path that is drowning?  Will you say, ‘I am here to help’?

Are you known as a person of prayer?

Wow! What a study of the Acts of the Apostles we’ve had this year with Acts, 1 &2 Peter, Hebrews, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians and James.  We have an Unstoppable God!  Join me here in the fall when we will study the book of Genesis.  Until then join my posts throughout the summer.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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James 1 - 2

James 1:1-18 – Faith Revealed in Trials

The book of James was authored by James.  Who was James?  There are several people in scripture called James.  This James was the step-brother of Jesus.  James grew up with Jesus, but didn’t believe He was the Messiah until after His resurrection.  James became a leader of the church and served God.  He addressed this letter to Christians everywhere.  He wrote to teach Christians how to act like Christians.  He wanted to help believers live out their faith and to see life as a series of tests.  We are to consider it pure joy when we are faced with trials and temptations, because we know the results.  It produces patience, perseverance and grows our faith.  We know He is at work in our lives.  As Christians we endure exploitation and slander, because we are followers of Jesus.  We experience this because Jesus experienced it.

Why does God allow trials and suffering?  God has given us free will and the suffering is usually a result from the choices we make.  Sometimes God allows suffering to guide His children back to the right path when they have strayed.  Sometimes we suffer because of the sins of others.  Remember we do live in a fallen evil world.  We all suffer because man corrupted everything in God’s world when he sinned in the Garden of Eden.   Sometimes God allows suffering to increase a believer’s faith and show their witness to the world.  Some suffering is to bring glory to God.

What a perfect message at this time in our lives.  We are going through a huge trial today – the pandemic of the coronavirus.  A few weeks ago we were eating in restaurants, going to ball games and movies, shopping in the malls, children were going to school, and grocery store shelves were fully stocked.  Then the coronavirus happened.  Things are very different now.  We are isolated at home.  Some are working from home, doing homework from home, and some are out of work.  It’s a fearful time for many.  At last count the virus has made over 2,000,000 sick with over 162,000 deaths.  

How do we maintain our faith in such hard times?  James tells us to consider it pure joy when we go through trials, because of what can happen through the hardships in the end.  We’re not happy about what’s going on in our world right now.  But don’t confuse happiness with joy.  Joy is deeper than happiness and is based on how you think about something, not how you feel.

Do you what a faith that can bring you through your trial?  We all want a deep faith to get us through hard times.  We can’t have deep faith if we don’t go through trials and sufferings.  When you choose to endure the hardship, your faith grows deeper.  “So do not worry…. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matt. 6:31-34.  Trust God and He will bring you through it. 

Faith is proven real when we are tested.  How we live our lives shows our faith.  We think life should be fair, but hardships and trials come to everyone.  We should be joyful because of what we know.  God is developing us.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes.” – (Romans 8:28).  How does He use a trial to develop us? – moment by moment.  Running doesn’t eliminate the trial.  The only way is to go through it.

James said if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for wisdom.  When we pray we should believe and not doubt.  Is it sinful to doubt?  We are all human and we have doubts from time to time.  We can doubt what someone says and disagree with them.  Sometimes doubt can lead us to more study, knowledge and maturity.  The doubt that is a sin is when we don’t trust God and His promises.  We should surrender our will to God in trials.  Our belief is what keeps us stable.  When we doubt, we begin to get tossed around mentally and emotionally.  James calls this kind of person double-minded and unstable.

How much confidence do you have in God’s wisdom and goodness? 

When tempted, don’t say it’s God who tempted you.  God cannot tempt anyone and no one can tempt God.  We are tempted by our own evil desires.   We’re dragged away and enticed.  That desire gives birth to sin, which leads to death.  James said “don’t be deceived”.  All good and perfect gifts come from above from God.  He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth. 

No one is exempt from temptation, but God never tempts.  Even Jesus was tempted.  There is temptation everywhere you look in this world.  We are tempted to gossip.  We are tempted to lie to make ourselves look good.  We are tempted to argue our political views.  We are tempted in many ways.  We live in a sexually immoral world.  Sex is portrayed everywhere – TV, movies, magazines, etc.  Couples are living together as if that was the way it was supposed to be – even Christians.  Babies are being born and then couples get married.  When we give in to temptation, we let Satan get a foothold and then we have sin in our lives.  America is giving in to Satan with our selfish and lustful desires and one day we as a nation will be sorry for His judgment is coming.  “For the wages of sin is death...” – (Romans 6:23). 

Where is your faith today?

How useful is your faith in temptation?  Trials reveal our true attitude toward God. 

Where are you on the surrender scale?

How can we avoid falling into sin?  We can stay away from places and situations where we might be tempted.  Send a message to Hollywood by not watching those “R” rated movies.  Stay in His Word and fix your eyes on Jesus.  We can use the full Armor of God. – (Eph. 6:10-18). 

Principle:  God’s purpose in all trials is to develop spiritual maturity.

James 1:19-27-2:1-13 – Faith Revealed in Attitude

James lists several ways a Christian should behave.  We should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  Usually anger comes from being self-centered.  If we are eager to listen and slow to speak, we are others-centered.  Our anger simply promotes our own agenda.  Our anger doesn’t bring about the righteous life that God desires for us.  We should get rid of all moral filth and evil and humbly accept His Word planted in us.  We should watch our tongues.  Our tongues will get us into trouble every time. 

We are to not only be hearers of the Word, but be doers of the Word.  Many hear God’s Word on Sunday mornings at church, but they are not doers of the Word.  One way to be doers is to bridle the tongue.  James uses the example of someone who is religious, but is not really right with God which is evident because he doesn’t bridle his tongue. 

Do you gossip?

When was the last time you walked away when gossip started?

James says the real walk with God can be seen by looking after orphans and widows in times of their distress and to keep yourself from being polluted by the world.  Who are the orphans and widows and how do we help them?  They are the less fortunate and are all around us.  We can visit the sick and elderly, send them encouraging cards, mow their yard, run errands for them, take them to their appointments, etc.  We can donate money or give our time to organizations like Salvation Army, the Red Cross, food and clothing banks, etc.  There are many ways.  Just look around and you will find them.

How eager are you to hearing from God?

Do you study the Word out of habit or hunger? 

Do you accept God’s Word as authoritive living?

Ask yourself, “Am I living as a hypocrite”?

How has God placed in your heart the love for others? 

Has it changed you?

Who is on your mind that is lonely and thirsty for love?

James says we should not discriminate.  Don’t shun those who are different from you or whose appearances don’t live up to what you think they should.  God shows no favoritism.  “But if you show favoritism, you sin …” – (James 2:9).  None of us are perfect.  We are human and we all break the 10 Commandments.  There’s nothing we can do on our own to make up for it.  But Jesus did.  He died on the cross for everyone.  He paid for our sins, which make us perfect in God’s eyes.

The poor man may not have earthly riches, but if he is a believer he has something greater than he could ever imagine.  He is an heir of God.  One who has Christ has all the spiritual blessings of Heaven for eternity.  The rich man (if unsaved), has only his worldly riches to hold to.  So if rich or poor, we are equal.  God does not look at our bank account.  He does not show favoritism by the clothes we wear or the company we keep.  The rich are not any higher, because of their riches.  It’s all going to fade away anyway.  If we are Christians, we all have the wealth of salvation, which is an eternal value.  Worldly things are not eternal.  God had chosen the poor, but not because there is a benefit to being poor.  Here in this James passage the poor are a class of humble people who put their trust in God.  They depend on Him, not on things they own.  God chose rich and poor people who trust in Him.  They all have a place in the kingdom of God. 

We are to keep the royal law which is, “Love your neighbor as yourselves” – James 2:8, Matt. 22:39, Mark 12:31.  It is the royal law because it comes from our great King Jesus.  If we keep this law we are doing right, but if we show favoritism we sin.  Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who hasn’t been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:8-13).

Principle:   Authentic faith produces genuine love for others.

James 2:14-26 – Faith Revealed in Deeds.

James gave examples of both false faith and authentic faith.  False faith knows about saving faith, but is a stranger to living by it.  This faith in only an intellectual faith and is useless, but it has no value and produces no results.  Authentic faith is a complete faith with words and deeds working together.  Authentic faith lives in hearts born for obedient service that works in cooperation with the Spirit to please God.

Faith without action is not a saving faith.  Real faith produces action and changes your heart.  Our works (deeds) don’t save us, but faith without works is dead.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Eph. 2:8-9.  We might be a good person, but being good doesn’t count.  Being a good person or having faith without works does not bring salvation to a person.  Our deeds are the proof of our faith.  We have to do more than just believe.  Even the demons believe in Jesus.  We have to put our belief and faith into action like that of Abraham and Rahab.  They believed, had faith and followed with actions.  That’s true faith.  Works don’t save us.  Every believer knows God and that He died on the cross, but if we don’t fully surrender, we are lost, separated from God and destined to Hell for eternity.

James tells us there are three elements of true or saving faith: (1) The first element of faith is to believe – to embrace the basic teachings of Christ; (2) Then faith involves our response to what God has done - not only did Jesus die on the cross for all, but that He died for you and me; (3) Finally, faith involves trust or commitment - trust in His promises and commit to living to please Him.

Put all these elements together and faith means that you receive Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord and are committed to following Him.  Does this describe your life? 

Principle:  Authentic saving faith transforms our hearts to love and to serve like Christ.

How do people know you have committed your life to Jesus?

How are you displaying love to others?

Does your faith prove authentic love?

Do you struggle to live out what you believe? 

Join me here next week as we continue our study of the book of James  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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