Triumph Over Temptation, James 1:12-19

James 1:12-15
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death

Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied), is the man who endures temptation.

Temptation, is the same word as “trials” in James 1:2, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

(Greek: peirasmos: temptation, trial, test).

Blessed is the man who endures...

Endures, is the same word (almost), same root, same definition, as patience in James 1:3-4.

³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

12. Endures, hupomenó: To endure, to persevere, to remain steadfast

3. Patience, hupomoné: Endurance, perseverance, patience, steadfastness.

The Lord has laid a foundation in this opening chapter of James. We see a pattern laid and precedent set that blessing and joy are available for those who face temptations, trials and tests.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation.

Count it all joy when you fall into various temptations.

But only available to those who handle their temptations with wisdom from above.

There is a way to triumph over temptations.

That’s what we want to learn and know.

We’re already off to a good start with our prior “Count it all joy” study.

James 1:2-4
count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Perfect, Teleios: Mature, full-grown. Like a pirate’s telescope extending from stage to stage until it is fully extended to full strength, completeness, lacking nothing.

Complete, holokléros: Whole, complete, entire. From two Greek words. Holo: wholeness. Kléros: Divine allotment by casting lot.

Literally: Holy allotment of wholeness.

So, next time temptation, trial, test, comes, just smile.

Count it all joy.

When someone asks what you’re smiling about, say: “I’m blessed, happy, fortunate and to be envied.”

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Crown of life also mentioned in:

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Good news and bad news.

Bad news: Temptation will last our whole lifetime on this earth.

Good news: Our life on this earth is but a vapor.  

Approval comes on the other side of the grave.

 Crown of life comes after life. Which is where real Life begins.

The crown is not a royal crown, that’s diádēma, this is a victor’s crown, stéphanos, from stepho: to twine or wreathe or weave.

It’s used of a woven wreath (garland) awarded to a victor in ancient athletic games, like the Greek Olympics.

The same word is used for the crown of thorns. Matt. 27:29.

Notice the crown of life is for those who love Him.

Motives matter.

1 Corinthians 13:3
Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Enduring against, not yielding to temptation reflects how well we love Him.

Like a spouse resists temptation to cheat on the one they love.

Yielding to temptation shows lack of love toward God.

All things work together for good to those who love God... Rom. 8:28.

If we endure, count it all joy, allow patience to have her perfect work, walk, abide, in His Love that never fails, then, we will receive His Perfect Divine allotment of wholeness, lacking nothing—with a crown of life on top.

 ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 

God is untemptable.

If its sin—it’s not from God. Period.

If it’s evil—it’s not from God. Period.

It’s never right to do what’s wrong, no matter what.

That drunk driver. The terrorist’ attack. The kidnapping, trafficking, molesting, abusing, raping, murdering... not from God. Period.

Don’t say, “Well God works in mysterious ways, we just have to trust His plan.” As if God was the instrument that orchestrated the wickedness. That’s foolishness!

Don’t tell Jack and Arlene their 21-year-old grandson got hit by a train and died because it was God’s plan. Because God needed another angel.

God doesn’t do stuff like that.

Ezekiel 33:11, says God doesn’t even take pleasure in the death of the wicked.

Jesus tells us in John 10:10, that it’s the devil that kills, steals and destroys, but He’s come to give life and life more abundantly.

All the time, God is good. Period.   

God cannot be tempted by evil because He has no evil desires—that’s where temptation comes from.

¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

We are tempted where we’re tempt-able.

Mark 4:19. In the parable of the Sower, the Seed on thorny ground got choked out by the desire for other things.

Temptation exposes our weakness.

(btw: Google algorithms do too.)  

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Lust of flesh, lust of eye, pride of life.

We burn where we’re flammable.

However, there are fireproof desires that walk us through the fire without so much as the smell of smoke kindled upon us.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart

Luke 22:42
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

We’re tempted by our own lusts, our own desires, so get rid of our own desires, and get God’s desires. The more we make our desires His desires, the less we’ll be tempt-able, since God is untemptable.

Lord, help us to live by Psalm 37:4.

 ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Desire for pleasure may not be sin, but overindulging gives it birth.

Sexual sin.

It starts with a flirt, a drink after work, and then, the next thing you know, you’re getting a divorce.

Online, it’s a lingering look at that seductive ad. Then, you give it a click. That’s all it takes for the devilish algorithms to feed your lust. But lust is never satisfied, the next thing you know you’re sneaking a peak in the middle of the night when you think know one is looking, but God is grieving. The craving leads to chatting and birthing a vile addiction to porn.  

What about innocent desires for pleasure?

Recreational pleasure starts out just fine, taking time to unwind. Play a few rounds. Have some fun with the family and friends.

Moderation is marvelous.

But passion for pleasure is always hungry, it seems so innocent, while it steals our time with Him, His Word, His Church. It seems so small while it devours our rent and leaves us at odds with the grown up, responsible parts of God’s Word:

Romans 13:8. “Owe no man nothing but to love him.”                    

Proverbs 3:27. “Withhold not good from those to whom it is due.”

Sin destroys our word and witness and brings death to whatever it touches, sexually, recreationally, relationally, financially, emotionally, physically, especially Spiritually.

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death.

Triumph Over Temptation

The Lord in His Love and Wisdom recorded some examples so we can triumph over temptation.

Eve: Walk away

Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and brought death to the planet.

Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate

Dear Eve. As soon as the snake contradicts God’s Word, walk away. End of conversation. Do not try to disciple a snake. You will get bit.

Adam: Confront

Dear Adam, a husbandman, is responsible for the vineyard entrusted to him. It’s his job to water and weed and watch for snakes.

To prune, to provide, to nourish, to help to grow, healthy, safely, and bear much fruit.

 If your wife or child or family is talking to a snake, stand up, step in, speak Truth

Confront, unafraid, unashamed.

Pay attention. If they’re watching or listening to something they shouldn’t—stop it. It’s your job.

Cain: Overcome

Cain yielded to temptation and became the cursed first murderer on earth, killing his own brother.

Temptation came and God stepped in, spoke up, and told him sin lies at the door and you must overcome it.

Dear Cain, overcome. Stop the anger, the hate while it’s still just a seed, or it will fester into rage and curse you to death.

Joseph: Flee

Joseph resisted temptation and saved many people alive. Genesis 50:20.

Temptation came and Joseph fled. “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God.” Genesis 39:9.

Well done dear Joseph.

No sin is innocent. It is malignant.

It is a great wickedness against God.

Jesus: Wield the Sword

Jesus triumphed over temptation, making Life available to all, by wielding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. Ephesians 6:17.

Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. When He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. When hunger returns after that long of a fast, it is a sign the body is starving to death, it has nothing left and is starting to eat itself.   

Then, when His body was the weakest, the devil came to tempt Him.

What good will You do if You starve to death? If You’re really the Son of God, turn these stones to bread.

Physically weak, but Spiritually strong, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

But the devil wasn’t done. Some won’t fall into sin for the flesh, but will for their job. So, the devil took Him to the top of the temple and brought out the big guns, waxed eloquent and quoted Scripture. If You’re really the Son of God, show Yourself, prove Yourself, jump down, for it is written, He shall give His angels charge over You, and, in their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12).  

Jesus didn’t blink. It is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to a foolish test. (Deuteronomy 6:16).

Then the devil was desperate. If He won’t fall for lies, maybe He’ll compromise. Okay fine, You came to save the world, I’ll give it to You. Just bow to me.

Jesus didn’t hesitate. GET BEHIND ME YOU SLIMY SNAKE. IT IS WRITTEN THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE!!! (Deuteronomy 6:13, Deuteronomy 10:20, Joshua 24:14).

Jesus went into the wilderness led by the Spirit, but after triumphing over temptation, He returned in the Power of the Spirit. Luke 4:14.

Let’s go and do likewise.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for triumphing over temptation, so with the help of Your Holy Spirit we can too. Thank You for filling our hearts with Your desires as we delight in You. So, Your greatest desire is fulfilled; that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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Thank you for sharing.

 

 

Speak! Ezekiel 11:3-12

Let’s head to the most hotly contested property on the planet. From where I sit it’s about 6,500 miles east, where missiles are flying overhead.

But let’s dial back to a time before missiles, about 2,618 years to September 17, 592 B.C. and pick up where we left off in Ezekiel’s vision with the Lord and His Cherubim Chariot hovering over the Eastern Gate of the temple in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel was physically a captive in Babylon (500 miles east), but in vision the Lord carried him back to Jerusalem.

There He showed Ezekiel twenty-five princes (political leaders), and said, these are those who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel...

³ who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.

Saying, “the time is not near to build houses...” was a perversion and inversion, of what God said through His prophet Jeremiah.

For forty years (626-586 BC) Jeremiah warned Judah that because of their wicked ways judgement was coming.

Judgement came in three sieges by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar:

605 BC. Daniel and friends were among those taken captive.

597 BC. Ezekiel was among those taken.

586 BC. The third siege resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. It’s the one Ezekiel repeatedly warned about.

SIDENOTE:

In my scribblings, calculating the timelines, I noticed something interesting. 

It was 47 years from 586 BC to 539 BC, when King Cyrus of Persia (modern day Iran) conquered Babylon. Then, Cyrus set the captives free.

Note: 2026 – 1979 = 47 years of Persian (Iranian) captivity, by the Islamic regime.  Currently, Epic Fury & Roaring Lion, are setting the captives free per #47 President Trump.

Previously, many compared Trump to Cyrus because he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US Embassy there. This is just one more coincidence.

Or are we witnessing the Hand of Providence?

Okay, back to our text:

Saying, “the time is not near to build houses...” was a perversion and inversion, of what God was saying through His prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 29:4-7
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

⁵ Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. ⁶ Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. ⁷ And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Notice that even though they were taken captive to a foreign land hundreds of miles from home, God still expected them to act right. To be productive. Build houses, plant gardens, pursue peace and pray for the place they were in.

For in its peace, you will have peace.

What? But! They’re our enemy!

Love your enemy, Jesus said, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  Matt. 5:43-45.

Besides, their enemy was their own fault. They abandoned God, so He allowed Babylon to discipline them.

However, God didn’t abandon Israel, ever. Never has, never will. 

In His mercy and compassion, He told them how they should live through the captivity.

Bloom where you’re planted. Get married, have kids, be fruitful and multiply. Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly, with your God. Micah 6:8.

We should follow their example and expect the same from others.

Home. Take care of the place you’re in, make the most of what God’s given.

Visitor. Leave the place better than you found it. That honors God and reflects well on Him to others.  

Immigrants. Be respectful and grateful, you are a visitor. If pursuing Citizenship, remember, it is a gift that involves assimilation not infiltration or invasion. You need to be a productive member of society, adding to, not a parasite stealing from. Do not listen to those who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel. They are using you as fodder for their waste, fraud and abuse.    

Increase, not decrease.

Don’t sit idle, waiting for exile to end. It’s going to be awhile, seventy years is what the Lord told them through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:10).

The Lord tells us, and them, through times of discipline, know I haven’t forgotten or forsaken you. Stay the course. Continue to show the integrity and character of a child of the King.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

But those wicked princes that devise iniquity and give wicked counsel perverted the words of the Lord saying that building buildings in Babylon is bogus; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.

This city is our oyster and we are the pearl.

We’re safe and sound as stew in a cast iron kettle.

Why do you think God left us here? Because we’re the meat, the muscle, the might of Jerusalem.

Don’t worry, be happy, eat, drink and be merry. We are JerUSAlem, JerUSAlem, God shed His grace on we.

So, God sent Zeke to speak Truth to those devisers of iniquity, those wicked counsel givers.

 ⁴ Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!” ⁵ Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me, “Speak! ‘Thus says the Lord:

Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me... an Old Testament version of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Prophecy, prophecy, speak!

Back in that day, God spoke through prophets.

Hebrews 1:1-2, God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...”

God can speak however He wants. Audibly, outwardly, inwardly, mentally, a sudden knowing or impression... through a donkey.

Since the coming of His Holy Spirit, (Acts 2) He primarily speaks Spirit to spirit. His to ours.  

He is heard with Spiritual ears, not so much flesh and blood physical ones.

Normally, only those listening hear Him. (Romans 10:17). Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear let them hear.” He is talking about spiritual hearing.

Jesus said My sheep hear, and know, My Voice. John 10:4.

Jesus is the Word became flesh. John 1:14.

The better we know His Word, the better we will know His Voice. John 10:5.   

This week someone asked how to hear God, literally (physically).

We talked about how the woman at the well asked questions about literal physical worship. Do we worship God in the temple or here on this mountain?  

Jesus told her: "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24.

So, communicating with God is literally communicating with Him "Spiritually".

Rarely will we hear Him with physical, flesh and blood, ears.

Because, God is Spirit, and so are we. (You are a spirit you have a soul and live in a body).

God told Zeke to speak. “Thus saith the Lord...”

Anyone speaking for the Lord must speak the Words of the Lord.

“Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.

God heard not only their words, but their thoughts, and told Ezekiel about it.

Would that freak you out a little bit?

Thus, you have said O Church in the Clubhouse... And this is what you were thinking.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45.

Lord, fill our heart with You, so our tongue will be too.

The Slain

 ⁶ You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.” ⁷ Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Your slain whom you have laid in its midst, they are the meat, and this city is the caldron; but I shall bring you out of the midst of it

God announces a death sentence on Jerusalem. Because of their murderous wickedness, the city will turn into a graveyard.

The meat of a graveyard is the slain.

Notice: what they said, and thought, led to what they did.

Devising iniquity and giving wicked counsel...leads to evil deeds.

God not only heard their words and saw their deeds but also heard and answered the blood of the slain crying out to Him.

God avenges the dead.

America, don’t be arrogant, the blood of over 63 million babies cries out against you.

God’s mercy is beyond comprehension.  

We see here a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon about six years before it happened, and a foreshadow of it happening again in 70 AD as prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 23:29-39:

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

³¹ “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. ³³ Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? ³⁴ Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

³⁷ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁸ See! Your house is left to you desolate; ³⁹ for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

The Sword

 ⁸ You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you,” says the Lord God. ⁹ “And I will bring you out of its midst, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and execute judgments on you. ¹⁰ You shall fall by the sword.

What they feared came upon them. Job 3:25.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. Matt. 26:52.

They may not have swung the sword physically, but they did by proxy and Divine Justice lets them know they will reap what they’ve sown.

A bit like the terrorist Islamic regime and proxies are experiencing today.

Judgement at the border

I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. ¹¹ This city shall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the meat in its midst. I will judge you at the border of Israel. ¹² And you shall know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done according to the customs of the Gentiles which are all around you.” ’ ”

Twice here we see the Lord’s favorite phrase in Ezekiel, mentioned over 70 times: “you shall know that I am the Lord.”

O how He longs for all to know Him as personal Savior and Lord.

All will know. Every knee will bow and confess, Jesus Christ is Lord. Isaiah 45:23, Philippians 2:10-11.

However, there's a huge difference between knowing He is Lord and knowing Him as Lord.

Here, these bow at the border; they’ve crossed from Promise Land to Judgement Day.

There’s a border, once crossed there’s no turning back. All who reach that point will know He is Lord, but, sadly, won’t know Him as Lord.

They will know Him as Judge.  Matt. 10:28. Hebrews 10:29-31.

Modern Day, Devising Iniquity And Giving Wicked Counsel:

Friends, in a perfect world this would be a wonderful place to pause and pray and say good until next time. However, this world is not perfect, and missiles aren’t only targeting Israel—there are fiery arrows from the wicked one flying toward us, especially our youth.

Two of the deadliest deceptions deployed lately are: 

Rejecting Sola Scriptura (the inerrancy of Scripture).

Replacement Theology.                                

WARNING: Those doing the most damage are disguised as angels of light. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Folks like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Steve Bannon, Nick Fuentes, talk about Jesus, have the Bible propped in the background of their livestreams, scroll the Apostle’s Creed, speak Christianese. But their message is divisive, deceptive, antisemitic, antichrist. If possible, even the very elect are deceived.

Thus, we closed our sermon yesterday, and are closing this blog today, by activating a Spiritual Scriptural, “Iron Dome, David’s Sling”.

We must not only know intellectually the Bible but must also hold these Truths to be self-evidence, undeniable, proof of the immutability of the Word of God.

HIStorical Accuracy:

Geographically:

The border of Israel refers to Riblah, on the Orontes River on Israel’s northern border, (Syria, today), which was King Nebuchadnezzar’s military headquarters.

It’s where King Zedekiah’s sons and seventy plus Judean officials were executed after fleeing Jerusalem. 2 Kings 25:6-7,18-21, Jeremiah 52:24-27.

Archeologically:

Tablets from Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, unearthed at Tell Nebi Mend and published in the Journal of Cuneiform Studies 64 (2012), corroborate a large military encampment at Riblah in 587–586 BC, matching Ezekiel’s timeframe. Thus, “the border” pinpoints an identifiable, archaeologically verified place of mass execution.

Babylonian ration tablets (K.-3423; K.-3400) list food allotments for captive Judean royals, confirming elite survivors reached Nebuchadnezzar’s camp.

Excavations at Tell en-Nasbeh show a burn layer from 586 BC aligning with Babylonian destruction, strengthening confidence that Ezekiel’s prophecy matched real events, not later editorial retrojection.

 

Sola Scriptura (the inerrancy of Scripture).

Scripture alone is the supreme authority for Christian faith and practice.

There is an overwhelming abundance of verifiable, documentable, archeological, geographical, historical, medical, undeniable proof, as to the authenticity and accuracy of the Bible. 

More than any other ancient writing on the planet. 

Nothing else even comes close.  

The Bible itself attests to its inerrancy and immutability.

Matthew 5:18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Psalm 119:89
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:160
The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

1 Peter 1:24-25
“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

2 Peter 1:19-21
 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

Replacement Theology (supersessionism)

This deception depends on the first one succeeding. If we believe the Word of God, we won't believe this demonic deception that claims the Church has taken the place of Israel. 

It claims God does not have an everlasting covenant with Israel.

Scripture clearly states otherwise.  

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 17:7
And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.

Psalm 105:8-10
He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
⁹ The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
¹⁰ And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

Romans 11:26-29
All Israel will be saved... for the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.

Jeremiah 31:35-37
Thus says the Lord,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The Lord of hosts is His name):

³⁶ “If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the Lord,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever.”

³⁷ Thus says the Lord:

“If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the Lord.

 

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, by faith, with thanksgiving, we receive Your Word planted just now in our souls. Thank You for watching over Your Word to perform it, that it will not return void, but will prosper, to the saving of souls and bearing much fruit. Please help us speak Your Word in Love, so that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.  

 

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Eternal Perspective, James 1:9-11

SERVE, verse 1: James humbly opens by introducing himself, not as half-brother to God, but as a bondservant. One who willingly has no possessions of his own, but who lovingly, gives his all in service to his Lord.

Let’s get one thing straight, says James, right out of the gate, as leader of the Jerusalem Church, I am first and foremost, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

JOY, verses 2-4: As we serve the Lord and each other, we can count on having trouble, and when we do, count it all joy. Let joy be our travel tunes, to help us smile through the trials.

WISDOM, verses 5-8: To navigate the trials, we need wisdom from above. If any lacks wisdom, ask of God who gives in abundance, but only if we ask in faith, no wavering, no doubting.

Thus, we journey humbly, serve joyfully, filled with wisdom from above.

PERSPECTIVE, verses 9-11. Which brings us to where we continue our journey through James.

James 1:9-11
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

That may sound like a comparison between the rich and the poor.

However, considering the context, and definitions of the original text, we see the Lord is still talking about our journey.

It’s really, really, short.

So, it’s really, really, important we keep our trajectory on Eternity.

Note, in the first line, both the lowly and the rich are told to glory (rejoice). The lowly in his exaltation and the rich in his humiliation, and for some reason that is reason to celebrate, to glory in, to rejoice.

Why?

Well to see, we must uncover some hidden treasure.

Let the lowly brother...  

In the Kingdom of God, we’re brothers and sisters, family. Rich, poor, slave, free, red, yellow, black or white, we’re family.

Galatians 3:27-29
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 8:16-18
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

⁹Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation,

Lowly: tapeinos: Humble, lowly 

Humiliation: tapeinósis: lowliness, abasement.

Lowly and humiliation are basically the same word.

Matthew 11:28-29. Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Now look at the word in the middle where X marks the spot of a beautiful hidden treasure.

Exultation (Greek: hupsos): Height, high place, on high, exaltation.

Luke 1:78. Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from has visited us from on high (hupsos).

Luke 24:29. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (hupsos).

Ephesians 4:8. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high (hupsos), He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

The Dayspring (Jesus) from on high (heaven). Endued with Power from on high (heaven). He ascended on high (heaven)...

Heaven is a wonderful reason to glory.

Let the lowly brother glory in his heavenly Home.

Ephesians 2:4-6
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

That’s great, but what about the rich guy? He’s supposed to glory in humiliation?

James 4:10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

The rich rejoices that he is humbled to his heavenly Home.  

The world’s economy is opposite the Kingdom of God.

The world says the lowly should long to be rich, but the Kingdom of God says the rich should long to be lowly.

Glory in the ability to find humility.

¹⁰...because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Matthew 18:3 “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

In the Kingdom of Heaven, the lowly are leaders, the first are last, the greatest Servant of all is King of all, and only the humble are allowed to enter.

Jesus said it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:24.

Not impossible.

Not easy.

The camel must kneel.

We must too.

Thus, with an Eternal Perspective, we gladly glory in humility, knowing that's when and where we are exalted on high together with Him.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming the Way, so we can be family, together, with You, forever. Help us keep an Eternal Perspective, allowing You to use us to make an Eternal difference to all those You’ve given us, so none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

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Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.