James 1:9-12 – The First Will Be Last- Sermon Notes

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Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (v9)

Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God]; (AMP)

The Apostle James is telling you, to rejoice and have glory , no matter what your position is in this world, think about this there are many people in our prison systems that are getting saved, there are many prisoners who are recieving Jesus and becoming born again, those people are more blessed than the unsaved people in the outside world.  Jesus taught us many examples that the Kingdom of God will not work like the world. Jesus said the First Will Be Last and the Last Will Be First, Jesus was flipping the script of society as we know it. To the world, and to this first century culture , the rich man seems to be blessed, He must be in good favor with God, right? However he might be spiritually poor 

The Apostle James says here “Let the person of lowly or humble circumstances glory or boast  in his exaltation or high position with God” What is James saying here? In the world you might not be considered important, you might even be considered an outcast in society, however don’t worry about that, Rejoice because you are a Child of God, you are an heir of the Kingdom with Christ, you have been Chosen by Christ to be in His eternal Kingdom, and nobody can take that away from you

Cosider this story, we talked about this in our Bible Study, the Widow who gave everything she had

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)

This widow , who was one of the lowest positions of society during that culture, woman were not allowed to work back then, she didn’t have a husband to support her, she was on the bottom of society. All these rich guys were putting in their tithes so they can be seen, she gave only a few coins, but that was everything she had. Jesus said she gave more than all those rich guys, why? Because she gave with her heart, she can glory in her position in the Kingdom because she is a Child of God not a widow of this world, are we getting it?

but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. (v10)

In our world even today, if you have some money and power, everyone thinks your important, everyone listens to everything you have to say, even when they are not even qualified to say it. Consider all the celebrities and pro athletes today, most of these people are idiots but everyone hangs on every word they have to say. Everyone celebrates everything these people do, people try to copy what these people wear, they try to imitate their life after them but why?

Because of their wordly status the world exalts these people, however the big question is what is their status in the Kingdom of God? Is their soul saved? Are they Born Again in Christ? Consider what Jesus said

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  Mark 8:36-37

What good does it do you , to have everything in the world and yet to lose your soul? This is what the Apostle James is trying to say , you might not be celebrity or the rich and famous, but rejoice brothers and sisters, you have the greatest position, a child of the most High God, your name is written in the book of life

Satan even tried to tempt Jesus with this same lie….

8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ 

Satan offered Jesus this empty promise he offers the world, sell your soul and he will give you the world, and many people fall for this lie, they chase after money, they chase after fame, they chase after everything in this world when they should be chasing after Jesus, the only one who can give you eternal life

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. (v11)

The Bible tells us Life is like a vapor in the wind, here today and gone tomorrow. The Apostle James is telling us life is short, we think we have all this unlimited time, but as we get older we know time goes by fast. So the point is , why cling to this world? Why sell your soul to a world that is fading away including you?  Cosider what the Apostle Peter says…

because “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, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:24-25

While our time is short here in this world, Gods Kingdom is eternal, Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and forever, the Word of God endures forever! Why put your faith in a world that is temporary, when you can put your faith in the eternal God and His Kingdom

Consider what Jesus taught us about His Kingdom

1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus is preparing a place for You, Jesus will come back and recieve you into Gods Kingdom. Jesus is the Only Way to Salvation. How do we know we can believe all this? Because Christ is Risen, Jesus has already overcome the world

Blessed is the man who endures (preservers) temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (v12)

Going back to the joy in the 3 T’s (Trials, Testing, and Temptation) When you endure the temptation you are blessed,   (God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation) (NLT) You have passed the test, and what is your reward? You will receive the Crown of Life which The Lord has promised. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again, to promise you eternal life, you need to love him, it says “promised to those who love him” you need to put your faith and trust in Jesus through all things

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

The greatest commandment to Love God with everything you have, The Lord promised the Crown of Life to those who Love Him

  1. In the Kingdom the First Will Be Last and the Last will Be First
  2. Don’t seek this world, Seek Jesus
  3. Your life is like a Vapor, don’t waste your life chasing the world
  4. Your true reward is to be a Child of God
  5. Jesus promised the Crown of Life

Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in humbling providences, that lead to a humble and lowly disposition of mind. Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Then, let him that is rich rejoice in the grace of God, which makes and keeps him humble; and in the trials and exercises which teach him to seek happiness in and from God, not from perishing enjoyments. Matthew Henry

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

Don’t be conformed to this world, the world is passing away, this world is not your home. Be transformed by Christ, rejoice for you are a Child of God, Christ died for you, and Christ rose again on the 3rd day defeating sin and death forever, rejoice we have Victory in Jesus Christ, Amen

Zechariah 7- False Worship

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Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the LORD, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” Zechariah 7:1-3

All throughout history false religion has been practiced , especially in Israel. Here is just another prime example of Israel just “going through the motions” doing religious practices, not from the heart, but as some magical formula that would gain Gods favor

The names of the men , Sherezer and Regem-Melech, are representations of Israel’s idolatry with Babylon from the exile. These are not Jewish names but Babylonian. They basically are asking the prophet Zechariah, “should we bother doing these fasts like we have done so many years”? They were just going to weep and fast as a religious practice and not worship God in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:24)

One thing God hates is false religion, false worship,  religious practices over obedience, as seen throughout the history of Israel

Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.” Jeremiah 14:12 

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ ” Zechariah 7:4-7

God responded with the question “When you fasted and mourned, did you really fast for Me?” This is the root of the problem, why were they fasting and mourning? Because they wanted to be seen? Because it was a religious practice and requirement? God is not impressed and doesn’t want anyone’s false offering

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. Isaiah 1:11

Lets turn our focus on the Church for a moment, recently we just had “Ash Wednesday” where millions of Christians marked their foreheads and then posted selfies of themselves all over the Internet, including celebrities. What was the root of this practice? Was it to bring attention and glory to God or themselves? This was the same idolatry Israel fell into. Look at the words of our Lord who refuted this practice

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6:16

Disfiguring your face with ashes, was exactly the opposite thing God told you do! So why do millions of people do it? For religious practices, for self glorification, because they think its a magical formula to gain God’s favor. This is exactly what Israel was doing!

I will end with the words of The Lord Jesus about false religion

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ Mark 7:6-7

James 1:13-18- Sermon Notes

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13Let 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. 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (James 1:13-14)

When it comes to sin and temptation, alot of people like to blame God, right? They will say something like, “God made me this way” So therefor Its OK if I do this or that” However as the Apostle James said people claim “I am tempted by God” however as he reveals God can’t tempt anyone. This idea that God is tempting us into sin, that God made us this way, is a lie from the devil

You need to understand God is Holy, without sin, God can’t even be in the presence of sin, because He is Holy. Sin is complete opposition or being at war with God. We were seperated from God, why? Because of our sin, one of the reasons Jesus came here and died for our sins on the cross, was to reconcile us back to God. Why did we need to be reconciled? Because our sin separated us from God

Consider what the Apostle Paul says…

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

The Apostle Paul says “God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to handle, not only that God will create a way for you to escape that temptation. So people who are blaming God for their sins, its not only untruthful, its blasphemy. We need to take accountability for our actions, not blaming God for everything….

Many people will say “I was Born this Way, what does Jesus say  “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) We must be Born Again in Christ

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. 1 John 2:16

Conception of Sin

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

Most sin doesn’t just happen spontaneously or randomly, typically an idea or temptation is planted in your heart and mind, and eventually that temptation is fed and given life to give birth to sin, the action of actually sinning. 

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

We need to guard our hearts and minds from the temptations of this world. Because what happens is we allow these things into us, and eventually it gives birth to sin, which equals spiritual death. So from a practical application of this, what movies are watching? What music are you listening to? What book are you reading? Because all these things have influence over us, we need to guard our hearts and minds…

I want you to consider how Jesus views sin….because it might be shocking to some people

21“You have heard that it was said to those [d]of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother [e]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Matthew 5:21

27“You have heard that it was said [i]to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

 29If your right eye causes you to [j]sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to [k]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Jesus is saying sin begins in the heart and mind, and just because you didn’t physically perform that act of murder or adultery, you are already guilty of it. That’s powerful when you think about this.

Now this should king of reveal to you, how serious God is about sin, God is so serious, that Jesus had to die on the cross to pay for our penalty, Christ took our place. So we need to guard our hearts and minds

Secondly Jesus is speaking hyperbole here, if your eye is causing you to sin, pluck it out. What is Jesus talking about here? Is he telling us to pluck our eyes out? No, hes telling you, if what you are looking at is causing you to sin, then stop looking at it. It’s as simple as that, stop looking at pornography, stop looking at those movies, because your condemning your soul to Hell. How about the foot? Well if everytime you go to the bar and causes you to sin, stop going there. Ect ect.

Everything good is from God

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 

So now your probably a little upset with God because of all this sin and temptation in the world, however reminder God doesn’t tempt anyone. But remember this, everything that is good in this world, is from God. While this world can be a struggle, because we live in a fallen world due to sin. 

However we must remember that there are still many blessings in this world, even today that we can rejoice about. Think about just the beauty of this Earth and the Heavens, while man keeps trying to destroy it, its still awesome and beautiful. Think about the blessings of your family and friends, they are gifts from God, every single one of you, life itself, Creation is a gift from God

None of these things come from anywhere but God, so understand that. Even people who reject God, still enjoy some of the blessings from God

Consider what Jesus said here:

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45

The sun rises on the evil and the saved, the rain falls on the wicked and the saved. All people in some aspect enjoy the blessings of God and don’t even realize it, unit those gifts are taken away. Every good gift, including our salvation in Jesus Christ, comes from God, we can rejoice in this

Practical Applications:

  1. Who are we spending time with? Bad Company Corrupts Good Character- (1 Cor. 15:33) God is not tempting you, maybe your company is?
  2. What are we looking at? Movies, Music, Books, are they tempting us? Remove Temptation
  3.  Be In The Word of God- Jesus rebuked Satan with scripture
  4. Be lead by the Holy Spirit- Teacher, Comforter, Advocate, Guide
  5. Develop a strong prayer life- Jesus on the mountain
  6. Be Part of the Church- fellowship with Christians

In the last analysis it is not the temptations that meet us on the streets that determine our conduct; it is the heart of the man who faces them. Two men may face the same conditions; one falls, the other stands. The difference is not in the temptation but in the heart of the man. Martin Lyod Jones

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:13

These are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver us Lord from the Evil One , deliver us from all temptation and sin, deliver us from this world, because Jesus Christ has overcome the world already, we have victory in Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords, the Great I AM, Amen

Zechariah 6- The Elaborate Crown

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Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Receive the gift from the captives—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Zechariah 6:9-10

Once again, we see the prophet Zechariah receiving a direct revelation from God  “The word of The Lord came to me” and we see the remnant of Israel coming together to rebuild the Temple “Receive the gifts from the captives” This was fulfilled prophecy, however what is about to come next should open the eyes of the world!

Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Zechariah 6:11

God instructs Zechariah to make an “elaborate crown” of silver and gold, which obviously emphasizes the importance and royalty of this person. However the odd thing is the request is  “set it on the head of Joshua, the High Priest” Now a High priest never wears a crown. 

As mentioned previously, its no coincidence God chose Joshua at this present time, the same name of the Son of God Jesus/Yeshua/Joshua. The fact that God instructed to put an elaborate crown on Joshua was a foreshadow of Christ , the name of the Messiah is revealed!

Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; Zechariah 6:12

Now if you need more evidence, just look at what God says here “Thus says The Lord of Hosts, saying , Behold , the Man who name is the Branch!”  Anyone who is familiar with the Messianic prophecies understands the title of The Branch points to the Messiah (Christ) not the high priest

Here are some examples of other prophets pointing the Messiah to the title of Branch

Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 23:5

 Notice the prophet Jeremiah not only references the Messiah as the Branch, but also as a King!

Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’ Zechariah 6:13

It’s amazing how the Word of God is eternal, because as we know the fulfilment of the second temple was complete, but the Messiah wasn’t here yet for its completion, so this prophecy must have deeper meaning! Many will point to this prophecy as a future temple built during the Millennial reign of Christ, and that could be true. I believe this is point to a greater temple, the resurrection of The Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ by His words below

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19

Christ refers to himself, his physical body as the Temple that will be raised on the 3rd day, I believe this prophecy is pointing to the resurrected Messiah!

“Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the LORD for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the LORD. Then you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.” Zechariah 6:14-15

Now as we know “the elaborate crown” points to Christ, we see a memorial of The Lord. Now as Born Again Christians this should resonate in your spirit, The memorial is The Lord’s Supper, the death of our Lord for our sins which the Messiah came to save us (Isaiah 53)

I know many will not agree with this interpretation, but I can’t deny all the shadows, the crown, the temple, the title all pointing to Christ! As our Lord said “Do this in remembrance of me”!

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19