Numbers 21:34-35 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I
have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do
to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35So they killed him and his sons and all his
people, until there was no remnant left him; and they possessed his land.
A New Generation that had to win two battles
The Israelites had been wandering in the Desert of the Sinai Penninsula. They had rebelled against God, and God consigned them to 40 years of wandering. The original generation that God had brought out of Egypt under Moses' leadership had died off, leaving a whole new generation of Israelites. The former generation is recorded from Numbers 1-19, with forty years of unrecorded time lying in between chapters 19 and 20.
The New Generation, some 40 years later, were on the verge of entry into the Promised Land of Canaan. But before they could enter, two strong enemies stood in their way. They not only would have to defeat Sihon King of the Amorites, a people who had been in that area for centuries, but the Giant King Og of Bashan, who may have been as tall as Goliath! (compare Joshua 3:11)
Not only would the Israelites have to defeat physical enemies, but the internal strife and rebellion of their heart. God's victories for His people entails a very specific strategy. As we look at the wider context of Numbers 21:6-39, we can see God preparing his people for these battles, and how it was He was ordaining a strategy for their victory, as well as a spiritual strategy for us as Christians.
Power of Forgiveness in the Brazen Serpent, Picturing the Cross
Back in Numbers 21:5-7 we read - "The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have
you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food
and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6The LORD sent fiery
serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel
died. 7So the people came to Moses and said, “We have
sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and
you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove
the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people."
If these people were going to survive to even fight those two Kings in battle, they had to first survive and be forgiven. God provided such a remedy. He had Moses fashion a serpent out of Bronze and place it upon a pole, so that all who looked upon it would be saved - having physical life. (Numbers 21:8-9) John 3:14-15 recounts this scene with these words: 14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that
whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." For us to have spiritual victory, we need the power of forgiveness and the cross to look to by faith, so that we can have eternal life.
Power for the basis for victory, how the Cross is the source of the post-conversion Christian walk
The cross is not only the basis for the beginning of New Life in Christ, but it is also the source of ongoing victory life in the post-conversion Christian walk. Too often Christians think that the cross was only something they needed to consider in order to be saved - which is true. (1 Corinthians 2:2; Ephesians 1:7) However the cross is so much more than just the means of salvation - it is also the tool for sanctification.
Consider the Holy Spirit's words in Hebrews 12:1-3 "1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin
which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility
by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
"
Those Israelites in Numbers 21 needed to be healed of their snake bite in order to be prepared to fight the military battles against Kings Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. They needed a soundly provided resource of physical life and vitality to move from where they were into the dry river beds of Zered, just South of these Kings.
If God had not provided the revelation to Moses to put up that Brazen serpent, no one would had survived. If God had not sent Jesus to put Himself upon the cross, no one would have the basis for Eternal life nor power to live the Christian life. The cross is the grounds for victory. It is where we look to. When we look to it, we see it stained with blood, reminding us that our salvation has been paid for. We also see it barren, reminding us that the Savior is Alive and well, ever representing us and ready to strengthen us in battle.
Welcome to Growing Christian Resources, where you can search over 2,000 resources pertaining to your Christian walk, the explanation and defense of the Christian worldview and links to audio and video resources. Please checkout the New Hope podcast at www.gcrpodcast.wordpress.com and www.newhope-ny.org. For those desiring to dig-deeper into the scriptures, please check out www.biblicalexegete.wordpress.com.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Charles Stanley on Listening and Walking with God
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore
you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called
Today's blog features thoughts from a message I recently heard by Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta Georgia. The title of the message was: "Listening to God - Walking with God". I thought what he preached about listening to and walk with God was one of the greatest summaries I have ever heard on the subject. I could not bear not sharing this with you dear reader.
In the course of the message Dr. Stanley listed 20 items dealing with the subject of listening and walking with God. I have listed them below, and pray you will be as blessed as I was when I first heard them.
Walking with God involves.....
1. Faith
2. Agreement with God
3. Fellowship with God
4. Awareness of His Presence
5. Cheerful Obedience
6. Truth
7. Intimacy with God
8. The Will of God
9. Continuous Surrender
10. The Work of the Holy Spirit
11. Peace
12. Confidence
13. Security
14. Joy
15. Pleasing to God
16. Revolves around Jesus
17. Life separate from sin
18. Life that makes a difference
19. Progressive Journey
20. Its a Godly Life
May you be richly blessed this day as you aim to listen to God through His word and walk with the Lord in prayer.
Today's blog features thoughts from a message I recently heard by Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta Georgia. The title of the message was: "Listening to God - Walking with God". I thought what he preached about listening to and walk with God was one of the greatest summaries I have ever heard on the subject. I could not bear not sharing this with you dear reader.
In the course of the message Dr. Stanley listed 20 items dealing with the subject of listening and walking with God. I have listed them below, and pray you will be as blessed as I was when I first heard them.
Walking with God involves.....
1. Faith
2. Agreement with God
3. Fellowship with God
4. Awareness of His Presence
5. Cheerful Obedience
6. Truth
7. Intimacy with God
8. The Will of God
9. Continuous Surrender
10. The Work of the Holy Spirit
11. Peace
12. Confidence
13. Security
14. Joy
15. Pleasing to God
16. Revolves around Jesus
17. Life separate from sin
18. Life that makes a difference
19. Progressive Journey
20. Its a Godly Life
May you be richly blessed this day as you aim to listen to God through His word and walk with the Lord in prayer.
Monday, November 5, 2012
P5 - Traits of the Strong Christian - Prayer life
James 4:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
In recent days we have been blogging on the subject of what traits comprise a strong Christian. We have been examining the life of James, the author of the Epistle of James and Jesus' biological half-brother. We have noted the following four traits of a strong Christian:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizes Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
Todays blog will conclude this particular series on "Traits of the Strong Christian", noting how the strong Christian aims to have a prayer life.
Every Christian can be a strong Christian
My point in these series of blogs has been to demonstrate that any Christian can be a strong Christian. For starters, every Christian has a Personal testimony of what their life was like before Christ, how Christ brought them to the point of conversion and what their life has been like since.
Every Christian has been given the indwelling Holy Spirit through whom they can cultivate a desire to mature in their faith. They have also been given the beginning of a new nature that is inherently inclined to desire Jesus Christ - giving them the base to excercise themselves in focusing their mind, emotions and will upon Him. Then finally if you have a Bible, you have opportunity to know it, meditate upon it and apply it.
Immaturity is our doing alone, maturity is both God's doing and our doing
So why do we see so many Christian's struggling in spiritual immaturity? All the things I just listed in the above two paragraphs are graces given by God. Now salvation is all of God's doing. He brought you the grace and gifting of faith and repentance, whereby you simply received and believed on Jesus. (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18) However your growth in Jesus Christ following conversion - called sanctification - is both God's doing and your doing. (Philippians 2:12-13) God has done His part, however where we see the break down is due to the fact that we're not doing ours. Prayer, like the other four traits, is a grace given by God whereby the Christian is given the capacity to hear and talk to God. However, as with all sanctifying graces, the Christian must excercise themselves in it if they are expected to be strong in their faith.
A Strong Christian will pray according to the scriptures
James was related to Jesus biologically through Mary, making Jesus his half brother. However we also know that he had other brothers and sisters who, along with himself, were born after Jesus and who were naturally conceived by both Mary and Joseph. Among those, Jude is noteworthy, since he is the only other half-brother of Jesus who is also the author of a New Testament book bearing his name - the Book of Jude. (see Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3)
Both James and Jude write about prayer, since it was such a cornerstone of their lives as strong Christians. I will give you James' statements on prayer, followed by Jude's:
1. James 1:5-7 (Prayer for Wisdom) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.
2. James 4:3 (Why your prayers may not be answered) You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
3. James 4:6-7 (The warfare and triumph in prayer) But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
4. James 4:15 (The submission in prayer) "Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
5. James 4:13-18 (Praying for healing) Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit."
6. Jude 20 (Prayer as a means of strengthening faith) "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit"
From those six scriptures in both James and Jude, we can glean much about prayer that is based upon the Word of God. Both men tie together prayer and the Word. James begins and ends his letter with statements about prayer, with fertile discussion about scripture throughout his letter. Jude begins his letter with the intent to urge his readers to embrace God's Word, with a powerful exhortation to persevere in prayer.
A Strong Christian prays like Jesus prayed
Why did James and Jude emphasize prayer so much? They both linked prayer with the written word - the Bible. However they both emphasized prayer because of its link to the Living Word - Jesus Christ. Remarkably, both men's teaching on prayer mirrors much of what Jesus' taught on prayer in the Gospels. Over a dozen places in the Gospels record our Lord's teaching on the subject, with parallels found in James' and Jude's writings. Please note the chart below that compares Jesus, James' and Jude's teaching on prayer:
Prayer Topic Jesus teaching James Jude
Wisdom Matt 7:7 1:5-8
Gifts Matt 7:11, 21:21 1:16-18
Promise of Kingdom Matt 6:13; Lk 11 2:5 14-15
Worry Matt 7 4:13-17
Wealth Luke 18:13 5:1-4
Oaths Mt 5:34 5:7-11
Anointing w/ oil/healing Mk 6:14 5:14
God centered prayer Mt 7:7;21:21 1:5-8
Promise based prayer Matt 7, John 14 2:5, 20-27 24-25
Motives in prayer Mt 6:14; 18:34-35 4:2
Corporate prayer Mt 21:13 3:14 20
Since Jesus emphasized prayer, and the Biblical authors emphasized prayer (some 600 times) and since James and Jude along with them emphasized it - why shouldn't we? Prayer is to the strong Christian like oxygen is to the lungs. Without prayer, the faith-life suffocates. May we take to heart these considerations of what it means to be a strong Christian, namely:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizing Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
5. Prayer
In recent days we have been blogging on the subject of what traits comprise a strong Christian. We have been examining the life of James, the author of the Epistle of James and Jesus' biological half-brother. We have noted the following four traits of a strong Christian:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizes Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
Todays blog will conclude this particular series on "Traits of the Strong Christian", noting how the strong Christian aims to have a prayer life.
Every Christian can be a strong Christian
My point in these series of blogs has been to demonstrate that any Christian can be a strong Christian. For starters, every Christian has a Personal testimony of what their life was like before Christ, how Christ brought them to the point of conversion and what their life has been like since.
Every Christian has been given the indwelling Holy Spirit through whom they can cultivate a desire to mature in their faith. They have also been given the beginning of a new nature that is inherently inclined to desire Jesus Christ - giving them the base to excercise themselves in focusing their mind, emotions and will upon Him. Then finally if you have a Bible, you have opportunity to know it, meditate upon it and apply it.
Immaturity is our doing alone, maturity is both God's doing and our doing
So why do we see so many Christian's struggling in spiritual immaturity? All the things I just listed in the above two paragraphs are graces given by God. Now salvation is all of God's doing. He brought you the grace and gifting of faith and repentance, whereby you simply received and believed on Jesus. (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18) However your growth in Jesus Christ following conversion - called sanctification - is both God's doing and your doing. (Philippians 2:12-13) God has done His part, however where we see the break down is due to the fact that we're not doing ours. Prayer, like the other four traits, is a grace given by God whereby the Christian is given the capacity to hear and talk to God. However, as with all sanctifying graces, the Christian must excercise themselves in it if they are expected to be strong in their faith.
A Strong Christian will pray according to the scriptures
James was related to Jesus biologically through Mary, making Jesus his half brother. However we also know that he had other brothers and sisters who, along with himself, were born after Jesus and who were naturally conceived by both Mary and Joseph. Among those, Jude is noteworthy, since he is the only other half-brother of Jesus who is also the author of a New Testament book bearing his name - the Book of Jude. (see Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3)
Both James and Jude write about prayer, since it was such a cornerstone of their lives as strong Christians. I will give you James' statements on prayer, followed by Jude's:
1. James 1:5-7 (Prayer for Wisdom) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.
2. James 4:3 (Why your prayers may not be answered) You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
3. James 4:6-7 (The warfare and triumph in prayer) But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
4. James 4:15 (The submission in prayer) "Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
5. James 4:13-18 (Praying for healing) Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit."
6. Jude 20 (Prayer as a means of strengthening faith) "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit"
From those six scriptures in both James and Jude, we can glean much about prayer that is based upon the Word of God. Both men tie together prayer and the Word. James begins and ends his letter with statements about prayer, with fertile discussion about scripture throughout his letter. Jude begins his letter with the intent to urge his readers to embrace God's Word, with a powerful exhortation to persevere in prayer.
A Strong Christian prays like Jesus prayed
Why did James and Jude emphasize prayer so much? They both linked prayer with the written word - the Bible. However they both emphasized prayer because of its link to the Living Word - Jesus Christ. Remarkably, both men's teaching on prayer mirrors much of what Jesus' taught on prayer in the Gospels. Over a dozen places in the Gospels record our Lord's teaching on the subject, with parallels found in James' and Jude's writings. Please note the chart below that compares Jesus, James' and Jude's teaching on prayer:
Prayer Topic Jesus teaching James Jude
Wisdom Matt 7:7 1:5-8
Gifts Matt 7:11, 21:21 1:16-18
Promise of Kingdom Matt 6:13; Lk 11 2:5 14-15
Worry Matt 7 4:13-17
Wealth Luke 18:13 5:1-4
Oaths Mt 5:34 5:7-11
Anointing w/ oil/healing Mk 6:14 5:14
God centered prayer Mt 7:7;21:21 1:5-8
Promise based prayer Matt 7, John 14 2:5, 20-27 24-25
Motives in prayer Mt 6:14; 18:34-35 4:2
Corporate prayer Mt 21:13 3:14 20
Since Jesus emphasized prayer, and the Biblical authors emphasized prayer (some 600 times) and since James and Jude along with them emphasized it - why shouldn't we? Prayer is to the strong Christian like oxygen is to the lungs. Without prayer, the faith-life suffocates. May we take to heart these considerations of what it means to be a strong Christian, namely:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizing Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
5. Prayer
Sunday, November 4, 2012
P4 - Traits of a Strong Christian - Persistent Application of God's Word
James 1:25 "But one who looks intently at the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful
hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."
These past three days we have been observing a series of traits from the life of James that characterizes what we are calling: Traits of a Strong Christian. Why James? James wrote the first book of the New Testament - the Epistle of James. James was half-brother of Jesus according to the flesh, as well as the first leader of the church at large in the book of Acts. According to Paul in Galatians 2:19, James, along with the Apostles Peter and John, was considered a "Pillar of the Church". Ample reasons serve to prove why James would be worthy of consideration as a model of a strong Christian.
Thus far in this study we have noted three traits of a strong Christian, strong Christians have....
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritize Spiritual Maturity
3. Passionate about Jesus
In today's post we are going to consider another trait of a strong Christian, as seen particularly in the life of James, namely Persistent Application of God's Word.
James - a strong Christian who knew God's Word Acts 15:13-15
If we are going to be stronger Christians who persist in our application of God's Word, we must know God's Word. Acts 15 is the account about the Jerusalem Council, an event wherein the predominately Jewish Church had to deal with a terrific problem. The problem was how to instruct Gentiles who were being converted to faith in Jesus Christ. The terrific aspect of this problem was the fact that people were being won to Jesus Christ.
The dilemma was acute - if the early church relaxed its convictions on matters of holiness and compromised too much - then the character of God would be in question. On the other hand, if James and these church leaders placed too many restrictions on the Gentile converts, the Christian movement would had been mired in legalism and dead, dry religion.
James, the strong Christian, stood up in Acts 15:13-14 "After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 14“Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name." What was he going to say next? Simeon (Peter) just delivered a glorious missions report. People by the hundreds were getting saved. James states in Acts 15:15 “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written".
Notice what he says "with this the word of the prophets". James knew where to go in his Bible. He knew God's Word. To apply God's Word, we need to not only know what area of life to apply God's Word, we need to know what area of God's word to bring life's problems to. God's specific solutions are more than enough to deal with life's problems, but you and I need to know God's Word.
But notice second....
James - a strong Christian who memorized God's word Acts 15:16-19
As James addressed this assembly of the early church, he quoted scripture. He not only knew scripture, he memorized it. He was a walking Bible. As a man who memorized scripture, he could speak as God would to the problem this church was facing. 1 Peter 4:11a "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God..."
We as Christian people are living in a day an age that is full of words of men. Many folks can tell you what they heard on the news, or heard what so and so said on T.V. Often when I am on Twitter, I tell my wife what such and such said. We are saturated by the words of men. But what happens when you and I are faced with a crisis, a crossroads? What occurs when the bottom falls out of your life? A word of man will fail, however a Word from God will prevail. When you and I memorize scripture, we will be able to recall it at a time when a man-made problem needs a God-sized solution. Much more could be said, but lets move onto what else constitutes persistent application of God's word....
James - A strong Christian acts out what He has memorized and read Acts 15:19-35
James the strong Christian knew his Bible. He quoted what he memorized to a needy people. But now James was going to instruct them on how to act on what they heard, read and memorized. Unless you and I apply God's Word, we cannot claim we have understood it nor believed it. James himself writes in James 2:22-24 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was."
James quoted more scripture and then he gave further instruction. The assembly agreed, and the church sent out a letter. They not only put prayer to their feet but feet to their prayers. They acted on what they claimed they stood upon. James' influence was not only apparent but evident. These folks rejoiced. God had spoken through this strong Christian. Every child of God has this same opportunity to take their Bible, know it, memorize it and act it out.
May you and I persist in our application of God's Word as strong Christians!
These past three days we have been observing a series of traits from the life of James that characterizes what we are calling: Traits of a Strong Christian. Why James? James wrote the first book of the New Testament - the Epistle of James. James was half-brother of Jesus according to the flesh, as well as the first leader of the church at large in the book of Acts. According to Paul in Galatians 2:19, James, along with the Apostles Peter and John, was considered a "Pillar of the Church". Ample reasons serve to prove why James would be worthy of consideration as a model of a strong Christian.
Thus far in this study we have noted three traits of a strong Christian, strong Christians have....
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritize Spiritual Maturity
3. Passionate about Jesus
In today's post we are going to consider another trait of a strong Christian, as seen particularly in the life of James, namely Persistent Application of God's Word.
James - a strong Christian who knew God's Word Acts 15:13-15
If we are going to be stronger Christians who persist in our application of God's Word, we must know God's Word. Acts 15 is the account about the Jerusalem Council, an event wherein the predominately Jewish Church had to deal with a terrific problem. The problem was how to instruct Gentiles who were being converted to faith in Jesus Christ. The terrific aspect of this problem was the fact that people were being won to Jesus Christ.
The dilemma was acute - if the early church relaxed its convictions on matters of holiness and compromised too much - then the character of God would be in question. On the other hand, if James and these church leaders placed too many restrictions on the Gentile converts, the Christian movement would had been mired in legalism and dead, dry religion.
James, the strong Christian, stood up in Acts 15:13-14 "After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 14“Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name." What was he going to say next? Simeon (Peter) just delivered a glorious missions report. People by the hundreds were getting saved. James states in Acts 15:15 “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written".
Notice what he says "with this the word of the prophets". James knew where to go in his Bible. He knew God's Word. To apply God's Word, we need to not only know what area of life to apply God's Word, we need to know what area of God's word to bring life's problems to. God's specific solutions are more than enough to deal with life's problems, but you and I need to know God's Word.
But notice second....
James - a strong Christian who memorized God's word Acts 15:16-19
As James addressed this assembly of the early church, he quoted scripture. He not only knew scripture, he memorized it. He was a walking Bible. As a man who memorized scripture, he could speak as God would to the problem this church was facing. 1 Peter 4:11a "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God..."
We as Christian people are living in a day an age that is full of words of men. Many folks can tell you what they heard on the news, or heard what so and so said on T.V. Often when I am on Twitter, I tell my wife what such and such said. We are saturated by the words of men. But what happens when you and I are faced with a crisis, a crossroads? What occurs when the bottom falls out of your life? A word of man will fail, however a Word from God will prevail. When you and I memorize scripture, we will be able to recall it at a time when a man-made problem needs a God-sized solution. Much more could be said, but lets move onto what else constitutes persistent application of God's word....
James - A strong Christian acts out what He has memorized and read Acts 15:19-35
James the strong Christian knew his Bible. He quoted what he memorized to a needy people. But now James was going to instruct them on how to act on what they heard, read and memorized. Unless you and I apply God's Word, we cannot claim we have understood it nor believed it. James himself writes in James 2:22-24 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was."
James quoted more scripture and then he gave further instruction. The assembly agreed, and the church sent out a letter. They not only put prayer to their feet but feet to their prayers. They acted on what they claimed they stood upon. James' influence was not only apparent but evident. These folks rejoiced. God had spoken through this strong Christian. Every child of God has this same opportunity to take their Bible, know it, memorize it and act it out.
May you and I persist in our application of God's Word as strong Christians!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
P3 - Traits of a Strong Christian - Passion for Jesus
James 1:1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
For the past two days we have been exploring traits of a strong Christian. So far in our exploration of the life of James - the half brother of Jesus according to the flesh, we have discovered the following traits:
1. Strong Christians, like James, have a Personal Testimony
2. Strong Christians, like James, Prioritize Spiritual Maturity
In today's post we will notice the third trait of a strong Christianity, namely a Passion for Jesus Christ
James' passion for Jesus' Lordship
As you look at the life of James, the strong Christian, you see the passion he had for the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In James 1:1 we see the NASB and most English translations render James as being a "bond-servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ". In the original text, the term translated "bond-servant" is better translated "slave". As a slave, James is recognizing that he is not his own, he has been bought with a price. (compare 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) As a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, James clearly recognizes himself as the follower, and Jesus as the Master.
Unlike 19th century slavery in America, where slaves were viewed as no better than animals, first century slaves in many instances had the potential to have a good life in accordance to the nature of their master. The idea of "Lordship" assumes there having to be a slave. In spiritual terms, this concept carries with it that the nature of the slave comes to mirror the nature of the Master. Romans 6:16 explains - "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?" 2 Peter 2:19b states even more briefly - "for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."
James was touched by God's saving grace to see Jesus for who He truly is - Lord. Though growing up in the same household as Jesus, nevertheless the veiled Deity of God the Son was made known in Christ's post-resurrection appearance to James. (1 Corinthians 15:7). James' passion for Jesus stemmed from the fact that He prized the Lordship of Jesus.
James' passion to live for Jesus
The pages of history tell us of the passion that James had for Jesus Christ. Eusebius, the first church historian, tells the story of how James, the half-brother of Jesus and author of the self-named Epistle was passionate for Jesus due to His desire to live for Jesus. Writing in the fourth century, Eusebius notes the following about James from Book 2, chapter 23:4-7 of his work "Ecclesiastical History":
"4. James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just by all from the time of our Saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James. 5. He was holy from his mother's womb; and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath. 6. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people. 7. Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek, 'Bulwark of the people' and 'Justice,' in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him.'"
James' life centered around the Lord and His interests. He loved to live for Jesus and He was serious about Christ's Lordship - two essential ingredients for a strong, passionate Christianity. Are you and I passionate about Jesus' authority, Lordship over our life? Are you and I passionate about living for Jesus?
As we close today's blog, I'm reminded of the first stanza of the precious hymn: "Living for Jesus" by Thomas O. Chisholm, written in 1917:
"Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
For the past two days we have been exploring traits of a strong Christian. So far in our exploration of the life of James - the half brother of Jesus according to the flesh, we have discovered the following traits:
1. Strong Christians, like James, have a Personal Testimony
2. Strong Christians, like James, Prioritize Spiritual Maturity
In today's post we will notice the third trait of a strong Christianity, namely a Passion for Jesus Christ
James' passion for Jesus' Lordship
As you look at the life of James, the strong Christian, you see the passion he had for the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In James 1:1 we see the NASB and most English translations render James as being a "bond-servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ". In the original text, the term translated "bond-servant" is better translated "slave". As a slave, James is recognizing that he is not his own, he has been bought with a price. (compare 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) As a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, James clearly recognizes himself as the follower, and Jesus as the Master.
Unlike 19th century slavery in America, where slaves were viewed as no better than animals, first century slaves in many instances had the potential to have a good life in accordance to the nature of their master. The idea of "Lordship" assumes there having to be a slave. In spiritual terms, this concept carries with it that the nature of the slave comes to mirror the nature of the Master. Romans 6:16 explains - "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?" 2 Peter 2:19b states even more briefly - "for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."
James was touched by God's saving grace to see Jesus for who He truly is - Lord. Though growing up in the same household as Jesus, nevertheless the veiled Deity of God the Son was made known in Christ's post-resurrection appearance to James. (1 Corinthians 15:7). James' passion for Jesus stemmed from the fact that He prized the Lordship of Jesus.
James' passion to live for Jesus
The pages of history tell us of the passion that James had for Jesus Christ. Eusebius, the first church historian, tells the story of how James, the half-brother of Jesus and author of the self-named Epistle was passionate for Jesus due to His desire to live for Jesus. Writing in the fourth century, Eusebius notes the following about James from Book 2, chapter 23:4-7 of his work "Ecclesiastical History":
"4. James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just by all from the time of our Saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James. 5. He was holy from his mother's womb; and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath. 6. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people. 7. Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek, 'Bulwark of the people' and 'Justice,' in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him.'"
James' life centered around the Lord and His interests. He loved to live for Jesus and He was serious about Christ's Lordship - two essential ingredients for a strong, passionate Christianity. Are you and I passionate about Jesus' authority, Lordship over our life? Are you and I passionate about living for Jesus?
As we close today's blog, I'm reminded of the first stanza of the precious hymn: "Living for Jesus" by Thomas O. Chisholm, written in 1917:
"Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
- Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone."
Friday, November 2, 2012
P2 - Traits of a Strong Christian: Prioritizes Spiritual Maturity
James 1:1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes
who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
Yesterday we began exploring the traits of a strong Christian, noting that a Personal testimony is how one is able to maintain the personalized aspect of one's walk with Jesus Christ. If we think of God's Word, prayer and God's people as cornerstones for how one grows stronger in Jesus Christ, keep in mind one's personal testimony will keep such a pursuit ever fresh. Out of a personal testimony comes the second trait of a strong Christian: Prioritizing Spiritual maturity.
What is spiritual maturity?
Spiritual maturity is not only concerned with how much I know as it is in applying what I know. Its not merely about good moral living or right attitudes as it is in using my life and attitudes to point others to Jesus Christ rather than myself. Spiritual maturity is not merely about strength and giftedness as it is excercising great strength and giftedness in the right measure and situation. You can have a Christian who knows much, is eager to live morally right and have incredible talent, and yet still not be mature in their faith.
Three passages come to mind when defining spiritual maturity:
a. Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" The word for "require" in the original language speaks of the Lord's sought-after desires for my life. Thus spiritual maturity is measured by how well I line up the sought-after desires of my heart with God's sought-after desires outlined in His word. Thus spiritual maturity is defined as simply desiring God.
b. Colossians 1:4 "since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints." Not only is spiritual maturity defined by a desire for God, but secondly a delight in the things of God. Do I love Jesus Christ and His people? My love for Christ is visibly seen in my attitude towards His Word. My love for His people is also another indicator of whether or not I delight in the things of God - His Word and His people.
c. Hebrews 5:14 "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
Spiritual maturity is when you and I desire God, delight in the things of God and discern good and evil. How well we excercise ourselves in these three areas measures how spiritually mature we are.
With spiritual maturity defined, lets see it illustrated in the life of James:
James desired God
The testimony of both scripture and history tells us that James prioritized spiritual maturity. Both scripture and history testifies that James was regarded as a Christian who desired God. For example in Galatians 2:9 Paul states: "and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised." James is considered, along with Peter and John, to be a "Pillar" of the church.
John, the beloved disciple who leaned on Jesus at the last supper, the disciple of love, is certainly somebody to look at when considering what it means to desire God. Then who can forget Peter, who was so eager to follow Jesus that he was willing to die for Him. Church history tells us that Peter willingly was martyred for His faith, counting it as a privileged, choosing to be crucified upside down for His Lord. That's desire for God!
So too with James we read in the annals of church history that he was known as "James the Just". So desirous for God was James that we are told his knees had callouses due to the long periods he spent in prayer. Is it no wonder that he could be termed a pillar of the church along with Peter and John - since He desired God.
James delighted in the things of God
The golden verse (main verse) of James' little letter or Epistle is James 2:17 - "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." For James, true biblical faith is a working faith. Delight in the things of God should be expected if one's heart is desiring God. James' epistle is full of exhortations to delight in trials (James 1:3-4); God's word (James 2:8); God's wisdom (James 3:17); God's people (James 4:11) and prayer (James 5:16). These are examples of the things of God. Not all of them will appear positive (especially trials)! However their value is measured in Whom they lead us to - God in Christ!
Christians don't delight in the things of God merely for the sake of the things themselves as much as where the things lead us. If I take a plane to see the Grand Canyon, am I excited about the plane ride only for the sake of the ride or the destination? This is why my attitude toward the things of God is factored into how I measure spiritual maturity. James no doubts exhibited this in his life.
James discerned good from evil
In the Jerusalem counsel of Acts 15 we see James presiding over the Jerusalem council in regards to how the predominately Jewish church was going to preach the Gospel to a pre-dominately Gentile world. His wording at that meeting demonstrates the incredible ability to excercise proper discernment. As I noted earlier - you can have a man who is incredibly gifted, knowledgable and powerful, and yet still not possess true spiritual maturity.
James had all three qualities, and he proved his level of maturity in knowing how to excerise all three in the proper measure and timing. If too many restrictions had been issued at the council of Jerusalem - the church's mission would had been hampered. Too little restrictions would had compromised the consciences and biblical foundations of the church itself. If anything, James' desire for God and delight in the things of God cultivated in him an keen ability to discern.
May you and I grow in our Christian faith. May we be those who prioritize spiritual maturity: Desiring God, Delighting in the things of God and Discerning good from evil.
Yesterday we began exploring the traits of a strong Christian, noting that a Personal testimony is how one is able to maintain the personalized aspect of one's walk with Jesus Christ. If we think of God's Word, prayer and God's people as cornerstones for how one grows stronger in Jesus Christ, keep in mind one's personal testimony will keep such a pursuit ever fresh. Out of a personal testimony comes the second trait of a strong Christian: Prioritizing Spiritual maturity.
What is spiritual maturity?
Spiritual maturity is not only concerned with how much I know as it is in applying what I know. Its not merely about good moral living or right attitudes as it is in using my life and attitudes to point others to Jesus Christ rather than myself. Spiritual maturity is not merely about strength and giftedness as it is excercising great strength and giftedness in the right measure and situation. You can have a Christian who knows much, is eager to live morally right and have incredible talent, and yet still not be mature in their faith.
Three passages come to mind when defining spiritual maturity:
a. Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" The word for "require" in the original language speaks of the Lord's sought-after desires for my life. Thus spiritual maturity is measured by how well I line up the sought-after desires of my heart with God's sought-after desires outlined in His word. Thus spiritual maturity is defined as simply desiring God.
b. Colossians 1:4 "since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints." Not only is spiritual maturity defined by a desire for God, but secondly a delight in the things of God. Do I love Jesus Christ and His people? My love for Christ is visibly seen in my attitude towards His Word. My love for His people is also another indicator of whether or not I delight in the things of God - His Word and His people.
c. Hebrews 5:14 "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
Spiritual maturity is when you and I desire God, delight in the things of God and discern good and evil. How well we excercise ourselves in these three areas measures how spiritually mature we are.
With spiritual maturity defined, lets see it illustrated in the life of James:
James desired God
The testimony of both scripture and history tells us that James prioritized spiritual maturity. Both scripture and history testifies that James was regarded as a Christian who desired God. For example in Galatians 2:9 Paul states: "and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised." James is considered, along with Peter and John, to be a "Pillar" of the church.
John, the beloved disciple who leaned on Jesus at the last supper, the disciple of love, is certainly somebody to look at when considering what it means to desire God. Then who can forget Peter, who was so eager to follow Jesus that he was willing to die for Him. Church history tells us that Peter willingly was martyred for His faith, counting it as a privileged, choosing to be crucified upside down for His Lord. That's desire for God!
So too with James we read in the annals of church history that he was known as "James the Just". So desirous for God was James that we are told his knees had callouses due to the long periods he spent in prayer. Is it no wonder that he could be termed a pillar of the church along with Peter and John - since He desired God.
James delighted in the things of God
The golden verse (main verse) of James' little letter or Epistle is James 2:17 - "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." For James, true biblical faith is a working faith. Delight in the things of God should be expected if one's heart is desiring God. James' epistle is full of exhortations to delight in trials (James 1:3-4); God's word (James 2:8); God's wisdom (James 3:17); God's people (James 4:11) and prayer (James 5:16). These are examples of the things of God. Not all of them will appear positive (especially trials)! However their value is measured in Whom they lead us to - God in Christ!
Christians don't delight in the things of God merely for the sake of the things themselves as much as where the things lead us. If I take a plane to see the Grand Canyon, am I excited about the plane ride only for the sake of the ride or the destination? This is why my attitude toward the things of God is factored into how I measure spiritual maturity. James no doubts exhibited this in his life.
James discerned good from evil
In the Jerusalem counsel of Acts 15 we see James presiding over the Jerusalem council in regards to how the predominately Jewish church was going to preach the Gospel to a pre-dominately Gentile world. His wording at that meeting demonstrates the incredible ability to excercise proper discernment. As I noted earlier - you can have a man who is incredibly gifted, knowledgable and powerful, and yet still not possess true spiritual maturity.
James had all three qualities, and he proved his level of maturity in knowing how to excerise all three in the proper measure and timing. If too many restrictions had been issued at the council of Jerusalem - the church's mission would had been hampered. Too little restrictions would had compromised the consciences and biblical foundations of the church itself. If anything, James' desire for God and delight in the things of God cultivated in him an keen ability to discern.
May you and I grow in our Christian faith. May we be those who prioritize spiritual maturity: Desiring God, Delighting in the things of God and Discerning good from evil.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
P1 - Traits of a Strong Christian: Personal Testimony
James 1:1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
Lately I have been enjoying studying the book of James and the details behind the conversion and identity of James himself. As you look into James' life, you discover a man who exhibited traits that mark a strong Christianity. I don't know about you, but for me as a Christian, I'm desiring to be stronger in my walk with the Lord. What does it take? What characteristics mark those who are strong Christians? Can all Christians have such traits? Today's blog is going to look at James' life as an example of a strong Christian. Note the first trait of a strong Christian - A Personal Testimony.
Defining a personal testimony
When we speak of a Christian's testimony, every single Christian has one. What is a testimony? It is the personal story of what your life was like before your salvation, what events led to your conversion and what life has been like following your faith in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us the pattern: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. " Notice the three ingredients of a Personal Testimony:
1. My life before Christ - "the old things passed away"
2. My conversion - "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creature"
3. My life after Christ - "behold new things have come"
Meet the man who grew up in the same home as Jesus
If you want to see what James was like, you have to begin with Jesus. In Matthew 12:46 we read - "While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him." When Jesus had been conceived and virgin born, Mary and Joseph had other children. In Matthew 13:55-56 we find the first mention of James, the half brother of Jesus according to the flesh - 55“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56“And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
James' life before his conversion - He knew about Jesus' identity but did not believe
As you begin to follow James' life throughout the Gospels, we come to a point wherein we are over half-way through Jesus' ministry. James would had been perhaps in his mid twenties. John records in John 7:3-5 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4“For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For not even His brothers were believing in Him." James would had been included in that number.
James saw the miracles and heard the teaching. We could say that out of all the people that should had believed from the beginning, it would had been the Lord's brother. He grew up not merely in a "Christian home" or "in a preacher's home", he grew up with Jesus! Yet his unbelief prevailed.
He knew about Jesus' identity, but he had not embraced such an identity by grace through faith.
James' conversion - by grace through faith in the resurrected Christ James believes in Jesus for His salvation
So when did James' experience conversion? When did He believe on Jesus Christ as His Savior, Lord and Treasure? We understand in 1 Corinthians 15:7 that following Jesus' resurrection from the dead, He appeared to James: "then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles." This post-resurrection appearance occurred on one of the 40 days following Christ resurrection up until the time Jesus would had ascended in Acts 1. We know James had been converted because following Jesus' ascension, we read of him being with other believers in the upper room awaiting the promise of the Holy Spirit as spoken by Jesus Himself.
Acts 1:13-14 records - 13When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Clearly not only James, but the rest of Jesus' brothers also believed. James' testimony, like every other believer in Jesus Christ, required the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ in grace to draw him to a saving knowledge of the truth (1 Peter 1:23). I don't doubt that when James would later on write in James 1:18 about the new birth in salvation, he was thinking of his own conversion.
James' post-conversion life - the continuation of his personal testimony
According to the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:9, James became known as a "Pillar of the Church" along with Peter and John. We see evidence in Acts 12:17 and Acts 15 of James' leadership over the Church in Jerusalem. Then of course we see how God used James to write the first book of the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - the Book of James.
Now you and I as Christians have a personal testimony. We can or should be able to recount what our lives were like before salvation. We should be able to in at least as much detail as possible recount what took place when we were converted. Then we should be able to recount what life has been like following conversion. A strong Christian personally connects to Christ by faith and in their on-going faith-walk. Every Christian has a testimony, and every Christian has the opportunity to be a strong Christian.
Lately I have been enjoying studying the book of James and the details behind the conversion and identity of James himself. As you look into James' life, you discover a man who exhibited traits that mark a strong Christianity. I don't know about you, but for me as a Christian, I'm desiring to be stronger in my walk with the Lord. What does it take? What characteristics mark those who are strong Christians? Can all Christians have such traits? Today's blog is going to look at James' life as an example of a strong Christian. Note the first trait of a strong Christian - A Personal Testimony.
Defining a personal testimony
When we speak of a Christian's testimony, every single Christian has one. What is a testimony? It is the personal story of what your life was like before your salvation, what events led to your conversion and what life has been like following your faith in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us the pattern: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. " Notice the three ingredients of a Personal Testimony:
1. My life before Christ - "the old things passed away"
2. My conversion - "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creature"
3. My life after Christ - "behold new things have come"
Meet the man who grew up in the same home as Jesus
If you want to see what James was like, you have to begin with Jesus. In Matthew 12:46 we read - "While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him." When Jesus had been conceived and virgin born, Mary and Joseph had other children. In Matthew 13:55-56 we find the first mention of James, the half brother of Jesus according to the flesh - 55“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56“And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
James' life before his conversion - He knew about Jesus' identity but did not believe
As you begin to follow James' life throughout the Gospels, we come to a point wherein we are over half-way through Jesus' ministry. James would had been perhaps in his mid twenties. John records in John 7:3-5 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4“For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For not even His brothers were believing in Him." James would had been included in that number.
James saw the miracles and heard the teaching. We could say that out of all the people that should had believed from the beginning, it would had been the Lord's brother. He grew up not merely in a "Christian home" or "in a preacher's home", he grew up with Jesus! Yet his unbelief prevailed.
He knew about Jesus' identity, but he had not embraced such an identity by grace through faith.
James' conversion - by grace through faith in the resurrected Christ James believes in Jesus for His salvation
So when did James' experience conversion? When did He believe on Jesus Christ as His Savior, Lord and Treasure? We understand in 1 Corinthians 15:7 that following Jesus' resurrection from the dead, He appeared to James: "then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles." This post-resurrection appearance occurred on one of the 40 days following Christ resurrection up until the time Jesus would had ascended in Acts 1. We know James had been converted because following Jesus' ascension, we read of him being with other believers in the upper room awaiting the promise of the Holy Spirit as spoken by Jesus Himself.
Acts 1:13-14 records - 13When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Clearly not only James, but the rest of Jesus' brothers also believed. James' testimony, like every other believer in Jesus Christ, required the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ in grace to draw him to a saving knowledge of the truth (1 Peter 1:23). I don't doubt that when James would later on write in James 1:18 about the new birth in salvation, he was thinking of his own conversion.
James' post-conversion life - the continuation of his personal testimony
According to the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:9, James became known as a "Pillar of the Church" along with Peter and John. We see evidence in Acts 12:17 and Acts 15 of James' leadership over the Church in Jerusalem. Then of course we see how God used James to write the first book of the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - the Book of James.
Now you and I as Christians have a personal testimony. We can or should be able to recount what our lives were like before salvation. We should be able to in at least as much detail as possible recount what took place when we were converted. Then we should be able to recount what life has been like following conversion. A strong Christian personally connects to Christ by faith and in their on-going faith-walk. Every Christian has a testimony, and every Christian has the opportunity to be a strong Christian.
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