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Kaleidoscope World

This video was taken during one of our worship services. The song was used as an introductio to one of the sermons about "What We Can Contribute to Building a Just and Peaceful Society." Francis M's Kaleidoscope World agrees with the message that each of us have a part in building such a society (please refer to the series on The Epistle of James blogs).

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REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

What a Believing Community Can Do to Deal with Difficulties (Part 2)

James 5:12-20

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
14 Is 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;
15 and 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.
19My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,
20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.


Introduction
In the first part of this message, we talked about warnings or road signs given by James to the dispersed Jewish believers. These road signs taught us to consider God’s will, be kind to people, and be patient in times of difficulties.

Today, we will hear the last message in our series “Reflections from the Epistle of James.” This is also the 2nd part of message #4 and was taken from the last section of the Epistle.

Let us continue to listen to this 1st century message and glean some more for our 21st century life.

I. Be Honest (v.12)
This verse is related to the issue of speech James was talking about throughout the Epistle. James also spoke out against taking oaths. The swearing of oaths was common among the Jews. Oaths were taken as a solemn declaration as to the truth of something or as a commitment to future action (Oxford). Taking an oath was such a common practice that many entered into these oaths lightly which explains why James said “so that you may not fall under judgment.” Christians should be true to their words. We need to be honest all the time.

It is common to Filipinos to say “di ko sure” (I’m not sure) whenever they are invited to an event, most of the time it means “no, I’m not coming.” When invited to eat we usually say “no thanks busog pa po ako” even if we are starving. In order to avoid embarrassment we say such statements.

In this regard Christians need to speak the truth at all times. There is a Filipino saying that says, “Ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasama ng maluwat.” The essence of this saying is that if we speak the truth our relationships will last. In times of difficulties, we need to speak the truth because this will help us get through the difficulties.

II. Call Upon the Lord (v.v. 13-18)
Instead of swearing when in trouble, James exhorted this bunch of Christians to pray. Instead of murmuring or complaining believers need to bring their pain and suffering to God through prayer. Difficult times should be turned to occasions of prayer. The ministry of the elders was also highlighted. The sick is to call the attention of the elders to pray for them and to anoint them with oil. The anointing of oil was a common practice in their time but here it was done in the name of the Lord. “Elder” refers to the official leaders of the church.

While it is true that the sick should pray for themselves, James told them to call their church leaders to intercede for them. To confess their sins to one another will also help in the speedy resolution of their troubles and will make their prayers effective. Here an effective prayer is related to being righteous in God’s sight. When we accepted Christ, we are declared justified. We are declared righteous. Elijah was man who showed what the prayer of a Christian can accomplish.

In times of difficulties, we should call upon the Lord instead of swearing. God the Father declared each of us righteous by virtue of the death of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. Therefore, our prayers will be effective because of what Christ has done for us.

III. Care for One Another (v.v. 19-20)
James was referring to those who have drifted away from their faith and were living contrary to faith. The one who helped such individuals is declaring forgiveness on a wider and deeper sense.

This last section of the Epistle rings loudly in our ears because we are now facing a challenge of leading people back to our church. We are not in the position to tell whether they have drifted away from their faith but the mere fact that they don’t go to church anymore sends an important message for all of us. I know we can do something for them for the forgiveness of sins. I am sure there are ways and means to bring them back to our fold to continue their journey with us. We will not rest until we have done our best to reach out for the people who once shared the joy of serving God with us.


Conclusion
These road signs from James will surely help us get through difficult times.
James was concerned with the practical outworking of faith. Right living is the proof of faith. We, the Church should be the springboard of compassion, truth, love, and obedience. Faith is not something we say or think about but something we do. It is something we live day by day.

There is a need for us to go back to the practical application of faith to meet the needs of people around us. With God’s help we ought to put to practice the Christianity (religion) James was talking about.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

What a Believing Community Can Do to Deal with Difficulties (Part 1)
James 4:13-5:11

James 4:13-17
13Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."
14Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
15Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."
16But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.
17Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 5:1-11
1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
2Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
3Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
4Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
10As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11We count those blessed who endured you have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.


Introduction

Last week’s message dealt with what the Christian church can contribute to building a peaceful and just society. The premise was that the church is to be in the forefront of promoting maturity and discipline, true wisdom, and humility.

The fourth message in our series is about what we can do to deal with difficulties. James wrote to dispersed Jewish Christians. As such, they were under difficult situation, struggling to make sense of their status. The paragraph we are dealing with today is found in at the close of James’ epistle. It served as ‘road signs’ to ensure a safe and successful journey for this bunch of deported Jewish believers.

The message of James to this 1st century believing community can be useful for the 21st century Christians as well. Let’s take a look at these ‘road signs’:

I. Consider God’s Will (4:13-17)
When difficulty strikes consider God’s will. This section is addressed to rich Christians who are living and managing their businesses the way the world does. They don’t care so much about God’s will. They act like they are the real masters of their own lives. “…you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil” said James (4:16). Life is just a tiny speck in the light of eternity. We are like a vapor that billows up for a little while and disappears. In this regard, considering God’s will in every decision is very important.

Instead of saying "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit", you should say "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." We should never act as if we are in full control of what will happen tomorrow. A few years back, there was a song that says “it’s my life…” I will do whatever I want, it’s my life anyway. Yes, it’s your life but God is the giver of life and he holds the sole right to direct that life of yours.

Since life is too short and nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, we ought to entrust to God even the smallest details of our being and let His will take its rightful place. If we fail to do what we ought to do we are committing a sin. Procrastination is not an option. Every serious Christian ought to do what he needs to do.

II. Do not Abuse your Employees (5:1-6)
Another road sign says, “do not abuse your employees” (5:1-6). This portion is intended for unbelieving rich who oppress the poor. The main reason for these abuses is the negative effect of wealth to these people. James condemns these effects not the rich. The Bible declares that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). We definitely need money to live and do businesses, pay our bills, send our kids to school, and buy what we need. We need money to go on with the ministry.

Money is not evil in itself it is the love of money that leads one to abuse the people that are working for them. James declared that these kinds of people are storing up evidences for the coming judgment day. It is very interesting to note that the cries of the oppressed poor are reaching the throne of God. In the book Exodus the same statement is found when the cries of Israelites reached the ears of the Lord (Exo. 3:7). The people of God were experiencing terrible oppression courtesy of the Egyptians. God’s heart is always close to those who are oppressed (Matt. 5:10, 11).

If you are a boos, an owner of a company, a supervisor, a manager, a principal or owner of a school, a mother or a father, whatever your career may be the warning from the epistle of James rings very clear: “Do not abuse the people around you especially those who are close to you and working hard for you.” Give what’s due for them and do not use your money to oppress them. Manage your people using God’s standards rather than the world’s standard.

III. Be Patient (5:7-11)
In this section, James turns his attention once again to the poor who are oppressed by the wealthy in 5:1-6. He exhorts them to be patient in the light of the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord brings hope for the poor and the oppressed. This hope will help them persevere and be patient for they know that God will surely return to reward them. He used the example of a farmer who patiently waits for the harvest. The “early and late rains” refer to the short rainy periods in Palestine before and after the main rainy season probably in November through April.

To be patient is “to be able to bear pains or trials without complaint.” This definition is fitting for a believing community who was suffering from pains and trials. They need to practice this virtue to be able to emerge victorious from the difficulties of being persecuted outside of their homeland.

Just like Job who patiently endured the severe trials that struck his life and the life of his entire family and possessions. He emerged triumphant from the tragedies and God restored to his possession all the things that were taken from him. God blessed him twice as much as before (Job 42: 10). In the New Testament, we have the best example of patience. Jesus Christ the begotten Son of God endured the sufferings and death on the cross. He is our ultimate example.

There is no room for grumbling for if we grumble God’s judgment will fall on us. We are not to blame and judge others for our miseries. God has the sole right to judge us based on our own deeds. Just like a farmer, Job, ultimately Jesus Christ let us practice patience as a true blooded Filipino. Filipinos laugh at tragedies, we always find time to relax and entertain ourselves after a long and tiring day. The vernacular terms “pagtitiis” or “tiyaga” indicates a strong determination to go on with life despite constant rains, typhoons, floods, rising prices of commodities, and other sorts of hardship as part of living in the Philippines. This Filipino virtue can be easily translated into our life as Filipino Christians in order to manage difficulties.


Conclusion

In his book ‘You’ve Got What It Takes’, Dave Grant explained the difference between a ‘reaction’ and a ‘response.’ People who ‘react’ to situations in life use the pronoun “YOU”. When they experience difficulties, they jump out of character and blame others.

People who ‘respond’ to situations use the pronoun “I.” They make things happen because they’re in control of their own feelings. They tell people what they feel without blaming that person for their misfortunes.

Jesus was consistent in responding rather than reacting to the circumstances of life. He is aware that we face many pressures in life as a believing community. He wants us to follow His example. When things go wrong, respond by considering God’s will, being kind to people who work under your supervision, and practice patience.

Facade Renovation Update

Thank God! We are almost done with our facade renovation. We just have to put the Foursquare emblems on the panels. Thank you for your support.
The next phase of the project is the extension of the canopy, extension of the lobby and ramp. Watch out for more updates.
God bless you.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

What We Can Contribute to Building a Peaceful and Just Society
James 3:1-4:12

James 3 (The Message)

1-2Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.
3-5A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!
5-6It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
7-10This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!
10-12My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?
13-16Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.
17-18Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

James 4
1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
4-6You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."
7-10So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.
11-12Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?

Introduction
The first message in the series, entitled “A Closer Look at Trials” encouraged us not to resent trials but to take them as occasion to be joyful, to be wise and fair, and to consider the goodness of God.
The second message, “A No-Nonsense Faith” challenged us to find ways to unite our thoughts and actions.
The second part of Francis M.’s ‘Kaleidoscope World’ aptly illustrates the issues we are going to address in the third message in our series.

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bass line strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Today, we will talk about our contribution to building a peaceful and just society. Each of us plays an important role in this endeavor. As the song says, no matter how big or small our role may be, it adds color to our society. Our premise is that the church should take the lead in upholding peace and righteousness in the society.

Let us put the church in the forefront of promoting:

I. Maturity and Discipline (3:1-12)
Proper use of the tongue indicates maturity. The problems in James’s day were quite different from what we experience today. But they way we react or respond to problems and trials are the same. James addressed the issue of the use of tongue to the teachers of his day. His reference to teachers was not restricted to individuals selected for an official and specific task of teaching. He was referring to nearly impulsive effort by individuals to teach whenever they felt the leadership of God’s Spirit. Certainly, there were individuals in James’s day who eagerly desire to be teachers but do not realize the accompanying responsibility. Thus, he warned them to be cautious because teachers receive greater condemnation or judgment.
They way use our tongue indicates the level of our maturity. We are all teachers in our own rights. The way we talk and act greatly influences people. Teachers have great influence. Do you remember the persons who were most influential in your own life? Your school teachers, Sunday school teachers, youth advisers, parents, and a lot more persons who influenced the way you think, talk, and act. In fact, there were times that the influence of teachers may be more far-reaching than that of parents.
If the tongue is disciplined the whole person is disciplined as well. James used the analogy of bits in the horse’s mouth, rudder, and forest fires set by a small fire. All these examples point to how a small thing called tongue can build or ruin lives and communities. The point James is trying to drive is that a disciplined tongue means a disciplined life. If we as Christians are mature and disciplined, we can be sure that building a peaceful and just society is not difficult to achieve.

II. True Wisdom (3:13-18)
False wisdom is selfish and arrogant. Once more we are reminded of James’s insistence that the good qualities of life must be shown in practical ways. Another challenge was thrown by the writer to his recipients: “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.”(3:13-14, NASB, italics added).
There are many in our churches today who claim to such achievements. It is easy and pleasant to claim wisdom, but such self-proclaimed wisdom is seldom true wisdom. True wisdom never calls attention to itself, never displays itself for personal profit. If one claims he is wise yet he displays a selfish and arrogant life, his wisdom is false. Let this be known from the government, corporate and business executives to the lowly daily wage workers that true wisdom is pure and peace loving never selfish and arrogant.
It is not enough to brag about wisdom; it is not enough to claim to have understanding. These qualities, if real, will manifest themselves in the type of life lived. The wise man shows his works, not his wisdom. The man who is wise and understanding “is to show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”
Christians need to translate their wisdom into concrete or tactile conduct because that is what our society needs today.

III. Preventive Measures (4:1-12)
The roots of discord are sinfulness, worldliness, and bad-mouthing. Why do such things happen in the life of these Jewish Christians? They quarrel, they envy one another, they kill, they slander, and they compromise with worldly patterns. It was wrong. They were wrong because their actions showed a complete disregard for the personality of the other individual. They were wrong because their actions indicated a total misunderstanding of God. They were wrong because their actions were unworthy of the Christ whom these people claimed they love and serve. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). By avoiding such mistakes, we are doing our society an act of kindness.
Humility is one effective preventive measure. Humility is the very opposite of pride. To humble ourselves before God means we must admit that we have nothing upon which to rely in the presence of God. Our best is worthless before him. Our few good deeds are meaningless because of our sin. In the final analysis, we must rely totally upon God’s mercy. Instead of quarreling over worldly matters, Christians from James’s period to the present time must rely solely upon God. We should not rely on our own wisdom; we should not rely on our own strength rather let society see that our strength and wisdom come from God. We should avoid false humility instead; let us avoid the mistakes of James’s readers by being humble all the time and in all places.

Conclusion
The task of building a peaceful and just society rests in the shoulders of every concerned citizen. However, the church as mandated by the Lord, should take the lead in this endeavor. In order to accomplish this task effectively, we need to make sure that there is peace, righteousness, and humility inside the church. These virtues will abundantly flow from our church to our community until such time that the entire society is immersed in the peace, humility, and righteousness of the Lord. We will refuse to let this flow be hampered by the sinfulness of the world.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

A No-Nonsense Faith
James 1:19-2:26

Introduction
No-nonsense means practical and serious, and only interested in doing what is necessary or achieving what is intended, without silly ideas or methods. (Cambridge)

The Bible demands a direct application of what it says. James is demanding the same no-nonsense conversion of our faith into good works.

I. A No-Nonsense Faith will Keep Us Away from Discord (1:19-27)
James opens this section with an exhortation to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” It will be a very frustrating scenario for these Jewish Christians to be in discord while suffering from various trials and temptation and living in a foreign land. Instead of falling into the trap of rebellion and disagreement, they were exhorted to just do what God’s Word says. A quick response to God’s word will keep them away from discord.
The marks of a genuine faith (religion) are first, a controlled tongue. One must be in good command of his tongue. I was watching a talk show few days ago and there was this famous actress who uttered kind words on TV yet at the end of the interview she blurted out a crisp, short sentence that marred her previous statements.
Next is an intentional ministry for the poor. Caring for the poor is also an important mark of a genuine faith. Churches should see to it that the poor is well-taken care of. We should do something to alleviate their living. Another mark of a genuine faith is a corruption-free lifestyle. The pattern of this world (as the apostle Paul puts in Romans 12: 2) is not in accordance with God’s pattern of living. We can enjoy the things that the world offers without compromising our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In whatever we do everyday let us see to it that we are not staining our life with the corruption of this world.
If we are occupied by these actions, there will be no time for discord.

II. A No-Nonsense Faith Keeps Us Away from Favoritism (2:1-13)
One of the causes of favoritism is comparison. Dave Grant in his book “you’ve Got What It Takes” (1978) said that feelings of inferiority can result when you constantly compare yourself to others.” When you compare a person to another person, you are actually saying that one is inferior to the other. This kind of practice is inconsistent with the Christina faith. And as such, you are committing a sin.
Instead of showing favoritism, one should see to it that God’s love is applied to every particular situation in life. James’ readers were somewhat made to believe that some lapses from the rich is tolerable. They failed to apply what Jesus taught in the Gospel about loving their neighbors. God does not show favoritism.
As a church we must see to it that God’s love is felt by every sector of society – rich or poor. A very important reminder was given to us: God will judge us based on whether or not we have dispensed mercy to those who deserve it. If we are merciful here now, God will also be merciful to us in the coming Day of Judgment. In view of this fact, let us take every opportunity to show mercy to people regardless of their status in the society.

III. A No-Nonsense Faith Enables Us to Put Our Words Into Action (2:14-26)
Now that we are saved, we need to prove it by our good works. While Paul is saying that one cannot be saved by good works, James is saying that salvation produces good works. James used the examples of Abraham and Rahab. Both of them acted on their faith. Faith results to actions appropriate to such a declaration of faith. If it lacks good works then, that faith is nonsense. It cannot accomplish anything.
Good deeds are impartial evidence that our faith is active or on the go. James is referring to a faith that accomplishes something good for other people. If one fails to do this, his faith is just like those of the demons. Our good works reflects our inner character. We don’t end by just confessing that we are Christians, we need to prove that confession with works that are beneficial to others. God desires that we attain to that level where our faith is alive and active. He desires that kind of faith not a dead one.

Conclusion
Our goal is to have a meaningful praxis. Praxis means ‘translating or converting a thought or an idea into action.’ It may also refer to ‘the way we do things.’ The union of thought and action is what we need as Christians.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to show us the right way on how to convert our faith into action.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

The Epistle

Author: James, the brother of Jesus wrote this epistle. He served as the Pastor of the Judean church for a long time.

Story of the Martyrdom of James
“According to Josephus; and Hegesippus, a Christian historian of the second century, whose narrative Eusebeus accepts:
Shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, 70 A.D., when the Jews were, in large numbers, embracing Christianity, Ananus, the High-Priest, and the Scribes and Pharisees, about the year 62 A.D. or 66 A.D., assembled the Sanhedrin, and commanded James, ‘the brother of Jesus who was called Christ’, to proclaim from one of the galleries of the Temple that Jesus Was Not the Messiah. But, instead, James cried out that Jesus Was the Son of God and Judge of the World.
Then his enraged enemies hurled him to the ground, and stoned him, till a charitable fuller ended his sufferings with a club, while he was on his knees praying, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’” (Halley, 1962)

Recipients: The epistle is addressed to all the Jewish Christians living outside Palestine.

Main Concern: James’ main intention is to strengthen the faith and devotion of the persecuted and dispersed Jewish believers.
James is concerned about life within the believing community. It is true that each individual should do his or her role, but the concern here is a healthy community not personal holiness.

Probable Date of Writing: The epistle was probably written between 49-50 A.D.


A Closer Look at Trials
James 1:2-18

James 1:1-18 (NASB)
Testing Your Faith

1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 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.
6 But 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.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once 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 being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.


Introduction

To talk about trials and testing will only aggravate the already burdensome life here on earth. James, however, is begging us to take a closer look at trials to see if we can pick up some good things out of bad situations.


I. An Occasion to be Joyful (1: 2-4)
“Consider it all joy my brethren…” trials serve as occasion to experience joy in the Lord. There is a better alternative to frowning when we experience trials – be joyful! This alternative is not difficult for Filipinos. We can easily smile at the troubles we experience almost everyday. There was even a survey reports that Filipinos is the 6th happiest people in the world and the no. 1 happiest people in Asia.
When situations such as persecution, hard moral choices and tragic experiences come, let us accept the hardship involved but seeks a transformed perspective on such trials.
When these situations come our way, we need to see what God is doing and to look forward to what He is preparing for us. Perseverance or endurance is faith stretched out. It involves trusting God for a long period of time. This will help us to persevere.
The result of perseverance is maturity. It involves the shaping of the whole person. This shaping is a process. Just as a butterfly should not be taken out of the cocoon too soon, so also the process of molding the character cannot be short-circuited.

II. An Occasion to Pray for Wisdom (1: 5-8)
Wisdom is the ability to make wise decisions in difficult situations.
The assurance of a wise decision comes with two conditions:
o He must believe – one must commit his faith to God when he asks for wisdom. It means a determined trusting in the face of uncertainties and doubts.
o He must not doubt – doubting is reserving some alternative actions in case God fails to answer our prayers. James said if we doubt we are like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. In the same way, doubting persons struggle between trusting God and preparing for alternatives in the event that God failed to send the favor.

The goal here is steadfast faith that refuses to be disturbed in all the storms of life. God is gracious but the person with a divided mind should not expect anything from God.

III. An Occasion to Demonstrate Equality (1: 9-11)
The poor are sometimes overlooked even in our churches today but they are not overlooked by God. The poor always have a place in the family of God even during the Old Testament. The rich should not boast about their wealth because just like flowering glass they will fade away.
This serves as comfort for people who are far away from home just like James’ recipients who were dispersed abroad. They are marginalized because they are foreigners and they are poor. There is the tendency to put the rich above the poor. A song by a popular local singer says, “Baliktarin ang tatsulok ang kagaya mong dukha ilagay mo sa tuktok…” (Bamboo). This song says that the poor should be placed on top. James on the other hand, is saying that the rich and the poor are equal. Wealth as well as poverty is only temporal. God wants us to rely on his eternal promises. Both the rich and the poor should trust God.

IV. An Occasion to Consider the Goodness of God (1: 12-18)
There is a song that goes, “it’s good to remember the goodness of God…” In times of difficulties, remembering the goodness of God will enable one to rise above the situation.
God should not be blamed for trials and temptations because he does not temp anyone nor can God be tempted by evil. We are tempted by our own sinful desires and thoughts. We can be assured that God wants only the best for us.

Here are some further evidences of God’s goodness:
o God chose to give us new life through the Word of truth.
o He is the author of creation and of new creation
o We see God’s goodness in the work of Christ.

The idea of “first fruits” shows that God will redeem humanity and creation. Indeed, the rebirth of Christian believers is the start of the redemption of all creation.


Conclusion

We don’t have to resent trials and testing whenever they come. Rather, let us take them as great opportunities to be joyful, to ask for wisdom, to be fair, and to think about God’s goodness.

Reflections from the Epistle of James

FOURSQUARE MALAGASANG is embarking on a new series called "Reflections on the Epistle of James."

BELIEVE IT ! TALK ABOUT IT! LIVE IT!

The evidence of our faith is a CHANGED LIFE!!!

Welcome to 'TRUE LOVE WAITS'

True Love Waits challenges teenagers and college students to make a commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage. True Love Waits encourages moral purity by adhering to biblical principles. It utilizes positive peer pressure by encouraging those who make a commitment to refrain from pre-marital sex to challenge their peers to do the same.


PLEDGE
"Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship."

To all our DABARKADS: please give your comments and sign up if you want to commit yourself to this cause. Thank you.

When God Prayed

John 17: 1-26 (The Message)

Jesus' Prayer for His Followers

1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of your Son So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor. You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do. And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor, The very splendor I had in your presence Before there was a world.

6-12 I spelled out your character in detail To the men and women you gave me. They were yours in the first place; Then you gave them to me, And they have now done what you said. They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt, That everything you gave me is firsthand from you, For the message you gave me, I gave them; And they took it, and were convinced That I came from you. They believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I'm not praying for the God-rejecting world But for those you gave me, For they are yours by right. Everything mine is yours, and yours mine, And my life is on display in them. For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world; They'll continue in the world While I return to you. Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life That you conferred as a gift through me, So they can be one heart and mind As we are one heart and mind. As long as I was with them, I guarded them In the pursuit of the life you gave through me; I even posted a night watch. And not one of them got away, Except for the rebel bent on destruction (the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).

13-19Now I'm returning to you. I'm saying these things in the world's hearing So my people can experience My joy completed in them. I gave them your word; The godless world hated them because of it, Because they didn't join the world's ways, Just as I didn't join the world's ways. I'm not asking that you take them out of the world But that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world Than I am defined by the world. Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I'm consecrating myself for their sakes So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

20-23I'm praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they'll be as unified and together as we are— I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you've sent me and loved them In the same way you've loved me.

24-26Father, I want those you gave me To be with me, right where I am, So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, Having loved me Long before there ever was a world. Righteous Father, the world has never known you, But I have known you, and these disciples know That you sent me on this mission. I have made your very being known to them— Who you are and what you do— And continue to make it known, So that your love for me Might be in them Exactly as I am in them.

Introduction

The periscope where we find John 17 is called Jesus’ “table talk.” Several themes are repeated over and over such as; Jesus is going away, the disciples will be left to continue the work of Jesus, but they will not do it alone, the Holy Spirit will be sent to help them out (Jn. 13-17).
John 17: 1-26 is the longest of Jesus’ recorded prayers and was spoken in the presence of the disciples in the Upper Room or somewhere along the way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

To be exact, He said this prayer just before He was arrested and was subjected to illegal trial. He prayed for Himself, the 12 disciples, and for future believers.According to Charles Spurgeon, "Some brethren pray by the yard; but true prayer is measured by weight, and not by length." Indeed, Jesus’ prayer is weighty and deserves our full attention. Join me as we walk through this heavy prayer.

A Prayer to Glorify Jesus (vv. 1-5, 24-26)
To glorify is to make known or reveal something. Verse 1 (“…the time has come…”) gives us the hint that the time has come for Jesus’ glorification. If you will remember, several times in the Gospels Jesus warned the disciples and certain people not to tell anyone who He was (Matt. 12:6; Matt. 16:20; Mk. 3:12; Mk. 7:36; Mk. 8:30; Luke 5:14; Luke 8:56; & Luke 9:21). But this time, He Himself asked the Father to reveal who He really is: He is the glorious Son of God. Jesus spoke of His work as though it had already happened, and by virtue of this completed work, He asked the Father to restore the glory he had shared with the Father, before the world began. Now, the time has come to reveal the glory of the only begotten Son of God. Eternal life means to know the Father and His Christ. For almost three (3) years, Jesus introduced the Father first to His disciples and then to all the people they met. We receive eternal life only by knowing the One true God. This experience should be personal and permanent. Once a year we celebrate Rizal Day where we give due honor to our National hero Dr. Jose Rizal by virtue of his martyrdom. As Jesus prayed, we too must give due honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ not just because of what He has done but because of Who He really is in our lives. Every single day that goes by gives us opportunity to glorify Him.

A Prayer of Concern for His Followers (vv. 6-19)
For nearly three (3) years, Jesus taught the disciples about so many things and prepared them for His departure. He revealed the Father to them and showed them the truth. Now that He is going back to the Father, He commends them and asked that they would be protected. He doesn’t want them to scatter, thus, neglecting the truth that He so zealously taught them. He also asked for the unity of the disciples, a unity that reflects His oneness with the Father. Another petition is for the holiness of His disciples. To be holy is to set apart. Their sole mission is to continue the work of Christ. They are set apart for that purpose. This part of Jesus’ prayer is centered on the unity of His followers. What we can see here is the concern of a teacher or master for his students. It pictures our relationship with our own disciples or students. We don’t like them to go astray or scatter; rather we want them to continue our legacy. We prepare our children – the younger generation – for the task ahead of them. We inspire them to go beyond what we have accomplished. We pray that they will have a brighter future. Let us allow our relationship with one another to be a picture of the unity of the Father and the Son thus, fulfill Jesus’ petitions.

A Prayer for the Unity of Future Followers (vv. 20-23)
Another petition relates to oneness. The word "one" was mentioned five times (17:11, 20, 22, 23). During the previous years the idea of church unity was used as the agenda for countless conventions on how to unite the different denominations. For some oneness could only mean a single world-wide government. Slowly it has become clear that there is nothing wrong with denominations. Like business franchises, denominations enable and support groupings of congregations to emphasize distinctive forms of life and worship.
The oneness of a harmonious orchestra is not that there is only one note running through the song, or only one instrument being used to play the music. Rather its glory is in the rich variety of different notes and musical instruments that contribute to the beauty of the music.
In the same way, there is beauty in the fellowship of different congregations united in a single purpose of serving the Lord and giving Him the glory He deserves. This kind of unity will convince the world of the truth of the Father’s love.

Conclusion
Television and Newspaper headlines bring a lot of headaches. News about kidnapping, big companies closing down, and tragedies such as floods and the most recent, a powerful blast that gutted a fireworks factory somewhere in Trece Martires, Cavite may lead to a lot of depression or anxiety. However, the headlines of John 17 are indeed good news for all of us: “The blessed Master and Savior going into the depths of his own suffering and sorrow was doing his best to pray for us.” Indeed, our Lord deserves to be glorified.

Delivered by Ptr. Dhon, Feb. 01, '09 @ Foursquare Malagasang

What Is A Church?

MOST - Video

Christian The Lion - Video

When God Ran - Video

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe in the four-fold ministry of Jesus

As the Savior

The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit

The Healer

and the Soon-Coming King

Foursquare - Malagasang Ministries

“..the harvest is plentiful..”

MFGC caters the needs of:
UFM

United Foursquare Men
UFW

United Foursquare Women
FORUM

(Young Professionals and Young Couples)
YOUTH

High School and College
CHILDREN

Sonshine Kids Club (SKC) and Children’s Church

Foursquare - Malagasang Ministries

Foursquare - Malagasang is currently implementing the principles of Natural Church Development (NCD).

To strengthen our evangelism effort and our relationship to the community, MFGC launched its social arm called “MFGC Community Center” last November 2008.

MFGC Community Center offers free blood pressure check-up, pre-natal and post-natal check-up, first aid, and SPED advice. We shall continue to offer other services in the near future.

MFGC Vsion-Mission Statement

Vision
“Empowered believers, effective ministries, and transformed communities for the glory God.”


Mission
“To equip every believer with the Word of God and to develop functional ministries that would bring transformation to our communities.”

80th Anniversary

Malagasang Foursquare Gospel Church will be celebrating its 80th anniversary on January 25, 2009 @ 6pm, with the theme “Strong and Might @ 80”.


This event will also serve as inauguration/ribbon cutting of the new MFGC façade. Anniversary guest speaker is Rev. Markus Huyssen.

Come and celebrate with us!

WELCOME TO FOURSQUARE - MALAGASANG

Welcome to FOURSQUARE - MALAGASANG!