Words have great impact in our lives and eternal destiny, James 3: 3-11

James 3: 3-11
3 [a]Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of [b]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [c]nature; and it is set on fire by [d]hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the [e]similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

In chapter 2 of the book of James, the author teaches us that if we're genuinely saved our faith will result in good works.

If we're to grow in our faith:

1. We need to pay careful attention and check every word we speak.
And words are created by the help of the tongue. Words are associated with the tongue and this is why James used this as an illustration to drive his point, and also how words formed in tongue affects the way we live, tongue may be a small part of the bod, but it can affect our eternal destiny.

James used different illustrations to show how a small part can affect the whole thing.

1. Bits of the horses. (verse 3)
2. The rudder of a ship (verse 4)
3. The tongue from the body (verse 5)
4. Forest fires from a single spark (verse 5)

2. A genuine believer saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is a new creature and live a life as it should. Born again in the spirit.

James used illustration that shows great contrast to prove his point:

1. Same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing.
2. Same spring opening, runs both fresh and bitter water.


2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Ephesians 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ

1. Peter (Simon Peter)
2. James, the son of Alphaeus
3. John, brother of James (son of Zebedee)
4. Andrew, brother of Simon Peter
5. Bartholomew or Nathanael
6. James, the son of Zebedee
7. Judas Iscariot
8. Jude or Lebbaeus Thaddeus
9. Matthew or Levi
10. Philip
11. Simon, the Zealot or the Cananite
12. Thomas

Matthew 10:2-4 (NKJV)
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and [a]Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the [b]Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

What it means "Take Up Your Cross and Follow Him"

Matthew 16:24-28  (NKJV)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Taking up my "cross" means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.
- A. W. Pink

A genuine believer will always desire to follow Jesus Christ. It doesn't mean that you're forced to follow, but with a grateful, gladness and joyful heart he or she follows the Lord.

Luke 10:27
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Psalms 63:8
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

And following Jesus Christ means also rejecting or denying the things that are not of God's (sins, the worldly pleasures and riches that hinders spiritual growth)

The nature of man will always seek the things of the world, lust of the eyes,

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

Verse 25, means that whoever is focused determined to live earthly life, the comfort, the riches, the best health care,  the pleasures and sins of the world and without salvation of Jesus Christ, will lost it all through eternity.

Verse 26, the worth of all the riches, power and glory in this earth is nothing compare to eternity with Jesus Christ (salvation). 

Salvation can't be bought or exchanged by all worldly riches. Though salvation is priceless, but still paid in full, it was only purchased through (sacrifice) the precious blood of the one and only savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

That's why we should not be blinded or mislead by the false hopes that this world offers, the riches, fame, pride of life and the glory that our flesh desires.

Material things not offer to God will just passed away, with no eternal value. Only what's done for Christ will last through eternity.

Matthew 6:19-20, 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Therefore, let our focus be in our eternal destiny, and not be consumed by things of the world. Yes we can enjoy God's material blessings but we should not neglect our eternal eternal life in Christ!

The bible speaks of two choices only, eternal separation with God (Hell) or eternal life with God.

John 3:16-17, 16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Matthew 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Verse 27, Is an encouragement to all believers to always obey what the Lord has commanded His people even if means to suffer many things in the world, because He will reward the believers according to their deeds.

Believers not only saved (eternity with Him), but also God the righteous judge will reward his people.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

What Is the Biblical meaning of the Church?

"Church" is the translation of the Greek term "ekklesia", which literally means assembly, congregation, or meeting. In the New Testament it is used to identify the group or community of believers in Jesus Christ.

An important to note also that in the New Testament the Church is not referred to any building, temple, chapel, or any meeting place. 

In Acts 8: 3 we read that Luke the writer of the book of Acts distinguished the church from a building (house)

Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

The term always referred to the Christian assembly and was used for both the local community of believers and the overall collection of Christians.

Church as a local community:

Revelation 1:11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

Revelation 2:1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:"

Church as a universal collection of believers in Jesus Christ:

Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church [a]of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

1 Corinthians 12: 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Believers Response to Trials, James 1: 2-4

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

1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been [a]grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

One of the things that the student fear in school are the exams or tests.
I'm sure that most of us can relate to that, and it's not a pleasant experience specially if you fail despite the great effort in studying.

In real life that unpleasant experiences of the student having exams are magnified multiple times.

Trial is defined as test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something.
Trial is a formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.

A true believer of Jesus Christ will respond to various trials with pure Joy.
In the Bible, joy means the happiness based on the character of God and not based on the circumstances.

Christians are joyful in trials because God is faithful and He has a good purpose of allowing it.

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

1 John 5:4-5

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—[a]our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

James, reminded the believers to treat any kinds of trials as joyful experiences because it will result in the glorification of God and a changed character.

One of the purpose of trials in a believers life is to test our faith.

Genuine faith in Jesus Christ means that our faith will be: 

1. Tested
The process in which we can determine or judge properly the truth from error and real from imitations.
E.g. The teacher will give test to the students to determine the lessons learned.
The judge will test or tried the accused to determine if guilty.

The same truth is also applied to our Christian faith. God will test it to prove it's genuineness.

1 Peter 1:7
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.
- Charles Spurgeon

Sorrows and trials are like the sand and grit that polish a stone.
- G. V. Wigraw

2. Always produce good works or fruits of the Holy Spirit.
When we're undergoing trials, we pray for our needs and sometimes God's timing is not as we expect therefore allowing us to cultivate or exercise patience, one of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow.
- Warren Wiersbe

I think Christians fail so often to get answers to their prayers because they do not wait long enough on God. They just drop down and say a few words, and then jump up and forget it and expect God to answer them. Such praying always reminds me of the small boy ringing his neighbor's door-bell, and then running away as fast as he can go.
- E.M. Bounds

Trials should not surprise us, or cause us to doubt God's faithfulness. Rather, we should actually be glad for them. God sends trials to strengthen our trust in him so that our faith will not fail. Our trials keep us trusting; they burn away our self confidence and drive us to our Savior.
- Edmund Clowney

As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises.
- David Wilkerson

Jesus Walks on the Sea - Matthew 14:22-33

Parallel verses: Mark 6: 45-52, John 6: 15-21

22 Immediately Jesus [a]made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now [b]in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, [c]“Be of good cheer! [d]It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw [e]that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat [f]came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

After the feeding of the five thousand which was a great miracle that many people witnessed, Jesus sends the crowd away and went to the mountain alone while His disciples immediately got into the boat, but still many stayed and was determined to set him up as a king of the Jews that would liberate them from the Roman Empire.

John 6:14-15, Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

God's plan is to set-up a spiritual kingdom in the heart of the believers and not a worldly (military and political) kingdom which the Jews expects of the Messiah.

Application: 

1. Christians are not exempted with problems and sufferings. Verse 24.

Sometimes in our Christian Life we feel that God is far away or unwilling to help us in struggles (financial problems, pressures in life, and our weaknesses)with the people around us and even to ourselves. 

We feel like we're isolated and God seems to be silent.

In fact, Christianity is a victorious life of many trials and sufferings, yet God allows these unpleasant things to come into our lives for different reasons. One reason is to test our faith in Him, resulting in the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore we should  embrace our trials positively because of the good outcome it produces in our lives, no matter how hard or painful the experiences.

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

2. God's perfect timing is not the same as ours
Verse 25, That's why we should not loose our heart if our prayers are not answered right away or the way we expect it.

Sometimes we pray for immediate response from God because we need it urgently, and no response from God, no signs of our prayers being granted and we feel discouraged and loose hope.

Remember the story of Lazarus, He was informed about the condition of Lazarus, But Jesus waited 3 more days after Lazarus death because He has a great plan, making sure that Lazarus is really dead and stinky, because He would resurrect Lazarus that some of the people there would believe in Him to the Messiah.

Isaiah 55: 8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

3. Our God is the God of the impossible. Verse 25-27.
God is able to do great and mighty things in the life of the believer.

God is above all trials and difficulty, defying the natural laws that He establish just to full fill His plans 

4. Have faith and focus in Jesus and not on our circumstances.

Hebrews 12:1,2Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Mat. 13:24-30

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

"Tare" is probably meant a sick kind of wheat or the darnel "false wheat" growing mostly in Palestine, which grows with resemblance to a real wheat but doesn't produce a grain. Another plant called American cheat (chess) that greatly resembles also to a real wheat. The grain of chess is smaller, the taste is bitter and has a strong soporific poison that causes dizziness if eaten.

These false wheat "Tare" plants are left to grow together with the real wheat until harvest, because there roots are intertwined that plucking the tare will kill the wheat.

Jesus explains the meaning of the parable in Mat. 13:36-43
1. The sower of the good seed is Son of Man (Jesus Christ)
2. The field is the world.
3. Good seeds are the sons of the kingdom.
4. Tares are the sons of the wicked one (devil).
5. The enemy is the devil.
6. The harvest is the judgement of God at the end of the age.
    God will separate the righteous from the ungodly. God will send the ungodly to hell (Mat. 13: 42-43)
7. The reapers are the angels.

Application:

Wherever the gospel (message of salvation) is preached, some people will get saved, these people have heard and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ. They've in trusted their eternal destiny to Jesus's sacrifice on the across 2,000 years ago.

Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

And wherever God's people and works are, the enemy (the devil) is always active in preventing and destroying God's plan and purpose.

John 10:10
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

And this is a reminder to all God's children that we have a real enemy and we have to be vigilant in our walk with God. Being vigilant means to study the word of God consistently, pray without ceasing, never give up meeting one another (ministry works) and do the things that glorify God.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The enemy can attack God's people at anytime, like a hungry lions seeking a prey to eat.
Lions prey on animals that are weak, sick, inexperience or simply slumbering.

When Christians are slumbering in their spiritual walk with God (verse 25), the enemy can enter to destroy God's work in many ways such as:

- Introducing false (unbiblical) doctrines that creates a false hope or assurance of eternal life.
- Hindering the ministries ability to expand or grow.
- Unconfessed  sins in the lives of the believers.
- Does not promote true spiritual growth and repentance.