Lesson 27

FIRST DAY:

1.

2. a.

b. Yes

SECOND DAY:

3.
Because a teachers words and examples affect others spiritual lives.  If you are a teacher, and you "fall" in front of your students, you could cause them to stumble as well.  

4. a.

• Bits in a horses mouth controls the direction of the horse.  Words that come out of the human mouth can control the direction our life should take as well.  I.e., we take the path to heaven or hell depending on whether or not we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.
• Large ships are controlled by a small rudder, and if steered incorrectly, the ship could get lost, or crash upon the rocks.  If we don't choose our words carefully, we could get lost in the world, and end up crashing our lives in to the "proverbial" rocks.
• A spark can start a forest fire, and in the same way, gossip can spread to the point that it could ruin the reputation of another human that took years to build.

b.
A mutual "friend" of my Fiancee was jealous of our relationship, when she didn't have a relationship of her own, and preceded to say many negative things about my character.  This cast doubt in my fiancee's mind about my character until my fiancee was able to see for herself how I live my life.  This had the potential to destroy our relationship before it really started. 


c.
Stay silent, and ask themselves before they speak if what they are about to say is "true," if it's "necessary," or is it kind."

5.
Because wisdom is the application of knowledge.  If we "apply" the KNOWledge of Jesus example in the Bible and on earth, we WILL be humble as Jesus was humble.

6. a.

• Earthly wisdom harbors bitterness, envy, selfish ambitions, and boasts in ourselves.
• Heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

THIRD DAY:
7. a.
The evil desires within us.

b.
The spiritual wisdom of Solomon and more power that comes from the Holy Spirit.  I'm praying for it.

8.
We can only serve one master.  Since satan is the "prince of the air" we breathe, we learn that friendship with this world is essentially friendship with satan himself.  That makes us enemies of God if we continue in a worldly pattern of living.

9. a.
James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  I also love Col. 3:2, where we are admonished to, "Set your minds on things ABOVE, not on earthly things." 

b.
Thou shall not covet thy neighbors house.  I will continue to pray for contentment in my current living situation. I will continue to count what blessings I do have rather than the "one" blessing I don't have.  Praise God.

10.

• If I am going to be humble, and lifted up (i.e., be used by God according to His will), I must first be willing to empty myself of ALL my worldly pleasures, and secondly, be available to do His will to the point of death.  Then, and only then, will God's Spirit lift me up.     
• You "teach" by letting others see it in your life first.  Jesus is our example here.  Jesus "Made Himself nothing," and then "God exalted Him" to the highest place.  God will lift us up if we are humble and obedient to His calling on our life.  

FOURTH DAY:
11.
Democrats and Republicans openly criticize each other.  It violates the "law of love" and puts the person criticizing in a judgment seat.


12.
Probably Deut. 25:1, "When men have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty."


13. a.
They left God out of the planning.  Our future is in God's hands not our own.  We can plan, but we must put God at the center of it.

b.
Include God in your plans.


c.
When we make plans on our own and they don't work out the way we "planned" them, we can easily get discouraged.  When w include God in your plans and they don't work out as "planned," you can actually take comfort knowing God closed the door and has a better "plan" for your life. 

FIFTH DAY:
14. a.

They hoarded wealth
They failed to pay the workmen
They lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence
They fattened themselves on the day of slaughter

b.
Yes.  First, James is the half brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem Church, so naturally he would be writing to believers.  Secondly, James opens the letter in chp. 1:2 by saying, "consider it pure joy, my 'brothers' whenever you face trials...."


c.

• They hoarded wealth - These are believers who don't tithe what is on their heart
• They failed to pay the workmen - These are believers who are "indebted" to the worker for helping produce their wealth, but selfishly care about getting rich more than they care about others needs.
• They lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence - Believers in the 1st Century who were rich, did not think of their possessions as their own.  Acts 4:32, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had."
• They fattened themselves on the day of slaughter - These are believers today who feed their own hearts desires. 

15.
Realize that life on earth is short, and that we should spend the most of our time accumulating "spiritual wealth" that will be worthwhile in God's eternal kingdom. 

16. a.
Our prayer offered in faith (God heals; faith doesn't) can produce results not possible with human hands alone [if] the pray is part of God's sovereign plan.  I would like to add we can pray for physical healing, and possibly receive it, but our focus should always be on spiritual healing/renewing that we receive 100% of the time when we pray for it.  Moreover; "The death rate is still one per person, and no one get's out alive.  If we could always receive physical healing, we would never die our last disease." (a quote from Hank Hanegraaff).  Our spiritual well being, however, is the only prayer I believe God honor's 100% of the time.  Mainly, because our spiritual well being is the only part of us that we will carry in to eternity.  I think this is worthy to note, because this is what separates grounded Christians from falling prey to the prosperity gospel. I.e., prosperity teachers will tell you health and wealth is a result of our prayers prayed in faith.  

b
Always pray the way Jesus prayed, "Never the less, not my will be done, but thy will be done." This should be prayed at the end of our prayers.  


c.
First of all, they are privileged to have believers who are willing to help them see the errors of their way.  And secondly, they are privileged to serve a forgiving and loving God who never gives up on a believer. 

SIXTH DAY:
17.
God is more concerned with our spiritual richness in lieu of our eartly riches.  To me, this is an admonishment to share my blessings (that come from God anyway), to others who are in need.  

18.