LIFE -- Part one

I. A Life of Discrimination

1. The words "all judgment" translate a Greek word that means "a sensitive moral perception".

2. Dr. Kenneth Werest - all judgment refers to quickness of ethical tact. We want to be kind and considerate of others yet we seem to say the wrong words or do the wrong thing. We lack that delicate ability to express ourselves correctly. We desire that gentle wise way which would convey what we want to say in the most discriminating manner.

3 This moral sensitivity ties us to the opening words of verse 10 - approve things that are excellent.

4. Most of us know how difficult it is to ascertain what is the highest and best in life.

5. Paul is not praying for them to discern between good and bad, for it requires no unusual keenness to discriminate between right and wrong, but rather that they should know how to choose the highest, the noblest, the things that transcend.

5. Most commentators agree the phrase "approve the things that are excellent" literally means "to test the things that differ".

II. A Life of Sincerity (1:10)

A.. The word sincere is derived from a Latin expression which meant "without wax".,,

1 The Greek word means sun tested".

2 There seems to be no tie between the two words but in reality there is:

3. This illustration will clarify the relationship between the two: "The ancients had a very fine porcelain which was greatly valued, and brought a very high price. This ware was so fragile, that it was only with the greatest difficulty it could be fired without being cracked and dishonest dealers were in the habit of filling in the cracks that appeared with a pearly-white wax, which looked enough like the true porcelain to pass without being readily detected in the shops If held to the light, however, the wax was at once manifested as a dark seam and honest Latin dealers marked their wares "sine cera" (without wax).

B. As saints we must be without wax; that is, we must be honest and above board in our dealings.

1. To be sincere means there is no pretense, no hypocrisy but contrariwise, it means to be genuine, true and conscientious in everything.

2. Sincerity is the mark that distinguishes the regenerate from the empty professor of religion.

3. Lincoln I am not bound to run but I am bound to be true.

C. Sincerity has an eye to the Omniscience of God.

1. A sincere person recognizes - Thou God seest me

2. Though our thoughts are hidden from others we are naked and opened to the eyes of Him.

3. A sincere soul strives against unclean thoughts if he does yield he confesses and mourns over sin.

4. If you indulge in these sins and yet are not disturbed then you are a stranger to the grace of God.

5. When our lusts gain a temporary mastery over us, which they sometimes do, we do not excuse

ourselves but abhor ourselves and seek His forgiveness.

D. Jesus spoke to hypocrites in Matthew 15:8-9

1. If we lack sincerity we are an offense to God, we are play acting.

III.. A Life of Tranquility (1:12-18)

A. Our attitude toward the restrictions of life will help to determine the depth of our spiritual experience.

1. The apostle Paul was outstanding in maintaining serenity and steadfastness in face of sorrow and sorrowing.

2. He looked upon His adversaries as being divinely sent with a God directed purpose (II Cor. 12:10)

3. Paul could only say that because he saw through the problems to the God of love behind them.

4. This is the key to the problem of life's adversities.

5. It is God not giving me what I desire but rather my attitude in accepting what God sends.

6. The words "take pleasure" means to think well. (II Cor. 12:10)

7. In thinking well of his adversity, by taking the right attitude toward it, the effect is strength.

B. God directs my circumstances he doesn't just permit them".

1, The same God who used Moses rod, Gideon pitchers, and David's sling used Paul's chains.

2. The chains that were affixed to his wrists did not hind Paul's ministry, those chains were the

means of releasing many to greater usefulness.

3. Who would have ever dreamed that Paul's imprisonment would be the means of a furtherment of the gospel.

4. Sometimes God puts chains upon us in order to advance the cause of Christ.

5. Fanny Crosby was blinded at six years of age but she was determined not to be confined by the chains of darkness.

C. There is a necessary basis of seeing God in everything.

1. We either see through to that wonderful fact or not.

2. God opened my eyes to this through writings of Norman Grubb.

3. If we are to be strong in faith under any conditions, it is a certainty that God doesn't sit by and permit adverse or tragic situations but he actually uses them.

4. I know that seems unbelievable but let me give you some biblical evidence.

5. Jesus when approaching the Cross did not look upon it as a machination of the devil except in the sense that the devil is God's agent.

6. He admitted that the Prince of the World was coming to assault Him but "he hath nothing in Me"

7. Later He said when they came to arrest Him "the cup which the Father hath given me shall I not drink it" (John 18:11)

8. To Jesus it was not the devil but the Father ultimately behind all this.

D. The confirmation is complete as revealed in Peter's message on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:23-4:27,28)

1. Note that there is no mere permissiveness about that.

2. This gives me a boldness and authority to say that whatever befalls me or whatever horrors are happening in the world, God uses those, not permitted them.

E. Further evidence can be obtained by a casual look at the statements of Joseph (Gen. 45:4-8)

1. Think of what had transpired - Joseph sold as a slave imprisoned for over two years~ between

prison and servitude it was a duration of fourteen years.

2. In spite of this Joseph saw through circumstance to God - God meant it for good, to preserve life.

F. There are other statements in the Bible that give indication of the same thing.

1. The Assyrions are called "the rod of my anger" (Is. 10:5)

2. As Nebuchadnezzar comes to destroy Jerusalem he is called "Nebuchadnezzar my servant"

3. The swarms of locusts which reduced Israel to famine according to prophet Joel "My great army

which I sent among you (Joel 2:25).

G. It is how we view sufferings that is so important

1. Our inner attitude of faith accepts the suffering the tragedy as being necessary to our growth as a person.

2. We no longer see anything as evil to us; we don't see the problem or the frustration as enemies,

but we see them as friends to perfect us more and more to His image.

3. Whatever our outward situation we can believe and praise God that this is the means by which God is perfecting us.

H. We now have grounds to change our attitude from negative to positive believing which takes place in every incident large or small.

1. I know that this may seem revolutionary to some.

2. To say that I can only see God and His supply when my natural eye sees only lack is the beginning of being a spirit person and not a matter person.

3. Faith speaks and says God has put me in this place of need in order to be the supply and the fullness.