The Perfect Law of Liberty James 1 24, 25

Read the passage: James 1

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james+1&version=ASV

One who is living in it:

v.24 1. Meets with God and gains spiritual understanding.

(For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and immediately forgetteth what manner of man he was.)

v.25.2. Understands his work is to reflect the image of his source.

(But whosoever looketh into the perfect law of liberty,)

v.25 3. Realizes it is the indwelling liberty of the spirit that must empower his work.

(the perfect law of liberty,) Christ being perfect.

V 25 4. Allows the Lord to have free rule in his life responsibilities.

(of liberty and continueth therein,)

free course of the word;  allows the word of God to do its work.

v.25 5. Possesses a relational understanding of scripture- able to relate scripture constantly to his task.

(he being not a forgetful hearer, but)

not just general, but specific.

The word of God is then a light to his path, a guide to his way, a form to follow.

v.25 6. Able to see scriptural truths result in alive God honoring works.

(but a doer of the work,)  (v. 22- be ye doers of the word,)

v. 25 7. Gains God’s involvement in his life circumstances.-  the basis of blessing

(this man shall be blessed in his deed.)

He honors God by honoring God’s word.

The Message for God's People Psalms 50 7-15

Read the passage: Psalms 50

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+50&version=ASV

v.7 1. The message God’s people need is always the same.

(Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I

                am God, even thy God.)

The continuing need is to turn to the Lord alone.

v.8 2. God has established forgiveness and does not reproof His people for needing it.

(I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been 

continually before me.)

The cross was for forgiveness.

God knows believers have much need for forgiveness.

God is not upset because a believer needs forgiveness.

v.9 3. The purpose of the condition of reconciliation (sacrifice) is not to increase or 

replenish God’s resources.

(I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.)

God is not in the place of gaining advantage because of the failings of His 

people.

It is only His righteousness that can cover man’s failings and an equality yet 

remain.

Apparently there was a subtle, if not overt, criticism of God’s requirement as

  unfair or God serving.

v.10, 4. God does not have need of man’s resources.

   11 (For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.)

(I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are

                 mine.)

v.12, 5. Man must not attribute to God human qualities; he misses gaining understanding 

of Godliness.

   13 …(Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?)

v.14, 6. God’s people have a commitment to focus on and keep, rather than being

  concerned with God’s part.

    15 …(And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt 

                        glorify me.)

They were likely tired of making all those sacrifices.

No doubt they reasoned this was just a needless cost, a reduction of their earthly 

resources.

They failed to see the heavenly connection.

For every earthly resource sacrificed, there was heavenly support and blessing 

given.

v.8 7. God does reproof His people for not learning His ways.

(I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been 

continually before me.)

God does reproof His children.

While God does not reproof for forgiveness, nor misunderstanding, He does 

reproof for not earning His ways.

God’s people, here in this passage, had not not learned His ways.

They were merely carrying out instructions without learning God’s ways.

Packaging a substitute for Godliness and peddling that to God’s people.

Today God’s people often times learn to carry out God’s instructions in a 

formalistic sort of way. 

However, they do not experience God because they do not learn His ways.

A believer can go through a lot of motions, and then wonder why the blessings 

and heart enrichment he expected are not there.

We try to enter into spirit filled living (like stepping inside a room) without first

  learning His ways.

We try to enter into faith giving without making preparation for it by learning 

God’s ways.

We try to enter into ministry without learning God’s ways. 

Every great leader in scripture (Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul, John the

  Baptist,  Jesus …) had a time of preparation before ministry in which they 

learned God’s ways.

We try to enter into worship without making proper preparation, including clean 

hands and a pure heart.

We try to be effective in witnessing without making proper preparation.

God wants every believer to know His ways.

The Holy Spirit knows God’s ways and is at work in a believer’s heart to reveal

  God’s ways.

Do you find truth or does it find you?

This knowledge comes as God reveals His ways through His word.

God will teach His people His ways. He is committed to that.

In every circumstance of life we need to look for God’s ways.

The knowledge of God’s ways will make effective leading and effective following.

What Happens When We Die to Sin? Romans 6 6-8, 10

Read the passage: Romans 6

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+6&version=ASV

v.6 1. Our capacity for sin is gone.

(our old man is crucified with Him,)

v.6 2. The hold of sin is gone.

(that the body of sin might be destroyed,)

v.6 3. The desire to sin is gone.

(that henceforth we should not serve sin.)

v.6 4. The master of sin is gone.

(we should not serve sin)

v.7 5. The life of sin is gone.

(for he that is dead)

v.7 6. The penalty of sin is gone.

(freed from sin)

v.8, 7. The life now living is life in Christ.

  10 (Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him,)

The Message Foretold Mark 4 33, 34

Read the passage: Mark 4

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+4&version=ASV

V 33 1) Man has many needs for  truth's message. 

(and with many such parables) 

v 33 2) God's interest is that men know the God of truth. 

(spoke He ... )

v 33 3)  God's interest is that men know truth. 

(the word unto them) 

v 33 4) God will reveal truth to those ready to receive it, according to their spiritual readiness. 

(as they were able to hear it) 

v 34 5) God's interest is that men follow the counsel of the word of truth. 

(but without a parable spoke He not unto them;) 

v 34 6) God gives special revelation to those who are willing to enter into spiritual intimacy with Him. 

(and when they were alone,)

v 34 7) God releases abundant truth to those who diligently follow Him. 

(He expounded all things to His disciples.) 

Where the Liberty is Joshua 14 9-14

Read the passage: Joshua 14

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua+14&version=ASV

v.9 1. Where there is loyal and dedicated service to the Lord.

(because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God;)

v.9 2. Where obedience has occupied a position of rest before God.

(because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God;)

v.10 3. Where there is God’s peace and fellowship.

(And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and 

five years,)

v.12 4. Where faith has kept its vigor.

(Now, therefore, give me this mountain, …)

v.12 5. Where what God said has never been forgotten.

(of which the Lord spoke in that day;)

v.12 6. Where God’s power is known of and secured.

(if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as 

the Lord said,)

v.14 7. Where time is left in God’s hand.

(Hebron, therefore, became the inheritance of Caleb, …)

The Profession of the Redeemed Psalms 107 2-7

Read the passage: Psalms 107

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+107&version=ASV

(Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed)

v.2 1. Free from the enemy's hold.

(whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;)

v.3 2. Free from separation from God.

(And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from

  the north, and from the south.)

v.4 3. Free from wandering from God, loneliness.

(They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way: they found)

v.4 4. Free from exclusion, no place to belong.

(they found no city to dwell in.)

v.5 5. Free from deprivation of life essentials.

(Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.)

v.6 6. Free from overcoming adversity.

(Thus they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of 

their distresses.)

v.7 7. Free to walk with God.

(And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of 

habitation.)

Maintaining Spiritual Liberty James 4 6-10

Read the passage: James 4

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james+4&version=ASV

Salvation provides total freedom from the bondage of sin. God protects a 

believer’s position in Christ. Thus, the enemy seeks to deny the believer’s 

enjoying and partaking of the freedom Christ provides.

God has provided protection for a believer’s partaking in Christ.

v.6 1. Through humility.

(God giveth grace to the humble)

This is humility which recognizes God and comes to Christ in faith.

Humility allows the believer to rely and depend upon God’s strength.

v.7 2. Through submission of yourself to God.

(Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.)

As a result of humility there is a willing submission (a personal responsibility) to

  God.

A submission to God’s Son.

A submission to God’s word.

A submission to God, the Holy Spirit.

The real test of submission- Is it to Christ?

Seeking all of Jesus and all Jesus has for me (fully with heart mind and soul)

Abiding in His word, learning His word, obeying His word, being filled with the 

Holy Spirit;

Allowing the Holy Spirit free course in my life, cooperating with the Holy Spirit, 

yielding (giving up) my will.

Having right relationship, having humility, leads to submission.

Humility = total dependence upon God, none of self influencing.

Submission= agreement with God, His will, His way, his word.

Then resistance works.

Christ in you, thus, the devil is resisted.

v.7 3. Through resistance of the devil.

No resistance of God.

Knowing the word of truth.

Holding on to the word of truth.

Because of the Son (through His blood)  (in His authority)

Through the power of the Holy Spirit

Note the flow or forward direction of God’s counsel.

v.8 4. Through approaching God.                    

(draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.)

God is approachable, is accessible.

Get close to God, as close as possible.

Seek to know God; make yourself available to God.

Through Jesus a believer can be drawn near to God.   (Hebrews 7: 19)

God rewards faith (draw  near to God) with His faithfulness.   (He will draw near

  unto you)

v.8 5. Through cleansing.

(cleanse your hands, ye sinners)

a cleansing of sinner’s hands- from the defilement of sin

invoking 1 John 1: 9   sinners enter the sanctuary of God. Psalms 77: 13

That which a believer works with needs to be cleansed  (cleanse your hands)

clear conscience    1 Timothy 1: 19

v.8 6. Through a pure heart.

(and purify your hearts, ye double minded.)

cleanse your heart

A believer needs to be sure his heart is pure; otherwise his hands (that which a 

believer  does- his conduct) will be defiled again.

secret motives- James 1: 14,15

Jeremiah 17: 10

Psalms 139: 23, 24

v.9, 7. Through willingness to accept what God brings or allows which results in 

  10 humility- keeping the cycle open.

(Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and 

your joy to heaviness.)  This certainly doesn’t characterize our day.

(Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.)

Thus, it repeats itself- submission-resistance-approaching God-cleansing hands-

pure heart- accepting what God brings or allows-humility.

There is liberty because God who brings to or allows trials to come to our life is

  greater than those trials.  His grace is sufficient.

Because of our willingness to cooperate with the work of God, we remain humble 

and usable according to that which brings God pleasure.

Note emphasis on verbs- what we must do. Versus 7-10.

Only Unto Thee Psalms 123 1

Read the passage: Psalms 123

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+123&version=ASV

(Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.)

1. The only source sufficient.
   
   
2. The only source sure.
   
   
3. The only source satisfying.
   
   
4. The only source secure.
   
   
5. The only source steadfast.
   
   
6. The only source solid.
   
   
7. The only source splendid (glory). 
   

What God Wants Us to See Exodus 3 9-14; 4 2-4

Read the passage: Exodus 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+3&version=ASV

Read the passage: Exodus 4

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+4&version=ASV

3:9 1) His Purpose 

(Now, therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me;) 

3:10 2) His Vision 

        (Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people,

         the children of Israel, out of Egypt.) 

3:12 3) His Promise 

(and he said, Certainly I will be with thee; ... ) 

3:13,4)  His Name.

14 What is His name/)  ( I am that I am)

3:14 5)  His absoluteness.

(I am that I am)

3:14 6)  His Immutability.

(…I am hath sent me unto you.)

4:2- 7)  His Power.

(A rod … it became a serpent; it became a rod in his hand;)