“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:14
 
God’s View of the Poor:
 
“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” 1 Peter 1:17
 
 
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”Acts 10:34-35
 
If we view the poor differently than God we are wrong. We are sinning. Seeing some people as more important, more valuable than any other people is wrong. This too is a sin.
 
“There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:9-11
 
The state of our country now: riots, screaming, divisions, blaming, pointing of fingers; accusing, violence, fear.
 
This is wrong. We are wrong. Each of us must take responsibility for ourselves, for our own actions and attitudes.
 
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” James 2:5
 
Jesus’s view of the Poor:
 
Luke 6:20
“Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God” Luke 6:20
 
 “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Revelation 2:9
 
We should not see ourselves as better than anyone, and we should not see ourselves less than anyone. All are equal in value to God. This is the perspective we must have. Every person we meet is loved by God. When we look at someone we are looking into the face of someone loved by God.
 
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
 
“But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?” James 2:6-7
 
Even in the courts of America, the “land of the free” if you have enough money you can get by not being punished for horrendous crimes (Shannon gives examples). Our money and accomplishments do not impress God. A sin is a sin. If we have committed a sin we are sinners, no better or worse than any other sinners (including those sins we in society would call the worst sins).
 
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.”If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.” James 2:8-11
 
If we fulfill the two greatest commandments we will fulfill the entire law. We will be doing God’s will. We will be honoring God. Love God and love people with all we are and all we have and all we do.
 
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 25:37-40
 
So….do!
 
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” James 2:12-13
 
If you see a need, fill it. If you can’t fill it on your own, seek the help of others. Do something. Do what you can. When God gives you an opportunity, take it. Don’t pass that open door. If you do you will regret it and wonder what God could have done.
 
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17
 
There is often a lot of debate about faith vs. works but it is not an argument. We know we are saved by faith, not works. But if we have faith it will be visible in the things we do.
 
 “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:18-19
 
Go forth and Do!!
 
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:35-40

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith is hard. It's belief in the unseen. Everyone has faith in something. God created the universe out of nothing. Humans have never and will never be able to do that.  No one can do that. No one can explain that.

I. Faith in the Unseen is the basis for our hope.

“See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright--
    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness" Habakkuk 2:4

Live by your faithfulness. Our faith is based on the unseen. Righteous ones will live by faith.



"And, 'But my righteous[a] one will live by faith.
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”" Hebrews 10:38

"For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17

II. The examples are before us.

"This is what the ancients were commended for." Hebrews 11:2

Talks about their faithfulness!

"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets," Hebrews 11:32

"And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar." Matthew 23:35

If we aren't walking in faith, God isn't pleased with us. The blood falls on us who don't live by faith.

III. Faith is walking with God.

"After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters." Genesis 5:22

"This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." Genesis 6:9

What's this mean?

Walking means time. Spending time, constant time, daily hourly, minute-by-minute kind of time.

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:14

Constant use -- of scripture, of spiritual gifts like discernment; You want to be faithful to someone -- you spend time with them. Constantly walk with God.

IV. Without faith we cannot please God.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hewbrews 11:6

Acknowledgement is not faith.

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:19

Everyone will run out of time. Now is the time to walk with God.

"Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[a] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30

If you don't believe in the Unseen, the Seen is going to scare you to death!

Don't miss the boat -- meaning, don't miss Jesus!

V. Start walking with God now.

Just like the ark, Jesus is the one door.

 "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Noah didn't shut the door. God shut the door. Everyone of us knows someone who hasn't walked through the door. 

The story of Jesus cursing the poor fig tree has always bothered me a bit. The scripture says it wasn't the season for fruit so I thought it wasn't really the fig tree's fault it didn't have fruit. This talk has made me feel a whole lot better about this story. If you ever read something in scripture that bothers you do some research. God is good all the time. If we think something is wrong that He does, it is usually because we don't understan the entire situation.

I hope you enjoy this recording Shannon and I made called "The Fig Tree."

13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” Exodus 33:13

Moses just wanted God. Why did He ask this? 

Maybe he was lonely. The people, including his brother Aaron, had strayed from God. 

"The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'” Exodus 33:14

God knew what Moses needed. 

It's easy to get swept up into chaos, into politics of people around you.

"How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:16

He was probably questioning his own leadership. He hasn't seen a lot of change in the people.  

You hit the end of your rope. You hit a wall.

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.'" Exodus 33:17-18

Sometimes the answer we want is not what we need.

God told Moses He would show Moses His back. He was going to show Moses where He had been. 

Look where He's already been in your life. If you look around you will see His presence. God has already shown you. Look where He's taken you already.

21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” Exodus 33:21-23

Sometimes we haev to look at the weaving, at the individual threads.  God is everywhere always. Stop and look.

We need to get into the Word and see God's presence.

(Goodness! Jane got a new digital recorder for the podcasts, but she couldn't find it this morning. So, following are the notes she took this morning at the service. If you weren't there, you missed an incredible sermon! )

Following are the notes:

Shannon talks about football and his love for football. He speaks about the first round draft picks -- how his team, The Minnesota Vikings didn't get a First Round Draft pick.

It's all wonderful to be a first round draft pick, but now the 'rubber meets the road." Now, it's down to what you do with what you have.
 
(An aside -- A lot of players who weren't first round draft picks -- even third, fourth or ninth picks -- are in the Football Hall of Fame  or going to be.) 

There are three people sitting in your chair: the person you are today; the person satan can make you into; and the person God can make you into. We might not be a "first round draft pick" but that gives us no excuse.

Joshua 17:12-18 states: 12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.
14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”
15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”
16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

The Israelites crossed over and took their allotments of the Promised Land. Manasseh was told to clear it out and take it. They had the same potential as all the other tribes. The did not complete what they were supposed to do. They didn't finish what they started.

Incomplete obedience is disobedience. Obedience means you finish the job.

You have all you need.

Incomplete means failure.

There is victory or defeat, obedience or disobedience.

The Manassites were comfortable with the forced labor. They didn't mention it of course. Instead they made excuses. They didn't want to work, do what God required of them. They wanted to be given everything. 

We all have those partial obediences, partial commitments. When our fervor fades over time and choose to give up, this is disobedience.

If we have a sin in our lives and refuse to let it go, this is disobedience.

Partial obedience = complete disobedience.

Jesus has a high impossible standard for life, but in Him we can be live it.

We say things like, "It calms  me down" or "This is the way all the men/women in my family are."

EXCUSES!!

There's a straight, narrow path we are called to be on. Manassah left that path.

Some of the Canananites were kept and some were feared. The Manassites sinned in their comfort and they sinned in their fear.

1 Corinthians 10:13:

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

He always gives you a way out -- He is the way out.

Jesus says in Matthew 11, "My yoke is easy, my load is light."

Joshua 17:14, "“Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”

They're asking for hand outs even though they were already blessed. We are entitled to more (they thought). When you ask for more because you think you deserve it this is being prideful. 

We want to fulfill what God wants us to do. We want to be successful. But do we want to work for it? Or do we have the attitude, "I'm here so you better pay me."

We tell God, "If you let me win the lottery I'll give all this money to the church."

God says, "How about you don't win the lottery and do it anyway."

If you take what you have and make it the best you can, God will give you more (remember the Talents parable).

The song says, "I never promised you a rose garden."  

God didn't either.

Proverbs 16:18 -- Prides goes before the fall.

People like to see people fall off their pedestals. We like to see someone else fail. It's easy to knock someone down. 

And it's okay to fall in the mud, but it isn't okay to wallow in the mud and enjoy it.

The Manassites said in verse 18, "We need more!"

Joshua told them they had more than they were claiming. So do we.  You are strong and can drive the enemy out. You can do it if you just get off your behinds and do it.

Is God saying that to us?

Clear it! And you'll have more land. You want it -- get it. Cut the clutter and make space for what you need to do. What do I have to clear away? What's stopping and hindering me from putting God and His will first? That clutter is going to interfere with this, with being obedient.

It could be familiy, jobs, sin, entertainment, gossip, anger, bitterness, resentment, spite, hatred -- absolutely anything.

All of these are junk between us and God. You gotta clear it out. You're piling up garbage between you and God. Clear the hill country!

Yeah, you've got some challenges. Whoop-de-do! You can still win if you fight.  Are you going to have a pity party or are you going to fight?

We did all the work and you wouldn't take the test because you said it was hard. Take the test!

God asks us to do such few things. Love God. Love people. 

"It's hard," you say. "There's that one guy . . . "

Clear the clutter. Get rid of sin. Get rid of the excuses. 

Do these two things! Clear away the clutter and get rid of the sin, the excuses. 

We can't worship God if we haven't gotten off our behinds.

God told us we have everything we need. So what's stopping us? 

Do it. Just do what God calls you to do.