WHAT LEVEL ARE
YOU LIVING ON?
James 1:27 AND Deut. 8:3
James 1:27 "This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Fathers to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep one unspotted from the world."
Deut. 8:3 "And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
Introduction:
1. James reminds us that believers can become “spotted” from the world.
a. Question: #1: Do you as a believer have the concept that you can become spotted by the world? We as believers can become SOILED from the world.
b. Question #2: Do you have any idea about what worldiness consist of?
1. It is generally thought to be: drinking, cigarettes, cursing, whoring around, going to bars, hanging out with the wrong crowd. [ all these are partially true]
2. Worldliness consist of: EVERY THOUGHT, EVERY IDEA, SPECULATION, EVERY VIEWPOINT, EVERY OPINION THAT SURROUNDS US IN THE WORLD TODAY....[when you buy into the viewpoint, the opinion, the thoughts, of the world, YOU ARE WORLDLY]
c. Two little words that are important in James 1:27
1. It is possible for a Christian to be SPOTTED
2. We can only keep from being SPOTTED if we implore personally the little word KEEP. [that means you have to do something]
2. We are taught two things about the world: [JOHN 17:15]
a. first, we are to have a DEFINITE INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORLD. “I do not pray that you would take them out...” [that is INVOLVEMENT ]
b. second, There is also to be a CLEAR CUT SEPARATION. “Keep them out of it” [that is SEPARATION]
3. There are also two contrasting BOXES OF THOUGHTS that are current today: [I Cor 2:6,7] "Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this world, nor of the rulers of this work who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory".
a. “we speak the wisdom of God.”
b. “not the wisdom of the world.”
1. question: What is the wisdom of God?? [if you notice 1 Cor. v. 13 you will find that the wisdom of God is THE WORD OF GOD. THE WISDOM OF GOD THEN IS TIED INTO THE WRITTEN REVELATION OF GOD.
2. What is the Wisdom of the world?
a. The wisdom of the world is WHATEVER MAN CAN FIND OUT WITH HIS OWN BRAIN POWER [that is the wisdom of the world]
b. It is the idea that man apart from Divine Revelation can EXPLAIN LIFE. [why I am here etc. Most people for all practical purposes believe that with research, brain power, personal maniuplation, you can handle and know about life.
c. If you want to know what worldliness is....I would define it as TRYING TO GET THE ANSWERS TO LIFE FROM BRAIN POWER.....and DENYING THE WORD OF GOD.
FIVE FEATURES OF THE WORLD:
A. ALMOST TOTAL PRE OCCUPATION WITH THE MATERIAL: [Deut. 8:2-4] See scripture written out at top of reading.
1. Deut 8 teaches that life must function on TWO LEVELS.
A. Life must function on the BREAD LEVEL OR THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL.
1. Note something of importance: Deut. 8:3 teaches that man DOES NOT NATURALLY RECOGNIZE THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL.....It is TAUGHT....for it says, “ inorder that he might make thee to know that man does not live by bread alone.” This means that you do not arrive at the SPIRITUAL LEVEL INTUITIVELY.....it has to “be taught.”
2. Question: HOW DOES GOD TEACH? ] He has to teach the SPIRITUAL LEVEL by DELETING THE BREAD LEVEL....”suffered thee to hunger.” God often has to REMOVE certain things from us....to teach us to live on the SPIRITUAL LEVEL.
a. LESSON: GOD HAS TO JERK THE BREAD LEVEL BEFORE WE APPRECIATE THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL.....and as BREAD LEVEL LIVING DIMINISHES....SPIRITUAL LEVEL LIVING INCREASES.
3. Please Remember something about You and Me: Every time we STRESS THE BREAD LEVEL....it EATS into our spiritual level....[as the BREAD LEVEL EXPANDS....it CROWDS OUT THE SPIRITUAL]
a. Lesson: This is where most believers are coming from.....you are just enjoying, expanding the BREAD LEVEL IN YOUR LIFE. .
4. Matt. 4 gives us great illustration of these two levels
a. In Matt 4, the devil tried to get Jesus to EXPAND THE BREAD LEVEL.....and Jesus knew that if he expanded the BREAD LEVEL, it would diminish the SPIRITUAL LEVEL. Our Lord replies with one verse....4:4....”man shall NOT live by bread....alone”
5. Let me give an AXIOM and OBSERVATIONS.
a. Axiom: YOU CANNOT LIVE YOUR LIFE ONLY ON THE BREAD LEVEL. [I know you think this is preacher talk....but if you do... you will end up on more pills, seeing more counsellors, taking more trips, drinking more....if you continue to just live on the BREAD LEVEL]
b. Observation #1: We learn why some of your children have gone wrong....Have you ever heard this statement, “we gave them everything and they still went wrong.” [this means that you CANNOT LIVE ON THE BREAD LEVEL AND GO RIGHT]
c. Observation #2: There is a strong implication from Matt. 4...that there might be times when you will have to GO HUNGRY IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO COMPROMISE THE SPIRITUAL.
d. Observation #3: The problrm in the church is real simple.....WE ARE EATING OURSELVES TO DEATH. BREAD LEVEL HAS TAKEN OVER THE CHURCH.
B. Life must function on The level of SPIRITUAL “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.”
1. The beautiful balance: When you become aware and conscious of these two levels in your life and you begin to seek to BALANCE THEM PROPERLY....then it actually refines, makes the bread level better. the one great result is that you become SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. There is no contentment like that of being happy and satisfied with what you have.
2. Note: When I talk about LIVING ON THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL...I mean having daily, weekly, heavy doses of the intake of the Word of God..
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