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Introduction

Modesty is often framed as a standard only for women, while men are rarely challenged in how they present themselves, carry themselves, or influence others

In this piece, we’ll break down why male modesty matters, how it connects to integrity, and what it actually looks like for men striving to live set apart.

Time Stamps

1:00-6:00- Intro

6:10-8:10 - Defining Purity

8:50-15:00- Mental Purity

15:30-20:00- Physical Purity

20:30- 25:20 - Spiritual Purity

What is Modesty and Purity?

I know, I know. We don’t discuss purity anymore, especially as men. In fact, to many people, purity is subjective.

This topic has become extremely sensitive in the church culture due to “purity culture”. I’ve read and heard about the harms that “purity” culture has done to those that were subject to it. However, I would like to differentiate between “purity culture” and Biblical purity that has been called by God himself.

What do I mean by “purity culture? Purity culture tends to be an established set of “do’s and dont’s” by the church members or surrounding culture that is loosely influenced by the Bible.

In this, we find examples of “purity rings” (Not Biblical) , or banned/discouraged specific styles of clothing (Not particularly necessary).

When discussing “Purity culture”- We are normally discussing rules regarding sexual purity. However, God’s purity extends beyond one area alone, but to multiple; Mental, Physical, Spiritual.

Selective Modesty

When we discuss “modesty”- We normally (And unfairly) refer to the female anatomy. However, Men are also Biblically held to the same standards of accountability.

Let’s draw some similarities

* Female= Skin tight dresses or “revealing” clothing

* Males = Should be avoiding muscular or “revealing” shirts and pants.

* Female= Not acting or carrying oneself in a way that incites lust.

* Male= Self Control. Not lusting after every attractive female.

* Female (In marriage) = Submitting to your own husbands

* Male= Loving your wives. Avoiding domestic violence, Impatience, Wrath or harshness towards your wife. Displaying Unity.

Differentiating God’s Purity and Purity Culture

In order to define God’s purity we must first look into scripture what was purity means.

What purity is NOT

* Something that we can achieve on our own

* A mere checklist of our efforts or clothing style

* A topic that only addresses one area

What purity IS

* A process that Christ handles for us, when we submit to him.

* The Holy Spirit working through us to overcome sin

* A topic that encompasses all areas of life - Not just sexual purity or Modesty

* I change and renewing of the heart, mind and spirit

As Men, How do we Address and Live Pure and Godly Lives?

To be clear, this is not a clear checklist about how to live Godly, but Christ gives us direction on how to live, and steps to take to live lives that God desires for us.

1- Mental Purity

Christ desires for our minds to be holistically pure. This means abstaining from any thoughts that are not like him. This can boil down to what content we watch, what music we listen to, the things we hear.

The first thing the enemy does to do his will is attack our minds. This can mean any imagination (lust, anger), negative thought (depression, s*icide,anxiety, low self esteem) or just simply being mentally unwell (Uncontrollable thoughts).

Once the enemy can attack our minds, he can get us to act in ways that God would desire us not to.

We enter into relationships due to loneliness. We take medication to ease our minds. We struggle to remain faithful to 1 woman due to our fantasies and imaginations.

A bulk of the troubles we face start at the mind- and the Bible tells us this in many ways.

* Proverbs 4:23 - Keep (Guard) your heart with all due diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

* Heart = Mind, consciousness, emotions.

* Philippians 4:6-8 - Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God

* 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but might through God to the pulling down of strongholds (Spiritual forces). Casting down Imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2- Physical Purity

When we discuss physical purity, we are not merely discussing a checklist. The love of Christ and submission to him according to our minds and hearts should result in a physical discipline. After all, it is Christ that does the work for us.

The scriptures do in fact say we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. However, that is before we meet and submit to him. It is not his desire that we continue to struggle with sin after encountering his power and spirit.

The teachings of Christ alluded to physical purity multiple times in the scriptures. These lessons allude to mental and physical discipline, not causing ourselves to stumble, and winning the war against our fleshly desires.

* Matthew 5: 29-30 - And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

* Matthew 5:28- But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

3- Spiritual Purity

Perhaps the most important property, Spiritual purity alone encompasses both Mental and Physical purity.

What does Spiritual Purity mean?:

* Drawing our hearts towards God

* Fasting

* Prayer

* Discipline and Spiritual Abstinence - Avoiding objects/activities that will cause us to stumble

* P*rnography

* Music that glorifies sin

* Entertainment that will cause us to stumble

* Normalization of Witchcraft

* Lust

In conclusion,

Modesty and Purity is not only for women, but it’s God’s desire that men lead with purity, sober-mindedness, and with in tune with his heart.

Anytime someone stepped out of God’s will in the scriptures, he allowed it to occur- but it resulted in consequences that could have otherwise been avoided.

As men, let’s continue to uplift one another with holiness and accountability.

Until Next Time,

DeShawn W.

My goal is to inform and encourage our young men to walk in discipline and holiness.

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Introduction

In the previous article, we discussed the meaning of integrity. To recap, Biblical Integrity= Firm stance and adherence to moral code and biblical values such as honesty, discipline, and self-control. All encompassed by the fruits of the spirit described in Galatians 5:22.

You may read the previous article Here → Integrity Pt. 1

Imagine this. You’re told every Sunday what to do, and what not to do. You’re told to stay away from certain TV shows, certain people, or certain influences so you’re not tainted. You’re told to not have s*x out of wedlock. You’re told to not wear certain clothing. All for the sake of holiness, purity, and setting yourself aside for God.

And then you get older, and you realize that almost everyone that was telling you how to live, weren’t living the life they were preaching. Pastors commit adultery and not held accountable. Gossip is left unchecked. Church people filled with the “Holy Spirit” can be the meanest people you’ve ever encountered. Spirituality is turned into pride and self righteousness masked as a moral high ground and humility.

So you get angry. Bitter. Upset that you were sold a lie. Even worse, you bought everything that you were being sold. So your belief is damaged. You begin deconstructing because you were never given the chance to think for yourself.

And then, when you speak up about your experiences: You’re labeled an outcast. They tell you that you were never a real Christian because you left, when all you’re doing is telling the truth.

What if I told you that God hears you. God understands you. And God does not approve of church hypocrisy. What you experienced was the flaw of church culture and holiness culture, and not the flaw of Christ himself and I’ll show you.

1 John 3:6 states “ And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.”

If anyone says that know God, but actively lives in sin and hypocrisy - It’s hard to say that they know God at all

People that are guilty of these, are not submitted to Christ- But are submitted to a flawed system that operates without the God they say is present.

If you speak with anyone that used to believe or used to go to church, and even be faithful in ministry that have left; Hypocrisy is almost always at the top of the list of the reasons.

In this video. I will discuss Why true righteousness is the key to Christian witness, What Christ says about church hypocrisy, and encouragement to continue to live for Christ with honesty and without hypocrisy.

1- Righteousness- The Key to the christian Witness.

Righteousness - the quality of being morally right, just, and in right standing with a higher authority.

This is KEY to the Christian witness. The ultimate goal is to gain souls for the Kingdom. However, we can not do so if we, ourselves, do not live lives according to his scriptures. We are to avoid hypocrisy- or else we ourselves will be shamed and castaway from the very thing we preach.

1 Cor 9:27 - I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Why is this important?

1- Judgement is coming to the church first - Churches of Revelation

The reason God (YVHV) cares so heavily about righteousness, is that it

* Honors him by keeping us pure and set apart. YHVH honors righteousness, and he rewards it in various ways.

* Proverbs 12:22 - the Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth

* Wages of Sin is death - Peace of mind

* Proverbs 14-34

* Allows us to live lives of truth, honor, and respect. -These foundational characteristics are vital for raising young men.

* Allows us to be trusted pillars in our families and our communities.

* How can I be a trusted pillar if I’m not a man of my word?

* How can I be a trusted pillar if I’m not faithful to my spouse?

* How can I be a trusted pillar if I have no character, honesty, or integrity?

Proverbs 14:34 tells us that righteousness exalts a nation. What does this mean to our lives?

* Exalt = Hold someone (or something) in very high regard.

Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

Many of us spend our lives attempting to be held in high regard. We are willing to lie, cheat, steal, kill, and much more. What is often missing in our communities is that it is not greed or self-will that exalts, but it is the Lord alone. It might not always come in the form of money or even fame (even though God can reward that way, and has done it in the scriptures) , but it will also come with respectability, truth, honor, high esteem.

2 - What Christ says about Hypocrisy

Throughout our scriptures, we see men (and women) whose actions were pleasing to God, and whose actions were not. A primary theme that plagued the children of Israel were those of sexual immorality, Idolatry, Rebellion, and simply living outside of God’s will.

These are the same issues and the same choices that plague our country and communities; We glorify sexual immorality in many forms, listen to harmful music that emphasizes murder and rebellion, idolize money, and are taught to chase after the pleasures and riches of the world. However, our scriptures tell us that these acts will only cause us to live and exist outside of the life of righteousness that YHVH desires for us. These acts result in both physical harm & death, and spiritual separation from our creator.

1 Corinthians 6:9 - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: Neither fornicators (S*x outside of marriage, prostitution), nor idolators (Placing people or desires above God), nor adulterers (Cheating on spouse), nor effeminate (Men behaving in and acting in ways traditionally associated with women), nor abuseres of themselves with mankind (Male prostitution, exploitation), nor revilers (Disruptive behavior, wild living), nor extortioners , shall inherit the kingdom of God.

V. 10 - And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lasciviousness (promiscuity), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations (Jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (rebellion), heresies (false teachings about God), envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,and such like……. shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

As it is written in the scriptures, it is not God’s (YHVH) will for us to live such a life that leads to death and destruction. As a community that desires to teach our men the way of righteousness, it is vital to return to foundational and fundamental truths about the way we should live our lives.

Matthew 23:25-26 - “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Revelation 3:11-12 - Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

Until Next Time,

DeShawn W

Young Men Aren’t Leading- Here’s Why

Summary

* Concrete Definition of Healthy Biblical Leadership

* Concrete Definition of Healthy Biblical Masculinity

* Lack of Identity

* Lack of Self Control

* Lusts of the World

* Lack of Proper Mentorship

Time Stamps

2:00 - Defining Biblical Masulinity

7:00 - Defining Biblical Leadership

16:20 - Identity

25:10 - Lack of Self Control

28:30 - Lusts of the World

29:40- Lack of Proper Mentorship

33:00- Ways to Grow in Christ and Leadership

1. No concrete definition of Healthy Biblical Masculinity

* Definite Characteristics of Masculinity in the Bible

* Responsibility

* Gen 2:15 - And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

* Accountability

* Dependable

* Fulfilling duties and obligations

* Listens to the Voice of Christ.

* Direction

* Matthew 6:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of God…and all of these things will be added unto you

* Fruit of the Spirit

* Galatians 5:22

* Discipline and Self-Control

* Overcoming Lust

* Overcoming Emotional Instability

* 2 Corinthians For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds); casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

2. No concrete definition of Healthy Biblical Leadership

* Society tells us all forms of male leadership is “toxic” - This is obviously a lie

* Leadership Summarized

* Grace and Sterness “Go and Sin no more”

* Humility - Jesus washing the disciples feet

* Love and sacrifice - Jesus laying down his life for us.

* Love your wives as Christ loved the church

* Boldness - Prophet Elijah standing up for his faith in God

* Decision Making and Steadfastness - A double minded man is unstable

* Integrity - Living an honest lifestyle

* Leadership -

* In Spousal or Romantic Relationships -

* Serving with Humility - 1 Corinthians 11:3 - The head of every man is Christ: and the head of the woman is the man: and the head of Christ is God.

* Paul is establishing order in the New Testament church, and asserts that Men assumes a specific role and dynamic with their wives. Many use this scripture to assert dominance, but The Biblical husband is responsible for

* Providing wisdom and guidance, and safety.

* Serve with humility and meekness, not dominance

* Loving our wives as Christ loved the church- displaying patience, gentleness

* Displaying the fruits of the Spirit

* Displaying Strong Sternness and Decision Making

* Joshua 24:15 - But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

* John 8:11 - “Go and Sin no more”

* Christ displays both patience, grace, and sternness.

* In Friendships -

* Building others up with accountability and encouragement.

* Proverbs 27:17 - Iron Sharpens Iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

* Proverbs 27:5 - Open rebuke is better than secret love

* In our Community & Family

* Being an example

* Paul speaking to Timothy

* 1 Tim 4:12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

* Purity = Honesty, Self-Control, Abstaining from sin, Setting your life aside for God.

* Avoiding hypocrisy and a dishonest life.

3. Lack of Identity

* Social Dynamics between men and women have changed. - Societal structures and opinion have shifted from male-dominance and Patriarchy to becoming less Male-focus with an emphasis on equality and equal opportunity. While this is not bad, (There is neither male nor female in Christ)- God views us all the same, however, this has disrupted the traditional role of a male as the bread-winner, provider, and “Alpha” as many people would reference.

* Confusion about the Modern’s Male’s Place in the World and what Masculinity is.

* As Men of God, we need to learn how to shift our identity from extrinsic value, to intrinsic value.

* Extrinsic - Worth that comes from external factors - What you can provide, do, or produce.

* Accumulation of $ or possessions to assert value

* Physical Stature

* Dominance in relationships

* Multiple relationships

* Education

* Intrinsic - Living a Purposeful Life, Committing to self growth through Christ, Seeking him for our Gifts and Callings

4. Lack of Self Control

* Sexually - Lust

* Emotionally - Anger

* Impulsivity

5. Lusts of the world

Content Consumption

6. Lack of Proper Mentorship

* 1 Samuel 3:1-10

* The word of the Lord should still be abundant in your home

* The word of the Lord was scarce, Uncommon, Highly valuable

* Eli TAUGHT Samuel how to hear the voice of the Lord

* No one is asking us, as mentors to have all of the answers, but to lead the next generation to the one that does

* Leading and doing all things without hypocrisy

* The #1 reason this generation doesnt’ go to church is HYPOCRISY

* Romans 2:22 - thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples? thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written

How can we help our young men?

In Summary, Our Young Men struggle the most with

* Identity - Finding value

* Discipline - Self control

* Mental and Emotional Regulation - Community, Accountability, and Submission to Christ

Pragmatic Tools

* Extrinsic vs Intrinsic Value

* Teach Prayer and Fasting

* Abstaining from mentally and emotionally damaging content.

* Teaching Discipline and Emotional Regulation

* Developing Positive Community

2:00- Childhood

5:45- Teenage years

10:00- College years

13:40- Filled with the Holy Spirit

16:40- Adult Life

18:00- Ways I overcame and overcome

1 Corinthians 10:5 - casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety (cares) on him because he cares for you

Matthew 11:28-40; Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Christ’s reminder to us that although we are anxious and burdened with life, we have eternal peace and rest in him.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things arehonest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things arelovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. -Christ desires for us to think and dwell on things that cause us to have peace.

Phillipians 4:6 - Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Paul’s reminder to renew our mind daily. Be not conformed to this world - Not being worried about the same things the world worries about and following after the patterns of the world in our lifestyle but allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds through prayer and meditating on him.

Psalm 1 - Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. - Meditating on God’s word consistently. As much as we meditate on the bad, God calls us to meditate on his law (his Holy word and direction for our lives)

* Meditate (H1897)- Hagah

* Ponder

* Imagine

* Think deeply or focus

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Time Stamps:

:49 - 7 Prophetic Biblical Feasts

2:13- Passover Lamb

3:46 - Feast of Unleavened Bread

4:50 - Feast of Firstfruits

6:33- Passover meal Aka Last Supper

7:20 - New Testament application

1- The Lamb of God

* Exodus 12:3-20

* Lamb to be killed. Must be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish

* John 1:29 - The Next Day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taken away the sin of the world.

* John 1:36 - And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

* 1 Peter 1:18-19- Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

*

Just as the lamb needed to be slaughtered for sacrifice and escape from captivity of Egypt, Jesus offered himself and his blood so we can escape the captivity of sin.

2 - Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12: 15 - Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

* Unleavened Bread represents

* Separation from Corruption, Purity, Simplicity - Lev 6:14-17

* Remembrance of the captivity that Israel was delivered from - Lev 23

* Leaven is often compared to sin and corruption.

* A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump - Galatians 5:9

* Purge out the Old Leaven…. For Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us - 1 Corinthians 5:73-

3- Wave Sheaf Offering

Leviticus 23:9

* 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

* 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

* 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord.

1 Cor 15:20

* 20 But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of them that are asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in [a]Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his [b]coming.

4- Passover Meal aka Last Supper

* Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. (Luke 22:7, Mark 14:1, Matt 26:2)

* The disciples prepare the Passover feast (Luke 8:2)

* Jesus eating Passover feast before suffering (Luke 22:15)

* Passover Communion (Luke 22:18-23)

* Christ Our Passover - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. (1 Cor 5:7)

5- How Can I apply this to my life?

* Jesus is coming back for a church without spot, wrinkle or blemish - Just as he was

* He commands us to purge the old leaven from our life - Separation from sin, sinful habits, sinful mindsets

* Present our bodies a living sacrifice

Today we are breaking down the top 5 points in James 2&3 that I found to be relevant to today’s climate.

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Time Stamps

1:19 - Discrimination

3:39 - Faith without Works

6:02 - Controlling the tongue

7:44 - Biblical Character

9:01- Be not in a rush to teach

1. Addressing Partiality and Discrimination (2:1)

* Chapter 2 v. 1 - My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

* Showing favoritism to those that have a lot. Classism. Racism (Neither Jew nor Greek. Bond nor free.)

* v5 - Got gives favor to the poor. They can tend to be more rich in faith due to having little- and having to solely rely on God.

* While we can take things for granted regarding our daily needs- God tells us to remember and not to overlook the poor- As he can use those that have resources to glorify his Kingdom and increase their faith.

* v6- Discrimination is Sin in God’s eyes

2. Faith without works (2:14)

Works - ἔργον (ergon): "work, deed, action, task, labor.

Chapter 2 v. 14 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Faith and works are synonymous. Works don’t save us, but it is a necessary bi-product of our relationship with God. True faith will lead to obedience to the Father, and sharing his heart. This will lead us to have fruit in our lives.

There are a lot of dead Christians that say they have faith and say they believe, but don’t have any fruit in our lives. We say we’re Christian, but really there is no change of heart, mind, actions, or deed.

* v26 for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

3. Controlling the tongue (3:3-10)

* Chapter 3 v. 10 - Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought so not be.

4. Biblical Character (3:13)

Chapter 3 v. 13 - “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”

* Refrain from envy, strife and bitterness. - Primarily caused through bickering and earthly wisdom

* We see this a lot online

* v 16 - Where there is envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work.

* Related words - ακαταστασία (akatastasia): This word means "instability" or "a state of disorder, disturbance

* Chaotic

* v17 - True wisdom and the fruit of righteousness

5. Do not be in a rush to become a teacher (3:1)

* Chapter 3 v. 1 - Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive [a]heavier judgment.

* Social media has allowed us to step in the positions of teachers without being called. God is using it to spread his Gospel, but the reality is teachers and ministers will receive the greater judgement- not only from the word but from God.

* God is paying attention to how we handle his word- I know a lot of us believe that there won’t be a judgment, but that isn’t consistent with James 3 or other scriptures in the Bible.

* 2 Cor 4:2 but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifesting the truth we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Thank you for watching. Feel free to like share comment subscribe. God bless. Until Next Time.

Your identity is in Christ.

Your identity is not in how many women you can sleep with.

Your identity is not in guns, violence, or music.

You are not inadequate. You are not worthless. You are not hopeless. Your situation does not define you.

In a world that is feeding you bitterness and anger towards yourself, women, and those around you. - God is calling you to be free and healed.

We pray against heartbreak, anger, pain, lust, greed that would result in violence or isolation.

We pray against every seed and thought that has been planted, that is not like Christ.

Your manhood is not defined by the the world - But your identity is defined by Christ.

True strength doesn’t come from bitterness, hatred, anger, drunkeness, and sex - But true strength comes from patience, purity, humility, doing good to all men, love, joy, and peace.

What may look like weakness, God calls strength.

Ephesians 5: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:….

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another”

Welcome to another week of the Kingdom Competence Podcast! Today, we will be breaking down James chapter 1 - Where we will find practical wisdom and knowledge for the daily building of our faith and character.

Whether you're familiar with the chapter or hearing it for the first time, we’ll break it down verse by verse to uncover the truths that speak directly to our lives today. Grab your Bible and let’s dive into James 1 together!

No holiday is required to celebrate, but it is important to note that all scripture works together.

As there were many Jewish traditions added later, we will focus on what scripture says.

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