The Diamond Engagement Ring
James 2:1-3
James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
In verse one James is saying, “My Brethren you have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
In other words, the ones that James was writing to were not conducting themselves as the Lord.
We have all heard the saying, “What Would Jesus Do?” If Jesus would not act that way then we ought not either.
If the Lord does not show respect of persons, then we should not as well.
James 2:2-3
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
Have we ever seen someone show favortism to someone who has more than someone else?
What this proclaims is a terrible attitude and spirit.
Jesus did not look on the outside of man but He looked on what was on the inside of man.
Remember when Samuel was about to annoint David King.
1 Samuel 16:6-7
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
What the Lord was saying was…don’t look at what you see with your physical eyes.
God does not always see things the way we see them, God looks on the heart.
A lot of times money will attract. If someone walked in here with a big golden ring and dressed real nice and someone who was a bum walked in, who would most people flock to?
James 2:4-5
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
This demands a positive answer.
Not many mighty and not many noble, we have to be willing to answer the call.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
God will take people that this world will say no way to and He will use them for His glory.
James was telling the people according to James 1:6, they have despised the poor.
This refers to the fact that some Christians had despised those whom God had chosen.
Matthew 19:24
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
I have entitled this today:
The Diamond Engagement Ring
Here is the reason why:
Dream 12-31-08
I dreamed that a rich man walked into an office and he was showing off a great big diamond engagement ring. A woman who was working there was admiring the ring. She was longing for a ring like that. She told the rich man that her mother wanted her to marry a man like the boy across the street or the boy next door. The boy next door walked in and asked the woman to marry him. He pulled out a diamond ring that was not nearly as big as the rich man’s ring. The woman put on the ring and she was in awe. The man next door walked out towards the elevator. He saw the rich man offer her the big diamond ring. He saw her put it on her wedding finger. He was now discouraged thinking that she was going to marry him. He had jumped the gun. She loved him for what he was, which was the boy next door.
Interpretation
Sometimes people show off what they have. In this case, a rich man was showing off a great big diamond wedding band.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Diamond-hard, unchangable; it can mean hardheaded, hardhearted; it can mean eternal, a diamond is forever.
Ring-covenant, engagement ring-means promise.
The woman working there was admiring the rich man’s big diamond engagement ring.
She was longing for a ring like that one.
How many of us have a longing for something of this world?
How many of us would compromise our walks in the Lord so we could have what we want?
God does not want me to look at this world and what it has to offer, He wants me to focus upon Him and what He tells me that I can have through Him.
There is a right way and there is a wrong way to do things.
Matthew 6:30-34
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
As a Christian, I need to understand that God is my supplier, so I want to make sure that I am where I need to be in Him.
We have all heard the phrase “like the boy next door”, which would mean something simple and something honest.
Sometimes we might not have what someone else has and the engagement ring might not be as big, but to the person who loves us they will still be in awe of what we have because of true love.
Sometimes we see things with our natural eyes and we jump the gun, and we start to worry and fret.
Sometimes we get fed up because someone else has more than us, get over it, you’re not supposed to be laying up treasures here anyway.
Your reward will be in Heaven!
Dream 6-9-08
I dreamed that Susan and I were in this room with Jesus, this room must have been in Heaven. All of our needs and wants were provided in this room. Jesus just knew, we didn’t have to say a word. Susan looked at my finger where my wedding band used to be and I said, “Well, at least I still have the imprint there”. I knew that we were not married in the sense of the way that we were when we were on Earth. But yet we were together and we were a family. I walked up to Jesus. He was sitting at a desk. I didn’t say a word a word and He didn’t either. He looked at me with love in His eyes. He opened the desk drawer and He gave me a wedding band. I knew that we were married to Him. He gave me the desire of my heart.
Interpretation
In a room with Jesus in Heaven would represent that He has a dwelling place for us when we die or get raptured.
All of our needs and wants were provided in this room.
I didn’t have to say a word. Jesus knew what my thoughts were, He knows everything that there is to know about us.
Susan and I were not married in the sense that we are down here but yet we were still a family.
Matthew 22: 29-30
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
We were not married but yet we were still a family.
I walked up to Jesus and He was sitting at a desk and again I didn’t say a word.
Jesus opened up the desk drawer and He gave me a wedding band, I knew that we were married to Him.
A wedding band in this case represents a Covenant with God.
He gave me the desires of my heart.
Remember the Prodigal Son?
Luke 15:22
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
The son who was lost came home and the Father threw a celebration for him.
He put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
The son who was lost in sin came home where he needed to be.
I was lost but guess what? Now I am found!
I was blind but now I see!
I am now walking along with Jesus and He is supplying all of my needs.
Here is the reason why:
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We can be like the Israelites who were in the wilderness, God supplied all of there needs.
Deuteronomy 2:7
7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.
These people literally heard the voice of the Lord. They saw many feats accomplished and mighty Miracles take place in their midst.
God provided what they needed.
Jesus is showing up in my dreams for a purpose. I’m not totally sure why but I know for sure that where Jesus is, there will be Miracles taking place.
Jesus has been spotted in our midst; sometimes it takes a while for us to get to the place where God wants us to be that He will do what He said.
But He will do what He has spoken, so get ready for a God Factor in our Sanctuary.
This morning are you walking along with Jesus?
Are you taking Him at His Word?
Are you applying the Word to your whole life this morning?
God is going to take you to Heavenly places to be with Jesus.
In order to get there, we have to learn to walk in the Spirit that we don’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
When you feel your flesh tugging at your Spirit man, get into a place of prayer and ask God to give you the strength that you need.
The flesh and Satan will try to pull you away from God, but God has brought you too far to give up on you.
God has made a way of escape from the temptations that you go through and that way of escape is Jesus Christ in your life.
Walking in the will of God!
According to John 10:10: Satan wants to steal kill and destroy, but Jesus came that you can have life more abundantly.
Is Jesus in your room this morning? Is He in your life?
It is time to open up the door and let Jesus work a Miracle in your life.
Change your direction!
Closing
Are you looking at what the world has and are you lusting for it?
Do you judge by what you see?
Look at things the way Jesus would.
If you are interested in seeing some God given dreams given to me and others in our church go to:
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/w/windoffaithdrea/
Go to the new text page for the God given dreams.
