"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:19, 20).
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me" (Luke 22:31-34).
The Perfection process is a team effort. We need each other!
Catalytic Converters
* A catalyst is a substance that changes the velocity of a chemical reaction while not being changed itself. The change is usually positive, increasing the reaction rate.
* A man who works in the field of chemistry pointed out that if you mix hydrogen and oxygen, the well-known components of water, you get no reaction—and no water! But if you add a small amount of platinum to this stable mixture, things began to happen very rapidly. The hydrogen and oxygen unite and a chemical change occurs which produces H2O.
* Platinum is a catalyst used in automobiles to convert the exhaust gases (carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons) into harmless gases by oxidation reactions. Lead destroys the activity of the platinum catalyst.
Perception determines Perfection
How you perceive temptation determines your perfection. "Count it all joy"
(Job’s perception of trials; Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.)
James 1:15 "Do not err" This verse is found in between verses that talk about the process of sin and the goodness of God.
The two things we err about are:
1. Our own greatness (James 1:13-16)
2. God’s goodness (James 1:16, 17)
One of the things that causes us to err and commit sin is about our perception of sin and our perception of God. Do not err about sin and do not err about Gods goodness’
Eve erred because her perception was that God didn’t want her to enjoy good fruit. She didn’t perceive the path of sin and the goodness of God.
David erred because he did not understand the goodness of God.
2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
"I anointed thee. . . [power (authority)] I delivered thee. . . [protection] I gave thee. . . [provision] I would moreover have given unto thee [promise]" (12:7-8).
David erred about the cost of sin and the goodness of God.
Asaph in Psalm 73 about slipped because of his perception about the wicked vs. the righteous. "Truly God is good to Israel" (verse 1) is what he said but he didn’t recognize that when he saw the prosperity of the wicked.. His perception was corrected when, " Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end" (verse 17).
Perception problem, Kids say "you never" or "always" that is a perception problem.. Psalm 73:14, 22 (not all the wicked prosper, and not all of the righteous are poor, but it sure seems that way doesn’t it?) "All the righteous suffer and all the wicked prosper"
A. Do not err about God’s goodness
B. Do not err about your own greatness
Peter, "I am invincible"—underestimated the power and cycle of sin. (James 1)
Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Elijah; "I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
A little boy once told his mother that he was six feet tall. When she doubted the statement, he assured her that he had just measured himself. His calculations were right but his ruler was not; it was only about six inches long. This is the sort of rule by which many Christians measure themselves. —A.B. Simpson in A Larger Christian Life. Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 17.
We are to be the catalyst for conversion for those who are wandering.
* Negative catalysts are called inhibitors. Bitterness, not responding to a trial properly are inhibitor.
* The stability and activity of a catalyst can also be enhanced by the use of so-called promoters.
* The addition of small amounts of alumina and potassium oxide increases the stability and activity of the iron catalyst used in the synthesis of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen.
While James did not specifically name prayer in these two verses, the verses leading up to them is all about prayer. If we pray for the afflicted and the sick, surely we must pray for the brother who wanders from the truth.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
When Peter was converted he preached at Pentecost and 3000 people were saved in one day.
R. D. Gordon, in his book, Five Laws That Govern Prayer, said:
"A woman who earned her livelihood by the washtub and ironing board, had a son, John, who ran away to sea in his teens. She didn’t know where he was for years, and people said John was guilty of almost every sin and crime.
"But the mother prayed for her boy, and, of course the prayer was heard. No real prayer ever slipped yet. It cannot slip, for Jesus and His blood are back of it. And John came—all the way, and be became a preacher for Jesus. And John Newton, the sailor-preacher, was the means of helping thousands of men get in touch with Jesus.
"Among the thousands touched by Newton was a scholarly, cultured man who did not feel he needed a Savior. But Newton touched Thomas Scott’s heart and he came to Jesus.
"And Scott touched a dyspeptic, melancholy young fellow who thought he was too bad for God to save. Scott was used to touch William Cowper’s heart, and he came to Jesus. He found out about the blood that cleanses and wrote a hymn, "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood."
"And Cowper touched William Wilberforce, who came to be known as the Christian statesman of England.
"And Wilberforce, among many, touched a clergyman in on of the Channel Islands. Leigh Richmond, and he was changed.
"And Richmond knew the story of a young woman in an adjoining parish, and wrote it in a little book called The Dairyman’s Daughter.
"That little book was translated into 40 languages and went everywhere, burning a flame into men’s hearts, and changing them as it went.
"Will you trace that little series of concentric circles? Of Richmond and Wilberforce and Cowper and Scott and Newton and an old woman praying for her boy."
Jesus and Peter—Jesus looked at Peter (Luke 22:61)
Luke 22:60. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Do we even know what situations some people are facing.
Compassion will save a multitude of sinners
A number of years ago, in a mental institution just outside Boston, Mass., a young girl known as "Little Annie" was locked in the dungeon. This institution was one of the more enlightened ones for the treatment of the mentally disturbed. However, the doctors felt that a dungeon was the only place for those who were "hopelessly" insane. In Little Annie’s case, they saw no hope for her, so she was confined to a living death in that small cage which received little light and even less hope.
About that time, an elderly nurse in the institution was nearing retirement. She felt there was hope for all of God’s creatures, so she started taking her lunch into the dungeon and eating outside Little Annie’s cage. She felt perhaps she could communicate some love and hope to the little girl.
In many ways, Little Annie was like an animal. On occasions, she would violently attack the person who came into her cage. At other times, she would completely ignore them. When the elderly nurse started visiting her, Little Annie gave no indication that she was even aware of her presence. One day, the elderly nurse brought some brownies to the dungeon and left them outside the cage. Little Annie gave no hint she knew they were there, but when the nurse returned the next day, the brownies were gone. From that time on, the nurse would bring brownies when she made her Thursday visit. Soon, the doctors in the institution noticed a change was taking place. After a period of time, they decided to move Little Annie upstairs. Finally, the day came when this "hopeless case" was told she could return home. But Little Annie did not wish to leave. The place had meant so much to her she felt she could make a contribution if she stayed and worked with the other patients. The elderly nurse had seen and brought out so much in her life that Little Annie felt she could see and help develop something in others.
Many years later, Queen Victoria of England, while pinning England’s highest award on a foreigner, asked Helen Keller, "How do you account for your remarkable accomplishments in life? How do you explain the fact that even though you were both blind and deaf, you were able to accomplish so much?" Without a moment’s hesitation, Helen Keller said that had it not been for Anne Sullivan (Little Annie), the name of Helen Keller would have remained unknown.
It’s not too well known, but Helen Keller was a normal, healthy baby before some mysterious disease left her almost helpless and hopeless. Anne Sullivan saw Helen Keller as one of God’s very special people—treated her as she saw her—loved her—disciplined her—played, prayed, pushed and worked with her until the flickering candle that was her life became a beacon that helped light the pathways and lighten the burdens of people all over the world. Yes, Helen Keller influenced millions after her own life was touched by "Little Annie!" —Zig Ziglar, See You At The Top
A The Christian catalyst is a confronter.
* Nathan, "Thou art the man."
* Christ, "Do you love me?"
* God to Elijah, "What are you doing here?"
Robert Robinson had been saved out of a tempestuous life of sin through George Whitfield’s ministry in England. Shortly after that, at the age of twenty-three, Robinson wrote the hymn Come, Thou Fount.
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Sadly, Robinson wandered far from those streams and, like the Prodigal Son, journeyed into the distant country of carnality. Until one day—he was traveling by stagecoach and sitting beside a young woman engrossed in her book. She ran across a verse she thought was beautiful and asked him what he thought of it.
Prone to wander— Lord, I feel it—
Prone to leave the God I love.
Bursting into tears, Robinson said, "Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then." Although greatly surprised, she reassured him that the "streams of mercy" mentioned in his song still flowed. Mr. Robinson was deeply touched. Turning his "wandering heart" to the Lord, he was restored to full fellowship.
—Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, p. 52
Years ago in London there was a large gathering of notables for a concert. One of the invited guests was a famous preacher, Caesar Milan. A young lady charmed the audience that night with her singing. After the concert Milan went up to her and graciously, but boldly, said to her, "I thought as I listened to you tonight how tremendously the cause of Christ would be benefited if your talents were dedicated to His cause. You know, young lady, you are a sinner in the sight of God, but I am glad to tell you that the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse you from all sin."
The lady became so angry at the preacher that she stomped her feet and walked away. As she was leaving he said, "I mean no offense. I will pray that God’s Spirit will convict you."
Now that’s not exactly my style of witnessing, but here’s the rest of the story. The young lady went home, but she couldn’t sleep. The face of the preacher appeared before her, and his words rang through her mind. About two o’clock in the morning she got out of bed, took a pencil and piece of paper, and with tears rolling down her face, Charlotte Elliot wrote:
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come
—David Jeremiah (The Handwriting on the Wall).
