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Grace Bible Church
The Tree of Life
A Weekly Review
Week ending 03/20/11
The function of the divine wheel as it relates to the molding of the clay.
One of the main principles concerning the Potter and the clay is: The function of the divine wheel as it relates to the molding of the clay. If some difficult circumstance or trial comes into your life, that circumstance or trial is a part of the wheel of God to reveal that you might be resisting the pressure of the Potter’s hand. Resistance is not a very smart thing to do when it is resisting the Potter’s hand or the Potter’s wheel. In fact, resisting the Potter or the Potter’s wheel is actually a very dumb thing to do and usually brings on self-induced misery. But God has a way of putting us in positions to listen.
And those who err in mind will know the truth, And those who criticize will accept instruction. (ISA 29:24)
Those who got off‑track will get back on‑track, and complainers and whiners learn eventually to be grateful. It may take some longer than others but, they will learn. The apostle James puts it like this; JAM 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
We noted the word consider which is a very interesting word which is the aorist, middle, imperative of the verb hegeomai which is a command to believe, think, consider, to be a leader; to rule, command; to have authority over. It has the connotation of adding up all the facts and coming to a doctrinal conclusion. The aorist tense refers to the periods of time that the wheel is used by the potter to conform the believer to God’s will and their very own personal sense of destiny. It is in the middle voice here which says that you do this yourself, no one can do it for you. This imperative mood can only be obeyed when you have a knowledge of Bible doctrine. And this is a sane person adding up the facts. This aorist tense also means only at specific times will you use some doctrine that you learn.
There are some doctrines that you will be using all the time, there are some doctrines that you will be using occasionally. There are some doctrines designed for pressure and suffering, there are other doctrines which are designed for prosperity.
The word encounter is also interesting because the aorist active subjunctive of the verb peripipto; to fall into something that is all around, to be surrounded with.
JAM 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.
We begin with the word trials which is the noun peirasmos meaning here testing for blessing, it’s a test to prove your faith and application of doctrine. The point that James is making is that to pass these different trials and tests you must have the attitude of James in verse two.Thinking, considering, regarding is the liveliness of Bible doctrine circulating in the soul. To think means the reasoning of the conscious mind, the capability of reasoning, remembering, decision-making and application. So to consider means to think carefully in making decisions. With this verb we have the word joy which is the Greek noun chara meaning happiness based upon having the facts in your in your soul, or doctrine in the right lobe.
This is saying that the only possible way for you to have happiness in a pressure situation is for doctrine to meet the facts of pressure and personal disaster. This is a command according to JAM 1:2 when it says, Consider it all joy or inner happiness. But you have to have it to consider or conclude these trials to be a reflection of the Potter’s hand it at work in your life. You cannot conclude what you do not have. Happiness here is a mental attitude that is concluded when you as the special edition of the child of God faces the special occasion of suffering and adversity with this special attitude of inner happiness.
JAM 1:2, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, the word various is an adjective,poikilos, which simply means many types, many categories, and then the word for trials is the dative plural ofpeirasmos, which means testing to determine the quality of something. It is a noun for many categories of pressure.
So, a great translation of this verse would be as follows: JAM 1:2-3, My brethren [members of the Royal Family], keep on concluding [after weighing the facts] to keep on having perfect happiness [+H] whenever you become involved in the many categories of pressure. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Knowing is the present active participle of ginosko which means to learn from the Potter by means of experience. Remember what our Lord said about this principle;
MAT 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy‑laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.”
MAT 11:30, “For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”
However, don’t misunderstand and limit the principle of experience. Because, in this case, it means to learn from the experience of PMA of Bible doctrine. The experience of sitting down and listening to Bible teaching. James is relating the principle of PMA of BD to + H and a lot of experiences in the field of listening to doctrine, which build up this fantastic inner happiness.
JAM 1:3, knowing that the testing of your faith
The word for testing is the Greek noun dokimion, which means testing for the purpose of approval. In other words, every pressure in life put on the wheel of your Potter is a test designed for approval, for graduation.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Co 10:13)
JAM 1:3, knowing that the testing of your faith produces
Faith is the genitive noun of pistis which is used as a technical word and in its technical use it refers to the whole body of doctrines stored in your right lobe. It also refers to the system of transferring doctrine from the left lobe down to the human spirit, so it is a part of PMA. It is also used for the exhale of faith toward God, which is faith-rest. So it is technical and non-technical.
The potter is at work in you, it means He is working out something on the inside which is being accomplished and achieved in your life. This is doctrine on the inside working out with the result that something is accomplished. That something is endurance, which refers to a stabilized faith on the inside or the stabilized use of doctrine in the believer's life.
Therefore it comes to mean the ability to trust without wavering under the most adverse of circumstances, and even for prolonged periods of time.
The word translated endurance also means patience. Let's note some principles concerning the patience, the endurance and the resultant longsuffering of God who, as the Potter is spinning the clay upon His wheel.
1. First of all the patience and longsuffering of God is related to His lovingkindness and truth, PSA 86:15. It is because the Lord is filled with lovingkindness and truth that He can be so patient with each and every one of us. Think of how patient the Lord has been with you and me over the years.
PSA 86:15 But Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger [patient and longsuffering] and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. (PSA 86:15)
The last phrase reveals one of the reasons why the Lord is so patient and longsuffering, it's because of His love and His character based upon His lovingkindness which is grace and his truth which is doctrine. Therefore, when a person has love and a godly disposition, that person will have patience and longsuffering.
2. Patience and longsuffering is also related to the compassion of the Lord, in PSA 103:8. Because He is compassionate He operates in patience and longsuffering. PSA 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger [patient and longsuffering] and abounding in lovingkindness.
And then His patience and longsuffering is described in PSA 103:9-14, He will not always strive {with us}; Nor will He keep {His anger} forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on {his} children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are {but} dust.
A believer who has the patience and the longsuffering of God will be very compassionate.
3. Patience and longsuffering is also related to the power or omnipotence of God, NAH 1:3. When you have perfect power and omnipotence, you are not so concerned with how things turn out. You know that at any moment you have the power to do what has to be done. NAH 1:3, The Lord is slow to anger [patient and longsuffering] and great in power,
4. The patience and longsuffering of God is related to the principle of repentance, ROM 2:4. Many believers throughout the ages can testify with David in PSA 18:35, that the gentleness of the Lord has made them great or matured.
PSA 18:35, "Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy right hand upholds me; And Thy gentleness makes me great."
JER 31:3, The Lord appeared to him from afar, {saying,} "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
Or what Paul said in ROM 2:4, Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
So, a believer who has the patience and the longsuffering of God will be very sensitive and compassionate to those who are guilty and need to repent.
5. The patience and longsuffering of God is related to the Lord's tolerance and endurance with us, 1TI 1:16.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (1 Ti 1:12-16)
In this passage, we have a picture of our Lord's perfect patience toward the wicked sinner. Patience is a very important virtue for all of us.
How does a believer develop patience in his Life?
Well, first of all, he doesn't. So that ought to be comforting to many of you.
Patience is developed by, and is the production of, God the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.Patience and endurance is also developed through the power of the Spirit and the power from Bible doctrine in the soul of the believer.
In COL 1:9-11, For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of allsteadfastness and patience;
Steadfastness and patience is developed through the power of God.Patience and steadfastness or endurance is also a system of thinking, it is not an emotion.
COL 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart right lobe] of compassion, kindness [grace orientation], humility, gentleness and patience;
A patient person will be slow to anger.He will not get angry quickly.Patience will give us the power and the gracious system of thinking to have great understanding and sensitivity toward others, PRO 14:29.
PRO 14:29, He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick‑tempered exalts folly.
Patience with others will also help us resolve and reconcile differences, PRO 15:18.
PRO 15:18 A hot‑tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger pacifies contention.
Patience is a virtue which gives the believer fantastic strength under pressure, PRO 16:32.
PRO 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
Patience will also allow us to be discrete and overlook the sins of others, PRO 19:11.
PRO 19:11 A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
When you're patient with people, you do not hold them accountable for the wrongs they have done against you.
Patience allows us to rest in the Lord and let the supreme court judge handle any unfair or unjust treatment, PSA 37:7.
PSA 37:7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
If someone is carrying out wicked schemes against you, be patient, relax, the Lord has everything under control.
Patience and endurance gives us the strength and power to handle undeserved suffering and maltreatment so that we can bring glory to the Lord.
In 1PE 2:19-23, Peter says For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
It is having your doctrine and the faith rest drill tested in your life which will give you patience.
As so, JAM 1:3-4, Knowing that the testing of your faith [your doctrine and your faith-rest drill] produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Perfect and complete lacking nothing does not mean sinless perfection, it means maturity and contentment.