Sermon Tone Analysis

Turn with me to the Book of James 1:1.

For the next couple of weeks, we are going to park in this most powerful Epistle and we are going to learn about “Faith that Works.”

If we want to become skillful in our faith, if we want to live in revival, we must grab ahold of tangible faith.

Not a mental ascent, not a philosophy, an esoteric teaching but an applicational, relational faith that changes everything around us.

James is going to show us how to walk out our faith and live devoted to the Lord daily

Many people claim to be religious, but their religion is worthless.

Many claim to have faith but their faith is dead.

Others claim to be wise but their wisdom is wordly, even demonic, not spiritual.

James teaches us about authentic religion, faith and wisdom!

A people who are alive in the Lord!

A people who demonstrate their faith by their behaviour.

An Important question: Are you living according to what you profess to believe?

Who is James?

He is the half brother of Jesus and one of the main leaders in the Jerusalem church.

He used to enter the Temple alone, and be found resting on his knees and praying for forgiveness for the people,10 so that his knees became as hard as those of a camel because of his constant bending forward on his knees in worshiping God and begging for forgiveness for the people.

Because of his excessive righteousness he was called the Just and Oblias, which in Greek is “Bulwark of the people” and “Righteousness,” as the prophets disclose about him.

His real name is Greek and Hebrew?

Jacob

How did he die?

Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned;

So they went up and cast down the Just, and they said to one another: “Let us stone James the Just,” and they began to stone him, p 128 since, though he had been cast down, he did not die, but he turned and with his knees on the ground said: “I beseech thee, Lord, God and Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”20

When was the Epistle written?

Scholars can reliably date the book of James to 44-49 AD.

Making it one, if not the earliest, book written in the New Testament.

Why is all this important?

James saw authentic faith walked out by his brother, our Messiah.

If there was anyone with credentials to teach us about true faith in action, it is the brother of the Lord Jesus.

Who is writing to?

Jewish believers who had fled to many different places due to waves of persecution.

Scriptures

God uses trials for our benefit

To see trials as joy requires an act of our will, an act of faith

The need for wisdom

Becoming mature (perfect, lacking nothing) requires us having a perspective that is greater than the earthly, present moment understanding of our trials.

Having God’s wisdom in essential in order to be joyful through trials

When you lack wisdom, you’ll react out of emotion.

Wisdom enables us to see our situation from God’s perspective

The big picture.

God will give it if we ask without doubt.

Doubt: Having a divided allegiance between the God and the world

It’s more about double-mindedness (you should know better).

Dealing with doubt

1. Be honest with yourself and God

2. Wrestle with the Scriptures

3. Pray till you breakthrough

AMEN!