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The book of James
The book is designed to exhort and encourage, to challenge and convict, to rebuke and revive, to describe practical holiness and drive believers toward the goal of a faith that works!
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
James, who by many theologians wrote the book of James and he the half brother of Jesus.
This first line is so powerful!
Who you see now is not who I’ve always been
James declared I am a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
Servant: slave n. — a person who is legally owned by someone else and whose entire livelihood and purpose was determined by their master.
But this was not always James testimony…
So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.
I am thankful for Grace
Just think about the moments we have spoken out of ignorance…
This is beautiful picture of transformation!
“The twelve tribes in the dispersion”
At first, the gospel work was focused in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47); but, as a result of persecution, which intensified after the stoning of Stephen, these believers were scattered, and the seed of the gospel was planted throughout the cities and surrounding regions of the Roman Empire.
According to Acts 11, the gospel spread to the Gentiles quite early, beginning in Antioch; so, the twelve tribes probably refers to Christians as a whole. There do not seem to have been different congregations based on ethnicity, which is why the Jerusalem Council soon had to decide whether believing Gentiles should first become Jews by being circumcised (Acts 15:1-6) in order to become Christians
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Command #1 “Count it all joy”
Count: to consider (reckon) v. — to deem or reckon to be.
It all?
“Joy”
Joy (source) n. — anything that causes cheer and dispels gloom.
James is commanding us to change our perspective about our IT!
If we change our perspective about our It, Our It will dispel gloom and bring cheer
The question is.... What is my “IT?”
“When you meet trials of various kinds”
In life we will meet trials of various kinds…
Various kinds…
Various kinds (Pastor J): Situations that are out of our control
Suffering that Christians undergo in this fallen world
Remember they were exiles
They were forced to establish themselves in a new and strange situation
They faced:
Sickness
Loneliness
Bereavement
Disappointment
Poverty
The various kinds of Trials
Trials: examination n. — the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes).
What is under examination?
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James wanted his readers to know…
If you will change your perspective about this situation that is out of your control…
You will understand that your faith is under examination..
The Trial is looking for mistakes!
God is allowing it to happen to test the genuineness of your faith!
Testing: genuineness n. — the state of not being fake or counterfeit.
The testing of your faith produces steadfastness!
Produces: to accomplish v. — to put something into effect entirely or thoroughly.
Steadfastness steadfast endurance n. — the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary.
Steadfastness is the inward fortitude to count it all Joy when It doesn’t feel or look like JOY!
Command #2 “And Let Steadfastness”
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Full: to complete v. — to bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements.
Effect: work (product) n. — a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing.
Let steadfastness complete the work!
The testing of my faith through various trials is:
#1 it is making my faith whole (FULL)! The necessary parts that make my faith strong is coming together!
#2 Steadfastness is producing product (Effect) - I am a product of what faith should look like!
James is not talking about steadfastness producing a perfect person but He is talking about steadfastness producing perfect faith...
perfect adj. — being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish.
Faith without defect or blemish!
Steadfastness is producing complete faith…
complete (perfect) adjs. — perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities.
This is why I can withstand hardships or stress…
This is why I count it all JOY!
This situation I’m going through is going to make my faith Perfect and Complete
James said “Lacking in Nothing”
to miss (lack) v. — to be without or lack.
I can declare I am not lacking anything!
I am a faith product!
When you see me / You See what faith looks like!