James 1
Notes
Transcript
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
- “patience” = endurance
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
v4 - we must LET it have her perfect work
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
v5 - a wise God, and a wise Word of God - much better than us
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
V6 - we can never build up if we always waiver
-where will we end up if we never build up?
-not only faith, but must manifest in ACTION
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
v7 - let’s not be ENTITLED
-must submit to plan of God
-must TRUST in the plan of God
-FAITH must be met with ACTION
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
V8 - holding contradictory lifestyles (prov 11.3)
“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: But the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
-the disciples went ALL IN on their mission
-their legacy TEACHES
-their lives were HELPFUL
-most importantly, they lived how GOD DESIRED THEM To
-they let God PERFECT HIS WORK IN THEM
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
V9-10 - rejoicing that WE’RE ALL EQUAL UNDER CHRIST
-not being a RESPECTER OF PERSONS if we’re being CHRISTLIKE
-the amount of effort Christ spent on the STRUGGLING sets an EXAMPLE
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
V11 - God reminds us that MATERIAL THINGS WILL ALL FADE
-remember the RICH MAN AND LAZARUS, WHO REALLY CAME OUT IN THE END?
-the GRASS WITHERS IN HEAT - HELL IMAGERY
-remember the RICH YOUNG RULER
-God gives us MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS, it’s an IMPORTANT TEACHING
-WHAT WILL WE CHOOSE when the RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD?
-will we REFUSE TO HELP because we make EXCUSES?
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
V12 - “blessed” describes an attitude of determined courage and faith that is unaffected by external circumstances
-not only this, but the PROMISES that God has given to us
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Do not err, my beloved brethren.
V13-16 - James uses the analogy of human conception and birth to describe sin here
-and instead of bringing forth LIFE, it brings forth DEATH
-we PLANT OUR OWN SEEDS, and we are NATURALLY FERTILE for sin
-we are naturally fertile, once the seed is planted, WILL WE TEND TO AND FERTILIZE THIS SEED?
-15 min craving
-SMALL CHOICES every day ADD UP
-and if we win most of these battles, WE WILL MAKE PROGRESS
In this way, WE BUILD UP, and let God PERFECT HIS WORKING IN US
We GROW, we SUBMIT, and our FAITH MANIFESTS IN ACTION
As we SHOW OUR LOVE BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, and as we BUILD UP IN FAITH, God will SHOW HIS LOVE FOR US as well by molding and GUIDING us.
It’s a beautiful RELATIONSHIP back and forth,
But it’s crucial we not only talk the talk, not only profess faith, but we WALK THE WALK as well
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
THERE MUST BE A CHANGE OF HEART AND LIFE
And when we do, GOD WILL DO HIS PERFECT WORK IN US