James 1:8-12 “Preserving Faith and Devotion”

“Preserving Faith and Devotion”

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Read James 1:8-12.

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Introduction

(Context) James the servant of God, is the author and he is writing this letter tot he church at large.

Last week we were in James 1:2-7 which taught us that we, as Christians, can and should count all things as joy including all our trails. We posses the surpassing joy of knowing Christ crucified. The same joy that has carried the martyrs of the faith to their death rejoicing that they are suffering for the sake of Christ.

But then James introduces to us a concept that we will be picking up on today. In verse 6-7 it says “but let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything.”

(that person) so what is it that that person is not receiving? Well, according to the previous verses, they are not receiving wisdom, nor steadfastness.

(that person) so why is that person not gong to receive wisdom or steadfastness? Because that person has gone to God in prayer in flesh, but not in faith.

(Proposition) There is a difference between saving faith that perseveres and receives a crown, and that of the fading faith of those who are doubleminded.

(example) Lets go look at Luke 18:9-14.

In this Parable, we see the Pharisee doing that which you and I would say is good. (Preach)

Double Minded

Now you might think that Pharisees no longer exist, but you would mistaken. Let’s go back to James 1:7-8. (Read)

The person who prays without faith, is no better than the Pharisee who did not posses faith in all of his actions.

The person who goes through the motions, who does the right things, who prays and gives to the church, if he or she does not posses, you are the one who James says will not receive from the Lord: wisdom or steadfastness. You must first be in Christ to be able to be conformed to the image of Christ.

James says “that person” is a “double minded man”

(Question) Are you today that double minded man? Do you live a life with one foot in the world and another on Calvary? Are you like a Pharisee wanting others to see your actions while concealing the darkness of your heart? Do you have lip service of grace but you actually have hell resting on your shoulders. Because if you do not posses saving faith today that rests in Christ Jesus alone, you are unstable in all your ways awaiting a mighty fall.

Sadly we see this happen often with a multitude of example. Even Paul saw this happen with a man named Demas. Demas was with Paul for a certain time doing ministry with Paul. (2 Timothy 4:6) But Paul reports to Timothy that “for Demas in love with this present world, has deserted me.”

The church has unfortunately always been plagued with double minded men in its halls. Men who loved the world and the things of the flesh while trying to profess Christ. Turn with me to Revelation 3:14-22. (Read)

Dear friends, if you have an ear that can hear, you can not cling unto the wool of Christ while also clinging to the fig leaves of the kingdom of darkness. This was the imperative teaching of the reformation, that we are not saved by grace and works, faith and actions, christ and traditions, but instead that we are saved by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Therefore we must be hot or cold, but we can not be both. If you are lukewarm today, you are doubleminded in all your ways, and God will spit you out.

(Illustration)imagine If you had set out to run a marathon, as this was your greatest desire in life, as you are on mile 1, mile 10, or mile 20, it does not matter what mile you are on, you smell fresh baked doughnuts. If you stop running the marathon to eat doughnuts to then never get back on the tract again, what does this make you? Before you say fat, or lazy, it is clear that it dosn’t make you one thing; A Marathon runner

Let’s go back to James

Fleeting life-Poor

Read James 1:9-11.

(Wisdom literature) Something that we see here and is heavily used by James in this book is an appeal to Wisdom Literature. If you have ever read through the book of Proverbs for example you would notice that the author of Proverbs, personifies concepts often such as but not limited to; Wisdom, folly, Righteous, and the wicked. One theme that we will see in the book of James is how often he talks about the humbled man or the poor man and the rich man. Just look at Chapter 2 verses 5-7 (Read)

When James says “let the lowly… boast” What is it that they are boasting in? It says their exultation, but what is that in this context. This is a person that does not have high postilion in this world, so it can’t be that. This is not a person who owns things of value so it can’t be that. And we know that from verse 10 and 11, the things of this world are fading away, so it can not be those things of this world that the lowly humbled man boasts in. Why is the humble man to boast in his exaltation? It is because he is a “brother” This man that James paints here is a man that brings nothing to the table. He is a man that is empty handed, a man that in every regard is destitute by human standards. But the person who is humbled as a brother or sister in Christ, may boast of something today that the world can not provide. And that is; that God has brought us forth by His word of truth, that we should partake as his adopted children through His redemption.

(Preach) Oh beloved, as God blessed you with abundance in this land? Do not boast in the joys of this world, but boast in the Lord who has given you them. Church, are you destitute today, with life fleeting all around you. Boast in the Lord for He is near. Your boast of exaltation that in all these things We are more than conquers through him who loved us … We must be confident; that Neither can Death nor life… Angels nor rulers… height nor depths, nor anything else in all of creation separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But what if we are rich today in our life?

Diluting life-Rich

Being rich is not in and of itself sinful, however, I would warn you that a life of wealth, pleasantry, and ease is a life that can dilute the believe. Here James tells in verse 10 (Read)

If you are rich today, you must ask yourself; If God struck this away from me, and I was barren by the worlds standard, would I still posses hope in this life? Because Paul writes in Romans 8 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

If you today have supposedly placed faith in Christ because of the riches and blessedness that you have been given, that faith is not saving faith, because it will surely depart when those things fade away. If the rich man can not boast in his humiliation, then he is a man that will fade away.

James says in verse 11 (read)

Jut as the flower fades with the rising of the sun. So too will the rich man who does not have his heart set upon the things of God. If any man’s pursuit is not after the glory of God then it is a purist that is in vain . When we turn our eyes upon Jesus, those worldly fleshly desires grow strangely dim in the light of the glorious Christ. We are not a people who cling to money, our joy is not in possessions, our hope is not in our lives,...NO!!! we must be a people who cling to our savior, who find joy in His love, and who’s ultimate hope in His life.

This is saving faith, a faith that does not depart from us. When we are strong in our walk with Christ, we must humbly remind ourselves, that is is the Gift of Faith that is supply our walk. When we are weak and struggle on our pilgrimage, may you boast, that God has given us faith that abides. But what is the difference between this faith that gain victory and the faith of those who are double minded or have their ultimate pursuit in the riches of this world?

Persevering Faith

Read verse 12

(Sad) There are many who have departed from us. It is often at the moment of any testing of their faith they depart. We know from the whole council of God, that those who depart were never of us, meaning that they were not Christ’s sheep. Even though at one point it may look like to you and I they had a fire about them, them may speak with biblical truths, but one week goes by, one moth passes, and then they are off walking with devil in the world.

One thing that James will demonstrate for us in the next chapter, is that there is a difference between saving faith and dead faith. Why is saving faith different than dead faith? I want to give you 3 examples

Number 1, it is a faith that loves him....Because he has first loved us… (Preach) God showed his love for use that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) and therefore we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)

Number 2, It is a faith that is tested and produces steadfastness. Our Father who is Heaven disciples His children. Our faith is tested to demonstrate that it is genuine. Just as metals are refined by fire, so too is our faith refined when tested by trials. (Read the 1689 LBCF 14 “Saving Faith”)

Number 3 Saving faith is a faith that will receive the crown of life. Saving faith is a faith that comes from the founder and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Saving faith is not a faith that is dead because it does not come from one who is dead in their sins and trespasses. Saving Faith does not come from that which is dead. Why? because death does not begat life but instead it produces death. Why do dead faith fall away at the coming trail? because it is a faith that was corrupted at its conception. Saving faith is granted to us by the living God. And because it comes from Him at the moment of our regeneration, our faith results in a crown of life because both the faith and the crown come from our God who has defeated death.

(The world) Now this is completely contrary to what the world desires to distract you with. (Read again verse 11) The world wants you chase beauty. It wants to give you a 12 step plan to be rich at all sakes. It wants to blind you so that you might not see the light of Christ. Evaluate the things that hold you mind and time captive today. Is it God honoring? is it laying up treasures in heaven? Is it exalting Christ?

Because this is the concern, the world will try to shine itself up, try to make things of no value be the most important thing, and speak to your sinful desires just to distract you from Christ if it can. Turn your eyes upon Jesus! turn your eyes upon Jesus! Turn your eyes upon Jesus!

Conclusion

(Conclude) Grace Bible Church , if you are going through trial; cancer, loss, distress, or whatever it might be, hold to the faith and count it joy. See that it is producing in your steadfastness, for if you are God’s sheep you posses saving faith that did not come from you, but was a gift so that you and I would not boast in ourselves. Rejoice today, and boast in your exaltation, that which will never fade away, and that is that salvation has been brought near. Heed his word, trust in his promises, and turn your eyes to Christ! The things of this world are meant to be dim because it was the world that you and I used to walk following after the course of this world. We walked in it, because we were dead amongst it!

So remember. when we were dead in our trespasses, He made us alive together with Him … because our God is gracious. because our God is rich in mercy, and because our God has loved us.

There is a difference between saving faith and dead faith. Saving faith is alive because it is place in our living God. Therefore you will receive a crown of life because He and He alone is worth and victorious. Brothers and Sisters. Do not be double minded, but devote yourself today God. Be in prayer. be in fellowship. be of Joy. and Be of faith.

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