Study of James

James 1

James 1:1–27 CSB

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings. Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities. Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Background: James is believed to be written by James the brother of Jesus, but they cannot say for certain if it was finalized by him.

James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.”

He calls himself a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is him acknowledging who Jesus was and showing his commitment to Jesus. Also when he refers to the 12 tribes, he is referring to the people of of Israel, the people in which God had restored.

James 1:2 “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,”

We should have nothing but joy during our trails and tribulations, why? ——-> v.3-4

James 1:3–4 “because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

The trails and hardships that we go through produce rewards. These are the rewards of spiritual maturity. Where can we find this joy in the time of Hardships? In Jesus Christ of course, the only place you can find true joy!

James 1:5 “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.”

Here he is saying, if any of you cant understand or see what God is doing in your life, and you're having trouble seeing the light at the other side, ask God. Its that simple. God has a purpose for your life, and if you're having trouble discerning what that purpose is, ask God to reveal it to you. God is the giver of wisdom, and the aider of the sufferer. And guess what, God does it no matter, who you are or what you've done.

So, how do we ask? ———->v.6-7

James 1:6–7 “But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord,”

When we pray to the lord and ask him for things, we should pray with the faith that he has already answered your prayer. I can’t harp on this enough. For example, i know I've given y’all this example before but, If i were to pray for God to make a hole in that wall, I should have so much faith that when I start running towards that wall, I don't slow down when I get there. We should have so much faith that when we pray, we say thank you lord for the hole in the wall, before the hole gets there. Have Faith and don't be a doubter. The doubter should not expect to receive anything.

James 1:8 “being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.”

Don’t be a faker. If your gonna claim to follow Christ, do it! Don’t try to live two lives.

I know some of y’all heard my testimony a few Sundays ago but i was living a Luke-warm, double-minded life. Don’t do that, because in Revelation 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.”

James 1:9–11 “Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.”

Let the humble people be glad because they can stand strong through the trials because of Jesus. But the Rich person will wither like a flower because the things that he holds near and dear to his heart are not eternal but worldly things.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Blessed here is an attitude of determined courage that is unaffected by external circumstances. You will be blessed when you put your faith and trust in the Lord. no matter what you go through, you will be blessed.

James 1:13–15 “No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.”

God does not tempt anyone. We are only tempted by our own sinful desires. Flee from sinful desires and temptations. They do not come from the Lord. It isn't a test.

James 1:16–18 “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

Every good and perfect gift comes from above, and the most important gift we have recieved is the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We all deserve to spend eternity in Hell. Why? Because we are all sinners, and sin=hell. But through the shed blood of Jesus, we can spend eternity with the Lord.

James 1:19 “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,”

God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen, think before you speak, and extend the grace that God has extended you. Chill bro! Jesus has already won, so how can we lose?

James 1:20–21 “for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Anger will get you no where. Humble yourselves and receive the Word that will save your life. Keyword in this, HUMBLE. You are no better than anyone else. You're garbage, I’m garbage, She’s garbage. Everyone is Garbage. Humbly except that and realize that we can't do any of this on our own. We need Jesus. What kind of word does it say to humbly receive? Implanted

James 1:22–25 “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.”

Here it is again, something that I have told y’all so many times. GO! What has Jesus called us to do? Go do it! We can read this bible, go to church, attend youth, go to a small group like this, but if were not doing something with the word we have recieved than its all for nothing. We have to live out our faith y’all. My favorite verse Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.” I'm not the only one in this room being called to ministry. We all are, go be a doer.

James 1:26–27 “If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Watch what you say, and how your represent Christ. Look out for those in need. everyone is in need for something. What is that? Jesus. Go give the people what they need. Share Jesus with someone this week. its not hard to shine his light in the darkness. What are some ways we can shine the light of Jesus this week?