Faith that Works

Good Morning!

We live in a world where almost everything can be edited or changed …

With the click of a button, reality can be altered.

Pam loves this new feature on her Phone where she can take a photo and instantly edit it—

literally take out anything around the subject that doesn’t fit..

This photo was taken in Oceanside at the beginning of the year.

We stood under this pier, and it looked like it went on forever.

. So.. I took a photo of Pam and her mom… but her dad… had other ideas and decided to photo-bomb their picture.

So, they turned around, took a photo of him, and

A d then ..Pam edited out everyone out except him

Now we have this wonderful photograph for  bribery material! Which evidently is already being put. to good use..

Technology is amazing!

But it raises a question: 

how do we know what’s real and what is fake?

This week, we’re starting a new series entitled Real, and over the next five weeks, we’ll be exploring the book of James.

And we are going to see how James calls us to real authentic faith

— Faith that is visible, and Faith that can be lived out every day.

Real Faith that works.

The book of James was written very early on—around 48–52—AD..

making it one of the earliest manuscripts in the New Testament.

It was written to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations,” referring to Jewish believers who had been dispersed among the Roman Empire because of persecution.

So..James letter comes before the Gentile mission — where Paul, and his companions.. launched their missionary journeys across Asia minor all the way to Rome.

James begins by introducing himself and setting the tone for the letter…

James 1:1 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

James begins with who he is.

He says ..James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, there were several men named James in the NT.

James, son of Zebedee

James, son of Alphaeus

James, father of Judas

But the most significant is James, the Half -brother of Jesus— Who is the author of this book.

And what makes this remarkable … Is that James grew up with Jesus..

James was the oldest of four brothers…which put him as one of the closest family member to Jesus —

He grew up with Jesus…

But like any good sibling, he was a little skeptical and reluctant to beleive Jesus claims.

In fact, James skepticism lasted throughout Jesus’ public ministry.

It was only after the resurrection that James believed fully grasp his brothers true identity. —

Paul says in 1 Cor 15 that after the Resurection…Jesus appeared to James personally then to the apostles..

Later, James become a key figure in the church..

The pastor of the Jerusalem church and eventually chaired the Council of Jerusalem.— which was that watershed moment for the gentiles being included in the Christian faith community.

When you think about this introduction.… James could have easily name drop…

and said , “James—the brother of the Lord.”

But instead, he introduces himself:

“James, a servant—a doulos—of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

A doulos was a bondservant, someone who surrendered their freedom out of loyalty and love.

It’s Speaks of full acceptance of Faith…

On top of this.. James is really affirming the divinity of Christ as the Son of God.”— he a see ant if God and the Lord Jesus Christ..

Which is pretty awesome..

James’ message comes from a place of humility (of a servant ) and concern for Christians to live with real faith—

T/s: First James teach us that Faith Works because is…

1. Faith that Endures under pressure.

We’re grateful for all the oranges the Bryans have share with us as a church.

During the week, we make some orange juice… and it’s was so good…

It made me think about pressure..

If you take an orange and put it under pressure— like in a vice…

what happens? At some point, orange will either implode or explode—all over the place!

But if you apply the same pressure .. using the right tool..like orange squeezer..

,….that same force produces something good—

nutritious, full of vitamin C and antioxidants.

We see this in our text.. Pressure can produce negative and postive outcomes..

James talks about pressure… in a positive light..

James says.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James is writing to Jewish Christians living under pressure..

They were being squeezed by the Roman Empire. It was a broken system—where the rich took advantage of the poor,

the courts favored the powerful, and ordinary people stayed stuck on the margins..

James is offering spiritual wisdom…and James draws from two main sources: the Old Testament and the gospels the teachings of Jesus Christ.

When James says count all Joy .. this is not a new teaching..

Jesus taught this in the Sermon on the Mount, in the beatitudes..

Jesus said..

Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

The y will be filled. They will be satisfied.

In match 5.10 Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

This the Sameria teachings found in James..

JAMES GIVES us TOOL TO Overcome pressure

He says: “Consider it pure joy whenever you encounter trials.”

The word consider (or count, in the ESV) is actually an accounting term—it describes moving one item from the debt column to the credit side of the ledger.

In other words, James wants us to rethink how we view something negative.

That thing that we are

dealing with..

Instead of focusing on the immediate pain or frustration.

Be objective. Step back and see the bigger picture.

The word trials here literally means “examinations”—

A test designed to refine and strengthen .

James says when you meet trials of various kind..

That is interesting..

the Greek word peripipto, which literally means “to fall into” or “to be caught in.”

It’s the same word Luke uses in the parable of the Good Samaritan—where the man is on this journey and  fell by the way, attacked by robbers, and left for dead.

He did not plan for it; he did not seek it. But circumstances fell upon him unexpectedly.

The same is true for most of us. We don’t go out seeking tests, but seasons of testing come into our lives.

They arrive in many forms—through family challenges, finances, health, sometimes it our our safety and security that is threatened.

Now..

James isn’t saying we should enjoy the pain itself—

but he is inviting us to shift our perspective: to see trials not just as obstacles, but as opportunities for God to shape and strengthen our faith.

the truth is.. The test doest not comes with our choosing… but we the say we response does..

Someone once said..

It doesn’t matter, really, how great the pressure is; it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord—then, the more it presses you, it presses you closer to Him.

Anonymous

The Second TOOL James gives us is the word KNOW..

James says—know what is happening under pressure..

James 1:3–4 ESV

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

The word “know” comes from the Greek gi-no-sko, which means experiential knowledge—more than book knowledge.

This is knowledge learned through observation,

through life experiences..

James says learn from y our present circumstances—their scattering across the Roman Empire—

James.. shows them that these trials are not meaningless.

He doesn’t see them as chaff in the wind;

James sees their scattering as sowing seed. Their hardships are producing something greater in them.

That something is steadfastness.

Steadfastness is the power to endure.

We’ve been catching glimpses of the Winter Olympics this week. We’re still trying to understand what curling is all about,

but we’ve also seen ice dance routines, Alpine skiing , and the half-pike.

You watch these athletes, and it is amazing When think if the commitment..

, those performances, are built on years and years of showing up, training, and pushing through.

Every practice, every fall, every repetition produces endurance, skill, and grace under pressure.

James says that steadfastness produces perfection, or completion, so that we may be lacking nothing.

Testing, endurance, and completion—this is not a single event; it’s a process.

Trials test our faith, build endurance, and lead to maturity.

Sometimes God brings a test or allows a test to produce his character in us…

I read this post the other day that said..

“God didn’t give David a Crown to be King - He gave him a Goliath”

Sometimes we give a goliath to develop our faith..to be able to do what God has next.

T T/s: Faith that Works

Is Faith that Endures when Being Tested.

2. Faith that is Driven towards Wisdom.

The other day I was playing with the hose with Zara—Emma’s dog—who goes absolutely crazy around water. I stepped on the hose, and the pressure built up… and when I let go, the end of the hose went flying everywhere, we got soaked..

but it reminded me of something important: pressure has to go somewhere.

Life is the same with the pressures we carry—stress, frustration, anger.

If we hold it all inside, it builds up. And if it isn’t released in a healthy way, it will spill out—sometimes on ourselves, sometimes on others

When we face pressure

We can begin to doubt our identity and question our skill sets —Our abilities..

what do we do with pressure??

James says let the Pressure drives us towards the Lord… James says.

James 1:5–8 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James simply if the pressure is building and you don’t know what to

James says ..

Go to the Lord in prayer- because he is the source of all wisdom..

and He promises is that he will give it..

And here is what wonderful..

When we approach God in prayer…

He is not going overwhelm us.. with our failures — our short comings..

James says ..

God gives generously to all without reproach

Instead if reproach..GOD.. will overwhelm with his love and his presence..

HOW DOES JAMES KNOW ALL THIS? HE KNEW JESUS… BUT I BELEIVED IT CAME THROUGH EXPERIENCE..

James is not teaching something ..He didn’t practice..

The historian Eusebius records the testimony of Heg-is-ippus that James

“used to enter alone into the temple and be found kneeling and praying for forgiveness for the people, so that his knees grew hard like a camel’s ..because of his constant worship of God, kneeling and asking forgiveness for the people. So from his excessive righteousness he was called the Just.” Eusebius

James practiced what he preached… when have prayed have seen God be faithful

There is only one condition to Prayers… and that is FAITH

James say when you pray ..pray in faith and God will respond generously -.

— Jesus taught this lesson to his disciples — Jesus and his disciples where on their way to Jerusalem

- He sees a fig tree that had leaves… which promised fruit but as he closer he saw the true was barren

— We told that Jesus cursed the tree and said it would never bare fruit again…

In Mark 11.20 when the disciples walked by the tree again -

Peter saw that that tree had withered… he points it out…

Jesus gives a lesson on praying with Faith ..

if anyone saying this mountain be cast in the sea and believer without doubting it will come to pass….

Mark 11:24 ESV

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

This does mean that prayer is a vending machine.. Inputs and out puts..

RATHER THIS the promise answeRED prayer..

SOMEtimes GOD WILL SAY YES AND OTHER TIMES NO..AND SOMETIMES WAIT

PRAYER HAS TO BE WITH

Faith….

Prayer without genuine conviction becomes hollow; wishful thinking..

James says —WITH JESUS …

When it comes to your mountain — your obstacle.. pray earnestly seek the Lord with faith… put doubt and unbelief to the sideline…out if the game....HE WILL ANSWER..

Here is the THING

Doubt operates in fear and faith operates in Love..

We constantly wrestling with these two issues... fear and Faith..

There is that old story..

A man once said there are two dogs fighting inside him.

One represents fear, doubt, and worry.

The other represents faith, trust, and hope.

The question is, “Which one wins?” he said, “The one we feed.”

James calls us to feed faith, so it can hold firm, even when life pulls hard in every direction.

Here is the problem with Doubt.

It Reduces

God ability to Answer..

say ing..God doesn’t have the power to act on our behalf.

James tells Consequences of Doubt.

Lack of stability — where will mean we are unstable.

tossed arround from one option to the next..

James says… a double minded man is unstable in all his way. - but..

Our faith is drives us towards wisdom —

T/s H.. Faith that works is.

Endures when Being Tested.

is Driven towards Wisdom.

3. Faith that Receives the Reward.

Years ago, researchers at Stanford University conducted a study on delayed gratification—

They put a group if children in a room with a single marshmallow and said

“You can eat this now… or if you wait 15 minutes without touching it,.”

Would give them a other..

Some children couldn’t wait—they ate the marshmallow right away.

Others were able to delay gratification and waited

Follow-up studies years later showed a striking pattern:

The children who were able to wait tended to have better academic performance,

Stronger relationships, and

Greater self-discipline late

It’s a simple study—but it shows something profound about how we handle pressure shapes us..

A third tool— is focus on the Bigger picture !!

James gives us Heavens persepective on trials.

James 1:12–16 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James pronounces a blessing for those who persever in Faith….

The blessing extends beyond mere happiness.

The Greek word (blessed) signifies more than good..fortune—

it means highly favored with divine grace, describing an inner joy

That is undisturbed by outward circumstances because it rests on trust in the Lord

— There is no glory in trials.

. James explicitly rejects asceticism—he dosnt celebrates trials as enjoyable nor advocates stoicism that demands one embrace pain.

trials are not inherently blessed,

but rather that steadfast endurance … brings God’s extraordinary blessing, the “crown of life.

This crown functions as a metaphor from the ancient sporting arena, representing eternal life itself—a place in God’s kingdom —

— James make a it clearer that the trials we face are not temptations..

James 1:12–16 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

We face both trials and temptation a on life… the differen ce is how we hand le it..

We approach a trial or with Faith and we handle temptation with Repentance…

Repentance addresses temptation by reorienting us go the will toward God.

Repentance is breaking from sin and throwing ourselves upon God’s mercy, rejecting old sinful habits to receive new life-patterns from God

Conclusion:

Faith says that God is working all in all..

It comes form the promise that God is goood..

James 1:16–18 ESV

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

When James says, “Do not be deceived,” he is talking about is

doubting God’s goodness and His character.

The truth is that God is unchanging in His nature. He gives good gifts to His children.

Any testing we go through is to produce character.

Perfect gifts come from the Father of lights—God does not function in dark or gray areas. He is the Father of lights. It is perfect light.

We recently had fluorescent bulbs changed in the office. Some days half of them worked, and sometimes all of them came on. We lived with that “in-between” for a long time.

After we changed them to LED, I wished I had done it sooner.

Here is the point: we can live in this condition of in-between, wondering if things are real or if God is really good.

But James invites us to step into what is real.

The Lord offers a real, vibrant relationship with Him.

He is a good Father..

Faith that works is… faith that trusts the unchanging goodness of God and steps into the reality of His perfect light.

Amen.