Untitled Sermon

please stand for the reading of the word of God.

​ NASB95James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Last month we talked about how trials are perfecting us, about the attitude that we should have concerning trials and how they build our faith, tonight we will be talking about wisdom

first off what is wisdom? it seems that in our current culture wisdom has been replaced with knowledge both in word and in action so what is the difference? it can be boiled down to this knowledge is knowing things, but wisdom is what you do with it

it can be boiled down to this knowledge is knowing things, but wisdom is what you do with it

Dr Ravi Zacharias tells a story about Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend and student Watson, who were together on a camping trip. After a good meal, they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend awake.

"Watson," he said, "look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

"I see millions and millions of stars," Watson replied.

"What does that tell you?" Holmes questioned.

Watson pondered the question and then said, "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. why Holmes, What does it tell you?"

Holmes was silent for a minute before speaking. "Watson, you idiot!" he said with a measure of restraint. "Someone has stolen our tent!"

now as I was writing this sermon today I had fun going all over the place in the bible and after a couple of hours I had some pretty good stuff on the page, but I was having a hard time connecting it to james I was trying to fit ideas that are good and true where they didnt belong. so I stopped and prayed which, truth be told should have happened 3 weeks ago!

I asked for forgiveness and for help. so God told me read James, I know very fitting that I would need to be told after I tell you to read, but I didnt get 11 words in to our verse today until I had my answer “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God” I laughed and felt ashamed at the same time, which is a interesting mix of emotions. so there in the middle of MY sermon I finally asked God for wisdom and started again this time writing one about James.

I do believe that God gave me wisdom when I asked and that is the beauty of this passage it says ask God and He will give. its our favorite kind of statement in the west its a “If-Than” statement

If: you ask

Then: He gives

its a really simple passage! it really is that easy! its a promise with no strings, mostly, but we’ll get to that

James says here that not only will God give us wisdom when we ask he gives wisdom to “all” who ask “generously and without reproach” the way it’s worded here it feels as if God is just waiting to give you wisdom, because he doesn't give you what you ask for he gives to you generously! you get more than you even asked for!

and with out reproach without criticizing, ungrudgingly not finding fault. in other words do you feel to simple or ignorant to ask? well He dosent think so and why argue with the one who is giving you the gift?

now this is written in the context of the verses that we just covered last month look at the the end of verse 4

James 1:4 HCSB

But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

what does it say??

that’s right “lacking nothing” how does verse 5 start?

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

But if any of you lacks wisdom

so wait if we are going through trials so that we will be lacking in nothing why would we be lacking wisdom??

beacuse we are still going through trials, raise your hand if you are perfect, really if you are perfect raise it. it’s not a trick question.

well since the rest of us are not perfect we are still going through trials to become perfect and in order to become perfect we will need wisdom

since we just verified that we all need wisdom what does James say that we need to do?? ask him.

ask for wisdom about your trial, your family your day. in fact here is a incomplete list of Gods wisdom

The New Topical Text Book: A Scripture Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian Workers Wisdom of God, The

Wisdom of God, The

Is one of His attributes. 1 Sam. 2:3. Job 9:4.

DESCRIBED AS

Perfect. Job 36:4. Job 37:16.

Mighty. Job 36:5.

Universal. Job 28:24. Dan. 2:22. Acts 15:18.

Infinite. Psa. 147:5. Rom. 11:33.

Unsearchable. Isa. 40:28. Rom. 11:33.

Wonderful. Psa. 139:6.

Beyond human comprehension. Psa. 139:6.

Incomparable. Isa. 44:7. Jer. 10:7.

Underived. Job 21:22. Isa. 40:24.

The gospel contains treasures of. 1 Cor. 2:7.

Wisdom of saints is derived from. Ezr. 7:25.

All human wisdom derived from. Dan. 2:21.

Saints ascribe to Him. Dan. 2:20.

EXHIBITED IN

His works. Job 37:16. Psa. 104:24. Psa. 136:5. Pro. 3:19. Jer. 10:12.

His counsels. Isa. 28:29. Jer. 32:19.

His foreshowing events. Isa. 42:9. Isa. 46:10.

Redemption. 1 Cor. 1:24. Eph. 1:8. Eph. 3:10.

Searching the heart. 1 Chr. 28:9. Rev. 2:23.

Understanding the thoughts. 1 Chr. 28:9. Psa. 139:2.

EXHIBITED IN KNOWING

The heart. Psa. 44:21. Pro. 15:11. Luke 16:15.

The actions. Job 34:21. Psa. 139:2, 3.

The words. Psa. 139:4.

His saints. 2 Sam. 7:20. 2 Tim. 2:19.

The way of saints. Job 23:10. Psa. 1:6.

The want of saints. Deu. 2:7. Mat. 6:8.

The afflictions of saints. Exo. 3:7. Psa. 142:3.

The infirmities of saints. Psa. 103:14.

The minutest matters. Mat. 10:29, 30.

The most secret things. Mat. 6:18.

The time of judgment. Mat. 24:36.

The wicked. Neh. 9:10. Job 11:11.

The works, &c. of the wicked. Isa. 66:18.

Nothing is concealed from. Psa. 139:12.

The wicked question. Psa. 73:11. Isa. 47:10.

Should be magnified. Rom. 16:27. Jude 25.

The New Topical Text Book: A Scripture Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian Workers Wisdom of God, The

Is one of His attributes. 1 Sam. 2:3. Job 9:4.

DESCRIBED AS

Perfect. Job 36:4. Job 37:16.

Mighty. Job 36:5.

Universal. Job 28:24. Dan. 2:22. Acts 15:18.

Infinite. Psa. 147:5. Rom. 11:33.

Unsearchable. Isa. 40:28. Rom. 11:33.

Wonderful. Psa. 139:6.

Beyond human comprehension. Psa. 139:6.

Incomparable. Isa. 44:7. Jer. 10:7.

Underived. Job 21:22. Isa. 40:24.

The gospel contains treasures of. 1 Cor. 2:7.

Wisdom of saints is derived from. Ezr. 7:25.

All human wisdom derived from. Dan. 2:21.

Saints ascribe to Him. Dan. 2:20.

EXHIBITED IN

His works. Job 37:16. Psa. 104:24. Psa. 136:5. Pro. 3:19. Jer. 10:12.

His counsels. Isa. 28:29. Jer. 32:19.

His foreshowing events. Isa. 42:9. Isa. 46:10.

Redemption. 1 Cor. 1:24. Eph. 1:8. Eph. 3:10.

Searching the heart. 1 Chr. 28:9. Rev. 2:23.

Understanding the thoughts. 1 Chr. 28:9. Psa. 139:2.

EXHIBITED IN KNOWING

The heart. Psa. 44:21. Pro. 15:11. Luke 16:15.

The actions. Job 34:21. Psa. 139:2, 3.

The words. Psa. 139:4.

His saints. 2 Sam. 7:20. 2 Tim. 2:19.

The way of saints. Job 23:10. Psa. 1:6.

The want of saints. Deu. 2:7. Mat. 6:8.

The afflictions of saints. Exo. 3:7. Psa. 142:3.

The infirmities of saints. Psa. 103:14.

The minutest matters. Mat. 10:29, 30.

The most secret things. Mat. 6:18.

The time of judgment. Mat. 24:36.

The wicked. Neh. 9:10. Job 11:11.

The works, &c. of the wicked. Isa. 66:18.

Nothing is concealed from. Psa. 139:12.

The wicked question. Psa. 73:11. Isa. 47:10.

Should be magnified. Rom. 16:27. Jude 25.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 8

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

And I find knowledge and discretion.

13“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;

Pride and arrogance and the evil way

And the perverted mouth, I hate.

14“Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;

I am understanding, power is mine.

15“By me kings reign,

And rulers decree justice.

16“By me princes rule, and nobles,

All who judge rightly.

17“I love those who love me;

And those who diligently seek me will find me.

18“Riches and honor are with me,

Enduring wealth and righteousness.

19“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,

And my yield better than choicest silver.

20“I walk in the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of justice,

21To endow those who love me with wealth,

That I may fill their treasuries.

22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,

Before His works of old.

23“From everlasting I was aestablished,

From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.

24“When there were no depths I was brought forth,

When there were no springs abounding with water.

25“Before the mountains were settled,

Before the hills I was brought forth;

26While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,

Nor the first dust of the world.

27“When He established the heavens, I was there,

When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28When He made firm the skies above,

When the springs of the deep became fixed,

29When He set for the sea its boundary

So that the water would not transgress His command,

When He marked out the foundations of the earth;

30Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;

And I was daily His delight,

Rejoicing always before Him,

31Rejoicing in the world, His earth,

And having my delight in the sons of men.

sorry, but I just love reading and talking about how awesome our God is and this list is only about His wisdom. wow

he is so cool isn’t He?

now that all being said we still have verse 6-8

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

here is the one string thats attached to this wonderful promise so now that “if- Than” becomes

IF: you ask for wisdom and have faith

Then: He gives wisdom generously

still not bad because if we think back to last month what do trials build?? Faith

so as we go through trials growing our faith we use that growing faith to ask for wisdom to get through that trial which he will give us so that we can get trial to become perfect for Him

now we cant simply dismiss verses 5 and 6 James is fairly harsh with us in these verses and I think one of the reasons for that is that we often give ourselves more credit for our faith than we have reason to!

for example David and Goliath we all know the story this great warrior goes out to challange a group of his enemies after his challenge is accepted he walks out grabs his m-16 and shoots Goliath dead. right?

we need to remember that david was by all accounts a teenager fighting a 9+ foot combat veteran with a sling a leather version of this yet he had the confidance to fight him beacuse of his faith in God!

and yet most of us don’t have the faith to walk across the street and talk to one of the people at classics about Jesus Christ!! we might offend someone, or we might lose our job what would we do when a real test of our faith comes?

like when this becomes hate speech like it is in canada or when you could be sent to prison for being a christian like it was in the USSR <VIDEO?>

James tells us that we cant doubt when we have faith “7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

so when we doubt we are two faced and double-minded like the surf of the sea driven by every wind that gives a very accurate picture doesent it

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

this seems harsh, but there is hope turn with me to mark 9:14

Mark 9:14–27 NASB95

When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

what did the father say? “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

All Things Possible

14 When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.

15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.

16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?”

17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;

18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

19 And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”

20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!”

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

“I do believe! Help my unbelief.” what was Jesus’s response? He cast out the demon.

Stern, D. H. (1998). Complete Jewish Bible: an English version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B’rit Hadashah (New Testament) (1st ed., ). Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications.

we can all say this “I do believe! Help my unbelief.” help my unbelief

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

so than are you perfect? no? than you will have trials! in order to get through those trials we need wisdom and Faith, but don’t worry If you ask for wisdom in faith Than God will give it to you generously so that you can last through the trial and become perfect and complete lacking in nothing

I would like to end with something unusual I would like us all to take some time here and pray for wisdom to kinda practice what we preach

so think about what we covered here, think about the trials that you are going through think about all of the things that you are not confident about and ask for wisdom on those things and if needed ask Him to help your Unbelief.

Lets pray