James

Book of James:

James the son of Zebedee and brother of John

James the son of aiphaeus

James the father if Judas

James the 1/2 brother of Jesus.

James was the leader of the Church at Jerusalem.

James was written around 45 AD. Maybe the first book of the N.T written.

Theme: Application of Christianity. (How to live the Christian life)

When your faith is tested

James 1:1–12 NKJV

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:1 NKJV

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

Not, “James the brother of Jesus” “Bondservant” Someone who is the property of someone else.

Hymn “I belong to Jesus”

James lets us know that he is a bondservant (slave to Jesus)

Who he is writing to: 12 tribes. Jacobs 12 sons.

Scattered: (dispersion) term for scattering seeds.

Jews are all over the world. God’s chosen people. (Hitler tried to kill them all)

These Jews were persecuted because there were Jews, and because they were Christians.

James is writing to encourage them during their trails.

If you are a Christian, you are not exempt from trials.

James 1:2 NKJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

KJV (temptations) Trails (testing from God) The Christian life is a growing process, and for us to grow, we have to be tested.

There are all kinds of trails we go through.

$ trials.

Health issues.

Spiritual attacks from the enemy.

Temptations are trails.

“Count it a joy”

When you go through a trial you are to have a joyful attitude.

Not Joyful because of, but through.

“count” financial term that means to evaluate.

Trails can help us to evaluate what is important in live.

God will give us strength you through trails.

Trails in life will draw you closer to God, if you have a joyful attitude.

By the way, this is not a suggestion VS 2. This is a commandment. (we see this through out James)

James 1:3 NKJV

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

How can we have a joyful heart while going through trails?

“Knowing, that is produces patience”

Patience: That’s a joyful word? not really.

When we (not if but when) we fast trials, (testing) it produces patience (endurance, steadfastness)

God will test us to see what our reactions are.

The only the find out how much endurance you have is by going through trials.

If everything always went well, we wouldn’t need to trust God. But we are going to face trails, so we have to put our trust in God.

James 1:4 NKJV

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The New Testament: An Expanded Translation Chapter 1

But be allowing the aforementioned patience to be having its complete work in order that you may be spiritually mature and complete in every detail, lacking in nothing

We have to allow God to work in and through us. When God test us, we have to count (evaluate) the situation. We have to “know’ or realize that God is doing this in order for us to grow in our faith.

Why? so we can grow “that you may be perfect and complete”

Perfect: Here it is speaking of spiritual maturity.

We grow by being tested, during testing we have to yield to God.

Have ever tried to teach someone something and didn’t want to learn. Or they think they know it all.

God molds us.

Isaiah 64:8 NKJV

8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

God uses trails (whatever they may be) to mold us into what He wants us to be.

James 1:5–8 NKJV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

VS 5 has been taken out of contest. (we will look at that.

First, this is speaking prayer. “Let him ask of God”

We ask God for wisdom while going through trials.

“wisdom” It is more than knowledge. Wisdom we ask God for here has to do with applying the circumstances trails) of life to Christian living.

We don’t ask God to keep trails away form us. Elab

It’s how we respond to the trials that makes more like Jesus. To respond in the right way, we need wisdom. How do we get wisdom? By asking God.

God, I need your help, how do I make it through? What are you trying to teach me?

What lessons can I learn?

If we grip and complain and not seek Gods wisdom we want grow in our faith. We will fail the test.

We pray and ask God it take away our trails. Remember Trails are God’s way of helping us grow.

Look at how He helps us. “who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

We pray in faith.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Lack of faith, No doubting: There a condition to our prayer for the wisdom we need when we face trail.

It must be in faith.

Look what happens to the Christian who prays, but has no faith in their prayers. (Wind waves tossed)

We have to turn to God for wisdom, and have the faith that He will show us the way.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

“Double minded” I trust God, I don’t trust God”

When you are going through trails (your faith is being tested) You pray to God, you put your faith in God, you trust in God.

James 1:9–12 NKJV

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

VS 9

The thought behind James’s statement is that the brother who is poor, or lowly, can be glad because God has given him true riches and true rank in the kingdom of God

VS 10 -11

There is nothing particularly spiritual about being poor, and there is nothing particularly sinful about being rich. Temptations exist at both extremes.

When it comes to trails, both rich and poor face them, and have to depend on God.

VS 12

A summery of all that has been said.

When you endure trails (Stand firm) You don’t let Satan knock you down. Because endured with joyfulness, you have prayed fr wisdom, and done so with faith. You will be blessed, you will be rewarded.

Heaven is a real place, you can’t earn you way there. It is a gift from God.

Our life until heaven is not a bed of roses.

Our faith has to be strong, our faith will be tested.