Mexico James 1:9-15

BIBLE TEXT: James 1:9-15 “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 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. 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. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Sermon Title: Endurance Training

Joke: A boss arrived at work that day in a brand new Ferrari..

The employee said ‘wow, that’s an amazing car!’

He said ‘If you work hard, put all your hours in and strive for excellence, I’ll get another one next year.’

Title Points: 5 Ways to strive for eternal crown

Background:

Half Brother Of Jesus

Didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah until after the resurrection.

James the Just -For his purity of Life

Knees hard like a camel from praying

Written To Believers

His teachings are very practical

Outline 1

Bible Text James 1:9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

>James made a slight shift from Trials & Wisdom to Riches and Humility

> LOWLY BROTHER

this is someone that may be low on the financial grid

Or social status

Luke 6:22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.”

>GLORY Definition- To boast , Take pride In

God changes the definition of what’s important

It says in the NLT that God has honored them

Example----in the fitness world it is so much easier to coach someone with no experience, because they dont have any other bad habbits.

When we gain Riches we gain so many more bad habits, and not as coachable.

Cross Reference: Matthew 23:12 “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Q: Do you show joy in the position that God has you in?

1st Point: Remember Your Eternal position

Your position is not here on earth where moths and rust can eat away at.

One Application:

How much better is it to put our identity into things that will not fade away!

Personal Story: I heard God so clear when everything was taken away and I had to rely on him

Story: Chaplan Got invited to a dinner by a very prestige general.

The General said , Pastor tell me something great about Heaven

Enjoy being a general on earth because in heaven you wont be one......The general didn’t like that

We will be very surprise the very high and prestige on earth not seeing them in Heaven

and also the ones that looked very spiritual and some will be no where to be found

In the Hall of Faith

You will see people that you never heard of on earth.

Outline 2

Bible Text James 1:10-11 “but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 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.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

>It is also appropriate (But Far More Difficult) for the Rich to rejoice when they are brought to humiliation.

> In Ch .2 James will slam the man that is Possessed by his riches, and those who pay special attention to the rich man.

In this chapter he is speaking about those using their riches to oppress others to gain special attention.

This is what he says in ch. 5

Read : James 5:1-3 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.”

~ James 1:11 (LANTC): The poor should be glad that riches mean nothing to God;

~ James 1:11 (LANTC): We find true wealth by developing our spiritual lives, not financial assets.

Adversity and Trials are the great equalizer.

No matter how much money you have. It can not protect you from trials.

SLIDE: You will never see a Uhaul behind a Hearst

Q: Ask the question what am I living for?

QUOTE: Charles Studd Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Our Life is a VAPOR , the bible says

Listen: It’s not a problem having stuff....It’s a problem when the stuff has you

Cross Reference: Philippians 3:8 (NKJV)

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

>Paul had experience extreme wealth and prestige and he counted it as rubbish (Meaning Garbage)

2nd Point: God looks at spiritual wealth so

Remember Your Eternal Perspective

One Application: Be encouraged that God knows your heart, so keep making spiritual deposits by being obedient to what God has called you to.

> It is always a reminder for the Rich that you will only enjoy for a season, it will fade away as the grass grows brown and flowers fade away.

So if you are fortunate to have money and a trial comes your way.

Rejoice that God is humbly reminding you that this place on earth doesn’t come close to what’s to come.

STORY: My wife would never like flowers because they just die in a few days

Personal Story: Real Estate loss homes loss

Outline 3

Bible Text James 1:12 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.

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

~ James 1:12 (LANTC): As athletes persevere in training in order to improve their abilities and endurance for competition, so Christians persevere in spiritual training as they patiently endure testing that will bring maturity and completeness.

WRITE THIS DOWN: Today’s trials will seem like training when we face tomorrow’s challenges.

~ James 1:12 (LANTC): The first chapter of James teaches us that God’s long-term goal for us is maturity and completeness,

but his eternal goal for us is the crown of life, a rich expression of hope.

Cross Reference:

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (NKJV)

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

You are like a athlete training and know what the pain feels like and doesn’t quit.

When you go through trials you ask God what can I learn from this!

There is always purpose in our pain.

Crown Of Life = A wreath, given in the Games who won the victory .

The way to get into God’s winner’s circle is to love him and stay faithful even under pressure.

3rd Point: Get Comfortable with the uncomfortable

Remember Your eternal promise

One Application: James 1:12 (LANTC): Christians can consider themselves truly blessed, no matter what their outward circumstances, because they have been promised the crown of life.

Personal Story: This point has made such a impact on me. That it is our saying at the gym its on our shirts and our walls. It holds true Physically & Spirutually

Outline 4

Bible Text : James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”

One Teaching Idea:

We can give into temptation and when we fail we often use all kinds of excuses and reasons for our actions.

The most dangerous is saying GOD IS TEMPTING ME.

Remember that God tests us for good, He doesn’t tempt us for evil!

From the beginning it has been a natural human response to make excuses and blame others for our sin.

Cross Reference: Genesis 3:12-13 “Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.””

We see that the same excuses back in Genesis are the same excuse given today:)

4th Point: Know which way to turn

One Application:

We see people saying

“If God really loves us, why doesn’t he protect us from temptation?”

A God who kept us from temptation would be a God unwilling to allow us to grow.

In order for a test to be an effective tool for growth, it must be capable of being failed.

Write This Down: God actually proves his love by protecting us in temptation instead of protecting us from temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

God always provides a way of escape

Personal Story: I remember growing up playing tennis and having a tournament the next day or go with friends

Outline 5

Bible Text: James 1:14 -15 “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

If we encourage our desires they will become actions

The desire that James is speaking about is selfish and seductive

Temptation comes from evil desires within us

like a snow ball going down hill, it grows more destructive the more we let it have its way

Cross Reference: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

5th Point:

Don’t Let Temptation Intersect With Opportunity

One Application: WRITE THIS DOWN

Evil Desires Lead to Evil Actions

Evil Actions Lead to Death

Personal Story: I know coming back from a Men’s Conferance. There was the Mountain Top High. At the Bottom of the Mountain was the enemy with his fishing Lure, trying to have us take a bite at the tasty bait!

5 Ways to strive for eternal crown

1st Point: Remember Your Eternal position

2nd Point: God looks at spiritual wealth so

Remember Your Eternal Perspective

3rd Point: Get Comfortable with the uncomfortable

4th Point: Know which way to turn

5th Point: Don’t Let Temptation Intersect With Opportunity