Being An Over-comer

I. Background of the Epistle of James

A. Author: 93.158 Ἰάκωβος, ου m: (1) one of the twelve apostles and the son of Zebedee and brother of John (Mt 4:21); (2) a brother of Jesus (Mt 13:55); (3) the son of Alphaeus and one of the twelve apostles (Mt 10:3); (4) the son of Μαρία 4 (Mt 27:56) and called ‘the younger’ in Mk 15:40; (5) the father of Judas, one of the twelve apostles (Lk 6:16); (6) a tax collector called James rather than Levi (Mk 2:14, apparatus)—‘James.’ Some scholars consider 3 and 4 to be the same person.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 823). New York: United Bible Societies.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. Ἰάκωβος

④ the Lord’s brother (Jos., Ant. 20, 200), later head of the Christian community at Jerusalem, confused w. 2 at an early date; Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3; 1 Cor 15:7; Gal 1:19; 2:9, 12; Ac 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; GHb 361, 7 (Lat.); probably Papias 2:4. This J. is certainly meant Js 1:1 (MMeinertz, D. Jk u. sein Verf. 1905; AMeyer, D. Rätsel des Jk 1930); Jd 1; and perh. GJs 25:1 in title and subscr.—GKittel, D. Stellg. des Jak. zu Judentum u. Heidenchristentum: ZNW 30, ’31, 145–57, D. geschichtl. Ort des Jk: ibid. 41, ’42, 71–105; KAland, D. Herrenbr. Jak. u. Jk: Neut. Entwürfe ’79, 233–45; GKittel, D. Jak. u. die Apost. Väter: ZNW 43, ’50/51, 54–112; WPrentice, in Studies in Roman Economic and Social Hist. in honor of AJohnson ’51, 144–51; PGaechter, Petrus u. seine Zeit ’58, 258–310; DLittle, The Death of James: The Brother of Jesus, diss. Rice Univ. ’71; WPratscher, Der Herrenbruder Jakobus u. die Jakobustradition ’87.

He is not the more well-known James of the Gospels - one of the Sons of Thunder, teh brother of John the beloved and the fisherman son of Zebedee. He was of the inner circle of Jesus disciples. Peter, James and John.

The James we will be studying next few Sunday evenings will be the brother of Jesus. James was Jesus little brother - Matt. 13:55

Matthew 13:55 ESV

Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

During Jesus earthly life James could not bring himself to believe that His Brother was the long awaited Messiah. He did not believe until after the Resurrection of his older brother Jesus. 1 Cor 15:7

1 Corinthians 15:5–7 ESV

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

There has been 2000 years since this letter was written by James. Yet it is still relevant to us in this modern day.

After the martyrdom of Stephan in Acts 7 much persecution began to come towards the new church of believers from the Jewish and Roman leaders. Many of these new Christians refused Rome in confessing “Ceaser as Lord”. Instead they refused and some were killed, like James the Apostle by Herod, and thus the new Church began to scatter throughout the known world of that day. Acts 8:1 “And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

So we have James, the Lord’s younger brother, writing to the scattered believers.

Stress enters the lives of the new church.

There are five things that I believe the Lord would have us know would about stress in this series of sermons that I think can be helpful to us in our walk with the Lord in 2021.

II. You Can Count On Stress Happening In This Life. Stress is Predictable.

Jesus said in John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

Much of our physical problems come from not knowing how to handle stress.

We are roll our every care upon the Lord.

Psa 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Isa 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Phil 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Trials vs. Temptation: “Trials come from God to strengthen the Christians ability to stand; temptations come from the Devil to cause the Christian to stumble.

1 Pet 1:6-7 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus even knew stress and predicted it. Luke 22:28 ““You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,”

If you are a Christian tonight you can expect to encounter two basic kinds of trials: trials of correction and trials of perfection. God will allow both of the types of trials in our lives for our good.

A. Trials of Correction:

Case Study on Jonah. When we are out of God’s will for our lives we need to expect that the Lord will send correction. “Whom the Lord loves He chastens...” Hebrews 12:5-9 “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?”

B. Trials of Perfection:

Case study the disciples obeying the Lord and getting in the boat to go to the other side. A storm arises in their lives and they just about lose all faith that God will take care of them.

Stress is Predictable - Count on it happening this week!

1 Cor.10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Notice what James says in vs. 2 “when you fall into...” not “if you fall into”.

Conclusion:

Remember the Lord’s Promise to Never leave us or Forsake us no matter what comes in this week.