Sermon Tone Analysis

James 1:1-4

January 28, 2007

 

*Intro:* The 3 main things that you want to know when receiving a letter are: WHO IS IT FROM,  WHO IS IT TO,  WHAT does it say?

Ø     *So as far as WHO IS IT FROM?*

*James 1:1, *James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, …

*A-   **For those of you sitting in this church tonight, *who are born again believers*, you understand that you have **2 families.*

1-    There is your family of the flesh (the one you were born into).

2-    Then there is your family of the faith (the one you were saved into).

a-    Well for James the two families are kind of rolled into one.

-         ALTHOUGH it was not always like that:

3-    *Most Theologians agree* that this James is the son of Joseph and Mary the ½ brother of Jesus.

a-    BUT still a man who was not a believer who needed to become a believer.

*The 1st time we see him:* *Mark 6:3, *Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?

And are not His sisters here with us?”

So they were offended at Him.

*The next time we see him:* Is as a leader in the church (Acts 13 & 15).

b-    *What happened in between;* the same thing that happens in all believers lives HE SAW THE RISEN LORD.

*1 Corinthians 15:7, *After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

*c- It’s this James that is described as the Lord’s*

*    brother and an Apostle:*

*Galatians 1:19, *But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

c-    Paul also describes James’ position in the church.

*Galatians 2:9, *… James, Cephas, and John, (who) seemed to be pillars, …

d-    After we finish this epistle of James we’re going to study a letter from another of Jesus’ ½ brothers, Jude.

*Jude 1, *Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James…

-         Why does he not point out his relationship with the Lord.

·        *Because the priority is NOT on him being* the natural brother of Jesus BUT on him being the supernatural brother of Jesus.

*John 15:14, *You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

*Proverbs 18:24, *A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Ø     *As far as the personality of the man:*

*A-   **Best seen in the c**ont**rast between he and Paul.*

1-    *If* Paul was an apostle of GRACE.

2-    *Then* James was an apostle in your face.

a-    *This is best seen in* the theme verses of the letter:

*James **1:22**, *But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

*James 2:20, *But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

-         If Paul ministers with a Greek flavor.

-         James ministers with a Jewish flavor.

·        Probably why the Holy Spirit placed this book right after Hebrews.

*B-  **ANOTHER THING, some tradition and other denominations place Peter in the Position as the 1st pope.*

1-    If you study the scriptures they show us James (not as pope) the one who seems to be the early leader of the church.

a-    In the 1st church council meeting in Acts 15 it’s James who has the last word and makes the final decision.

Ø     *BUT who does James say that he is???*

*James 1:1, *James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, …

*A-   **How hard, in not thoroughly convinced, it must have been to call yourself a bondservant of your brother.*

1-    The perfect dictionary description of a “bondservant” is given from God’s dictionary.

*Deuteronomy 15:12-18*

a-    Fulfilled in those who willfully give their lives & wills to Christ.

-         7 years = Church age.

*Psalm 40:6, *Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened (peirced).

Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

Ø     *So this epistle who is it from, WHO IS IT TO?*

*1-    **The faxes I receive.*

*2-    **The Magazines I read.*

*James 1:1b, *…, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

*A-   **James’ intent is to minister to believing Jews outside of **Jerusalem**, wherever they may be.*

*But we know: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, *All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1-    The word “tribes” = clans or families

2-    Scattered = Physically & Spiritually

*> This epistle who is it from, who is it to, WHAT DOES IT SAY?*

*Read Verses 2-4*

*A-   **In order to understand work backwards on this one.*

1-    *Are you* “PERFECT”, “COMPLETE”, “LACKING NOTING”.

a-    If your answer is “yes” then you are really far from it.

b-    In your answer is “no” be “patient” God is working you out.

-         Perfect = Full grown (buffed).

-         Complete = A body without blemish of deflect.

-         Lacking nothing = Wanting nothing

*Physically Speaking = *Think of 2 finalist to a bodybuilding contest.

1-    One contestant the epitome of massive muscle.

a-    Governor Arnold

2-    The other contestant depends on you generation.

a-    Don Knotts, Pee Wee Hermon, Steve Urcle.

*Spiritually Speaking = *Think of 2 finalist to a Spirituallity building

                                       contest.

1-    One contestant the epitome of Superior Spirituality.

a-    Jesus Christ.

2-    The other contestant YOU!!!

Ø     *In both cases you look at the winner and say WOW!*

*A- BUT as far as the *Don Knotts, Pee Wee Hermon, Steve

     Urcle, YOU; there just seems to be something missing (a lot

     missing).

1-    BUT don’t worry massive muscle (spiritual~/*physical*) can be obtained.

a-    You may not be able to compete but you can improve.

-         WHATS NEEDED???

*#1- Patience, why?

So this work of maturity can come to pass.*

*A-   **Why does it take time, BECAUSE we’re missing spiritual *

*     muscle.

*

1-    What is the formula to build spiritual~/physical muscle?

a-    Proper nutrition~/Constant exorcise.

-         Time is needed to feed off of Spiritual protean

*Proverbs 10:29, *The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

-         BUT don’t let it turn to stored fat get out and use it.

*Read Psalm 15*

*#2- Another thing you need to know is, going to take time*

*      (patience) and IT’S GOING TO HURT.*

*A-   **You know that old saying “no pain no gain”.*

1-    *A few years ago* “they” started telling is that if we’re exorcising and it starts to hurt STOP that’s a bad thing.

*a-    **That’s a bunch of garbage.*