Untitled Sermon (44)

WELCOME: Elder Higgins Reflections Group Thursdays @ 7:30 pm

Reflections Church Service

June 12th, 2022

James 1:1

James 1:1 CSB

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.

Introduction to James:

Most likely the author is James the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3; Act 1:14; 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 2:9).

Though no a follower of his brother during His earthly ministry (see John 7:3-5), James came to believe in Jesus after His resurrection (Act 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:7). He was a leader in the Jerusalem church and exerted significant influence. (Acts 15:6-21)

James is the in-your-face, no-holds-barred apostle. He’s saying in essence, “if you’re going to be a Christian, be a real one.” This book explains what practical Christianity looks like. It’s about living out your faith in everyday situations with everyday people, and doing it victoriously.

He opens talking about trials that affect ever area of life. He then exhorts his readers to stop whining and keep going because there is a crown waiting for each of us, not only in heaven, but here on earth. Then he tackles discrimination in the church and tells God’s people to stop honoring the wrong folks.

He urges God’s people to quit fighting and fussing with each other, to submit themselves to God. James says that if God’s people will get right with God, they will have His power at their disposal. But if we aren’t using our faith, it is dead (useless).

James 1:2-4

James 1:2–4 CSB

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Question: What does it look like for a follower of Jesus to be “mature and complete”?

(v. 2) Notice James said “whenever,” not “if”. But regardless of the form your trials take (physical, emotional, relational, financial), God wants you to be joyful because one of the primary means He uses to make us like Christ is by sending trouble our way.

Definition: A trial is a divinely ordained difficulty that God causes or allows so that He may grow us and conform us into the image of His Son (see Roman 8:28-29).

Believers in crisis are undergoing an extreme makeovers. Hardships can transform us into something beautiful. That is cause for unspeakable joy, not because of the pain, but because of the purpose behind it. In God’s providence, you have bad days on purpose. God uses trials to develop us spiritually.

(vv. 3-4) It’s one thing to tell your teacher you know the material; it’s another thing to write the correct answer on a test. Similarly, you may claim to believe and follow God, but how do you respond when He tests your faith and pushes your buttons?

God is working to produce endurance in you. Don’t try to short circuit a trail by illegitimately seeking to exit it. God is trying to make you spiritually mature and complete

[The conflict you experience in the physical world in s means he uses to draw you attention to something in the spiritual world. God applies the hot irons of trials to the wrinkles of our lives so that we look good representing Jesus Christ.