Faith in Action(1)

Faith that Endures

Faith in Action part 1 (James 1)

Happy Fourth of July!

Tomorrow we will celebrate 246 years of independence.

Independence Day the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. The Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states.

Although it is not a religious holiday like Christmas or Easter, for many Americans July 4th is a time to reflect on God’s goodness to us as a nation. Molded into the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia (which proclaimed our independence) are these words from the Bible:

“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10, KJV). Our legal system reflects our Judeo-Christian roots.

While we look with gratitude to the past on this July 4th, may we also look in faith to the future, and commit it and our lives to God and His will. The ancient words of the Psalmist are still true: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

Happy 4thof July.

I would like to begin a new series on the book of James

We will call Faith in Action

James

Grow up is the theme of the book of James A practical book Pointing out that genuine faith, produces fruit.

Most people that I talk too, have faith, some even tell me that they are a person of faith.

James in his book points out three types of faith

Dead, demonic , dynamic.

Throughout this series we will look into different aspects of a dynamic faith, faith in action.

The book of James was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, it was from Jerusalem, probably about 61 AD.

James wrote his epistles before Paul, it was one of the first epistles written.

Martin Luther believed he was contradicting Paul but he was not he was complementing Paul or Paul was complementing James.

It was written to Jewish believers, and the church, Jewish and gentiles’ believers in Christ Jesus.

James was warning the believers about some behaviors adopt in the church, that contradicted our believes and faith.

Let’s pray

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

Testing of Your Faith

James who? There were 4 people called James James the brother of John son of Zebedee, he was dead by the time this book was written, Acts 12 James the brother of John was killed

Act 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

Act 12:2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Then we had James the less, less famous

third one was James the father of Judas, someone known in the early church, he was not the father of Judas Iscariot.

the fourth one is the one who wrote this book, James the brother of Jesus one of Jesus brothers and sisters. James, Joseph, Judas ,Jude, Simon

Matthew 13:55-56 names Jesus’ brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas and mentions sisters (plural), so He had at least six siblings.

The author of the book of James grew up in the same home of Jesus.

The half-brothers , had no faith in Jesus until after his resurrection .

James was recorded mocking Jesus.

Joh 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.

John 7:1 NIV

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.

Joh 7:2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

Joh 7:3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.

Joh 7:4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."

Joh 7:5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

Later on James becomes a leader in the church I believe that is why he introduces himself as James a bond servant, only. A half brother of Jesus.

Faith that Endures

1 Is tried, tested

Jas 1:2  Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 

Jas 1:3  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 

Jas 1:4  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. 

James looks like The Old Testament book of proverbs

Emphasizes maturity in all 5 chapters.

faith that endures is tested. By temptations

The word in the Greek pi-ras-mos means temptation.

the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise:

We need to Understand that temptation is not a sin, temptation is the knock on the door of your heart, how we respond to it is what will have consequences.

James is telling us to Count all joy when you are tempted from all sides.

If you think like me, you are probably asking why?

I enjoy my Christian walk without temptations, without trials or tribulation. don’t you?

I don’t like to be tempted to be unkind to someone, they may be accusing me of something I didn’t do, still not a reason for me to miss treat them.

I much rather have a day that everything is just good.

All of us go through many kinds of temptations, every day,

At work, with our own health, finances, relationships, some times we pass the test with high marks, we do so well that we don’t even notice it was a temptation, or a trial, but other times we fail, or we throw tantrums and act like immature little children. Every day we have different opportunities to act out, from our flesh or to submit to the Spirit of God.

For our own growth, we need to go through temptations, God allows temptation, to test our faith.

Jesus led by the Holy Spirit was led into the desert where he was tempted by Satan. Jesus experienced everything we experience.

This is not for God to know how much faith and how mature we are, God knows where we are, all the time. The bible says that even before a word comes out of our mouth the Lord already knows it.

God allows temptation for our sake, so we know our own hearts. Only when the pressure is own that our hearts are exposed.

When everything is good we do very well, we even convince ourselves that we are very mature.

God tempts no one

Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God" [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one.

Jas 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed andbaited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion).

Jas 1:15 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.

Our own worldly desires, our own passion and lust is what tempts us, when God allows us to see it, is our hint to ask for wisdom, so we can repent, and make things right and change.

Remember when Jesus said to Peter

uk 22:31 "Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain;[Job_1:6-12; Amo_9:9]

Luk 22:32 but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers[in the faith]."

Luk 22:33 And Peter said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!" [Mat_26:33-35; Mar_14:29-31; Joh_13:37-38]

Luk 22:34 Jesus said, "I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will [utterly] deny three times that you know Me."

Peter thought that he was ready, he believed he knew his heart, he said that he would follow Jesus to prison and death, but when he was question by a servant girl, he lost it, here was his opportunity to show everyone that he had no fear of prison or death, but instead what came out of his mouth was, I don’t know this man, three times.

I believe Jesus is praying for me and you too, just as he did for Peter, and you will come back and strengthen and support our brothers.

Disappointments and frustrations will not hold us back, it will expose the areas of our hearts that are weak and the holes we have in our faith.

Sometimes we have no idea what to do with the knowledge we just gained.

Yes, we are impatient, or full of fear, we have more fear of men in our heart’s than the fear of God.

2 Ask God for wisdom.

If you lack wisdom ask God for it, He will freely give it to you without finding fault.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.

Jas 1:6 But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God's willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind.

Jas 1:7 For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord,

Jas 1:8 being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].

there are so many things we don’t know what to do, or how to fix it, we need the wisdom of God, specially when we are going through a difficult time.

Pro 1:20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She raises her voice in the markets;

Pro 1:21 She calls out at the head of the noisy streets [where large crowds gather]; At the entrance of the city gates she speaks her words:

Pro 1:23 "If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke, Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. [Isa_11:2; Eph_1:17-20]

If you ask God for wisdom He will give it to you generously

But When you ask, ask in faith, believing not doubting. He will give it to you.

Don’t ask for wisdom and do your own thing, or after God told you what to do, you decide if you are going to obey or not.

Ex. One day I was having a conversation with the Lord, and I asked Him why is it that sometimes I don’t hear you, I don’t know what you are saying about what I should do in certain situations. His answer surprised me, He said would it matter?

What he was saying was, aren’t you going to listen and then decide if you are going to obey me or not ? and do what you want. He knew me, that was exactly what I was doing, so I repented and made a promise that I would do His will and not my.

I need to believe that God will share His wisdom with me

I need to know the truth about myself, so I don’t deceive my self.

3 Every good and perfect Gift (comes from our Heavenly Father)

Jas 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow N1cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].

Jas 1:18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself--sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].

God does not change. He is always the same perfect.

Another area of temptation for us, is to believe that we can do things on our own that somehow we are lucky enough, to get by without God.

Everything good thing in our lives comes from God, there is no good luck. Or a lucky streak. Your Heavenly Father is behind every good thing that happens to you, and without him it would not happen.

Pro 3:5 Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

Pro 3:6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Faith that Endures

An enduring faith needs to be tested.

By temptations, and trials

If you need Ask God for wisdom

Know that everything good comes from our Heavenly Father

To have a dynamic faith, faith in action, we need to make Jesus the Lord of our lives

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Joh 3:16

To receive Jesus, we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, and ask Him to be your Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner,

I’m sorry for my sins,

I’m willing to turn away from my sins.

I receive Christ as my savior,

I confess him as Lord

from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,

in the fellowship of his church,

In Jesus name. Amen!

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:25 In the same manner Healso took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Heb 9:14 dead works, acts, sins

E mau aku ka loko maika’i o ka Haku, Iesu Kristo; me ke aloha a ke Akua, a me ka launa pu ‘ana mai o ka Uhane Hemolele ia ‘olua, a me makou apau. Amene.