Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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.