james series sermon notes wk 1 sun aug 12 2012

7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 1 Sun Aug 12 2012

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SermonNotesWk 1 // TheTestingOfFaith // James1:1-18

Date: SundayAug 12. 2012Text: James 1:1-18Title: TheTestingOfFaith // Week 1 of7INTRO:

WrittenaroundA.D 40-45, theepistleofJameswaslikelywrittento

predominantlyJewishChristianhousechurchesoutsideofPalestine, basedon

itsmentionofthe twelvetribesintheDispersion (Jm 1:1), itsdistinctlyJewish

content, anditsfocusonpersecutionandpoverty. Thiswouldmeanitwassent

throughoutmostoftheancientMediterraneanworld. Theauthorhas

traditionallybeenbelievedtobeJames, theJust, thehalf-brotherofJesusand

anearlyleaderofthechurchinJerusalem.

Jamessprimarythemeislivingoutonesfaith, beingadoerandnotjusta

heareroftheword. Thisthemeisdevelopedinviewofthesocialconflict

betweenfactionsinthechurch. Jamesrebukeshisreadersfortheirworldliness

andchallengesthemtoseekdivinewisdominworkingouttheseproblemsandgettingrightwithGod.

InthisfirstsermonofoursevenweekstudyinthebookofJames, wewillbe

lookingatJames 1:1-18. Afterhisgreeting, Jamesoutlines 5 keyelements

concerningthemannerinwhichwearetofaceourtrialsandtheKingdom

perspectivethatbringshopeandstrengthinthemidstofdifcultyand

hardship.

FIVEELEMENTSREGARDINGTHETESTINGOFOURFAITH:

i) JoyInTrials (James 1:2-4)

Afterhisgreeting, Jamesgoesstraightintohisinstructionsregardingabiblical

perspectiveonhandlingdifcultcircumstances. Hiscounterculturaldirection

isto Countitalljoy... whenfacedwithtroubleandtribulations. Theimmediate

questionthatspringstomindis, Howdowedothis? Intheensuingversesthe

apostlegivesus 3 clues:

1. Understandthattherearevariouskinds:Eachofusareindierentstages

oflifeandhavecomefromdierentbackgroundsandexperiences. Whatmight

beatrialforoneofus, mightnotbeforsomeoneelse. Asweunderstandthat

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SermonNotesWk 1 // TheTestingOfFaith // James 1:1-18

trialscomeinallshapesandsizes, wecandrawcomfortfromthefactthatwe

canhelpeachotherandencourageoneanotherduringdifcultyandstrife. Our

temptation, whenwearegoingthroughtrials, isthatwethinkwearetheonly

onegoingthroughhardship. Wefeelasifnoonehasanyideaofwhatweare

goingthroughandthatnoonehasitasbadasus. Vs 2 tellsusthatthereare

varioustrials whichmeanstherewillalwaysbesomewhoareworseothan

us, andthosewhoaredoingbetterthanus. Whenweunderstandthatweeach

haveourvariousstruggles, andthatwecanencourageoneanotherduringdifculttimes, wecancountitalljoybecausewedonthavetofaceour

hardshipsalone. Christhasanultimaterewardforusaswekeepoureyes

focusedonHim ( Matt 5:12, 1 Peter 1:6 ).

2. Realizethattrialstestourfaith, producingsteadfastness: Eventhoughit

doesntfeellikeitatthetime, trialsarenevermeantorsenttodestroyus. Gods

purposeisalwaystoestablishdeeperdevotiontoHimandstrengthenour

resolvetotrustHimabovethecircumstances ( 1 Cor 10:13 ). Thetruthiswedontfullyrealizehowfarwecango, untilwearepushedtoourlimits. Itisin

thesetimesofstretchingandtestingthatweexperiencethegreatestgrowthof

faithandspiritualmaturity. Wenevertrulyknowhowmuchwecanhandleuntil

wetesthowmuchwecantrulyhandle.

Weneverbuysomethingbeforetestingit, likewise, Goddoesn'tincreaseHis

anointinginourliveswithoutfirstpreparingandstrengtheningus. Thetruthis

thatHeusestrialstoproducesteadfastness, sothatwearestrengthenedto

handle, andstandfirminHisKingdompurpose.

3. Steadfastnessleadstocontinuedmaturity: Godsconsistentpurposefor

ourlivesisnotcomfortandease, butforustogrowinourknowledgeofJesus

ChristandtogrowupinhowweliveasHisdisciples. Jesusisreturningfora

peoplewhoarebecomingmorelikeHim, sanctifiedandspirituallymature ( 1

Thess 5:23 ). ThejoythatJamestalkstousaboutbeginstomakesenseaswe

realizeandunderstandthepurposeanddivinestrategybehindthetrialsthat

wegothrough. Webegintoseehowwecancountitalljoyaswefacethesevarioustrials.

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ii) WisdomFromGodForTrials (James 1:5-8)

WhenGodaskedSolomonwhatitwasthathewantedandneededtoleadHis

peopleeectively, Solomonaskedforsomethinggreaterthanalltherichesand

blessingsontheplanet. Heaskedforwisdom ( 1 Kings 3:9 ). Jamestellsusthat

wehavecompleteaccesstoGodsinsightandwisdom. Inthecontextofthe

passage, itiswhenweareintrouble, instrifeandintrials, thatwecanaskGod

forHISWISDOM... AndHEgivesitwithabundanceandoverflow...

James 1:5 - ...ifanyofyoulackswisdom...InScripture, wisdomisaGod-

givenandGod-centereddiscernmentregardingthepracticalissuesinlife.

WisdomcomesfromprayerforGodshelp. Godgivesgenerously (with single-

minded liberality) andwithoutreproach (hedoesnotwantanyonetohesitate

tocometohim).

James 1:6 - ...askinfaith...FaithisasettledtrustandconfidenceinGod,

basedonhischaracterandpromisesasrevealedinScripture ( Heb. 11:1 ).

DoubtingisvacillatingbetweentrustingGodandtrustingtheworldorone's

ownnaturalabilities. Thismakesapersonlikeawaveofthesea, apictureof

instabilityanduncertainty.

James 1:7-8 - WheneverwedoubtGod'sgoodness, itdishonorsHim. Whenwe

areinthisstate, wemustnotsupposethatwewillreceiveanythingfromthe

Lord, sinceweareunsurewhetherGodisgoodorwilldogood. Whenweare

double-minded, wearein twominds. TornbetweenGodandtheworld, and

wearethereforeunstableinallhisways.

Doweneedwisdom? LetusaskGodwithfaith, trustingHisWORDthatHEWILL

GIVEITTOUSGENEROUSLYandWITHOUTRESERVE.

iii) ThePlaceofTheRichandThePoorbeforeGod (James 1:9-11)

Bothpovertyandrichesbringenormouspressureonaperson. Wefacethe

choicetofocusontheworldratherthanonChrist. Jamesinstructsthepoorto

boast (orglory) intheirhighstatusinChrist, becausethelowlybrotherwillbe

exaltedorvindicatedbyGod.

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Incontrast, Jamesinstructstherichtoboastintheirhumiliationby:

(1) Realizingthatwealthistemporaryandthatitbringsnoadvantage

beforeGod.

(2) Identifyingwiththepoorintheirafiction.

Thechurchistobea countercultural community, whichreversesthevaluesof

theworld ( James 2:2-4 ). Giventhecontext, Jamesseemstobesayingthatthe

challengesofpovertyandwealthmaybeoneofthegreatest trials for

Christians, aswouldbesuggestedbyhisimmediateemphasis ( James 1:12 ) on

the blessed statusofthosewhoremain steadfastundertrial.

Nomatterhowmuchwemaythinkwedonthave, comparedtothemajorityof

theworld, weinBatemansBayarerich. Herearesomestatisticsthatmightgive

usabetterperspectiveonwherewearecomparedtotherestoftheworld:

WorldPovertyStatistics

TotalPercentageofWorldPoplivingonlessthan $2.50 aday 50%

Totalnumberofpeoplethatliveonlessthan $2.50 aday 3 Billion

TotalPercentageofPeoplethatliveonlessthan $10 aday 80%

TotalpercentofWorldPopulationsthatlivewhereincome

dierentialsarewidening

80%

TotalNumberofchildrenthatdieeachdayduetoPoverty 22,000

TotalNumberofPeopleinDevelopingCountrieswithInadequate

AccesstoWater

1.1

billion

TotalNumberofSchoolDayslosttoWaterRelatedIllness

http://www.statisticbrain .com/world-poverty-statistics/

443 m

school

days

JamesechoesJesus' warningthat YoucannotserveGodandmoney(Matt. 6:24 ).

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iv) TheRewardForThoseWhoEndure (James 1:12)

Jamesreturnstothethemeintroducedinv. 2 . The ...crownoflife... isnot

referringtoajewelencrustedruler'scrown. Thepictureisofalaurelwreath

giventowinnersinathleticgames (1 Cor. 9:25 ) andvictoriousemperors.

Therewardforfaithfulperseveranceiseternallife, withallitsabundant

blessings ( Rev. 2:10 ).

v) TheProcessOfTemptation (James 1:13-18)

Jamesturnstotheothersideoftrials, namely, whentestingbecomes

temptation.

James 1:13 - Godtestshispeople (e.g., Abraham, Genesis 22 ; Israel, Ex. 16:4 ;

Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32:31 ) sothattheircharacterisstrengthened, buthenever

temptsthem (i.e., lurespeopleintosin).

SinceGodcannotbetemptedwithevil, andheisunreservedlygood, hewould

neverenticehumanbeingstosinorseektoharmtheirfaith.

Tempted (Gk. peiraz) istheverbformofthenountranslated trial (Gk.

peirasmos) inJames 1:12 , butthecontextshowsthatdierentsensesofthe

wordareintended. GodbringstrialsinordertostrengthentheChristian'sfaith.

Henevertempts, however, becauseheneverdesireshispeopletosin.

WearetoneverblameGodwhenwedowrong. Jamesshowsushowsin

unfoldsinourlives:

James 1:14 - luredandenticed. Afishingmetaphorfordrawingpreyaway

fromshelterinordertotrapthemwithadeadlyhook. Hereitistheperson's

evildesirethatensnares. In 1 Pet. 5:8-9 itisSatanwho seekstodevour. Sinis

neverGod'sfault.

James 1:15 - Thepicturechangestoabirth/rebirthmetaphor, asfull-grown

desirebearsitsownchild, sin, whichitselfgrowsintomaturityandbearsthe

grandchild, death.

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Thisdramaticdepictionshowstheterribleresultwhenonegivesinto

temptation.

James 1:17 - Jamesmovesfromeviltemptations (whichGodnevergives) tothe

observationthateverygoodgiftandeveryperfectgiftcomesfromGod ( Matt.

7:11 ). AsinJames 1:5 , JamesremindsthereadersofGod'sgoodness. Intheir

trials, Godisnottemptingthemtosin, butthedifcultiesinlifeareintendedto

strengthenandperfectthemandmakethemmorelikeGod. God'sintentionsforusarealwaysforgood ( Rom. 8:28 ). Thereisnothinginthisworldthatis

trulygoodthathasanyotheroriginthanfromabove, namelyheaven,

descendingfromtheFatheroflights, whichreferstoGodascreatorofthe

heavenly lights (Ps. 74:16 ; 136:7-9 ), aperfectexampleofhisgoodgifts.

Godisunchanginginhischaracterandthereforeinhisgivingofgood, unlike

thevariationofthenightchangingtodayortheshiftingshadowcausedbythe

sunormoon.

James 1:18 WhenJamestalksaboutusbeing broughtforth bythewordof

truth, thisspeaksofspiritualsalvation, with us meaningbelievers, the word

oftruth beingthegospel, and brought . . . forth (thatis, fromthewomb)

beingametaphorforthenewbirth. Thefirstfruitsoftheharvest ( Ex. 23:1619 ;

Lev. 23:914 ) arepioneerbelievers, whoareearlyexamplesleadingtofurther

conversionsstilltocome ( Rom. 16:5 ; 1 Cor. 16:15 ).

CONCLUSION:

Thetestingofourfaithisacrucialpartofourgrowthanddevelopmentas

spirituallymaturefollowersofJesus. InthisfirstsessionofourstudyinJames,

wefindsomeliberatingtruthsregardinghowwearetoviewtrialsand

hardship. Asachurch, itisimportantthatwedonotdenyordiminishthe

impactoftragedyanddifculty. Itisimperativethatweholdaworldviewthatis

informedandshapedbyScripture, sothatitisGodsWordthatisthe

foundationforhowwebuildourlives. WhenScriptureshapesourperspectiveasindividuals, itunifiesusasacommunityatCrossCentraltobealocal

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churchthatreflectstheheartofJesusandlivesoutthetruthandpowerofHis

gospelinthecontextoftheeverydayrhythmsofourlives.

Aswefacetheweekahead, ourprayeristhatwewouldcountitalljoyinthe

faceofthevarioustrialsthatawaitus. Notbecausewearepessimisticor

focusedon gloomanddoom, butbecauseweknowthatGodusesthesetrials

totestourfaith. AsHedoes, wedevelopstrengthofcharacterandbecomewell

abletopursueeectivelyourpurposeinHisKingdom. JesusisalwaysourconstantexampleandaswekeepourfocusonHim, whoforthejoybefore

Him, enduredthecrossanddespiseditsshame... (Heb 12:2), weareabletokeep

ourcompasssetonourspiritualnorth.

Isharethispoemtoencourageeachofusaswefacethetestingofourfaith:

Hesatbythefireofseven-foldheat, AsHewatchedbythepreciousore.

AndcloserHebentwithasearchinggaze, AsHeheateditmoreandmore.

HeknewHehadorethatcouldstandthetest, AndHewantedthefinestgold,

TomoldasacrownfortheKingtowear, Setwithgemsofpriceuntold.

SoHelaidourgoldintheburningfire, ThoughwefainwouldhavesaidHim,

"Nay."

AndHewatchedthedrossthatwehadnotseen, Asitmeltedandpassed

away.

Andthegoldgrewbrighter, andyetmorebright, Andoureyesweresodim

withtears,

Aswesawthefire, nottheMaster'shand, Andquestionedwithanxiousfear.

Yetourgoldshoneoutwitharicherglow, AsitmirroredaFormabove

Thatbento'erthefire, thoughunseenbyus, Withalookofinfinitelove.

CanwethinkthatitpleasesHislovinghearttocauseamomentofpain?

Ah, no, butHesawthroughthepresentcrosstheblissofeternalgain.

SoHewaitedtherewithawatchfuleye, Withalovethatisstrongandsure,

AndHisgolddidnotsuerabitmoreheatthanwasneededtomakeitpure!

SourceUnknown.

james series sermon notes wk 1 sun aug 12 2012

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