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7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 1 Sun Aug 12 2012
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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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SermonNotesWk 1 // TheTestingOfFaith // James1:1-18
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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SermonNotesWk 1 // TheTestingOfFaith // James1:1-18
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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SermonNotesWk 1 // TheTestingOfFaith // James1:1-18
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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SermonNotesWk 1 // TheTestingOfFaith // James1:1-18
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.
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