James | Chapter 1

James

“A Pathway to Patience”

1. 1:1 Introduction
2. 1:2 – 18 Statement of purpose “A pathway to patience”
   1. 1:2-12 Finishing your faith
   2. 1:13-18 Triumphing over temptation

3.  1:19 – 5:6 Main body of teaching

1. 1. 1:19-27 Furthering faith
   2. 2:1-13 Faith without favoritism
   3. 2:14-26 Faithful faith
   4. 3:1-12 Faith, controlling communication
   5. 3:13-18 Faith works through wisdom
   6. 4:1-12 Faith in fellowship
   7. 4:13-5:6 Faith in the future

4.  5:7-20 Conclusion: The Finality of Faith

 

 

James

“A Pathway to Patience”

 

1. Introduction
2. 1a James
3. 1b The 12 tribes

Introduction

Beginning a study of a new book of the Bible is like preparing for a trip to a location you haven’t visited. It is best done by careful preparation as you study travel books noting the geography, climate, logistics, history, and popular places to visit. It is also best done before you travel not after you arrive! It is for this reason that I start every new book study of the Bible with a complete outline. The book of James falls under the category of a letter and under that heading is known as a General Epistle or letter as it was not sent to a specific location but was for a specific group of people. As a New Testament letter, it follows the common format that almost all New Testament letters were written that have four specific parts to it: Introduction, Statement of purpose, Main body of teaching and a conclusion or closing.

 

 

James

“A Pathway to Patience”

1. 1:1 Introduction
2. 1:2 – 18 Statement of purpose “A pathway to patience” 

• 1:2-12 Finishing your faith
• 1:13-18 Triumphing over temptation
• 1:19 – 5:6 Main body of teaching
  1. 1:19-27 Furthering faith
  2. 2:1-13 Faith without favoritism
  3. 2:14-26 Faithful faith
  4. 3:1-12 Faith, controlling communication
  5. 3:13-18 Faith works through wisdom
  6. 4:1-12 Faith in fellowship
  7. 4:13-5:6 Faith in the future

3.  5:7-20 Conclusion: The Finality of Faith

 

James may be the oldest book in the New Testament but with that said its message is as fresh as tomorrow’s morning. It is the oldest surviving letter into Jewish Christianity. The challenge rendered by the author is what is much needed in today’s church an active faith. The question is what is the key ingredient that God uses to activate our faith? The answer is to be found in the opening statement in verse 2 “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Christian maturity is the main theme of this little letter and James is far more practical than it is doctrinal choosing describe life where most of us live every day. Although we praise Martin Luther for his Christian influence it is regrettable that his influence hasn’t always been for the good. He saw James as a “Straw epistle, one destitute of evangelical character.” Luther thought that what Paul said in Roman’s 3:28 “A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” and James’ words in 2:24 “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” as completely contradictory of each other but a close examination of these two statements will reveal that they are complementary of each other. Paul deals with the inner faith of a person’s heart as God sees it and James concerns his words with the outward fruits of faith as man sees them! James’ letter could hardly have been written to counter Paul’s words Roman’s 3:28 “A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” as Luther supposed, as it was written well before Paul wrote Roman’s. Though the two write of the same thing they do so from two positions: Paul writes of justification before God whereas James writes of justification before men.  God knows whether I’m a true believer on the basis of my faith apart from any works, but people can only know whether or not I am a follower of Jesus as they observe my outward life. James is making his appeal for reality and substance in what we say we believe and follow!  The focus of this book is not surprising as James tells his readers how they are to live! It is a “Do this! Do that!” kind of book and as such taken to the heart will change our lives on every level.

Christianity is not an organization, it is an organism and such it doesn’t just ask you to hold abstract teaching but invites you a new life that must be lived to be enjoyed. A life that is best summed up by the words found in 2 Corinthians 10:5 where we read that we are too “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” The Word of God stands in stark contrast to the self-seeking world. James is a completely practical letter that was written to meet the needs of ordinary people of faith. These people of faith were common Jewish followers of their Messiah Jesus that had been displaced to other reigns of the known world. It is obvious by the context of the letter James was NOT written to people who DIDN’T struggle with their faith. In fact, this letter is all about people who found it difficult to live the Christian life at times. It seems from James’s perspective that following Jesus didn’t make life easier to live, it made it harder to live. The Christian life is enjoyable not because it is easier to live, but because the follower of God can endure the difficulties by obeying His Word by His Spirit!

 

Vs. 1a James

Vs. 1a In the very first verse the author identifies himself and designates who his readers were. “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, is the way the writer identifies himself to his readers but such an introduction by the author may be a little more difficult to determine just who this James is. Other than his name we are told only that he is the bondservant of Jesus. These are only two letters that start with this designation of bondservant which is in the Greek “doulos”, servant by choice, this one and Jude. We note the similarity of that little letter Jude who uses the same title than adds that he is the brother of James. Such a title as “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ reveals that they were well known enough that they didn’t need to claim an official position. It also reveals that they were not a part of the 12 disciples, so they didn’t call themselves apostles. Doctrinally in the Greek James puts God the Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ on the same plane. When you put this into context with the identification of James as the author it’s a remarkable statement for him to make. The only way James would have made such a statement is if he was 100% convinced of it’s truth. Other than this James does nothing to distinguish himself to his readers as there are four known men named such in the Bible.

• Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13: James the father of Judas (not Iscariot) who is the father of one of the disciples, which is all we know of either.
• 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13: James, the son of Alphaeus (also known as James the less in Mark 15:40)
• 4:21, 10:2, 17:1, 10:35, 13:3, Luke 9:54 and Acts 1:13: James the son of Zebedee the brother of John.
• 13:55, Mark 6:3 and Gal. 1:19: James the Jesus half-brother.

It is here the reader today must employ some good old fashion detective work: James the father of Judas is a complete unknown making him highly unlikely to have been the author of this letter. This is also true of James, the son of Alphaeus (also known as James the less in Mark 15:40. James the son of Zebedee the brother of John was martyred in A.D. 44 according to Acts 12:2 and make it very unlikely that he wrote this letter. That only leaves James the Jesus’ half-brother. Tradition points to him as well as several other important clues in scripture: There are internal parallelsbetween this letter and the known language used by him in Acts 15:13 where a decree was drafted under his leadership as Paul wrote in Galatians 1:19 and 2:9 that he was a leader in the church in Jerusalem. The word is “Greetings” which only appears three times in the New testament and twice it is James who uses it. Also, the Jewish tone of the letter has a stress upon the law with an influence upon the Sermon on the Mount which complements what we know of “James the just”. The headship of the Church in Jerusalem seems to have been given to him early on as Acts 12:16-17 tells us that after Peter’s arrest and miraculous angelic jail break that Peter told them to, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” Then in Acts 15:13-21 James is seen in the prominent leadership role in the Church in Jerusalem as Paul and Peter shared about Gentile conversion. In Acts 21:18 after Paul’s 3^rd missionary journey when he comes back to Jerusalem before his arrest, he is granted an audience with James with all the elders present. Finally, in Paul’s letter to the Galatians in the second chapter verses 9, 12 Paul calls him a pillar and leader.

            If the authorship is that of James the half-brother of Jesus, his story is worthy of a rabbit trail. As already noted, Paul calls him the “Lord’s brother” in Galatians 1:19. In Matthew 13:55-56 we are told “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?” The fact that he is mentioned first in the list of siblings seems to indicate that he was the closest of age to Jesus. He may have moved with Jesus and the rest of the family from Nazareth to Capernaum after the death of John the Baptist in Matthew 4:13 at the beginning of Jesus public ministry. We do know that during Jesus earthly ministry according to Matthew 12:46-50 that his mother and brothers sought an audience with him as they were concerned with his health. And according to John 7:3-5 he remained an unbeliever seven months before Jesus’ death as we are told “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.” According to 1 Corinthians 15:7 he was recipient of post-resurrection of his risen brother and that may have been the occasion of his conversion. Later on, we read in Acts 1:14 that he and his brothers along with Mary were all in the upper room waiting for the Holy Spirit. As the Jerusalem Church became established James seemed to assume an increasing prominent role in leadership. Several early church references testify to his walk with the Lord and devotion as we are told that his prayers for the Jewish people were so frequent and long that his knees became calloused like a camel’s. Clement of Alexandria calls him the Bishop of Jerusalem and Josephus records his death by stoning on the orders of Ananus the high priest. Another account records his trial where he was asked to give his understanding with regards to his half-brother Jesus and he proclaimed Him to be the Son of Man, seated at the right hand of God!

 Vs. 1b The 12 tribes

 Vs. 1b “To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”, tells us that this letter was written to Jewish-Christians living outside of Roman occupied Israel. This letter shares this introduction of its readers with 1 Peter as he wrote to the “pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.” The designation of the “twelve tribes” was common title for the nation of Israel and apparently by the time that James wrote this there were no lost tribes by James’s estimation. The term “scattered abroad” in the Greek is a technical term that speaks of Jews living among Gentiles or Greeks and most likely spoke not just of those in the area of Greece but those who spoke Greek. James, as a leader in the Jerusalem Church was writing to Jewish follower of Jesus who were naturally looking towards Jerusalem for the answers. When James addressed this letter to his readers, he used a common designation to indicate the Jewish Nation that was first used to describe Jews who lived outside of Israel after the Babylonian Captivity. The Diaspora began in 722 B.C. when the Assyrian’s captured the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 17:6) Then when Nebuchadnezzar carried away the Southern Kingdom to Babylon in 586 B.C. the process continued even into the times of the early church as persecution swept over Jerusalem as we read in Acts 11:19 that after the death of Stephen people traveled away from Jerusalem to escape.

James wrote to these disenfranchised Jews as “Falling into” trials and the phrase best describes those encountering trials that happened to them instead of those that they actively engaged and perused. To place timing of the writing of this letter is difficult but it could be before Paul’s first missionary trip out of Antioch It also provides us with keen insight into the problems facing these believers and belongs with other and as such the majority of all followers of Jesus were Jewish. Such letters addressed to this group such as Hebrews and Peter’s letters. Again, the Greek word “Greetings” was a common expression in the first-century letters, but it appears in no other New Testament letter but is recorded twice in Acts 15:23, 23:26. All these letters provide a reflection of the early Church that was still attached to Jewish traditions that were rooted in the Mosaic Law and Jewish culture. They were struggling with barriers that were being dissolved by the Messiah they followed. Yet with that said according to chapter 2 verse 1 they were still holding to their faith in Jesus as the Messiah. The truth is every person is influenced by their upbringing and culture and as we follow Jesus will find ourselves in conflict with the way we were brought up and the way we in which we should be raised up in Christ. The writer chooses to confront these cultural barriers and his style is combative as oral arguments gave way to written ones, this being the earliest. The believer’s life is to be shaped first and foremost NOT by the traditions of their forefathers but by their Heavenly Father!

            There is no explicit indicator as to the date of this letter so again we need to use some deductive reasoning. There are many references to the teachings of Jesus in this letter but very little verbal comparisons with the gospels and it seems as though James didn’t quote from the gospel accounts even though this was common practice after they were written. This suggests that this letter was written before the gospels. There is good amount of attention given to the economic inequity between the wealthy and the poor among the Jewish readers and this condition ceased prior to the Romans destroyed Jerusalem which makes this likely written before 66 A.D. The writer only mentions elders with regards to the sick and this tends to indicate an earlier form of church organization. There is no hint of Jewish- Gentile controversy that occupied a large place in the formation of the early church from the time of the Jerusalem Conference in 49 A.D. which would seem to indicate that this letter was written prior to the Conference, which would make this letter the earliest New Testament document proceeding even the Gospels. It is assumed that James wrote this letter while in Jerusalem to the many Jewish believers he came into contact from all over the world. This is supported by James’s use of illustrations which all fit the geographical location that surrounded Jerusalem. There are several aspects of this letter that are distinctive in the New Testament: It, along with Hebrews, are the most Jewish books in the New Testament. Except for the mention of Jesus twice this letter would fit into the First Testament literature. Though fully Christian, the book understands the activity and concepts of Jewish life. Even though this book contains no teaching of redemption through the death of Jesus it rather assumes it as James twice calls his brother the LORD Jesus Christ! This letter is perhaps the most impersonal of all the New Testament letters as it mentions no greetings to individuals, no personal references and instead make only general descriptions. Perhaps the reason for this is that the letter wasn’t going to a church but to many churches. Yet while being impersonal to the readers it is perhaps one of the most personal with regards to the writer as he mentions much about the area he lives through his illustrations. Looking at this letter in the Greek reveals that it is very well written with a good command of the language. The content of the letter centers around the practical aspects of Christian commitment; James’s purpose is to show that the Christian life is demonstrated through right living!

 

James 1:2-4

“The treasure of trials”

 

• Introduction
• 2 Character before comfort
• 3 Three truths about trials
• 4 Under construction

 

 Introduction

“Count it all joy”, James urges! What a strange paradox he bids his readers when suddenly overwhelmed by misfortune. What James is not saying is that we should seek disaster or deny the pain and sorrow that they produce. Instead, he says that we must regard such adversity as tests of our faith and pathways to our spiritual growth! The patience that they produce is not mere passive submission but steadfast endurance that of triumph trust!  Every believer faces two pressures that will either causes us to behave like victims or victors, these two pressures are from two opposite directions outside and inside. Based upon the text from James they are:

1. 2-11 Trials from the outside
2. 3-18 Temptations from the inside

How we respond to these pressures will indicate whether we will grow in our relationship with Jesus. The Greek phrase “count it all joy” speaks to the believer considering and looking up and foreword past the present trial to the desired outcome our maturity. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NKJV) “I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.” This is not a call to “grin-and-bear-it”, there is NO masochistic character trait being suggested by James, he is not saying that we ought to be happy about tragedy and pain. The Christian life is not phony or put on; James’ words aren’t looking at the present to interpret the future but using the future to interpret the present! James is calling on Christians to: Look ABOVE the immediate unpleasantness of the trial and find joy in what God WILL ACCOMPLISH by it! One author put it, “Trials will either break you or make you. If you are not utterly crushed by them then you will be utterly enlarged by them!” The choice is yours!

 

 Vs. 2 Character before comfort

Vs. 2 As noted last week we can expect “Coach James” not to mince words as he wrote this letter, and the 2^nd verse indicates just this fact. There are two things that jump out in James’ opening statement about the purpose of trials for followers of Jesus.

1. “Count it all joy”: Before James ever gets into the type of trial a person might be facing, he lets his readers in on the biggest secret that ill respective of the type of trial will ensure that his readers will be 100% victorious and will become mature as a result of having gone through the trial. The word “Count” in the Greek is a financial term that means to evaluate, as such we are being told that we need to reassess the value of trials. James tells his readers how to win the battle before the fight! He informs the reader of these two powerful truths: “Outlook determines outcome” and “Attitude determines action”! Far too often we followers of Christ fail when trials come upon us because we didn’t have the right perspective upon them; we got our eyes upon the nature of the “various trial” instead of having our heart in the right place! All this time we have become overwhelmed at the size and shape of the trial when ALL we needed to be concerned about was our “outlook” ahead of the trial as that alone is the sole determination of the “outcome”! Our “attitude” will determine our “action”! James spends no time in telling you how to avoid the trial and everything in how to be more than conquers through Him who loves us! (Romans 8:37)
2. “When you fall into various trials”: The second point that “Coach James” wants his team to know is another big technique in being victorious over trials and that is their arrival is not about “IF” it is about “WHEN”! This truth reveals and then removes one of the biggest advantages trials have over us and it’s called “the element of surprise”! We may not be able to prepare for the type of trials we may face but as noted above that isn’t our biggest problem; our biggest problem is our outlook and attitude! What James is saying isn’t new as he may have heard Jesus say it as we read in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Paul gave the same truth to those newly saved in Acts 14:22 “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” James also wants his readers to know several other truths about trials other than just to expect them:
   1. “You fall into”: Though we should expect “trials” the use of the word “fall” categorizes these trials not as a something that is caused by our own stupidity or something because of our sin nature that we manufactured but rather something that we Christian’s have come across and encountered. Peter said it this way in 1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” I think that we can categorizes what James is writing about into two distinct groups:
3. Personal: These kinds of trials are those that just happen to you because you are a human; things like being sick, accidents, disappointments, and tragedies. They are personal in as much as you are a “person”. We Christians didn’t receive an immunization from Jesus when we trusted in Him as our Lord and Savior! There is NO inoculation with a syringe that will counter act any and all of the trials that come upon all humans. Life isn’t fair and we above all should know that as we understand that we live in a sin cursed world. We have all heard the question asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But the question is stated wrong to start; people ought to be asking, “Why do bad things happen?” When they include, “To good people!” they are no longer asking the right question and they are stating an incorrect assessment of humanity! That is what Paul wrote in Romans 3:10-12 “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable;There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Bad Things”, happen to humanity because we live in a sin cursed world and we are sinners by nature and by choice! The only “GOOD Person, Jesus” came to reverse this!
4. Positional: These trials that happen towards simply because we are followers of Jesus, persecution, rejection, and alienation, just to name a few. The truth of the matter is; satan fights against us because of Jesus and because of this and his influence the world opposes us and both of these truths which makes our life a battle!
   6. “Various trials”: The word “various” means “varicolored” and is the same word Peter used in 1 Peter 1:6. The use of this word suggests a colorful yarn that someone would use to make a beautiful garment. It speaks of careful forethought and arrangement by God who mixes trials of life into something that a fabric to not only be worn but one that adorns the person in God’s glory. It is interesting to note that if you have ever seen the backside of a tapestry, they are a chaotic jumble of knots woven into an unintelligent design, it isn’t until we view it from the right side that we appreciate its design, beauty, and craftsmanship of the artist. That is how we view our trials from the backside and unfished, but when our lives are complete the trials will look far different as we will appreciate the beauty of the Master’s work. It is interesting to note that according to Paul’s testimony to the Philippians in Philippians 3:8 “He indeed counted all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” The things he thought were of greatest value were garbage and the things that he thought was garbage was a treasure.

The key to this change in our evaluation of trials is: We must value character before comfort! That is how “Outlook will determine outcome” and “Attitude will determine action”! Job’s council in 23:10-11 was, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.” God is working all the events of our lives especially the ones that we don’t understand! He is a refiner, and the fire of trials separates the dross from the Gold of our faith!  Usually we Christians “count it all joy when we ESCAPE various trials” not endure them! We all ought to learn the lesson of the oyster, who when irritated by a trial and something getting under its shell it covers it with its best part and makes a gem. Every pearl is simple a victory over irritation! The exhortation of verse 2 of “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” has its explanation in verse 3 and 4.

Vs. 3 Three truths about trials

Vs. 3 The test of faith is that we find out that it works! We don’t rejoice that trials come but we must rejoice in the possibility of the maturity they can produce. A trial is not something that is to be tolerated but by faith treasured because of what it will produce. This verse reveals to us that every Christian can know “THREE truths about trials” before we enter one.

1. “Knowing that the TESTING OF YOUR FAITH”: The first thing a believer can know is that “their faith is always going to be tested”! From Abraham the “father of faith” to you and me, God is always going to allow trials to come to us to bring out the best in us and cause us to grow in faith and trust towards Him. God always testes us not so that we will fail but to bring about the best in us! Our trials are not arbitrary they are deliberate that’s the first thing James wants his readers to realize that what is going on in their life isn’t some random fait it is a deliberate action of God designed for a specific purpose, to cause you to grow more dependent upon Him, to move closer to His love, to rely more upon His power!
2. “TESTING OF YOUR FAITH”: The second thing that you should know about trials also comes from these same words and that is that the testing is designed to work “FOR” your benefit not “AGAINST” your benefit. Put simply, God’s tests are always designed for your passing not your failure. The word in the Greek for “testing” is one in which means to “assay” or approve. Peter used this idea in his letter of 1 Peter 1:7 saying, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The illustration both Peter and James employ is that of a prospector who would bring in a sample of the gold ore to the assayer’s office who would test it by fire to determine the amount of gold verses the amount of trace metals that the ore has. The sample may not have much value but the approval by the official office would be worth millions as it would determine the true value on the mine! God’s approval of our faith reveals whether it is genuine and pure!
3. “PRODUCES PATIENCE”: The third thing James tells his readers about trials is that they are “positively productive”. “Patience” in the Greek is a word that means “staying power” and James in verse 4 will use two words that describe this “staying power” saying that trials produce that is “perfect and complete” both describe a durability and endurance that trials will produce in the Christian. This “staying power” is key to every other blessing in the Christian life as we will need to learn to wait on the Lord. Psalm 27:14 tells us to, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” Endurance and patience can’t be achieved by reading a book, listening to a message, it can only happen by Christians going through trials as we learn to trust Him in spite of our trials. The result of such endurance will be our maturity.

Vs. 4 Under construction

Vs. 4 The final thing we will examine that James informs his readers about trials is that trails require our “PARTICIPATION”! God cannot produce maturity in us without our cooperation, if we resist His work in us through trials, we will NOT mature! But if we submit it His work than we will be able to count the work all JOY as it will accomplish its work of maturity! God the “Master Craftsman” that He is wants a finished work, He never wants to leave His creation halfway finished, so if trials are happening you need to remember that He has a sign over you that says, “Under Construction”! God’s goal in your life in maturity, He doesn’t want to see His children be elderly babies. Patience is not a passive word, it is not a resignation to whatever happens, it’s a word that requires a tough commitment in the midst of extreme circumstances. Trials in the life of Christians refine our faith and strip away our talk reducing our words to TRUTH! The patience spoken here is best defined by what it produced in the early church as it wasn’t the ability to bear things, it was the ability to take trials and be perfected by them seen in the great work of reaching world for His glory! Trials have two aims in our maturity described in verse 4:

1. Perfect: The word “perfect” in the Greek means to carry to the end or complete. Three times Paul asked that the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh and though the answer to his threefold prayer was not answered as he would have liked, but he did realize a greater truth in as he writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s “grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” David said in Psalm 138:8 “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”
2. Complete: The word “perfect” refers to “complete in all parts” whereas “complete” in the Greek refers to “perfected all over”. These two adjectives often appear together in the New Testament. “Lacking nothing” is a negative statement that is proceeded by a positive. This statement of completeness from James speaks of the sum total of all of us being whole. It informs us that it is possible for the believer in Christ to be fully grown in some areas of their life and yet still be immature in others.

What are we to do when facing trials that overwhelm us? Perhaps the words found on this poster may offer a solution as it read: A prayer to be said when the world has gotten you down and you feel rotten, and you’re too tired to pray and you’re in too big a hurry to bow your knees and besides all of that you’re too mad at everybody to ask them to pray for you…..HELP GOD!

            We get a view of this passage that appeared in a poem that first appeared in Oswald Sander’s book attributed to an unknown author,

“When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man and skill a man, when God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part; when He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall be amazed, watch His methods, watch His ways! How He ruthlessly perfects whom He elects! How He hammers him and hurts him, and with mighty blows converts him into trial shapes of clay which only God understands; while his tortured heart is crying, and he lifts beseeching hands! How He bends but never breaks when his good He undertakes; how He uses whom He chooses and with every purpose fuses him; by every act induces him to try His splendor out—–God knows what He’s about!”

 

 

James 1:5-8

“Putting together what takes us apart”

 

• Introduction
• 5 What and Who
• 6-8 How

 Introduction

Reading this letter of James in its entirety reveals that “prayer” was something that the readers struggled with. Here we are told that they needed to ask for wisdom but must do so with faith and not being doubled minded. In Chapter 4:1-3 they were being exhorted to make sure that they pray for the right things and finally in chapter 5:13-18 they are again told to make sure that they don’t lack faith when they are sick and need to be healed.

In verses 5-8, James connects trials and our need to be perfected by them with prayer. He does so by use of the same word in verse 4 and 5, saying in verse 4 that enduring trials and the maturity such endurance will produce as causing us to “lack mothing”. Then in verse 5 he says the key to such endurance is that if we are “lacking wisdom” in our understanding of the purpose of trials ask God. It immediately becomes apparent that James was addressing the fact that too many of his readers didn’t believe that there was anything redemptive in the trial and would never think of asking God for wisdom. Instead, their prayer was NOT for wisdom but deliverance but, “Get me out, NOW”, instead of “Grant me wisdom so I can see more of you and Your work.” We also note that they were NOT to ask for knowledge, the mere accumulation of information but for wisdom, the understanding for living! James makes yet another amazing statement saying that: Trials indicate that you just got accepted into the most prestigious university there has ever been the University of the “Living God” in who we are told Colossians 2:2-3 is where“all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Trials seen this way indicate that the trials mentioned in verse 2 are nothing more than gigantic opportunities to become wise! It is not the genius that has the head start on wisdom it is the afflicted!

Vs. 5 What and Who

Vs. 5 The invitation is made towards the believer for wisdom and not knowledge. It is not for the ability to take things apart but to put them back together. Furthermore, the wisdom being asked for is specific in nature, the wisdom necessary to endure through trials. What is interesting is that the petition is for wisdom NOT for strength, grace or deliverance! The reason for this was already stated above as trials were understood as being beneficial to maturity when:

• Character was placed above comfort
• Outlook determined outcome
• Attitude determined action

The wisdom being solicited is seen as essential so that we will not miss the opportunity God is giving us to mature by allowing us the trial! Wisdom helps us “put together” that which seems to “take apart” our lives! There is not a believer I know that hasn’t found themselves crying out to God at some point during a trial. The only question is why do we insist on waiting so long until we do? We seem to think that our prayers to God have a short shelf life as to be used only in desperation when every other device known to man has been exhausted. James takes up the word “lacking” in verse 4 and ties it to verse 5 as he reminds his readers that the “prerequisite” to obtain “HELP” with our trials is threefold:

1. 5a WHAT to ask: Wisdom
2. 5b WHO to ask: God
3. 6 HOW to ask: In faith

James starts by tells his readers WHAT to ask: Wisdom. Spurgeon called “wisdom the right use of knowledge”. Perhaps you have discovered that it is easier to see the purpose of trials in other people’s lives, but when we are going through the fire, we find it difficult to navigate through the smoke, heat, and debris! There are nine Hebrew words, and five Greek words James could have used that would have translated into English with the word “PRAY” but James, by way of the Holy Spirit by-passes all of those and choose the common word translated “ASK”! All we have to do is ASK. In the Greek the phrase “let him ask of God” is literally “let him ask the constantly giving God”! We need to heed this little motto: “Unless there is within us that which is above us, we will soon yield, to that which surrounds us!”

            Next, James takes us WHO to ask: God! Here James reveals three truths about the Person we are petitioning, God.

1. He is good: “Who gives”, James will declare about God in 1:17 that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” Specifically, James is speaking of God’s gift of wisdom which is affirmed elsewhere in scripture as we are told in Job 12:13 where we are told that “With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.” Or as we read in Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding”. From this, we not only learn that God is good but that He is also the Source of all wisdom and that he gives it to all who ask! God never turns away a request from His children for wisdom in the midst of trials! It may not be answered on our schedule or timing, but He always answers.
2. He is generous: “to all liberally”, is James’ next declaration about God. The word in the Greek has to meanings which are both implied here:
3. “To stretch out” which pictures God spreading out all His wisdom that is available so that the person that asks has all that is needed. God “lavishes” His wisdom upon those that ask for it. He doesn’t distribute His wisdom sparingly but gives those that ask more than enough to supply what is needed.
4. “Simply” which implies the method in distribution is straightforward and easily to assimilate into our lives. God’s wisdom that lavished upon those that ask is done so in a manner that makes it easy for the petitioner to apply it.
5. He is gracious: “without reproach”, reveals James final truth about God. The Greek word rendered “reproach” means to “insult”. In the Greek the phrase “Without reproach” reminds the readers that God will pour His wisdom over us without putting us down! When we come to God for wisdom, He never says, “What are you coming to Me again? What did you do with the wisdom I just gave you? You didn’t seem to appreciate the wisdom I gave you last time as you didn’t use it! Why don’t you use what I just gave you before you ask for more?” All of which to by very frank He could do with me, but He doesn’t. He never gets His digs in when we deserve it and instead offers what we so little appreciate and appropriate, WISDOM!

 Vs. 6-8 How

Vs. 6-8 James tells us what the number one reason for unanswered prayer is, Unbelief! This brings us lastly to HOW to ask: In faith! Such unbelief is NOT based upon ignorance as we are already told in verse 5 three truths about God whom we have petitioned for wisdom: He is good, He is generous and He is gracious! The very least our God deserves is to be trusted but it is what we fail the most often to do! Sixteen times in this short letter James uses the word “faith” as it is the only way we can approach God; to do otherwise is suggestive that we can make our own decisions apart from His wisdom and ways. The cause for God not answering our cries for wisdom is not God, says James but our inability to trust Him. Jesus has made every person who has received Him wise and as such we now have wisdom that previously we didn’t. Prior to this we were those that Psalm 14:1 spoke of, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” The starting place for wisdom is always to be found in believing and trust God! How foolish we can be at times not trusting God Who didn’t spare His only son, shall He now keep His wisdom from those who have trust His Son? Why is it that the doubter of God will NOT receive the wisdom God but runs towards the foolish from the lips of men?

James likens the double-minded man of verse 8 to that of “waves of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” Through this letter James will use nature as illustrations and here he no doubt was referencing his own experiences on the Sea of Galilee. In so doing James identifies this doubting person as one who is encouraged one moment and discouraged the next and becomes seasick with emotions. Someone who one minute believes the truths about God then the next doesn’t. They are allowing the situation and trial to determine faith instead of allowing faith to determine the trial. James is saying that the believer is rewarded by enduring trials with greater Christ-like character, there is always a cross before there is a crown, suffering before glory! The person of faith is a stable person as their focus and trust is in God’s character and promises and not upon their circumstances. God is not only able but willing and all we need to look at is that it was God who didn’t spare His only begotten Son for us and while Jesus was here, he was severely tested beyond all men as he was born in poverty, died in disgrace and all the while thought it well worth the earthly trial!

James compares the person who doubts as a person being tossed about in the sea, and in verse 8 clarifies this as being doubled-minded. We can have joyful attitude in trials because we can know beyond any doubt that we are loved by God and what He has allowed us is for our benefit. Love and faith go hand in hand; when you are loved by someone, and you love them in response you trust them and you do not hesitate to ask them for help based upon that love. James describes this wisdom in 3:17 as being “from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” We must not believe that such trials are punishment and instead believe that they are sent to release God’s promises.

James 1:9-11

“The profit of poverty and the pitfall of prosperity.”

 

• Introduction
• 9 The profit of poverty
• 10-11 The pitfall of prosperity

 Introduction

James links verses 9-11 with verse 2 and finding joy in trials with the same kind of paradoxical statement saying, “let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation.” This “mark of glory” is set against the double-minded man who didn’t ask in faith. What we can say generally about this is that the pessimistic attitude is not to be part of the Christian character. Furthermore, the Christian optimist is not one that is blind to the facts of their situation either, but is optimistic in spite of them. The Christian is called to “glory” in the midst of trials no matter what state they are in fiscally. Our joy is to be independent from our perceived earthly condition and there are no class distinctions in the body of Christ. Webster defines a paradox as a “statement that is seemingly contradictory yet is perhaps true”. One person described in biblically as “truth standing on its head shouting for attention”. James writes of another paradox in these three verses as he speaks of the profit of poverty alongside of the pitfall of prosperity. Trials often cause the believer to reassess what really matters in life as they evaluate their priorities. It is uncommon for such trials to affect a person’s economic status as those who have enjoyed prosperity suddenly find themselves dealing with poverty. In both of these conditions the believer is exhorted to rejoice or glory the poor over their exaltation and the wealthy over their humility!

Vs. 9 The profit of poverty

Vs. 9 The warning James is offering to his readers is the tendency to evaluate our trial by our present fiscal position.There are few things that can test our attitude better than a trial that comes upon our financial position. We will quickly see if we are growing in Christ when we face the loss of money. James speaks of two extremes, and both will test our growth in Jesus: poverty and prosperity. In Christ that which the world despises is not valued the same as the low in Jesus are elevated to the height of Christ the Son of God as we are joint heirs with Him. The majority of the readers of James’ letter would have been economically poor and were no doubt facing even further material losses due to their faith in Jesus. James himself grew up in this state as Mary said of herself in Luke 1:48 that God had, “regarded the lowly state of His maidservant”. They were so poor that at the birth of Jesus they couldn’t afford a room and at Jesus dedication in the temple could only afford the least offering of “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” And if as believed Joseph died soon after Jesus’ 12^th birthday, they had very little to live on. To those readers James tells them that they “glory in their exaltation” while the “rich in their humiliation” God’s testing brings about equality no matter what your financial situation.

1. The Poor: Learn that they possess spiritual riches that cannot ever be taken from them.
2. The Wealthy: Learn that the riches in Christ neither wither or fade when trials come.

James describes the “Profit of Poverty” in a way that few would, saying they should glory in their exaltation. He challenges the believer who is in the grips of poverty not to gripe about it but “glory in their exaltation” because of it. They can do so because such loss of worldly wealth causes the poor to realize they are wealthy in the riches in Christ. It is here that Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21 reminded His disciples saying, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It is the “faith” of verse 6 that will remind them of their exalted position. This is the position that Paul prayed that the Ephesians would come to comprehend in Ephesians 1:18 saying that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” The question is: How is the person in poverty exalted and the answer is in their riches that have in Christ. The exhortation for the person in poverty is to reassess their true riches as their identity and sufficiency is in Jesus not in material things! We are all, poor and wealthy, part of God’s royal family through Jesus! Consider the words of Jesus in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Isaiah wrote in 55:1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.” The moment the poorest soul comes to Jesus we become joint heirs with Jesus and as such they become the wealthiest on earth and for eternity! We must willing be God’s nothings if He is going to do something through us. Paul spoke of this in 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” Let us not as Paul said in Romans 2:4 “despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” The believer’s wealth can never be counted in dollars but peace, righteousness, hope and joy. And trials endured can never take away true wealth it will only add to it! There is no such thing as poverty and prosperity as the rich are poor and the poor are rich and are all one in Jesus who has pay the same ransom for all! The poorest of all still have the same resources available to them through Christ as those who have earthly means. It was the lower class of the first century that church made many in roads as they were not reduced to 2^nd class citizens. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:26 “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” There weren’t many but it doesn’t say that there weren’t ANY, as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea and Barnabas all were men of means.

Vs. 10-11 The pitfall of prosperity

Vs. 10 This sentence in the Greek is difficult to understand as it is without a noun or a verb. There is little doubt that the context of the passage in verse 10 should also carry the glory in his exaltation given to the “lowly brother” so that it should say, “but the rich glory in the exaltation of humiliation”. The question is who does James have in mind as to the identity of the “rich”? Is it the unbeliever, as some think because they are dealt with more abruptly in this letter in as we see in 2:6 where they are said to have “dishonored the poor man” or 5:1 where they are to “weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them?” Is it this unbeliever whose wealth will fade away in verse 11? Or is it the wealthy Christian, as the use of the word “brother” seems to indicate? Most believe that this is a reference to the believer who has wealth but struggles with its blessings and falls for its curse. The wealthy that had come to Christ would have to deal with a new set of circumstances that were not the norm for the wealthy, scorn, humiliation that were usually reserved for the poor. And if they placed spiritual things above material, they would lose their position among the wealthy in their neighborhoods. James therefore seems to be encouraging them that such humiliation is not something to be avoided but embraced as it indicated the right priorities that a relationship with Jesus has produced. Paul warned of this to 1 Timothy 6:17-19 saying, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” One of the perils that the wealthy are susceptible to is their confidence in their riches at the expense of their doubt of God’s provisions. Another problem associated with worldly wealth is that it makes it difficult for a person to humble themselves as it makes them a target of pride and a sense of superiority. Jesus didn’t declare it impossible for the wealthy to be saved but He did say it was difficult. For the Jew to receive Jesus would mean the loss of all their inheritance and they would be cut off from their families.

Vs. 11 James reminds the wealthy that everything in this life is temporary like the beautiful flowers that carpet a hillside will only dazzle the public for a few weeks in the Spring but will disappear as soon as the heat of summer comes. Wealth, like the flowers in Spring are transitory and temporary and as such an apt illustration of worldly wealth. The “pitfall of prosperity” requires a considerably more amount of warning then does the person dwelling in “poverty” as they deal greater with pride so James reminds them of temporary nature of external riches as seen in the fate of beautiful flowers and the green grass in the fields, which spring up quickly but soon wither at the noon heat of the day. Jesus places all people on the same level as heirs with Him as He was number amongst the lowest that He may raise everyone to the Father. When we are going through a trial like this, we will need to ask then answer three important questions:

1. Did God bring me here? Is it His will that I am in this place in my life? If the answer is yes, then I need to find my rest where He has placed me!
2. Will God keep me here in His love and give me His grace to endure through this trial to become more like Him? If yes, then I need stay where I’m at so that His love and grace will perfect my weakness. God will make this trial a blessing and teach me lessons that I need to learn and bestow the grace I need to grow.
3. Will God when He is finished perfecting me with this trial bring me out how and when it is best? If yes, then I can with 100% certainty know that I am here in my present circumstances and situation by: God’s appointment and design, I am here in God’s keeping and care, I am here under God’s training and perfection, and I am here with God for His pre-appointed duration and when He is done with this He will release me!

James gives his readers 5 truths that will cause us to realize that we are victors and not victims in our “basic training of trials”:

1. Celebrate the reason behind our trial!
2. Calculate the result of our trial!
3. Call upon God’s resources in our trial!
4. Consider our reaction to our trial!
5. Contemplate the reward of our trials!

Martyred missionary Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he can never lose.”

 

 James 1:12-18

“Triumphing over temptation.”

 

• Introduction
• 12-16 The Author of temptation
• 17 The Attack of temptation
• 18 The Appeal of temptation

 Introduction

James has been exhorting his readers to “endure” trials in order to mature; these “trials” are tests from the outside to indicate to us what is truly on our inside! They are allowed by God and are for our benefit, designed that we may “pass” the test. In the passage before us James introduces to his readers to another “test” that will also reveal to us where we truly at, “temptations”. These are NOT from God, and they test us from the inside so we can see what is going on in our hearts. The connection between “trials” and “temptations” is that if we don’t ask God for continual wisdom by faith our “trials” from the “outside” can become “temptations” on the “inside”. Such trials without understanding that they are producing our spiritual maturity can cause us to question God’s love and purpose in our lives and satan will use this to cause us to try to escape in the flesh. Furthermore, both trials from the outside and temptations from the inside require us to exercise endurance: “Trials” to stay where we are and “temptations” to “stay away from”. God doesn’t want His children to yield to temptation but neither does He shield us from temptation because if we are going to mature, we must learn to face temptations and overcome them! There are three things James wanted his readers to understand about our relationship with temptations:

1. 13-16 The author of temptation
2. 17 The attack of temptation
3. 18 The appeal of temptation

Vs. 12-16 The Author of temptation

Vs. 12 Here we have the first indication that James was familiar with Jesus’ words as he uses the same “Blessed is the man” that Jesus employs in His sermon on the Mount. The blessing is also similar in that it is a paradox where blessing is being prescribed upon the person who endures under trials. James ties together his statement on trials and having the right view on wealth staying under temptation. Both trials from without and temptation need endurance just from opposite ends as trials need endurance to stay under and temptations need endurance to stay away from! He speaks of the “crown of life” which the Lord promised to those that love Him, which visible by enduring under trials and temptations in order to mature. Those who “ask” for wisdom from the Lord will be the ones who practice endurance under the trial and here we see when facing temptation as well. We learn from James that it is possible that what started out as a trial to test us can become a temptation to distract us if we don’t deal with our hearts. The start of this is when we assign wrong motives to God and begin to think that we can avoid the circumstances by taking the devils bait. Evil cannot tempt God and therefore He is never the author of it

Vs. 13-16 The author of temptation: James starts this truth about “temptation” from a negative saying, “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God.” Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 10:5 saying that the believer needs to “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” The first that James wants his readers to understand with regards to the temptation they are facing is “DON’T BLAME GOD”! There are two truths about God that make it impossible for Him to be the author of temptation:

1. God is too Holy to be tempted
2. God is too Loving to tempt others

If Christians would FIRST start with those two facts about God and take the wrong thoughts about God captive to the obedience of Christ, the devil’s temptations would make no progress. Satan offers the believer a way of surviving the trial by cheating. A way of accomplishing something the wrong way. You don’t actually pass a test if you do so by cheating! Furthermore, James reveals four stages about temptations in verses 14-15 as he writes “But each one is tempted when”:

1. 14a “Drawn away”: James uses the phrase “drawn away be his own desires” and some translations use the word “lusts” instead of the word “desires” but the word in the Greek isn’t specifically referring to sexual passion but all kinds of desires. Here we learn something very valuable with regards to “desire” as they are given to us by God and in and of themselves are not sinful. Without God given desire we would not be healthy humans. Unless we desire for food and water and thus hunger and thirst we would never eat and drink and would eventually die. Without the desire for rest, we wouldn’t sleep and without the God given desire for sex the human race wouldn’t continue. The “desire” is NOT the problem it is when we seek to “satisfy” these God given desires outside the will of God is when we get into trouble. Eating is normal, gluttony is sin. Sleep is normal, laziness is sin, Sex in a marriage between a man and a woman is normal, but outside that is sin. It is not healthy for humans to “deny” these desires for a period of time unless God has directed a “fast” for a designated period of time. However, these God given desires must be our servants NOT our masters, which they will be when we yield to Jesus.
2. 14b “Enticed”: The second thing James reveals to his readers is that “no temptation appears as a temptation”. James uses two words that come from the world of an outdoorsman as he writes from the perspective hunting and fishing to get his point across. First is the phrase “drawn away by his own desires” and this carries the idea of “baiting a trap” and “enticed” carries the idea of “baiting a hook”. Both the hunter and the fisherman use bait to catch their prey, the use the animal or fish’s “natural desires” to attract and catch them. The idea is that you have to “hide the trap” in order to “hook” the prey! Temptation ALWAYS carries with it the idea of some kind of bait that appeals to our natural desires! The “BAIT” has to have two purposes if it is going to work by satan:
3. It has to attract us: If the bait doesn’t excite us by appealing towards our natural appetite and desires than we will never be tempted by it. Lot would have never been tempted towards Sodom if he hadn’t first saw the “well-watered plains of Jordan”. This gives great insight if as soon as we are “excited” by the bait we will STOP and realize that there is a hook waiting to capture us!
4. It has to hide the hook: Not only does the “BAIT” have to “excite” us it also has to conceal the “hook,” as it has to cause us to NOT THINK about the consequences of taking the bait, namely “sin and death”! That gives another clue of how alluring the bait has to be and also understanding that we are being tempted if we are not stopping to consider the consequences! King David would have never considered adultery with Bathsheba if while watching her bathe he would have stopped to consider the consequences of his action being the death of their child, the murder of a trusted soldier and the ruin of his family! It is interesting to contrast that with Jesus’ temptation by satan where three times Jesus responded to the temptation with “It is written” as His response to the temptation was based upon the word of God not the bait that hid the hook. Upon further examining that exchange we see that there was nothing wrong with the desire for bread to satisfy hunger, but it was going against God’s will, outside of His plan that was the problem. The key is “Using the Word of God to detect the bait of the devil”.
5. 15a “Conceived”: A careful examination reveals the progression of our entrapment to the temptation as well, as our souls are made up of our emotions, intellect and will and the temptation progress through those three aspects of our being by first appealing to or emotions, then our reasoning intellect to finally our willing action. James switches metaphors from the world of an outdoorsman to that of the birth as he says, “Then when desire has CONCEIVED it gives birth to sin.” What we immediately notice from James is that “DESIRE” conceives a method by way of the intellect which we can take the bait that hides the hook, and the WILL approves and acts upon this which results in SIN. The reality is that we can stop this as soon as it hits our “Feelings or emotions” by taking that thought captive to the “obedience in Christ”. We are to act or obey because it is right not because we feel like it! The more we act in obedience to Jesus the more we will say no to temptation.
6. 15b “Death”: Disobedience gives birth to death, not life. Yes, we may have the bait that toyed with our emotions and convinced our intellect but the very bait that attracted us is what has captured us! These four stages of temptation are clearly seen in Adam, and Eve She saw the bait and forgot the warning from God and died spiritually and finally physically. If we can get our eyes off of the bait and onto the consequences as Romans reminds us that the wages of sin us death.

Vs. 17 The Attack of temptation

Vs. 17 The second thing that James wanted his readers to know was The attack of temptation, or what temptation was ultimately aiming at. James tells us right here, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and it comes down from the Father of lights.” The aim of every temptation is always the same: It is always aimed at God’s love and care for His children. We learn immediately that we have an amazing impenetrable force field of protection that protects us against any and all temptation, the “GOODNESS OF GOD”! Not only as Paul wrote in Romans 2:4 “that the goodness of God leads you to repentance” it is also God’s goodness that protects us from yielding to temptation. Satan knows that if we begin doubting God’s goodness we will soon be attracted to the devils offers! So here in verse 17 James presented four facts about God’s goodness:

1. Every good gift.…every perfect gift…comes down from the Father: Everything good in this world comes from God and if it doesn’t come from God then it is NOT good. Even if we don’t immediately see its goodness, we will one day see that it was good. Paul was “given a thorn in his flesh” this gift from God was to buffet him and in time he came to realize that through this gift he appreciated more that God’s grace was sufficient, that God’s strength was perfected in his weakness so that he took pleasure in his infirmity.
2. “Every perfect gift”: This phrase translates “every act of giving” and speaks to the fact that with God not only is every good gift from God the way in which He gave it is always perfect! In other words, “What God gives and the way in which He gives it is always good”! In the world a good gift can be devalued by the way in which it is given as may not have been given in love with the best of intentions, not so with God. When God gives, He does so in a loving and gracious manor.
3. “Comes down”: Here the idea in the Greek is that God is constantly and consistently giving as the phrase means “keeps on coming”! Even when we don’t recognize His gifts, they are still coming down upon us as He floods us with His goodness!
4. “With whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”: Finally, James reminds his readers that it is impossible for God to change His mind concerning his giving towards us. He cannot change because He is holy, and he cannot change because He is perfect in all His ways. God’s gifts are always better than satan’s bargains! Satan never offers us anything that we won’t end up paying for dearly.

So, the next time we are tempted we need to remember God’s goodness and if you are being tempted don’t take the bait as it will only hook you and destroy you!

 

Vs. 18 The appeal of temptation

Vs. 18 The third and final thing James wanted his readers to know was The appeal of temptation! This has to do with the believe realizing their new identity and sufficient because of their New Birth! James writes, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” James has told us that God is not the author of temptation, he has told us that the attack of temptation is against the goodness of God and now finally he reminds his readers that we are not as we once were “slaves to sin” we have been given a new Christ Like nature. James again draws from the realm of “birth” but this time it is “new birth” that is his focus. In this verse James reveals four facts about our New Birth in Jesus:

1. “Of His own will”: This was Nicodemus’ question “how could he enter his mother womb a second time”? Jesus’ answer was this New Birth is a spiritual birth when we place our faith in Jesus. We do not generate this New Birth, God does through the Holy Spirit, therefore it cannot be removed by us and is available to us.
2. “He brought us forth”: This reminds us that we did not earn this new birth, nor did we deserve it; God gave it to us when we trusted in the finish work of His Son, Jesus. The apostle John told his 1:13 three truths about being born again:
3. “Not of blood”: It’s not a birthright! That means, not by inheritance, not by human ancestry. You cannot get into the kingdom of God, or be born into the family of God, by being raised in a Christian home.
4. “Nor of the will of the flesh”: Not by religious practice! Here the idea is that we or not saved be simply going to church reading our bible, all of which is good. Sometimes you will ask someone if they are saved and they will immediately tell you which Church they attend, but salvation is not just by attending Church. What makes someone a Christian is not the externals it’s “not of the will of the flesh”.
5. “Nor of the will of man”: Not by self effort! Our good works or effort cannot cause regeneration of a life. There has been nothing more damning placed upon mankind then the thought that our “goodness” saves us. The truth is if our personal goodness can save us then the “Word” becoming flesh and dwelling among us, taking on the likeness of fallen man and paying the price for our sin was a terrible injustice to Jesus. No religious official can declare you a Christian, no certificate or membership affiliation can affirm it.
6. “By the word of truth”: It is by God’s Word through His Spirit. Because of this miraculous “Re-birth” we can be confident of who we now are in Christ as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he isa new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
7. “That we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures”: The word “first fruits” is a Jewish phrase as they were called to give the “first fruits” as an expression of their obedience and devotion. But the phrase here is being used NOT of what we are giving to God but instead of what He has given to us! What this reveals to us is that God has given us and declared us to be His very best. Hebrews 2:6-8 speaks of this saying that “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.” John reminds his readers in 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Saints, New Birth enables us to overcome temptation!

  

James 1:19-27

“Furthering Faith”

 

• Introduction
• 19-21 How to hear the word of God
• 22-25 How to apply the word of God
• 26-27 How to share the word of God

 Introduction

James introduces the next section of his letter with the phrase, “So then” which tells his readers that what he is about to express is an action based upon what he has previously written. The topic of the above verses was the “Believers maturity” and how that was accomplished through:

1. Enduring through trials
2. Enduring through temptations

The believer’s maturity is still the focus of this section and endurance still the key as verse 25 suggests that the believer will need to “continue in it” and avoid self-deception which James mentions twice in verses 22 and 26. With trials being something that happen to us and temptation something that we are to avoid James mentions something that we can do to facilitate spiritual growth in our lives and that has to do with our “spiritual diet” which needs to be upon the Word of God. James want’s his readers to know three ways in which the maturing believer will digest God’s word in their life that will affect their maturity:

1. 19-21 How they HEAR it
2. 22-25 How they APPLY it
3. 26-27 How they SHARE it

 Vs. 19-21 How to hear the word of God

Vs. 19-20 First after James makes an initial statement upon the “personal qualities” needed for maturity of being: “Swift to hear”, “Slow to speak” and “slow to wrath”. Then his focus is upon what “receiving with meekness the implanted word” looks like in the maturing believer.

Notice that the illustration from James is drawn from the realm of agriculture as James describes in negative terms:

• In verse 20 anger is said to halt the “PRODUCE of the righteousness of God” in a person’s life.
• Then in verse 21 he describes, also in negative terms, what his readers were to lay aside namely the worlds influence upon them so that they can, “receive in meekness the IMPLANTED word”.

What we are to realize is that both our flash as well as the world system work against our maturity and will have to be overcome. The question is just how is such negative influences as our flesh and world system to be countered? First James in his exhortation mentions in verse 19 three “personal qualities” necessary if we are going to be able to appropriate the Word of God for maturity as we will need to be: “Swift to hear”, “Slow to speak” and “Slow to wrath”. We will need these three things first so that we will be able to “lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness” so that we can “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Those familiar with Hebrew poetry will recognize James’s phrase as he uses “parallelism” to the triple “personal qualities” to receiving the word of God.

1. 19a “Swift to hear”: The statement indicates the early date of this letter as these Jewish believers had no written scripture yet of the New Testament and only had the First Testament. This suggests the importance placed upon “hearing” because the truth with regards to Jesus was oral and not written yet. They would have gathered in homes to “hear the truth” and listening was imperative as those who wouldn’t listen would have no back up in the written word of God as we do. Those that listened gain an advantage to spiritual maturity. Though we modern believer aren’t as handicapped because we have the written word we still are “non-listeners” as billions of words are spoken with few heard! One of the major reasons today that we Christians are poor listeners is that we are too busy or too preoccupied to pay attention. Furthermore, we have switched from a society that “reads” or even “listens” to a society that “watches” all of which has drastically shortened our attention spans and our ability to concentrate. This inability to listen has huge implication to our ability to “HEAR” the word of God. This morning I have been given the call to speak the Word of God to you all and you have been given the task, for your maturity, to listen to the Word of God spoken and our prayer ought to be that we both finish at the same time! The modern prayer of many a saint is, “Speak NOW LORD to me! You have 30 seconds!” The problem of listening to 45 minutes of teaching is compounded when we take into consideration that the average 30 second commercial on TV has 60 images in glaring color with sound and we are accustomed to turning that out; how does a modest exposition of God’s Word stand a chance? Our maturity in Christ depends upon our ability to be “SWIFT TO HEAR” there are five disciplines that will make us better listeners:
2. Posture: Becoming a good listener requires hard work, we need to get our hearts and bodies in the best position to listen, sit up and look up as if your life depended upon what was being said.
3. Exposure: You must limit your exposure to visual media, if you don’t it will overwhelm you and impair your ability to listen.
4. Exercise: You need to read God’s word, take notes, high light passages be engaged, pray the word of God into your life.
5. Patience: You need to take the time to listen, pray what Samuel did in 1 Samuel 3:10 “Speak, for your servant listens”.
6. Consistent: Far too many only hear God’s word once a week on Sunday, I suggest taking the best of every day to listen to the One who loves you so much that He sent His Only Son to die in your place!
7. 19b “Slow to speak”: The second the triple “personal qualities” to receiving the word of God again were directed to the early church practice that invited open dialog during the service. This unstructured climate created opportunity for insistent interruptions that were a distraction to hearing the word of God. James, though not barring the practice seeks to cause people to wait and listen above asking questions or making comments. Zeno the Stoic philosopher said, “We have two ears and one mouth, so that we should listen twice as much as we speak.” There is always the danger as I know well, that far too often, I open my mouth only to change my feet! You never have to take back that which you didn’t say in the first place! Proverbs 10:19 reminds us that, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” It is unfortunate that far to often with regards to God’s word that we can become “Slow to hear” and “quick to speak” and because of this stunt our own maturity.
8. 19-20 “Slow to wrath”: The final of the triple “personal qualities” to receiving the word of God is James’ understanding that those who don’t really listen to the Word being taught where they foolishly speak out without thinking are prone to display anger at others who attempt to correct this threefold progressive trend. “An angry heart never belongs to a teachable spirit!” That’s the point of James’ words in verse 20. We need to listen with all our heart for the Word of God, however it may come to us and not become angry in the way truth has been delivered! No person I know will be convinced of the truth I speak by a display of anger.

Vs. 21 Having dealt with the triple “personal qualities” to receiving the word of God James issues a two-part command to receive the word of God from an agriculture illustration of.

1. “Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness”: The first part of this command is negative as James says that an unwillingness to listen is connected to a sinful tongue and an unrighteous anger. If we reverse James’s exhortation and become “Slow to Hear, Quick to Speak and Quick to Wrath” then moral filth is the outcome of our actions. So, if we desire to mature we need to reverse this trend and do some spiritual house cleaning. A closed Bible belongs to a closed heart which is characterized by filthiness and an overflow of wickedness! James is saying that before you plant in the soil of the garden of your heart the seed of the Word of God you may need to pull some weeds out. It is foolish to try to plant the Word of God in your heart if it is covered in the weeds of the flesh and the world!
2. “And receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls”: The second part of this command is positive. First, we learn something that God’s Word is not native to our hearts as in needs to be “implanted” and as stated above in “soil” that has been cleared of the weeds. Then it needs to be “received with meekness” which suggests both humility and teach-ability. To hear God’s Word suggests that when we read it, listen to is that we will accept it, and obey it so that we will be transformed by it especially if it challenges us! Our “Point of View” can be weeds that need to be removed as what we desire is the truth of His point of view! We have already personally witnessed that such acceptance has saved our souls so why stop being teachable now?

 Vs. 22-25 How to apply the word of God

Vs. 22-25 Now James deals with the second aspect of maturing through the Word of God and that is how they are to apply it. We learn a very valuable truth with regards to the Word of God and that is that it is NOT ENOUGH to be a good listener it is not hearing alone but DOING that is the indication that you have listened to the Word of God. Marking your Bibles is never as good as being MARKED BY your bible! Hearing the Word of God is not the sign of maturity but doing the Word of God is! To illustrate this for us James compares the Word of God too that of a mirror. There were three understandings mentioned here that James’ readers would have understood with regards to a mirror:

1. 23 Examination: “If anyone is a hearer of the Word of God and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror.” The main understanding of a mirror in that time was that it led to personal “Examination” so that the person would be able to clearly see what they truly looked like. There is no way to cover what you are in a mirror, no way to excuse what you see reflected at you. The doer of the word isn’t looking to negate the purpose of the mirror; they don’t have taped over the glass or polished service a picture of what they imagine themselves to look like. A hearer of the word may acknowledge the truth but not want the examination of the reflection. They are content with the truth so long as they see others reflection not their own. They don’t want to see the heart of the face that they now possess. To do so will reveal through the perfection of the word that we are the worst sinners we have ever met. Such examination will reveal that there is much imperfection as we are gazing into the Mirror of God’s Word, we are seeing His reflection. Ah, but such an examination we reveal what He in His work through the Word of God and the Spirit of God is making us into as we are being made into His image from glory to glory!
2. 24 Evaluation: “for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” The second aspect familiar to those that would have read this was that a mirror was for “Evaluation” and if we are to evaluate ourselves a “quick glance” won’t be satisfactory. A superficial reading of the Bible, a little daily devotion that serves only as an inspiration and not transformation will not do. This kind of bible reading leads to personal forgetfulness. It becomes like an x-ray without the body to be examined. When we are truly in the Word of God, we should be moved in some direction but never to stay as we are! Isaiah described his encounter with God’s word 6:5 saying, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” Peter said it this way in Luke 5:8, when he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Hearing is never the same as doing.
3. 25 Execution: “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” The third aspect of looking in a mirror is “Execution” there can be no substitute for accomplishing the task that caused us to look in the mirror in the first place. This requires time, attention, and devotion. The blessing comes about in the “DOING” as we seek to practice the word of God. The glance moves to a gaze and continues until the word of God has accomplished its purpose. James calls the word of God the “perfect law of liberty” because it sets us FREE when we obey it by His Spirit.

Vs. 26-27 How to share the word of God

Vs. 26-27 The final aspect of what the Word of God should do in the life of the believer is to cause them to want to SHARE it with others. Notice that James uses the words “religious” in verse 26 and “religion” in verse 27. These words are only used five times in the entire New Testament and elsewhere it is translated into the word “worship.” James isn’t referring to the outward practice of ceremonies or special days instead the idea behind the word is means “practicing God’s Word, sharing it and living it before others through your speech, service and separation from the world system”. You will see that James identifies three ways in which the “doer of the word of God” will share.

1. 26 Speech: “If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless”. When James brings the need to share the Word of God his first words about communication has to do with “bridling the tongue”. He compares the tongue and our speech to a powerful horse off to a wild ride where the reins are not taut, and the 1500-pound animal is at full gallop and unstoppable. There is nothing remotely religious about a mouth that just roars and is unyielding! In fact, James says, that it is worthless as far as communicating the world of God is concerned. The true test of a person’s faith is not in the volume or passion in which they speak but rather in their ability to harness what they are passionate about in such a way that enables a person to listen to the truth! There are a lot of things that can come out of an unbridled tongue, hate, filth, gossip and lies! Much truth is communicated out of what a person doesn’t say than what they do say.
2. 27a Service: “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble”. Seeing Jesus in the mirror of the Word of God will cause us to see the needs of others as well. Orphans and widows were the two most helpless groups in Jewish society as their needs were always desperate. James is saying that any form of communication that is not associated with action towards the needs of others is not communication. No person who is hearing God can ignore the cries of the needy says James. Furthermore, such action will require is to do more than throw money and instead will say “here am I send me”! The finest worship we can offer God is to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.
3. 27b Separation: “and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” The final way we share God’s word is equally visible as we aren’t polluted by the world system in the way we live. We live in a world that ever seeks to redefine words and meanings: Society calls the killing of the unborn children “Pro-choice” and says that it supports “Women’s rights” while failing to realize that over half the children that would have been born would have been women, so how does this “choice” support women rights? The world defines sexual promiscuity as loving and gay, and we see the prophecy of Isaiah being fulfilled a “evil is called good and good evil; light is called darkness and darkness is called light.” We are being called to purity and to keep ourselves unspotted by the world system. We may be in the world, but we are never to be of the world. Never underestimate the power of the word seen in a life that is both separate from the world and separate to God.