Apr 8-14-07 James
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Transcript of Apr 8-14-07 James
James, Chapter 1
James 1:1-27 MSG I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing
to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello!
It is the consensus of most that this was in fact James, the brother of Jesus.
We have learned from Jesus teachings that to become first we must become
last.
James, Chapter 1
It is remarkable, also, considering the relation which James is
supposed to have borne to the Lord Jesus as his “brother,” That he did not refer to that as constituting a ground of claim to his right to
address others;
James, Chapter 1
but this is only one instance out of many, in the New Testament, in
which it is regarded as a higher honor to be the “servant of God,” and to
belong to his family, than to sustain any relations of blood or kindred. It
may be observed also, that this term is one which was especially appropriate
to James, as a man eminent for his integrity.
James, Chapter 1
His claim to respect and deference was not primarily founded on any relationship
which he sustained; any honor of birth or blood; or even any external office, but on the fact
that he was a “servant of God.”
James, Chapter 1
And of the Lord Jesus Christ - The “servant of the Lord Jesus,” is an
appellation which is often given to Christians, and particularly to the ministers of religion. They are his
servants, not in the sense that they are slaves, but in the sense that they
voluntarily obey his will, and labor for him, and not for themselves.
(Barnes)
James, Chapter 1
To the twelve tribes - Of Israel; that is, those of them that believe.
Which are scattered abroad - In various countries. Ten of the tribes were scattered ever since the reign of Hosea; and great part of the rest
were now dispersed through the Roman empire. (Wesley)
Faith Under Pressure
2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and
challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that
under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and
shows its true colors.
Faith Under Pressure
4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so
you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any
way.When we find ourselves tested, challenged and under pressure
don’t look right immediately for a way out of the situation.
Faith Under Pressure
James tells us we are being improved. These growing pains, so to speak, are
necessary for our development. Maturity cannot be reached without growing pains. James doesn’t say it will be easy becoming mature, but
praise God for the so called troubles that refine us into mature Christians,
servants of God.
Faith Under Pressure
5 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his
help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. 6 Ask boldly, believingly,
without a second thought.
Faith Under Pressure
People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-
whipped waves. 7 Don’t think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, 8
adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
Faith Under Pressure
Here is one area where Christian maturity is going to show. Being able to ask for help, KNOWING
that you will get the help you need. James says if you ask God for help
without conviction your prayers will be answered they won’t be
answered.
Faith Under Pressure
9 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! 10 And when the
arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity
is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count
on it.
Faith Under Pressure
11 You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture
of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in
admiration, it fades away to nothing.
Faith Under Pressure
Get excited when those having a hard time are given a break and
some relief. Get excited also when the proud rich are knocked down a
notch or two. Not that they are harmed in any what, but this could
bring them closer to God.
Faith Under Pressure
Remember the Scriptures say, “God hates a proud heart,” and Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Earthly
riches aren’t lasting! Like the beautiful flower that quickly fades
away so goes the proud, prosperous life, fading away to nothing.
Faith Under Pressure
12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more
life.When you’re tested grit your teeth
and hang on.
Faith Under Pressure
Show God you won’t let life’s testing times ruin your faith. You’re in this for the long haul. I think the words
we hear so often fit here. “For better or for worse,” we’re in it for life. The better is Life Eternal with our Maker
and Savior, the worse; the testing, challenges and pressure which hones
us to maturity.
Faith Under Pressure
13 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is
impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. 14 The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and
only us.
Faith Under Pressure
We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. 15 Lust gets
pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and
becomes a real killer.
Faith Under Pressure
While God is honing you He will not tempt or trip you up with evil! Temptation to do evil does not
come from God, it comes from our worldly nature. This evil flares up our own lust. Then Lust becomes mature and gives birth to sin. Sin,
when allowed to live, kills!
Faith Under Pressure
16 So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. 17 Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The
gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the
Father of Light.
Faith Under Pressure
There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced,
nothing fickle. 18 He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of
all his creatures.
Faith Under Pressure
Fight the good fight, stay the course. Everything good comes from God in heaven. God did not send evil and deceit to get us. We are his greatest creation, He sent us The True Word Jesus to lead us to life so He can show off His Creation.
Act on What You Hear
19 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. 20 God’s righteousness doesn't
grow from human anger.
Act on What You Hear
21 So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the
garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
Act on What You Hear
Listen to what The Word Jesus has to say so God can cultivate
salvation in your life. Listen more, speak less, and don’t become
angry. As God cultivates salvation in you the desire will be to throw
off the anger and garbage your life has collected.
Act on What You Hear
22 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are
anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what
you hear! 23 Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in
the mirror, 24 walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they
are, what they look like.
Act on What You Hear
25 But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God--the
free life!--even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no
distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person
will find delight and affirmation in the action.
Act on What You Hear
26 Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is
hot air and only hot air. 27 Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach
out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against
corruption from the godless world.
Act on What You Hear
The Word calls us to action! What good is an education if it is never used? If we learn how to fly an airplane and brag to everyone
saying, “I’m a pilot,” but never want to go anywhere, we’ll never
get off the ground.