Sunday Notes: James 1:2-12
- (Jas 1:2 ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
- Joy – an occasion for gladness
- Matthew 2:10, Matthew 25:23
- Brothers – a term of endearment for those connect in Christ
- Brothers in the family of God – the church.
- Be glad when you face trials
- When we face hard times we are told to be glad
- 1 Peter 1:6-8, Matthew 5:10-12
- (Jas 1:3 ESV) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
- (Jas 1:4 ESV) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
- Like training muscles
- You tear them down so they build back bigger
- Like remodeling a house
- You seemingly destroy it to build it back better
- Like learning a skill or a trade
- You sacrifice and struggle to build the knowledge to succeed.
- Like a marriage tested by the stress of life
- Like metal
- Before it is ready to use it must be hardened
- The testing of our faith through various struggles makes us stronger
- Like metal, the hardening of our faith
- Burnsoff the junk that is not helpful
- And find ourselves more complete in Him
- (Jas 1:5 ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
- This wisdom in particular
- Is that of Christian living
- The knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living
- That if you do not know how to carry on a life a a disciple, ask God
- Seek God for this wisdom who is faithful in imparting it to us
- (Jas 1:6 ESV) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
- But let him ask in faith
- Now be careful that we don’t run blind into heresy here
- If you ask in faith that God give you the wisdom for Godly living, He will grant it
- Without doubting
- Jude 1:11-13
- Two very similar word pictures by two brothers – is this a hint into their family life growing up?
- Mary and Joseph
- That young couple chosen by God to bring the Messiah into the world
- That went against the grain from that moment on to do the work they were called to?
- We might understand that those dinner table talks were implanting some wisdom in the minds of these boys
- That the godly example of their parents character flowed into who these men become.
- An example that we might do the same
- (Jas 1:7 ESV) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
- (Jas 1:8 ESV) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
- For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord
- The person that does not trust the steadfastness of the Lord
- For he is a double-minded man, Unstable in all his ways.
- Instability
- No anchor
- Like a ship it drifts this way and that.
- We are called to be anchored
- We are called to be on point
- To recognize ourselves in light of who God is.
- (Jas 1:9 ESV) Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
- (Jas 1:10 ESV) and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
- (Jas 1:11 ESV) For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
- The fellow Christian who does not boast in himself
- But in God lifting him up.
- Exaltation
- Let him find glory in where God has placed him.
- Let him find glory in where God has placed him.
- And the rich in his humiliation
- And he who is lifted up in this world
- Will be recognized for being lowered
- Because like a flower of the grass
- He will pass away.
- As will we all
- When this life is over what difference does it make?
- When it is all said and done the glory achieved in this world will not matter in light of the glory to come
- The accomplishments of this life will not count against the life to come in a new creation with Christ.
- (Jas 1:12 ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
- Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial
- Which will be all of us at some point
- Each of us will face trials
- We are called to stay the course
- To be anchored in the Word
- For when he has stood the test
- When the storms of life have beaten against us
- He will receive the crown of life
- Which God has promised to those who love Him.
- That crown, I think
- Is our coronation into His kingdom
- We are already adopted a sons and daughters of the King
- But not yet to the place where we will be.
- 1 Peter 5:8-11, Romans 8:26-28
