Trials and Temptations. Listening and Doing. James 1:1-27

Transcription

1 1 Trials and Temptations Listening and Doing James 1:1-27

2 2 Trials and Temptations Listening and Doing James 1:2-27, 1. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10. But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

3 3 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Introduction: I. The overall subject of the book of James is Christian perfection. (Coffman) II. The various sub-topics in the book of James all point to the picture of Christian perfection.

4 4 Commentary: James 1:1, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. I. James, a servant A. James is thought to be the half-brother of Jesus who was a prominent leader of the Jerusalem church. B. Servant is a designation of, in addition to James, Paul, Timothy, Peter, Judas and Epaphras. (Coffman) C. Servant means one born into slavery. (Coffman) D. We are willingly born into slavery to God by means of the second birth. E. Old Testament persons designated as servants of God include Moses, Caleb, Joshua, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah. (Coffman) F. James does not identify himself in this greeting as the brother of Jesus, but rather as a bondservant, slave, of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Holloway) G. Slavery is a common designation of God s servants in both the Old and New Testaments. (Holloway) 1. Joshua 14:7, Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 2. Joshua 24:29, And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

5 Samuel 7:8, Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 4. Psalm 135:1, Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. 5. Isaiah 42:19, Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? 6. Amos 3:7, Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 7. Acts 2:18, And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 8. Acts 4:29, And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 9. Romans 1:1, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 10. Philippians 1:1, Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Peter 1:1, Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

6 6 12. Philippians 2:7, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: II. to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, scattered among the nations: A. The twelve tribes refer to spiritual Israel, Christians, not fleshly Israel. 1. The number twelve designates all Christians who had been scattered because of their faith. 2. Matthew 19:28, And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 3. Romans 9:24-26, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God Peter 2:9, 10, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

7 7 B. The Diaspora refers to those Jews who lived outside Palenstine. 1. Holloway stated that James wrote to Christian Jews residing outside Palestine. a. 1 Peter 1:1, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, b. Revelation 7:4-9, And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 2. Acts 8:1, And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

8 8 III. Greetings. A. James extends cordial greetings to all his readers although his greeting is very brief. B. Holloway pointed to other similar brief greetings in the New Testament, viz., 1. Acts 23:26, Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. 2. Acts 15:23, And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. IV. Holloway pointed out that Christians now live in all nations under heaven and are to live as servants of Christ where ever they are as aliens in a foreign land looking for a better home. A. John 15:18, 19, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. B. 1 Peter 1:17, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: C. 1 Peter 2:11, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; D. Hebrews 11:8-16, By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,

9 9 obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. E. Hebrews 13:14, For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. F. Mark 10:42-45, But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

10 10 Trials and Temptations James 1:2, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; I. My brethren, brothers, A. James here speaks of his Christian brethren. B. Coffman noted that my brethren is used sixteen times in the book of James. C. Disciples are family, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and children of Almighty God. 1. James 2:15, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, II. count, consider, it all, pure joy A. Matthew 5:11, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. B. Joy is the result of successfully facing the devil and overcoming, winning the victory. C. Holloway made the point that our joy is to be sincere, not feigned, when we are called upon to suffer for the cause of Christ in expectation of eternal glory. III. When you face, fall into many manifold temptations, trials of many kinds A. Trials/temptations include both external adversities and inner impulses to do evil. (Wessel via Coffman)

11 11 B. Christians do not seek trouble but, unavoidably, we fall into trials now and again. (Holloway) 1. Matthew 6:13, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. James 1:3, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. I. knowing, because you know that the testing, proving of your faith A. Abraham was tested. 1. Genesis 12:1, Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: B. Christians of every age will be tested and those who pass the testing will be better because of it. C. 1 Peter 1:7, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: D. Romans 5:3, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; II. worketh patience, develops perserverance. A. Scriptures: 1. Luke 21:19, In your patience possess ye your souls. 2. Romans 5:3, 4, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

12 12 James 1:4, But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. I. And let patience, perseverance have her perfect work, completed finished work A. Patience, perseverance stays the course until trials have been overcome. II. that you may be perfect, mature and entire, complete A. Matthew 5:48, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. B. This principle, Christian perfection, is the central theme of the book of James. C. This stedfastness under fire leads to Christian maturity, Christlikeness and eternal glory. D. Christian values are diametrically opposed to the world s values. E. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. III. lacking in nothing, not lacking anything. James 1:5, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. I. But if any of you lacketh wisdom A. Coffman wrote that achieving Christian perfection requires spiritual wisdom. B. Coffman also concluded that lacking wisdom means to have a lack of knowledge of divine truth.

13 13 C. Ignorance can t save anybody! D. No one ever has enough wisdom. E. Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. F. Proverbs 2:2, So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; G. Proverbs 2:6, For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. II. let him, he should ask of God, A. To get wisdom we ask and then study Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. 3. Matthew 7:11, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 4. Philippians 3:15, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. III. who giveth to all liberally, generously IV. and scoldeth not, without finding fault,

14 14 A. Matthew 7:7-11, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? IV. and it shall be given to him. James 1:6, But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. I. But let him ask in faith, when he asks, he must believe A. Mark 11:24, Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. B. Matthew 8:10, When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. C. Matthew 9:28, And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. D. Mark 2:5, When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. E. Mark 4:40, And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? F. Mark 5:34-36, And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house

15 15 certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. G. Mark 9:23-24, Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. H. Mark 11:23-24, For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. II. Nothing doubting, and not doubt, III. for because, he that doubteth is like the wave, surge of the sea, IV. blown, driven by the wind and tossed; that is, totally unstable. James 1:7, For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. I. For let not that man think that he shall anything from, of the Lord; A. the doubters will receive nothing from the Lord! B. Please be advised. II. Holloway noted that some have enough faith to ask, but not enough to be fully confident they will fully receive.

16 16 A. Luke 9:62, And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. James 1:8, A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. I. He is a doubleminded man A. Matthew 6:24, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. B. A doubleminded man vascillates, is confused, thries to straddle the line between right and wrong, cannot be depended on. C. This is the first and only place the word doubleminded appears in Scripture, Coffman observed. II. unstable in all his ways, all he does. James 1:9, Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: I. But let the brother of low degree, in humble circumstances A. Coffman wrote that this passage refers to the poor, the slave, the bottom of the social ladder of which there were many in the early church. B. Luke 6:20, And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. C. Matthew 5:5, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. II. ought to take pride, glory in his high estate, position.

17 17 Note: James 2:5, Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? A. Christ elevated the poor of this world to the level of children of God and heirs of eternal life. B. Holloway wrote that Christians are not to pridefully boast. 1. Romans 2:17, 23, Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 2. Romans 3:27, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith Corinthians 1:29, That no flesh should glory in his presence Corinthians 4:7, For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 5. 1 Corinthians 5:6, Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 6. 2 Corinthians 5:12, For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart Corinthians 11:18, Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

18 18 8. Galatians 6:13, For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 9. Ephesians 2:9, Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. James 4:16, But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. C. Holloway also noted that boasting in what God has done in Christ in approved for Christians. 1. Romans 5:2,3, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 2. 1 Corinthians 1:31, That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord Corinthians 10:13-17, But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord 4. Philippians 3:3, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

19 19 James 1:10, But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. I. And the rich A. Those rich and prosperous were also Christians, Coffman believed. B. Holloway commented, He is likely contrasting not rich and poor in the church, but the like rich of the world with lowely Christians. II. should take pride in his low position, in that he is made low; A. The wealthy Christians learn through Christ the virtue of humility and service to others regardless of their social status. 1. Matthew 5:3, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. B. They leave the filthiness of sin and their pre-christian debased condition experienced they were before Christ came into their lives. C. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. 1. Matthew 23:12, And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 2. Luke 14:11, For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 3. Luke 18:14, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. III. because as the wildflower of the grass

20 20 IV. he shall pass away. A. There is no escape from death for the rich or the poor. B. Sometimes money, good medical insurance, for example, can secure services by which life can be extended, but death is absolutely inevitable. C. Luke 16:25, But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. James 1:11, For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. I. For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, heat, A. Ezekiel 17:10, Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew. B. Psalm 103:15, 16, As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. C. Isaiah 40:6-8, The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. II. and withereth the grass, plant; III. and the flower thereof falleth, the blossom falls

21 21 IV. and the beauty, grace of the fashion of it perisheth, is destroyed. A. So much for the rich! B. Incidentally, so much for the poor as well. Note: Coffman lists a number of other similar figures found in the book of James; viz., surge of the sea, flower of the grass, rough winds, much wood kindled by small fire, the wheel of nature, beasts and bridles, the fountain of a log tree, the early and latter rains. V. In the same way, so also shall the rich man A. Note: The Bible s attitude toward the rich and the poor. 1. Matthew 19:16-26, And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said

22 22 unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 2. Mark 12:41-44, And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. 3. Luke 6:24, But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 4. Luke 12:16-21, And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 5. Amos 2:6, Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;

23 23 6. Amos 5:12, For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. 7. Isaiah 53:9, And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. B. Remember there are exceptions to essentially all rulers. IV. in his goings, even while he goes about his business, while trying to earn more and more money, in the middle of his travels. A. Suddenly and without warning the grim reaper often strikes. B. Luke 16:19-31, There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the

24 24 prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. C. Luke 12:13-21, And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. James 1:12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. I. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; perseveres under trial, persecutions, A. Matthew 5:10, 11, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

25 25 B. Holloway wrote that this beatitude reminds us of the word blessed as used in the Sermon on the Mount and as frequently found in Psalms and Proverbs. II. for when he hath been approved, because when he has stood the test, A. Those who remain faithful under trial will be eternally rewarded. III. he shall receive the crown of life, A. 2 Timothy 4:8, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. B. 1 Corinthians 9:25, And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. C. 1 Timothy 4:8, For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. D. 1 Peter 5:4, And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. E. Revelation 2:10, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. F. The victor s garland of flowers given to winners of athletic contests may be the point of reference to the eternal crown. (Holloway)

26 26 IV. which God, the Lord promised to them that love him. A. Jesus Christ is God, deity. It is He who promised eternal life to the faithful. James 1:13, Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: I. Let no man say when he is tempted, enticed to sin, II. I am tempted of God; A. God does not allure people to sin. B. God tests, but he does not seek to influence people to sin. C. Coffman wrote that James here took away all excuses for sinning. 1. Do you ever blame God for your failures? 2. Do you blame others for your failures while refusing to take responsibility for your own actions? 3. Proverbs 19:3, The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. 4. Genesis 3:12, And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. III. for God cannot be tempted by, with evil, A. Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

27 27 B. Matthew 26:41, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. C. Mark 14:38, Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. D. Luke 22:46, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. E. Holloway commented, God has no acquaintance with evil at all. It cannot touch him. Therefore, he cannot lead others to do evil. F. 1 Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. IV. and he himself tempteth no man: A. God does test his people. B. Genesis 22:1, And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. C. Judges 2:22, That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. D. 2 Chronicles 32:31, Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

28 28 E. Deuteronomy 8:2-5, And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. James 1:14, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. I. But each one, man is tempted, A. All humans are tempted. B. We are responsible for our own temptations which result from our own lusts, desires. II. when he is driven away by his own lust, when, by his own desire, A. The devil uses human lusts and desires to ensnare us into sin. B. We are responsible for yielding to the devil s will. 1. Sin is our own fault! III. and enticed, he is dragged away and enticed. A. Dragged away but not against our will. James 1:15, Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

29 29 I. Then the lust, desire II. when it hath conceived, III. beareth sin: gives birth to sin; IV. and the sin, V. when it is fullgrown, VI. bringeth forth death, gives birth to death. A. Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Note 1: Sin, as if it were a child, begins with conception, proceeds through birth into manhood and finally to eternal death. (Coffman) Note 2: We stand at the crossroads. One road leads to heaven while the other leads to sin and death. What is your choice? James 1:16, 17, Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. I. Be not deceived, A. James is telling it like it is! II. my beloved brethren; III. Every A. good gift and B. every perfect gift C. is from above, from God.

30 30 D. coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, 1. Coffman stated that God is the Father of all kinds of light; intelligence, truth, light of the world (Christ), sun moon and stars. 2. Genesis 1:14-19, And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 3. Psalm 136:7, To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 4. 1 John 1:5, This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. E. With whom can be no variation, who does not change, 1. Malachi 3:6, For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 2. The sun casts shadows, the moon goes through phases, but God does not budge. He is immovable! F. neither shadow that is cast by turning, like shifting shadows. 1. God is absolutely dependable.

31 31 James 1:18, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. I. Of his own will, he chose, II. he brought us forth, to give us birth A. By the new birth we are brought forth from a world of sin to a life of righteousness. B. 1 Peter 1:23, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. C. 1 Corinthians 4:15, For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. D. John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. E. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. III. by the word of truth, through the word of truth, IV. that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures, of all he created. A. 2 Thessalonians 2:13, But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: B. Early first century converts were the firstfruits of the gospel with millions of fruits following in years afterward.

32 32 C. In the Old Testament the firstfruits of the harvest were dedicated as sacrifices. (Holloway) James 1:19, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: I. Ye know this, take note of this: A. It is necessary to have called to our remembrance things we already know. B. We need encouragement to live in keeping with what we know is right! II. my beloved brethren. III. let every man be swift to hear, quick to listen, IV. slow to speak, A. Proverbs 10:14, Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. B. Proverbs 15:1, A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. C. Proverbs 17:27, 28, He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. D. Proverbs 29:20, Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. E. Ecclesiastes 7:9, Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. IV. slow to wrath, become angry,

33 33 A. Ephesians 4:26, Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: B. 2 Corinthians 12:20, But now are they many members, yet but one body. C. Galatians 5:20, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, D. Colossians 3:8, But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. E. Ephesians 4:31, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: James 1:20, For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. I. For the anger, wrath of man A. Man s wrath does not lead to righteousness! B. Matthew 5:21-26, Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

34 34 II. does not bring about, worketh not the righeousness of God, the righteous life that God desires. James 1:21, Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. I. Wherefore, therefore, get rid of, putting away all: Note 1: Therefore, wherefore refers to the fact that the wrath of man does not lead to the righteousness of God. Therefore, we had better shape up and get with God s program. Note 2: Ephesians 4:25, Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Note 3: Holloway made the point that get rid of refers to changing clothes. Take off sin and put on righteousness, as if changing clothes. A. filthiness, moral filth, and, 1. What God regardes as moral filth many regard as a popular comedy show on television or in the movies. B. overflowing of wickedness and the evil that is so prevalent 1. How prevalent is evil in our society indeed! II. humbly accept, receive with meekness A. An arrogant, haughty sinner will remain a sinner. B. The only way to receive salvation is by means of a humble, meek and contrite heart. C. 1 Thessalonians 2:13, For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in

35 35 truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. D. Mark 4:3-20, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word,

36 36 and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. E. 1 Corinthians 3:6, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. III. the implanted word, the word planted in you, A. The Word of God implanted in the receptive heart leads to the new birth and a life of righteousness. B. Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. C. Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. D. 1 Corinthians 1:18, For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. IV. which is able to save your souls. James 1:22, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. I. But be ye doers of the word, Do what it says. A. Romans 2:13, For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. II. and not hearers only, do not merely listen to the word, A. A person can hear and hear and hear, but if he doesn t do, his soul will be lost!

37 37 III. deluding your own selves, deceive yourselves. A. Matthew 7:21-27, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. James 1:23, For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: I. For if any one is a hearer of the word, anyone who listens to the word A. The word, Coffman pointed out, is the gospel of Christ. II. and not a doer, and does not do what it says III. he is like unto a man who beholding his natural face in a mirror, looks at his face in a mirror James 1:24, For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. I. For he beholdeth himself, after looking at himself,