3-8-15 PM James Pt. 1: Hard But Humble Work James 1:1-12
David Bragg Is a former minister from Cape Girardeau, MO. He contract Multiple Sclerosis He wrote the book Pure Religion
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (1:27)
As Bragg puts it God wants his people not only to say what they believe, but to practice what they preach, and to live out their Christianity on a daily basis. Satan is actively trying to put obstacles in our way, trials and heartaches, that might lead us to sin. But James reminds us that if will submit to God, and draw near to Him, the Devil will flee from us.
As Bragg puts it And the resulting faith or religion will be one that glorifies God in this world. He adds; But if you re just looking for a feel-good religion, you re in for a terrible shock... Practicing Pure Religion requires hard yet humble work.
Pure Religion This idea of pure religion being hard yet humble work intrigues me. In this feel-good age, as Bragg puts it, when men mostly look for ways to get out of work, would an entire book dedicated to hard yet humble service sell today? I mean, if the book of James were published today, would anyone buy it? Would anyone try to live it?
Pure Religion Obviously, every book in our Bible contains God s Pure Religion, and was written for our instruction, (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11) and every book was written to teach us how to live faithfully... The question tonight, and for the next few weeks is, are we living a life of Pure Religion?
Testing Your Faith 1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
James 1:1 *James was not written to a specific church or individual, (like 1 & 2 Corinthians was written to Corinth, or 1 & 2 Timothy was written to Timothy) It was written to Christians at large and is named today for the author. (*Catholic Epistle)
James 1:1 Specifically, James is writing to Jewish converts to Christianity ( 12 Tribes ) now separated from their homeland and families because of their new faith-born persecution.
James 1:1 Addressing his message to these folks, [Bragg says] James uses a very specific word for Greetings at the end of verse 1. It s word that is rarely used in the Bible, and contains the idea of Joy in the midst of one s circumstances.
James 1:1 You see, unlike superficial happiness which most men accept as joy, Christian Joy is absolutely unique, and is completely independent of circumstances. It is a description of that Joy, possessed by one, who has matured in the faith, and who now experiences life through God s Vision.
James 1:2-4 2 Consider it all joy, my Brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect (Mature) result, so that you may be perfect (Mature) and complete, lacking in nothing.
Matt.15:10-12 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in Heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
James 1:2 Similarly, James writes, Consider it all joy, Brethren, ALL meaning every, meaning any and all hardships from our daily woes to those times of serious harm or loss.
James 1:2 And BRETHREN a deliberate choice of word, which he will use 15 times in this book, indicating a deep Endearment and a Spiritual Camaraderie with his readers, as one former Jew to other former Jews, each now suffering for having become Christians.
James 1:2 James straight-forward message is that instead of regretting their choice, or considering their condition a curse, they should rejoice, for the opportunity to suffer with Christ.
1 Pet. 4:16 As Peter writes in 1 Pet.4:16 If anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. He says, this is how one grows as a Christian. This is how one matures in the faith.
James 1:5 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James answers the obvious question How can trials be good for me Trials and tribulations lead us to God and His Wisdom, and God s Wisdom leads us to salvation security and peace.
God s Wisdom God s Wisdom is not like man s wisdom. Man s so-called wisdom is usually temporal and shallow. God s Wisdom is eternal and fathomless.
God s Wisdom For example it was God s Wisdom that led to Jesus dying on the Cross: a cursed death to men, a Proprietary death to God. (Gal. 3:13; 1 Jn. 2:2) And likewise our suffering, while undesirable, is actually beneficial, to our souls.
Heb. 5:7-9 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.
Heb. 5:7-9 In the immediate context, the message for all mankind in Heb. writer is telling us that Jesus fully experienced daily life just as we have. But in the subtext, the message for individual man is that suffering is not our enemy but our teacher. It brings benefits a trial-free life cannot offer.
James 1:6-8 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts, is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man unstable in all his ways.
Adrian Cross In 2003, Adrian Cross, set out to break the world record for single handedly sailing around the world The previous record was 64 days. After 130 days, he had to give up. He had not even made it out of the English Channel.
Two Souls & Two Masters Overwhelmed, over matched, the poor sailor never really had a prayer of succeeding. James says, Neither does the doubleminded man. James says he is like a man with two souls, who is trying to serve two masters (Mt. 6:24). His faith is divided between Heaven and earth.
Even His Prayers are Worthless This one who waivers in his faith, is worse off than a cork in washing machine. He s going nowhere fast. Even his prayers are worthless. He will not win the prize. He shall not receive anything, much less God s Wisdom.
James 1:9-10a Next, James writes: 9 But the Brother of humble (poor) circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, What does this mean?
James 1:9-10a From God s perspective, the Brother of humble means (IE. the poor man whom this world disregards or even despises) God says may glory in that He is a child of God. He may not hold a high position in society, but if he is a Christian, he holds the highest position in this life, as a priest of God (1 Pet. 2:4-5), a king (Rev.1:6) and an heir of Heaven with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
James 1:9-10a And as for the rich man, the world, (and some worldly Believers - James 2:1-4) will show them favoritism, and grant them honor, just because they are rich. But as God sees things, it is humility that makes a man rich. And the man of earthly means, who humbles himself, trusting not in his wealth, but in God s grace, that man is wise, and faithful, and truly rich. Why?
James 1:10b-11 10b because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Death is the great equalizer. Judgment is the great revealer.
The Only Status That Matters You see, no matter what status we may think we enjoy in this life, the only status that matter is our status with God. Those who find their true joy in selfish ambitions in this life will leave it all behind when they die. Those who find their true joy in serving God will continue to enjoy it for eternity in the life to come.
The Only Status That Matters Both Jesus and Paul warned against glorying in one s materialism, comparing it to the summer grass and the flowers of the fields (Mt. 6:19-20; 1 Tim. 6:10). No matter what status the world may assign to an individual, the greatest standing is that of a Christian and a member of His Christ s namesake church.
James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. The best commentary on that verse is simply, AMEN!
James 1:1-12 Are you willing to accept the hard but humble work of being a Christian? Do you accept God s Wisdom over your own? Do you glory in your wealth or your humiliation? Will you receive the crown of life?