Page 1 of James 1:1-8 The Double-Minded Man What I Do = What I Really Believe God's people were going through difficult trials. God's people were facing temptation. God's people were hearers, but not necessarily doers. Whether we are dealing with trials on the outside or temptations on the inside, through faith in Jesus we can experience VICTORY... 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. James, the oldest half-brother of Christ (Mark 6:3) Mark 6:3 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James... James had at first rejected Jesus as Messiah (John :5), but later believed (1 Cor. 15:). John :5 5 For not even his brothers believed in him.
Page 2 of 1 Corinthians 15: Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. James became the key leader in the Jerusalem church (cf. Acts 12:1; 15:13; 21:18; Gal. 2:12), being called one of the pillars of that church, along with Peter and John (Gal. 2:9). James was martyred c. A.D. 62, according to the first-century Jewish historian Josephus. As you are going to see in this study, James wrote with the authority of one who had personally seen the resurrected Christ. This book was written to the "scattered" due to the persecution under Herod Agrippa I in A.D. 44. Since the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, many of the Jews were still scattered in different nations. We remember from Pentecost... Acts 2:9-11 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
Page 3 of 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. 2 Count [consider/evaluate] it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, He doesn't say "if", but "when." The natural human response to trials is not to rejoice; therefore, the believer must make a conscious commitment to face them with joy. trials: something that breaks the peace, comfort, or joy. The verb form of this "trials" means to put someone or something to the test, with the purpose of discovering that person s nature or that thing s quality. God brings such tests to prove and increase the strength and quality of one s faith and to demonstrate its validity. Every trial becomes a test of faith designed to strengthen. 3 for you know that the testing/proving/ of your faith produces steadfastness/endurance.
Page 4 of Through tests, a Christian will learn to withstand tenaciously the pressure of a trial until God removes it at His appointed time. Remember Paul? Turn in your Bibles too... 2 Corinthians 12:-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My 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. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 4 And let steadfastness/endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. This is not a reference to sinless perfection, but to spiritual maturity.
Page 5 of The testing of faith drives believers to deeper communion and greater trust in Christ qualities that in turn produce a stable, godly, and righteous character. Look in your Bible... 1 Peter 5:10 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. It was not a wisdom of philosophical speculation, but the wisdom contained in the pure and peaceable absolutes of God s will revealed in His Word and lived out. let him ask of God: This command is a necessary part of the believer s prayer life. Proverbs 3:5-5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
Page 6 of God intends that trials will drive believers to greater dependency on Him, by showing them their own inadequacy. 6 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. Prayer must be offered with confident trust in a sovereign God. Look in your Bible... Isaiah 55:8-9 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. with no doubting: This refers to having one s thinking divided within himself, not merely because of mental indecision but an inner moral conflict or distrust in God. Filter your life decisions by the Word of God. Your opinions can and will betray you and others. the one who doubts: The person who doubts God s ability or willingness to provide this wisdom is like the billowing,
Page of restless sea, moving back and forth with its endless tides, never able to settle. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. The literal translation of the Greek expression is a soul divided between God and the flesh. A "Practical atheist is defined as someone who believes in God but lives as if He doesn't exist." This man struggles because he occasionally believes in God but fails to trust Him when trials come, and thus receives nothing. This is called Practical Atheism.