When Life Gets Hard
James 1:1-12 (Blue Bible Page 1113)
- This week we are kicking off a series of Bible studies in a book of the Bible titled James.
- We are calling it Doubt to Devotion – and you will see why shortly.
- Let’s open our Bibles to James chapter 1 (Page 1113)
James, a servant 1 of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
- We are going to start by getting some context for this letter James is writing
- First off Who is James? It’s fine if you don’t know but let’s learn this together.
- Jesus’ half brother
- At one point James thought Jesus was crazy, turn to Mark 3:21 (Blue Bible Page 929)
- ‘And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.’ (I love the honesty of the Bible here)
- So what changed for James?
- Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 (Blue Bible Page 1063) ‘For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.’
- This life changing moment convinced James that Jesus was truly the long awaited Messiah
- James went on to become a leader in the church in Jerusalem
- Even Paul pointed to & discussed during his missionary journeys
- Now how did things end for James – meaning how did he die?
- Church history says that around AD 62 James enraged the pharisees in Jerusalem due to his testimony about his brother Jesus to the point they threw him from the top of the temple and when that didn’t kill him,
- they beat him to death with clubs.
- What a change – from bro, be quiet – you’re crazy
- To dying for the inability to deny that his half brother Jesus, was the long promised messiah
- And this change in James is the backdrop for his letter.
- And the backdrop to our series ‘doubt to devotion’
- No next part of James chapter 1 verse 1
- What are the 12 Tribes?
- This would mean jewish people who believed in Jesus
- What is the dispersion?
- What happened to the Christians in Jerusalem? Does anyone know?
- James here Refers to the christians after the first wave of persecution which made many leave jerusalem
- Because of the persecution they were likely very poor and rejected by both gentiles (because they were Jewish) and Jews (becaue they were Christian)
- What’s the point of this book?
- To grow to spiritual maturity
- To become mature
- To show what marks someone’s life has been changed by the truth of Jesus
- Warren Weirsbe says in preparing to walk through James, ‘we are looking into the divine mirror and seeing ourselves as we really are. But James warns us that we must be honest about what we see and not merely glance at the image and walk away.’
- As we walk through these topics that mark a changed and maturing life – we must ask – has my life changed?
- And that starts with – who do you say Jesus is?
- GOSPEL MOMENT
- Now as we study James – we have to obey what the Word of God says. It’s perfect and right.
- James 1:22-25 (Blue Bible Page 1113), which we will read next week, says ‘but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.’
- So let’s dive in – and be ready to change, like James
- From doubt to devotion
- Someone read James 1:2
Testing of Your Faith
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
- What is the hardest test you ever took in school?
- What is one of the hardest or scariest things you’ve had to walk through during your life?
- We have to stop here – to point out the obvious, this sounds crazy…
- Be joyous – when difficulty happens, no matter the kind? – Is that easy or hard to do?
- Compare the difference between if you meet trials and when you meet trials.
- Let’s continue in verse 3 & 4
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
- Here’s part of the why, testing or trials of your faith produce steadfastness
- What is steadfastness? the quality of being resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.
- And through a full dose of steadfastness, what will become of us?
- Perfect
- Complete
- Lacking in nothing
- Whatever we are going through their is a reason to hope and stand firm – this is what it means here.
- Someone read Romans 8:28-30 (Blue Bible Page 1046) ‘And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,8 for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.’
- Such a good promise – whatever we are navigating – God is at work
- And there is wisdom in leaning into God during the trial
- It’s not easy – but there is wisdom
- Hop back over to James 1:5-9 (Blue Bible Page 1113)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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. 7 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. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 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.
- Who are we to ask for wisdom? (God)
- How should we ask for wisdom? (in faith, without doubting)
- What happens to a boat in a storm without an anchor?
- If we doubt God, we won’t gain wisdom, and we won’t be able to stand in the trial and say God – you’re up to something, help me see it.
- When we ask for wisdom to trust God in the trial –
- What else does James compare a man who prays while doubting to?
- Flower in the grass that will pass away
- If we lean into our own strength and not into God – we will fade away in the midst of our pursuits
- That reminds me of the parable of the soils that Jesus shared
- The plant among the rocks & thorns – withered away when trials came
- Pray your faith is in good soil which can stand trials
- Spurgeon kiss the waves that push me onto the rock of ages
- Let’s continue and read James 1:12
12 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.
- So when trials come we should what? (pray)
- And pray without what? (without doubt)
- Because God has promised that he is at work in all things.
- And as we look at the book of James, and let it examine us like we are looking in a mirror, we are hoping to move from Doubt to Devotion just like James
- And our devotion is displayed – with how we handle trials
- Handle it with strength and wisdom
- Ask God for Him to make it clear, how he intends to grow and change you, whenever you face trials of any kind.
- Walk through trials with joy – knowing God is at work when you face trials
- Now how can we pray for you? (Describe how our prayer time works)
- Pray for you (because you’re here)
- Popcorn style
- Typically we have someone gifted in the area covering your prayer pray – healing, wisdom, discernment, faith, etc.