[Linux4christians] B7 - Sunday - James 1:1-18

[dcolburn at bibleseven.com]

    Sunday


      James 1:1-18



Salutation

1:1 From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve 
tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!

Joy in Trials

1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall 
into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your 
faith produces endurance.

1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be 
perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives 
to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

1:6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is 
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind.

1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from 
the Lord, 1:8 since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all 
his ways.

1:9 Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high 
position.

1:10 But the rich person's pride should be in his humiliation, because 
he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.

1:11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal 
of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich 
person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

1:12 Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to 
be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those 
who love him.

1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God 
cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

1:14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own 
desires.

1:15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is 
full grown, it gives birth to death.

1:16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.

1:17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming 
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the 
slightest hint of change.

1:18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of 
truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.



      Prayer


Lord, Your wisdom is perfect, and You desire that we share in it. May I 
ask without doubt and trust Your guidance.



      Summary & Commentary


The words of James 1:2 may have echoed in the minds as his readers as 
they recalled the report, from 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, of the suffering 
endured by the Apostle Paul:


/"... in far more imprisonments, /

///*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"... beaten times without number, often in danger of death./

/*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes./

///*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"Three times I was beaten with rods, /

///*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"... once I was stoned, /

///*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"... three times I was shipwrecked, /

/*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/" a night and a day I have spent in the deep. /

///*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from 
robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers 
in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers 
among false brethren; /

///*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in 
hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure./

///*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/

/"Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me 
of concern for all the churches./

/*"consider it nothing but joy ..."*/


James reminded his readers to follow the example of Solomon, where 
wisdom is needed, ask the Holy Spirit for more.


James insisted that our requests of God be "without doubting" because 
"... one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by 
the wind ... that person must not suppose that he will receive anything 
from the Lord, since he is an double-minded individual, unstable in all 
his ways."


While God is not tempted we are. We must not let our good fortunes in 
this world cause us to imagine that we cannot be tempted. We must see 
tests as an opportunity to mature by resisting through the strength of 
the Holy Spirit within.


Be bold in the declaration of God:


/"Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also 
confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me 
before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven/" 
(Matthew 10:24-33).


Look forward to an opportunity to testify to Jesus and your hope in Him:


?/"And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but 
sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a 
defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is 
in you" (/1 Peter 3:14b-15)


Be careful that your suffering is due to your faithfulness, or at least 
not due to your sin:


/"... and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are 
slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to 
shame."/(1 Peter 3:16)



      Interaction


        Consider

James' teaching defined what was found in Paul's writings in 2 Corinthians.


        Discuss

What are some practical ways to be more-bold in the declaration of the 
Lord God?


        Reflect

James insistence was that our requests of the Lord God be "without 
doubting" because "... one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown 
and tossed about by the wind ... a double-minded individual, unstable in 
all his ways."


        Share

What is an example from your experience of following Solomon; when 
wisdom was needed and you asked the Holy Spirit for more? Did He give it 
only to you directly or did He provide one or more others to walk with 
you in discerning the guidance of His wisdom?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have 
been doubting the Lord God, asking Him to provide what you need to walk 
a more mature walk and/or to have the wisdom that you need, but not 
really trusting and therefore not allowing Him to do so.



        Action:

Today I am choosing to confess my double-mindedness to a fellow believer 
and I will ask them to pray with me to break free of that place of 
stuckness.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Monday's text will be:


      James 1:19-27



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
Have an Ultrafidian.com Day!
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Bible Resources: bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
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1Cor. 15:22 "For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive."
Savannah-Statesboro needs a Bible College/Seminary!
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