James practical issues of Godliness

Relevant because trials are increasing

Have any of you been encountering more trials that usual

Theme is introduced in the beginning

To the twelve tribes Servant of Christ--He has a Master

v2	Theme introduced and expanded

The facts: Look very carefully--warn you that it's very easy to misread, but we cannot for it contains the theme for the whole epistle. Consider it all joy my brethren when you encounter various trials. --life isn't getting any less stressful

What attitude or state of mind does James suggest is appropriate when we encounter various trials?

I warned you already, didn't I? Some intrepid souls have already blurted out, telling me they haven't read yet what the text is saying, because all those who just called out rejoicing need to go back to the text again and read it a little more carefully. (That's why I didn't wear a jacket in here. I knew it would soon be warming up considerably.) Example of car accident, wouldn't feel joyful. Some events and trials are not a cause for rejoicing. So what is James saying?

Consider it as joy. What a difference that makes. He's not saying feel joyful. Consider it as joy when you encounter various trials. To consider something as joy is moving away from the feeling level of our existence and the next verse will tell what realm of our existence the ability to consider something joy is moving you into. Faith. Yes you have moved from feeling into the intelligent area of your mind which enables you to trust or believe in the divine being. We know it's faith because in the next verse he talks about it. --Example of car accident, not feeling joyful, but might by the grace of God be able to count it as joy,

The ability to count as joy and not lose our equilibrium, not lose our peace of mind, not lose our mental and emotional health is based upon the ability to move from the emotional to the faith realm especially at a time of crisis or trial in our lives. I've seen after studying this epistle in depth that Christians even in trial do not need to lose the most precious things that God has given them--their mental and emotional health! Why not?

Look at three and four--2 minutes communicate with one another. The reason Christians don't have to lose their mental and emotional health is because they understand something very beautiful about what is going on when they experience trials.

By the way, How do many people react to trials? Typical reactions to serious trial.

Who comes out on the short end of the stick? God? I don't think you really know what You're doing, God.

Look very carefully at 3 and 4. this is the rationale for xians being able to move from the feeling realm to the faith realm when under trial. There is a reason. It's because we understand something that others who don't know God do not understand. What is the reason behind the ability of xians to move from feeling to faith during trial. You have 2 minutes to demonstrate your willingness to communicate with the person next to you.

a good statement but we're continuing to avoid James. Is James saying that? Where are you reading from. read it out

What process is taking place? Xians know that whatever happens to them is a testing process.

What is it that is being tested. Faith. In order to produce something.

What will it produce? entire. what else? steadfast. mature. Think of that when someone insults you. Patience. God cares enough to let us develop patience for trials to come. (144,000 Great tribulation mercy of God allows us to develop patience.)

Look at all the adjectives. All of these terms suggest that the final result of Xians having the right attitude toward trials is what? That we may be like Jesus Christ.

In order to have this Christlike character what does it take?

not just knowledge of God's character! I might know that he is testing my faith, but that won't produce character.

It takes the right attitude toward trials!

There is something about a Christian having the right attitudes which enables God to develop in that Christian qualities of Character that reveal God.

I'm very interested in the subject of maturity. I want to be a mature Christian. I don't want to be always reacting, no matter what others do to me. --illustration. highway 12 car cut off.

We need to become mature. I would like to become mature enough that the next time somebody puts me down that I won't lose any sleep over it, but will say, "Thank You, Lord, I might be able to learn something from this. And maybe you can help me love that person a little more." I don't have to lose my temper over it even if that person has said something about me that is not very nice.

Whatever comes our way is not by accident, is it? He's using these circumstances to help us develop a Christlike character. I don't think it is possible for us to develop a Christlike character without some trials. It's healthy for all of us to have some trials, but it's our attitude toward them that makes all the difference.

Verse 5 If any of you lacks wisdom. (very misquoted) Ask of God and it will be given to him. What characteristics of God are mentioned here. He is a generous God who gives to all without finding fault. Isn't that beautiful. One of my favorite things about God is that He's a generous God and when He gives, he doesn't reproach me, he gives because He loves. He knows that what I'm asking for is imperfect, but when he give he doesn't say to me, "Bruce, you really haven't quite asked for the right thing. If you'd get your act together, you might see more clearly what you ought to be asking for. Is that the way he's treated you? Not at all. I appreciate the fact that you're willing to ask me. You're trusting me and I want to give to you what is in your best interest. And what is it we are urged to ask for?

Why does James introduce a thought like this in the middle of the discussion he's having. What kind of wisdom is he obviously referring to? Give me James's exact words. Wisdom that enables the believer to consider his trials as joy.

What might you do if you considered it as joy? praise God for it and that through this experience I have the privilege of becoming more like christ. If anyone lacks that kind of wisdom, is it available?

Look at the next verse. If you're planning to ask for this kind of wisdom, how should you ask?

Have any of you been encountering more trials that usual?

more trouble? surface remark, but what does it tell you? You should be rejoicing. "we are growing" Not a human- centered praise. "God's character is being developed in our lives." What about God himself? He loves us an awful lot! It's so easy to talk about ourselves. What about telling us something about God. God is generous and would give us more than we ask for.

God must love me a great deal. He doesn't want to spend eternity without me. He must love us so much to permit the things that come upon us to shape and mold us so we'll enjoy the privilege of living with him for eternity. (Even at what risk?) (What about those who are having no trials? We need not second guess him. He knows it works to plant in good soil. He is unwilling to give up on anyone.)

Why are there so many immature Christians? Why are they losing their mental and emotional equilibrium?

We aren't comprehending God's mercy. We need healing.

Why are there so many people being denied the privilege of Christian maturity. What does James say? v. 5,6 let him ask in faith without doubting: for he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind let not that man expect to receive anything from the Lord

If you come doubting while you ask for wisdom to count your trials joy, what can you expect? James? You cannot expect to receive anything. There's a certain condition from obtaining the wisdom of God.

What is that condition? v. 8 Double-mindedness. Doublemindedness produces what? Instability. Why are there so many unstable Christians? The roots of instability lie in, "Double-mindedness."

Interp:

What is double-mindedness? Asking while doubting.

What are the two aspects of double-mindedness, not just holding two opinions.

Double-mindedness is not just holding two opinions, nor is it being unsure of what I should do.

Becoming unstable prevents a Christian from becoming mature because an unstable person cannot respond from principle, but only responds on the emotional level!

Instability is very dangerous. Since they live in the feeling realm, they cannot be sure of even the most basic things like salvation. If you are unstable and you wake up in the morning feeling down because the day before you fell into sin or did something that is offensive to God. Instability could lead you to believe what? You are lost. God has done what? He's cut you off. (People don't do that with their children, do they? Who would still have children? No, parents stay connected when their children mess up so they have the privilege of helping them, even if they don't approve of their children's choices. What kind of God do we believe in if He is not even as good as our parents?) If our experience is rooted in feeling, we will never be sure of salvation. The good news is that regardless of how I feel God loves me. If I am believing in Christ, I am set right by God, whether I feel it or not. It has nothing to do with how I feel, but how He feels. With that established I can move on to grow up to maturity. Even better news, even though you have a lot of growing to do (one or two of you probably do, I do!) while in the process of growing, you are not condemned. Everything in you might fight against this statement, but if your focus is on human performance, there is only discouragement. If you sin, you don't pop in and out of salvation! What do you do as a Christian trusting in Christ? Confess and repent. What is God's response? Does he say, "Stay away from me! You made a mistake!" Have you experienced God's forgiveness? What does He do? He reaches out his arms and says, "I love you. Let me forgive you and cleanse you. I'll even teach you how to not be bound by this." I'm tired of repenting over and over of the same sins. I've believed in a very wimpy God. If he's able to take my guilt and condemnation, isn't he able to break the power of sin in my life? But only if we're seeing what He has done for us, is there any hope of change. We have to see God first as He is.

You know what prevents many of us from seeing God? Double- mindedness. We believe here, and go home what do we start doing? doubting This is what instability does to you. Your feelings become the main measure of whether you're saved or not, and anyone who's judging whether they're saved or not by their feelings, hasn't yet seen what Christ has done for them. When you see Him dying Your death, and His perfect sinless life credited to You? Could you ever be more perfect than that, having the absolutely sinless life of Jesus credited to You. I hope you have that this morning. Are you allowing God the privilege of declaring you righteous, not because You feel it, but because God said it.

The bottom line of that is that a born-again Christian can never make a mistake. This understanding has no basis in the scriptural understanding of what sin has done to the human race. Vast difference between stumbling into sin and and intentionally sinning. Pig and Cat. A born again Xian feels dirty, maybe even having crucified Christ afresh, not pleasant. Only born-again Xians truly repent, and what is God willing to do?

What is it about doublemindedness that leads to instability?

Did anyone see anything that clarifies this issue of double- mindedness? v. 13. v.22 What are three things in ch 1 were James's reader were doing that a double-minded person (one who would ask while doubting) might do.

13-16 attribute to God blame for tempt, which comes through self, when He's always source of good. 19-22 holding onto filth. v.26 self-deceived, consider rel. don't hold tongue.

In verse 22 what two things go together.

Hearing first doing second. What two parts of our being are involved here? Hearing involves the mind. Doing involves action, not just thoughts we can intellectually accept. Many have become Christians hearing and intellectually believing a lot of things, but not acting on them. This is a dissection of double-mindedness. A double minded person hears, but they do not do. What condition are double-minded persons in? Self- deception.

v. 23 How is it possible for a person to look in a mirror and turn away and immediately forget what they look like--two mins. the whole condition is called self-deception. v. 25 Act on what you see. What do most people see when they look at the law? One is a superficial look, but the other is a persevering look. Most people with a superficial look see the law as a restriction of their liberty. Is it? What does James call it? In what way is the law a law of liberty? dig and pray.

What is it that enables a person to look and see themselves as they really are?

What do people see when they look into the law? Requirements. Feel, condemnation. You'd turn away and want to forget. What happens when you look into the law and realize it is not a list of requirements condemning you? What is it about the law that allows people to see themselves honestly? (Just like God's allowing trials is a good thing, so the law is a good thing.) The reason why we can't see ourselves honestly in the law is that we feel guilty. The only way to see it as a law of liberty is to see the perfect character of God and realize that the only one who can release you from guilt for measuring up to that law is the one whose life was the perfect fulfillment of that character. The law is not a bad thing if we don't feel condemned by it through the grace of Jesus.

Note: God does not tempt us. Our own desires lead to sin. God doesn't change back and forth all the time. Why do we believe that he does? --see other file

Why does double-mindedness lead to instability?

Hear and not do. What natural law is at work? A house divided cannot stand. God is not fragmented, he is whole. Physical is one aspect mind is another. I destroy myself if one element gets out of balance. The mind is the first to go.

Anywhere in NT that clarifies why double mindedness leads to stability? What principle is at stake? Mental, soc, sp, phys

College students here at PUC. If I know the right course of action. What am I going to do by the grace of God even if my feelings tell me to the contrary?

the man who cut me off. the person who I have a grudge against. I undermine my own stability when I harbor any grudge.

My parents.