Faith In The Face Of _________.

Background:  This letter was written by James, not the disciple, but the brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:55), who after the death and resurrection of Jesus becomes a believer and leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15). 

James is writing to Jewish Christian house churches outside of the Holy Land.  His readers were suffering great persecution and poverty. They were in constant social and spiritual conflict. Many believers were living in a worldly manner. James writes to correct them and challenge them to seek God’s wisdom.  To find truth for the though times they were living in… 

James 1:2–4 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… 

Celebrate because…There is a purpose to this pain

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 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.

perseverance – capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances

In the face of ______ remember: 

  • This test is FATHER-FILTERED 
  • This test produces a GROWN-UP FAITH
  • This test reveals a PERFECT SAVIOR

Celebrate because…There is a perspective to be gained

James 1:5–8 (ESV)

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.

Wisdom is God’s ways that produces God’s results

Three Perspectives: 

a. Today is a test

James 1:9–10 (ESV) 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.

b. Perseverance Produces

James 1:12 (ESV) 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.

c. God is Good

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (16–17).

Celebrate because… There is Perfection to ReClaim

James 1:22–25 (ESV)

22 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.

Perfect – mature, complete, grown up

A Grown-up faith is one that  

  • is RECEPTIVE to the Word of God 
  • is RESPONSIVE to the Word of God
  • is RESOLUTE on the Word of God
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