JAMES 1 – FAITH MADE VISIBLE

EVERYTIME WE ARE FACED WITH A TRIAL OR IN SUFFERING WE START TO BELIEVE OR WE DEFAULT TO 1 OF THESE 4 THINGS 

1.     WE ASSUME THAT THE WILL OF GOD IS SEPARATED FROM OUR TRAIL 

2.     WE ASSUME THAT A PERSONAL ERROR HAS INVOKED OUR TRIAL 

3.     WE ARE TEMPTED TO SUPPLEMENT TRUE FAITH WITH HEAD KNOWLEDGE 

4.     WE DEFAULT TO BITTERNESS

ANYTHING OF VALUE IS FOUND IN THE PROOF OF WITHSTANDING TESTING!

 LUKE 22:32

“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.”

GOD WILL ALWAYS TEST FOR THE SAKE OF PERFECTING YOUR FAITH

JAMES WAS WRITTEN TO ENCOURAGE & TO INSTRUCT BELIEVERS WHO WERE GOING THROUGH TRIALS AND TESTING

JAMES 1:1 nasb 1995 

Mark 6:1-4 6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”

John 7:1-5  After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

WHAT WAS THE ENCOUNTER THAT CHANGED JAMES LIFE???

1 Cor. 15:1-8 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born

GALATIANS 1:15-19  But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with [a]flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to [b]become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 

 ACTS 21:17-18 17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present.

THE FORMER DOUBTER BECOMES THE BOLD LEADER