Pastor Nate Brosher
Feb 15, 2024
James 1:1-4 NLT
1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the "twelve tribes"--Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
1. Slave – Bond Servant to God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Doulos – devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests, one who worships and submits to God.
James makes a paradox statement: “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
Faith that is tested will allow our endurance to grow.
“For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
James 1:5-8 NLT
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
2. Faith in God alone.
"When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.”
James says, “Our loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
KJV – “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways!”
James said, a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
Revelation 3:15-16 NLT
15 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
We must be steadfast, unmovable in our faith and walk with God.
James 1:12-15 NLT
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
3. Be Patient!
Temptation will rise frequently. We must recognize that “temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. Then these desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
James is telling us here, that we can’t let our desires entice us to make wrong and emotional decisions!
James 1:16-18 NLT
So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.