The Book Of James – Week 9

 

James 5:13-20

13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. 

19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. NLT

 

Are you suffering? Pray!

James 5:13a 13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. NLT

 

Are you happy? Praise!

James 5:13b Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. NLT

 

Psalm 3:8 Victory comes from you, O Lord. NLT

Be Transparent and Pray! 

James 5:14-16a

14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. NLT

 

Transparency releases the grip of sin. 

Transparency is the antidote to hypocrisy. 

Transparency inspires others to be transparent. 

 

Proverbs 28:3

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. NLT

 

James 5:16b-18

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. NLT

 

Reach your world!

 

James 5:19-20

19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. NLT

JAMES - 8

James 5:1-6   Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.    NIV

ATTIITUDES OF A GIVING LIFE 

Don’t hoard it greedily but steward it wisely.

Don’t handle it deceitfully but distribute it honestly.

Don’t spend it selfishly but share it generously. 

Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."    NIV

Proverbs 11:24-25  One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.   NIV

ATTITUDES FOR ME TO WORK ON

James 5:7-12  Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.     NIV

ACTIONS OF A GIVING LIFE 

Be patient.

Persevere. 

Show compassion.

Be consistent. 

 

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ~Mother Teresa

 

ACTIONS FOR ME TO TAKE

JAMES - 7

MESSED UP MOTIVES LEAD TO MESSED UP LIVES.

James 4:1-3    What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.  3 And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.    NLT

 

OUR SELFISH DESIRES CAN LEAD TO WRONG ACTIONS AND WRONG PRAYERS.

 James 4:4-5   You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.  5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?    NLT

 

RECOGNIZE OUR NEED FOR GOD AND REPENT.

James 4:6-10   6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.  9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.   NLT

 

DON’T JUDGE OTHERS.

James 4:11-12   11 Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?    NLT

 

SURRENDER OUR PLANS TO GOD.

James 4:13-17  Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city. We will spend a year there. We will buy and sell and make money.” 14 You don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist that appears for a little while. Then it disappears. 15 Instead, you should say, “If it pleases the Lord, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you brag. You brag about the evil plans your pride produces. This kind of bragging is evil. 17 So suppose someone knows the good deeds they should do. But suppose they don’t do them. By not doing these good deeds, they sin.    NIRV

JAMES - 6

James 3:13-18   If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.  14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.     NLT

EARTH’S WISDOM                                                                               

James 3:15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.   NLT

It is earthly.                                                                                                   

1 Corinthians 1:20  Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?    NIV

It is sensual.                                                                                                     

Titus 3:3-5 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.  NIV

It is demonic.                                                                                            John 8:44 You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.  Amplified

WISDOM FROM ABOVE                                                                             

James 3:17  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.    NLT

It comes from Godly principles.                                                                

1 John 3:3   All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.     NIV

It acts with Godly motives.                                                           

Philippians 2:1-5  Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.   NIV

It is intent on serving Godly purposes.                                                

Matthew 5:9   Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.   NIV

Matthew 5:16   In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.   NIV

Psalm 111:10  Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.   NLT

JAMES - 5

James 3:1-12   Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring.     New Living

The tongue is small but powerful.

The tongue is a bridle.

The tongue is a rudder.

The tongue is a spark.

The tongue has been aproblemsince the day we were born. 

The tongue is humanly untamable.                   

The tongue is twisted.   

 

HOW TO TAME THE TONGUE

Psalm 19:14   May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  New Living

Pause. James 1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.NLT

Ponder.

THINK before you speak:  

T – is it True? H – is it Helpful? I – is it Inspiring? N – is it Necessary?                                                                                                     K – is it Kind?

3.Pray.     Matthew 12:34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.   New Living

Philippians 4:8   And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.    New Living

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!     NIV

Psalm 141:3  Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed.     Living Bible

JAMES - 4

James 2:14-16   What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?  New Living

 3 LIFESTYLES OF FAITH

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-- unless, of course, you fail the test?   NIV

FAITH THAT IS DEAD.

James 2:17-18   So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds."       New Living

ï Lip service not lifestyle. 

ï Leaves not fruit.

FAITH THAT IS DECEIVED.

James 2:19-20    You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?     New Living

ï Knowledge with no change. 

FAITH THAT TAKES ACTION.

James 2:21-22  Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.   New Living

ACTION FAITH

1. ACTION FAITH STEPS OUT. 

James 2:22-24   You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.     New Living

2. ACTION FAITH SPEAKS OUT.

James 2:25   Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.   New Living

Joshua 2:9   "I know the Lord has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror.”       New Living 

3. ACTION FAITH WORKS OUT.

James 2:26   Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.     New Living

JAMES - 3

James 1:27 - 2:13    Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. 1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"—well, 4 doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? 5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? 8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws. 11 For the same God who said, "You must not commit adultery," also said, "You must not murder." So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. 12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.   New Living 

 

REALIZE THAT FAVORITISM IS SIN.

James 2:1  My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

James 2:9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL MISS THE MARK.

James 2:10-11   For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws. 11 For the same God who said, "You must not commit adultery," also said, "You must not murder." So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.    

RECEIVE AND GIVE GOD’S MERCY.

James 2:12-13   So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

James 2:13  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.    ESV

PUT TO DEATH HATRED AND PREFUDICE.

Romans 2:4  Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?     New Living

THE BOOK OF JAMES – PART 2 

James 1:19-27   Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26 If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.     New Living 

Truly listen, close your mouth and chill out.

James 1:19-20  Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 

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Clean out the junk.

21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Just do it.

22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 

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Be set free.

25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

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Once again, shut your mouth.

26 If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.  

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Help those who are in need.

27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

THE BOOK OF JAMES

Trials                                                                                                         

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.  NIV

1. Recognize what’s really going on.         

James 1:2-3  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.   NIV

2. Cooperate with God’s growth process. 

James 1:4   Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.   NIV

3. Ask for God’s help.                    

James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  NIV

 4. Keep the faith.       

 James 1:6-11  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.     NIV

James 1:12    Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.    NIV

Temptations 

1. Recognize the source of temptation. 

James 1:13  When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.  NIV

2. Understand the process of temptation. 

James 1:14-15  But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  NIV

Temptation                          Moving toward sin

Act of sin                               Death

 3. Learn how to overcome temptation.                     

James 1:16-17 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.   NIV

4. Fall in love with Jesus. 

James 1:18  He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.   New Living