1) Patiently Live as a worshipper (v7-12)

2) Prayerfully love as a community (v13-18)

3) Purposely Lead as a servant (v19-20)

1) Patiently Live as a worshipper (v7-12)

A. Patience rests with trusting in the truth (v7-11)

B. Patience refrains from pride and presumption (v9 & 12)

C. Patience receives from God-honoring examples (v7, 11-12)

Patience is modeled in the life of…

* Farmers = God is in control (5:7b)

* Prophets = God is faithful (5:10)

* Job = God is caring (5:11)

POLLUTION IN THE HUMAN HEART (4:1–5, 11–13, 16–17)

* The root of the problem (2): jealousy and selfishness, hedonism

*The fruit of the problem (1–5, 11–13, 16–17) - Constant fighting and quarreling (1) - Killing (2a) - Lack of genuine prayer (2,3) - loving the world (4) - slandering (11,12) - Boasting about the future (13,16,17) - Abuse of people and possessions (5:1-6)

SOLUTION FOR THE HUMAN HEART (4:6–10, 14–15)

1) Humility in God (4:1-10)

a. Refuse the Flesh by requesting from God (v1-3)

b. Reject the World by relying on God (v4-5)

Four dangerous steps that take the believer into a wrong relationship with the world:

(1) friendship with world, James 4:4

(2) being stained by the world, James 1:27

(3) love with the world, 1 John 2:15–17

(4) conformity to the world, Rom. 12:1–2

c. Resist the Devil by repenting in God (v6-10)

10 actions of repentance:

1. SUBMIT to God.

2. RESIST the devil.

3. DRAW NEAR to God & He will draw near to you.

4. CLEANSE your hands.

5. PURIFY your hearts.

6. GRIEVE 7. MOURN 8. WEEP 9. BE TURNED

10. HUMBLE yourself before the Lord.

2) Dependency on God (4:1-5:6

a. with People (v11-12)

b. with Plans (v13-17)

c. with Possessions (5:1-6)

HOPE: Four Certainties We Have With Jesus (1 Peter 1:3)

With Jesus, we have a GREAT MERCY.

With Jesus, we have a NEW BIRTH.

ith Jesus, we have a LIVING HOPE.

With Jesus, we have a RISEN LORD.

Mark 15:39 “And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!

1) I love you!

2) YES! I will go to the cross for you!

3) It Hurts!

4) I keep my promises!

5) I am innocent but died for your guilt!

6) You are guilty but can receive my innocence!

7) It is finished!

8) I give you purpose!

9) Eternal life starts now!

James 1 - we can be unshakable because of the wisdom of God

James 2 - we can be unshakable by faith in what we do.

James 3 - we can be unshakable with our speech.

Matt. 12:34 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” 

3 primary characteristics of an unshakable faith that speaks:

1) Faith Speaks with Maturity (3:1-5)

2) Faith Speaks with Consistency (3:6-12)

3) Faith Speaks with Purity (3:13-18)

KEY PHRASE - "the wisdom from above is first pure"

-   Purity has the right deeds (13-16)

-   Purity has the right seeds (17-18)

Application:

1. Pray - repent from your actions and receive God’s wisdom

2. Practice - list the ways you sin with your mouth: 

3. Parole - Put your tongue on parole. 

James 1 - we can be unshakable because of the wisdom of God

James 2 - we can be unshakable by faith in what we do.

James 3 - we can be unshakable with our speech.

3 primary characteristics of an unshakable faith that speaks:

- Maturity, Consistency, and Purity

Matt. 12:34 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” 

1) Faith Speaks with Maturity (3:1-5)

KEY PHRASE - "he is a perfect man" (v2) 

- maturity has accountability (v1) 

- maturity has authority (v2-3)

- maturity has agility (v4)

- maturity has ability (v5)

2) Faith Speaks with Consistency (3:6-12)

KEY PHRASE -"these things ought not to be so." (v10)

- Consistency has direction(6)

- Consistency has discipline (7-8)

- Consistency has delight (9-12)

Next week, we will focus on speaking with purity.

James, in chapter 2, warns us of the danger of being confused in the area of having a faith that is false!

4x in this section, James makes it very clear. 

James picks up on Jesus’ warning from Matthew 7:21

Paul also warned in 2 Corinthians 13:5

1. Faith is more than words (2:14-17) 

2. Faith is more than belief (2:18-19)

3. Faith is more than actions (2:20-26)

For a moment, examine your heart:

1. Has there been a time when I honestly admitted I am a sinner in need of God's grace & forgiveness?

2. Do I truly understand the Gospel (good news), that Christ died for my sins and arose again? 

3. Do I understand and confess that I cannot save myself?

4. Have I sincerely repented of my sins and turned away from sin and toward Christ? 

5. Have I trusted Christ and Christ alone for my salvation?

6. Do I enjoy an active, loving relationship with God through prayer, the Bible, and His Holy Spirit?

7. Has there been a change in my life? Though I am not perfect, do I desire to obey His word and grow in His ways? 

8. Am I living in such a way that others would not be surprised that I follow Jesus?

9. Do I love Jesus enough to tell others about His wonderful saving grace?

10. Do I enjoy the fellowship of God’s people and seek to worship God with the church often?

11. Do I look forward to the Lord’s return and will not be ashamed when He comes for me?

Psalm 139:23-24

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

1. We live to remove the darkness (2:1)

2 Cor 4:4, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 

2 Cor 4:6, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

2. We live to remove the distinctions (2:2-13)

* God condemns (v2-4)

* God chooses (v5-6a)  

2 Cor 8:9, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

* God calls (v6b-7)

* God corrects (v8)

* God convicts (v9-11)

* God commends (v12-13)

Paul points to a few realities of joy that bring unity:

1. We are partners (1:3-5) - Joy comes with a partnership

2. We are a work in progress (1:6) - Joy comes with progress

3. We are united (2:1-2) - Joy comes with unity

Paul calls us to unity in our thinking, love, passion, and purpose.

(v3-5) We are called to unite with the mind of Christ which is thinking with humility.

(v6-8) We are called to unite with sacrificial love.

(v9-11) We are called to unite with passion.\v9-11) We are called to unite with purpose.

…every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…

IN 5 WEEKS WE CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

For the next 5 weeks, leading up to Easter…

1. Let’s unite to pray for those who need Christ by name!

2. Let’s unite to invite every home between WLBC & Chestnut Hill to an Easter service!

3. Let’s unite to share the gospel with anyone and everyone we have the opportunity to!

4. Let’s unite to give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering to impact North America.

Go to wlbc.life/united