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James 1:5-18

2/23/2020

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: James (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

James 1
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.

OK Google… Alexa… Give me knowledge.

Wisdom - Refers to the knowledge of God’s plans and purposes and the ability to live accordingly.
Wise people can identify the nature and purpose of their trials and understand how to overcome them.[1]
Wisdom helps us understand how to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory.
Someone has said that knowledge is the ability to take things apart, while wisdom is the ability to put them together. [2]
The first step of having wisdom is realizing that you don’t have enough wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6 - For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.[3]
God gives it, for God is a good giver; God gives generously, which means that he gives without mental reservations, that he gives simply, with a single heart.[4]
“Ungrudgingly” – no condemnation… regardless of your previous record.
Believers seek wisdom from others.
That is good advice.
3 reasons why people go to others for wisdom:

They go to others because they know the person has wisdom and they trust the person.
They go to others because it is the shorter route. It is easier to find someone who knows God than to seek out God on their own.
They are looking for someone to agree with what they have already determined they want to do.

Do you really want help/wisdom or are you looking for an agreeing opinion?
A person with wisdom will understand they can’t help the latter and move on to others.

6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

“Ask in faith” – The greatest enemy to our prayers being answered is our lack of faith (unbelief).
Wisdom is not based on “feelings”… “I feel that…”
Emotions and feelings are not always true.
Today’s society uses their feelings, emotions and opinions to formulate who their God is.
I get to choose what my God would want for me.
It is not based upon knowing the heart of God, but based upon selfish feelings & opinions.
If those people, who are tossed about with emotions/feelings go to one who has wisdom and solid in their faith… they better be seeking help.
The doubter will have an understanding of who God is what He does for them.
But when they get hit with a huge wave, everything they thought they knew about God changes.
One with wisdom, will understand that the same God who stood with them at the wedding alter is the same God who stands with them when it all falls apart.
One with wisdom, will understand that the same God who stood with them at the birth of their child is the same God who stands with them when the story doesn’t play out like we expected it to.
One with wisdom, will understand that the same God who stood with them at the first day of exciting new career is the same God who stands with them when that opportunity comes to an end.

7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
(A heart that wants to believe.)

Tozer – “Probably nothing else bothers the earnest Christian quite so much as the problem of those dry spells that come to him occasionally, no matter how faithfully he tries to obey God and walk in the light. He can never predict them and he cannot explain them. And there lies his difficulty.
It might comfort one who finds himself in the middle of an emotional desert to know that his experience is not unique. The sweetest and holiest saints whose feet have graced this earth have at some time found themselves there.… It is good to know during such an internal drought that it has been a common experience with the saints.…
Such times demand that we exercise faith. Moments of great spiritual delight do not require much faith; if we never came down from the mount of blessing we might easily come to trust in our own delights rather than in the unshakeable character of God. When it seems that our watchful Heavenly Father withdraws His inward comforts from us sometimes, we will hopefully learn that Christ alone is the Rock upon which we must repose our everlasting trust.”[5]

9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, 10 but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.
(A surrendered will)

The Message – James 1:5-11 - If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
9–11 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.[6]
When I hear it read like that, I just start thinking about people…
Twitter is that scorching heat today.
You quickly move from prosperity and popularity to the societal target of attack.
But let’s stay focused on the context. What was going on here when James was writing this letter?
The Christian Jews were being persecuted by the Jews.
Life with Jesus… life without Jesus… the prosperous life fades to nothing.

12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

The crown of life is eternity with God/Jesus.
Achieved through belief in the Messiah.

13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.

James asserts that God is not responsible for temptation or for the sin that might result from it.[7]
There is nothing in God to which evil can make an appeal.[8]

14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

Let’s get this straight.
I sin
It is not my nature to sin
Born with Adam seed, given a new heart.
I don’t think you can hear this enough. Identity.
But it goes further.
1 Thess 5:23 – Body, soul spirit.
Flesh suit contains a brain
Flesh patterns
Thoughts
Choice
Holy Spirit taken up residence - Romans 8:11

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. [9]

God loves you and has provided a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.[10]

[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 1:5). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 340). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Pr 2:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Davids, P. H. (2011). James (p. 29). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
[5] Tozer, A. W., & Eggert, R. (1998). The Tozer Topical Reader (Vol. 1, p. 156). Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread.
[6] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Jas 1:5–11). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
[7] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 1:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[8] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 822). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 1:5–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Co 10:13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Harmony of the Gospel

2/16/2020

Teacher: Matt Tully
Series: Stand Alone

Matt's Notes

- John 14:6 Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the Way
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 Jesus is the Truth
- John 17:17, John 1:1 Jesus is the Life
- Genesis 2:9 Born into this world we all create our own version of Good & Evil. Being born again, our thinking CAN be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).
- John 14:10 Jesus lived a life of dependence on the Spirit for the words and deeds. He demonstrated what our life could be this side of the cross.
- Hebrews 4:9-11 Sabbath rest is not about a day of the week. It’s about reliance on Him for direction, energy and words.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 Tap into His strength through weakness.
- Romans 8:1 Don’t let condemnation hinder you. It is not from Him.
- Hebrews 4:15 Jesus can relate to our battles. His sweat became like drops of blood in Gethsemane.
- Hebrews 4:16 We can go to Him when we’re in need. That’s all the time because we always need Him.
- Luke 15:20 As the prodigal son returned, his father ran at him on the road and hugged him. That’s a wonderful picture of our Father.

James 1:1-4

2/9/2020

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: James (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

50 AD
Crisis in the Jewish Churches of Palestine

In Palestine, the dispersed Jewish believers are suffering persecution from unconverted Jews and Gentiles in their cities.
They are particularly being oppressed by the affluent.
The limited agricultural land cannot support a growing population. So those deprived of land are forced to become hired laborers.
As a result, rich landowners are robbing some Christians of their land.
Some are being hauled into court by wealthy men who scorn their faith.
At the same time, the influx of Hellenistic goods is causing a class of wealthy merchants to emerge.
Consequently, some of the Christians are seeking opportunity to become wealthy as traders.
Those in the church who are wealthy are being shown undue favoritism because the poor are afraid of offending them.
In addition, the Jewish Christians hear vague rumors about the council in Jerusalem.
They hear that the Gentiles and the Jews have positioned themselves against the Law of Moses, under the influence of Paul of Tarsus.
They hear a very corrupted version of Paul’s teaching.
They are told that Paul is preaching that good works have nothing to do with salvation.
Believing that this is now the position of the Twelve, some of the Jewish Christians begin to live loose and worldly lives.
They are hurting one another with uncontrolled and critical speech, discriminating against the poor, and giving preferential treatment to the rich.
Some of the worldly believers are ambitious to be teachers.
There is also sickness in the churches.
The crisis reaches the ears of James (the Lord’s half-brother), and he is burdened to address it.[1]

James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:
Which James is this?

James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John. He was one of the most prominent to bear the name. He was a fisherman called by Christ to follow and become a disciple (Matt. 4:17–22). He and his brother John were nicknamed by Christ “sons of thunder” because of their impulsiveness (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:51–56). James was the first of the disciples to give his life for Christ. He was killed by Herod in 44AD (Acts 12:1–2).
James, the son of Alphaeus. He was another of the disciples (Matt. 10:3; Acts 1:13), but very little is known about him. Matthew (Levi) is also identified as “the son of Alphaeus” (Mark 2:14), and some students conjecture that the two men might have been brothers. There is no indication that this James wrote the letter we are about to study.
James, the father of Judas the disciple. He is an even more obscure man (Luke 6:16, where “brother” ought to be “father”). This Judas was called “the son of James” to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot.
James, the brother of our Lord. He seems to be the most likely candidate for author of this letter. He does not identify himself in this way; humbly, he calls himself “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
What qualified James to write such a letter was not his physical relationship to Jesus but his spiritual relationship.[2]
That Jesus had brothers and sisters is stated in Matthew 13:55–56 and Mark 6:3, and one of His brothers was named James. (By “brother,” of course, I mean half-brother. Joseph was not our Lord’s father since He was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God.)[3]
James and the other brothers did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry (Mark 3:31–35; John 7:1–5).
Yet we find our Lord’s brethren in the Upper Room praying with the disciples (Acts 1:14).
What effected the change from unbelief to faith? First Corinthians 15:7 indicates that Jesus appeared to James after His resurrection!
This convinced James that Jesus truly was the Savior, and he, in turn, shared this knowledge about Jesus to the other brothers.[4]

This letter is attributed to James, the half-brother of Jesus –
Mark 6:3 - Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.[5]
Galatians 1:19 - But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.[6]
James had a different mission than Paul. Whereas Paul was considered to be a church planter in the Gentile regions, James was ministering to the Christian Jews that were scattered outside of Palestine.

In Acts the brothers of Jesus were among the disciples awaiting the Spirit at Pentecost (1:14).
When Peter was delivered from prison, he requested that this James be alerted (12:2–17).
James became dominant in the Jerusalem church in Acts.
He seems to be chief among the elders in Jerusalem at the first council of the church (Acts 15:12–21).
At his initiative the letter to the Gentile Christians was drafted (Acts 15:23–29).
By taking Paul’s side in the controversy, James thwarted the Judaizing opinions prevalent in the Jerusalem church.
Indeed, James is shown as Paul’s ally here and was among the elders who affirmed the results of Paul’s last missionary journey (Acts 21:18–19).
The problem of Paul’s apparent “law-breaking,” however, was broached by James, not as something James believed but what others believed who were zealous for the law. This conservative movement was threatening the unity of the church.
The accounts in Acts show James’s prominence in the early church and his fascinating and positive relationship with Paul.
The situation at Galatia was tense, but nothing in the story should be taken to imply a rift between Paul and James or the Jerusalem church.[7]
There were many Christian Jews in Jerusalem who still held to the Old Testament Law (Acts 21:20).
The temple and its services were still in operation, and the full light of the Gospel of God’s grace had not yet dawned.
We who have read Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews might be prone to judge these early believers; but we must not.
They were saved people, but they were still in the shadows of the Law, moving out into the bright light of God’s grace.
While there may have been differences in degrees of spiritual knowledge and experience, there was no competition between Paul and those who directed the Jerusalem church (Gal. 2:1–10).
We have no record in the Bible, but tradition tells us that James was martyred in 62AD.[8]
The story is that the Pharisees in Jerusalem so hated James’ testimony for Christ that they had him cast down from the temple and then beaten to death with clubs.
The story also relates that James died, as did his Savior, praying for his murderers, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[9]
All of these problems had a common cause: spiritual immaturity.[10]

Imperatives of James:

We must be born again
We must examine ourselves with God’s Word
We must choose to walk by the Spirit (obey)
We must be prepared for trials & suffering

We must measure our spiritual maturity through the Word of God.

James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Since an attitude of service is what distinguishes biblical leadership, there is no contradiction between service and leadership.[11]

To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad.
Greetings.

The Dispersion – “scattering of seeds”
When the Jewish believers were scattered in that first wave of persecution (Acts 8:1, 4), it was really the sowing of seed in many places; and much of that seed bore fruit (Acts 11:19ff).
Acts 8:1-3 1 Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.[12]
Christian Jews scattered throughout the Roman Empire would have needs and problems of their own.
Being Jews, they would be rejected by the Gentiles; and being Christian Jews, they would be rejected by their own countrymen.[13]

There are four essentials for victory in trials:
1) A joyful attitude
2) An understanding mind
3) A surrendered will
4) A heart that wants to believe.[14]

TRIALS AND MATURITY
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,

Trials are coming…
John 16:33 – 33 “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” [15]
I’ve got news for you: Satan fights us, the world opposes us, and this makes for a life of battle.[16]
James did not say that a believer should be joyous for the trials but in the trials.[17]
If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us.
If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to “count it all joy.”
If we live only for the present and forget the future, then trials will make us bitter, not better.[18]

3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Romans 5:3-5 - 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. [19]

4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

(A surrendered will)
“Mature” (teleioi), often translated “perfect” or “finished,” is coupled with “complete” (holoklēroi, from holos, “whole,” and klēros, “part”) to give the idea of perfected all over or fully developed in every part.[20]
God wants to make us patient because that is the key to every other blessing.
The little child who does not learn patience will not learn much of anything else.
When the believer learns to wait on the Lord, then God can do great things for him.
Abraham ran ahead of the Lord, married Hagar, and brought great sorrow into his home (Gen. 16).
Moses ran ahead of God, murdered a man, and had to spend forty years with the sheep to learn patience (Ex. 2:11ff).
Peter almost killed a man in his impatience [21]
In dealing with crisis… I have discovered that urgency is not always the answer.
I am not the answer to your problem. We may help you with a solution, but I am never the answer to your problem.

Call me… but know that your faith is being tested and you grow in maturity and wisdom through your patience.

[1] Viola, Frank. (2004). The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. (p.87). Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers.
[2] Moo, D. J. (2000). The letter of James (p. 48). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 335). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 335). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 6:3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 1:19). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, p. 41). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 335). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 335). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 336). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, p. 53). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 8:1–3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 335). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[14] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 337). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[15] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 16:33). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 338). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[17] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 820). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[18] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 338). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[19] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 5:3–5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[20] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 821). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[21] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 339). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Jesus Through the Valley w/ Ross King

2/2/2020

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy & Ross King
Series: Stand Alone

James 1:5-18

Rusty's Notes

Harmony of the Gospel

Matt's Notes

James 1:1-4

Rusty's Notes

Jesus Through the Valley w/ Ross King

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