Sermon Tone Analysis

We all interested in how to grow and develop ourselves...How do we become a better version of ourselves, Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally...

That is a premise of many books you find in book stores... Dummies books.. It's human nature to want to take the path of least resistance... Yet the opposite is true -- the way that we grow is resistance...

The ways that you grow intellectually is through challenging the mind...

When I was in seminary we had learn Hebrew and Greek we had to memorize large sections of scripture...

We had to memorize large amount of information and the average class required 4000 pages of reading..

It was rigorous stuff... Having to write a Thesis was laborious --

What was the point?

Stretch and grow us... Increase our capacity for learning..

It works the same with muscles - we have resistance training... muscles only grow with resistance.

T/S We are going to the book of James to see how God can use resistance in our lives to build stronger Faith.

He is sometime known as James the just.

The book of James can be compared to the book of proverbs, it was possibly compiled by someone else who took these key teachings of James and put it into this collection.

James is a practical book on how to live your life every day.

It is possible that the book of James is collection of some of the wise saying of James after his death.

JPerspectiveames is a book of wisdom on how to live our lives in the world.. James is a practical book on how to live your life every day.

James is the half brother of Jesus, He is much respected leader of the church in Jerusalem.

He is sometime known as James the just.

It is possible that the book of James is collection of some of the wise saying of James after his death.

JPerspectiveames is a book of wisdom on how to live our lives in the world.. James is a practical book on how to live your life every day.

J

T/S We are going to the book of James to see how God cans use resistance in our lives to build stronger Faith.

We are going to be in a sermon series in the book of James.

James is the half brother of Jesus, He is much respected leader of the church in Jerusalem.

He is sometime known as James the just.

The book of James can be compared to the book of proverbs, it was possibly compiled by someone else who took these key teachings of James and put it into this collection.

James is a practical book on how to live your life every day.

T/s There are three

1.

Resistance Produces Personal wholeness

James is writing to the Jewish Christians were living outside of Israel who were scattered through the dispersion or the diaspora… The early church went through great persecution that led to them living throughout the Roman empire.

James letter is one that is timely and relevant…

The Christians would be experiencing anxiety, discouragement and discouragement.

James gives wisdom of how not only overcome trials but how resistance can make us the stronger...

- You can imagine that under such trials and test that one would be quickly discouraged.

James gives wisdom of how not only overcome trials but how resistance can make us the stronger...

He gives two devices to make resistance work for them.

Count it all Joy

The word Count means to consider or to Reckon… it is an accounting term.

When you encounter temporal trials of various kinds.. Reckon or put it put it on the credit side of the ledger.

Soon as you encounter a trial — consider it joy… or pure joy… this kind of joy speaks of an extended state of joy rather than immediate feeling of happiness or pleasure.

This is more than just than Power of Positive thinking - - A number of years ago Norman Vincent Peele wrote the book the power of Positive thinking… kind of took off in the church circles… This is not mind over matter.. James talking about the kind of Joy comes out of knowledge… the world know is ginosko to know experientially…

Joy comes out of knowledge… the world know is ginosko to know experientially

being positive.

This is not mind over matter.. Joy comes out of knowledge… the world know is ginosko to know experientially

He shows us how this works

2. Apply your knowledge of Scripture

Reckon it Joy...accounting term..

Joy is the subject..

When you encounter temporal trials of various kinds.. count it put it on the credit side of the ledger... count it JOY

When you hit a trial… what should come to mind is the Spiritual principle that the testing of your faith produces steadfast or endurance.

the Spiritual principle that the testing of your faith produces steadfast or endurance.

Endurance is the power to withstand hardship or stress.. speaks of inward fortitude that is necessary to get through something.

Endurance expresses a growing determination in the face of adversity, based on hope.

Expresses a growing determination in the face of adversity, based on hope.

The plural Greek verb here, peripesēte, indicates that James is speaking to the entire church rather than individual believers.

He encourages a community of believers undergoing trials for their faith, not just individuals experiencing personal difficulties

steadfast or endurance - is the power to withstand hardship or stress.. speaks of inward fortitude that is necessary to get through something.

is the power to withstand hardship or stress.. speaks of inward fortitude that is necessary to get through something.

verse 4 is incredible statement..

It is a mandate - Let steadfastness have it full effect.

What is true of the physical body is also true of the spiritual man...

We grow through resistance training... the only way to build muscles is to have resistance...

We are trying to escape the very thing that is going to make us stronger... Resistance training is uncomfortable.

What is true of the physical body is also true of the spiritual man...

We grow through resistance training... the only way to build muscles is to have resistance...

We are trying to escape the very thing that is going to make us stronger... Resistance training is uncomfortable.

illustration

application

T/s God uses resistance to build our faith

1. Resistance Produces Personal wholeness

2. Residence Produces a Powerful Prayer life

The Christians in the Diaspora were struggling to understand the nature of the trial... What is the point?

What are you teaching me?

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.

What happens when you lack wisdom.. mandate is to let him ask...

We come to God with our petitions and make them known.. We can have confidence in approaching God.

How to approach God..

Nature of Who God is...

God gives generously to us with out criticism...

He is not going to despise us... nothing to big or too small.. the point is to bring it to him.

Confidence in prayer is that God will give wisdom... answered prayer

Condition to answered prayer

Answered prayer Takes single minded Faith.

Ask in faith - Petition needs to accompany faith.. word pistis (trust)

trust (faith) n. — strong confidence in, and reliance upon, someone or something; often with the object of trust understood.

How do you have this confidence... Faith is putting to rest your doubts.. key to answered prayer is faith.. Prayer of faith saves the sick.. Problem with doubt - double minded -- it is like the sea and is tossed from one point of view to another... Doubt always second guesses... Don't expect Doubt and faith to work together it is like water and oil they don't mix....

God does not answer doubt prayers... cross your fingers kind of prayers... Faith has certainty that God will answer.. Don't pray weak prayers and wonder why God didn't answer.

Double minded man is unstable...

illustration

application

T/S

3. Resistance Produces the right Priorities

What happens is they loose their focus

james 1;9-

Boasting speaks of your priorities in life… What you consider to be important… The temptation of the lowly is to think to meager of themselves… I’m unworthy of grace.... this kind of thinking pulls down… Lowly need to boast in the exaltation… Christ has elevated us to right hand of the father… seated us in high places… He make my feet..

On the other hand the Rich need to walk in humility… It is easy for a Rich man to trust in their personal wealth or resources… and so the wisdom here is the priority of the wealthy should be humility… consider others as more important..

Be careful what you are boasting in or trusting in.

James goes to nature to teach the lesson… Flowers come and go… Beauty perishes.. Richmans puruits will fade away… something that seems a priority in the moment over time will become nothing...

Lasting Blessings comes in Character and steadfastness..

The measurement is the same for the Rich and the Lowly... Steadfastness… Becoming Christlike under pressure..