Sermon Tone Analysis

We’re going to *continue* teaching on the *book of James* which we *started* on *two weeks ago*.

*I) **Last time* we *began* on the *introduction* to the book of James.

*1 point that I want to make clear* *is the author of the book of James*.

*A) *There is *overwhelming evidence* that the *author to the book of James* is *not* the *disciples James*, *but* *it is the Lord’s brother who is also named James*.

*1) **This same James* *becomes the pastor at the church of Jerusalem*, *which is spoken of as being the headquarters to the church* of the Lord Jesus Christ.

*a) **James* *being the pastor* of this church *is a very influential man* *in* the *Christian realm*.

*b) *It *seems likely* *that James*, *the Lord’s brother* *is the author to this book*.

*B) **Finding out the exact date* that this letter was written *is a hard task*.

*1) **Flavius Josephus* who is one of the *1st century historians* *records* *James dying* as a martyr *in the year 62 A.D.*

*a) *It *seems* very *likely* that *James wrote this book* *somewhere between 45 A. D. and 48 A. D*..

*2) *It is also *very likely* that this *book of James* is *one of the first written books of a Bible*.

*C) *In *James 1:1* it reads, from this we can see that *James was writing to the 12 tribes*, *meaning to 12 tribes of Israel*.

*1) **Some have said* that *this was to be taken in more of a spiritual sense*, *referring to the new and true Israel* *which would be the church* of the Lord Jesus Christ, *Jew and Gentile*.

*2) *The *Word of God* is *written for all*, it is *not given to any private interpretation* *or* *for any private group*, *but at this time in history most of the church were Jews*.

*a) **This* is *written* *only 12 years after Jesus was raised from the dead*.

*D) **The style* that this *letter* was *written* is *not really a letter at all*.

*1) **It begins with the normal greeting*, *but the style* in which is written *is more of a lecture*.

*2) **Apparently* *James wrote this letter* *so that it would be read in the churches as a sermon*.

*E) **Some have said* that this *book of James* *has no definite direction to it*, *no central theme*.

*1) **But as we said last time*, this *book of James* does have a *central theme* and that is the *“Maturing of the saints*, *and* *a walk of Holiness.”*

*2) **James* *seems to deal* *with* *every aspect of the Christians lif*e.

He brings up the *topics like*; *what a Christian is*, *what he does*, *what he says*, *what he feels*, *and what he has*.

*II) **In the opening verse*, *James refers to himself as*, *“A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”*

*A) **He never refers to himself as the Lord’s brother* *because a brother in the flesh amounts to nothing*.

*1) *Turn with me to *MARK 3:31-35*.

*a) **Jesus very clearly said*, *that a brother or sister in the flesh amounts to nothing*, but *the true brother and sister* *are those who do the will of God*.

*b) **Sometimes*, even *many times*, *our brothers and sisters* *in the Lord* are *closer to us* *than* our *brothers or sisters* *according to the flesh*.

*(i) **Really we are a family*, *we’re the family of God*.

*2) **Again* *James refers to himself* *as* *“A servant* *or* *BOND SLAVE of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”*

*a) **James does not refer to himself as the Lord’s brother*, *but he does refer to himself as a bond slave of* the Lord *Jesus* Christ.

*B) *Let’s read *James 1:2*.

*1) **Immediately James starts off* *in his sermon* *by telling his brothers and sisters* *to count it all Joy* *when they fall into divers temptations*.

*a) **The early church* was *facing* *many tests and trials* which came by the way of *persecution*.

*b) **But James said* we should *face these trials with all JOY*, *the NIV* translation *says* that *we should face them with* *“PURE JOY.”*

*(i) **The test and trials* that *WE face should be confronted* *with a joy that is full*.

*(ii) **This joy is not a* *MIXED JOY*; *such as* *joy mixed with some grief or sorrow*, *but it is pure joy* *or* *as* the *King James version* *puts it*, *“Count it or consider it ALL JOY.”*

*2) **One thing* that *want you notice* is that *James never said* that *we should consider it* *all joy* *FOR* *the trials*.

*a) **But* *what he was saying* is that *when we are going through different tests and trials* *we need to continue to express* the *CHARACTER AND CHARACTERISTICS OF JOY*.

*C) **James 1:3*

*1) *The word *“PATIENCE”* in this verse *refers to* *“STEADFASTNESS, or PERSEVERANCE.”*

But *I like* this *one definition* even a *little better* which is found in the *Strong’s concordance* and they say this word *“PATIENCE”* would be *better translated* *“PATIENTLY ENDURING.”*

*2) **James is telling us* that *we can count all joy* *when we fall into these different test and trials* *because* *these* *tests and trials* *we face* *builds* *perseverance*, *and* *steadfastness* *causing us to patiently endure*.

*a) **We can count all JOY AND PERSEVERE* *because we know that there is* *“Laid up for us a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day: and not to be only, but unto all them that love his appearing.”*

*b) **We can count it all joy because “We press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”*

(*Philippians 3:14*)

*D) **Now* *in verse 3* *James said, “The trying to your faith worketh patience.”*

*1) **Faith is very similar to gold* *it stands the test of fire*.

*No matter how hot the fire gets pure gold endures*.

*a) **It is the same thing with true faith*, *it will endure* *no matter how hot the test or trials get.*

*b) **True faith develops* *“PERSEVERANCE, ENDURANCE, or STAYING POWER.”*

*III) **James 1:4*.

*A) **James begins to explain* *why we can count it all joy* *when we fall into various of tests and trials*.

*1) **We all ready said* *from verse 3* *that the tests and trials will begin to develop perseverance* *in our lives*, *but that’s only the beginning.*

*B) **The Word* *“PATIENCE”* *in* *verse 4* *again* *means* *“PATIENTLY ENDURING.”*

*1) **You could say that it means, “PATIENTLY CONTINUING TO STAND.”*

*2) **This verse says that* *“PATIENCE”* *or* *“PATIENTLY CONTINUING TO STAND”* *will bring about it’s perfect work*.

*a) **The first perfect work* that *it says it brings about* *is* *that you will be* *“PERFECT and ENTIRE.”*

*b) *The words *“PERFECT and ENTIRE”* *mean* *“MATURE and COMPLETE.”*

*3) **Learning how to stand in faith* *and* *how to believe God for his promises* *without wavering*; *regardless how a situation looks*, *or* *how long it seems to take before we see change*, *is a true sign of MATURITY and COMPLETENESS.*

*C) **What is this maturity*, *which is true faith and perseverance* *going to produce?*

*1) **The manifestation of God’s promises in your life*.

*2) **James says* *if we’re walking in perseverance* *and in true patience* *which is a byproduct of true Christian maturity* *we will be* *“LACKING NOTHING.”*

*a) **We’ll be lacking nothing in our maturity level* *and* *we’ll be lacking nothing* *concerning the promises of God*.

W. O. L. C. C. Thursday, Feb. 2, 1998