2019-01-27 James 1:1 Time To Grow Up

TIME TO GROW UP (James 1:1) January 27, 2019 Read James 1:1 – The church in Jerusalem began with 120 disciples in AD 30, but in its early months it multiplied exponentially. Thousands came to faith in Christ, causing the disciples to be slow to follow the Lord’s final instruction in Acts 1:8, “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” They were having trouble getting out of Jerusalem, let alone getting to the ends of the earth. But persecution intensified. A night in jail and a slap on the wrist suddenly became execution in Stephen’s case. So, Acts 8:1: “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” So now Xns are going, but the apostles hang back. Then it got hotter. Herod Agrippa (AD 37-44) had James killed and imprisoned Peter. So now the early 40’s AD the apostles at last begin to take the gospel to the far corners. With the apostles gone, leadership in Jerusalem fell to Jesus’ half-brother, James. Reports filtered back that dispersed Xns were struggling with their faith -- experiencing crushing trials. Many were not living lives consistent with their faith. Others had become ensnared in materialism, and James decided something must be done – some written instruction – thus, the first book of the NT written sometime between 44 and 49 AD – the book of James. James has been called the Proverbs of the NT because of its emphasis on conduct as opposed to theology. It’s authoritative without being dictatorial. There are 54 imperatives in 108 verses. So James is about conduct – putting faith into action. Many issues are addressed, but the overriding theme is Grow up! Don’t be spiritual children; seek spiritual maturity! These issues are still with us today -- too many spiritual babies. Warren Wiersbe wrote: “After over a quarter century of ministry, I am convinced that spiritual immaturity is the number once problem in our churches.” So James’ message is just as necessary, and just as relevant as the day it came from his pen. Do you claim Christ as Savior? Then it’s time to grow up, and here’s how. Here’s how to put your faith to work – here’s where the rubber meets the road. Two points today – the Messenger and the Message. I. The Messenger 1 Who is James? He can’t be the Apostle James – brother of John. He was executed prior to this. James – son of Alphaeus was part of the 12, but he is so little known that he is unlikely. The consensus is, that leaves James, the halfbrother of Jesus who is almost certainly the author. There are several references in the gospels to Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Mt 13:55, Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us?” During his lifetime his brothers didn’t believe in Him -considered him “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21). But the resurrection of Jesus changed everything. They were at the first prayer meeting (Acts 1:14). After his conversion Paul specifically set out to see Peter and “James, the Lord’s brother” (Gal 1:19). James is identified by Paul along with Peter and John as “pillars” of the church (Gal 2:9). He played a prominent role in a council in Acts 15 to determine whether converted Gentiles must comply with OT Jewish regulations. This James is almost certainly the author of this book. No one else could have written so authoritatively while simply identifying himself as “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Actually, this intro is amazing. If Jesus were your brother how would you introduce yourself? For me it would be Dave, a servant of God and brother of the Lord Jesus. We’d pull rank. We’d play on that connection. Not James. He describes himself as a servant, literally slave, of God and slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s a challenge to our prideful natural inclinations, right? James exalts Jesus here by His name. Jesus is the earthly name by which Jas had always known Him. But to that he adds “Christ” – Anointed one – Greek version of the Hebrew Meshiach – Messiah. He now sees Jesus as the long prophesied deliverer of his nation – the one who combines in one glorious person the offices of prophet, priest and king – the supreme one who speaks for God, atones for God and rules for God. Messiah. But more than Messiah – Lord, Jehovah, one with God. James now knows his youthful companion with whom he ate, slept, worked and played was God in the flesh. The Jesus he once wanted to kill as an embarrassment he now reveres as Lord of all. He proudly labels himself not brother but slave! What humility and reverence. We need people like that in God’s service. God-exalters, not self-exalters! Spurgeon said, “I know brethren who, from head to foot, in garb, tone, manner, necktie, and boots, are so utterly pastoral that no particle of manhood is visible. One young sprig of divinity goes through the streets in a 2 robe; another of the High Church order has recorded it in the newspapers with much complacency that he traversed Switzerland and Italy, wearing in all places his biretta [4-sided ecclesiastical cap]; few boys would have been so proud of a fool’s cap.” Self-promoting preachers ought to be defrocked. We’re not here to promote self; we’re here to promote Jesus. James got that. But it’s not just pastors. It’s anyone putting personal interests above the interests of others. Phil 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” One man didn’t get a leadership position in his church – decided he better lobby for it. But one day as he walked, it was almost like the Lord spoke audibly: Jer 45:5: “And do you seek great thing for yourself? Seek them not.” Jas had a lot more reason than us to pull rank. Instead, he called himself a slave. God says in Isa 48:11c: “My glory I will not give to another.” Our calling is to serve in humility for a Lord who served us by dying for us. Self-promotion is deadly. II. The Message So what about the message? This book covers a lot of ground. But given the theme of spiritual maturity, the five chapters might be summarized as follows. A. Grown Ups Are Productive Under Trials (1) – Most of us hate tests. We hated them in school and we hate them in life. Yet James 1 shows us trials are tests from a loving Father, intended to grow and perfect us. How productive they are depends on us. So he says in Jas 1:2, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” That tells us 1) Tests are coming, like it or not. Protesting them is a waste of time. Trials are a part of life. And 2), the way to benefit is to meet them in faith, not whining, complaints, outrage and bitterness. Someone has wisely said, “With every trial we either get bitter or better.” Our reaction determines which. Here’s a parable. A king had a faithful, servant upon whom he loved. One day while hunting, the servant handed the king his weapon, but it misfired and blew off the king’s finger. Immediately the servant said, “Well, I don’t know how, but that’s a good thing.” The king said, “You idiot. How could this be good? Guards, take him away, throw him in jail and lose the key.” Five years, the king was captured by cannibals. They determined to eat him, but as they put him in the pot, they noticed his missing finger, which, by their 3 rules, made him unfit to eat so they released him. Arriving home the king said to his servant, “I’m sorry. You were right. If my finger hadn’t been shot off, I’d be dead right now. I’m sorry I jailed you for all these years.” The servant replied, “That’s okay. It was a good thing.” “A good thing? How could jail be good?” The servant replied, “Well, if I hadn’t been in jail, I’d have been with you when the cannibals captured you and I’d be dead by now.” For God-lovers, tests are for our good and others around us. Grown-up faith makes us productive under testing. Job 23:10: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” So can we – by faith. B. Grown Ups Practice the Truth (2) – The message of Jas 2 is simple – Genuine faith obeys – which is not to say we are saved by obedience – but that obedience is the natural fruit of true, saving faith. Luther said, “Justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that remains alone.” If the faith is real, lifestyle changes will substantiate that fact. Jas 2:26: “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” Faith without works is DOA, just like a body without a spirit is dead. Like the ag book salesman. Seeing a farmer sitting on his front porch, the zealous young man approached and said, “Sir, I have here a book that will tell you how to farm ten times better than you are doing it now.” The old farmer stared for a moment and then replied, “Son, I don’t need your book. I already know how to farm ten times better than I’m doing now.” He just wasn’t acting on what he knew. Grown-up believers act on the truth they’ve committed their life to. That’s how you can tell they are real. They don’t just know truth; they practice truth, better and better every day. C. Grown Ups Purify Their Tongues (3) – The tongue is tough, isn’t it? James 3:6: And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.” Ever consider all the ways you can sin with your tongue – criticism, anger, dirty stories, innuendo, profanity, gossip, lies, impatience, slander, cutting remarks. No wonder it is a fire. It’s a stick of dynamite just waiting to go off. James 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” So, grown-ups routinely wash their mouth out with the soap of the word and purify their speech. A woman confronted about her quick temper defended herself: “Well, it passes; it is done with quickly.” Billy Sunday replied, “Yes, and so is a shotgun blast.” In other words, words may be quickly spoken and done with, but they can never be retrieved, and they leave devastation in their wake. Grown-ups know that and work diligently on purifying their tongues. 4 D. Grown Ups Pursue Tranquility (4) – Jas 4 covers a lot of ground, but the predominant theme is peace – with self, with God and with others. Grown-ups aren’t looking for a fight; they’re looking for peace – not at the expense of truth or morality, but as opposed to useless, wrangling. The key is Jas 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” Remember the old bus commercial: “Leave the driving to us”? James is saying, “Leave the driving to God.” Don’t get caught up in covetousness, conflict, worldly pleasures. Don’t make plans as tho you alone were in control. Jas 4:15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” It makes a world of difference when we pursue tranquility based on God’s sovereignty. Grown-ups have childlike faith. They truly believe in their Father. Broom Hilda is a cartoon character about 3 feet tall – all hair and face. In one strip she approaches a wishing well and yells down, “I don’t want anything.” Then she steps back and says, “I just thought you’d enjoy knowing that there is one satisfied person around.” Are you a satisfied person? Spiritually mature people are. They’re not fighting to get ahead or protect rights. They find tranquility in trusting an infinitely wise and loving Father. E. Grown Ups Patiently and Prayerfully Triumph (5) – Are you rich? Great, but note for long. Riches won’t save you; only God can. Do you have troubles? Wait patiently. Vindication is coming – in God’s time. Are you suffering? Pray. Are you cheerful? Praise God. Are you ill? Call the elders, confess your sins and pray. Healing is on its way, in God’s time. Victory is on its way in God’s time. Triumph is on its way – in God’s time. Grown-ups are prayerfully patient because they know, it’s just a matter of time until God acts. But triumph is sure. Isn’t that good to know? Early Xns suffered horribly and triumphed gloriously. Persecution brought maturity. Perhaps we need some of that. The Roman emperor Julian in AD 360 outlawed Xnty and vigorously sought to destroy it. Passing by an old Xn one day Julian asked, “Where is your Christ now?” The old man replied, “Making a coffin for the Roman emperor.” Indeed He was. Two years later Julian was killed in battle, the last non-Xn emperor of the Roman empire. His last words were said to be, “Oh, Galilean, thou hast conquered.” Grown-ups see the big picture. Adversity can’t bring them down; they know in the end Christ wins! II Cor 2:14: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.” It’s huge to know you win in the end. Mature Xns live triumphantly now in light of the victory that on its way. Whatever Jesus gives us in the meantime is a bonus for which we are thankful. 5 Conc – So are you living like a grown-up? I love the lyrics to a song Amy Grant did a few years ago: “I know a man, maybe you know him, too. / You never can tell, he might even be you. / He knelt at the altar and that was the end. / He’s saved and that’s all that matters to him. / His spiritual tummy, it can’t take too much. / One day a week he gets his spiritual lunch. / On Sunday he puts on his spiritual best / And gives his language a spiritual rest. / He’s been baptized, sanctified, redeemed by the blood. / But his daily devotions are stuck in the mud. / He’s knows the books of the Bible and John 3:16. / He’s got the biggest King James you’ve ever seen. / I’ve always wondered if he’ll grow up some day. / He’s momma’s boy and he likes it that way. / If you happen to see him, tell him I said / He’ll never grow if he never gets fed. // He’s just a fat little baby. / He wants his bottle and he don’t mean maybe. / He’s sampled solid food once or twice / But he says doctrine leaves him cold as ice. / He’s just a fat, fat, fat, fat, fat, fat baby! We don’t want to be a bunch of fat little babies, do we? James is going to help us grow. It’ll be an exciting journey. Wherever we are on the road to maturity, we can all do better. We still have lessons to learn. James is going to help us. My brother Mike, #6, was about 3 years old, sitting on his stool at our dining table one Saturday night and not wanting the watered down vegetable soup with was always our end-of-the-week meal. So one of us told him, “Mikey, eat your soup. It’ll help you grow up big and strong.” Then we went back to whatever tom-foolery was occupying us at the time. Fifteen minutes later little Mikey blurted out, “I’m sitting here on my stool getting bigger and bigger and bigger.” Well, as it turns out it wasn’t quite as fast as he thought – and not quite as efficient as he’s the only one of 8 boys under 6’ as an adult. But you get the idea. James is going to feed us. Depending on how well we obey, we’re going to keep growing up. Can’t wait. Let’s pray. 6