Faith at Work - James 1 - [The Proving of Faith]

Faith is the Center of the Christian’s Life John 20:30-31; Ephesians 2:8 Hebrews 11:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7

The Epistle of James Faith must work; faith must produce; faith must be visible Verbal faith is not enough, Luke 6:46 Mental faith is insufficient, John 12:42-43 True faith provokes action, Galatians 5:6

Faith endures trials James 1:2-11 “Trials come and go; faith meets them head on and develops endurance.” The discipline to remain joyful, Jas. 1:2; John 16:22, 33 Faith looks beyond the moment to eternity, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Testing of faith produces patience, Jas. 1:3-4

Faith endures trials James 1:2-11 The discipline to continually pray for wisdom, James 1:5-8 Humility to admit our lack and need, 1:5 Faith to ask God for wisdom, 1:5 Proverbs 2:6-9; Psalm 119:98 Faith that God answers, 1:5; Proverbs 8:17; 1 John 5:14-15 Ask in faith without doubt, 1:6-8

Faith endures trials James 1:2-11 The discipline to know that possessions test faith, James 1:9-11 Poor brother: Glory in the exaltation of Christ, Luke 1:52; 1 Cor. 3:21-23 (Eph. 1:3; 2:6) Rich brother: Glory in the humiliation of Christ, Philippians 3:7-8 “The Cross of Christ lifts up the poor and brings down the high. It is the great leveller of men.” (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures)

Faith understands temptation James 1:12-20 The blessing of resisting temptation, James 1:12 Approved: Tested, tried and shown to be genuine, Romans 5:3-4 Crown of life, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Faith understands temptation James 1:12-20 Temptation is common to us all, James 1:13-16; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 God is not the source of temptation, 1:13 Temptation: Internal (his own desires), External (enticement), 1:14 Outcome of yielding to temptation is sin and death, 1:15

Faith understands temptation James 1:12-20 Temptation is common to us all, James 1:13-16; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Warning, 1:16. Resist temptations to sin by… Remembering the gifts of God, 1:17 Remembering your birthright, 1:18 Controlling your heart, 1:19 (Col. 3:8) Producing righteousness of God, 1:20 (Titus 2:12)

Faith applies repentance James 1:21 The person of faith lays aside sin, 1 Peter 2:1; Colossians 3:5-9 Moral filthiness and all wickedness Faith does not find pleasure in sin, Ephesians 5:6-11 Deliberate decision of faith to meekly receive and implant God’s word, Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:16

Faith obeys God’s word James 1:22-27 The person of faith is a doer of the word, James 1:22 (Matthew 7:21-27) Vanity of hearing and not doing, Jas. 1:23-24 Blessed by doing the work, Jas. 1:25 Must combine knowing with doing, Jno. 13:17

Faith obeys God’s word James 1:22-27 The person of faith lives pure religion, James 1:26-27 Not one who thinks he is religious, but whose unbridled tongue reveals his deficient faith Deceives himself His religion is useless

Faith obeys God’s word James 1:22-27 The person of faith lives pure religion, James 1:26-27 A doer of the word who practices pure and undefiled religion (fears God) Inspects the needs of the helpless and helps (compassion, kindness and love), Micah 6:6-8 Inspects himself and guards himself from sin (2 Corinthians 13:5), Matthew 6:1-4

Faith is put to the test every day! Faith at work overcomes the world! 1 John 5:3-4