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Watch the full video: https://rumble.com/v4jwo73-james-1-introduction.html

Watch the full video: https://rumble.com/v4jwo73-james-1-introduction.html

As we close out our series on James, we’re embarking on a recap to keep in mind the key points of this book. We learned that we are to consider it joy when we encounter trials. they are opportunities sent by God so that we can demonstrate our spiritual maturity. We need a strong body of believers around us to keep us accountable and to help us develop that maturity. In James 2, we learned that we shouldn’t show favoritism based on someone’s status. We are to view one another the way God sees us. Then, we moved right into “faith without works is dead”, one of the more misunderstood concepts in the Bible. It doesn’t mean that salvation is based on works, rather, the works show that faith is in action. In James 3, we learned about guarding our speech. What we say makes an impression on the people around us. Our speech ought to match the faith we claim to have. In James 4, we learned about edifying each other and not placing ourselves above others. This keeps us in a place of humbleness, which God will favor. When we are humble we are less likely to slander other people, which James also warns against doing in chapter 4. James 4 also reminds us that our life is short-lived like a vapor or mist. That thought is very humbling. In chapter 5, James addresses the rich and corrupt rulers of that time. He warns them that God sees what they are doing and unless they change, there will be severe consequences for their actions. Then James switches his focus back to believers and finishes with exhortations on how to live in the world until the Lord returns. As we close out this series, we hope it has been a blessing to you.

We have come to the final part of James chapter 5. Here, James gives an exhortation to believers. First, he tells the believer to be patient in the midst of suffering. In the previous verses, James just finished going on a rant against the rich corrupt rulers. It is hard to be patient in the midst of that. But, Jesus modeled that behavior for us when He was silent before His accusers. When we are patient in oppressive times, it shows the world that we trust our Heavenly Father to work things out. It also shows the world the true difference between justice and revenge. Next, James warns the believers not to grumble and complain about each other. When you are putting up with everything going on in your life, It is hard not to complain. Everyone reading this has probably done it. But this issue has to do with a spirit of bitterness we can develop when we are just beat down by the world and we feel like everything is against us. However as we previously read, we can trust God to work things out. We can choose to trust Him and not be bitter and have a more effective testimony about how God helped us through a tough time. As we reach the conclusion of James, there have been many things that James has said not to do. So, James ends with some things we can do including prayer, singing songs and confessing sins. As we read in James previously, we are to live our faith out in actions like these. It’s a perfect ending to this powerful book in God’s Word.

This first section of James 5 continues the warning we saw at the end of James 4. In it, James goes on a rant against rich people who are corrupt and abuse the people in their employ. At the end of chapter 4, we saw James speaking against the worldly behaviors of rich people in the church. Now, James is speaking to those outside the church. Why the sudden shift? It has to do with how James knew the letter would be delivered. Back in those days a courier would hand deliver the message to the gates of a city. The city's gates were where the elders and leaders would gather to conduct official business. When James’ letter arrived believers would have come to collect the letter and very likely would have started reading it out loud. James likely had this in mind writing this section of his letter. James wanted to make it very clear to the corrupt rulers who were listening that their actions had not escaped God’s notice. He wanted to warn them that there would be severe consequences because they were oppressing their people and acting corruptly. Interestingly there is no message of hope like there are in other areas of James. James perhaps recognized that such people were utterly corrupt and could not be convinced to change their ways. Unfortunately, we still see this happening today.

As we continue our series on James, this section could be summed up in two points: don’t slander and don’t brag. Both of these come from a human sense of pride which James warns against over and over again. He continues to address matters of the inner person, which is the person that God sees. First, what is slander? In short, it is making a false statement about another person. That is something that is rampant in our culture today. James says when you slander someone, you are judging them and putting yourself above that person. Judging from a place of superiority is never good. Then there is boasting or bragging about things you are going to do in the future. Here, James is speaking to the wealthy class in the church. Those people could afford to pick up and move to another city to get a business advantage. James warns against boasting about this, because life is short, like a mist that evaporates. He encourages the reader to be humble by allowing God’s will in future plans.

In this section, James is warning believers against worldly behaviors, mainly quarreling and fighting. Believers in Jesus Christ are called to display the characteristics of Christ. However, when we fight among ourselves, we can send the wrong message to people around us. James says, that if we choose to be friends of the world, we become enemies of God. That feels like James is hitting us across the head with a two-by-four. It’s a lot of heavy stuff! What does it mean to be a friend of the world? How are we supposed to handle this? Join us as we walk through this passage.

Spiritual maturity is the central theme for the entire book of James. There are many aspects of spiritual maturity. In this part of our James series, we dive into where to get wisdom. You can get this by either following an earthly worldview or a biblical worldview. In a biblical worldview, true wisdom comes directly from God. The more we know the word of God the better we will be at gaining this wisdom and applying it directly to every bit of our everyday lives. Without it, we fall for lies and deception.

0:00 Intro 0:48 Joke 2:26 Worship 6:24 Announcements 9:44 Pledge of Allegiance 12:44 Worship Continued 30:35 Message 1:08:12 Closing Worship What we say influences what happens around us. The tongue is small but controls everything. If we allow the Holy Spirit to direct it, it can do great things. It can bring great blessings to your life and the lives of others. Taming the tongue can become easier the more spiritually mature we are. Spending time in the Word of God and listening to His teaching deepens that relationship. We can’t tame the tongue merely by our will. We have to allow God to work on us.

0:00 Intro 0:05 Worship 15:38 Message 1:08:29 Closing Worship James teaches that God will strictly judge teachers of the word of God. They set the example for the rest of the body of Christ. For this reason, no one should become a pastor simply because of legacy, or just because you can. It must be a true calling with a spiritual gift. Be prepared to face higher scrutiny and rely on the Lord to guide and work on you. No one is flawless, which is why Jesus’ sacrifice is all the more remarkable and important. Many flaws stem from what we say. What we say reflects who we truly are. As James says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our speech can truly change our lives and the lives of others.

0:00 Intro 1:19 Worship 5:53 Announcements 11:10 Pledge of Allegiance 14:37 Joke 15:31 Worship Continued 31:15 Message 1:27:05 Closing Worship When you think of the word “Atheism”, what does that mean? By definition, it means without God. Some might think it means without faith in anything. But, everyone believes in something, the difference is what that something is. As Christians, we believe in God, who redeemed us through the blood of Jesus Christ. At the founding of our country, nearly everyone accepted that as the foundation on which everything was built. Today, that foundation has been nearly lost. We see increased racism and other evil ideologies popping up everywhere because our moral foundation has shifted. If we live out our faith in every sphere of life, as described in James, even though the world may hate us, we can shift back to living on the true foundation, the Word of God. Truth should never be sacrificed on the altar of kindness.

0:00 Intro 3:00 Worship 6:12 Announcements 9:41 Joke 16:54 Pledge of Allegiance 17:34 Worship Continued 33:55 Message 1:18:36 Closing Worship We’re going to unpack the concept of faith without works being dead. That part of James 2 is often misunderstood. Yes, we are saved by faith but, our actions should reflect that faith. In the midst of a fallen world, God calls us to live differently. To live according to truth. To walk by faith and show works that prove that faith. The church is called to be salt and light. Without those qualities, the word of God says it is to be thrown out, utterly worthless. But living by the word of God is hope and salvation! Join us as we continue our James series.

0:00 Intro 5:28 Annoucements and Jokes 19:14 Pledge of Allegiance 20:58 Worship 35:03 Message 1:20:17 Closing Worship Faith without works is dead. That is a heavy statement. What did James mean by this? Does faith count for nothing? James’ own words say it best, “Show me your faith withoutyour works,and I will show you my faith bymy works.” But, we read elsewhere that we are saved by grace through faith. So, which is it? Join us as we wrestle with this topic.

0:00 Intro 4:50 Pledge of Allegiance 5:16 Worship 26:52 Message 1:09:07 Communion and Worship James 2 opens with a warning about partiality in the church. When people visit a church, no one should be treated differently because of their appearance or social status. The church is meant to reflect God’s impartial love for all people. Christ intended his church to be unified and not divided.

0:00 Intro 2:47 Worship 6:11 Announcements 13:46 Pledge of Allegiance 15:12 Joke 17:30 Worship 25:29 Message 59:32 Closing Worship Does the Book of James advocate salvation by works? That is an interesting question for the believer to wrestle with. The Book of James is a user's manual for the process after someone becomes a believer. The message of salvation in the Bible is very straightforward. We are saved by grace through faith. But what happens after that? That is the process of sanctification. It is the believer’s response to what Christ has done because we would want to draw closer to Him.

0:00 Intro 4:54 Annoucements and Jokes 15:30 Pledge of Allegiance 17:05 Worship 31:16 Message 1:13:33 Closing Worship What is the Book of James? If it fits into a genre, it would be the action genre. James is all about faith in action. Faith in Jesus saves us, but our works mark us as a followers of Jesus. A Christian’s life of faith should produce fruit or good works. James is a practical guide for the life of a Christian, tackling how to apply the teachings of Jesus. James raises our awareness of how much we need Jesus because James contains a lot of do’s and don’ts. It makes us painfully aware of our shortcomings and should make us see that we can’t do it on our own.