JAMES – THE NEW TESTAMENT

WISDOM BOOK

I. CENTRAL THOUGHT
IN THIS BOOK, JAMES IS NOT CONCERNED WITH
PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY MAKING YOUR FAITH WORK FOR YOU REGARDING THE MANY ENCOUNTERS IN LIFE.
II. GOD ADMONISHES PASTORS --
2ND TIMOTHY 4:2-5 (NIV)
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
III. JAMES BECAME A BELIEVER AFTER –
1ST CORINTHIANS 15:6&7 (NIV)
6 After that, he (JESUS) appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he (JESUS) appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
IV. READY???
JAMES 1:1 (KJV)
1 James, a (BOND-)servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
SERVANT: GREEK: "DOULAS" = SLAVE
JAMES UNDERSTANDING RE BOND-SERVANT:
DEUTERONOMY 15:12&13,16&17 (KJV)
12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
17 Then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
awl
NOTE: THE TWELVE TRIBES SCATTERED (GREEK: "DIASPORA") ABROAD == HENCE TO ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST – SEVEN CHURCHES
JAMES 1:2 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
NOTE: DEVELOPING AN INWARD STABILITY REGARDLESS OF OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCES!
JUDE 1:20&21 (NIV)
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
EPHESIANS 5:19&20 (KJV)
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
"JUST CAN’T AFFORD TO ABANDON YOUR "JOY"
REMEMBER: "JOY IS AN INWARD STABILITY THAT GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, FORTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST ON MY BEHALF HAS ALREADY WORKED IT OUT!!!!!"
YOUR JOY REWARDS YOU!
MATTHEW 5:11&12 (KJV)
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: . . .
1ST PETER 4:l2&13 (NIV)
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
JAMES 1:3 (NIV)
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (KJV=PATIENCE; ENDURANCE)
KNOWING = GREEK: "DENOSO" = TO GAIN THROUGH EXPERIENCING
NOTE: A TEST PUSHES YOU TO A LEVEL/PLACE YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN!