James
1:5-12 Asking God for wisdom RD
V.5-8
Intro:
This section is connected to the previous one – on trials.
A) Two things to do in trials:
#1 Rejoice in the trial because we know that it is
producing something
God uses the trial to mature
us, to work in us
B) But times of trials can
be like being in a Fog
1) Yesterday morning –after
studying went down to the beach to walk and pray
C) Left my house{ Sunny}
–Got to the beach foggy
1) Christian life can be
that way- Sunny days
D) But When you are in the
middle of the trial it is like the fog settles in
1) Prevents you from seeing
things clearly
E) Here is what James says
to do in those situations
#2
Ask for wisdom: - Not: God can you deliver me out of this – but God
I need wisdom in the midst of this
A) This is where we can
struggle though/ sometimes in the middle of the trial so miserable don’t feel
like praying
B) I want to crawl into bed
– put on a movie and eat a ½ gallon of ice cream and forget all my problems
C) James says:– Go to the
giving God, Ask for wisdom
For
James, the Christian teacher with the Jewish background, wisdom is a practical
thing.
A) It is not philosophic speculation and intellectual knowledge;
Aa) It
is practical, it is concerned with the business of living.
Kent Hughes: “Wisdom is the ability to see your circumstances from God's
perspective, the strength to stand firm trusting in the Lord, and the insight
to take appropriate actions. In wisdom you see, stand, and act.”
B)
Here is the Beauty of this: God says ask because I give liberally, without
reproach.
1) Means God gives wisdom
freely: without reservation "unconditionally and generously, without
bargaining."
C) Gives it freely and He is
not going to scold you –
1)”Oh it is you again – how
many times are we going to do this.”
D) Struggled – maybe first
reaction was to sulk – pity party – come to your senses
1) Go to God – He is not
going to say: I saw how you responded yesterday:
{enjoy the ice cream
We
have a gracious God who desires to give us that wisdom we desire.
A) He gave us His Son without reservation– Will He not freely
give us all things
B) Listen to these promises
Promises
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to
understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out
for discernment,
And lift up your voice for
understanding,
And search for her as for
hidden treasures;
5 Then you will
understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
From His mouth comes
knowledge & understanding;
2. Jeremiah 29:11-14 11For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, says the Lord,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and go and
pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me,
when you search for Me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, says the Lord,
3. Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,And
lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He
shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear
the LORD and depart from evil. It will
be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
So God
promises wisdom to those who ask – but there is a condition V.6 But let him ask in faith:
A)
God is saying If I am going to give wisdom without reservation I want you to
take what I am going to say without reservation.
B) Some pp don’t go to God –
because they really don’t want to know what
He is going to say.
1)
They are afraid He is going to tell them something they are not willing to
hear.
C) The root of the problem
really has to do with their view of God. Example
Suppose that you have a wealthy uncle
whom you have asked on occasions to help you with some pressing need.
You probably would be hesitant to appeal
to this uncle if another need arises. You would have to be at your last resort
to make a phone call to him.
And why do you have this attitude toward
him? It is because you believe that you will weary him by your asking or that
he might find you offensive by such a dependence upon him.
Listen:
If you are looking at God that same
way, then you have a faulty view of God.
A) Sometimes we want to see what God is going to
say first – see if we like it – before we respond
B) It doesn’t work that way: God will withhold
information if we are unwilling to receive it without reservation
C) Ask
without doubting: The word is used of Abe – He did not waver or stagger
at the promise of God
D)) God says I love you –
You are my Child come to me and I will give you wisdom but don’t stagger at the
promise of God
E) Don’t stagger at My love or at my ability to work in the midst
of your circumstances or situation
1) God declares I am giving
w/out reservation – I want you to receive w/out reservation
Now
the Person who doesn’t want to do that, James says is Double minded – Like the
waves of the sea
A) Up one day and down the
next: Emotional roller coaster - all over the place
B) Picture of instability:
Going to Crack !
C) So Ask in faith – God
will give wisdom without reservation -
Question: How does God Speak?
A) The word
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto my path. The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding
unto the simple. Psalm 119:105, 130
B) Building
project: that is where I am living – challenges – Financially – obstacles to
overcome
1) Perplexing:
C) Morning Devos: Joel 2:18
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new
wine.
2
Chron 24 Wed night
Other ways God speaks
B)
Words of Knowledge and wisdom – Wed nites
Proverbs
25:11
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.”
C) Through others
Where no counsel is, the people fall:
but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14
D) Where there is no counsel, people fall-or literally,
stumble—in the dark.
But as I talk with my brothers, as I share with
God’s people, the light shines through them in the counsel they give to me.
In our hearts
Paul says, “Let the peace
of Christ rule in your heart” (Colossians 3:15).
The
word translated “rule” is an interesting one. A term linked to sports, it was used with
regard to officiating or umpiring.
In other
words, the peace of Christ will call “Safe!” or “Out!” in your heart, giving
you light and direction.
Through circumstances{ Open
doors } Careful
Confirmation
thru the Scriptures
So
this is what James wants us to Know: In trials Rejoice – working in us
A)
Ask for wisdom: You don’t need to stay in
the dark –
B)
Ask of God who gives to all men freely – without resentment: You can’t wear Him
out
1)
Never tires of our asking
C)
Ask in faith: Willing hearts / yielded hearts / submitted and humble hearts
But
another thing to keep in mind in the midst of the trials is the heavenly
perspective: James is going to illustrate that in the following verses
Trials
common to all of us – Finances
James
1:9-11
Let
the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation,
because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the
sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and
its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his
pursuits.
To
the lowly brother – the poor – let him glory or rejoice in his exaltation
A)
The fact that although he might be poor in an earthly sense – poor in the eyes
of man
B)
He can be rich in the eyes of God:
1)
Jesus commended the poor widow – her two mites she gave more than them all.
C)
Church of Smyrna Revelation 2:9
"I know your works, tribulation, and
poverty (but you are rich);
D)
Phil / Smyrna – only ones of the
seven Churches who didn’t receive a rebuke
1)
Earthly Poor but rich in the eyes of JESUS
To
the rich – Here is the perspective that He wants them to have: Riches are
temporal
A)
Here today and gone tomorrow flower fades and the grass withers – so rich man
…. His pursuits
B)
Warning: If that is where his focus is – trouble
Can’t
take it with you
C)
Rich farmer: Not rich toward God
Flip
side is the poor and the rich can receive the same reward from the Lord – if
both are seeking the Lord in the midst of their trials
James 1:12
Blessed is the
man who endures temptation; trial
for
when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has
promised to those who love Him.
To the man who
meets trials in the right way there is joy here and hereafter. Endure= hang
tough
A) Word approved- describes
a metal which is cleansed of all alloy.
B) The weaknesses of his
character are eradicated; and he emerges strong and pure.
1) In this life he becomes a man of sterling worth
Yes
you are in trials and the good news is they will always be for the rest of your
life.
A) In the world you will
have Tribulation
{ Everyone is really edified now
B) But God says there is something
that can Change: and it is not your circumstances, it is you
C) Problems will be constant
from now until when the Lord comes back –
1)
That is not going to change
But what can change is your
PERCEPTION:
A)
Your heart / your mind/ your faith / your trust in God that in every
circumstance He is bringing it to an end that He desires
B) God wants to Change you:
He wants your heart to be a bigger container for faith, For Love
C) There is a reward: A
Crown
What is the crown? It is the crown of life; and that phrase means
that it is the crown which consists of
life.
A)
There is far more than one thought here.
B) In the ancient world the
crown (stephanos) had at least four great associations.
The
crown of flowers was worn at times of joy, at wedding and at feasts.
A) The crown was the sign of
festive joy.
B) Joy in knowing that the
trials come to Pass!
C)The crown was the mark of
honour and of dignity.
1)Pp
who have gone through life experiences – Crown they can speak into others lives
– earned that.
D)Couples who have raised their families in
the Lord – gone thru some trials –
1)Their words carry more
weight than the newlywed
The
instructions of parents can bring a crown of grace to those who listen to them (Proverbs
1:9);
Wisdom provides
a man with a crown of glory (Proverbs 4:9);
The
next two speak of future reward:
A) The crown of laurel leaves was the victor’s
crown in the games, the prize which the athlete coveted above all
B) Reward for faithful
service – Finishing the race
The
crown was the mark of royalty. It was worn by kings and by
those in authority.
B) Rule and reign with
Christ
Blessed are those who endure
trials – Reward
Those who make it thru,
rejoice!