An Entire Christian
James 1
I. God goes to great lengths to make us what we ought to be
A. You count tribulation to be joy by knowing what tribulation produces
1. Illus:I get excited about accomplishing something, but it takes great diligence andpersistence to get something done and I often am inconsistent or sporadic andthe outcome shows it!
2. But God is very thorough, relentless, when it comes to training up his child. (Heb12:6)
3. How is a person trained? How is a dog trained?
4. You have been despising his working in your life and that is what you say that youwant.
a. Like paying a personal trainer and refusing everything they say
B. Joy comes when you get the product
1. To get the product, you have to gothrough the process
a. Diamond
b. A baby that is born
c. A caterpillar to a butterfly
2. But he says here to count it joy “when you fall” 1:2
a. You must determine your joy before you get the product by recognizing the processthat God uses
b. You endure soreness before you are strong bc you know what it is producing
C. What is the product that he is refining? 1:3
1. A football coach develops strength, agility and skill,
2. A trainer develops dog needs obedience,
3. God develops our faith 1:3
a. It is much more precious than that of gold that perisheth (1 pet 1:7)
b. The quality that pleases God – heb 11:6
c. The faith that produces works – jms 2
d. Faith that causes you to depend on him
II. His process
A. Trying of your Faith
B. produces patience – of character that helps you persevere thru temptation
C. that works to make you whole 1:3-4
III. Results(1:4)
A. You lack nothing –
1. Illus:an army of one
B. A person at war is anything but “an army of one” – it is one that is powerful because they know how toutilize and call on backup that they know they can trust in
1. That one in the army is only strong when in sync with the rest
C. Faith makes us lack nothing by showing us where we can go and depend on everything
D. You can be perfect, entire, and lack nothing, not because it is all in you, but that you have found where it is! And where you can depend upon it!
E. And that is the faith that he wants to build, where you have a problem and don't reach into your self and panic because of the lack and limited supply, but where you have a problem and say, “I know where to find that, its right over here, where I have learned to depend!” that is the faith he wants to build, and he will always be there tosupply.
F. But he has to take us through these problems that are over our head before we will ever look beyond ourselves!
G. We say, “I cannot, but you can. And you will.”
IV. Specific examples - Some of God’s processes to try your faith (divers temptations)
A. “I don't know what to do!” – you lack wisdom 1:5
1. he wants to give you wisdom
B. “I don't have any money!” – rich is made low 1:10
1. he wants to supply your need
C. “I cant take it anymore!” – you are tempted 1:12
1. he wants to give you strength to endure and a crown of life
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