We’ve Spent 10 Days,
- LOOKING at James 1:5-12, 8 verses, to correctly see what God says.
- Learning how to use GODcha.
- Becoming familiar with some of the different skills to help us correctly see what God says.
Today, we want to Wrap it up!
- Review all we have LEARNED.
- LIVE it out! Apply it to our lives.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Do You Remember
Why James Wrote This Letter?
You should know this by now.
If not, it’s a touch away in GODcha’s OVERVIEW.
Before We Begin, Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, as we come to Your Word today to bring everything together, please help us to hear what You are saying. Grant us understanding and help us walk away in such a way that we will live in the light of these mighty Truths. Thank you!
We’ve Been LOOKING at James Chapter 1
Did you realize we have been LOOKING at Chapter 1 by breaking it down according to it’s paragraphs?
We first looked at v1,
then v2-4,
then v5-8, and
then v9-12.
I just thought I would bring this to your attention.
It’s so much easier to see what God says when you take smaller bites like this.
It helps narrow your focus to see the flow of the Chapter.
TIP: In your hardbound Bibles Paragraphs are designated by –
an indentation;
a paragraph symbol; and/or
a bold face number.
Check it out!
We Have Finished LOOKING at James 1:5-12
We have gone directly to the Word of God to see what God has to say about:
our need for His wisdom to persevere under our trials.
So now, let’s take all that God has taught us and connect the dots to bring it all together.
To refresh your mind and put everything into CONTEXT what will you do?
Yes, read James 1:1-12 once again with a questioning mindset.
CONTEXT
We see CONTEXT thus far is that:
We know our trials come from God to test, to prove our faith.
We know true faith will persevere to the end.
We are to consider it all joy.
We know the trials bring endurance.
We are to let God work and make us perfect.
Keep in mind James’ purpose in writing this letter.
We know his emphasis is on:
a faith that does the Word,
vs.
a faith that is dead and useless.
Open GODcha’s Deeper Discovery
Let’s Check Out GODcha’s
#4 LEARN Question
4. When we are going through God ordained trials, what do we need and what are we to do?
What happens to those who persevere under trial?
Try to Answer on your own. And then we will Answer together.
To Answer, Let’s Sum Up What We Have Discovered.
What Have We LEARNED
We LEARN:
In Our Trials We Need Wisdom
In order to consider it all joy, endure, let God work, and respond in the right manner, we need wisdom.
God is the source of wisdom.
We are commanded to ask God in faith for wisdom.
God will give wisdom generously and without reproach.
There is no wisdom, that is needed for a believer’s perseverance through a trial, that is ever withheld from a believer who asks!
We LEARN:
We are NOT to doubt God’s power or His purpose and will.
If we are habitual doubters, double-minded [wavering between 2 opinions] we can expect to RECEIVE NOTHING from the Lord.
A doubter characterizes an unbeliever, or a weak believer who is acting like an unbeliever.
We LEARN:
Whether Rich or Poor
Trials bring us to the same level of equality.
We are to glory (rejoice) in our position, in Christ.
We are to glory in our humiliation.
Trials humble us.
We LEARN:
There is a Blessedness and a Crown of Life for us if we persevere under our trials, proving our faith.
STOP! I Have to Just Interject Here!
Don’t you love knowing that you can see exactly what God ‘says’ and understand?
God calls us sheep, you all.
Do you know anything about sheep?
They are dumb.
So sorry! I don’t mean to be insulting, but they are.
Our Wonderful Good Shepherd didn’t make it hard for, we, His sheep!
Oh praise Him for all He is showing us!
Let’s Scope Out the #4 LIVE Questions
DO NOT skip this! It will all have been a waste of time if you don’t hear and respond to God.
LISTEN…
When facing a trial, who do I run to?
a. Do I obey the command, to ask God for wisdom believing I will receive what I need for the trial? How does that wisdom come?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
LISTEN…
b. What am I willing to do if I am a habitual doubter, double-minded, and unstable?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
LISTEN…
c. Whether rich or poor, do I glory in my high position, being in Christ? How am I being humbled in my trial?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
LISTEN…
d. How will I persevere through my trials to receive the crown of life?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Awesome!
Do you see: that being a ‘doer of the Word’ is one who endures through trials?
Again I want to emphasize that nobody told you what the text says or means.
Nobody told you what to believe or think.
You didn’t guess or come up with speculations to answer the questions.
You LOOKED at what God said, discovering what He means.
You Discovered Truth for Yourself!
That’s a Wrap!
Meditate on all that God is showing you.
Hopefully you are beginning to experience God in a fresh new way as you LISTEN to Him speak to you personally.
What have you learned about yourself?
Is there some action God is requiring of you?
Do you need to confess and repent?
Record this Review in Your Notes
Oh, as we bring this day to a close, record this review in your Notes, and journal your encounter with God.
You will be so glad you did.
Video Tutorial > Notes Tutorial>
Let’s Pray the Truths We Have LEARNED
Perhaps…
OH FATHER GOD, as we draw this section to a close, we thank you for our trials. We thank you that we can consider it all joy, knowing You are bringing about endurance. Help us to trust You without hesitation, letting You do Your work in our lives making us perfect, like Christ. Heavenly Father, teach us to come to You and ask for wisdom believing You will grant it to us generously. Oh the cry of my heart is that none of us would ever doubt or waiver. Father, whether rich or poor forgive us for boasting in anything but You. May we glory in the true riches that are only found in You and our humbling. May we truly rely upon You and not any human resources. Oh Gracious Heavenly Father, may we remember that You will not give us any more than we can handle, and with the trial You will always provide a way of escape. Father, may all these mighty truths sink down deep into our hearts and minds, and may they come to our recall often. Father, may our love for You enable us to persevere through our trials, proving our faith to one day receive the crown of life that You have promised. We ask these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
Rest tomorrow and worship God!
Meet you in a couple of days: to LOOK @ the next paragraph, James 1:13-18.
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