Jas 2:14-26

Jas 2:14-26
Works will not get us into heaven. Eph 2:8-9, Rom 6:23.
Faith, hope, and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is what gets us into heaven.

Dead faith:
1. There is a faith that does not save. v17, without Jesus Christ. Heb 11:1

Deceiving faith:
2. Faith without works is dead faith, because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart. v18-19, Mt 7:22-23.

Dynamic faith:
3. We do not impress the world by our profession of faith, but by our practice of faith. v20
4. The empty vessels make the greatest sound. v21 Abraham proved his faith through his actions.
5.
6. How we live reveals what we believe. v21-22, Mt 5:16. We live to glorify God. Do my actions glorify God?
7. There is a maturing relationship between faith and works. Eph 2:10
8. Each step of obedience in our long lives strengthens our faith, and deepens our relationship with God. God's desires that intimate relationship with us. v25 Rahab was considered righteous similarly to Abraham because of her works of faith. Josh 2:8-9
9.Real faith, dynamic faith, is the only faith that produces eternal life and lasting change. v26

Jas 2:1-13

1. Favoritism slights the glory of God. v1.
2. Favoritism stems from selfish motives. v2-3.
3. Favoritism sides with a worldly point of view. v5-7.
4. Favoritism speaks loudly against the love of God. v 8-11. Our treatment of others reflects and affects our love of God. All sins are equally serious in that they break our relationship with God, and cause our need for a Savior.
5. Favoritism shrinks in the presence of mercy. v 12-13. Mercy - kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted. We are called to show mercy and give love and forgiveness.

Who do I favor and who do I look down upon? Who do I think I'm better than?

The easy thing to do is judge, the hard thing to do is show mercy. We ALL need Jesus Christ.

Jas 1:13-18

Temptation
1. The source of temptation is not God. Jas 1:13, 1 Jn 1:5, Isa 6:3. Don't blame God for your temptation. Gen 3:8-13. Temptation comes from our own evil desires v14. We are enticed, lured.

2. The process of temptation. Desire, deception, then disobedience. v15. 2 Sam 11:1, Prov 7:21-23.

3. How do we fight against temptation?
- Pray. Mt 26:41
- Guard your heart. Prov 4:23, Phil 4:8-9 Temptations are very dependant upon the things you do.
- Hide God's Word in your heart. Ps 119:9-11
- If all else fails, turn and run! 2 Tim 2:22, Gen 39:6-12
- Don't give up. God loves us in spite of our failures. 1 Cor 10:13, Gal 6:7-9

4. God offers something better. Jas 1:16-18

James 1:1-12

1. Trials are part of the Christian experience. Jas 1:2
2. Trials are used to develop maturity. Jas 1:3-4 (trials are a pathway to maturity)
3. Trials make us more aware of our need for God. Jas 1:5. We need to be careful that we don't become self sufficient. We need to ask God for wisdom. Jas 1:6-8. We need to believe and not doubt. John the Baptist doubted, Mt 11:2-3; Mk 9:21-24. Double mindedness is not being honest about our feelings and our doubts or questions, it's acting like enduring is okay when it's not or putting our faith in ourselves.
4. Trials visit every zip code. Jas 1:9-11. It's very easy to look at other's lives and think everything is good for them, but trials come to everyone. Don't compare your life to others' lives.
5. Trials lead to great victory. Jas 1:12. Love God, pass the test, receive the crown.

When God doesn't make sense: When God doesn't show up

John the Baptist preached against Herod marrying his sister in law. Herod put John in prison. Mk 6:17-28, Mt 11:2-6, 11. John's circumstances made him question who Jesus was, and why Jesus wasn't saving him. You will be blessed by God if you do not stumble when God doesn't do the things we want Him to do. 

Let the cross define your view of God, not your circumstances.

1. It's common for those in crisis to feel great frustration with God.

2. We can trust Satan to show up in our time of crisis. Jn 8:44, 1 Pet 5:8

3. We lack the capacity to grasp God's infinite mind or the way He intervenes in our lives. We cannot fully understand God. Ecc 11:5, Isa 55:8, 1 Cor 13:12

4. God is infinitely loving and kind. Ps 95:7, Jn 3:16, Rom 8:37-39

5. When it seems God hasn't shown up, it doesn't mean He's absent.

When God doesn't make sense: Restored Faith

1 Kings 19:1-18
1. When you find yourself in a valley, don't forget your mountaintop experiences. v1-5 Sometimes circumstances put us in the valley, sometimes we put ourselves in the valley.
2. God is always ready and willing to gently restore us. v5-9 We can't live a Godly life on sheer emotion. We need rest, and God speaks to us then.
3. After a spiritual encounter with God, do not forget: Satan WILL show up. v10 Elijah bought into the lie: "I am the only one left."
4. God's often comes in the quiet, do not miss it. v11-14 Elijah recognized the whisper,  but failed to recognize the blessing in the middle of it. God changes us most with a still small voice.

What now??
v15-18
1. Remember who God really is.
2. Remember who you really are in Christ. (Listen to the voice of Christ)
-I am a child of God. Jn 1:12
-I am fellow heir with Christ Rom 8:17
-I am Redeemed Eph 1:7
-I am victorious. 1 Cor 15:57
-I am dearly loved. Col 3:12
-I will never be forsaken or forgotten. Heb 13:5
3. Allow him to restore your soul and faith. Ps 62:6
Give thanks!
4. Trust His plan and go!

When God doesn't make sense: Even if...

Daniel 3:1-30 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace.
1. When God doesn't make sense, remember who He is! They believed in God and His ability to do miracles.
2. When God doesn't make sense, say "Even if !" Don't doubt God no matter your circumstances. Their obedience was not continent on God delivering them or acting the way they thought He should act. Worship God in the fire. Sometimes God takes us home to heaven, and that's even better. v25 Jesus was right there in the fire with them. Isa 43:1-3
3. God uses fire for our good and His glory. v27-28 They came out of the fire unbound.
4. "Even if" faith is powerful. v29-30