After a concise, humble, heartfelt intro, James launches straight into his fast paced, power packed epistle.
In a few short verses, starting with joy and
ending with lacking nothing, James gives a summary of our journey through
James, and the Christian life.
It looks like this:
James
1:2-3
Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of
your faith produces patience
During trials, our faith is tested.
If we choose to obey and count it all joy, we
pass the test, and patience is produced.
4
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may
be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If we endure (patient with patience) we become perfect
and complete, lacking nothing.
Weary not in well doing for in due season
we shall reap if we faint not. Galatians 6:9.
If we don’t quit, we win.
Hold on Doug. Perfect? Are you kidding? I’m not
so perfect—and I know you’re not.
Perfect point, because the English translation “perfect”
is far from perfect.
Perfect, (Greek:Teleios). Meaning: mature, full-grown.
Like a pirate’s telescope extending stage by stage,
stronger and stronger, clearer and clearer, until fully extended to full
strength, clarity, maturity.
Like the process of Sanctification.
2
Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
When we keep looking at the Lord,
we start looking like the Lord.
Walking like Him
Talking like Him
Acting like Him
Loving like Him
Perfect and Complete,
(Greek: holokléros). Meaning: whole, entire. From two words. Holo:
wholeness. Kléros: Divine allotment by casting lot.
Holy allotment of Wholeness.
Count it all joy, through
every test, from glory to glory, by God’s Divine
allotment of wholeness, all the way to the lovely land of lacking
nothing.
Joy should be our travel tunes, and then, we must make sure we’re properly packed.
Which is where we drop into our text today.
James 1:5a
If any of you lacks wisdom...
Pack wisdom.
For any journey, it helps to know where you’re going so you know how to pack.
Remember, we’re headed to the lovely land of “lacking
nothing.”
That’s the goal, that’s the destination.
That’s being able to say:
2
Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
Nothing left undone, unsaid, no unfinished business,
no loose ends. Nothing lacking.
Of
all those You’ve given me, I have lost none. (lack none).
John 6:39, 17:12, 18:9
For us to reach the lovely land of Lacking Nothing,
we must pack plenty of wisdom.
Proverbs
4:7
Wisdom is the principal (primary, fundamental, key, foremost)
thing, therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Proverbs
9:10 (also: Psalm 111:10)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning (starting,
launching, commencing) of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One
is understanding.
Notice how wisdom and understanding are
companions.
Not just any ol’ wisdom, but wisdom from above.
James
3:13-17
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let
him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of
wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking
in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This
wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual,
demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and
every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from
above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
The
Fruit of the Spirit is:
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians
5:22-23.
Gifts
of the Spirit are:
Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith,
Healings, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Tongues, Interpretation. 1
Corinthians 12:4, 8-11, 28.
Wisdom
from Above comes from God.
Not from knowledge or intellect learned by study.
Not from years of experience gained over time.
The wisdom from Above puts
knowledge and experience to Godly use.
Joy is our travel tunes
and Wisdom is our GPS (God’s Provision, protection,
positioning system).
Wisdom from Above navigates us through twists and
turns, and hazardous construction zones of life, leading us safely to the
lovely land of lacking nothing.
Meet
Wisdom
Proverbs 3:13-24
Happy
is the man who finds wisdom,
And
the man who gains understanding;
14
For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And
her gain than fine gold.
15
She is more precious than rubies,
And
all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16
Length of days is in her right hand,
In
her left hand riches and honor.
17
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And
all her paths are peace.
18
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And
happy are all who retain her.
19
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By
understanding He established the heavens;
20
By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And
clouds drop down the dew.
21
My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep
sound wisdom and discretion;
22
So they will be life to your soul
And
grace to your neck.
23
Then you will walk safely in your way,
And
your foot will not stumble.
24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes,
you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
King Solomon wrote that.
Awesome right?
Would you like that kind of wisdom from Above?
Yes! How do we get it?
Same way Solomon did:
James 1:5b
...let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally
and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Ask of God.
Matthew
7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to
you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
James
4:2b
...You have not because you ask not.
Ask of God.
He loves to give.
God’s character is generous.
He is a giver. For God so loved the world that He gave...
His
very Best. John 3:16.
James
1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or
shadow of turning.
God gives liberally, abundantly. Not
stingily, grudgingly, selfishly.
2
Peter 1:3a
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life
and godliness
John
10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I
have come that they may have life, and that they may have
it more abundantly.
Have you ever asked someone for something, and they
made you feel small for asking? They lord it over you. Talk down to you for
needing something.
Not God.
Not only does He give liberally, generously, abundantly...
God gives without reproach.
He gives without being a jerk. He doesn’t make you beg,
feel like a loser, or a pest, or stupid, for asking.
He wants us to ask, tells us
to ask, loves when we ask.
1
Peter 5:7
cast all your care on Him, for He cares for you.
Philippians
4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Matthew
7:8-11
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man
is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a
serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in
heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
1 Kings 3:5-15.
God appeared to King Solomon in a dream and said: “Ask! What
shall I give you?”
Solomon asked for wisdom to lead the people God
had given him.
Lord, we ask, please give us wisdom to lead
those You’ve given us, so we’ll all hear You say, “Well done.” Lacking no one.
The Lord was so happy with Solomon’s answer, He told him,
Because you asked for wisdom, not long life, or riches, or the heads of your
enemies, I have given you what you’ve asked. There will be none wiser, before
or after you. And I have also given what you have not asked; riches and honor,
so there will be none like you among all the kings all your days.
If any of you lacks wisdom, ask of
God...
6 But let
him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave
of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man
suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Oh, so, you mean there’s more to the story than
just asking?
We must always consider the whole counsel of
Word of God.
We can’t cherry pick pieces of the puzzle and think we
see the big picture.
We can’t tune in every now and then and understand the
whole Story.
There’s more to asking than just saying words.
Praying is not just lip service, but heart surrendered
belief.
Ask in faith no doubting...
Fortunately for us, we know all about faith, because
we just finished Hebrews and walked with the faith giants.
Hebrews
11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen
Hebrews
11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him
Romans
10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word (rhema)
of God (Christ).
While the preacher’s preaching, we’re listening for Jesus.
We’re praying, “Lord help me hear You.” (Rhema: the spoken
Word).
Sunday, we read James 5:17-18.
Elijah
was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not
rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he
prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
We read that Scripture, then, looked at that picture, and then prayed something like this:
Lord Jesus, according to Your Word, we
have a nature like Elijah.
According to Your Word, he prayed, and it
rained.
According to Your Word, we're to bring our
requests to You.
Therefore, according to Your Word, like
Elijah, we pray for rain.
Thank You Lord, for hearing and healing
our dry, thirsty land. Not only physical rain that waters fields, but an
outpouring of Your Spirit, that waters souls, bearing fruit to an Eternal
Harvest.
Thank You.
We trust and love You forever.
Amen.
“Don’t forget your umbrella” I said as folks were
leaving Church.
Then, an hour or so later, it rained.
For some, above the sight and sound of the rain pouring down, they heard the gift of answered prayer coming down from the Father Above.
They responded by thanking and praising the Lord.
Others just saw and heard the rain. They did not thank
Him, or praise Him, but said things like: “It’s raining too hard, it’ll just
wash away and not soak in... It stopped too soon... It was too small... not
enough... won’t do any good..., blah, blah, blah...
Hebrews
10:38
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My
soul has no pleasure in him.”
Let’s read our text again:
James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a
wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that
man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Have you ever done something for someone, (even a
small thing) and they were sooooo grateful, it made you want to do even more
for them?
That’s how God felt about those who were
so grateful for the rain.
Then, on the other hand, have you ever done something for
someone who, rather than showing appreciation, acted intitled, as if you owed them,
and whatever you did wasn’t enough? Did that make you want to say, let not
that double minded, unstable person suppose they’ll receive anything from me
ever again.
God knows exactly how you feel.
1 Kings 18:41-44 records the day Elijah prayed for
rain.
At that time there was nothing but blue skies, yet Elijah
said, “I hear the sound of an abundance of rain!”
He prayed.
Then, sent his servant to look toward the sea.
Nothing but blue.
He prayed again and sent.
Nothing again, and again, until the seventh time and
then, the servant said, “I see a cloud the size of a man’s hand.”
Elijah did NOT say, “It’s too small, that’s not
enough, it won’t do any good...”
Elijah said, “There’s a gully washin’ flog floater
comin’!!!” (DRT, Doug’s Redneck Translation).
Your Bible might say something like:
“Go tell king Ahab to get his chariot home before he
gets stuck in the rain.” 1 Kings 18:44.
In the meantime, the sky grew black, the clouds grew
thick, the winds grew heavy and down came answered prayer in the form of heavy
rain.
Elijah asked in faith, no doubting, nothing wavering.
Like Andy’s mom.
Andy was on duty when he was shot in the head by an
illegal alien.
The doctors said, “Andy won’t live.”
But Andy’s mom got a second opinion from her Great Physician.
That night, a call came in, one of many, to offer
comfort, condolences.
But on this call, Andy’s mom said, “Thank you Mr.
President, but my boy is going to be just fine.”
The doctors, the President, all thought she didn’t
understand. But, Andy’s mom, Melody, received wisdom from Above, they knew not
of. She asked in faith, no doubting, nothing wavering.
During the State of the Union Address, with multiplied
millions around the world watching, Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, stood tall next
to his mom, while President Trump honored Andy with the prestigious Purple Heart.
Consider it all joy. Ask in faith. Pack wisdom...And grab
an umbrella.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word that’s
just been planted in our hearts. Now, before doubt or the devil has time to
steal it, we water it with this prayer. Lord, we ask in faith for wisdom to stay
in Your Presence, so this Seed will take root, and grow, from glory to glory. Wisdom
to count it all joy in every trial, so by Your Holy allotment of wholeness we’ll
make our way to Your Lovely Land of Lacking Nothing. So, when we stand before
You, we will hear You say, “Well done.” And when we look around us, we’ll see
all those You’ve given us, lacking none.
Thank You, Lord.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer Requests:
Call or text: 612-554-2522
Email: pray4measap@aol.com
Facebook: Church at WPV
Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling
Watch online:
Facebook: Wisdom From Above, James
1:5-8
You Tube: Wisdom From Above,
James 1:5-8
This was feed for you to read. Now it’s
Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
