Week 4

John 6:28 Then they ask him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

To believe…not doubt. Meditate on that thought.

This week I have discovered the excitement of looking up every main word of a verse and defining it according to the original Greek meaning. Oh how amazing is that! Time consuming yes, but it is absolutely crucial to understanding the true meaning of God’s Word. As you will see from the study tonight, we might think we know the definition of a word, but we really may not. Apparently it is difficult to translate other languages to English because of our limited word usage. So I want to encourage you to get out your Strong’s or Vine’s Dictionary, and start finding out what God’s words really mean.

I have figured out how I want to divide the book of James.

There will be 13 different parts as indicated below:

A. True faith is purified by trials (1:2-12)
B. True faith does not attribute evil to God (1:13-18)
C. True faith obeys the Word of God (1:19-27)
D. True faith does not show partiality (2:1-13)
E. True faith produces good works (2:14-26)
F. True faith controls the tongue (3:1-12)
G. Definition of true Wisdom (3:13-18)
H. Wisdom in our spiritual life (4:1-12)
I. Wisdom in our everyday life ((4:13-17)
J. Wisdom in the use of wealth (5:1-6)
K. Wisdom in waiting for the Lord (5:7-12)
L. Wisdom in our prayer life (5:13-18)
M. Wisdom in restoring an erring Christian (5:19-20)

Read James 1:1-8
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it al joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But 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. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all ways.

So far we have covered James 1:1-4 which spoke of “Why trials were given to us” So far we have learned that trials are designed by God to produce joy (1:2) patience (1:3) maturity (1:4) and tonight we will learn about trials producing wisdom (1:5), and stability (1:6-8). Next week we will learn about trials producing humility (1:10), blessings (1:12) and love (1:12).

The believer must go through the trial with joy, allowing God to bring them through it and not just get through it on their own. As we learned, each trial has various lengths for which they are to last and patience is the reward for which we receive at their completion.

Make sure you know the difference between Joy and Happiness. Joy is permanent, happiness is temporary.

So let’s dive in.

1:5 If (in the event that it may happen)(meets certain conditions)

any of you lacks (to have a deficiency – to have a need for—suffer from the absence of or deficiency of)

wisdom – deep, thorough, or spiritual mature understanding. The ability to make sensible decisions based on Biblical principles. These decisions give the glory to God and not man.

Greek work for wisdom (noun) is: Sophia meaning - human spiritual wisdom – choosing spiritual wisdom over worldly wisdom – the insight into the true nature of things based on the Bible.

The dictionary gives the meaning of wisdom as: accumulated, philosophic or scientific learning or knowledge.

You can see that definition describes how the world understands wisdom, but that wisdom will end just as if it were a materialistic possession.

The world puts great value in a learned person, but James teaches us what spiritual wisdom means.

Spiritual wisdom comes when we live life for God’s glory and not ours. Obtaining worldly knowledge is all focused on us, not God. It is useless for the Kingdom.

Divine Biblical wisdom is the only wisdom that will result in enduring trials with Joy.

Job 28:12-28 – But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13 Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living… 20 From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, We have heard a report about it with our ears. 23 God understands its way, And He knows its place. 24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens. 27 Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. 28 And to man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil in understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

Proverbs 2 (The Value of Wisdom) READ and highlight specific verses that God uses to speak to you.

let him ask (to call on for an answer)… we as followers of Jesus Christ call on God for answers through prayer.

1 Thes 5:17 – pray without ceasing

Matt 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Jer 29:12-14 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity. (your strongholds)

Ask – greek – aiteo – meaning to petition – the petition of one who is lesser in position than he to whom the petition is made (servant).

Interesting note: Jesus never aiteo His Father. Any time the Bible speaks of Jesus asking His Father anything, the greek word is erotao which means they had equal dignity.

of God,

This is a command of God’s and is a necessary part of the believer’s prayer life. We just keep trying to do it ourselves, because we lack faith.

God intends trials to drive the believer to greater dependency on Him, by showing them their own inadequacies. We keep trying to show the world our adequacies and our independence while never showing them God.

As with all His riches (Eph 1:7, Phil 4:19), God has wisdom in abundance (Rom 11:33) available for those who seek it. (Prov 2:1-8)

who gives – Greek – charizomai) to show favor or kindness; to bestow graciously – meaning of that which is given by God. Free – to give free – nothing in return.

No where else can you get the only wisdom you will ever need and God give it to you freely. Remember: worldly wisdom will pass away…stop seeking man for advice.

gives to all (anyone, but those who believe would ask)

liberally – adv – describes the word gives…how does he give?

Liberally (Greek - haplos) meaning: with singleness of heart (strictly for you with you on His mind)!!!! Isn’t that awesome. He gives to you unconditionally – generously – simply – with you in mind. No matter what, God will help you out.

and without reproach – without meaning: the absence of

reproach (words expressive of strong disapproval) an implied criticism, disgrace, shame, disapprove

and it will be given to him. That is pretty clear.

What will the believer get? Spiritual wisdom (knowledge) about what to do when we are going through these various trials…Knowledge as to what to do. But we have to ask and we have to believe God for the answer.

Vs 6 but let him ask (with a servant’s attitude) in faith

In faith – ref Mark 11:23,24 For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

What is faith?

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Spiritual faith is trusting in a divine God even without physical evidence.

Faith is a gift from God. Faith is a personal surrender to God and our conduct should reflect this surrender.

With no doubting (n) - with no lack of faith, uncertainty of belief or hesitation.

For he who doubts (v) or uncertainty which way to go is divided between God and the world.

Journal entry: If I call myself a believer, which means, I believe God for everything, than why do I doubt? Shouldn’t I then call myself, a doubter?

is like (compared to, resembles)

a wave (surge, a billow, a raging of the water. Raging – violent, wild, surge of high water of the sea).

of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

driven (greek – anemizo – meaning to be driven by the wind) We are driven by earthly decisions…that toss us around.

Does this describe you?

1:6 explained: The person who doubts God’s ability or willingness to provide this wisdom is like the billowing restless sea, moving back and forth with its endless tides, never able to settle.

Joshua 24:15 – And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Rev 3:16 - So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

7 NKJ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

or

7 NIV That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.

In other words: If you are going to work out your problem for yourself, then God cannot work it out for you.

8 he is a double-minded (Greek – dipsuchos) meaning two souled. Having one’s mind or soul divided between God and the world.

You occasionally believe God but fail to trust Him when trials come, and then receive nothing. You are tackling the trial on your own.

man, unstable in all his ways.

Unstable means: not constant, cannot control your emotions, easily swayed, restless, wishy washy.

Interesting –

"ways" means: your life’s journey; your path in life.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Journal entry: Am I double-minded? How do I handle difficult trials? What does double-mindedness say about me? Can you describe it before looking below?

Double mindedness – 1. leaves us continuously chasing for the right answers. 2. discredits our witness 3. shows insecurity 4. shows insincerity 5. shows weakness 6. shows fear 7. shows inconsistency 8. Say one thing, do another. No one knows what to expect.

All these are not God’s characteristics. Therefore who is the world seeing?

A Single-minded person knows what she believes and sticks with it.

Single-minded (adj) meaning innocent sincerity, having one purpose and sticking with it. And for a Christian, that one purpose is to show the unbelieving world JESUS!

What do you do when problems occur? I get frazzled and want them solved immediately. I do not like chaos or draggling problems. I like peace. I hate unresolved issues. So I make irrational decisions without ever thinking them through. No thought, no reflecting on past errors, no reasoning, but most importantly….no asking God for HELP.

Without consulting God as to His purpose for this trial, I am doing it my way.

You might succeed in shortening the trial, but what you might be doing is thwarting (stopping) God’s plan for your life. Remember why the trial is there in the first place. To grow you in wisdom.

So then what happens. It’ll happen again. And if you continue to stop it from happening, you will remain immature in the Lord. You will live your life in a rat race…running around in circles. And many many many people do.

We can’t continue to stop these trials. We have to go through the Red Sea with God carrying us so that we will not get wet. We are drowning in our own stupidity.

By cooperating with God, we will become spiritually mature.

As hard as it may seem, we cannot get discouraged. Stop covering up with whatever means you are using.

I’m sorry to say but the Bible says sometimes God never takes the trials away.

2 Cor 12: 8-10 Three times I asked the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness”.

God did not remove Paul’s physical affliction. God sometimes chooses to show his power through Paul because of the affliction and in the meantime makes sure we remain dependent on him.

I don’t know about you but I am tired of being strong on my own accord and making the same mistakes over and over. Why is this so hard to turn over to God.

It is OK to be weak. It is then that you become strong in the arms of your Heavenly Father.

The more I pull toward the world’s description of being self-sufficient, the more I pull away from God.

God removes the trial when we become spiritually wiser.

As soon as God sees we are reflecting His image, because of a lesson learned, he gives to us liberally (generously) without finding fault with us.

We have to remember that God purpose for giving us this trial is to grow us spiritually (Psalm 4:1)

The cool thing is as believers we don’t have to face the problems of life in our own wisdom.

God’s Word does not give specifics for every problem you are facing, but God’s Word does give us principles by which to follow for every trial we are facing.

Seek Him daily. Ask and you shall receive. Believe that God loves you and will not abandon you during this trial you are facing. He cares for you and remember that nothing is impossible for God. If we doubt his power, we will have no stability in times of trouble.

He is your all in all.

Run to Him. Your only source for wisdom is God. You get it through asking (prayer) and it is available to those who believe.

Read – John 6:28 again.

You are not a doubter, my friend. You are a BELIEVER

Remember, the Lost are watching!

joanie