STUDY OF JAMES LESSON TWO
James 1:5-12
Title: Learning Persistence
Introduction:
Review: Last week we looked at “Learning Patience”. We looked at four key words in the first four verses; Count, Know, Perfect and Want. Count: Blessings of God; Know: Book of God; Perfect: Built by God; Want: Beauty of God.
This book is a very simple book with very simple thoughts. That is why I like it!
Tonight we are going to look at persistence. The definition of this word is this: “Steady pursuit of what is undertaken”. What a needed quality in Christian people!
The word persistence is not in the KJB, but the thought sure is. Here is a Bible definition of persistence. Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Learning Persistence is important to the Christian walk, and James has a lot to say about it.
I. Prayer for Persistence VS 5
A. Our Lack
Psa 86:1 Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I [am] poor and needy.
Things to Pray for regarding wisdom:
1. Understanding
Question Job 28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the place of understanding?
Question Job 28:20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding?
Answer Job 28:28 Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding.
Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
2. Knowledge
Hsa 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Phl 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment;
3. good judgment
Psa 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
1Th 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.
4. Perception
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Psa 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].
B. His Liberality
1. Is Personal—all men
Psa 66:20 Blessed [be] God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
2. Is Patient—Romans 15:5 refers to the “God of Patience” Here in our passage we see that God “Upbraideth Not” Definition of Upbraideth;
To charge with something wrong or disgraceful; to reproach; to cast in the teeth; to reprove with severity; to bring reproach on; to treat with contempt.
We have such a patient God!
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
II. Power for Persistence VS 5-6
A. Accessible Power (If any of you… & Let Him ask…)
Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
B. Assuring Power (Faith)
1. Confidence
1Cr 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Pro 3:26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
2. Conviction
Act 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
3. Courage
Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.
C. Abundant Power
Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
III. Perils to Persistence VS 6-11
A. Driven by the Wind and Waves
When I went to Canada on a fishing trip in 2010, I was out on the lake and the boat wouldn’t start. It was always windy and the water choppy and while trying to get it started I was driven into the rocks. That mistake cost me 45 bucks! Illustration: if you are on a lake without a functioning motor, you can only go where the wind and waves lead you. Faith is that motor, and not having faith will cost you more than 45 bucks!
Jesus disciples marveled that the wind and waves obeyed Him. We are going to get in the wind and waves. It is a peril we are going to have to face.
B. Double Minded in our ways
Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
Our minds are very important to God.
1. A mind toward God will bring Peace
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.
2. A mind toward God will bring Love
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
3. A mind toward God will bring Faith
Luk 12:29-31 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
C. Depending on your Will- Pride
Vs. 7 Thinking more highly of ourself
Psa 73:6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain
Vs 9 Trying to be bigger than you really are.
Pro 11:2 [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.
1Jo 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
D. Departure from God’s Work- vs 11 “Fade away in his ways”
Those things that you try to do yourself outside of God are worthless.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Here is what is important!
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
IV. Prize for Persistence VS 12
A. There is a Cross in Persistence—a Weighty prize
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
“Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault. A blessing may arise from them, and we may be blessed in them.” Matthew Henry
B. There is a Crown for Persistence—a Wonderful Prize
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Some say that this is a Crown for all that are saved
Some say that this is a Crown of reward for those that are faithful.
“We only bear the cross for a while, but we shall wear the crown to eternity”
The Main Key to the Crown—LOVE!
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
C. There is a Call for Persistence—a Worthy Prize (VS 5-12)
This entire passage that we have studied is a call for persistence. The question is this: are we willing to answer the call?
