Qualities Needed to Endure Trials - James 1:19-21

James 1:19-21 (NKJV)

19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and [b]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

The book of James:

- The author "James" believed to be the half-brother of Jesus Christ.

- Didn't follow Jesus on His time on earth, but only later after His resurrection.

- Was mentioned on Acts 12:17, during Peter's miraculous escape.

- Paul called James one of the pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9).

- The book of James is the first new testament book.

- The pages of James are filled with direct commands to pursue a life of holiness.

- For James, a faith that does not produce real life change is a faith that is worthless (James 2:17).

- In simple terms: It encourages God’s people to act like God’s people.

19. "My dear brothers and sisters" addressed/audience to the believers, if not yet a believer then now is the time to receive the free gift of Salvation, John 3:16-18.

"take note" - to highlight, to keep that you may review it over and over again.

The context is about the pressure of trials that can make a person not to mind counsel and quick to speak angrily!

3 Practical ways to handle trials effectively:

1. "Quick to listen" - listen first!, means that we should always ready, open and quick to listen to instructions, particularly God's instruction or God's word that we may learn and grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- We should ask God for grace, that whenever the word of God is preach, we should listen, understand, and apply it, regardless of the speaker.

- The same also as taking time to read His word everyday with the goal to apply in our day to day Christian walk.

- Not for the sake of listening but without understanding.

- Proverbs 19:20 ESV "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."

2. "Slow to speak" - means that we should think before we speak.

- Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NIV) Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

- Proverbs 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

- Proverbs 15:2 (NIV) The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

3. "Slow to become angry" - means to have self-control at all times.

- Proverbs 16:32 Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

- Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

- Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Verse 20, Human anger are often bias, and a result of wordly desires which is contrary to God's will or the Word of God.

However the bible speaks also about the wrath of God, God's holy anger which is base in perfect judgement.

Verse 21, Upon hearing the word of God, the gospel, without delay repent from your sins and accept the gospel whole-heartedly, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved from your sins and His perfect judgement.

A Nobleman’s Son Healed - John 4:43-50

John 4:43-50 (NKJV)

43 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain [a]nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

Ice breaker: "I am blessed"

Intro:

A different healing miracle by Jesus, He healed the official's son at a distance through His word, unlike the other healing miracles Jesus performed like Blind Man at Siloam Pool "After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man's eyes. Then he said, 'Go and wash off the mud in Siloam Pool.'The man went and washed in Siloam, which means 'One Who Is Sent.' When he had washed off the mud, he could see." John 9:6-7 (CEV)

But a similar story also can be found in Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-10 Healing of the Centurion's Servant.

43 - 45. "Jesus pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country."  yet in verse 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. ?

They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. "Because of the miracles of Jesus, that's why He is welcomed"

 - You can't expect your closest family, friends, or countrymen to appreciate you as a godly leader -- "a prophet has no honor in his own country"

48 "Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

A rebuke to Galileans, because He knew their hearts, their faith is not grounded in Christ, a low quality faith, a stagnant faith.

A faith focused only on the signs, wonders, miracles but should be focused on the miracle worker.

Miracles, signs and wonders are instrument of the Lord to point people to Him to know Him in an intimate and personal way.

In Psalm 105:4 we are told, "Seek the Lord and His strength; SEEK HIS FACE evermore!"  What does it mean to seek God’s face?  

The Hebrew word translated "Face" is the exact same word translated as "Presence" when referring to God's presence.  

To seek God's face literally means to seek His manifest presence.  It means to pray for the very purpose of coming into God’s presence

But at the same time a faith building to the Officer, not to give-up on his plea to Jesus Christ.

The official had faith because he had seen Jesus do miracles in the past and knew that he could heal his son. He travel 20 miles from Capernaum to Cana because he was seeking Jesus and heard that he was in Cana.  His faith was strong.  The official believed Jesus at his word which demonstrates his faith.

50 "Go," Jesus replied, "your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

NKJV 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

The official didn't asked for any sign, He believed in the word of Jesus Christ and Go!

In our society today it's easy for people to believe on something if backed with miracles, is like seeing is believing, people are interested only of miracles and what it can bring in their lives, but they are not interested of the

miracle worker, which is Jesus Christ.

We must take Jesus at his word and act before seeing the result, He is the Word in John 1:1, and if we exercise our faith in His word, then we will see the results.

God will test our faith, and nurture it to make it grow. From saving faith to a mature sanctifying faith.