WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.560 Go ahead and turn with me to the book of James. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:12.780 So James chapter one, we're going to be looking at just four verses this morning. 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:17.760 Last week we started our study of this book and we have made it now to verses five through eight. 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:26.300 I was somewhat joking with some people earlier today that I feel like I'm stealing part of Zach's sermon from last week and probably part of Clay's from next week. 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:33.340 And but it thematically all flows together. Right. We should remember that this was intended to be read all together. 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:40.359 And so you'll see some theme carry over for sure from last week and I'm sure into next week as well. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:49.140 So to remember some of this context where we have been and where we will be going, we're really just looking at specifically verses five through eight this morning. 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:54.159 But I would like to read beginning in verse one all the way down to verse 12. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:58.699 So verse one down to verse 12. So let's start there. 00:01:00.259 --> 00:01:05.319 James, the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve tribes and the dispersion. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:10.420 Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:20.079 For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness and let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:27.159 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him. 00:01:27.759 --> 00:01:35.480 But let him ask in faith with no doubting for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:40.840 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:44.859 He is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways. 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:53.340 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass, he will pass away. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:59.580 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the grass, its flower falls and its beauty perishes. 00:02:00.580 --> 00:02:04.640 So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.860 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:15.539 For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:17.139 Amen. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:22.099 So let's remind ourselves a little bit of what Zach preached to us last week. 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:30.699 So thinking a little bit about verses two through four specifically, Zach reminded us that trials are always ultimately for our good. 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:36.539 The Lord puts trials in our lives to test us and that that testing produces steadfastness. 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:41.139 And that steadfastness, when it's at its full effect, right, we just read, will make you perfect. 00:02:41.259 --> 00:02:42.599 It's leading to our sanctification. 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:47.959 TJ last week in the Lord's Supper read for us Romans 8 in its entirety. 00:02:48.079 --> 00:02:50.939 And I'd like to remind us of verses 28 through 30 there where it said, 00:02:51.339 --> 00:02:55.459 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. 00:02:55.959 --> 00:02:58.319 For those who are called according to his purpose. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:05.659 For those who be foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 00:03:06.419 --> 00:03:08.439 And those who be predestined, he also called. 00:03:08.539 --> 00:03:10.120 And those who be called, he also justified. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:12.819 And those who be justified, he also glorified. 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:14.019 Right? 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:21.299 We see so clearly there and in our passage that we spent some time in last week, right, that all things are working together for our good. 00:03:21.300 --> 00:03:25.200 And that good is being conformed to the image of Christ, right? 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:28.860 Becoming more and more and more like our good, like our God, right? 00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:31.760 That is the good that we're talking about this morning. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:34.820 To ultimately become perfect at the day of our Lord. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:37.500 And so how do we get there? 00:03:37.760 --> 00:03:39.640 What is the way to sanctification? 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:45.840 How does the Lord work things in our lives to move us to being more and more like him? 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:48.560 It's through testing, right? 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:49.560 It's through these trials. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.280 It's through being, our faith being just proven and tried. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:56.060 And through that, we become more and more steadfast. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:04:05.060 Zach did a wonderful job last week of just describing how difficult it can be to just persevere joyfully through a really tough trial, through a really tough circumstance. 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:11.319 But he also highlighted that it's clear that our Lord is working something in us throughout those. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:14.259 That steadfastness, that sanctification, right? 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:18.399 Note that transition in between verse 2 and verse 3. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:24.199 We are to count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds for or because of, right? 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:28.120 We know that the testing will work the steadfastness, right? 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:29.759 That's why we can take joy, right? 00:04:30.339 --> 00:04:34.300 During these trials, we're commanded to have joy because we have some perspective. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:38.480 We understand that the Lord is working something through our trials. 00:04:38.599 --> 00:04:42.159 We know what our Lord is ultimately doing for us through those. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.960 It's that through those trials, through those hard circumstances, right? 00:04:45.460 --> 00:04:46.280 They're for our good. 00:04:46.380 --> 00:04:49.939 And that good is becoming more and more like our Lord, right? 00:04:50.020 --> 00:04:53.980 That's our very ultimate, very best good that the Lord is working. 00:04:54.820 --> 00:04:59.800 So no matter how difficult our trials are, no matter how hard our circumstances are, 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:08.360 we're called to have joy because we know that the Lord is ultimately working all of those into us becoming more and more like him. 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:13.960 So for any of y'all that may not know me super well, I'm a high school math teacher in Forsyth. 00:05:14.340 --> 00:05:20.300 In education, we often hear this push, I think, so often that it gets boring and old sometimes, 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.100 that testing should always be for learning. 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:25.080 It should not be of learning. 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:29.240 So the idea of like assessment for learning, not assessment of learning. 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:34.919 And what they're trying to get at is that testing should ultimately have a purpose, right? 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:37.860 It shouldn't be just something that we just give and then that's the end. 00:05:37.939 --> 00:05:42.259 They're pushing back the idea of, all right, here's the test, and then we never think about that again. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:47.279 They're trying to get to the point of, okay, if we see that there are issues on a test, 00:05:47.339 --> 00:05:49.659 then we know exactly what the students need more help with, right? 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:51.379 That's how tests should work. 00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:55.980 And I'm not sure the school system knows it, but they're copying what our Lord does. 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:58.060 Our Lord does this perfectly. 00:05:58.659 --> 00:06:02.659 His testing of our faith is so much more important than any academic test we could ever have. 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:09.519 And his test is perfectly designed to bring about things in us that we still need to work on, right? 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:15.959 Maybe a particular tough coworker is making you realize how you've tried to not be angry, 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:19.839 but you still have so much anger in your heart that you need to battle out by the Lord's grace. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:25.599 Maybe an injury or sickness is making you realize how you've tried to be way too self-sufficient, 00:06:25.599 --> 00:06:29.359 and the Lord is taking your pride away to give it more full reliance on him. 00:06:31.039 --> 00:06:33.359 Maybe you fail a certain class four times in a row. 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:35.579 That may or may not be me. 00:06:35.659 --> 00:06:38.919 In order for the Lord to show you that you've got to slow down, right? 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:43.139 That you're not a superhuman and you are desperately in need of his grace. 00:06:44.359 --> 00:06:47.959 Maybe you're going through a season where all of your friends seem to be in different spots, 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:51.239 and the Lord's teaching you that friendships are great and all, 00:06:51.599 --> 00:06:54.819 but ultimately he is our only full source of strength. 00:06:56.180 --> 00:06:59.479 Whatever it may be, whatever trial, whatever circumstance it is, 00:06:59.539 --> 00:07:05.259 the Lord is ultimately working any and every trial in our life for our good and for his glory. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:08.659 Now, I say all this, I spend that amount of time on that, 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:12.000 because I believe the context is very, very, very important 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.759 for us to have a proper understanding of what verses five through eight are talking about. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:20.500 If you take five through eight without reading the context before and after, 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:25.560 it might not immediately at face value seem to have a whole lot to do with trials 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:27.439 or persevering joyfully through trials. 00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:32.539 But right before these verses, it's all about having joy throughout trials. 00:07:33.099 --> 00:07:37.560 And that idea is continued and in some ways wrapped up in verse 12 when James writes, 00:07:37.699 --> 00:07:40.199 blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, 00:07:40.659 --> 00:07:43.319 for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:45.500 which God has promised to those who love him. 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:48.360 So in light of all that context, 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:51.379 it seems that we should see this wisdom that is talked about in these verses 00:07:51.379 --> 00:07:56.219 as primarily relating back to persevering joyfully through trials, right? 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:57.839 That's the wisdom that we're talking about. 00:07:58.339 --> 00:08:00.779 So with that in mind, let's read five through eight again, 00:08:00.779 --> 00:08:03.759 and I'll jump into a little bit of the structure that we're going to go for this morning. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:05.300 So five through eight. 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:07.379 If any of you lacks wisdom, 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:11.659 let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:12.700 and it will be given him. 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:15.980 But let him ask in faith with no doubting, 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:20.540 for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:24.180 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. 00:08:24.260 --> 00:08:27.580 He's a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:31.280 All right, so here's how I'm going to structure our study of that text this morning. 00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:32.000 Four points. 00:08:32.920 --> 00:08:34.540 Number one is the wisdom needed. 00:08:35.680 --> 00:08:36.960 That's the wisdom needed. 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:39.940 Number two will be the wisdom given. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:42.600 The wisdom given. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.860 Number three will be the proper way to ask. 00:08:47.560 --> 00:08:48.800 The proper way to ask. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:52.200 And number four will be the character of those who ask improperly. 00:08:53.420 --> 00:08:55.300 The character of those who ask improperly. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.800 So let's go ahead and get right into it with the wisdom needed. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.200 We all need wisdom. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:01.400 Every single one of us. 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:03.879 From the youngest of us to the very oldest, 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:05.659 all of us need wisdom. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:07.500 A couple chapters later in the book of James, 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:12.200 I think we can get some insight in understanding into what this wisdom talked about here really is. 00:09:12.439 --> 00:09:13.879 James 3 verse 13 says, 00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:16.460 Who is wise and understanding among you? 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:20.399 By his good conduct, let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:23.679 Jumping down to verse 17 of chapter 3, it reads, 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:39.279 What I want us to note from those is how practical this wisdom really is, right? 00:09:39.699 --> 00:09:40.199 Verse 13, 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:56.320 This wisdom is not some weird, magical, conceptual ideal. 00:09:57.140 --> 00:09:58.200 It's super practical. 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:04.140 John MacArthur sums up this type of wisdom as the understanding and practical skill 00:10:04.140 --> 00:10:07.640 that are necessary to live life to God's glory. 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:14.020 It's the understanding and practical skill that are necessary to live life to God's glory. 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:17.759 This seems to be the type of wisdom we're talking about here in verse 5. 00:10:18.400 --> 00:10:20.500 So I'll go back to my earlier statement. 00:10:20.920 --> 00:10:22.560 We all need wisdom, right? 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:24.080 None of us are fully sanctified. 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:26.920 None of us are brought to completion just yet, right? 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:31.620 And we must remember even anything good that we're doing after we're saved, 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:35.860 when we have the Spirit dwelling in us, is being done by the Spirit, right? 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:37.319 So it's all the Lord's work. 00:10:37.979 --> 00:10:40.279 And so we all daily need the Lord's intervention. 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:42.439 We all need wisdom. 00:10:43.599 --> 00:10:48.539 We all need that understanding as well as that practical skill, right, 00:10:48.599 --> 00:10:50.699 that are necessary to live life to our Lord's glory. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:54.179 We don't live life to the glory of our Lord on our own. 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:58.039 That is not our nature apart from the Lord. 00:10:58.139 --> 00:10:59.519 We must have His grace. 00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:04.500 And in this context, how are we honoring Him? 00:11:04.579 --> 00:11:06.979 How are we living in wisdom, right? 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:12.579 By going through trials well, by pressing through whatever we may be going through with joy, right? 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:15.839 Knowing that the Lord is ultimately working it for our sanctification. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:18.860 And then James writes, 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.840 If any of you lack wisdom, 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:25.560 so lack this ability and know-how to live life to God's glory through trials, 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:27.720 just ask the Lord for help. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:29.840 As I said earlier, we all need it. 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:33.000 We all need more ability and know-how to press through trials. 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:37.300 I would encourage us all right now to think back through our last week. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:39.680 Think about the hardest part of it. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:45.139 And think about whether your mindset turned to anger, 00:11:45.839 --> 00:11:49.159 or to grumbling or complaining, 00:11:49.459 --> 00:11:50.659 to disputing, 00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:52.419 to jealousy, 00:11:52.939 --> 00:11:54.659 to lust, 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:56.739 to anxiety. 00:11:58.519 --> 00:11:59.719 Whatever it may be, 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:01.259 when you are hit with a trial, 00:12:01.359 --> 00:12:04.179 when you're hit with something in a moment that's a tough thing, 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:11.339 it can be so tempting to act out in a way that is the total opposite of having joy in our Lord. 00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:17.219 The different ways that we particularly respond in our heart can be different, 00:12:17.219 --> 00:12:20.259 but we all need the Lord's grace to respond properly. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:26.019 We all need wisdom to truly count it joy and keep our mind focused on the eternal perspective. 00:12:27.359 --> 00:12:31.819 We must all remember the idea of 2 Corinthians 4, verses 16 through 18, 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:32.359 where it says, 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:33.639 So we do not lose heart, 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.940 though our outer self is wasting away, 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.080 our inner self is being renewed day by day. 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:43.779 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:46.820 as we look not to the things that are seen, 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.320 but to the things that are unseen. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.919 For the things that are seen are transient, 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:53.680 but the things that are unseen are eternal. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:56.199 We all need this wisdom, 00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:57.359 this understanding, 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:58.039 this ability, 00:12:58.199 --> 00:12:58.899 this know-how 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:02.599 to remain joyfully steadfast under trial. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.719 We must have an eternal perspective, 00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:05.259 right, 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:07.639 that is helping give us that joy, 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:09.419 give us that know-how to press through, 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:11.219 to persevere through those trials, 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:13.059 because we know what the Lord is doing. 00:13:13.959 --> 00:13:14.179 Right? 00:13:14.219 --> 00:13:17.120 We have some perspective to see that He's working it for our good. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:21.080 Let's get back into the later part of verse 5, 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.500 which will get us to our second point. 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.840 That's the wisdom given. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.159 The wisdom given. 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.159 Let's reread verse 5 again. 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:29.740 It says, 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:31.180 If any of you lacks wisdom, 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.560 let him ask God, 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.980 who gives generously to all without reproach, 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.879 and it will be given him. 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:39.159 So any of us, 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:42.480 any of these believers that James is writing to here, 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:43.320 and any of us, 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:45.500 if we just ask God for wisdom, 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:47.180 the Lord will give it to us, 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:47.560 right? 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:49.840 And it will be given to us without reproach, 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.279 it says. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:51.700 Last week, 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:53.720 Zach alluded to the idea that James, 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:54.759 in many ways, 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:56.899 may be a commentary on the Sermon on the Mount. 00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:59.620 It's really interesting if you start researching that. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.860 And I'd encourage you to, 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:02.299 if that's something that interests you. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.460 But I mention that now, 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:08.159 because I bet a lot of our minds are going to a similar place 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.480 when we read verse 5. 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:12.180 And it's a spot in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:12.799 If y'all will, 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.320 turn with me to Matthew 7. 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:15.659 Matthew 7. 00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:15.659 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:31.779 So if you thought of another text, 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:34.519 as we began reading our text this morning, 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.860 this is probably it. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.019 Matthew 7, 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:39.399 picking up in verse 7. 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.560 It says, 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.119 Ask and it will be given to you. 00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:44.739 Seek and you will find. 00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:46.799 Knock and it will be opened to you. 00:14:47.579 --> 00:14:48.779 For everyone who asks, 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:49.359 receives. 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.599 And the one who seeks, 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.179 finds. 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.259 And to the one who knocks, 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.019 it will be opened. 00:14:53.959 --> 00:14:54.859 Or which one of you, 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:56.459 if his son asked him for bread, 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.379 will give him a stone? 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.139 Or if he asked for a fish, 00:14:59.159 --> 00:14:59.919 will give him a serpent? 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:06.539 it. If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:12.879 your father who's in heaven give good things to those who ask him? So our text in James in verse 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:17.939 five and here in Matthew, we see some super clear teaching, right? If something is good for us, the 00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:22.919 Lord will give it. And if we're given something from the Lord, it's a good thing, right? At this 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:28.519 point, I think it's important again, first remember what good really is, right? Good 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:35.319 is the will of the Lord for us, our sanctification becoming more and more like him. So wisdom 00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:39.439 here in James one five is going to be good for us. So the Lord will give it to us, right? 00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:45.279 He's working for our sanctification. Just a reminder from last week in the theme that's 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:49.819 carrying through these verses, right? The trials are always for our good. So many times 00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:55.520 it may not seem like it at the time, right? But the Lord is working in our hearts to 00:15:55.520 --> 00:16:01.840 purify, to sanctify. Our father is a perfect father who gives good gifts at exactly the 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:09.379 time that we need them. Having a kiddo of my own now, my emotions so often feel like I would 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:14.760 do absolutely anything that would be good for him. And in some ways, I don't think those emotions 00:16:14.760 --> 00:16:19.780 are that far from the truth, but I know exactly where I fall here in Matthew seven. I am 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:25.459 not the perfect father in heaven. I'm the father who's considered evil in light of our Lord 00:16:25.459 --> 00:16:29.720 and parents in the room. I think we can all relate. We want to do the very best for our 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:35.939 children and whatever we're doing, but our heavenly father is so much greater than us. 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:42.039 There's no comparison between us at all. And he will always give us what is the very best 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:49.120 for us. In our context and James here this morning, the Lord will give us wisdom, the know-how 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.879 and the ability to persevere joyfully through trials. We just need to come to him and ask. 00:16:56.379 --> 00:17:02.340 And notice that it says the Lord gives it without reproach. He knows that we can do nothing on our 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:08.539 own. He knows that we need his grace all the time, but he doesn't hold that against us, 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:15.480 right? He wants us to come to him. So it says he gives generously. He wants us to come. He's not 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:21.160 disappointed that we need his help. He knows we need his help and therefore is glad to give generously 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:27.319 when we come to him. So we should go to him. All right, let's get down into verse six through eight. 00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:34.460 That will get us to point number three, which is the proper way to ask the proper way to ask. 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:37.920 Let's reread verse six to begin with. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:45.980 But let him ask in faith with no doubting for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:53.579 driven and tossed by the wind. So let him ask in faith with no doubting. Then we have a four 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:59.759 statement. This is for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:05.400 wind. In other words, the one who doubts is all over the place, tossed around by the sea, going to 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:10.559 and fro. Think about a wave, right? Not really getting anywhere, but just going back and forth, 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:16.900 back and forth, tossed by the tide, right? Tossed by the wind. We'll get into that more for a minute, 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:24.059 but for now, note that we've been commanded to ask in faith. And this faith is to have no doubting. 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:31.359 I want to think about what we're really doing when we ask the Lord for something, but do not have 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:37.419 confidence that the Lord will fulfill what he said he would do. To think about the times when we go to 00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:43.700 the Lord asking for wisdom, but are wavering in our belief that either he can give it to us or that 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:51.799 he will give it to us. It's a pretty rough spot. Turn with me to Galatians three. This is a slightly 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:56.659 different context, but I think it will help demonstrate part of what James is getting at 00:18:56.659 --> 00:19:04.159 here. So Galatians three. So the context here in Galatians, right? Paul is arguing for their souls, 00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:08.819 that they need to come back to the heart of the gospel. It seems that they had people coming in 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:14.259 preaching different gospels that were encouraging some works of the law to aid in sanctification 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:19.740 or to be part of salvation in the first place. And Paul was calling them back to the heart of the 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:25.660 gospel and that being Christ crucified. So let's look at Galatians three. I'd like to read the first 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:33.900 five verses here. It says, Oh foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:39.839 Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this. Did you receive the spirit 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:45.680 by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish having begun by the spirit? Are you 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:51.279 now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain? If indeed it was in vain, 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:56.759 does he who supplies the spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law 00:19:56.759 --> 00:20:02.480 or by hearing with faith? So I just want to think about the position Paul was in. 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:07.860 He was encouraging the Galatians to come back to the gospel. He writes in verse two, 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:13.279 did you receive the spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Obvious rhetorical question 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:18.680 here, right? They accepted the gospel by faith. They were going to answer that question in that way 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:24.759 by accepting the salvation. Our Lord had offered by trusting in his death for our sins and his 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:28.720 resurrection for our life. He knows that they're going to answer the question that way by faith alone. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:35.799 Right? So then he asked a follow-up in verse three, having begun by the spirit, are you now being 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:41.879 perfected by the flesh? He's trying to show them a little bit of ridiculousness in the way they were 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:46.960 believing, right? The ridiculousness of the false gospels that they're believing or are tempted to 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:53.660 believe at least. If you're saved, given the great grace of our Lord simply by exactly that grace and 00:20:53.660 --> 00:21:00.520 undeserved kindness. But now after that, you're going about trying to perfect yourselves by works of the 00:21:00.520 --> 00:21:05.320 law without looking to that same grace that we were saved by, working out our salvation totally of 00:21:05.320 --> 00:21:10.880 our own accord. That seems absurd, right? Going about trying to earn righteousness through works of the 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:18.100 law when the initial grace was a sweet gift from our Lord. He's certainly not saying that we don't 00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:24.200 work in battle for our sanctification, but he is saying that how we do that is through the spirit's 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:31.260 work in our hearts, not the law. I think we get all of that, but how does that relate to our text this 00:21:31.260 --> 00:21:38.600 morning? Well, Zach pointed out last week when James makes his intro that he says he was writing to the 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:43.599 12 tribes in the dispersion, which seems to in many ways be referring to God's people, God's true 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:49.599 people, the church, right? So James is writing to God's people just scattered around and ultimately 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:55.539 now also to us. This morning I'm working with the assumption, and I think it's a fair assumption, 00:21:55.679 --> 00:22:00.899 that my primary audience this morning is the church, those who have professed faith in our Lord. 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:06.099 So let's talk about what that means and how that affects our text this morning. If we're a believer 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:10.899 here this morning, we're claiming a number of things. All believers have claimed the gospel. 00:22:11.459 --> 00:22:16.179 We believe that there's an eternal, holy, just God that out of his goodness and overwhelming love 00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:21.419 and kindness, he wanted to show his glory and he created us, created us as image bearers to be 00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:27.839 little mirrors reflecting his glory over all the earth, right? But we rebelled. Adam and Eve fell by 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:33.799 disobeying God. We have inherited their sinful nature and we have sinned ourselves. And because our God is 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:40.940 holy, just, and righteous, we all deserve God's wrath because of our sin. And we all believe that. 00:22:41.159 --> 00:22:46.700 But because of God's graciousness, his love, his kindness towards us, he sent Christ, our Lord 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:52.659 himself, the Son of God, who condescended, came to the earth to become a man, came here to fulfill the 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:58.139 law, live the perfect life that we could never live. But then he died the death that we deserve, 00:22:58.140 --> 00:23:03.900 the sinner's death for all of our sins because of our sin, right? And his blood shed, him being the 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:11.380 perfect sinless son of God, deserving no death because he was perfect, right? He took our sin on 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:19.660 himself and our sin is punished in him. Three days later, he rose from the dead, proving all of his 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:26.140 claims, triumphing over death for us. And he has defeated both sin and death in that. All we must do is 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:32.800 turn from our sin and put faith in our Lord. We all believe that, right? We're claiming that this 00:23:32.800 --> 00:23:40.580 morning. Now, James is writing to people who also believe that. Think about verse six now, but let him 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:48.720 ask in faith with no doubting. This is a very similar type of idea in a slightly different way that Paul was 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:55.960 arguing from Galatians. How can those who James is writing to, as well as us today, trust the Lord 00:23:55.960 --> 00:24:01.640 for salvation, believe that he's a worked a miracle in our hearts through calling us when we were dead 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:07.740 in our sins, had no life of our own to become new creatures. He went through all the trials for himself 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:15.160 that we deserve for our sin, right? Came to the earth. He did all that work. How can we believe 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:21.000 that that God would save us? But he's not going to give us the wisdom that we need to persevere during 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:32.140 trials. Think about that. That seems ridiculous. It's so ridiculous that James and his audience here 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:37.920 and us today would trust our Lord for the salvation of our souls, but not for the wisdom needed for 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:47.140 sanctification. But don't we do that? Don't we do that all the time? We continue to grumble about a 00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:52.040 tough situation at work or complain about a co-worker instead of calling on the Lord for wisdom and grace 00:24:52.040 --> 00:24:58.940 and how to press through the situation with the mindset that honors him. We continue to try to 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:04.220 battle particular sins on our own rather than seeking the Lord and going to him about them. 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:10.400 We continue to become angry when we don't get to spend the time the way we want to spend time when 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:16.320 work feels heavy and family life seems burdensome. Rather than going to the Lord for the 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:23.939 understanding and know-how and the ability to consider others' interests above our own and to seek to serve 00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:32.740 rather than to be served. When we choose to not run to the Lord for help, for wisdom during trials, 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:40.179 we're flat out denying the wisdom that he's offered to us. Or when we're not sure that the Lord will 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:47.340 actually give us the strength to press through. Or when we ask with doubting, right, we're just denying 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:55.720 the wisdom. We claim that we trust in the Lord for our salvation, but so often we don't trust him that 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:59.420 he would actually give us the wisdom that we need to press joyfully through trials. 00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:07.480 And that brings us to our fourth point. The character of those who ask improperly. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:15.039 Let's read verses six through eight in their entirety there. It says, but let him ask in faith 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:20.640 with no doubting for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:26.680 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He's a double-minded man, 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:33.980 unstable in all his ways. So James begins these verses, right, with explaining the proper way to 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:40.519 ask what we were just into. But then he's turning and turning to discuss what one is like that asks 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:47.740 in the wrong way, or in this case, asks with some doubting. And it's pretty harsh. He says that the 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:53.539 one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. And then goes on saying 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:58.859 that that person shouldn't expect to receive anything from the Lord. He's a double-minded man 00:26:58.859 --> 00:27:06.720 that's truly unstable in all his ways. That to me does not sound like the description of a believer. 00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:12.420 That sounds like the description of an unbeliever. And it seems that it's either primarily describing 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:17.220 an unbeliever or a believer who is acting like an unbeliever, like we just described a bit of. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:23.279 They're being tossed by the wind, seems to go back and forth, is unsure about whether they want to turn to 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:29.399 the Lord or not. They're not hot or cold, right, as the church is described in Revelation. We know 00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:36.079 the Lord's reaction to that, right? The Lord will spit them out of his mouth. Flip over a couple pages 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:43.639 to James 4. James 4. Let's read verses 1 through 10 here as I believe it'll help us to understand a 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:52.740 couple things about our current text. Picking up in verse 1 says, 00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:58.200 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war 00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:04.040 within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight 00:28:04.040 --> 00:28:09.720 and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:16.220 wrongly to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:23.120 world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:29.319 of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the scripture says, he earns jealously over the spirit 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:34.180 that he has made to dwell in us, but he gives more grace. Therefore, it says, God opposes the proud, 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:39.660 but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:45.680 from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:52.380 your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched, and mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, 00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:59.019 and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. So a couple things to note. 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:05.000 Some reinforcement of what we said some earlier, right? The friendship with the world is enmity with God, 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:10.799 leaning on our own understanding to get through a trial, or doubting God's willingness or ability to 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:17.720 help us joyfully persevere through a trial. Show someone to be torn, to be stuck in between trusting 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:22.339 in the Lord, or trusting in themselves, or looking to the world for worldly wisdom. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:29.539 And that means they're leaning towards the world, right? Let's look again at that second part of verse 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:35.579 six, down through verse eight. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:40.539 therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:46.940 to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. So these verses seem 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:52.779 to be pretty clear that the double-minded word, those torn between the world, torn between God, seems to be 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:58.759 referring to unbelievers. And James is calling them to repent, to put full trust in the Lord, that they 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:03.839 currently don't have a heart that is set fully on God, but is twisted, is calling them to repentance, 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:10.500 to put their hope in God. So let's think back through our text in chapter one. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:17.920 When we doubt as we are asking, we're proving ourselves to be double-minded. We have the faith 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:24.920 that we want to go ask, but we're not sure that the Lord will actually provide. We may want to trust in 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:30.920 the Lord when times are good, but then when times are bad, we lose that faith. We're not so sure that 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:38.240 the Lord will or can really persevere us to be joyful through a trial. When we act like this, 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:46.279 doubting the Lord's providence for us, we are acting like an unbeliever. It's hard. What does that say 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:54.539 about our hearts? How crazy is it of us to trust in the Lord for salvation, but then not trust in him 00:30:54.539 --> 00:31:01.119 for the wisdom that we need to persevere through a trial? We're acting like unbelievers when we do 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:06.680 that, when we show some disbelief still lurking in our hearts. We simply cannot be part of the way 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:12.059 committed to our Lord. We can't say we trust the Lord for salvation, but then not trust him for 00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:16.759 sanctification. We can't say we trust the Lord for salvation, but then not trust him to help us 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:21.799 persevere through a trial joyfully. We can't love the things of God and the things of the world. We 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:29.220 can't toe that line. We must give ourselves wholly to the Lord. 1 John 2 verses 15 through 17 says, 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:33.960 do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:38.940 not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:44.779 pride of life is not from the Father, but from the world. And the world is passing away along with 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:52.620 its desires. But whoever does the will of the Lord, will of God abides forever. We know that if we try 00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:58.220 to continue in the things of the world, try and rely on our own self for strength or just not trusting 00:31:58.220 --> 00:32:04.460 that the Lord is willing or able to help us or simply trusting God when things are good and failing 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:09.880 to when things get hard. We know we're being double-minded. As we just read, the world is 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:15.340 passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God will abide forever. I think 00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:21.420 I've said this next thing about five times so far this sermon. I'm circling back to it again. What is 00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:28.240 the will of God for our lives? It is our sanctification. That is our ultimate good. And how is the Lord 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:35.920 encouraging us toward that today in our text? By asking us to go to him for wisdom, by giving us 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:42.299 wisdom generously, without thinking less of us. He knows we need him. But as a father gives good 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:47.559 gifts to his children, our heavenly father gives so much greater gifts to us that make us more and more 00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:54.740 like him. So we all need wisdom to persevere joyfully through trials. And the Lord will give us that wisdom 00:32:54.740 --> 00:33:03.660 freely and generously. When we doubt God's willingness or ability to help us give us that wisdom, we're 00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:11.339 showing a little bit of unbelief still lurking in our hearts. That's so dangerous. Let's wrap it up with 00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:19.339 a little bit of application. Just two things. Number one, believe the Lord will do what he says he will do. 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:27.079 Believe the Lord will do what he says he will do. The Lord truly will give us wisdom. We just need to ask. 00:33:27.959 --> 00:33:32.799 We should make every effort to not be double-minded and truly believe he will give the wisdom 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:36.779 to persevere under trial, just like he said he would right here in our text. 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:46.039 Number two, truly go to the Lord when you need wisdom. Go to the Lord when you need wisdom. 00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:52.779 The Lord has asked us to come to him. He will give us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:58.379 Anything the Lord asks of us, he will give us the wisdom needed to go through it. 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:05.240 Both the ability, both the understanding, both of those, right, to persevere joyfully through trial. 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.059 With that in mind, let's pray. 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.180 Amen. 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.180 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.180 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.180 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.180 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.180 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.180