Mature faith is consistently abiding in Christ and fruitful for people (James)

Introduction

James is about spiritual maturity, and Living in freedom to live for God

 - Everyone's choice: sacrilege or coram Deo

A) Faith and testing compared to temptation and self-deception

All faith is tested, revealing truth (James 1:1-18)

 - James affirms Jesus words on who we should live to become

In love to Christ when trails come: count, know, let, and ask (James 1:2-12)

 - Sanctification before service

 - Misunderstanding temptations source being our desire, rather than God

Barrier against temptations God's Judgement, and God's goodness (James 1:13-18)

 - Barrier against temptation - God's divine nature within (James 1:18; John 3:6; 1 Peter 1:23)

Quit going into self deception (James 1:19-27)

 - Obeying God's will from inward compulsion not outward constraint (James 1:25)

B) How we treat people reveals our faith

My neighbor is about opportunity not geography (James 2:1-13)

 - To overcome EVIL, LIVE in the TRUTH

 - God Promises the kingdom to those who love him and make peace (James 2:8, Matthew 5:9)

 - The Judgement of God (James 2:12-13)

True faith is seen in how we treat people (James 2:25, 1 John 4:20)

 - We are prone to judge people by their past, not their future 

C) Words are extremely powerful

Our words direct the path we take and the paths of others (James 3:1-12)

 - Our words are disproportionately powerful, inherently evil James 3:1-8, and contrasting impactful James 3:9-12 (it can do things not possible in the natural world). But God's first act at salvation is to give us a new tongue. James 3, Exodus 4:10-12, Acts 2:1-4

Wisdom is understanding God's ways (James 3:13)

 - Fear the Lord AND walk in the way of the Lord with trust and intimacy (Proverbs 3:7,12,32,10:29)

Live Well, Live Wisely James 3:13-18 (MSG)

 - James 3:14-15, selfish ambition from a demonic world

D) Drawing near to God, his Way

Whoever would draw near to God... those who seek him (Why we pray)

Understanding prayer, enables confidence in healing (James 5:13-18)

Restoration of a wayward believer, focus on the finish line (James 5:19-20)

 - Faith in Jesus is a spiritual issue not simply intellectual