All Gifts Came From God

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you have something you own?

No. All that I have came from GOD.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers/unbelievers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that GOD is the Source and Cause of everything good that we have in this life and in the life to come.

IV. TEXT:

James 1:17 (Amplified Bible)

Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for all gifts that You've given to me so that I can enjoy Your Presence in my life.

VI. TITLE:

All gifts came from GOD

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: uncertain. 3 prominent persons named James in the New Testament. Most probably, James who was called "the LORD's brother" wrote this epistle.

Galatians 1:19 (Amplified Bible)

1:19 But I did not see any of the other apostles (the special messengers of Christ) except James the brother of our Lord.

B. Date written: Before A.D. 49

C. Purpose: To challenge believers to possess an active faith which will produce real changes in a person's conduct and character.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

D. To whom written: Jewish converts who lived outside the Holy Land; possibly also to the devout Jews of the dispersion,—James 1:1.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

E. Main Theme: practical religion manifesting itself in good works, contrasted with mere profession of faith

F. Key words: faith and works

James 2:17 (Amplified Bible)

2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

G. Key verses:

James 1:27 (Amplified Bible)

1:27 External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

James 2:26 (Amplified Bible)

2:26 For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

James 1:17 (Amplified Bible)

Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

James 1:17 (New King James Version)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

A. Every perfect gift came from the FATHER of lights

"Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light,"

The foundation is that there's good and bad in the world and in everything, if Eve had not eaten that knowledge of good and evil, we're not enduring all the trouble effects of it until now. Only GOD can handle that knowledge that's why it's forbidden knowledge to His creation. Only GOD deserves that knowledge, men don't deserve those knowledge. Man has perfect intelligence before the fall, and all knowledge are given to Him in full except for this knowledge of good and evil. It's a form of tithe. GOD does reserves something for Him alone, which He determined will not benefit (goodness) us.

Deuteronomy 29:29 (Amplified Bible)

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law.

1 Corinthians 8:1 (Amplified Bible)

NOW ABOUT food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].

There are knowledge in this world which makes us proud, and these knowledge are reserved for GOD, but what Adam and Eve missed is love for GOD. Now we imagine GOD loving us first so that this knowledge is beneficial for us, we don't dwell in the knowledge of we loving GOD, but how can we love GOD for He's invisible, for now, all we have are physical 5 senses that can't really love the Invisible GOD, but through CHRIST JESUS, GOD has enabled us to love Him back.