Bona Fide- A Study Of James- Part 11- "Stuff That Works" Series

Bona Fide

A study of James

Part 11

“Stuff that works”

I am often told by people who don’t know me or how I work very well

“ You need a new truck, when they see my old Ford”

Or you need a new trailer when they see me rocking it back and forth in order to secure the cross latch

Sometimes well meaning folks will say

Randy- Dad- Preacher

You need a new hat

Or a new pair of boots when they see the well broke in ones I often wear

Or they may say

You need a new this or that

My reply is

Why?

This one works just fine

-Pause—

Listen

I don’t think I am all that different from many of you

I like things that work

An old blue shirt

A beat up old truck

A hat that is almost worn out

But is comfortable and provides the shade and rain protection it is designed to provide

Having things that don’t work don’t please me

You know a tool that won’t do what it is supposed to do is worthless in my opinion

And things that are shiny and new are over rated

And are not high on my priority list

Things must work are

Things that work accomplish their purpose

As we continue our study of James this morning

As we keep connecting the dots that James draws for us

That

Lead us into a genuine

Bona Fide

Life changing relationship with Jesus Christ

That

Help us develop our faith

Grow our faith

Show and share our faith

We come to a place where James shows us things that work

Like an old hat

Or a well worn pair of boots

He desires for us to get comfortable with Jesus

To get comfortable with our relationship with him

He encourages us to get comfortable with things that work

And

James encourages us to use things that work in order to

Grow

Mature

And expand our faith

----Pause---

If you have ever been involved in any type of livestock judging

You will understand the term “characteristics of the breed”

When a judge looks at a cow or horse- lamb, goat or even a rabbit

He will often use the term characteristic of the breed when he is giving his reasons for why he selected one animal over another

In real common terms

What that means is

The animal in question

Has the desired characteristics that identify the breed they belong to

Think of a Brahman cow in a Herford class

She can be a great cow

But she is not representative of the breed she has different characteristics

----Pause---

We have been learning about Bona Fideness

Sanctification if we want to use a big theological word

In simple terms

Means

Becoming more like Christ

In our actions

Our words

Our prayer

Our faith

And more importantly in our love

And listen

This Bona Fideness

Results in blessings for us personally

It helps lead others along the right trail

But

It also pleases God

And this is where I want to go this morning

Characteristics of the breed that please God

What breed you may ask?

The Bona Fide

Believer

The believer who desires to please God

In deed

In action

In word

In faith

In prayer

And in love

Please open your bible to James chapter 4

James 4:7-10

In this passage James shows us 6 characteristics that please God

In our walk

In our lives

And in our Prayers

James 4:7-10

“7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”

If you are perceptive and have been reading and studying James

You should notice I skipped ahead slightly from our teaching on wisdom from 2 weeks ago

The verses I skipped are important

But I believe we have covered the material very well earlier in the sermon series

James starts out with the topic of fighting

Quarrelling and the causes of those things

And we have covered the root of sin in our lives

And seen that many times it is caused by pride

And our friendship with the world

Meaning we seek the things of man over the things of God

Pride causes arrogance

Pride causes conflict

Pride causes us to be unwilling to bend

Pride causes an unwilling to see others views, ideas as important