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.
1 John 4:19 (Amplified Bible)
We love Him, because He first loved us.
Romans 5:8 (Amplified Bible)
But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
See ourself being loved by GOD everyday, and it will make a difference in our lives. Be conscious of GOD's grace and GOD's protection in our lives everyday.
Psalms 97:11 (Amplified Bible)
Light is sown for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart [the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection].
All that we have came from GOD. It is a gift not a payment, and it's given by GOD, the Generous, Infinite GOD. Heaped gift upon heaped gift according to John 1:16. Notice in 2 Peter 1:3 : the word used is "bestowed", in 1 Timothy 6:17, the word used is "ceaselessly provides" and in John 1:16 the word used is "received" All of these words have already taken place in the past, from eternity past, that GOD knows our eternity future from His eternity past. And GOD knows that we are already victories. We have all won through CHRIST JESUS our Victories in life.
2 Peter 1:3 (Amplified Bible)
For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
1 Timothy 6:17 (Amplified Bible)
As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, BUT ON GOD, WHO RICHLY AND CEASELESSLY PROVIDES US WITH EVERYTHING FOR [OUR] ENJOYMENT.
John 1:16 (Amplified Bible)
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
And GOD provides us everything as a gift not out of works but out of His Generosities for us, as His creations, no strings attached, not like a cruel human giver here which gives good gifts but with bad motives or intention, all his gifts are like him bad in nature, but GOD is totally, infinitely different from the rest of us, GOD gives good (perfect) gift with (perfect) good motives/intentions all for our enjoyment. GOD does not need them, He owns everything.
So what we can do is just bring Him these things that He requires our tithes and offering, we can't give Him anything except to "receive" ALL that He has given unto us.
Malachi 3:10 (Amplified Bible)
Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified Bible)
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—
B. The FATHER has no variation or shadow of turning
"in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]"
GOD does not change His mind when He gives because He knows the eternity future from the eternity past.
Numbers 23:19 (Amplified Bible)
God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?
GOD is not man that He should lie, but the difficult part of this, He became man for you and me, to die for our sins, He became the Sin Offering Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified Bible)
For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
GOD does not change. Even change does change. In this world, the unbelievers have already accepted permanent thing is change. What a funny statement? I can say from GOD'S WORDS only Permanent is JESUS CHRIST, GOD, and HIS WORDS, through the HOLY SPIRIT. Count on GOD and GOD will not let you down.
Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified Bible)
Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).
Romans 11:29 (Amplified Bible)
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]
Isaiah 46:10 (Amplified Bible)
Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose,
Malachi 3:6 (Amplified Bible)
For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
All of us can count on GOD for He never change, but we can count on man, for it's cursed.
Jeremiah 17:5 (Amplified Bible)
Thus says the Lord: Cursed [with great evil] is the strong man who trusts in and relies on frail man, making weak [human] flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord.
IX. CONCLUSION:
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.
