We start a year-long journey chronological study of the New Testament today. Hence the reason we are calling this message series Chronos. It's a word that means “time.” We will be journeying through time back to the start of the early church. We will be doing this by walking through the books of James, Thessalonians, Galatians and Corinthians. We will take a few detours along the way for the major Christian holidays. However, we will be opening up our bibles each week to unpack the scriptures as they were present in the early church.
For the first few years after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the “way” as it was called, was considered a breakaway sect. It was a time in which the word that we have today was passed from one person to another through story from those who knew Jesus. The movement grew by the power of the Holy Spirit for almost 20 years without a comprehensive account of what had taken place. There were no gospels written by Mark, Matthew, Luke or John. It was a messy spirituality powered by the Holy Spirit, personal testimony and strong relationships. It was spirituality marked by an indifference to government and pursuit of a fully committed life to God and his creation.
We start with the book of James because it is the earliest writing determined by present day scholarly dating.
It is the first book or letter written to this new ‘church’ or gathering.
It was written by Jesus’ half brother, James.
It was written to those Jews who had come to believe Jesus was the Messiah and those Gentiles who had become aware of and believed in Jesus.
It was written to straighten out some of the bad actors and their practices that were stunting the movement’s growth.
It is a very straight forward set of writings and is very applicable for us today,
Each week this year we will be walking through small sections of the scriptures. I’d encourage you to read ahead. Read all six books a few times this year and get ready to mark up your bible. This is going to be a great year!
Let’s begin with what I’ve entitled the blessing of stress by opening to James 1:1.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Like any letter today, there is indication of who is sending the letter. In printing they call it, “letterhead.” This first verse tells us it's from James.
I find it so interesting that one of Jesus' brothers who originally didn’t believe Jesus was the messiah (Mark 3:31-35, John 7:1-5), is now writing to others about the messiah.
In fact the apostle Paul calls James, a pillar of the church structure (Gal 2:9).
It was James who moderated the first church conference in Acts 15.
It was James who Peter sent a message to when he was delivered from prison.
It was James who Paul gave the love offering to for the people of Jerusalem.
This letter is written to the Jewish people who have been scattered throughout the known world. We also know this included those who were now being adopted into the faith who were not originally born Jewish. It was a difficult time. It was a time of transition. There were the old Jews who still held to tradition and The Law. They were still in the temple but preaching a historic truth and change in direction from exclusive to inclusive.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
We did a whole message on Joy during advent. I did want to clarify one point about the joy James is referring to. James is reminding us that when we are questioned for our faith or made light of because of the God we follow, don’t get down or wonder if they're right, we take the comments as affirmation that you're on the right road. Keep going because there is something good coming in this life and at the end of the road.
James calls this being mature. The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4:13 that a mature Christian is one continually growing in Christ, constantly thinking and acting more like Christ. A mature Christian centers their whole life in Christ and pursues the relationship more every day. Does that describe you today, some of the time or not all that often? If not at all, then this next passage is for you
Let’s continue…
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Why ask for wisdom in trial or when you have turned from your commitment? Why not ask for strength or grace or escape from the pain? We need wisdom so we don’t waste the opportunities God is giving us to mature. Wisdom helps us understand how to use each situation for our good and God’s glory.
I was a chaplain for a little while in a local hospital. I always found it so interesting to see the difference between those who suffer physically and mentally who have a relationship with Christ and those who don’t. I will never forget two women dying of cancer at the same time - one a believer and one not. The non believer just kept asking why and complaining. The other, a believer, kept joking and laughing. She loved breaking all the hospital rules and asking me to bring her communion with a little shooter of wine. The former died and had close friends at the funeral. The latter had a celebration of life with hundreds singing of God’s glory and her impact on their lives through her upbeat spirit.
Pain has a defining power in what you believe. It's the reason fasting is so effective. Pain pushes us to question what we value.
Peter:
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wildflower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Scholar and preacher Warren Weirsbe said, “God cannot build our character without our cooperation. If we resist Him, then He chastens us into submission. But if we submit to Him, then we can accomplish His work.”
James uses this thought to address problems that had snuck into the church: money and social status.
Having money and social status are not bad unless they become your sole pursuit. In which case, they become idols. Idols are mini Gods. They are not always little buddhas with big bellies that we sit before. They are more often the ideas that mask our own selfish and self centered desire to control the world in which we live. They are the deterrents to living and connecting with the deeper message of Jesus.
James is saying the church is not supposed to be your networking hub or your way to improve your social status by hanging with people you normally wouldn’t. It will happen naturally but is never to be your primary aim. The church is supposed to be a place of encouragement for the sent people of God for the mission God has ordained you for.
The road of the follower has NEVER been an easy one. Ask any of the original disciples who were all martyred for their faith. Only John survived but that was because he didn’t die when they tried to boil him in oil. Tradition has it that James was so hated by the Pharisees for his continual claims of Jesus as the savior, that they threw him from the temple and then beat him to death with clubs.
Make no mistake, God’s testing always has a way of leveling us. However, in our perseverance as the sent people of God, our perseverance will ALWAYS pay dividends in this life and the next,
