James- A Servant of the Lord – Some thoughts we need to ponder?
Thesis of the book of James: His focus is on “How a Christian should act every day?” and “The importance of living like a Christian every day”. He challenges us and the church that it is possible to believe the right way and live the wrong way.
Opening Verse: James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.”
Key Verse of James : James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
The author of James: Who wrote the book of James? Lets first discover which James did not write this book.
No it was not our Youth director James. He was not born yet.
The author of James is not the disciple James because he was martyred in 44 AD and the book was penned in AD 45 or in the early 50’s. This James is one of the sons of thunder. He was John’s brother and one of the 3 closest disciples to Jesus. This James known as the son of Zebedee, James the Elder, and also James the great. This James was beheaded at the command of King Herod Antipas I. He killed James to please the Jewish leaders of the day. So we are positive it was not this James.
The author of James is not “James the less” another disciple of Jesus. James the less was the brother of Matthew – the author of Matthew- the converted tax collector. There mother’s name was Mary married to Clopas/Alphaeus. It is believed by most scholars that James “the less” and Matthew were cousins of Jesus. This James was an opposite of his brother and considered to be a zealot.
The author of James was the brother of James. It’s important for you to remember that James did not become a disciple of Jesus until after Jesus’ resurrection and before the day of Pentecost in Acts 1:13. We know that prior to the resurrection Jesus’ family at one point tried to get him to stop doing His ministry.
James the ½ brother of Jesus was one of Joseph’s kids. Many in the Roman Catholic and Armenian Orthodox churches claim that James “the ½ brother of Jesus” was “James the less” the reason they promote this teaching is because of their claim that Mary the mother of Jesus was always a virgin. When she was promoted to Holy Mary the early influence of Docetism claimed her to be a virgin because they believed intercourse to be sinful. So they claimed Mary was without sin. But the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:19, makes it clear that James was the ½ brother of Jesus.
Paul had many different meetings with James. James was the one who specifically commissioned Barnabas and Paul to go preach to the Gentiles. They also reported the news of the revival among the Gentiles to James. James was considered the chairman of the church in Jerusalem and one of the pillars of the church.
I. James the ½ brother of Jesus calls himself a servant, a slave of the Lord and his character trait of being a prayer warrior follows his life and left a legacy on what spiritual leadership is all about.
a. James was nick named “Old Camel Knees” according to Peterson. He states, “James carried the nickname ‘Old Camel Knees’ because of the thick calluses built up on his knees from many years of determined prayer’ (563).
i. McBirnie Notes, “Prayer was his constant business and delight. He seemed to live upon it and to trade in nothing but the frequent returns of converse with Heaven” (187,188).
ii. To be a slave of Jesus means that you communicate with the Master. You communicate with him and ask what he wants you do. You discover that the only way you know what to do is by being on your knees with Him.
1. One of the signs of a spiritual leader is one who knows how to pray. Because this is what brings wisdom to a leaders life and a believers life.
2. James was a pillar in the early church because he knew the importance of prayer.
3. All good quality leaders pray.
b. The question can be asked “Why Should leaders (Christians) Pray?
i. Blackaby answers this question with 6 reasons why spiritual leaders need to pray. Spiritual Leadership page 153
1. Prayer is an essential leadership (Christian) activity.
2. Prayer brings the Spirit’s filling.
3. Prayer brings God’s wisdom.
4. Prayer accesses God’s power.
5. Prayer relieves stress
6. Prayer reveals God’s agenda
ii. James demonstrated to us the 6 benefits that Blackaby refers to in his book.
1. James knew that for him to be successful in leading the church of Jerusalem he would have to pray.
a. James the ½ brother of Jesus learned this important quality from his brother Jesus. Jesus knew the importance of prayer and he prayed regularly and even went so far as to quit doing the works of ministry to go pray to the Father.
b. I believe that James observed this quality in Jesus and said the reason my Lord could go to the cross and give his life for the people was because he knew God’s agenda.
c. He watched and observed how nothing could detract Jesus from God’s agenda.
i. Not temptation
ii. Not fame
iii. Not money
iv. Not success in ministry
v. Not persecution
vi. Not his families disagreement
vii. Not his friends
viii. Not religion
ix. Not his friend deserting him
x. Not religious frauds
xi. Not sinning Christians
d. Jesus was able to stay on God’s agenda because he knew what God’s agenda was because the Lord God revealed it to him in times of prayer.
e. James learned from Jesus that nothing of eternal significance happens apart from God. He recalled Jesus words, “Apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5
2. James also learned from Jesus that prayer time with God brings a filling of the Holy Spirit.
a. Blackaby notes, “Leaders cannot fill themselves with the Spirit. Only God can do that ‘(Eph. 5:18).
b. God promised in Jeremiah 29:13 “you will seek Me and find me when you search for me with all your heart”.
c. Prayer keeps the Spirit’s activity in my life strong and influential. Therefore he helps the spiritual leader stay refreshed in the Spirit.
3. James also knew that for him to be able to make wise decisions he needed to be prayed up.
a. When a person prayers they receive divine insight and direction in the things of life. And since God knows all things then as we listen to his directives we make decisions with wisdom from above.
b. Jeremiah 33:3 states, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
c. Blackaby states, “For leaders to have this kind of relationship available to them and then choose not to communicate with the one who wants to guide them is a gross dereliction of duty (Luke 18:1-8).
d. James was able to recognize that Paul and Barnabas were called to preach to the Gentiles so they had a special service to pray and release these two to bring the Good News to the Gentiles.
i. This was a dramatic change of philosophy of ministry for the Jewish believers and what the Jewish religion taught.
4. James knew that for him to access the power like Jesus he needed to pray. He recalled Jesus’ words:
a. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7).
b. We must remember God-is all powerful and he can change a heart overnight, he can heal, he can work a miracle. For us to tap the power of God all we have to do is pray!
c. Blackaby states, “The stark truth of life is that it is filled with situations that can only be overcome by God’s Power. The most powerful position leaders assume is when they kneel” (150).
i. James knew this and his knees revealed this.
5. Prayer is also a great stress reliever. When we pray we take the weight of the item off our shoulders and allow God to carry it for us.
a. I Peter 5:7 “Cast all you anxiety on Him, because he cares for you.”
b. Blackaby, “When leaders allow Christ to carry their emotional and spiritual loads, this takes enormous pressure off them to face even the most difficult assignments with peace” (150).
6. James knew that to be in touch with God’s agenda necessitated that he pray.
a. So he did and God used him to lead the Jerusalem church.
b. To commission the missionaries Paul and Barnabas.
c. To correct the Christians for not acting like Christians. This is what the book of James does.
d. And also letting him know that he would have to proclaim the message even if the people martyred him.
i. James death revealed a man who knew what God’s agenda was.
ii. James was thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple after he stood up there and declared that Jesus was the Messiah of the nation of Israel.
1. After being thrown off the temple he is reported to have gotten up and still kept declaring the message of Jesus.
2. At this point the Jewish leaders influenced the crowd to stone him which they did. But the stones did not kill him and he keep speaking the truth. At this point it is said that people who were washing their clothes near by ran to him and started beating him with their clubs which they used to beat their clothes clean. It is reported that they beat him to death by hitting him in his head so he could speak no more of Jesus.
3. This happened in 57AD. He was buried in tomb on the Mount of Olives.
T.S. – James knew the importance of prayer and his prayer life gave him the wisdom he needed to lead the church of Jerusalem. This wisdom from above comes out clearly in his book James as he instructs the church to become doers of God’s word.
II. James role modeling of Spiritual leadership is also reflected in his book by the way he stresses that Christians are be doers of the word of God.
a. In other words they need to work hard for the Kingdom. They are not just to sit around and listen but they are to go out and do stuff for the Lord.
i. James 1:22 stresses this point, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
b. What is a Christian suppose to do? I reply something!
i. He is to take what He knows about God and put it into action.
ii. Rick Warner states, “Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions.”
c. Action is to be the ear mark of the Christian’s life.
i. When apathy settles into the Christian life then the Christian starts to drift away from the Lord like the Christians in Laodicea.
1. In Revelation Laodicea reflected an apathetic church – orChristian. Laodicea the church that is always asleep.
a. "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:14-22 NIV)
b. Historical Background:
i. The city of Laodicea was founded in about 261-246 B.C. probably by Antiochus II who named it after his wife who he divorced in 253 B.C. She is famous for then poisoning Antiochus.
ii. It city was the county seat of its area and was located on an important travel intersection of the area. It was located on the main Highway between Ephesus and Syria.
iii. Because of its strategic position it became a great commercial and financial center especially during The Roman Empires time.
iv. It evolved into a manufacturing center were it produced woolen garments made out of local soft wool which was glossy black.
v. In its competition with it’s neighbor cities Hierapolis and Closse who also produced wool but not this type they became the major producers and exporters to others. This project helped the city into economic prosperity.
vi. The city was also known for its famous school of medicine. This developed from the temple, "the god of the valley". The Laodicean physicians followed the teachings of Hierophilos. He had promoted the teaching that compound diseases required compound medicines for treatment. Thomas notes, "A well known medicine developed by the physicians of this school was applied to the eyes to cure eye diseases " (298)
vii. The temple of the Phrygian god " Men Karou" was the center of this city. Many of its prominent people were connected with this temple.
viii. Commerce, manufacturing and medicine combined help to propel Laodicea into one of the wealthy cities of its day. Since the city was very prosperous it then created and attracted many wealthy individuals.
ix. The city was once destroyed by an earthquake but received no help to rebuild because they were so wealthy.
x. The church in Laodicea was believed to have been established by Epaphras from Colossae (Col. 4:12-16).
c. The Revelation of who is giving the message to this sleeping church.
i. "The Amen" - The Message say’s, "God’s Yes" - The phrase is used of Christ to signify that he is par excellence. He is God’s Yes. The Hebrew root word of the phrase Amen is translated "truth" as being fixed, certain, unchangeable. In simple language Ho Amen means that what this speaker says will be absolutely accomplished. His message is absolute and certain. No ifs, ands or buts. God says it and it will occur-- guaranteed!
1. Thomas makes this observation "Since the principal indictment against the Laodicean church is its lukewarm attitude, Christ’s attributes of sincerity and truth come to the forefront as He deals with those whose alleged devotion to Him is only superficial and not substantial" (300).
2. Point in this title -- Christ is the true and certain one even if the church fails: II Cor. 1:18-22 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
ii. Christ has no flaw he is perfection. There may be flaws in churches but there is no flaws in Christ.
1. Here is an amazing truth I need to remind you don’t judge by assuming that because the church is flawed that he is flawed. He’s NOT! Here is another amazing thought, "God uses imperfect people like you and me to accomplish His perfect will." No imperfect church or person will hinder God in doing what he has said. It will happen.
iii. The faithful and true witness.
1. As a witness Greek word here is Martyrs -- we get our English word from this word which is martyr - which means one who has died, given up his life for the truth. There have been many martyrs through history but the Amen martyr is Christ the "Yes of God!" He is the one Faithful and True Martyr. He is the one confronting a church the church with its lukewarmness. He has never misrepresented the Truth of His message and since He is always trustworthy and faithful to truth. He now must confront a church that does not represent faithfulness and truth.
2. Interesting note since Christ’s martyrdom there has been an estimate of 40 million martyr’s to date.
3. Barna notes, "Because at least 40 million people had their faith radically challenged and they refused To back down from following Christ no matter what the cost of the relationship. To those saints, the very purpose of life was wrapped up in their understanding of the fullness of the Christian life. These martyrs viewed their relationship with Jesus Christ as one worth dying for. Their faith was more than simple series of religious truths that enabled them to gain earthly riches, to be seen in the right places at the right times or to gain new insights into human character. Their faith was the defining thread of their lives. Their refusal to renounce their faith, even at the costs of their lives, dramatically illustrates how they defined success and purpose in life" (Barna, 29).
iv. Many have misunderstood this text because this text clearly means Jesus is the Beginning, the Author, or Source of everything God has created and He has created all things. He is the one now addressing this church.
d. The message to the sleeping church to wake up or be removed forever.
i. Their condition is the worst of all the other churches. It’s the condition first of all of lukewarmness. Not hot! not cold!
ii. Other ways of saying this are, half-hearted, indifferent, apathetic, unenthusiastic, action-less. Not doers, polluted by the world, spiritless, lackadaisical, uninterested, inattentive, and the list could go on.
iii. This church had a mediocre view of spiritual things.
iv. Thomas notes this, "These people had avoided the extremes of outright spiritual destitution, but they had also avoided unrestrained spiritual fervor" (305).
v. Their commitment level was suffering from No Commitment. Someone has termed this "the Leukemia of non-commitment."
vi. Lukewarm - Archaeologists have discovered some interesting facts out about this church and their water supply which can help us to understand the term lukewarm.
1. Six miles in one direction from Laodicea was the city of Hierapolis which had Hot mineral springs. These springs were useful for medicine baths. But for Laodicea a city short on water these springs did not help their need for water. The problem lied in what happened to the water as it flowed six miles to Laodicea. As this Hot Spring water flowed across the plateau to the cliffs of Laodicea it started to cool losing it’s heat and healing power. By the time it reached Laodicea the water was lukewarm and poisonous. Some how after losing it’s heat it retained a lot of impurities which made it poisonous to drink. Therefore the city could not use this natural water supply to quench the thirst of its city’s inhabitants. It was not a blessing but really a danger for anyone who drank it.
2. Six miles in the opposite direction of Laodicea was another water source called the Springs of Denzili were icy cold water flowed. But once again as the water flowed to Laodicea and traveled 6 miles over the plateau it became lukewarm by the time it reached Laodicea. Not only was this water lukewarm but it had also picked up lime in it’s six mile journey causing the water to become poisonous. If someone drank it they would become very sick.
3. From these two sources we discover that when this church heard about their condition it was very severe because they were like the water. They were useless to quench people’s thirst for the Lord and give life. As a matter of fact they made the Creator sick to his stomach.
e. There condition was also serious in light of the view they had of themselves. Their self-image was distorted.
i. They felt that because they were rich and wealthy that they had it all. They actually believed that because they had money and things that they God’s holy set apart and chosen saints. It means your one of God’s favorites. Your relationship with him is great! It’s the one’s struggling that half to get their relationship with God right not, "WAW!!!!!!!!"
f. Their wretched condition:
i. This church was unable to discern that they had made the creator sick.
ii. They had become lukewarm to Him and His word. They lacked care or concern for the things of God. They deceived others and themselves into thinking that the measuring rod to see if you were spiritual lied in how much money was in your bank account.
iii. They had become a church that was self-indulgent, self-centered and believed this is what Jesus taught. They had no commitment to Christ and His great commission to win the lost. Their commitment was how much money could they make. That was the goal of Christianity!
1. Churches present state-- Barna did a recent pole and 90% of the USA claims to be Christian. He then did another pole and asked certain Christian concepts - Here are the results:
2. He asked Christians what Jesus’ Great Commission was from Matthew 28:19,20 - 86% responded with the wrong answer or did not know.
3. He then asked what John 3:16 said - 75% did not know.
4. He then asked what "the gospel" was 31% did not know.
2. Christ tells this church to wake up and do the following:
a. Buy what he is selling not what the world is selling and this investment will be an investment that will make them rich.
b. This church needed to put it’s faith in God and not the world. It needed to quit depending on it’s own resources and the world’s and buy from Christ. It needed to quit resting on it’s own abilities (it’s own faith in their own faith) and it needed to quit trusting in the world’s resources.
c. This church needed to get its clothes back on. Literally this church needed to put the white clothes of Christ’s righteousness back on. Repent and wear white!
d. This church needed eye salve to heal their spiritual blindness. Healing only comes when the Holy Spirit’s anointing salve comes in to our eyes. Then we can see clearly.
e. The way to receive all the above and life is by repenting and answering the door in your heart. When you answer it and let him in all the wonderful things just mentioned occur.
3. 3:19-20 is a loving section in this whole message you need to see.
4. The promise 3:21-22 is if you do the above process Christ promises that you will reign with him. But you have to be a Christian of action not apathy.
d. James wrote the book of James to warn believers about the importance of having actions that reflect the image of Christ that lives in them.
i. He gives hard hitting –very specific practical instruction to help us all live the authentic Christian life Jesus wants us to live.
ii. Peterson states this about the book of James:
1. The letter of James shows one of the church’s early pastors skillfully going about his work of confronting, diagnosing, and dealing with areas of miss-belief and misbehavior that had turned up in congregations committed to his care. Deep and living wisdom is on display here, wisdom both rare and essential. Wisdom is not primarily knowing the truth, although it certainly includes that; it is skill in living. For, what good is truth if we don’t know how to live it? What good is an intention if can’t sustain it” (563)?
Conclusion:
What have we learned today?
1. We need to be like James and be men and women of prayer.
a. We need to have nicknames like “Old Camel Knees”.
b. We need to understand what prayer will do for us:
i. Prayer is the essential action which helps us to know God better and this prevents us from being polluted by the world.
ii. Prayer will always bring fresh infillings of the Spirit which always brings us joy and refreshment on a daily basis.
iii. Prayer always unlocks God’s wisdom for our lives. It gives us spiritual insight for living life and making choices God’s way.
iv. Prayer is the key that unlocks the power of god for our lives and for other lives.
v. Prayer is the greatest stress management exercise you could ever do.
vi. Prayer will always reveal God’s agenda for your life.
2. We need to be like James and be men and women of action.
a. Christians are suppose to be living like they believe- they need to beliefs into action. They need to do it! Be Christ-like in talk and walk.
i. They need to be driven by their salvation experience to be doing acts of service.
ii. They need to be committed to not allow the things of the world to pollute them this takes a Christian who is active in avoiding the traps of the world.
b. The church and every Christian in it need to make sure they are not like the church of Laodicea – a bunch of lifeless-actionless Christians who are asleep in their faith walk.
i. Christians need to be active fresh and alive with the living water of Jesus flowing the\rough them.
ii. The Laodiceans had allowed themselves to become lukewarm and this was making Jesus sick to his stomach and he would have to spit them out if they did not change.
iii. The problem with these Christians and many today is that they had allowed the world to pollute them with a prosperity mindset rather than a servant mindset. Their focus became a money mindset. This mindset distorted their spiritual insight. They came to be deceived into thinking that because they had money they had spirituality that God loves. Their riches had polluted their relationship with Jesus.
iv. This church is warned to wake up before Jesus spits them out of eternity. He was their standing at the door they needed to open the door of their hearts and repent and allow him back in to direct them. If they did they would have the privilege of sitting on His throne.
