Weekly Sermon

James 1:9-10 reads, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”

The Holy Spirit inspired purpose for this epistle is to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the believer’s life.  James 1:9-11 presents the second paragraph of the epistle.  This paragraph gives counsel concerning the contrasting subjects of humble maturity and worldly materialism.  The contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the closing line of the paragraph at the end of verse 11 -- “So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”  This contextual situation primarily concerns the materialistic ways of the rich. 

In the three verses of James 1:9-11, only two sentences are delivered.  The first sentence of this paragraph is a compound sentence, encompassing both verse 9 and verse 10.  The second sentence of the paragraph encompasses verse 11.  Grammatically, the compound sentence of verses 9-10 can be divided into three parts.  The first two parts of this sentence present two connected, yet contrasting instructions.  The first instruction, found in verse 9, serves as an encouragement to the lowly believer.  The second instruction, found in the opening portion of verse 10, serves as an exhortation to the wealthy believer.  Finally, the third part of the sentence, found in the closing portion of verse 10, serves as an explanatory warning to the wealthy believer.

Now, the two instructions of verses 9-10 are governed by a single verb of command.  This verb of command is the word “rejoice” found in verse 9.  This word “rejoice” is translated from a Greek word that means, not simply to express joy and gladness, but to express exultation and glory.  Through this single verb of command, the entire sentence emphasizes our Lord’s desire for us to glory in three particular matters.

Weekly Sermon

James 1:9-11 reads, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.  For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”

Again we take note that the Holy Spirit inspired purpose for this epistle is to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the believer’s life.  James 1:9-11 presents the second paragraph of the epistle.  This paragraph gives counsel concerning the contrasting subjects of humble maturity and worldly materialism.  The contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the closing line of the paragraph at the end of verse 11 -- “So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”  This contextual situation primarily concerns the materialistic ways of the rich. 

Brethren, we all will face the temptation to the sin of worldly materialism.  For those believers who lack material wealth, the temptation will be to set the focus of their heart and energy upon obtaining material wealth, to covet the material wealth of others around them, and to be discontent with their lack of material wealth, and even be discouraged thereby.  For those believers who possess material wealth, the temptation will be to set the focus of their heart and energy upon protecting their material wealth, and even upon obtaining more, to look down with pride upon those around them who possess less material wealth, and to depend upon the power of their material wealth to provide, to deliver, and to influence.

Even so, verse 9 provides an instruction of encouragement to the lowly.  This instruction is intended to encourage lowly believers in their lack of material wealth.  Then, closely connected to verse 9 in its grammatical construction, verse 10 provides an instruction of exhortation to the rich.  This instruction is intended to exhort rich believers not to focus upon their material wealth.    Finally, flowing out of the closing thought of verse 10, verse 11 provides an illustration of ad-monition to the rich.  This illustration is intended to warn all believers away from the ways of materialism.  Overall, this paragraph presents two primary truths concerning the contrast between humble maturity and worldly materialism.

James 1:2-3 reads, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

As a whole the epistle of James is written with a focus upon the daily character and conduct of the believer.  It is filled with imperative instructions, exhortations, and even correctives.  James, the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19), was the leader among the pastoral leadership of the church at Jerusalem. (Acts 12:17; 15:13-21; 21:18; Galatians 1:19; 2:9)  Therefore, as a pastor James originally wrote this epistle under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit to the Jewish believers who were scattered throughout the empire of Rome.  His Holy Spirit inspired purpose was to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the lives of these believers.

The opening matter about which this epistle provides pastoral counsel concerns the troubles, trials, and tribulations of our lives.  Yet the truth of this opening passage does not simply give us words of comfort as we face the afflictions of this life.  Rather, this opening passage confronts us with an instruction for our attitude as we face the afflictions of life.  Grammatically the single sentence of James 1:2-3 can be divided into three parts.  First, there is the exhortational imperative of the main clause – “My brethren, count it all joy.”  Then there is the contextual incident of the subordinate clause – “When ye fall into divers temptations.”  Finally, there is the motivational information of the participial phrase – “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Weekly Sermon

James 1:1-8 reads, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

As a whole the epistle of James is written with a focus upon the daily character and conduct of the believer.  It is filled with imperative instructions, exhortations, and even correctives.  James, the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19), was the leader among the pastoral leadership of the church at Jerusalem. (Acts 12:17; 15:13-21; 21:18; Galatians 1:19; 2:9)  Therefore, as a pastor James originally wrote this epistle under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit to the Jewish believers who were scattered throughout the empire of Rome.  His Holy Spirit inspired purpose was to provide pastoral counsel for a spiritually mature walk in the lives of these believers.

The opening paragraph of this epistle (verses 2-8) moves immediately to the subject of life’s many, various trials, troubles, and tribulations.  This contextual situation and setting for the paragraph is established through the closing portion of verse 2 – “When ye fall into divers temp-tations.”  Now, in this context the phrase “divers temptations” refers to the many trials of our lives; for these “divers temptations” are described in verse 3 as “the trying of your faith.” 

Brethren, we all will face many, various trials, troubles, and tribulations in our lives.  Concerning this matter, God’s Word does not use the word “if,” but the word “when.”  It is not if we might fall into diverse temptations, but when we will fall into diverse temptations.  So then, how are we to deal aright with these many, various trials, troubles, and tribulations of our lives?  James 1:2-8 gives a series of four instructions concerning the matter.  Along with each of these instructions, a motivational reason is also provided in order to encourage our obedience therein.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  
                         Taking Heed according to God’s Word (Part 1) – Psalm 119:9-16    

Psalm 119:9-16 reads, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

In the opening portion of Psalm 119:9, the psalmist expressed the spiritual concern and burden of his heart with the question, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”  He desired to know how he himself, as a young man of God, might have his way cleansed and might continue in the cleansed way.  In the closing portion of Psalm 119:9, the answer of God’s Word is delivered – “By taking heed thereto according to thy [God’s] word.”  Through this principle we lean that we may have our way cleansed and may continue in the cleansed way by taking heed to conform our way in accord with the standard of God’s Word.  We must give our attention and our obedience to the Word of God.  Certainly this will require commitment on our part.  It will not just happen.  We must specifically prepare ourselves and commit ourselves every day to the task. 

So then, what is involved in the commitment to take heed unto our way in accord with God’s Word?  Throughout Psalm 119:10-16 the psalmist, this young man of God, presented eight points of commitment that he had made in this matter.  Through his example we learn what is involved in the commitment to take heed according to God’s Word.  Now, the eight points of commitment that the psalmist made may be divided grammatically into two parts.  The psalmist’s first four commitments he presented in the past tense as those commitments that he had already done.  In them we find our responsibility to apply ourselves unto God’s Word.  We must apply ourselves to make our Lord and His Word the governing priority and principle of our hearts.  The psalmist’s second four commitments he presented in the future tense as those commitments that he intended to do.  In them we find our responsibility to apply God’s Word unto ourselves.  We must apply the truth of God’s Word to our daily living so that our daily purposes and pursuits are conformed thereto.

Already in the first part of the message, we considered the first four commitments of the psalmist and our responsibility to apply ourselves unto God’s Word.  Therein we learned first from Psalm 119:10 that we must commit ourselves to seek after our Lord with all our heart, second from Psalm 119:11 that we must commit ourselves to hide God’s Word in our hearts, third from Psalm 119:13 that we must commit ourselves to declare all the wisdom of God’s Word, and fourth from Psalm 119:14 that we must commit ourselves to rejoice in the way of God’s Word. 

In this second part of the message, let us consider the second four commitments of the psalmist and our responsibility to apply God’s Word unto ourselves.

 Weekly Sermon

Psalm 119:9-16 reads, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

In the opening portion of verse 9, the psalmist expressed the spiritual concern and burden of his heart with the question, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” He desired to know how he himself, as a young man of God, might have his way cleansed and might continue in the cleansed way.  In the closing portion of verse 9, the answer of God’s Word is delivered – “By taking heed thereto according to thy [God’s] word.”  Through this principle we lean that we may have our way cleansed and may continue in the cleansed way by taking heed to conform our way in accord with the standard of God’s Word.  We must give our attention and our obedience to the Word of God.  Certainly this will require commitment on our part.  It will not just happen.  We must specifically prepare ourselves and commit ourselves every day to the task.  

So then, what is involved in the commitment to take heed unto our way in accord with God’s Word? Throughout Psalm 119:10-16 the psalmist, this young man of God, presented eight points of commitment that he had made in this matter.  Through his example we learn what is involved in the commitment to take heed according to God’s Word.  Now, the eight points of commitment that the psalmist made may be divided grammatically into two parts.  The psalmist’s first four commitments he presented in the past tense as those commitments that he had already done.  In them we find our responsibility to apply ourselves unto God’s Word.  We must apply ourselves to make our Lord and His Word the governing priority and principle of our hearts.  The psalmist’s second four commitments he presented in the future tense as those commitments that he intended to do.  In them we find our responsibility to apply God’s Word unto ourselves.  We must apply the truth of God’s Word to our daily living so that our daily purposes and pursuits are conformed thereto.

In this first part of the message, let us consider the first four commitments of the psalmist and our responsibility to apply ourselves unto God’s Word.

Outlines in Psalms

“To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.”

  I.  The Cry of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 4:1-2)
 II.  The Confidence of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 4:3-4)
III.  The Commitment of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 4:5-6)
IV.  The Comfort of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 4:7-8)

Weekly Sermon

Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Brethren, it is our responsibility as God’s own children to walk and live each day by faith, not by sight; for without faith it is impossible for us to please the Lord our God. (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6)  The life that we are now living in this flesh, we are to live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and give Himself for us. (Galatians 2:20)   Just as we received our Lord Jesus Christ through faith as our eternal Savior, even so we are to walk and abide in Him through steadfastness of faith, being rooted and built in Him thereby. (Colossians 2:6-7)  We are to stand and become established in the things of the Lord by faith, and through such steadfastness of faith in Him we shall obtain a good report. (Acts 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Hebrews 11:39)  Although we do not see our Lord with physical sight, yet we are to look unto Him with the sight of faith and thereby to rejoice in Him with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8)  Even so, the four lines of Proverbs 3:5-6 present four important truths concerning this matter of walking by faith and trust in our Lord.

Meditations in Jeremiah

In Jeremiah 30:10-11 the Lord our God proclaimed unto His people Israel, “Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.  For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”

Although the Lord our God made promise to His people that He would never completely disown them and forsake them, but that He would eventually deliver them and restore them, yet He indicated that He certainly would correct them “in measure” and would not leave them “altogether unpunished.”  Even so, in Hebrews 12:5-8 God’s Word declares unto us New Testament believers, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”