• Luke 4:22-5:39
• Luke 4:22-27 – Jesus was making a point about how the Jews were rejecting Him. In times past, God had sent prophets to Gentiles and blessed them. This reminder infuriated the Jews.
• Luke 5:22 – Some claim that Jesus never used any divine attributes while He was on the earth, but Jesus clearly demonstrated divine knowledge of the thoughts of others, not to mention that a few verses earlier, Jesus forgave sins!

• Light speed and light years

• Genesis 1:1-5, 14-19

• Psalms 147:4-5

• The earth’s oceans

  • Genesis 1:6-10, 20-23, 31

• Ephesians 1:4, 7

• Isaiah 46:9; 55:8-9

• Job 38:4-11, 16, 18-19; 40:2; 42:1-6

• Hebrews 12:28-29

• Matthew 13:47-50 – The good and bad will be separated in the end.

• Luke 16:24

• Romans 8:21

• Hebrews 2:3

• I Peter 1:3-4

• Matthew 27:54

• Revelation 21:11, 18-23

• Let us make time in our busy daily lives:

  • To stop!

  • To focus!

  • To appreciate the vastness of:

    • God’s creation!

    • God’s plan!

    • God’s punishment!

  • And be in awe!!

• Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 8, 6; 5:32-33

• God laid out the path for His people. Joshua 1:7

• Proverbs 4:26-27; Deuteronomy 12:32

• Proverbs 30:5-6

• An example

  • Numbers 22:18 – Balaam could only speak from God. He could not speak what originated from himself.

  • Numbers 24:13

  • I Peter 4:11

  • Revelation 22:18-19

  • II John 1:9

  • II Timothy 3:16-17

• New Testament authority

  • Matthew 7:21 – It isn’t enough to just to say Jesus’ name.

  • Galatians 3:15; Psalms 89:34

  • Galatians 1:6-9

  • I Corinthians 4:6

  • Matthew 16:19; John 15:20; 7:23; 10:35 (Matthew 5:18-19)

  • John 14:26; 16:13

  • I Corinthians 2:6-13; II Peter 1:20-21

  • Acts 2:39

  • At times, inspired men didn’t fully understand what they themselves said or wrote as prophecy. I Peter 1:10-12; Daniel 12:8-9

[Sorry, no audio due to technical difficulties. -MRW]

• Chapter 1: Trials

  • What is a trial? James 1:2

    • An experiment or attempt, tried, or tested.

  • We are tested or approved.

    • A struggle of a spiritual nature.

  • How might trials look today?

    • Examples of trials à Conflicts, sufferings, troubles

    • Persecutions

  • Reasons we have trials (James 1:3-4)

    • Testing of your faith produces patience.

    • Trials fill the gaps in our character.

      • I Peter 1:6-7 (builds us up)

      • Romans 5:3-4 (perseverance, character, and hope)

  • Our attitude toward trials

    • Count it all joy – James 1:2

    • Be patient … let it have its work (James 1:3-4). Sometimes its turbulent. Matthew 14:25-32

      • That you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4
        • Idea of standing fast under pressure
      • Hebrews 12:3-11 – Trials produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

  • James tells us “how to” endure trials.

    • If we lack wisdom (James 1:5) … ask of God … Pray.

      • The promise is that we will receive it.

    • But ask in faith and ask with no doubting. James 1:6

    • How can we doubt in prayer? Mark 11:23

    • Why is doubt wrong?

    • When we doubt we are tossed like waves driven by the wind.

    • This is how we gain wisdom. We endure trials and we ask in faith without doubting.

    • Remember that the wisdom of God starts with a genuine reverence for the Almighty. Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 9:10

  • Examples of trials

    • Comparing the rich and lowly (James 1:9-11)
      • James 4:13; Luke 12:16-20

  • Trials and temptations (James 1:12-15)

    • There are blessings involved in enduring temptation.

    • Our reward is the crown of life that the Lord has promised.

      • To those who love Him. John 14:15

    • It is possible to endure. James 1:12

      • I Corinthians 9:27

    • Temptations are not from God. James 1:13

    • God is not tempted and does not tempt us. I Corinthians 10:13

    • James 1:14 – Temptation comes from our own desires.

    • James 1:15-16 – Desire leads to sin, sin leads to death.

    • Example: An addict … a habit, once acquired, eventually controls that person.

    • James 1:17-18 – Don’t be deceived, good and perfect gifts are from God. God doesn’t tempt us but our trials are there to strengthen us, to perfect and complete us.

  • Qualities we need

    • James 1:19-21 – Have a teachable spirit. This is how we will acquire these abilities.