James- Chapter 5- Sermon Notes
November 19, 2022

Fatigue - is caused by uncertainty and conflict.

Why is it so difficult to face trials?

We have accepted some assumptions that actually sabotage our ability to rise above the trouble and make it through stronger instead of weaker.

2 Lies - 1. Strive to do all the right things. 2. We believe that we will have trials or triumph -

The thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.

How to Triumph in Trouble

Why James wrote the letter - was afraid that they were going to give up. Rome, Jewish Temple System, Persecuted, scattered. Who James was - brother, leader, Council of Acts 15,

What James writes: - straightforward, action orientated , what following Jesus really meant. Sermon on the Mount over 15 times.

And what does a life built by Jesus look like? Very different from the world.

Is the goal of your life truly to become more and more like Jesus?

James 5 - How to Triumph in Trouble.

Four Things You Need to Triumph in Trouble:

  1. Check Your Perspective

James 5:1-6
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

The response to terrible times is not take your ball and go home, the response to terrible times is to discover when God has made you a steward of what He has made you a steward of - its is to help other people and use it for His glory.

Perspective matters - see your life in the perspective of heaven.
Money, riches and stuff are temporary. It is not the condition of your bank account, it is the condition of your heart.

How is your heart? Living in fear or living in faith - are you hoarding what you have or helping others with it?

Four Things You Need to Triumph in Trouble:
1. Check Your Perspective
2. Cultivate Patience

James 5:7-9
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

The people James is writing to those who in a deep state of fatigue.

Fatigue is caused by uncertainty and conflict.

For some temptation to hoard and for some the temptation to rush ahead, fix things right now, get out of trouble.

See how the farmer waits…Rose Bud - if you try to rush it, you will destroy it.

Resist the temptation to fix things, get out of the trouble anyway you can.

Get the right perspective, and cultivate patience … stand firm and wait. And Watch what God is going to do - you can’t see the harvest yet, but you will!

Four Things You Need to Triumph in Trouble:
1. Check Your Perspective
2. Cultivate Patience
3. Choose Perseverance

James 5:10-12
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Perspective Matters, Cultivate Patience, and Persevere: don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t lose hope, God will see you through.

Choose Perseverance, not fear of the unknown future but faith in the known God revealed to us by Jesus Christ.

Choose Perseverance, not disappointment, not discouragement, not distraction.

Choose Perseverance, I’m not saying don’t feel your feelings , I am saying feel them and choose to not give up no matter how hard things get or how impossible it seems.

Four Things You Need to Triumph in Trouble:
1. Check Your Perspective
2. Cultivate Patience
3. Choose Perseverance
4. Center Yourself in Prayer

James 5:13-16
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Oil - presence of God, (anointed kings, prophets and priests) What does oil do? It covers you and you can’t get it off. Precious, expensive and costly - (1 Peter 1:18) If you are in trouble get in the middle of God’s presence!
Center yourself in Prayer. Center yourself in God.

Our lives are meant to be lived from the center of God’s presence. Center yourself in prayer.

Soak in it. Center yourself in the presence of God and live your life from it.

Have you every been in an impossible situation that the only one who can turn it around is God? It is a terrible place to be… until it’s triumphant.
It’s a hard place to be until there is a breakthrough.

Are you praying more than you are saying? Pray more, talk less.

James 5:17-20
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James uses Elijah as an example of a man who prayed and saw God do miracles. Elijah didn’t do the miracles - God did.

We exist to introduce people to Jesus and help them discover who He has created them to be.

Remember, with Jesus, you can and will triumph in the midst of trials and trouble.

Check Your Perspective,
Cultivate Patience
Choose Perseverance
Center Yourself in Prayer