Category: Sermon Notes

When you realize how good God is to you, you will have no interest in the temptations the enemy puts before you. When you are tempted, count your blessings; and you will soon have strength to say no.

James 1:12‭-‬18 NIV 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.  

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 

• Romans 7:19‭, ‬22‭-‬23 NIV For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  

• Romans 6:23 NIV For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

God is the giver of “every good and perfect gift.” The concept of God’s goodness rules out the possibility that he would send an influence as destructive as temptation. His gifts are marked by kindness and helpfulness, not destructiveness. They are “perfect” (GK 5455), which in this context excludes any possibility of moral evil as coming from God.

Ex 34:22 and Lev 23:10 “Firstfruits” refers to the first portion of the harvest given to God, a foretaste of that which was to come. The many that would be Born Again.

James 1:9‭-‬12 NIV 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 wild flower. 

• Trials erase any superficial distinctions that one may think separates the rich brother from the poor one.

• The very same treatment that exalts the poor and gives them a new sense of worth also humbles the rich.

• Suffering shows the rich that, instead of having a lasting lease on life on this earth, their lives are no more permanent than “a wild flower”

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.  

• 1 Peter 5:5b‭-‬7 NIV  “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

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.

• “Blessed” (GK 3421) speaks of the distinctive religious joy that is a benefit of salvation. This word describes the enviable state of the person who does not give up when confronted with trying circumstances but remains strong in faith and devotion to God.
• “Stood the test” suggests the process of successfully testing precious metals and coins and their consequent approval as genuine. Perseverance under trial results in approval, and approval results in 
• “the crown [GK 5709] of life. For James, this word refers to the reward given to believers who are victorious in their struggles against trials. 

• This life “that God has promised” is more than the eternal life given to every believer at the time of his or her salvation

In time of trouble, say, 

• “First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” 
• Next, “He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.” 
• Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.” 
• And last, say, “In His good time He can bring me out again. How and when, He knows.” 

Therefore, say, I am here 

(1) in His keeping 

(2) under His training

(3) for His time.

We can mentally prepare ourselves by: 

1. “consider” the other side of trials; 

2. calculating the results of our trials; 

3. calling on God’s resources in our trials; 

4. considering our reactions to our trials; 5. contemplating the reward of our trials.

James 1:1‭-‬8 NIV 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.  

• To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
  • Separated from family
  • Separated from homes
  • Separated from God
  • Persecuted  in a foreign land

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. 

• Everyone encounters trials in life.
• Paul portrayed his Roman imprisonment as “the things which happened to me” (Phil. 1:12).
• It is the same term used in the story of the good Samaritan of the man who “fell among thieves” (Luke 10:30).
• The word consider “should rather be translated, ‘think forward, consider, regard.’
• No one enjoys trials nor does God expect for us to
• James does not say if you encounter trials, but when you encounter trials.

4 Letperseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

• We must learn to look at the experience from God’s perspective and recognize the trial not as a happy experience in itself but as the means of producing something very valuable in life.
• Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3‭-‬4)
• The thing which amazed the heathen in the centuries of persecution was that the martyrs did not die grimly; they died singing.

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.

• A prayer to be said When the world has gotten you down And you feel rotten, And you’re too doggone tired to pray, And you’re in a big hurry, And besides, you’re mad at everybody … “Help!”
• In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26)
• Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

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. 

• And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
• Unless there is within us that which is above us, we will soon yield to that which is around us.
• For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
The Good News

• It’s not because God doesn’t want to help
• Doubt prevents us from trusting Him to help
• This grieves (not angers) our Heavenly Father (Luke 15)
• But He is always waiting for us to turn our hears towards home…

Jesus modeled pray through out His ministry 

• Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). 

• (Matthew 6:9–13). Is the model prayer, Jesus teaches us

• He prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21–22);  before feeding the 5,000 (Luke 9:16) and the 4,000 (Matthew 15:36); and at the moment of His transfiguration (Luke 9:29). Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He “spent the night praying to God” on a mountainside (Luke 6:12). 

• As He spoke of His coming sacrifice, Jesus prayed a very short prayer: “Father, glorify your name!” (John 12:28).

• Spending a last few minutes with His disciples on the night of His arrest, Jesus prayed an extended prayer known today as His “high priestly prayer” (John 17) on behalf of His own, those given to Him by the Father (verse 6).

• Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest (Matthew 26:36–46). He had asked His disciples to pray with Him, but they fell asleep instead.

• Jesus also prayed for the forgiveness of those who were torturing Him to death: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). In His final breath, Jesus continued to express His faith in God: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

To this day, Jesus continues to pray for His own from His exalted position in heaven at the right hand of God. Scripture says He makes intercession for those who belong to Him (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1).
Christians must never neglect to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

• Paul also emphasizes pray over worry
• Paul said we should pray continually 

Ephesians 6:18‭-‬24 NIV18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.  

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 NIV Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

• Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• 1 Peter 5:6‭-‬9 NIV Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.  23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Closing Promise Regarding Prayer

Luke 18:1‭-‬8 NIV Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’   “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The danger on the battlefield is that we do not take the enemy seriously and therefore fail to put on all of the armor. By faith, you put on the armor through prayer, which must be done at the beginning of every day. Never underestimate the strategy and strength of the devil.

• Romans 7:15 NIV. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

• Romans 7:19 NIV. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬18 NIV10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

• Philippians 4:13 NIV I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

• Ephesians 1:18 NIV. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Note: The armor protects the whole person in every aspect of life.  The entire garment matters.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Note: To stand your ground is to know where you stand (principles) and the be authentic (integrity) It is who we are when no one is watching. 
Note: An enemy will always try to divide and conquer.  Division and Discord are primary tools of destruction. 

• Ephesians 4:2‭-‬3 NIV Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Note: Never forget who you are and whose you are!

• Ephesians 2:10 NIV For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 6:1‭-‬4 NIV1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  

• Colossians 3:20 NIV Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

• Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

• Colossians 3:21 NIV: Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged 

Background: Slavery  in  the  Greco-Roman  World. One  of  the  most  important  things  to  understand  about  the passage is  background  of  slavery  in the  ancient  world. Once  we  have  an  informed understanding  of  slavery  in  the  ancient  world  we will  be  able  to  make  better  sense  out  of  what  Paul  is  writing. Slavery as  practiced  in  the  New World  in  the  17th-19th  centuries  has  hindered more  than  helped  achieving  an  appropriate,  historical  understanding  of  social-economic  life  in the  Mediterranean  world  of  the  1st  century,  knowledge  of  which  is  absolutely  essential  for  a sound  interpretation of  those  NT  texts  dealing  with  slaves  and  their  owners.”
Slaves  were  viewed  as  property.  They  were  able  to  sell  themselves  into  slavery, purchase  slaves for  themselves,  earn  wages,  and  buy their  way out  of  slavery.  Slaves  could  come  from  any conceivable  background.  Some  slaves  were  doctors,  philosophers,  and  government  officials. For some,  slave  life  was  voluntary.  If  a  person  wanted  Roman  citizenship,  they  could  become  a slave  to  a  Roman  and  when  manumitted  gain  Roman  citizenship.  Slavery  was  not  a  racial matter,  rather  it  was  a  means  to  get  manual  labor  done.

Ephesians 6:5‭-‬9 NIV6 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 

• Proverbs 16:3 NIV Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

• Colossians 3:17 NIV And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.  9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

God is Always in Control 

Note: God desires the man to defend and protect what is most precious to Him

God desires man to be a vessel used by Him to protect His most precious institution (the family)

She is not to be treated as a piece of property, as was the custom in Paul’s day.

Ephesians 5:21‭-‬33 NIV21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.  

• Colossians 3:18‭-‬20 NIV Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

• 1 Peter 3:7 NIV. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Note: The marriage relationship is now set out as being a reflection of the relationship between Christ and his church. This raises it to an unimaginably lofty level.

• 1 Corinthians 11:12 NIV. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

• 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 
31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”  32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 

Note: Paul does not add the words “but I am talking about Christ and the church” as if he has been diverted from his theme. Rather, he is saying that so far as he is concerned, he refers the mystery to the relation between Christ and the church

33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Galatians 1:10 NIV Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Ephesians 5:15‭-‬20 NIV

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

• James 1:5 NIV 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.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 

• Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 

• Ephesians 4:29 NIV Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Colossians 3:15 NIV Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Then Paul goes to the field (vv. 8–14) and reminds us that walking in the light produces spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22–23). If we walk in the light, we cannot have fellowship with the darkness (2 Cor. 6:14–18).

Note: You are no longer the same and an agent of change.

Ephesians 5:8‭-‬14 NIV8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 

John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Note: When the light of Christ shines in the lives of believers it produces benevolence, fairness, and integrity. These three qualities counteract the dark influence of malice (4:31), injustice, and falsehood

Note: “To find out” (GK 1507) has to do with the testing of metals and so can mean to discover by examination, to verify, or to approve. Those who live as “children of light”

11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 

Note: But though they do not withdraw from the world, they refuse to adopt its standards or fall in with its ways. They are concerned to produce “the fruit of the light” (v.9).

2 Corinthians 6:14‭-‬18 NIV Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

As he encourages us to live godly lives, Paul takes us to the temple (vv. 1–7) and reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

Humans have five basic senses:

• Touch = Healing touch
• Sight = The blind to see
• hearing = Having heard the Word
• Smell = Fragrant offering 
• Taste = Taste and see the Lord is good

Ephesians 5:1‭-‬7 NIV
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children  2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  

If we walk in love, our lives will be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) fragrant to the Lord (John 12:1–8).

Romans 12:1‭-‬2 NIV. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Mary gave her possessions and herself…

John 12:1‭-‬3 NIV Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

On the Contrary,  Sin is ugly and a stench in God’s nostrils

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 

7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

• To be a partner is to be in this thing together…
• Jesus hates the Sin but loves the Sinner