Mark Hunnicutt

James 4:11-17 – God’s plan + God’s way + today = Good day…

Scripture

13 Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone. 15 What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Observations

• There is a difference between making plans and asking God to bless them and blessing the plan God has made by following Him.
• Fog = short
• It is pride to make a plan and then seek God
• If I know what to do and I don't do it = sin of omission

Applications

• See where God is working and join Him there – Blackaby
• Live life out of the fog
• Seek God before plan
• Do the Do's in life

Prayer

Jesus, You are my leader! I'm not walking hand in hand with You I'm following You. I repent of the times I've gotten ahead of You. I ask that You show me where You are working and empower me to join You there. Jesus it is Your plan, Your way, today!

 

James 4:1-10 – Drawing close to Jesus = fleeing the devil

Scripture

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Observations

• Be completely dependent upon God
• Push back from the devil
• If I fight he will flee
• Draw close
• Conviction and confession of actions and attitudes
• Instead of laughing at sin I should grieve over it
• God is not going to look up

Applications

• Fight the temptation of self sufficiency
• Put on the armor of God Eph 6
• Love and listen to Jesus
• Confess my outward actions and my inward attitudes
• Sin isn't funny, don't laugh grieve
• Be bended and broken before God

Prayer

God, I ask that I have a bigger sensitivity to what breaks Your heart. I know that my sin has and does. Give me a perspective of my real home and not some false hope. God my actions and attitudes should reflect a close relationship with You.

James 3:6-12 – Question the WHYs in your WALK…

Scripture

13 If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying.15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.18     And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Observations

• Proof you are wise and understand God's ways: honorable life, humble do good works
• Jealousy and selfish ambition cannot be motives for speaking or serving
• God is nowhere to be found when there is jealousy and selfish ambition
• Wisdom from above: pure, peace loving, gentle, yielding, merciful and good deeds
• It shows no favoritism and is sincere
• My speech and service sow seeds that WILL BE harvested. Good or

Applications

• Ambition check? Why I'm I saying or doing this?
• Serve others
• Don't stir up trouble with words
• Sincerely love ALL people
• See past the now to the harvest

Prayer

Lord, I come to you today after reading this practical passage repenting. If I question the WHYs in my WALK most of them are selfish, insincere motives. I need your power and conviction.

James 3:6-12 – When my daily words don’t match my subjective witness then there is a huge problem…

Scripture

6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!11     Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring.

Observations

• Tongue is and the negative
• Tongue is unmanageable
• Tongue in positive
• Should not be both positive and negative
• Illustrations

Applications

• Answer the proposed question
• What came out of my mouth today
• The reason I can't manage my tongue is because I'm should be the owner

Prayer

God, a sacrifice my tongue to You. May my tongue to controlled by You and not my feelings. I ask that you reveal to me the dangers of my words.

James 3:1-5 – Words are HUGE! God empower me to steward mine today…

Day 3 – James 3:1-5 –

3:1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

Observations

• Teachers fill the truth tank
• If one longs for the position but doesn't speak truth = Stricter Judgement
• The tongue!
• 3 illustrations – horse/bit, rudder/ship, Forrest fire/spark
• A small thing can control so much

Applications

• Truth in truth out
• Filter everything I say through God's purpose and plan for my life
• Why did I say that?
• Evaluate my bit, rudder and spark to see if it created the work, way and wonder it is intended to create

Prayer

Lord I lay my tongue AGAIN about Your altar. God empower me today to say Your Words Your Way!

A weekend with "The Body" needs to be different than a "Weekend tt Bernie's." New blog post...

As pastor we are constantly trying to inspire and lead people to a live faith. My accountability group is journeying through the book of James and in chapter 2 James writes…

26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Weekend at Bernie’s is one of the classic 80’s movies. By the way, if you haven’t watched Ghostbusters or Back to the Future you own it to yourself and the next generation ;-) As much as they tried to make Bernie alive, he wasn’t. The only scene where he moved without assistance is when some Voodoo guys did some rituals, lights and music. But, when the music stopped so did Bernie. My pray is that we wouldn’t think that rituals, lights and music cause people to have a live faith. Real faith happens outside of our gatherings when the music stops. Teach a daily death, diet and duty that resound beyond the four walls of a building.

James 2:14–26 – Faith needs to be shown & behaved not just spoken & believed.

Scripture

18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds."

19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Observations

• James uses 4 illustrations about faith connected to works
• Apathy of action, Abraham, adulterous (Rehab), autopsy
• These are pictures of a correct faith
• Faith is shown not spoken
• Faith is behaved not believed
• Faith without works is useless
• Last illustration = dead body is compared to a faith without works

Applications

• Ask this question, what are needs close to me that I can meet?
• Do more believing than behaving
• Show more than I speak
• Don't have a dead faith

Prayer

God, I ask that I would be more about activity than assembly. Lord, what are needs around me today that I can personally meet? Empower me to do them with excellence.

James 1:8–14 Trails From Fall: live & look through it (JOY) / Temptations From Flesh: die daily to distraction (JESUS)…

Scripture

11     The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

12     God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

13     And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.

14     Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

Observations

• In Christ there are no differences between rich and poor
• Crown of life = fulfilled, satisfied, purposeful and full life. Being who God has created called and commissioned me to do.
• TEMPTATIONS works from flesh out and TRAILS work from fall in.
• God does not tempt
• I'm to blame if away from God

Applications

• Focus on a relationship with God instead of riches
• Conform to my destiny
• Trails From Fall: live and look through it (JOY) / Temptations From Flesh: die daily to distraction (JESUS)
• Don't blame God
• Understand the fall and flesh

Prayer

I love you for such clear instructions for my journey! Lord, I ask that you empower me to look to You and not riches, look to You and not blame. The fall has caused this world to be in a tailspin and this context brings growth to me and glory to Your name. I ask for You conviction when my flesh gets out of control. I also ask for discipline to die daily.

James 1:1-7 - God is holding and molding me for His plan and my perfection…

Scripture

1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am writing to the "twelve tribes"—Jewish believers scattered abroad.

Greetings!

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Observations

• James THE brother of Jesus
• WHEN trouble comes it is an opportunity for JOY
• Trusting God brings growth
• God is holding and molding me for His plan and my perfection
• When I don't understand I can ask God
• Faith is essential to receiving

Application

• I'm just a slave to submission, act like it!
• Look through trails at the end, count today.
• When I trust God I grow and when I trust Mark I'm slow
• Ask God for wisdom
• I've got to act outside of my reason

Prayer

Lord, I love you and I'm looking forward to this journey through James. I ask that my familiarity with this book not distract me from what You want to do in me. I ask that I work on submission , expecting trouble and totally trusting You with my life. I ask for wisdom and faith for my journey. Thank You for holding me and molding me for Your perfect work.

Join me on a three week journey through the book of James? Instructions, introduction and reading plan found here…

S.O.A.P. Bible Study Method

http://www.divinementor.com

Click on the link and watch intro video and steps to the S.O.A.P. method. Pay careful attention to the "how to" S.O.A.P. Sample

S = Scripture
Type out the verse or verses that stood out to you.

O = Observation
What is that verse saying?

A = Application
How does that verse apply to you today?

P = Prayer
Type out a prayer that expresses your heart to God

Set a goal to SOAP it up weekly 5 out of 7 days. Use the other 2 days to review, catch up and personally journal your growth goals.

S.O.A.P. Journey Through James

Introduction To The Book Of James: Faith without works cannot be called faith. "Faith without works is dead" (2:26), James insists; and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all.

Faith must work; it must produce; it must make itself visible. Verbal faith is not enough and mental faith is insufficient. Genuine faith inspires and empowers godly action. Throughout his letter, James integrates true faith and everyday practical experience by stressing that true faith must manifest itself in works of faith—otherwise, it is not real faith at all.

Genuine faith endures trials. Trials are bound to come, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance.

Genuine faith understands temptations. It will never consent to our lusts and thereby slide into sin.

Genuine faith harbors no prejudice. For James, faith and favoritism cannot coexist.

Genuine faith has the power to control the tongue. This small but immensely powerful part of the body must be held in check—and only grace, working through faith, can manage it.

Genuine faith acts wisely. It gives us the ability to choose heavenly wisdom that brings life and to shun earthly wisdom that brings death.

Genuine faith produces separation from the world and submission to God. It provides us with the ability to resist the devil and humbly draw near to God.

Finally, genuine faith waits patiently for the coming of the Lord. Although troubles and trials cause us grief, faith in the return of Christ stifles complaining.

The name Iakobos (James) in 1:1 is the basis for the early title, Iakobou Epistole, "Epistle of James." Iakobos is the Greek form of the common Hebrew name Jacob.

Theme: Genuine faith gets to work on a daily basis by depending on the power of God.

Author: Generally agreed that James "the Lord's brother" (Gal. 1:19) wrote this letter.

Date: Probably written before a.d. 50, making it perhaps the earliest book in the New Testament, with the possible exception of Galatians.

Structure: James briefly greets his audience (1:1); then instructs them about trials (1:2–20), the nature of true faith (1:21–2:26), the untamable tongue (3:1–12), heavenly wisdom (3:13–18), pride versus humility (4:1–17), warnings to the rich (5:1–6), persevering patience (5:7–12), and miscellaneous matters (5:13–18); and then gives a brief conclusion (5:19, 20). - Charles F. Stanley, The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible

James

Week #1: _ Mon 1:1-7 _ Tues 1:8-14 _ Wed 1:15-22 _ Thurs 1:23-27 _ Fri 2:1-9

Week #2: _ Mon 2:10-13 _ Tues 2:14-26 _ Wed 3:1-5 _ Thurs 3:6-12 _ Fri 3:13-18

Week #3: _Mon 4:1-10 _ Tues 4:11-17 _ Wed 5:1-6 _ Thurs 5:7-12 _ Fri 5:13-20