The End of Yourself - The Letter of James - James 1:5-8
James 1:5-8 The End of Yourself
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
Job said: “Anyone born of woman is short of days and full of trouble.” 14:1
David sais: “One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all.” 34:19
Paul said: “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed… 2Cor 4:8-9
Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people…” Rom 5:12
For you, God, tested us; you refined us as silver is refined. 11 You lured us into a trap;
you placed burdens on our backs. 12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us out to abundance. (И посадил людей на голавы наши) Ps. 66:10-12
I. God wants you to come to the end of your self
1Cor.1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God”
1Cor.1:30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us – our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.”
II. Come to God as your only hope
Ask God who gives to all
Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon yourself and learn from me because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt 11:28-29
See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with Me. To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev 3:20-21
II. Come to God as your only hope
Ask God who gives generously
18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 1 Pet. 1:18-19
32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Rm 8:32
II. Come to God as your only hope
Ask God who gives ungrudgingly
4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. John 15:4-5
III. Fight to remain dependent only on Christ
15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.” Joshua 24
13 For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves— cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. Jer.2
Application Questions:
1. Have you come to realize that without Him you can do nothing?
2. Do you realize that trials in your life are given to help you get emptied of yourself and be filled with the Wisdom of God?
3. If you are tired to be unstable in all of your ways – come to Christ, commit your life to Him and let Him transform you in to His image.