"getting Through What You Can't Get Over"

James would have been trained in the Jewish religion, because his

parents were Hebrews. He would have been perfect to lead the Jews who

had accepted Jesus as their Saviour. The letter was actually written

to Jewish Christians, which is still in character for this to be the

half-brother of Jesus. The letter is even addressed to the twelve

tribes of Israel. It is, however, useful to all Christians, as well as

Jews.

It was written before 62 A.D. which is the year believed to be

the year of death for St. James.

Now we will begin the verse by verse study of the book of James

in James 1:1 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to

the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting."

We see in this very first verse, that James did not mention the

fact that he was the half-brother of Jesus in the flesh. He was so

humbled by the fact that, he had not immediately realized who Jesus

was. He, like Mary, was the family of Jesus in the flesh, but he fully

realized that Jesus was his Lord. He calls himself servant, in the

verse above, to show his total submission to the service of the Lord.

At the time James wrote this, the twelve tribes had not returned to

Israel. James, at the resurrection of the Lord, had submitted himself

to not only salvation through Jesus, but had dedicated his life to His

service. It is easy to understand why James did not believe Jesus to

be the Messiah at first, because they were raised together as

children.

James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers

temptations;"

James gets right to the subject of his letter in this verse.

There was much persecution in the church in this day. James just says,

to face the problems that arise and grow from those problems. James

speaks to them as brothers in Christ. It is difficult to see when we

are facing temptations, but there is a lesson to be learned in each of

them. Jesus faced every temptation when he went to the mountain and

fasted forty days and nights. The main lesson to be learned in the

temptation, is that God will help us face the problem. He will see us

through, if we will place our trust in Him. I Corinthians 10:13 "There

hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God

[is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are

able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye

may be able to bear [it]." Knowing that we are to grow through this

temptation should bring us joy.

James 1:3 "Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh

patience."

Now we are looking at one of the benefits of temptations. Most of

us are not patient at all, before we are saved. If we are to take on

the likeness of Christ, then we must, also, become patient. We see a

very good example of this in Job in the Old Testament. He faced great

temptation and patiently waited for an answer from God. The end of the

temptation was victory for him.

James 1:4 "But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may

be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

When we pray, we usually want to see an instant answer to our

prayer. We are not instantly transformed into that perfect Christian

that we all desire to be, and our prayers are many times not answered

immediately either. There is a growing process to become the person we

want to be. Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the

faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" When we

are saved, we have just entered the path that leads to righteousness.

We grow in the Lord and His righteousness as we are instructed in His

Word. We then must apply the instructions that we have learned to

practical living to become that full Christian. The Bible says that we

must be fed milk and honey, until we grow into the mature Christian

who can handle the meat of the Word. We will see the victory, if we

patiently wait for it.

James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that

giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be

given him."

Wisdom is a gift from God. Knowledge is accumulated learning. The

best way to grow in the Lord, then, would be to pray that God will

give you the gift of wisdom and understanding. Ask God for the Holy