KBF Teachings

James 1:13-18
¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor dose he tempt anyone;¹⁴ but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 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.

• Introduction: Hardship on the outside can change to temptations on the inside.
• “3 Shields” to protect against temptation

When the pressure is on…

1. Think of the agony of falling to temptation. 1:13-16
2. Think of God’s goodness. 1:17
3. Focus on God’s Spirit living in you. 1:18

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 1:2-12
 'Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God. who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord: 8he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does.9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

4 Tools to turn trouble in triumphs:

1. vs.2- A Joyful Attitude-
   The way you see life will decide the outcome. Attitude decides action.
   
   • God tells us to expect trouble in this life.
   • What we think to be most important will direct our attitude when trouble comes.  So when trouble comes, immediately choose to give thanks to God and look at the trouble with eyes of faith.....
2. vs.3- An Understanding Mind
   -What can we understand that makes it easier to face trials and benefit from them??:
   
   1. Faith is always tested.
   2. Trials can help us to mature.
   • 2cor. 4:17
     'for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.'
   • Romans 8:28
     And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.
   • Patience & endurance -such depth of character can not be attained by reading a book. We must go through the difficulties of life, trust God& do what he asks of us.
3. vs.4&9-11- A Surrendered Will
   -God cannot build character without a willing heart. Forced goodness in no goodness at all. God builds character before he calls to service. He must work in us before he can work through us.
   *Maturing involves "Weaning"
   Psalm 131:2
   But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a　weaned child is my soul within me.
4. vs.5-8 - A Believing Heart- In difficult times We are to ask for wisdom. We are to ask in faith.
   James 4:6
   But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but　gives grace to the humble."

vs.12- Remember!!A love relationship is the foundation for all training God has for us in this life!!

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Intro: Not everyone who grows old, grows up.

How Can we get the most out of Studying this letter?

1. Be born again. Without spiritual birth there is no spiritual maturity.
   1Peter 1:23　 'For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."
2. Be willing to Honestly examine our lives in the light of God's word.
   James 1:22
   ²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror.
3. Begin to do what God teaches us no matter what the cost.
4. No pain, no gain- Get ready for difficulty because growth comes through resistance.
5. We are to Measure our Growth by the WORD OF GOD &JESUS, not comparing ourselves with other people.
   Ephesians
   4:13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Not everyone who grows old grows up. What do you want for your life??

Maturity ChecK:

1. Am I becoming more and more patient in the difficulties of life??
2. Do I play with temptation or resist it from the start?
3. Do I want to obey the word of God or do I just study it as a text book?

Memory Verse
Philippians 2:13 'for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Hebrews 13:17
'Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, for that would be of no advantage to you.

*How do we release the anointing that God has put in us?

1. Major Problem in Society today is Abuse and disdain of Authority.

2. If you can't respect the people in authority in your life, respect the position of authority.
   Romans 13:1
   ¹Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3. Respecting Authority opens the flow of God's Anointing on your life.
   Acts 10:38
   "God anointed Jesus of Nazereth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
   Eph. 1:22
   'And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.'

4. If you are under unfair/bad leadership, show respect to the position and God is highly likely to work on your behalf to change the situation!!

5. Judging leaders will stop the flow of God's Anointing upon you!!
   ・What are we to do for leaders who make mistakes? Pray for Them!!
   Hebrews13:18
   Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

6. Remember: there is a difference between worshipping a leader and respecting a leader.
   If we are going to have a powerful anointing from God in these last days, we are going to have to get a fresh healthy attitude towards those in Authority over our lives..

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Hebrews13: 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." ⁶So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" ⁷Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. ¹⁰We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Read vs 5,6. Our lives are to be characterized by freedom from love of money and material anxiety (vs 5b,6)

To The Un-Rich: Flee From the Desire to Be Rich (vs 7-12a)
Hebrews13:11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. ¹²And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

It is not wrong to desire to earn more money to meet expanding needs and serve others. It is wrong to desire to earn more to get the ego-boost and luxuries of wealth. Paul gives three reasons for this:

1. Because you can't take any of it with you. (vs 7)
2. Because you can be content without being wealthy. (vs 8)
3. Because the desire to be rich will destroy your life. (vs 9,10)
   1. The demand for instant gratification.
   2. The law of diminishing returns.
   3. Can interfere with and even destroy personal relationships.
   4. Can lead you into other destructive behaviors.
   5. Blind you to their destructive effects on you.
   6. Both prevent you from progressing spiritually. (Mk. 4:19; Matt. 6:24)
      Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
      Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

To the Rich (vs 17-19)
Hebrews13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. ¹⁸Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. ¹⁹I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

1. Don't let your wealth make you conceited. (vs 17a)
2. Don't let your wealth drain your spiritual motivation. (vs 17b)
3. Use your wealth to be a pipeline of God's love to others. (vs 18)

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Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link