Pastor Mitchell also spoke about demonstrating true faith based on verses from the Book of James.

Outline—James 1:26, 27

1. Tests of real faith:
   1. The conversation test (v. 26)
   2. The compassion test (v. 27a)
   3. The conduct test (v. 27b)

Take Home Points

• How to control your tongue? Ask these questions before you speak:
  • Is is true?
  • Is it kind?
  • Is it necessary?

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1. Solemn closing (v. 19)
2. Sound thinking (v. 19)
3. Similar texts:
   1. Romans 14:1
   2. 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22
   3. Galatians 6:1–2
   4. Hebrews 3:12–14
   5. Hebrews 12:12–17
4. Satisfying results (v. 20)

Take Home Points

• Have you wandered from subjection to the truth of God?
• Do you recognize this as a call to you to seek & rescue believers in error?
• Is there someone you need to confront biblically?

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Cited scripture:

• James 5:16–18
• Galatians 6:1–9
• The story of Elijah:
  • Deuteronomy 28:1–2, 12, 15, 24
  • 1 Kings 16:29–34
  • 1 Kings 17:1–24
  • 1 Kings 18:1, 18–45

Take Home Points

• Count yourself blessed to be included in the long line of servants of the Most High.
• Build your prayers on The Book.
• Assume the mantle of a prayer warrior.

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Questions to ask:

• Does God want to heal everyone?
  • Philippians 2:25–28
  • 2 Timothy 4:19–20
  • 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
• What is the text saying?
  • Prayer is the focus and emphasis of it all.
  • Prayer changes things.
  • Prayer is having an audience with God, communing with God in what He desires to do and accomplish.
  • Prayer is yielding to God’s will.
• For what should we pray?
  • That God will glorify Himself (John 9:1–4)
  • That God will judge sin (1 Corinthians 11:28–30)
  • That God will increase reliance on Him (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)
  • That God will discipline and the training will take (Hebrews 12:5–11)
  • That God will bring us to maturity in Christ (James 1:2–4)

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• Suffering refers to more than just sickness (James 5:9–14):
  • Suffering refers to discipline, trials, injustice, persecution, and oppression as well as illness.
  • No matter what the cost of perseverence may be, there is the challenge to bear-up under the difficulty and do it well, because we don’t know what God is intending to do and bring about in the midst of the trial.
  • The point is communion with God—meeting God where He desires to be met.
• As a believer in Jesus Christ, you are a soldier (2 Timothy 2:1–6), and will suffer the trials of a soldier. As a soldier, know this (courtesy of former chaplain at Arlington National Cemetery):
  • You must say goodbye to the world you once knew.
  • The world around you will continue to change.
  • There is always an enemy.
  • You’ve got to maintain success in a highly competitive world and situation.
  • Severity involved in service and training is to be expected.
  • Soldiers are not designed for garrison life.
  • There is a great celebration at home for victory.
• Suffering may be for discipline (Hebrews 12:1–17):
  • This is the suffering for Jesus Christ—the suffering under the hand of a mighty God who would cause us to be more like Him.
  • The call is to pray, to commune with your Father.
  • Let God do the determining of the ultimate lesson.
• Remember you are a soldier, and remember you are a son.

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Outline—James 5:7–12

1. Be patient (v. 7)
2. Establish your heart (v. 8)
3. Do not complain (vv. 9–10)
4. Do not swear (v. 12)

Take Home Points

• What does “the Lord being at hand” mean to you today? Can you worship Him with a pure heart, or is there a sin that needs to be confessed?
• Are you harboring groaning grudges that you need to forsake?
• Is your word as important to you as God’s word?

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Ref: James 5:7–8

Supporting scriptiures:

• Matthew Chapters 24 & 25
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
• Acts 1:4–11
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3
• 1 Corinthians 10:11
• 1 Corinthians 16:22
• 1 Corinthians 15:50–58
• 1 Peter 4:7–10
• 2 Peter 3:1–9
• Romans 13:11–12

Take Home Points

• The return of the Lord is a large plan befitting the greatness of the divine plan. (Augustus Strong)
• Just as the Lord’s plan is large, so are the possibilities large, befitting the greatness of the plan.
• Though His return may be today or it might not, the Lord is right here.
• Nearness is not just a timed event, but it is a proximity of space.
• Do not lose heart in difficult circumstances, but be patient, steadfast, firm in face of doubt and distortion.

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1. Address (v. 1)
2. Description of wealth (vv. 2 & 3a)
3. Guilty verdict (vv. 3b–6)

Take Home Points

• Hoarded riches reap miserable dividends.
• Riches provide no relief in eternity.
• Unjust acts of the unsaved are not forgotten.
• Lack of judgment today does not mean there will be a lack of judgment tomorrow.
• Believers: Thank God that He is a forgiving, loving, gracious God—and whatever you have, you have received from the Lord. Use your money as a tool that honors God and does not take advantage of others.
• Time, talent, treasure—that’s what we’re responsible for. Remember you are His servant. And what’s required of a servant?—Be faithful.

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1. The classic example (13-15)
   1. The planner (13)
   2. The reality (14)
   3. The logical truth (15)
2. Practical theology (16-17)
   1. The obvious (16)
   2. The not so obvious (17)

Take Home Points

An attitude of yieldedness

• Enforces humility
• Enhances availability
• Engages spiritually
• Embraces eternity

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1. Humility That Combats Worldliness
   1. The Life Principle (verse 10)
   2. The Litmus Test (verses 11-12)

Take Home Points

• Think biblically
• Let God be your promoter in all things spiritual
• One test for humble behavior is to ask, “How am I showing love for God and love for my neighbor by saying/doing this?”

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