Journey Church Amarillo

James Ch 4

Pastor Mike Farley examines James 4:1-10, addressing why James uses harsh language like calling his audience 'adulterous people.' He explains that James is condemning religion that operates as if God is optional while showing how to live rightly with God. The sermon focuses on the choice between pride (doing life on our own) and humility (admitting we need Jesus). When we humble ourselves before God, submit to Him, resist the devil, and draw near to Him, we receive help in three key areas: unanswered prayer, resisting sin, and navigating an unknown present and future.

James Chapter 3

Words possess incredible power to either build up or tear down the people around us. James teaches that controlling our speech represents the highest level of maturity we can achieve. Three key dynamics determine how our words impact others: not all words carry equal weight, the source of words matters significantly, and our intent is often irrelevant to the damage caused. When we hurt someone with our words, explanations typically make things worse by shifting blame to the wounded person. Instead of trying to contain the damage through explanations, we should extinguish word fires with humility and sensitivity, offering genuine apologies without excuses.

James Chapter 2

Many people believe the right things but struggle to see real change in their lives. The problem isn't lack of knowledge but the gap between belief and action. James challenges us to understand that genuine faith naturally produces good works, not as a requirement for salvation but as evidence of transformation. There's a difference between divine faith that changes lives and demonic faith that merely acknowledges truth without surrender. Real faith always demonstrates itself through love in action toward others. When the Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out, good works flow naturally as fruit of that changed life.

James Chapter 1 - The Hits Keep Coming

James Chapter 1 presents four powerful combinations that transform passive faith into active discipleship. First, trials produce endurance which leads to spiritual maturity, teaching us to find joy in difficulties rather than avoiding them. Second, asking God for wisdom in faith brings clarity, while doubting creates instability and double-mindedness. Third, understanding that desire leads to sin and ultimately death helps us stop destructive patterns at their source. Finally, hearing God's word without doing it leads to self-deception, while applying biblical truth brings genuine growth. These principles challenge us to move beyond spiritual immaturity and activate our faith through concrete actions in every area of life.

What is a Shepherd

Being a shepherd, or pastor, is far more than a job title—it's a divine calling that compels someone to care for God's people. This calling requires genuine character traits including being above reproach, self-controlled, hospitable, and able to manage one's own household well. The work involves protecting the flock from spiritual dangers, providing spiritual nourishment through Scripture, and making difficult decisions for the congregation's wellbeing. Ministry affects the entire family, not just the individual called. While not everyone is called to pastoral ministry, all believers can lead with shepherd-like character in their workplaces and communities, focusing on loving Jesus and loving others above personal advancement.

The Real Jesus - Prince of Peace

In a world of chaos and uncertainty, lasting peace can only be found in Jesus Christ, who is THE Prince of Peace. Unlike temporary sources of comfort that fade away, Jesus offers eternal peace that doesn't depend on our circumstances. This biblical peace serves as an anchor during life's storms and can coexist with sorrow and difficulty. True peace comes through a personal relationship with Jesus, not just church attendance or religious activities. We access this peace by surrendering completely to Christ and spending intentional time with him through prayer, Bible reading, worship, and using our God-given gifts.

The Real Jesus - Prophecy Fulfilled

Biblical prophecies surrounding Jesus' birth reveal God's perfect timing and unwavering faithfulness. From the first promise in Genesis to Isaiah's virgin birth prophecy, God demonstrates He is never caught off guard or distracted. The virgin birth shows God can work outside natural limitations, while Jesus' humble birth in Bethlehem proves God uses small and insignificant things for extraordinary purposes. Even during 400 years of silence between testaments, God was orchestrating every detail for the perfect moment. When we face overwhelming circumstances, these prophecies remind us that the same God who planned every aspect of Jesus' birth is actively involved in the details of our lives.

The Real Jesus - Eternal Father

The title "Eternal Father" given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 doesn't contradict the Trinity but reveals His role as the founder and eternal ruler of God's kingdom. Just as ancient kings were called "fathers" to their people as protectors and providers, Jesus serves as the eternal King whose government rests entirely on His shoulders. While everyone is under His universal rule, citizenship in His kingdom comes only through faith in Christ. As citizens of God's kingdom, we're not just saved from sin but saved to something greater - eternal citizenship under the perfect rule of Jesus Christ, who remains faithful yesterday, today, and forever.

The Real Jesus - Mighty God

Jesus as the Mighty God reveals His power through both meekness and glory. His first coming demonstrated strength through voluntary weakness - choosing to become a helpless baby, learning and growing as a human, and appearing ordinary despite His divine nature. This incarnation wasn't weakness but the ultimate display of confidence in His mission. His second coming will reveal His full glory and power, when every knee will bow and every tongue confess His lordship. Between these two advents, we live in tension, called to faithfulness while His kingdom advances through love and service. The question isn't whether Jesus is mighty, but whether we will trust Him personally with our lives.

Real Jesus - Wonderful Counselor

Jesus is far more than just a good moral teacher - He is our Wonderful Counselor as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6. While many reduce Jesus to a moral instructor, this severely limits His true identity and purpose. We already have moral teaching through the Law, but what we need is someone who can make us right with God. Jesus uniquely serves as the perfect mediator between God and humanity because He perfectly knows both through His incarnation and divine nature. As our Wonderful Counselor, He reveals the truth of God and shows us who we were meant to be as humans. To access His counsel, we must actively press into Him through prayer and action, not passively wait for direction.