In our studies in the epistle of James, we have reached this statement in verse 17 of chapter 1. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. The last time we were in James chapter 1 for our Bible study, our message from that portion, we noted the teaching of the Apostle on the subject of evil temptations. How that those temptations originated from the world, from the devil and from man's own flesh. They do not come from God, who is himself pure, and would never entice anyone to do that which his nature and character hates. The Lord is not the source of evil testings. He is not the source of temptations to sin. We learn that from verse 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with evil. neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed." So we place the blame where it belongs, within our own hearts. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. The Lord is not the source of evil testings or temptations to sin. But by His grace, we are to avoid these things and giving in to temptation. But then James moves from the topic of temptation and how that God is not the originator of sinful testings or temptations to speak by way of contrast of what God is the source of. All that is good has its origination in God. It is said that the original Anglo-Saxon word for God literally was the good. God is good. And so having seen what the Lord is not responsible for, we are brought now to consider that which He is responsible for. Verse 17. every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." I want to take this verse as our text for today, because it really does stand on its own, as well as being part of the context here in James chapter 1. And there are a number of things that I want to say about this verse of scripture that I trust the Lord will make a blessing to our hearts. First of all, there is what I have called the examination of the giving of humans. When we look at every good gift and every perfect gift and realize that it comes from God, we are caused immediately to think by way of contrast of human giving. Human beings often give gifts one to another. Someone may give to someone else a gift for their birthday. We're coming up to that season of the year when many people will do what I always tell my mother that she does and that is spend money she hasn't got to get people things they don't want. It's called Christmas. And there are people who will give gifts one to another at this time of year and other times of the year. But in contrast to what is said about God's giving here in scripture, our human giving is not always good and it's certainly far from being perfect. So we should really think of the giving of gifts by humankind. We should examine that for a moment. and think of the stark contrast that there is to God's perfect giving. Let's think of some of the ways in which humankind do not give good and perfect gifts, some of the ways in which the giving of men is spoiled by their very humanity itself. Often the giving of human beings is not sincere. There are times when gifts are given and they're not really given from the heart. There's no heart in it. You know how that goes. Sometimes people will give somebody something because they have received something from that person. And they feel obligated to reciprocate, to return the gesture. And really it's not because of any great desire to give a gift to that person, but they just feel that, well, it's the right thing to do. Well, remember in Luke's Gospel chapter 6, the Lord Jesus Christ talked about giving. Luke chapter 6 from verse 32 to 34. And he says, For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again." You see, the Lord Jesus even identifies this problem, that sometimes humans give in order to get. It's not really done out of love at all, but actually out of selfishness and greed. Now, God never gives that way. His giving is sincere. It's interesting for us to note the phrase here in James 1.17, every good gift. That part of the verse actually refers, in the original scripture, to the act of giving itself. Every good gift, it's referring to the giving, it's referring to the act of giving, while this other part, and every perfect gift, refers to the nature of the gift itself. And that's an important distinction for us to note. Every good gift, that's the act of giving. Every perfect gift, that's the nature of the gift itself, that's a description of it. God's giving is good. It's not insincere. It is not churlish. We already noted in talking about wisdom, chapter 1 of James verse 5, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally. It's describing the very nature of God, that He is a giving God, and upbraideth not. and it shall be given him." God's giving is not insincere, it's not churlish. The giving of humans, however, is sometimes not sincere, and often human giving is not sensible. It's not sensible. Now I know you've received in your lifetime, perhaps several times, a useless gift. And it might have been from your husband, or from your wife, Something that you can't use and you would never use. And it was something that might have been given very thoughtfully, but not so thoughtfully as to wonder how are they ever going to use this. It's a stupid gift. A senseless and useless thing. I heard once of a bald man who received a hairdryer for his birthday. You know something? The Lord never gives us anything foolish. He never, ever gives us anything that isn't for our good and to benefit us. The Lord is a wise giver. His giving is always, unlike human giving, sensible. And then, of course, human giving sometimes, by way of contrast to that of God, is not sufficient. There are gifts that can be good, and yet they're not enough. For example, a starving man may be given a beautiful set of working tools, but it's no good to him, really, if he doesn't have any food. It's not sufficient. And I think in the age in which we're living, there are many that are guilty of this particular sin, and that is of thinking that they give plenty of gifts to their family, or perhaps to the wife and to the children, But that's not what their family is looking for. Gifts are not sufficient because they never really have much of the bodily presence of their loved one. And sometimes giving people things is not enough. It's not sufficient. But God always gives of his sufficiency to meet our needs, doesn't he? He always gives us enough. And best of all, He gives us His own presence. He doesn't just give us good gifts, but He gives us Himself. And that's so very important for us to think about. Human giving is sometimes not only not sufficient, but it's not suitable. How often have you ever read in the classifieds in the newspaper, unwanted gift for sale? You've seen that. Unwanted gifts. I heard of a true story of a young couple who were engaged to be married, and coming up to the time of their wedding, they mustn't have been very progressive, you know, like these modern couples who put out a list from various stores, and you can know what they've already got, so you don't buy several of those. But they had received their seventh tea service. And of course the people who gave those gifts meant it all very well. And the gift may have been good, given in the right spirit, but it's unsuitable. It's unsuitable. But God never sends down to you as a believer anything that you don't need. Even if that happens to be a test or a trial. Think about this. Look at 1 Peter chapter 1. I was reading these words the other day. and thinking about this again, that sometimes we think there are things that we don't need in our lives. I've said it many times in my own heart. Who needs this? I don't need this in my life. But listen. 1 Peter 1 and verse 6, wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be. Ye are in heaviness. through manifold temptations. And it literally means many different kinds of trials. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Listen, friends, now for a season, if need be. Now, who decides? Who decides that you need these trials in your life? It is the God of glory. It is the God of grace. It is the One who keeps us by His power through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. It says in the context of Peter's words here, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls, verse 9, if need be, Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. God never sends to us anything that we don't need, even if it's a trial. And His giving is not like humankind often is. God's gifts are sincere, they're sensible, they're sufficient, and they're suitable. But from this examination of the giving of humans, I want us to come to the heart of the text, where there is an exhibition of the gifts of heaven. James, in this verse, James 1 verse 17, speaks of every good thing, every good gift and every perfect gift. He teaches us here that every good thing that we have is a gift from God in heaven. We are reminded of Paul's words in 1 Timothy 6 verse 17, where he is speaking about this great giving God. He says, 1 Timothy 6.17, "...charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God," listen, "...who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Peter writing to the people in his day and to us, of course, said that God hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness. That is 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. All things that pertain unto life and godliness. There is nothing that you have that you did not receive, whether it be natural or spiritual. Paul wrote about this to the Corinthians where he was condemning that spirit. which acts and which speaks as though the things that it has are from themselves. And he says, when you have been given the things that you've been given, why do you glory as if you hadn't received it? The exact quotation is 1 Corinthians 4 verse 7, For whom maketh he to differ from another? You know, when we come to speak of the doctrine of election and predestination, This really comes into play. Who maketh thee to differ from another? Was there something in you? Is there something in you that would cause God to set His electing love upon you? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Did God see some sort of potential in you or in me? Absolutely not. Whom maketh thee to differ from another? What has made the difference? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? There is nothing by way of the gifts of God that you have in some way merited. Every good gift And every perfect or complete gift is from His bountiful hand. And remember this believer today, nothing but good ever comes from God to you. Nothing but good. I know there's times when that's hard to believe. And our own flesh would resist that thought. And the devil certainly would want us not to believe that. But it's true. Everything and all things are designed by our gracious and wise Heavenly Father for our good and for His own glory. Whatever it is, and it may seem to be a real negative as far as we are concerned, if it brings glory to God and brings good ultimately to us, then it's beneficial. Romans 8 verse 28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, there's the qualification, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. Now let's note some of Heaven's gifts. We've said here we have an exhibition of the gifts of heaven and for this we must go throughout the scripture and we must think of some of heaven's gifts. What are these things that James is referring to? Every good gift and every perfect gift. Well, there are the gifts of creation or common grace. In Psalm 145, you will see that there are several references to these gifts of creation, things that come in common upon all men, whether they elect or not. Psalm 145, verse 9, The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Look at verses 15 and 16. The eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand and satisfyest the desire of every living thing." When Paul was preaching at Athens, he said, in him, we live and move and have our being. Furthermore, the Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 spoke about this very matter of common grace. Matthew 5 and verse 44, But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. You want to be like God? Well, here's how God is. Verse 45, For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. The idea that ungodly men just benefit from these things inadvertently, They're sent for the benefit of God's elect, but they just happen to share in it inadvertently. It's false. That is not what the Bible says. It's not what Jesus said. Jesus said, if you're going to be like your Father which is in heaven, then you're going to have to be like Him in this. It says, He maketh His Son to rise on the evil and on the good. He actually deliberately does it. And he sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. And of course, in the case of the evil and the unjust, it increases their condemnation that he should so do. Now look at John 3 verse 27. John chapter 3 and verse 27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven. And how we need to recognize that this morning. Our very food, our breath, our health, all the comforts and benefits of life are gifts from God's hand. And even the ungodly are the beneficiaries of the goodness of the Lord. And yet, how ungrateful men are. The Bible says it in Psalm 107, Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men. And it doesn't just say it once, it says it repeatedly in that psalm. Yet how ungrateful men are. Oh, we should never take the Lord's mercies for granted. Never should we do that. Psalm 103, verse 2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Oh, we're in danger of forgetting, aren't we? We do forget the benefits of God, the gifts of creation or common grace. But of course, there are gifts of redemption or special grace. And here we are talking about the spiritual as well as the material gifts. All of these originate in heaven. Can we not this morning consider some of these good and perfect gifts of God? What about the Scriptures of God? The Holy Word of God? The psalmist said, the Lord gave the Word. Great was the company of those that published it. The Lord gave the Word. The Holy Ghost inspired the human penmen. Holy men of God speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Paul refers to the Bible as the God-breathed Scriptures. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. It literally means all Scripture is God-breathed. Oh, the Bible is heavenly in its origin. How often have men condemned the Bible and said, oh, it's just the writings of men. But I want you to know this is the Word of the living God, the Scriptures of God. And how about the gift of the Son of God? Was there a gift like the Savior given? No, not one. No, not one. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. Paul said, what was he referring to? He was referring to Christ, the Son of God. Look at John 3, verse 13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven. He came down from heaven. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. Jesus came from above. John 3.16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Every good and every perfect gift is from above, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3.31 says, He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from heaven is above all. He cometh from above. He cometh from heaven. The Lord Jesus, the Son of God. What a gift! The Scriptures of God, the Son of God, and then the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is God's gift. Remember how it says that, actually, in the book of Acts, chapter 5, verse 32. Acts chapter 5 and verse 32. Peter is speaking. And we are his witnesses of these things. And so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. The Spirit of God is a heavenly gift. He is the gift of God. And Peter, writing of this, said in 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse number 12, talking about the prophets and the Spirit of Christ, unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down. The Spirit is the gift of God. The Scriptures of God, that's a gift of redemption or special grace. The Son of God, the Spirit of God, the salvation of God. We know the text, do we not? Many of us, by heart. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The gift of God. You don't merit it. You don't purchase it. You don't earn it. It's the gift of God. Freely given. The gift of God is eternal life. the experience of the new birth, regeneration, being born again. It is something that is of God and it comes down from heaven. In fact, if you study John chapter 3, you will find that when the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus, you must be born again, when He used the word again, it is literally from above. And the Authorized Version confirms that, because in verse 3 of John 3, and again in verse 7, where he says, you must be born again, except a man be born again, it is literally, except a man be born from above. From above. Regeneration is the gift of God, therefore men cannot produce it. You know, the idea of self-regeneration is a myth. It's a fallacy. The preacher can't produce it. The sinner himself can't produce it. It is from above. It is the work of God. And for that we pray that God would visit hearts, that He would regenerate them by His power. And faith and repentance are not manufactured within by men. But faith and repentance are gifts of God. They are sent down from God. Ephesians 2 verse 8, For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. God gives faith. 2 Timothy 2 verse 25, If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. Repentance is a gift. Faith is a gift. It comes down from above. Gifts of redemption. Gifts of special grace. There's another one that we can think about, and that is the solace of God. The solace of God. Peace. Peace in a believer's heart. It is a heavenly gift. The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Often times we're in turmoil. We're upset. We're annoyed. We're agitated. Listen, the peace of God that passeth knowledge and all understanding, it will keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. It's not earthly in origin. Think of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 14. He was seeking to calm troubled hearts. The disciples were grieved. Because of the implications of the Lord's words in the paschal discourse, they knew He was going to go away. They thought they were going to be left comfortless orphans. And Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. Later on in that chapter, he said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. There's the peace of God. It's a gift. It's a heavenly gift. It's not earthly in origin. Jesus said, My peace I give unto you. Do you know anything of these special gifts of grace for yourself? Have you received the truth of the Scriptures? Have you embraced God's Son? Are you indwelt by His Spirit? Are you a possessor of the salvation of God? And do you know anything of His solace, His peace in your heart? What a wonderful exhibition of heavenly gifts are set before us today in the Gospel, in the Word of God. But notice here in our text, that James is focusing attention particularly on the giver. And so there is the exaltation of the giver himself. He says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. Remember that the good gift, every good gift is the act of giving. Every perfect gift is the nature of the gift itself. It's from above. It cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. He is bringing attention. He is focusing attention upon the Great Giver. How important that is. To be taken up with the Giver more than His gifts. There is a certain section of Christendom that talks a lot about gifts, so-called gifts of the Spirit. And they have exalted such, even above the plain teachings and commandments of the One that they claim as the Giver. Now we need to get our eyes upon the Great Giver. The blessings that we receive should not, they ought not to be as precious to us as the Great One who does the blessing. Let us today be focused upon the giver himself rather than the gifts that we receive from him. Instead of always thanking God for what he does, why don't we thank God for who he is? Just for who he is. He is God. Sinners often have a conception of God which is incorrect. God is viewed He is spoken of as being a taker rather than a giver. It's as if God is one who is a killjoy. He's one who deprives us of things. He takes everything good away from us that we might otherwise enjoy. And people look upon the experience of salvation as something that involves loss. And God is seen as taking away joy and happiness and making us give up things that are good. But what utter nonsense that is! What utter folly that is! The repentant and believing sinner gains, he doesn't lose. If someone was to take you from a hovel and set you in a palace, would you complain about what you had lost? Or would you rejoice in what you had gained? And of course, in God's salvation, it's infinitely greater than that. The difference between the devil's thraldom and the rule of Christ. What a difference there is. The devil is a hard task master. But the Lord Jesus says, My yoke is easy and my burden is light. What a joy it is to serve Christ. The repenting sinner gains. He doesn't lose. The things that God cuts off from his life, they're not a loss to him. They're a gain to him. God is a giver. He gives us of Himself. He gives us of His grace. He gives us of His mercies. And besides all that, He gives us joy and peace and meaning to life and a purpose and contentment and assurance. That's not all that He gives. But He does give that joy unspeakable. and full of glory. There is a legend of a kingdom which needed a king. They were looking for a replacement for the king who had died and the ambassadors of that kingdom were sent to a certain country where there were two twin boys, one of whom they had to choose as their new king. As they looked at those two babies, One baby lay there with clenched fists and the other with his palms wide open. And they chose the baby with his palms wide open as their king. And in the legend he became known in his kingdom as the king with the open hand. See that's just a story, it is. But that's a faint reflection of our God. He's the King with the open hand. He's the Giver of all good things. And James here is exalting the Great Giver Himself. He's getting our eyes upon the One who gives, the Father of Lights. His name is recorded here. The Father of Lights. And it's really referring to creation. It's speaking of the great orbs, the great lights in the heavens, the sun, the moon and the stars that He created. He's the Father of Lights. He created them. And in looking up at the stars and looking up at the sun and the moon, James was reminded of the One who created them. And we are reminded of that too. Hopefully, as we look up at the sky on a clear night and we see the moon and we see the stars and then during the day we see the sun and we think of the great God who made them. The psalmist in Psalm 19 and verse 1 put it like this, The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork day unto day. showeth, uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge." He talks about the fact that their line has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun. And he talks about this activity that we see. where the planets surround the sun. He talks about the sun. His going forth is from the end of the heaven and his circuit onto the ends of it and there's nothing hid from the heat. They're off. The Father of Lights. Look up at the moon and the stars at night and the sun by day and just consider the God who made them. They're like His children. And His name reminds us of Himself. He's the Father of Lights. God is light. and in Him there is no darkness at all. When John saw the Saviour in vision in the book of Revelation, he tells us that His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength. He is the Father of Lights. The One who gives to us all that we may need is higher even than the great orbs that are hanging in space. He is above them all. He is the Father of Lights. His name is recorded, but His nature is revealed. Notice what He says here carefully. The Father of lights with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. There is no changeableness in God. There is no shadow that is caused by turning. We know that the earth turns. on its own axis and it orbits the sun. We know that there's the movement of the planets and therefore there are shadows caused by that turning. But God is not like that. He doesn't vary from light to darkness as the lights in the sky. Sometimes they're brighter than others. There are dark and dreary days when the sun is in shadow, hidden by the clouds. But God never changes. God never varies in His character or His purpose or in His plans or in His giving. No change, Jehovah knows, the hymn writer wrote. You know, the immutability of God is a great doctrine because it's a guarantee of salvation and blessing to the Christian. God never changes. There's no such thing as God loving me today and hating me tomorrow. It never changes. In the book of Numbers, chapter 23, verse 19, the Bible tells us something. And it was something that was spoken by an apostate, Balaam. He said some good things, you know. Numbers 23, 19, God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? And he went on to say, Behold, I have received commandment to bless, and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. And the devil And all the powers of hell will never be able to reverse the blessing that God places upon His redeemed child. He's the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness, there's no change in God, there's no shadow of turning. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Oh, what a contrast! to humankind. You know, you can't count on some people because they constantly change. They vacillate. They're fickle. One day they're one way, the next day they're another way. But friends, you can rely upon the Lord. Never changes. Never changes. Malachi 3, 6, I am Jehovah. I am the Lord. I change not. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Nothing can change God. And we can therefore echo the hymn writer's words in the light of this text of Scripture. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not. As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Therefore, let us trust Him. Let us worship Him. Let us serve Him. He is a good God. Amen. And may God bless His Word to our hearts for His own name's sake.