Turning Trials Around

James 1:1-4

 

INTRO: Everybody, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, privileged or not, faces trials in life. All of us have issues and problems. In our life’s journey, we will have many experiences, not all of them will be good. For the Christian, they will work together for good (Rom 8:28).

We will all be tested, tested by the allure of the world, by disappointment, by pain and sorrow.

Child of God, you can be assured of this. Trials can be turned around; they can be turned into triumph: "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor 15:57).

 

I. VS 1, JAMES, WHY AND TO WHOM HE WROTE

A. "James"– James was a very popular name in the New Testament times, and is a form of the Old Testament name Jacob.

1. The James who wrote the book of James is the half brother of Jesus.

2. Jesus and James had the same mother.

a. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Ghost before the marriage of Joseph and Mary was consummated (Lk 1:35).

b. James was the son of Joseph and Mary, one of several children (Mt 13:55-56, Mk 3:31-35, 6:3).

c. James and his brothers did not believe in Christ as Savior during His earthly ministry. John 7:4: "Neither did his brethren believe in him." At the cross, Jesus committed Mary to the care of John the Apostle because His brothers were lost.

3. Jesus appeared personally to James after the resurrection (I Cor 15:7). James and his brothers were saved after the resurrection, and we find them meeting with the church in Acts 1:14.

B. James was "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." James describes himself as the doulos of Jesus Christ. The word doulos means slave.

1. A bond slave is one who serves his master with completed is regard for himself. The slave wants to do what his master sees as best. In the Christian life, joy and happiness can only be found in doing the will of our Master, Jesus Christ.

2. The servant of God learns to serve unselfishly. He learns that Christianity is more than going to church on Sunday, more than praying and singing. It is doing everything, everyday for God because he belongs to Him (I Cor 10:31).

C. "To the twelve tribes scattered abroad, greeting." This is who James wrote this letter to:

1. It was written to Christian Jews. He addresses those to whom he wrote as brethren nineteen times. They were brethren in the flesh; but more than that, they were brethren in the Spirit (1:18).

2. "Scattered"– the Greek word for "scattered" is diaspora which implies the scattering of seed. Jewish believers had been scattered by persecution (Acts 8:1, 4; 11:19).

D. The book of James was written because the Jewish Christians were having difficulties in their personal lives and in their church fellowship. They were not growing up in the faith. They were spiritually immature. As we study James, we will see that much of what they faced then we face today.

 

II. VS 2, EXPECT TRIALS

A. The teachings of the New Testament and the reality of life is removed from the health and wealth theology so prevalent today.

B. We are to expect trials because they are on their way. Storms are a reality of life. James says: "Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations." Not if but when!

1. John 16:33 says: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I [Jesus] have overcome the world."

2. I Pet 4:12 reminds us to expect trials. We are in a battle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil, and that means we are going to be tried.

C. Now we want to look at the phrase, "fall into." This means to be ambushed by, to encounter, to come across. We are going to encounter problems, and we are at times going to be ambushed by them!

1. "Divers" is a word that means "varicolored, various." All kinds of things are going to cross our paths. We are going to be hit by many different types of trials.

2. I Peter 1:6 tells us that we will have "manifold temptations." Then in I Peter 4:10, we are told of the "manifold grace of God" that will carry us through these trials. God’s grace is sufficient!

D. Now let’s go back to the phrase, "Count it all joy." "Count" means to evaluate. It is a financial term.

1. We need to remember that the last page has not been written. God is working in and through us.

2. I Thessalonians 5:18 says: "In everything give thanks...." Remember all things are not good, but they work together for good (Rom 8:28).

3. Our values determine our evaluations.

a. If we value comfort more than character, trials upset us.

b. If we value material things more than godly spiritual things, we will not "count it all joy."

c. If we live for the here and now and not with future things in view, we will not "Count it all joy."

d. Life is hard. How you handle trials will either make you bitter or better.

 

III. VS 3, TRIALS PRODUCE PATIENCE

A. What is the purpose of trials? If we look at the Greek word "for patience," we will see the purpose of trials. Hupomona is the Greek word for patience, and it means "a bearing up under." Trials will make us stronger in faith. When we are strong spiritually, we will be able to stand when others fail, quit, or run away.

B. Trials "are not meant to make us fall; they are meant to make us soar. They are not meant to defeat us; they are meant to be defeated. They are not meant to make us weaker; they are meant to make us stronger" (Barclay 43).

C. When testing comes, stand firm for Christ and rejoice in His grace.

1. Browning said: "Welcome each rebuff that turns earth’s smoothness rough" (Barclay 43).

2. The harder the course, the sweeter the victory!

 

IV. VS 4, THE RESULT OF TESTING

A. The result or goal of testing is maturity.

1. The purpose of testing is to purge out all impurity, to clean us up.

2. When we accept this testing as God intended, it will produce steadfastness, unswerving constancy.

B. "Perfect"– unswerving constancy will make us telios (Gr) for the task.

1. The way that you act does make a difference. It is important. Act right; do right.

2. By the way in which we meet every experience in life, we are either fitting or unfitting ourselves for the task which God meant us to do.

C. "Entire"– this word means, "complete, perfect in every part."

1. Daily constancy will remove weakness. It will build character.

2. Living for God, walking in Him daily will enable us, through His strength, to conquer habits and grow as II Peter 1:5-8.

D. "Wanting nothing"– this means that you will not be deficient spiritually. You will be strong and victorious in spiritual warfare.

 

 

CONCLUSION: Trials will make us bitter or better, weak or strong, defeated or victorious.

 

---