Untitled Sermon

James 1:2-4

James 1:2-4

1. Introduction

It is good to be with you this morning (facial expression). I thank God for the opportunity to share God’s Word with His people

If you have you Bible with you, let’s turn to James chapter 1. Verses 2-4. James 1:2-4

a. Attention

I have been away from my family for about four years and I don’t need to tell you how hard and very frustrating that can be sometimes. The fact that I cannot sit down with my wife and have some quality time, the fact that I cannot watch my little girl grow with a father figure around makes it even more difficult. But you know what I quit today. I say no more. I cannot do this no more. OR NOT. Yes, this whole journey has been a trial of patience, perseverance, and sometimes faith in God’s promises but I am standing on the assurances that God has given me. I will not only come out a better person but He will use me to draw men unto Him. I rejoice in the fact that what awaits me is a far greater reward that will make the situation I am now in worth my while.

b. Need

What about you? Are you facing challenges that is making you begin to doubt your faith in God? What do you do when you encounter difficult circumstances and you wonder why God is letting these things happen to you?

Well let’s read form the passage of the Bible, I asked you to turn to – that will be James 1:2-4

James 1:2-4: (2) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (4) And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

May God bless the reading of His Word.

2. Bridging Sentences

i. Textual Idea

James is addressing Jewish Christians to count it all joy when trials come

ii. Sermon Idea:

The call of James back then is no different from his call to us today. GOD WANTS US TO RESPOND TO TRIALS HIS WAY (1st mention)

iii. Transition:

So how are we to do this? Well there are 3 elements that are involved in RESPONDING TO TRIALS GOD’S WAY (2nd mention)

The first is… We should respond to our trials with Joy (What & when?)

Secondly, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance (Why?) and

Thirdly, Endurance results in perfect outcome

3. Body

Verae 2 of James chapter 1 says Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials which means the very first thing we need to do WHEN WE RESPOND TO TRIALS GOD’S WAY (3rd mention) is

i. Division 1 statement: Respond to our trials with Joy

a) Explanation: The word ‘consider’ or count as used in other translations means to think, consider, regard, hold an opinion. This is a command to begin to do something. In this case, we are being instructed on how we should begin thinking. The word TRIAL here can refer to temptation or to testing. While many trials involve some form of temptation, the better meaning in this context is “trials” So, we are commanded to begin considering trials and testing as entirely joyful, as reasons for nothing but joy. Joy here refers to an extended state of well-being rather than an immediate feeling of happiness or pleasure. We will experience adversities, but God wants us respond to them His way.

b) Illustration:

Consider Peter and John as an example. We see them before the Council of Jewish leaders in Acts 5, where they are being thrashed for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. They are being punished for carrying out what God has told them to do. However, Peter and John are seen leaving the Council after the beatings and rejoicing that they were deemed worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus. That is how it looks when you respond to trials with joy.

c) Argumentation:

You might be here and wondering, why would I want to rejoice when terrible things happen to me? Well Jesus said we should “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” when we are persecuted or slandered for righteousness and the sake of His name, for then our reward in heaven will be great (Matthew 5:10-12).

Application:

We must follow the advice of Jesus. He knows what He is talking about because He went through trials that we cannot even begin to imagine. He went through with God’s plan for His life. He died for our sins and is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us until He comes back to reign in His kingdom. He is also telling us to rejoice in trial for our reward will be great. The apostles demonstrated this attitude when they rejoiced after being beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus, We should not look at the immediate circumstances but be assured that God is working for our good.

God wants you to respond to trials His ways (4th mention)

The second element involved in responding to trails God’s way (5thmention) is

ii. Division statement 2: … Knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance.

a) Explanation:

The King James translation uses the phrase ‘worketh patience’. The Greek translation of the word patience in this context refers to the ability to stand or hold up during difficulty. It can be translated with a variety of related words, including: patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance. So, the testing of our faith produces endurance

b) Illustration:

This concept of testing to produce endurance is not a foreign concept in the physical world. Those of us that use to be active sports men and women can remember the drills the coaches made us go through so as to produce endurance in us. Most times the routines are designed to push us to the limits. I for one never liked or saw the need for the extra torture as I use to refer to it then but the coaches knew that these testing of our bodies would produce greater endurance and stamina and give us the competitive edge. God allows trials in our lives as a test to demonstrate our faith in Him and to make us mature children of His.

c) Application:

The reason we are to consider trials as joy is because the testing of our faith through trials produces patience, And this faith involves Believing what God says, Obedience to what God commands and Trust and commitment to what He promises. We should not pick and choose Bible verses we like. Every verse God has given us should be a reason for joy, including this command to rejoice when we experience testing in the form of trials. All Scripture is God’s Word that He has given us for our good. (1 Timothy 3:16)

In order to build endurance that we will need for now and the future, God wants us to respond to trials His way (6th mention)

The third element that is required in responding to trials God’s way (7th mention) is

iii. Division statement 3: Endurance results in perfect outcome

a) Explanation:

“Let endurance have” (or patience as the KGV put it) is a present imperative, which means it is something we are to keep on doing continually. Patience is the active subject of this phrase, and we are commanded to keep actively allowing patient endurance to complete its work in us. James is saying that endurance is a lifelong process that continually works on us, bringing us closer and closer to what God wants us to be. The reason we are to allow patient endurance have its complete (perfect) result is so we may be “fully mature (teleios) and whole (holkleros)” spiritually.

b) Illustration:

Going back to the illustration about some of us being athletes, if we stop to train and pushing ourselves to the limit, then we begin to lose our competitive edge. That is why we had to continue training and pushing ourselves for better results. Choosing to respond to trials God’s way (8thmention) is a wise decision to make. Though we will not achieve completion here on earth until we get to heaven, it is not an excuse to stop working at achieving the goal. Our aim should be always to endure to reach perfection.

c) Application: James 1:4 commands us to keep letting endurance in the face of trials produce the complete result God intends. The intended result of trials is that we may be spiritually mature, complete and whole, lacking nothing of value.

4. Conclusion

As I conclude, James makes it clear to us that

· God commands us to start considering any trials we encounter as reasons for nothing but joy. We should therefore always rejoice (Philippians 4:4) and give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18), even when we experience God’s testing through the trials of life.

· That we should rejoice in trials because God’s testing produces patient endurance, which demonstrates the genuineness of our faith and finally

· That We must keep patiently enduring through trials so our testing will have the full and complete effect God intends, making us spiritually mature and Christlike.

a. Visualization:

Remember the story about myself and how it has been so difficult and sometimes frustrating for me to be away from my family, but you know what? I am counting it all joy because God is making me a better person. I know I am not what I use to be and I am beginning to see the reward. I keep seeing how He is going to use me mightily when I get back to Africa. I thank Him for helping to respond to all the trials His way.

So, know that God allows trials because He is wanting to build your faith in Him and make you spiritually mature.

As someone once said

· If one has faith in God, all things have meaning

o I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong

o I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve

o I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome

o I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help

§ My prayers were answered.

b. Action: I want to ack you. Do you consider the trials in your life as reasons to rejoice. If not it’s time to start as I ask you to join me in placing your hand on your chest as a sign of submission to God and know that God is using those trials to sanctify you and conform you to the image of His son, Jesus Christ.

Let us pray.