Faith Works...How Does Faith Work In Trials And Temptations
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
We’re talking about faith in the midst of trials including finding joy, wisdom, and ultimately God in the middle of your trials.We’ll learn that joy comes from God more than it comes from circumstances of our lives, our stuff, or our sin.
James starts off with an acknowledgement that his brother Jesus is Christ the Lord. James is writing to mostly Jewish believers that are being persecuted for their faith. He doesn’t name drop or flex a title, he opens with I’m James a servant. The title didn’t matter.
It’s important to note that James may not have started out right with his big brother Jesus.
But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”
Jesus didn’t start with a support system. His friends and neighbors didn’t believe in Him, nor did His own brothers.
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Things may not have started out right with James but they did end well with him.
After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Paul went to James...
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
So there’s James, the baby brother of Jesus. At the end of the day he’s a guy that loves Jesus as Lord and is trying to serve Him the best he can. This letter opens with James trying to encourage the believers...
Find Joy in Your Trial
Find Joy in Your Trial
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
If you’re not in the middle of one right now, there’s probably one coming. We all go through them...
What are your trials?
global, national, regional, local, others (family, friends)
personal – physical, financial, relational, spiritual, mental, emotional.
Trials are not meant to be avoided or went around. They’re meant to bring us growth. They’re disruptive, but necessary...
1. Strip away objects of faith other than God
2. Reveal our true selves
3. Reveals others true selves
4. Remind us what has gone wrong in the world & Who alone can fix it
5. Reveals our contribution (reap/sow)
6. Simplifies life & who/what truly matters
How to FAIL...
How to FAIL...
1. Avoid – past, ignore, deny, minimize, move on, self-medicate (age stop maturing)
2. Fixer – some things cannot be solved soon, some things cannot be solved this life
3. Worrier – false prophecy over future
4. Grinder – cheerless plod forwards (Hebrews “joy set before…endured cross)
5. Blamer – only/always a victim
6. Martyr – live under the pressure until it breaks you (“once for all”)
7. Rebel – excuse bad behavior
How to PASS...
How to PASS...
-Rejoice –
Trial (outside) Rejoice (inside) Not denial of external reality. Awareness of greater internal reality
Jesus suffered for you
Become Christlike
Graduate
Minister to others
Rejoice w/others
Store up treasures in Heaven
= steadfastness
Our trials may be really hard to go through. We may really suffer through them at times, but James tells us to rejoice because we’ll grow through them! Count them all JOY!!!
Joy Ain’t Found in Your Sin.
Joy Ain’t Found in Your Sin.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
FAIL test
Surrender to sin, Blame God (started w/Adam)
= LIE: God is not good, sin is not bad
Sin = 1. defies God & 2. damages me
PASS test
Temptation is not sin but test (Jesus was H.I.T.)
-Blessings wrapped in trial: crucifixion
-Faith sees something ugly will make life beautiful, something painful will heal us, that something that destroys us delivers us, that the worst around us does the best work in us.
Joy Comes Down From God More Than It Comes Up From Life.
Joy Comes Down From God More Than It Comes Up From Life.
James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
What’s my trial trigger?
What stuff & sin temptation do I choose?
= Brain Science: Rehardwire your brain with new neural pathways & dopamine responses
From worry to worship. From fear to faith. From flesh to Spirit. “Take Off/Put On”
You are discerning not deceived. You have the truth for your trial. You are beloved not a burden.
Gifts Come Down
1. Non XN – trials & temptations = failed tests. Jesus came down to forgive & change
2. XN – Holy Spirit comes down to anoint & bless you