Rejoice in Trials

Text: James 1

James 1 NASB 2020

1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, 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. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out. 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. 19 You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Context

Author: James the half brother of Jesus, Jerusalem Church Leader

Audience: Jewish Christians (scattered abroad from Jerusalem)

Main Point of James: Ch.2:20 “Faith without works is useless”

Date Written: Late AD 40’s-Early AD 60’s

Location: Jerusalem

Outline James 1

Greeting (v.1)

Rejoice in Trials (v.2-12)

Refocus in Temptation (v.13-18)

Represent in Tasks (v.19-27)

Greeting: James 1:1

James 1:1 (NASB 2020)

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

James

Church Pastor of Jerusalem

Was not always a fan of Jesus

Mark 3:21 NASB 2020

21 And when His own people heard about this, they came out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

John 7:5 (NASB 2020)

5 For not even His brothers believed in Him.

1. James

Church Pastor of Jerusalem

Was not always a fan of Jesus

Mark 3:21

John 7:5

Something changed....

Galatians 1:19 NASB 2020

19 But I did not see another one of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Galatians 2:9 (NASB 2020)

9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

James

Church Pastor of Jerusalem

Was not always a follower of Jesus

Mark 3:21

John 7:5

Something changed....

James believed and became an apostle/pillar of the faith

Bond-servant:

one who is solely committed to another, slave, subject

James opposed Jesus and now he is solely devoted to him.

Can people see that you are a Christian or call you a servant of the Lord?

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad

To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad:

Jewish Christians that were scattered from the holy land of Jerusalem.

Can this letter be geared toward us?

American Christians that are ethnically diverse and mixed.

Yes, because this is a general epistle and Christianity is for the Jew and Gentile

Rejoice in Trials (v.2-12)

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, 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.

What did He just say?

Trials..... Joy?

Endure so you can be perfect?

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,

Consider

to engage in an intellectual process, think, consider, regard

Joy

the experience of gladness

Brothers and Sisters....

Christians, followers of Christ, we are family.

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 12)

whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,

Encounter

figurative of discomfiting circumstances..

Fall into..

Various

pert. to existence in various kinds or modes, diversified, manifold

Trials

an attempt to learn the nature or character of someth. , test, trial

Christians should engage in an intellectual process

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

3 knowing that the [testing] of your faith produces endurance.

Testing

the process or means of determining the genuineness of someth. , testing, means of testing

Produce

to cause a state or condition, bring about, produce, create

Endurance

the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance

What does all that mean?

I’m glad you asked

Christians should realize the next time they fall into diverse situations that make them feel uneasy, stressed that they are being put under the process of something to see how genuine their faith really is, with the goal of bringing about to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty.

In other words...

To make you stronger, steadfast, the ability to endure and still be standing.

To not crumble

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

perfect

pertaining to meeting the highest standard of things, perfect

as acme of goodness

-the point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful

perfect result

meaning that you become the highest standard of yourself, the part in which you are most successful.

Complete

pert. to being complete and meeting all expectations, with integrity, whole, complete, undamaged, intact, blameless

Lacking

fall short, be inferior, lack

regardless of what situation you find yourself in...

but what does the enemy like to do? whisper little lies at you and state that its too hard.

So what does the bible say about some hard stuff?

what if someone dies?

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope.

Believers are safe, even if we die.

Well what if someone hits you?

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 5)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR EYE, and TOOTH FOR TOOTH.’ 39 But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also.

The bible can train you

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 3)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.

Ideally we could be perfectly bullet proof

taking hit after hit and being unfazed. able to walk through any situation and stand strong no matter what we are hit with.

But we are not a fictional character named superman, which is an alien as well.

we are human beings that bleed and have feelings.

James tells us what to do

“We have all the time in the world.”

sorry that is the wrong James and that is even the wrong quote, we don’t have all the time in the world, I am supposed to do this in 30 minutes.

There we go, that is the James we are looking for, much better, well that’s how people drew him, but i’m not quite sure if that’s how he looked, I digress...

This is what he says in v.5

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Lack means,

be/do without, lack, be in need or want (of)

Wisdom:

transcendent wisdom (heavenly wisdom, advice from God, not earthly knowledge)

wisdom that God imparts to those who are close to God.

how do you get close to God?

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 9)

31 We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if someone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him.

So who does God listen too?

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

8 Come close to God and He will come close to you.

So how do sinners come close to God?

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Humbling ourselves and approaching the Lord with a serious respect for who He is the way to approach that situation.

Jesus says in John 14:6

John 14:6 NASB 2020

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

If you have made Jesus your Lord and saviour then you are in relationship to the Father.

John 3:16 NASB 2020

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

God will give you the wisdom you need in your trial, if you just ask in faith and actively wait on him. That’s how I got through this sermon, prayed and labored in the texts of Gods holy word.

But there are contingencies or stipulations when asking.

Check out this next verse

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

the qualifier for getting the answer you need in your trial is asking in faith. The manner in which you ask is without doubting.

The bible states in Matt 7:7 to “ask and you shall receive.”

However, if you ask with the wrong motives

James also states,

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.

That’s like saying, Lord I am going through it with my wife, I am on the couch, I wish had some cookies.....

nope, missed it, going down the wrong direction.

or

perhaps you want a raise so you can take more vacations or buy the next new phone so you can have the next latest and greatest, just because. Not to use it for good things, just so you can have some clout. or buying a car because its fast, but not practical.

No, you will not receive.

To Doubt

to be uncertain, be at odds w. oneself, doubt, waver

The wind dictates major surface ocean currents. The wind drags on the surface water and the water moves in the direction of the wind. Do not let the worries of this world dictate your Joy and rob you of growing.

v.7 states do not expect anything, because you are double minded

Professor of New Testament Studies Douglas J. Moo states,

The Greek word for “double-minded” is dipsychos: “double-souled.”

Douglas J. Moo

Double souled means you have two natures waging war within you. What one are you going to choose?

Lets switch it up and talk about folk and money. Some people here have alot, and some people have little.

This is what James says in v.9-11

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

9 Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

for the sake of time I am going to speed through this and state that if you find yourself in financial humble circumstances, glory in the fact that you are saved. I remember I had to learn how to work hard, because you reap what you sow. If you labor hard you will receive a bigger harvest.

2nd Thessalonians 3:10 states “if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat”

however, some guys like to just work 80 hours and they don’t have time for anything else. They are working hard and thus reaping a bigger reward. Alpha or sigma males can focus on work for long periods of time and get stuff done. Guys like that can get more work because they are always working hard.

But James says glory in your humiliation if you are rich, it is all going to pass away anyway. Stay humble, seek the Lords will, spend time where it truly matters, with family, at church, making disciples, and of course working a realistic schedule that doesn’t take you away from Gods plans.

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Blessed:

pert. to being esp. favored, blessed, fortunate, happy, privileged1pert. pert. pert. = pertaining (to)

Pertains to being favored by God.

Human recipients of divine favor

Crown means,

award or prize for exceptional service or conduct, prize, reward

Stay steadfast and persevere until the end and you will receive the crown of life in heaven.

Now we have talked about how to rejoice in trials , but lets do a quick recap.

Recap

The testing of your faith produces endurance making you the best version you can be for Gods glory.

Joy is the experience that the mature Christian has for the temporary trials they face in this short life.

Ask God for wisdom when needed.

This leads us to my second point

Refocus in Temptation (v.13-18)

I have got to go through these next two points rather quickly, for the sake of time, but please remember the main point of today is having a new perspective in light of trials. Whatever you are going through, you can ask the Lord for wisdom and He will give it to you.

James 1:13–18 (NASB 2020)

13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

If you find yourself being tempted, which means

to entice to improper behavior

We must realize that it comes from within us and never from God, for he is unable to do so

James 1:14 (NASB 2020)

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Lust:

a desire for something forbidden or simply inordinate, craving, lust

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death.

conceived means:

to become pregnant, conceive, of a woman

That means lust is no longer just a craving, it has been accepted and the plan is in action.

The birth of sin

mngs. ranging fr. involuntary mistake/ error to serious offenses against a deity:

this action seems very voluntary and the action of giving into desire for the forbidden brings forth death

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.

The command of not being mistaken in judgement or misled by oneself is addressed endearingly to those James calls family. and that is how we should reach out to those entangled or caught up in sin. Lovingly to our christian brothers and sisters and share that you hope they get back on track.

Satan is the one who entices and tries to steal kill and destroy, hes the father of lies. He is the tempter, he even tried to tempt Jesus.

James has this to say about satan in chapter 4:

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Lust comes from within and brings death,

Watch this contrast… in verse 17

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Good and perfect gifts come from God who is the Father who created light. He doesn’t switch up on you, bait and switch you like a medicine commercial. Take this to help with anxiety but be careful it might give you seizures or a heart attack.

No thanks...

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

I could say quite a bit about this part, but I have to keep it simple.

God gives those who accept Christ as their savior a new nature. The old sinful nature is held captive by the bondage of sin. The new nature is lead by the Holy Spirit who guides us in life and comforts us in our distress.

The importance of being first fruits in a very simple way is to share what God has done to you and share that good news with people, evangelize.

Ok, I have to move on...

Recap: Refocus in Temptation (v.13-18)

Temptation comes from within

Do not be deceived

God is perfect and good things come from Him

My last point is how we conduct ourselves in our life

Represent in Tasks (v.19-27)

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

19 You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face ain a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion ain the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

quick to hear, because the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. People will tell you what they are full of and God will give you the right response.

Slow to speak, the bible says,

Proverbs 10:19 (NASB 2020): 19 When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable,

But one who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 17:27 (NASB 2020): 27 One who withholds his words has knowledge,

And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.

Slow to Anger:

Anger is the state of relatively strong displeasure, with focus on the emotional aspect

psychologist state that anger is a secondary emotion. That means you have to feel hurt, offended, or something along those lines in order to feel angry.

How many of us get angry? someone offends you, but what did Jesus say, “forgive them father for they don’t know what they are doing.”

When we act out of anger and let sin enter we do not accomplish what the Lord wants.

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

Ridding means

to lay aside and take off

Filthiness

Filth:

‘dirt, filth’, fig., in ethical aspect a state of moral defilement or corruption, moral uncleanness, vulgarity

and all that remains of wickedness. All of those wicked ways. Sometimes we are stagnant and allow wicked things to remain. Its just a little sin, I’m not as bad as i once was.

the implanted word is grafted in us and we should pay attention to the holy spirit when he speaks to us.

In Humility we should ask daily if we can do better.

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.

Doers of the Word are the best hearers.

Thomas Watson

At the day of Doom men shall be judged according to their fruits. It will not be said then, Did you believe? but, Were you doers, or talkers only?

John Bunyan

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face ain a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.

The mirror is the word of God in which you are being confronted with today.

Do you have a relationship with the Lord?

Please don’t leave today without speaking to one of the Elders. Just come up to us after service and we would love to make sure your name is in the book of life for all eternity.

the hearer only will leave and forget all about this, but the active doer will be equipped to handle the trial they are in or will face

Tony Evans said,

"You are either in a trial or coming out of one and going right back into one" (paraphrased)

That is so true. I can tell you of so many stories that I have faced in my life and especially as a Christian and the amount of trials I have faced that I have failed, grown from and have been blessed by.

New American Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

You can wreck your witness by what you say. What you talk about. Curse words are a no go for the Christian, that should not be in your vocabulary. If it is, you will have no success at all in sharing the faith with unbelievers. James says your religion is worthless in that case.

Pure and undefiled religion is to help the widows and orphans, these are those who are in need of support and care. Do you have a heart for the least of these?

How are you keeping yourself unstained by the world? Can those around you see the marks of a true christian or do they see marks of the world in you?

Recap: Represent in Tasks

Be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to get angry

Be a doer and not just a hearer

Pure Religion takes care of the least fortunate and keeps oneself unpolluted by the world

Conclusion:

Rejoice in trials because they test your faith to see if it is genuine. It reveals what your faith is in, yourself or God.

Temptations come from with us and we can only blame ourselves. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Enduring will result in a crown of life that will last for all eternity.

Be a doer and not just a hearer today. Get in the word every day without fail and watch what happens to your life.

Be on the lookout for those hear or in your sphere of influence that you can help out and most importantly share the gospel with, which is the most important.

Lastly, if you’d like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today please don’t leave without talking to me, Pastor Vanna or Elder Roberto. We would be honored to walk through the salvation process with you. Don’t let it go another moment, today is the day.

Let us pray.