THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH (James 1:1-12

James 1:1–12 “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 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. 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 man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. 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.

The Testing of Your Faith

Opening: James the Lord's brother is writing to the twelve tribes of Israel, obviously scattered. James himself a Jew. Also a later convert. He grew up around Jesus . He was the oldest half brother of Christ, yet his brothers were not early followers. Listen to what the Bible says of His brothers in John 7:5 “For not even his brothers were believing in him.” Later he did believe and became a pillar of the Bible declares him one of the pillars of the church. Obviously we know from the text, that this message was aimed at a particular group of people obviously going through persecution and trials.

This letter is obviously for all of us. If you are not going through trials at this very moment or at sometime in the near past. You can be assured that someday you will. And we can learn from this text that God allows these trials to come and we need to understand that He has a purpose for us. I hope we will learn this morning what those purposes might be.

We need to learn that the Christian life is not for the faint of heart, because we live in a sinned cursed world. Because the message we bring is not always readily received. As a matter of fact, it often comes with hostility. Illust: Paul himself would go to the synagogue and present the gospel message. Many would receive the message, but others would want to kill him. This was normal then and it will be normal now. In fact Satan will do everything he can to shut you up. To keep you quite. Do you feel the pressure. Be honest. Do you feel the pressure. Th world says, be quite. We don’t talk politics and religion around here. Behind every voice that declares that non-sense is Satan.

Because as we know. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. It is not your personality. It is not your charm that win’s people to Jesus Christ. It is the truth of the Word of God energized by the Spirit of God. Our job and the only reason we really have been left here is to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This world is not our home. We take the message and we leave the results to God. This world is broken, Men and woman are broken. There are wars and rumors of wars. There is constant conflict within families. Divorce and perversion, selfishness and greed are around us. What is the answer? Who has the answer? The answer is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Transition: Since trials are so productive, it is essential for us to respond rightly to them. James helps us greatly in this in 1:1–12 by giving five means for persevering through trials:

1) a joyful attitude (v. 2),

2) an understanding mind (v 3)

3) a submissive will (v 4)

4) a believing heart (vv. 5–8),

5) and a humble spirit (vv. 9–11).

He then tells us of the reward for perseverance (v. 12).

I. A JOYFUL ATTITUDE (VS 2)