Count it all Joy

Intro:

This morning we are launching into a brand new series called Faith in Real Life. This series is going to take us through the entirety of the book of James. James the half of brother of Jesus focuses on practical action in the life of faith. James was crucial to the development of the early Church.

His writings are filled with direct commands to pursue a life of holiness. For James, faith was not an abstract proposition but had effects in the real world. Through five chapters James offers numerous practical examples to illustrate his point. In this series we are going to take intentional time to dig into each example and instruction.

This morning turn with me to James 1:1-19. James begins his writing by declaring that He is a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that a bondservant was a slave who served willingly at the disposal of His master. James came to faith in Christ after Jesus had resurrected from the dead.

James begins his epistle by focusing on faith in trials. Lets read James 1:2-8 together.

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Submit: James 1:2–8 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:2-8. James waste no time in getting to what matters most. He begins by saying Count it all Joy when you fall into various trials. The word count is a financial term, and it means to evaluate. When James says count it all joy, he is encouraging his readers to evaluate the way they look at trials.

Let’s be real for a moment. We know that trials are not necessarily enjoyable to endure. Trials can be extremely difficult and painful. However, the instruction of James is so important!

First, he is telling us to expect trials of various kinds in life. I have preached hard on confronting the American gospel because it has left so many people in a crisis of faith. When the expectation is happy, wealthy, and blessed. Trials seem out of place.

We must learn that there is a major distinction between happiness and joy. Happiness is based on and produced by external factors. Joy is an outcome of the decision to live life in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Happiness comes and goes in our lives, but Joy from the Spirit is like an inward spring refreshing us in good times and trials alike.

We must expect trials in life. John 16:33.

Jesus told us in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

Tribulation is part of the Christian experience, but it exist for a purpose. When we know and understand the bigger picture we can consider trials as opportunities to rejoice and have joy. Why? The trial is producing something good in us.

What do trials produce in us?

Patience. The king James version uses the word perseverance. Perseverance is a steadfast endurance that has the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary.

The perfect work of patience is maturity. The perfecting our faith is 2 Peter 1:3 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,”

The perfection of our faith means we are complete. We have gained in every respect all the necessary qualities of Christlike nature. We lack nothing.

Perseverance is the essence of doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success, and it demonstrates single-mindedness coupled with tenacity and determination. This single-mindedness comes from carrying a heavenly perspective.

If the goal of my walk with Christ is to see what I can get from Him I will struggle with perseverance.

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Apply:

What do we need to do in trials when we don’t understand?

Ask God for wisdom. Proverbs 2:3–6. Matthew 7:7.

Proverbs 2:3-6, “Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”

Matthew 7:7 ““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

How do we need to ask for wisdom?

In Faith. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Asking in faith deals with the posture of the heart toward God. Trials cause many people to move from trust in God to questioning God. When you question in the goodness of God in the midst of trials you will typically end up in deception.

Asking in faith connects us to the source of wisdom we need. Faith is the spiritual substance that connects us to the things we don’t yet see. The root of faith is trust.

The one who asks in doubt does not receive because the root of doubt means that you lack confidence, and consider something to be unlikely. People who doubt are persistently controlled by their outward circumstances.

The one who lives by faith comes to God believing that He is who He says He is, and that His word can be trusted. They may not have all the answers, but they have a steadfast confidence in the one who does. Hebrews 11:6.

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The double minded person is unstable in all their ways. James briefly mentions in this vein of thought in James 1:9-11 that social economic standings do not effect in receiving wisdom. We are all the same under the cross.

To receive needed revelation from God in trials we will need to approach Him with a trusting heart of faith. Trials present great opportunities to go deeper in your relationship with the Lord, and increase your faith.

Let me give you an example: When I walked through the death of my Father, Grandfather, and Grandmother in 5 days in November of 2021 the trial I faced was crushing. If you have ever lost someone close you know exactly what I am talking about.

Here is the testimony from the test and trial of life. In my darkest moments I learned new dimensions of the presence and grace of God. I learned to a greater degree than I have ever known the saving and sustaining power of His word.

The testing of my faith added to the strength of my foundation. It solidified the unswerving nature of His promise. It is strengthened my understanding that He alone is my source and sustainer. When my strength and heart failed me, He did not.

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Closing:

When we place all of this in the context of the ultimate goal to one day see him face to face, and to know Him. Affliction, persecution, and hardships can be endured with joy because we know who is waiting for us on the other side.

You stop looking at trials as problems, and realize they are opportunities. To know Him more intimately than before. To receive revelation of new dimensions of His character, to experience a deeper encounter in His presence.

James gives encouragement in loving God under trials. He says the benefit of the one who has endured trial and temptation is that when approved he will receive the crown of life. This is the context we need when faced with trials.

The temptation we face is an outflow of what is in our own hearts. Trials in our lives many time flow from what is in our hearts. We need to understand that God doesn’t send us through trials in life, we actually send ourselves through trials.

The word temptation In vs. 12 actually means examination. The scripture reads blessed is the man who endures examination. The life of faith and the transformation of the gospel helps us renew our minds and walk free from sin.

James finishes his first thought in James 1:19–20 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

James 1:19-20. To be successful in having joy in trials and receiving wisdom we must swift to hear, slow to speak, and be slow to get angry. God is working to produce his righteousness in us. If we keep the proper context we will profit from trials in our lives and receive kingdom wisdom and revelation.

Let’s Pray!

Holy Spirit help us change our perspective.

Salvation