Profiting From Trials
Notes
Transcript
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 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. 6 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. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
What is a trial?
Trials are different for everyone are they not? Not a person here that hasn’t experienced trials. Thanks to the fall of humanity in the Garden everyone will experience trials… Even our Lord experienced trials.. Although He never sinned.
One writer said God had one son without sin but no sons without the cross.... How true is that?
Bro. Chris: It is always a minor surgery until it comes to us right!?
Perception!
Job’s friend Eliphaz said;
7 Yet man is born to trouble,
As the sparks fly upward.
1 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
Job went through heavy duty trials.
Peirasmos is the Greek word for trials here… it is a test, a temptation, a trial or a enticement to sin.
Solomon said, “I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.… Because all of [a man’s] days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest” (Eccles. 2:17, 23).
Our Lord assured us that we would have these trials. He told the disciples “in the world you have tribulation”
The Lord has His reasons for trials… Trials serve multiple purposes. I pray that by studying these purposes that we will be able to see the good that can come from our trials and in turn help us overcome those trials through Jesus Christ. I pray that our perception of our trials will be joyous as James commands us here.
31 However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.
This is referring to Hezekiah. The king. God is omniscient. The Lord knew what was in his heart. I believe the Lord allows us to be tested so we can see what is in our own hearts.
When going through a trial we are presented with a great opportunity to examine our heart. Trials give us the perfect oportunity to do a spiritual inventory. Do we trust in ourselves in a time of need? Do we call on others? Do we fall by the wayside? Or do we rely and call on the Lord. Even if we fail this test at first and do not rely on the Lord it grants us the perfect opportunity to recognize this and correct it. In that we can count that trial as a joy for revealing our heart to us and move forward.
Now the Apostal Paul had trials did he not? He had what he described as a thorn in the flesh!
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul is saying here a thorn was given to him to keep him from becoming to prideful! He needed this thorn to keep him humble. Think about it… Paul was called up to the third Heaven. Trials will keep us from thinking of ourselves as Holly. Don’t you think that if we just sailed through life without trials we would become prideful and exalt ourselves. I fear that if we have a week without a trial or a struggle we start to become prideful. So trials serve a purpose in keeping us humble and content with where we are spiritually. They can provide us with the opportunity to, as Paul says, “to boast all the more gladly of our weaknesses”. Boast in the strength of Christ! So for Christ’ sake let us be content with our trials.
One writer said that the greater our blessings the more Satan will tempt us to look on them as our own accomplishments rather than the Lord’s, or our rightful due and to become proud rather than humble. How true is that? Do we not as followers of Jesus Christ have to remind ourselves often that it is Him that is good and not ourselves?
What an opportunity that is.
So our trials can reveal our heart to us and they can keep us humble… what else??
One commentator said that trials can ween us from worldly things…
Sometimes our trials can help us come to the realization that things of this world cannot solve all our issues in life.
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
Now this word “test” here in this text is a little different… It is Peirazo.. It is to test, to put to the test, to tempt, to make proof or trial of… This is more of the testing of people.
Remember that a denarii was a Roman silver coin and was equivalent to a laborers daily wage.
So Philip is saying here that 200 days worth of wages wouldn’t be enough to feed the people. So the Lord was testing Philip to get him to stop relying on worldly things… He was trying to get him to realize that the things of the world would not always be able to meet his needs, would not always be able to be used to overcome trials and test.
Do you think that our Lord did not realize that they didn’t have the money to purchase food for all those people… of course He realized
Philip failed the test. That does not mean that Philip did not profit from the trial and test though.
Think about death… if someone that is close to you passes to go be with the Lord, there is nothing on this earth, nothing worldly, that can make that better or can change that. We have no choice at that point but to rely on the Lord for the provision to rejoice in the fact that He has overcome death, He has overcome this world… Praise God! Now the flip side of this coin is that trials can help us appreciate what we do have in this world… the worldly things we do have. We can appreciate them and give God the glory for them without relying on them for strength to overcome trials. So trials can ween us from worldly things and gives appreciation for the worldly things we have at the same time.
So Trials reveal our heart to us, they humble us and they help ween us from the things of this world… Now this is not an exhaustive list but this gives us good examples of how the trials in our lives can help us and gives us some reasons on why we should rejoice in them.
If our faith is genuine, it will prove itself during times of trials and tribulations. The book of James focuses on pointing that out.
James focuses on pointing out how faith in our Lord gives us the ability to be joyous in trials.
Now that it is fresh on our minds of how productive trials can be, lets talk about responding rightly to them so that in turn we can persevere through them
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Now it is not natural to have joy in times of trouble is it? Its not a natural fleshly response to hardships. Notice here in verse 2
James commands us to count it ALL joy. He does not say find some joy in it… he does not say to be positive about it or optimistic but to count it all joy! James is talking about a unique full joy that the Lord will provide for us that are His children. A joy the Lord will provide us with when we willingly and uncomplainingly endure troubles while trusting in Him… Trusting in Him regardless of the circumstances.
We should remember that the Lord will always use our trials for our benifit and for His glory. Remember what someone may mean for evil towards us God means for good.
Now this joy is not a matter of feelings it is a matter of will… it is a choice for us to be joyous or not. We should remember that since God commands it we have the ability. The power of the Spirit will help us in these times… in all situations God expects us to do for ourselves what we can and when we do that He handles the rest… What we can not do because of weakness God will do. Remember Paul's words… “for when I am weak, I am strong”. In fact we are stronger than ever when we are weak!
Upon rejoicing in a trial we should come to realize how much of a privilege it is to experience them. Trials provide us with the perfect opportunities to draw nearer to the Lord and we know that the Lord is the source of all that is Good and Joyous.
Our Lord Himself looked passed the Trial of the cross to see the joy in and through the trial...
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
A trial that had our Lord sweating blood!! A trial of bearing the weight of all the sin in the world… All the sin that ever was and all the sin that will ever be…
Remember our Lord reminded us that “A slave is not greater than his master” and we will suffer through trials.
Now our Lord gave us another example of how when we persevere through a trial with joy, joy will continue there after.
20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
No longer remembers the anguish for the overwhelming joy that ensues from overcoming the trial.
Some of your translations will say “encounter”
James: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary A Joyful Attitude
Peripiptō (encounter) has the literal meaning of falling into, usually unexpectedly. In the story of the Good Samaritan, it is used of the man who “fell among robbers” (Luke 10:30), and in Acts of Paul’s ship “falling into a place where two seas met” (27:41 KJV).
This is the idea that when we fall into trials that are unforeseen.. unexpected.
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
This knowing here is full understanding not just knowing it as fact but carries with it the idea personal experience.
This is the same word our Lord used in the parable of the fig tree when he said Mark 13:28 “28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.” You don’t just know that summer is near because you know the date on the calendar… no you know summer is near because you see it… you experience it.
James is saying here that we KNOW that the testing of our faith produces patience because we have already experienced it in some way or another.... albeit some more than others maybe.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James is telling us here that the only way out of a trial is through it… and the perfect will of God is for us to persevere through it with patience.
God cannot do this perfect work in and through us without our submission though.
Now I want to talk about this word here “perfect” Teleios in the Greek
This does not mean moral or spiritual perfection or of course does not mean sinlessness but it means fully developed… Full grown. So the idea here is that we may be full grown, mature. Of course we will still stumble in many ways daily… We may be justified but we are still in the process of sanctification and we have yet to experience glorification. James is saying that when patience has its perfect work then this development is full and completed.
This perfection is the goal of endurance and perseverance
The lacking in nothing is James further reinforcing this idea.
One commentary said
James: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary A Submissive Will
That is the end result of trials: maturity, completeness, not lacking in anything of spiritual importance and value
Peter reinforces this idea in 1 Peter 5:10 “10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
5 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.
When we face trials and times of testing we have a special need of God’s wisdom.
The wise words of Solomon come to mind… Proverbs 3:5–7 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Solomon goes on later in proverbs to say that God’s wisdom is pleasant and peaceful.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Job said Godly wisdom is incomparable to things of the world… I am paraphrasing here. He gives examples of all the “good” things of the world at that time and says all of them together cannot be traded or compared to the wisdom of God.
God and God alone is the source of wisdom and this was James’s point.
We are to seek after God, He expects us to ask Him for His wisdom. Jesus commands us to call on Him, promising that “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son”.
This given liberally or generously as some translations say is the idea that it is unconditional… without bargaining or haggling as one pastor puts it… or under the singular condition that we ask.
James goes on in vs 5 to say that there will never be a reprimand for asking… the Lord is never going to hold out giving us wisdom.
One commentary says
James: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary A Believing Heart
Some Christians simply doubt that God will give them what they need, and rationalize their doubt in countless ways. They believe they are undeserving, which is true, but, as already pointed out, irrelevant. Or they may think their needs are not worthy of God’s attention, which also is true but irrelevant, for, in His boundless grace and love, He sovereignly chooses to take great interest in things that, in the grand scheme of things, seem utterly insignificant. Other Christians are inclined to dispute with God, wondering why He allowed a calamity to come upon them in the first place or why He doesn’t provide them a way out.
This statement is so true. We MUST trust in God. We must have faith...
Hebrews 11:6 Reminds us “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.”
God will reward us with wisdom if we faithfully seek His wisdom
6 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.
Here James is describing what it will be like for someone who is asking without the faith that God can and/or will deliver this wisdom. Someone who ask without faith does not really ask at all does he? We may just be offering up worthless mutterings to the Lord. A person who is tossed here and there is not a mature Christian… this person would be more like a child, someone immature in the faith.
Paul said to the Ephesians Ephesians 4:14 “14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,”
Paul is saying if we are so immature that we can be tossed to and fro that we are at risk of being misled into false doctrine...
To not trust God in a time of trial is to ensure the course goes from bad to worse.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
That man James is referring to here is someone who claims to be a believer but who’s actions actually reveal him to be an unbeliever or at the very least a very immature believer. This is someone who when going through trials turns to human resources rather than trusting the Lord for answers and for help.
Or perhaps this person becomes bitter and angry and seeks no help at all. This person acts as if God is unable or unwilling to help deliver them.
Perhaps this double minded person is entangled in sin as James says later in his letter… Regardless of the situation a double minded person is a person who is trying to serve two gods which as our Lord said is impossible.
In closing I encourage everyone here to think back to recent trials that they have endured… ask yourself these questions: Who/What did I turn to first? Did I or Was I able to rejoice in that trial? Did I seek the wisdom of God, the wisdom that only God can offer? If you did seek the Lord and His wisdom ask yourself did I seek it with 100% faith that He was able to deliver me and that He would deliver me through what ever trial I was going through? I am preaching to myself her too brethren. If you are here today and you have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior today can be the day you make the most important decision of your life… Today can be the day that you start to receive the wisdom of God, a wisdom that is unparalleled by anything in this world… incomparable. If you realize that you are lost, that you are undone before Holy God, Ask Him to come into your heart, to lead guide and direct your life, Thank Him for going to cross to pay a debt that we ourselves cannot pay.