Embracing Trials: A Much Needed Reminder.

“Temptation is like a knife, that may either cut the steak or the throat of a man; it may be his food or poison.”

-John Owen (Puritan Divine and Statesman)

The Context:

James Ch. 1: 1

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad

James is writing to the Jewish Christians that have been scattered (Diaspora) throughout the known world due to the intense persecution of their faith. He’s writing to give them confidence, hope, and strength to endure the trials they are facing.

Recap on last week:

The Reaction To Our Trials. Vs. 2a

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”

The Diversity of Our Trials. Vs. 2b

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”

The Frequency of Our Trials. Vs 2c

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”

The Evaluation of Our Trials. Vs. 3

James 1:3 “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

The Product of Our Trials. Vs. 4

James 1:4 “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

This Week:

James 1:12–17 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

I feel the need to explain the difference between trials and temptations. The two are different in many ways.

Temptation- Meaning Trials. It’s the same Greek word found in James 1:2…

They’re different in their:

1. Source:

Trials- Approved by God and by the will of God Meant to help grow the believer in maturity, perseverance, knowledge, wisdom… Also, trials come from three sources:

A broken world system

A testing of faith

Discipline from God who loves you

Supporting Scripture:

James 1:2–4“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.”

Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Temptations- Schemes devised by satan to draw you away from God and are meant solely for you to bow a knee to him instead of staying faithful to The Lord. Also, temptations come from three sources:

The Devil

The love of the world

The Desires of our flesh

Supporting Scripture:

James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

2. Intent:

Trials- Trials are meant to be overcame. A trial is a truth to navigate you to the will of God.

Temptations- Temptations are meant to be failed. A temptation is a lie that needs a rebuke from the word of God.

“Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that reared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them.”

-John Bunyan

“Temptations in the life of faith are not accidents; each temptation is part of a plan, a step in the progress of faith.”

-Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

I know that’s a lot to take in. But today as we look at James Ch. 1, you’ll find that trails aren’t a rod that God beats us with. In fact, trials are a reminder of what we already have in Christ Jesus. Today, I want us to look at those reminders.

Reminder #1: Unspeakable Joy. Vs. 12a

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Blessed- It Carries the idea of profound inner joy and satisfaction.

An individual that belongs to Christ considered blessed! The blessed have a joy that only the Lord Himself is able to bestow on those who, for His sake and in His power, faithfully and patiently endure and conquer trials.

“Blessed” here in our text is the same word used in the beatitudes in Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:3–10 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Reminder #2: Powerful Perseverance. Vs. 12b

Endures- Perseverance.

Supporting Scripture:

James 5:11 “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Romans 5:3–5 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Lamentations 3:22–24 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!””

Ephesians 6:18 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

Approved- To pass the test with faith intact.

Reminder #3: Righteous Reward. V. 12c

The Crown of Life- The reward of enteral life Promised by The Lord. Compared to an athletes crown who has endured the race and has won.

New American Commentary on James:

“For the promised reward James used the exceptional term “the crown [stephanos] of life” (cf. Rev 2:10). The present life is characterized by the testing of every child of God. This testing is much like the disciplining to be endured that is described in Heb 12:7–13. According to James the poor endure the troubles of their poverty; the rich endure their temptation to trust in their wealth rather than in God alone and therefore to be double-minded; those between the two extremes are tempted by their desires and rationalizations to imitate the wealthy. These lifelong tests are relieved at the end of life with the reward of divine life. In the meantime each is to pursue genuine love for God that issues in the true religion (v. 27).”

Supporting Scriptures:

Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Hebrews 12:7–13 “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”

Reminder #4: Precious Promise. V. 12d

Which the Lord has Promised - It’s going to happen…

Example:

D.l Moody’s Sermon Series entitled: “The Seven “I will’s” of Christ.”

When a man says, “I will,” it may not mean much. We very often say “I will” when we don’t mean to fulfill what we say. But when we come to the “I will” of Christ, He means to fulfill it. Everything He promised to do, He is able and willing to accomplish. I cannot find any Scripture where He says “I will” do this or “I will” do that but that it will be done.

1. The “I Will” of Salvation

The first “I will” is to be found in John’s Gospel, chapter 6 and verse 37: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

I imagine someone will say, “If I were what I ought to be, I would come. But when my mind goes over my past record, it is too dark. I am not fit to come.”

You must bear in mind that Jesus Christ came to save not good people, not the upright and just, but sinners like you and me who have gone astray and sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Listen to this “I will”–it goes right into the heart: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Surely that is broad enough–is it not? I don’t care who the man or woman is nor what his or her trials, troubles, sorrows or sins are, if that one will only come straight to the Master, He will not cast him out.

Come then, poor sinner; come just as you are and take Him at His word.

2. The “I Will” of Cleansing

The next “I will” is found in Luke, chapter 5. We read of a leper who came to Christ and said, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” The Lord touched him, saying, “I will: be thou clean,” and immediately the leprosy left him.

Any man or woman full of the leprosy of sin who reads this, if you will but go to the Master and tell all your case to Him, He will speak to you as He did to that poor leper: “I will: be thou clean,” and the leprosy of your sins will flee from you.

The Lord and the Lord alone can forgive sins. If you say to Him, “Lord, I am full of sin; Thou canst make me clean”; “Lord, I have a terrible temper; Thou canst make me clean”; “Lord, I have a deceitful heart. Cleanse me, O Lord; give me a new heart. O Lord, give me the power to overcome the flesh and the snares of the Devil!”; “Lord, I am full of unclean habits”–if you come to Him with a sincere spirit, you will hear the voice, “I will: be thou clean.” It will be done.

The God who created the world out of nothing, who by a breath put life into the world–do you think if He says, “Thou shalt be clean,” you will not be clean?

3. The “I Will” of Confession

Now turn to Matthew 10:32: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven”: the “I will” of confession.

That’s the next thing that takes place after a man is saved. When we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, we get our mouths opened. We have to confess Christ here in this dark world and tell His love to others. We are not to be ashamed of the Son of God.

A man thinks it a great honor when he has achieved a victory that causes his name to be mentioned in the English Parliament or in the presence of the queen and her court.

How excited we used to be during the war when some general did something extraordinary and someone got up in Congress to confess his exploits! How the papers used to talk about it!

In China the highest ambition of the successful soldier is to have his name written in the palace or temple of Confucius.

But just think of having your name mentioned in the kingdom of Heaven by the Prince of Glory, by the Son of God, because you confessed Him here on earth! Confess Him here; He will confess you yonder.

4. The “I Will” of Service

The next is the “I will” of service.

There are a good many Christians who have been quickened and aroused to say, “I want to do some service for Christ.”

Well, Christ says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

There is no Christian who cannot help to bring someone to the Saviour. Christ says, “And I, if I be lifted up…, will draw all men unto me”; and our business is just to lift up Christ.

Our Lord said, “Follow me, Peter, and I will make you a fisher of men”; and Peter simply obeyed. On that day of Pentecost we see the result. I doubt if Peter ever caught so many fish in one day as he did men on that day. It would have broken every net they had on board if they had had to drag up three thousand fish.

5. The “I Will” of Comfort

The next “I will” is in John 14:18: “I will not leave you comfortless.”

It is a sweet thought that Christ has not left us alone in this dark wilderness here below. Although He has gone up on high and taken His seat by the Father’s throne, He has not left us comfortless.

In other words, He said, “I will not leave you orphans.” He did not leave Joseph. When they cast him into prison, “God was with him.” When Daniel was cast into the den of lions, they had to put the Almighty in with him. They were so bound together that they could not be separated.

If we have Christ with us, we can do all things. Let us not be thinking how weak we are. Let us lift up our eyes to Him and think of Him as our Elder Brother who has all power given to Him in Heaven and on earth. He says, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

Some of our children and friends leave us, and it is a very sad hour. But the believer and Christ shall never be separated! He is with us here, and we shall be with Him in person by and by. We shall see Him in His beauty. But not only is He with us, but He has sent us the Holy Ghost. Let us honor the Holy Spirit by acknowledging that He is here in our midst. He has power to give sight to the blind, liberty to the captive, and to open the ears of the deaf that they may hear the glorious words of the Gospel.

6. The “I Will” of Resurrection

Then there is another “I will” in John 6:40; it occurs four times in the chapter: “I will raise him up at the last day.”

I rejoice to think that I have a Saviour who has power over death. My blessed Master holds the keys of death and Hell. I pity the poor unbeliever and infidel who has no hope in the resurrection. But every child of God can open that chapter and read the promise, and his heart leaps within him for joy.

The tradesman generally puts the best specimens of his wares in the window to show us the quality of his stock. When Christ was down here, He gave us a specimen of what He could do. He raised three from the dead, that we might know what power He had–(1) Jairus’ daughter, (2) the widow’s son, and (3) Lazarus of Bethany. He raised all three so every doubt might be swept away from our hearts.

How dark and gloomy this world would be if we had no hope in the resurrection. But when we Christians lay our little children down in the grave, it is not without hope. We have seen them in the terrible struggle with death; but there has been one star to illumine the darkness and gloom–the thought that though the happy circle has been broken on earth, it shall be completed again in yon world of heavenly light.

You who have lost a loved one, rejoice as you read this “I will”! Those who have died in Christ shall come forth again by and by. The darkness shall flee away, and the morning light of the resurrection shall dawn upon us. It is only a little while, and the voice of Him who has said it shall come, shall be heard in the grave–”I will raise him up at the last day.”

Precious promise! Precious “I will”!

7. The “I Will” of Glory

Now the next “I will” is in John 17:24: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.”

This was in His last prayer in the guest chamber on the last night before He was crucified on Calvary. Many a believer’s countenance begins to light up at the thought that he shall see the King in His beauty by and by.

Yes, there is a glorious day before us in the future. Some think that on the first day we are converted we have everything. To be sure, we get salvation for the past and peace for the present; but there is the glory for the future in store. That’s what kept Paul rejoicing. He said, ‘These light afflictions, these few stripes, these few brickbats and stones that they throw at me–why, the glory that is beyond excels them so much that I count them as nothing, nothing at all, so that I may win Christ.’

And so, when things go against us, cheer up! Remember that the night will soon pass away, and the morning will dawn upon us. Death never comes there. It is banished from that heavenly land. Sickness, pain and sorrow come not there to mar that grand and glorious Home where we shall be by and by with the Master. God’s family will be all together there.

Glorious future, my friends! Yes, glorious day! And it may be a great deal nearer than many of us think. During these few days we are here, let us stand steadfast and firm, and by and by we shall be in the unbroken circle in yon world of light and have the King in our midst.

to those who love Him- agape love… The strongest form of love. This means that those who desire to persevere through trials show evidence of true, genuine love for the Lord . They show proof of true saving faith (read supporting scriptures).

Supporting Scriptures:

John 14:15 ““If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

John 15:9–10 ““As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

1 John 2:5–6 “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

1 John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”

1 John 5:1–3 “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

Even when the true believer gives in to trails, there is a conviction in their soul for forgiveness and a desire to persevere.

Supporting Scripture:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

James 3:2 “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”

Psalm 51 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me…”

Closing Statements:

I have seen in my own life both victory and defeat when it comes to persevering through trials. I have felt the joy of conquering and the results of maturity and testimony it brings. Also, i have wept with my head bowed to the Lord asking forgiveness for my disobedience. In both circumstances, I have witnessed the Lord to be faithful in His encouragement, His Chastening, His Mercy, and His Forgiveness.

Goodness of God Song by Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson

I love You, Lord Oh Your mercy never fails me All my days I've been held in Your hands From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head Oh I will sing of the goodness of God All my life You have been faithful All my life You have been so so good With every breath that I am able Oh I will sing of the goodness of God I love Your voice You have led me through the fire In the darkest night You are close like no other I've known You as a Father I've known You as a friend I have lived in the goodness of God Oh And all my life You have been faithful All my life You have been so so good With every breath that I am able Oh I will sing of the goodness of God Yeah yeah yeah 'Cause Your goodness is running, it's running after me Your goodness is running, it's running after me With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now, I give You everything Your goodness is running, it's running after me Your goodness is running, it's running after me Your goodness is running, it's running after me With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now, I give You everything Your goodness is running, it keeps running after me All my life You have been faithful All my life You have been so so good With every breath that I am able Oh I will sing of the goodness of God I'm gonna sing, I'm gonna sing And all my life You have been faithful All my life You have been so so good With every breath that I am able Oh I will sing of the goodness of God I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God