Untitled Sermon (15)

JAMES A FAITH THAT WORKS PART 1:

Good morning, family!

I’m thrilled to begin this new series with you called

“James: A Faith That Works.”

Before we dive into the Word of GOD .

Let's take a moment to bow our heads in prayer.

The Book of James was written by James, the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19, Acts 15:13-21), sometime between 44–61 AD. It’s one of the earliest writings of the New Testament and addresses Jewish Christians scattered across the nations (James 1:1)—likely those dispersed after Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1-4).

James offers rich, practical wisdom about living out our Christian faith.

His letter is often referred to as “the Proverbs of the New Testament” because it provides clear, actionable guidance for a believer’s daily life to live in victory .

Topics such as

Trial,Temptations.

Perseverance,

Genuine faith, which results in obeying Gods word

controlling the tongue,

submitting to God’s will,

God's wisdom and the devil's wisdom

and

Prayer is all covered in this powerful epistle.

James believed that if we call ourselves Christians, we must live like it.

His focus IS  on authentic CHRISTIAN  behavior challenges us to put our faith into action and relay in the Holy Spirit work in and through us.

The book of James the very first chapter gives  us 4 clear insights on how to turn Trials into Triumphs.

Let’s begin with James ..

James 1:1–12 (NIV)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.

10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

This passage encourages us to view trials in a whole new light, not as obstacles to avoid but as opportunities for growth and turning Trials into Triumphs.

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." It’s easier said than done, but the philosophy is sound—and, as we’ll see, it’s biblical.

Many people throughout Scripture turned defeat into victory and trials into triumph.

How? By their faith in God.

James outlines four essentials to help us turn trials into triumphs:

Count — Have a joyful attitude (James 1:2)

Know — Cultivate an understanding mind (James 1:3)

Let — Develop a surrendered will (James 1:4, 9-11)

Ask — Pray with a believing heart (James 1:5-8)

POINT 1 COUNT.

James 1:2–3 (ESV)

2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James says, "Consider it pure joy... when you face trials." Why would he encourage us to rejoice in difficulties?

Outlook determines outcome, and attitude determines action. God tells us to expect trials.

The greek word for count - means to stop and count assess, , govern,rule and lead through  trial.

God doesn’t promise a trial-free life; in fact, Jesus told us to expect tribulation (John 16:33).

Trials, whether they come from being human (like sickness or accidents, lose of job etc,certain leaders in government making wrong decision ) or being Christian (spiritual battles), are inevitable.

What’s important is how we respond. Instead of viewing trials as obstacles, James encourages us to see them as God’s means of shaping us into mature believers.

Trials are varied, Though we may not see the full picture of what God is doing, we trust that He’s weaving a masterpiece for His glory.

Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us.

If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to “count it all joy.”

If we live only for the present and forget the future, then trials will make us bitter, not better.

Job had the right outlook when he said, “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

Application

So, when trials come, immediately give thanks to the Lord ,seek the wisdom from the Holy Spirit and adopt a joyful attitude.

Do not pretend; do not try self-hypnosis; simply look at trials through the eyes of faith.

Outlook determines outcome; to end with joy, begin with joy.

“But how,” we may ask, “is it possible to rejoice in the midst of trials?”

The second imperative explains this.

Point 2 Know—an Understanding Mind (James 1:3)

James 1:3–4 (ESV)

3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

What do Christians know that makes it easier to face trials and benefit from them?

Faith is always tested. When God called Abraham to live by faith, He tested him in order to increase his faith. God always tests us to bring out the best; Satan tempts us to bring out the worst. The testing of our faith proves that we are truly born again.

Testing works for us, not against us.

God’s approval of our faith is precious, because it assures us that our faith is genuine.

Trials work for the believer, not against him. Paul said, “And we know that all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28); and, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).

Trials rightly used help us to mature.

What does God want to produce in our lives? Patience, endurance, and the ability to keep going when things are tough.

“We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Rom. 5:3–4).

In the Bible, patience is not a passive acceptance of circumstances. It is a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering and difficulty SEEKING GOD FOR HIS WISDOM, ANOINTING TO RULE ,GOVERN AND LEAD THTOUGH IY.

Immature people are always impatient; mature people are patient and persistent. Impatience and unbelief usually go together, just as faith and patience do.

“Be … followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12). “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36). “He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16).

God wants to make us patient because that is the key to every other blessing. The little child who does not learn patience will not learn much of anything else. When the believer learns to wait on the Lord, then God can do great things for him. Abraham ran ahead of the Lord, married Hagar, and brought great sorrow into his home (Gen. 16). Moses ran ahead of God, murdered a man, and had to spend forty years with the sheep to learn patience (Ex. 2:11ff). Peter almost killed a man in his impatience (John 18:10–11).

The only way the Lord can develop patience and character in our lives is through trials. Endurance cannot be attained by reading a book (even this one), listening to a sermon, or even praying a prayer. We must go through the difficulties of life, trust God, and obey Him. The result will be patience and character. Knowing this, we can face trials joyfully. We know what trials will do in us and for us, and we know that the end result will bring glory to God.

This fact explains why studying the Bible helps us grow in patience (Rom. 15:4). As we read about Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and even our Lord, we realize that God has a purpose in trials. God fulfills His purposes as we trust Him. There is no substitute for an understanding mind. Satan can defeat the ignorant believer, but he cannot overcome the Christian who knows his Bible and understands the purposes of God.

Point 3 LET-DEVELOP A SURRENDERED WILL  Develop a surrendered will (James 1:4)

James 1:4 (ESV)

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God cannot build our character without our cooperation. If we resist Him, then He chastens us into submission. But if we submit to Him, then He can accomplish His work. He is not satisfied with a halfway job. God wants a perfect work; He wants a finished product that is mature and complete.

God’s goal for our lives is maturity. It would be a tragedy if our children remained little babies. We enjoy watching them mature, even though maturity brings dangers as well as delights. Many Christians shelter themselves from the trials of life, and as a result, never grow up. God wants the “little children” to become “young men,” and the “young men” He wants to become “fathers” (1 John 2:12–14).

Paul outlined three works that are involved in a complete Christian life (Eph. 2:8–10). First, there is the work God does for us, which is salvation. Jesus Christ completed this work on the cross. If we trust Him, He will save us. Second, there is the work God does in us: “For we are His workmanship.” This work is known as sanctification: God builds our character and we become more like Jesus Christ, “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). The third work is what God does through us—service. We are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”

But God cannot work in us without our consent. There must be a surrendered will. The mature person does not argue with God’s will; instead, he accepts it willingly and obeys it joyfully. “Doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6). If we try to go through trials without surrendered wills, we will end up more like immature children than mature adults.

Jonah is an illustration of this. God commanded Jonah to preach to the Gentiles at Nineveh, and he refused. God chastened Jonah before the prophet accepted his commission. But Jonah did not obey God from the heart. He did not grow in this experience. How do we know? Because in the last chapter of Jonah, the prophet is acting like a spoiled child! He is sitting outside the city pouting, hoping that God will send judgment. He is impatient with the sun, the wind, the gourd, the worm, and with God.

We have three imperatives from James so far: count—a joyful attitude; know—an understanding heart; let—a surrendered will. He gives a fourth.

POINT 4 ASK: PRAY WITH A BELIEVING HEART.

James 1:5–8 (ESV)

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

6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

7For that person must not suppose th

at he will receive anything from the Lord;

8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The people to whom James wrote had problems with their praying (James 4:1–3; 5:13–18). When we are going through God-ordained difficulties, what should we pray about? James gives the answer: ask God for wisdom.

In the Old Testament wisdom is closely linked to the work of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 11:2, for instance, says, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding.” The locus classicus of wisdom is, perhaps, the book of Proverbs, in which personified wisdom plays the roles normally assigned to the Spirit (Prov. 1:20–33; 8:1–36). Wisdom theology is creation theology, and this explains James’s penchant for the themes of God’s original intention (James 1:4; 2:7; 3:7). For Paul wisdom is linked to Christology, but James presents us with a wisdom OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Wisdom helps us understand how to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory.

IN CLOSING

Love is the spiritual force behind the 4  imperatives James gives us.

If we love God, we will have no problem counting, knowing, letting, and asking.

But there is another factor involved: love keeps us faithful to the Lord. The double-minded person (James 1:8) is like an unfaithful husband or wife: he wants to love both God and the world. James ENCOURAGES US , “Purify your hearts, ye double-minded!”