Authentic Joy in Trial

Introduction:

Big Question: How can the believer have authentic joy in the midst of trials?

Big Idea: Authentic joy in trials comes with a proper perspective of the trials in our lives.

Sermon Division 1: An introduction to James. (James 1:1)

James 1:1 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

Who is James?

A servant of God and Christ

He is the half brother of Jesus

He is the leader of the Jerusalem church and had a active role in the Jerusalem counsel in Acts 15.

This is the first book written in the new testament most likely around 44 AD just about 10 years after the start of the church at Pentecost.

Who is James writing to?

The 12 tribes

This is referring to a predominately Jewish audience. Again this book was written just 10 years after the start of the church and the efforts of the Gospel going to the gentiles had not taken place yet. This book was written about 2 years before Paul went on his first missionary journey.

The dispersion is because of the persecution of this young church. Again part of that persecution and dispersion is largely because of Paul's efforts before his conversion.

How does James greet them?

Short, simple greeting

This word literally means “rejoice” or “be glad”

“To James the word was no mere formality; he expected what he wrote to gladden this readers’ hearts by giving them means to verify the genuineness (or authenticity) or their salvation.” John MacArthur New Testament Commentary: James pg.13

Sermon Division 2: God is restoring us to He originally created intent for us. (James 1:2-4)

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

A command for how to view trials. (James 1:2)

James 1:2 ESV

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

Count it all joy,

Count could also be translated Regard, or Consider, or think or thought

The word Joy has two ways that it is used in the new testament

the first and most used way is the emotion of Joy

The second way is the source of joy.

This is one of only five uses of the word Joy when it is used to show the source if Joy.

So verse two could literally say “Consider it the source of all joy when you meet trials of various kinds”

This is not a suggestion given by James. This is a command.

My Brothers,

This is referring back to his audience.

When you meet trials of various kinds.

This is not specific on purpose. Not everyone will face the same trials and there will be different levels of significance and savarity to the trials, yet despite the variety of these trials the result should be the same. We are to consider them a source of all joy in our lives.

Is this your natural response? When a trial comes into your life what do you do?

The reason you can fulfill this command. (James 1:3)

James 1:3 ESV

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

For you know,

James is appealing to common knowledge. This is something that they should already know. It is a common and well known phrase. For us if I say “a penny saved is...” What would you say? “a penny earned.” That is common knowledge.

This common knowledge is tied to source of joy. The source of joy is not the trials themselves, but the knowledge of what the trials can do in our lives if we let them. We will look at this more in a minute.

James is appealing to their mind and what they know not how they feel. our feelings are often wrong and trick us.

A good example of this is Psalm 13

Psalm 13 (ESV)

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

David is moving from what he feels to what he knows. There is no doubt he is in a trial and a really hard one. David is clear with what he feels and it is real to him. It really feels like god has forgotten him yet in the last 2 verse he moves to what he knows. “God it feels like you have forgotten me but I trust in your steadfast love, I will rejoice in your salvation. And despite his circumstances and how he feels David says that God has dealt bountifully with him.

The testing of your faith produces steadfastness

The testing of your faith is a direct connect to “meeting trials of various kinds” These trials are literally the testing of your faith.

This common knowledge is tied to source of joy.

This is the common knowledge: That the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

The source of joy is not the trials themselves, but the knowledge of what the trials can do in our lives if we let them. Knowledge is the vehicle that leads to true authentic joy. While the trails and the testing of you faith is the vehicle that leads to a changed life, a steadfast life, a sanctifying life.

I don’t think this is common knowledge today. When we find ourselves in trials I don’t think we are actively thinking it is producing steadfastness in our lives.

This is a concept that is repeated in other spots in the Bible:

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Trials do not automatically produce these qualities in us. It takes work. One author says it this way:

“Trials train us, but not automatically. To profit from trials, you must improve them. When God sends you suffering, keep alert to what weaknesses in your faith and character they might reveal. Learn to depend on God more desperately, to plead his promises more fervently. Suffering is a stewardship: How can you turn your trials into spiritual profit?” Bobby Jamieson: The Path to Being a Pastor (pg, 148)

How can you get the most of the trails that God sends to us? How can we turn our trials into spiritual profit? Into steadfastness?

Knowledge that leads to action. (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.

And let steadfastness have its full effect

Did you notice a key word? The word “Let”. We have an active role in this process. It also means we can cause the trials to not have there full effect on us.

This is another command. Not only are we to view trials as a source of joy based on our knowledge of what they are doing in our lives but also to allow them to have there full God intended effect in our lives.

So how can we do that? This again goes back to the mind. Dwell on what you know not what you feel. Allow your mind and your will to be obedient to Christ and tell your emotions or what your feel to get in line to what is true. This is not easy! But it is necessary!

That you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing

This word perfect literally means whole or full or the idea of completeness. It is the same word translated “full” in “full effect”. It carries this idea that that we are broken and not the way we are intended to be and we are in need of being made whole. Like in genesis 3 we were changed and broken as we took on a sinful nature. This is God making us back into our whole intend created in the image of God being.

What is the result of allowing or letting steadfastness have its full effect? That you are a changed person. This is the process of the Holy Spirit doing his sacrificing work in your life making you look more and more like Christ as you let this steadfastness have its full effect one trial at a time.

This is a beautiful thing to motivate us to stay the cores and to let trials have their full effect in our lives. If that was all it would be a wonderful and above all we could even imagine, but that is not all. God leaves us with more. In verses 5-8 we will see that God will genourusly give us what we need so this change can take place and we will see a great promise found in verse 12 which we will look at later.

Sermon Division 3: God gives us what we need in order for this change to take place. (James 1:5-8)

James 1:5–8 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

A command for those who lack wisdom. (James 1:5)

James 1:5 ESV

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

Wisdom - “If any of you lacks wisdom”

At the end of verse 4 we see “That you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing”. The start of verse 5 says “If any of you lack wisdom”. This is contrary to each other. And it makes a connection for us to look back.

What is wisdom? Wisdom is the ability to act on knowledge. In this verse the word wisdom is being used as a trait.

“The trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight” Wisdom Word Study Senses

Lexham Theological Wordbook σοφία

Refers to the quality of having knowledge, skill, and experience in the sense of mastery over a particular subject or trade through practice and learning.

This makes so much sense as we put it into the context of the previous text. The previous text is emphasis knowledge and being able to have true authentic joy because of knowledge rather than feelings. And here we see the progression of turning that knowledge into wisdom

Prayer - “Let him ask God”

Our trials need to draw us to God. To pray and communicate with God. As we continue to focus on the knowledge of who God is and what he is doing in us through this trail we may find that we have a lack of ability to transfer that knowledge into a wisdom that we can act upon. In those cases we need to be on our knees pleading with God to give us this kind of wisdom.

God - “who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Here we see the vary nature and character of God. This is so important for two major reason: 1) It gives us a deeper love for God and 2) it helps us not doubt as we will see later.

God is Generous

God is not show partiality with God

He keeps his promises

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This is part of who God is! He is gentle and lowly in heart.

God invites us to come to him. He wants us to run to him. He wants us to communicate to him.

The difference between those with true faith and those who doubt. (James 1:6,8)

James 1:6,8 (ESV)

6 But 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.

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

Those with true faith - “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting”

This tells us how we need to come before God, with faith.

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Again going back to verses 2-4 authentic joy comes from our knowledge not our feelings. And Faith is that what is hoped for yet not seen. Faith is the opposite of doubt. They cannot exist together. The result of this kind of faith is found in verse 3 unwavering steadfastness.

Daniel 3:13–18 ESV

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

These men are an example of walking in faith and dwelling on what they know rather than what the feel.

Those who doubt (6b, 8) - “for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind… 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

The rest of this verse and verse 8 describe who the doubter is. Before we saw who God was and some of his character, here we see who the doubter is and some of his character

he is driven and tossed by the wind

he is double-minded

his is unstable

This is a person who does not have the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen. But rather this person is dwelling on their ever changing feelings based on the situation they are in and their ever changing circumstances. This is a very different outcome from that of true faith. In fact it is the complete opposite of what we saw in verses 2-4. True faith which is seen by the outward expression of unwavering steadfastness while doubting leads to the outward expression of a lack of stability and being driven and tossed by the wind. We see an example of this in...

Matthew 14:28–31 ESV

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

In this moment Peter doubted the original knowledge he had of who Jesus was and began to focus on his feelings, fear, and circumstances.

The result of doubting. James 1:7)

James 1:7 ESV

7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

The consequences of doubting.

We need to remember what is being asked and prayed for. It is Wisdom. What is wisdom? The ability to act on knowledge.

The person who is a doubter cannot expect to receive the wisdom he is asking for because he ultimately lacks the the first step wisdom which is Knowledge.

This verse also says that he cannot expect anything from the Lord. That is because this person does not have faith.

We see an interesting connection here between verse 5 and verse 7. In verse 5 we see God as a generous giver and here in verse 7 a warning for those who doubt that they should not expect to receive anything from God. It also helps us look forward to verse 12 where we see Gods generosity thru promising to give the crown of life to those with true faith.

Sermon Division 4: God is also at work restoring our original relationship with Him. (James 1:12)

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

A Great Promise. (James 1:12)

Not only is God working to make us whole and back to how we should be in His own image. He also promised to give us life everlasting. His is not just restoring how we were originally created he is also working and promises to restore the relationship we had with God as we walked side by side with him in the garden.

Conclusion:

This is authentic joy. To have knowledge of what God is doing and to let him do it.

Do you find yourself to be one with true faith or one who doubts?

Who do you find yourself more like the 3 men or peter?

Let your trials to drive you to God in faith.

If you are finding you a failing to act on the knowledge you have ask God for wisdom!

God will answer your prayer with generosity and without partiality.

Run away from doubt by focusing of what you know not your feelings or circumstances.

Run to Faith because without faith it is impossible to please God.

How can you get the most out of your various trials and see them as a stewardship? How can you turn your trials into spiritual profit? Will your trials produce steadfastness in your life, and will you let that steadfastness have its full effect that you may continue on this path of being made whole again looking to the promises that God will give what you need and He will one day restore us to have a perfect relationship with Him in glory.