Trials and Calamities (3)

Sermon on the Mount-39

When hardship and calamity come, who’s in control?

Are there times where trials and calamities occur without the Lord’s permission?

Can believers effect change in their lives by verbally declaring desired outcomes with faith, expecting God to make them a reality?

Will a negative confession cause hardships to come or continue in our lives?

James 1:2–4 (NIV84)

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

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

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

Consider = ἡγέομαι hēgeomai = to hold a view or have an opinion with regard to something.

to deem or reckon to be.

Pure = πᾶς pas = constituting the full quantity or extent; complete.

Joy = χαρά chara = Joy (source): anything that causes cheer and dispels gloom.

gladness or reason for gladness.

Trials = πειρασμός peirasmos = to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing.

An unwelcome or unexpected experience; trials in general; persecution; sickness; and poverty.

External trials of affliction, in contrast with internal temptations to sin. They were undesirable events, such things as sickness, poverty, hardships of the poor, and persecution in its social, economic, or physical aspects.

When God is the agent, peirasmós is for the purpose of proving someone, never for the purpose of causing him to fall.

If it is the devil who tempts, then it is for the purpose of causing one to fall.

Testing = δοκίμιον dokimion = to try to learn the genuineness of something by examination and testing, often through actual use.

Genuineness: the state of not being fake or counterfeit.

The trials and testings are there to show the genuineness of one’s faith.

Develops = κατεργάζομαι katergazomai = to cause a state to be; to cause to be, to make to be, to make, to result in, to bring upon, to bring about.

to cause, to result in, to bring about, to develop, to produce, to work, to work out, to accomplish, to make for, the result is, (you) learn [Translator’s NT]. The present tense indicates a continuous process of testing.

Perseverance = ὑπομονή hypomonē = to persevere, remain under. A bearing up under, patience, endurance as to things or circumstances.

This is in contrast to makrothumía, long–suffering or endurance toward people.

Hypomonē is associated with hope and refers to that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.

Makrothumía is patience in respect to persons while hypomonē, endurance, is putting up with things or circumstances. (e.g., James 5:7, well look at later.)

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV84)

14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient (makrothumía) with everyone.

Ancient writers used hypomonē to describe military action.

A special detail of choice troops was left behind to hold a position against the enemy while the main force attempted a flanking maneuver.

The troops left behind were in a situation of hypomonē. These troops were not passively resigned to fate. They had not given up. These troops were chosen precisely because they were least likely to give up.

Hypomonē was not about being passive, resigned, or giving up; hypomonē was about strength under stress, staying power.

The trying of our faith produces hypomonē (v. 3).

This virtue means a Christian has staying power.

God builds hypomonē by adversity, not prosperity.

This virtue of hypomonē is for the church, not just the individual. James used the plural “you” in verses 3–4.

Trials is a word which has reference to trials with a beneficial purpose.

This is why the Christian is to rejoice in them.

They are beneficial; the unpleasant experience of trials does not mean they are not good for us.

Our trials are divinely permitted; and anything that God permits to come into the life of the Christian is used by God for our good and his glory.

Even where there are negative experiences a Christian can still experience growth in Christian character. When we suffer as Christians, we should consider it joy.

Mature = τέλειος teleios = brought to completion; fully accomplished, fully developed.

complete, full, wanting in nothing.

Complete = ὁλόκληρος holoklēros 2x = perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities.

Perfection or maturity is a progressive product of endurance.

The only way out of a trial is through it.

The Lord promises no bypasses, only that He always will see His people through the trials without their suffering spiritual harm.

God cannot do His perfect and complete work in and through us without our willing submissiveness.

When we learn to rejoice in our trials and come to understand that our gracious heavenly Father uses them not to harm us but to strengthen and perfect us, we are motivated to embrace them as beneficial.

Romans 5:1–5 (NIV84)

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

4perseverance, character; and character, hope.

5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Rejoice = καυχάομαι kauchaomai = to take pride in something; boast, glory, pride oneself, brag.

to boast (show off): to show off verbally.

to express an unusually high degree of confidence in someone or something being exceptionally noteworthy; to boast.

Exceptionally noteworthy: The fact that our sufferings produce the beneficial result of perseverance, character, and hope.

Rejoice in our sufferings. Paul did not exult because of the tribulations themselves but because of their beneficial effect upon his Christian life. This the saint must learn to do.

He must look at these trials and difficulties as assets that develop his Christian character.

The truly justified man knows …

his life and welfare are completely under God’s care and watchful eye.

whatever events come into his life, whether good or bad, are allowed by God for a reason.

The justified man knows that God will take the trials and sufferings of this world and work them out for good, even if God has to twist and move every event surrounding the believer.

Romans 8:28 (NIV84)

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 5:3 (NIV84)

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Suffering = θλῖψις thlipsis = pressure, compression; affliction, distress of mind; distressing circumstances, trial, affliction.

Distress that is brought about by outward circumstances.

Produces = κατεργάζομαι katergazomai = to bring about a result by doing something; achieve, accomplish.

to cultivate (prepare): to prepare someone or something for use; especially by working it (like soil). – Lexham Research Lexicon

Some major results that cultivation produces are:

Creates an optimal seedbed with appropriate texture for seed-to-soil contact

Removes competing weeds that would otherwise take resources from crop seeds

Improves soil aeration, which is critical for seed germination

Enhances water infiltration and retention at appropriate levels

Distributes nutrients more evenly throughout the root zone

Warms the soil faster in spring (in cooler climates), promoting earlier germination

Mark 4:13–20 (NIV84)

13Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?

14The farmer sows the word.

15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;

19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

One of the factors that made the soil to be good ground was cultivation.

Care of the soil helps determine yield.

Hosea 10:11–13 (NIV84)

11Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.

12Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

13But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,

Israel is being compared to a good heifer, who was well trained and a hard worker at threshing time.

God was impressed with this animal and wanted to make it his own (symbolic of his having a covenant relationship with the people).

So, he put his willing heifer to work plowing for him—an analogy that suggests God’s election of his people to do his service.

At that time God exhorted his people (the heifer) to sow righteousness so that they could reap the blessings (the “fruit”) of God’s steadfast covenant love.

Unfortunately, Israel instead planted unrighteous seeds, and they will now reap a harvest of evil (10:13), just what they deserve.

They have done exactly the opposite of what God has wanted, and the results are the opposite of what they want.

Consequently, instead of eating the wonderful fruit of a righteous life, the people will have to swallow the poisonous fruit of their own deception.

The lies and false beliefs they accept explain why the Israelites are being punished so severely by God.

Instead of cultivating the ground with righteousness, they chose another deceptive path that only produced thorn and thistles.

The Israelites were taken in by the lie that military power could keep them safe.

Believers today sometimes fall for lies of a quick fix. Believers can avoid falling for lies by asking:

Am I believing this because there is personal gain in it for me?

Am I discounting important facts?

Does this conflict with a direct command of Scripture?

Are there any biblical parallels to the situation I’m facing that would help me know what to believe?

Hebrews 6:7–9 (NIV84)

7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.

This is not describing two different grounds. It is the same ground that will effectively grow whatever has been planted in it.

They both drink in the rain often falling on it.

Let us cultivate the ground of our hearts with righteous behavior, words, and thoughts. Let us take care to what we are hearing, especially when it comes to right and wrong doctrine.

Mark 4:24 (AMP)

24And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Romans 5:3 (NIV84)

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Perseverance = ὑπομονή hypomonē = that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; endurance.

putting up with things or circumstances.

Galatians 6:9–10 (NIV84)

9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

James 5:7–11 (NIV84)

7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

9Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Patient = μακροθυμέω makrothumeō = to endure patiently as opposed to losing faith or giving up.

Makrothuméō involves exercising understanding and patience toward persons while hupoménō involves putting up with things or circumstances.

Patience with people (1 Thess. 5:14), not trials or circumstances (as in 1:3). Specifically, James has in mind patience with the oppressive rich.

There was a lot of injustice occurring at this time. Workers and harvesters were not being paid; the innocent was being run down and even destroyed by the opposition of the corrupt rich.

The believers were instructed in how they were to deal with all the injustice occurring in their world.

This injustice is much like the injustice that occurs around us today and the admonitions given in James also apply to Christians today.

Believers are not to try to overturn their oppressors. Even when deserving of justice, believers are not to resort to violence against their oppressors in order to achieve justice.

Believers are called to patience (see definition), not revolution.

There is no call for the downtrodden workers of the world to rise up against the wealthy classes.

Christians do not need to take matters into their own hands. Justice will be done. The Judge is standing at the door!

James 5:11 (NIV84)

11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Many Christians believe that Satan is in control of calamity.

In their view, Satan is almost equal to God in power.

As you go through life, you always have to be looking over your shoulder, never sure when God might have his back turned, allowing Satan to run you down with some disaster God didn’t anticipate.

Other people believe that you are in control of calamity.

You make yourself sick or have a bad month for your business by speaking or thinking negative thoughts.

In their view, if you think positively enough and have faith enough, nothing bad will happen to you.

Who is in control: Satan, you, or God?

When you read the first two chapters of Job, you find that there is a definite biblical answer.

When a tornado flattens your home, a disease your health, or a death your family—when everything seems out of control—God is in control.

To be continued…