James One Message 2

James One Message 2

Steadfast Endurance

James 1:3–4 NLT

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Pet a cat you encounter on the street

Rule #7

This one is controversial

The path of least resistance is the path of the loser.

Do we smarter not harder?

I don’t think they are the same.

Working smarter

Computers changed the way we live.

Nobody writes letters anymore.

We send a text.

I wrote sermons on a note pad at one time.

I can’t read my own writing now.

The path of least resistance.

Have you ever taken a shortcut that wasn’t a shortcut?

The easier road isn’t always the better road.

The path of least resistance is always the tempting path but not the best path.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

Quitting Early

Endurance Race

These people are crazy

Not the 100-mile people but 300-mile people.

Fell asleep while running.

I don’t doubt the temptation to quit is ever present.

We live in a culture that avoids pressure

We quit when it gets uncomfortable

We walk away when it gets hard

We pray for escape more than endurance

James Flips this Thinking.

James tells us the goal is not to get OUT of the trial.

But what? To become something through the trial.

Listen: God is not working on your situation – He’s working on you.

The Testing of Your Faith. V:3

Testing

The Greek word = genuineness

Is it real? Or fake.

They have meter that can test the genuineness of gold and silver

It cost $22,000

God says it as plain as He can that our faith will be tested.

How do you respond to crisis?

Testing is part of God’s plan for your life.

Testing is uncomfortable and painful and we struggle with that.

The devil lies to you and says if you really loved God, you won’t be going through this.

But what God wants is for you stop and listen for His voice.

What’s God doing? – Where is He at work?

Producing Endurance

When you are tested…

God is producing in you a tool, a weapon, a gift that literally can produce a harvest 100-fold.

Verse 4 tells us to let it grow.

Maybe the burden you are facing is God growing your character your endurance for the really big task.

What is Endurance

“The power to withstand hardship or stress”

An inward fortitude

It’s a virtue

A spiritual discipline

Your test is producing steadfast endurance for God’s glory.

Endurance Is Not the End Goal

Verse 4 “Let steadfastness have its full effect”

James 1:4 (ESV) — 4 And let steadfastness (endurance) have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:4 ESV

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

Steadfast endurance is part of the process.

Here’s a Hard Truth

Some people restart the same trial over and over…

because they refuse to let God finish the work.

God’s Goal Is Maturity

James 1:4 (ESV) — 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:4 NLT

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

The word perfect here in not sinless.

The bible teaches we can never be sinless. (Romans 6:23)

FYI – When Jesus returns, we will reach sinless perfection in heaven.

Perfect = mature, fully developed.

“Man if I knew then what I know now.”

When you are immature you do dumb stuff.

There are Christians who mature quickly. Those Christian learn early that the their godly walk is not about themselves. But about what God is doing. They humble themselves before God and deny themselves and become followers of Jesus.

Then there are those that have been “Christians” for 50 years and care nothing about the things of God but only what makes them happy. It will always be expressed in the language of serving God, but it’s a lie.

Here’s the most ironic part. Humbling ourselves and surrendering our preferences is actually what brings joy and happiness. The abundant life.

How do we become spiritually mature, fully developed?

Comfort rarely produces maturity.

The path of least resistance is not the path of maturity.

By suffering through trials – also experience, teaching, and most cases time.

You heard this: “Let your test become your testimony.”

What feels like pressure is actually preparation.

God is forming in you – An abiding faith, setting roots of deep character, an unshakable trust.

Don’t take the path of least resistance.

Don’t give up.

Steadfast Endurance Changes Who You Are.

Your situation doesn’t change.

But your reactions do.

Your perspective does.

Your faith will.

You start saying:

God is still good.

God is still working.

God is not finished.

Some are begging God to remove the burden.

Some are asking God to remove that thorn in the flesh.

But God is saying my grace is sufficient.

Let that be your testimony “His grace is sufficient”

Lord if it is your will let this cup pass from me.

But…