Joy in Trials (B)

About Me:

Josiah

Pastor of GC—OVERLOOK/SHAMOKIN...

HUSBAND—FATHER (3 GIRLS)

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II. Opening Prayer

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III. Songs(x3)—

Are you washed — F (p. 22)

There is power — F (p. 15)

Tis so Sweet?? — F (p. 8)

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IV. Message...

Intro:

I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT: thigmo-morpho-genesis?

AMAZING GOD-GIVEN ABILILTY TREES (& PLANTS) HAVE to RESPOND W/ STRUCTURAL CHANGES to EXTERNAL STIMULI

Great Example: WIND

HARDWOODS BECOME MORE FLEXIBLE

SOFTWOODS BECOME MORE DENSE

ROOTS DEEPEN

TREES in WINDY ENVIRONMENTS GROW SHORTER, THICKER, MORE TAPERED.

Reason: TREES CAN’T MOVE—

THEY MUST ADAPT or ELSE THEY’LL FALL WHEN STORMS COME…

PHYSICAL STRESS RESULTS in NECESSARY GROWTH…

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SAME is TRUE for PEOPLE: WITHOUT STIMULUS—THERE’S NO NEED for GROWTH.

PEOPLE HATE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE—BUT DISCOMFORT = NECESSARY to BE STRONG.

LACK of DISCOMFORT = RESULTS in WEAKNESS…

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Illustration: Morning Run w/ Kevin—WHY AM I DOING THIS?

DISCOMFORT = the WHOLE POINT

Alternative: UNHEALTHY

DISCOMFORT STRENGTHENS US...

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Focus: SAME is TRUE SPIRITUALLY

DISCOMFORT—TRIALS—SHAPE US, GROW US—MAKE US INTO STRONGER PEOPLE…

EASY LIVES DON’T REQUIRE GROWTH…

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Transition ➡ THIS SHOULD ENCOURAGE US—DURING the HARD TIMES…

FOCUS of JAMES 1…

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Text:

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.

CONFOUNDING COMMAND: COUNT/CONSIDER ALL JOY = RESPONSE to TRIALS

(Quote, Plummer) TRIALS = DIFFICULTIES of LIVING in FALLEN WORLD

“OF VARIOUS KINDS” — LIFE = FILLED W/ ALL MANNER of PROBLEMS

PHYSICAL PAINS

FINANCIAL

RELATIONAL

=> COUNTING THESE THINGS “ALL JOY” = = NUTS!

**HE DOESN’T SAY ENDURE IT—HE SAYS CONSIDER IT JOY**

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HARDSHIP = UNDESIRED…

WE DESIRE 80 DEGREES @ BEACH

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Transition ➡ BUT THERE’S a BENEFIT to the HARDSHIPS…

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(v3) BENEFIT to HARDSHIPS:

James 1:3 ESV

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

TESTING/TRIAL/HARDSHIPS PRODUCE STEADFASTNESS

Definition: the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty,

STICK-TO-IT-NESS—STRENGTH, RESOLVE.

=> WIND STRENGTHENS TREES

=> EXERCISE/DISCOMFORT STRENGTHENS OUR PHYSICAL BODIES

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YOU DON’T GET STRONG WITHOUT STIMULUS— WE NATURALLY GROW WEAKER…

Testimony: THIS MORNING— WHY AM I RUNNING UP a HILL in the COLD??

NECESSARY for PHYSICAL STRENGTH.

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Conclusion: HARDSHIPS STRENGTHEN US SPIRITUALLY

THIS = WHY WE CONSIDER IT “ALL JOY”

**Disclaimer** DOESN’T MEAN HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY—SMILES & RAINBOWS…

BUT a SETTLED RESOLVE THAT GOD is WORKING in OUR LIVES—SHAPING US to BE LIKE CHRIST.

Encourage: EVEN WHEN PHYSICALLY WE’RE NOT STRONG—WE CAN GROW SPIRITUALLY.

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Reminder: CHRIST SUFFERED MORE THAN ALL — CAN’T BECOME LIKE CHRIST WITHOUT HARDSHIPS…

HARDSHIPS GROW US.

**TREE EXAMPLE** THEY CAN’T MOVE

SOMETIMES TRIALS CAN’T BE CHANGED — SO WE MUST CHANGE.

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Transition ➡ and THIS JOURNEY = PROCESS...

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(V4) Completion of Growth:

James 1:4 ESV

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

STEADFAST = MEANS to an END— CHRISTIAN MATURITY/PERFECTION/COMPLETION

**FINAL SINLESSNESS AWAITS ETERNITY**

BUT WE ARE STILL TASKED W/ GROWING to CHRISTIAN MATURITY.

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GROWTH COMES THROUGH HARDSHIP

Exhort: YOU CAN’T GROW ENDURANCE BY ESCAPING HARDSHIP.

Danger of Prosperity Theology:

DEMANDS a CHANGE of CIRCUMSTANCES…

NOT a CHANGE of PERSPECTIVE

**T-LOVE**

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Transition ➡ SOMETIMES,, THIS = HARD to SEE & UNDERSTAND…

GOD WILL HELP SHAPE OUR PERSPECTIVE IF WE ASK.

God’s Offer of Wisdom (v5-8)

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.

WHEN IT’S HARD to WORK THROUGH HARD SEASONS—GOD CAN HELP US

STRENGTH

WISDOM—KNOWING WHAT TO DO.

GOD GRANTS WISDOM—IT’S HIS PROMISE.

=> WE MUST MERELY ASK in FAITH—BELIEVING GOD WILL SUPPLY.

Matthew 7:7 ESV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

THERE’S a REASON in the PAIN...GOD is SHAPING/MATURING US…

(Q) WILL WE SEEK HIS WISDOM to KNOW WHAT HE’S DOING IN US?

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Closing Challenge:

INSTEAD of SEEKING to ESCAPE HARDSHIP— ASK:

WHAT is GOD DOING IN ME THROUGH THIS??

AN AREA of MY LIFE/FAITH/CHRISTIAN CHARACTER...

… THAT WILL ONLY GROW BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY??

SUFFERING => ENDURANCE.

ENDURANCE => HOPE

IN the END— WE’LL RECEIVE the CROWN of LIFE (V12)

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CAN’T ALWAYS CHANGE OUR LIVES/EXPERIENCES

**CAN’T MOVE the TREE**

BUT CAN DEVELOP STRONGER ROOTS,, MORE RESILIENT TRUNKS

ACCEPT—GOD’S HAND in THIS

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

IN THAT WE CAN FIND JOY, AMEN?

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V. Closing Prayer

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VI. Closing Song

I Need Thee (F) - p. 55

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VII. Prayer Requests & Departing Prayer