Blessed With Trials
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Introduction:
Introduction:
We have a number of terms that we use in the church that some call “Christianese.” They are words unique to Christianity or words that have what some may consider a special or hidden meaning in Christian . There is even an entry for Christianese in Wikipedia. Here it is.
[Show Screenshot]
Examples of Christianese
What are some examples of Christianese, words we or other Christian groups use that non-Christians may not understand?
[Solicit responses]
I want to talk about a word that I think fits in this category, the word “blessing.” The most common use of it in our society is when we say “God bless you.” We say it for two main reasons. One, when a person sneezes, two, when we wish someone well. That second usage is actually quite biblical. A Greek lexicon, which is a fancy word for dictionary, defines blessed as:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.119 μακάριος, α, ον
pertaining to being happy, with the implication of enjoying favorable circumstances—‘happy.’
We find this word throughout the Bible. This is the word Jesus used in the Beatitudes where He proclaimed different reasons why people are happy.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Everyone wants to be blessed, especially by God. We long for God to bless us with good health, with safety, with enough material possessions to enjoy life. We also long for intangible blessings such as a loving family and friends, for acceptance and approval. We want to blessed with a sense of fulfillment, that we are making a difference in the world. These are all things we consider blessings.
Transition:
Transition:
Today we’re going to look at a category of blessing that most of us would rather not have. It’s a type of blessing that doesn’t fit with those I just described. It is the blessing of trials.
The Blessing of Trials
We are in a series called Understanding Adversity. The goal of this series is to understand the different kinds of adversity which includes
Understanding Adversity Series
Understanding Adversity Series
1. Define each type of adversity
2. Describe the source of adversity
3. Discern the purpose of the adversity
4. Determine the right response to the adversity
Six types of Adversity
Six types of Adversity
Trials
Tests
Discipline
Pruning
Persecution
Attacks
Today we are going to focus on trials. What we are going to see today is
Bottom line: Any trial can be a blessing.
Bottom line: Any trial can be a blessing.
Let’s turn in our Bibles to James 1:2-12 and read what James has to say about the blessings of trials.
James 1:2-12
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
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.
That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
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.
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.
Here is my definition of trials taken primarily from 1 Peter 1 and James 1.
Trials are various undeserved, unexplainable external negative events all Christians need to occasionally experience that may cause mental, emotional or spiritual pain while testing our faith and can enable us grow spiritually and receive an eternal reward.
1. James starts and ends with positive statements about trials.
1. James starts and ends with positive statements about trials.
James 1:2, 12
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Where do trials come from? This passage doesn’t say, it assumes they are a natural part of life. That’s consistent with what Jesus said
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Trials are trouble but joy is a good thing. Anyone here want more joy today? At the end of this section we read,
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.
A crown from Jesus is also a good thing. I’m not sure what that’s going to be, but I want one. You, too?
So we have a joy and a crown. The problem for us is what is in between, trials.
A. We start with a choice.
A. We start with a choice.
We don’t choose to experience trials. They happen to us all the time. We choose how we react to it. James says we are to choose to be joyful about experiencing trials.
Consider is 31.1 ἡγέομαι: to hold a view or have an opinion with regard to something—‘to hold a view, to have an opinion, to consider, to regard.
I saw this comic years ago and saved it because it perfectly demonstrates this point.
“You realize you’re choosing to be depressed.”
Joy isn’t automatic or is it natural. We already know that. By definition trials are negative experiences. We can only be joyful when we understand what happens when we handle trials the right way. We can be joyful when we know what the final result is going to be.
ILLUSTRATION: We do this all the time. We exercise not because it is enjoyable but because of what we know the end result will be, better health.
[Image of people exercising]
B. We finish with a reward.
B. We finish with a reward.
We are blessed when we go through trials the right way because we are going to get a crown in heaven. Rewards are motivating. I like being rewarded with a free cup of coffee or a free night in a hotel or a free airfare. Rewards are things we look forward to having. The next time you face a trial, which likely is today, stop and think about the reward you will get if you get through the trial the right way, the crown of life. It’s real and you will enjoy it.
The blessings of trials are just future. James describes
2. The present benefits of trials.
2. The present benefits of trials.
A. Trials test our faith.
A. Trials test our faith.
Trials are external experiences. A trial is the backache, the financial problem, the unexpected death of a loved one, being treated unfairly by a coworker, the car breaking down, losing your keys. Every day we face trials of various kinds.
The way we internally process the trial is the test of our faith. Trials don’t always test our faith. If you were having breakfast this morning and spilled something on your shirt or top so that you couldn’t wear it to church. Did it test your faith? You may have just shrugged, changed your clothes and not thought any more about it. However, it if were favorite and the stain ruined it, that trial might have become a test.
Trial are tests when we face a choice of trusting God or not. Trials reveal our level of trust in God. Trials are good for us because they enable us to see we are not as great as we think we are. When we face a difficult situation and see we aren’t as smart or strong or wise or patient or gentle or loving or caring or selfless as we thought we were. We find ourselves in the middle of a mess. We see that we have a choice to trust God to supply whatever qualities we lack. If we don’t trust him we react poorly and sometimes sin. If we trust Him, He always gives us what we need.
Trials end. When we are in the midst of a trial, like a financial trial, we can’t imagine how we are going to get through it. How many of you have experienced a financial crisis in the past that was solved in some way?
Trials test us by reminding us God is with us in bad times. We know He is with us in good times, right? Or do we? Too often when times are good we don’t trust God. The testing of our faith through trials shows us just how dangerous a trap prosperity can be. Our Lord taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We often don’t pray that. It’s because we have a job and a paycheck or food on the shelves. It is when we are lacking in something that remember to pray. Trials bless us by reminding us we need to trust God.
Trials test our faith and by exercising faith we cling to God.
B. Testing our faith produces perseverance in us.
B. Testing our faith produces perseverance in us.
James 1:3
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
One of the benefits of handling trials the right way is we get mentally and spiritual stronger. The test, what goes on inside, produces perseverance. This word describes
25.174 ὑπομονή, ῆς f: capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances—‘endurance, being able to endure.’
Louw & Nida,
This is the quality in verse 12 that results in a reward. It isn’t just going through a trial that blesses us, it’s going through the right way.
Here’s the thing. You are going to go through the trial one way or the other, right? You lost your job. You broke your cell phone. Someone broke into your car. You are experiencing a trial. You have a choice. Trust God or not. Believe God is in control and will give you peace. Pray until you have the peace of God in your heart, and you will. Or get angry, depressed. Lash out at someone in anger. Decide to kill the pain and unhappiness with alcohol or in some other inappropriate way.
In both scenarios the trial ends. When you trust God it ends with you growing and God setting a crown aside for you. When you don’t trust Him, it ends and you’re left with pain, not from the trial but from your sinful reaction.
C. Perseverance finishes and completes us.
C. Perseverance finishes and completes us.
James knows we need a bit more convincing. He tells us,
James 1:4
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
The word translated mature has the sense of being finished. The word complete has the sense of being whole.
68.23 τέλειος, α, ον: pertaining to that which is fully accomplished or finished—‘complete, finished.’ Louw & Nida
59.30 ὁλόκληρος, ον: a totality, with special emphasis upon the entity as a whole—‘whole, entire.’
The ability to endure hardship, to get stronger makes us into the men and women God wants us to be. It says that when this happens we are lacking in nothing. This isn’t talking about finances or material possession. It is the inward quality of perseverance that enables us to endure anything.
This isn’t saying we are perfect morally. It isn’t saying we have reached a level of maturity where we have made it and don’t need to grow any more.
It is saying there is a level of maturity in the area of perseverance where we have everything we need to trust God through each trial.
This is great news but James doesn’t leave us with a lofty goal and no way to get there. He gives us
3. Practical steps for enduring trials.
3. Practical steps for enduring trials.
The first thing we need is described in
James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
A. Seek wisdom.
A. Seek wisdom.
Wisdom is the ability to understand and see the best course of action in any given situation. a common reaction to a trial is to ask, “What do I do now?” You have lots of choices perhaps best described by the phrase “fight or flight.”
No matter what the trial is, God will give you the wisdom to know what to do or say. You have to ask Him and you have to believe He’s going to give you wisdom.
Illustration: Let’s say you’re at work and your boss or maybe even a coworker get angry and stands over you yelling at you. Can we all agree that’s a trial? We have several options.
Options for dealing with a yelling coworker:
a. Sit there silently and don’t do or say anything.
b. Get up and get in his face and yell right back.
c. Stand up an accidently spill your hot coffee all over him.
d. Pray for wisdom, believe God’s going to give it to and act.
In every situation there is a best thing to do. God’s wisdom will lead you to that. James gives us a clearer look at what that wisdom looks like in
James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
We need wisdom to act. We also need the right perspective.
B. Humble yourself.
B. Humble yourself.
Face it, you need help. Proud people don’t think they need help. Trials are humbling.
James 1:9-11
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 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.
It’s easy to be confident and full of pride when we are the top of the mountain. When we are buried beneath our trials we can feel humiliated. That’s okay because it is only when you and I are humbled that we acknowledge our need for help.
James closes this section by telling us about
4. The future benefit of trials.
4. The future benefit of trials.
A. Benefit for persevering not just for experiencing trials.
A. Benefit for persevering not just for experiencing trials.
This comes to those who endure the trials.
We pass the test of the trial by making it through by trusting God. That’s all. It isn’t complicated.
B. The benefit will last forever!
B. The benefit will last forever!
1 Cor 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Trials are the negative circumstances.
Tests are what happens to us inside, what we feel or think about, when we encounter negative circumstances.