Testing Your Faith
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Defining the pain.
What an unprecedented time in the Church. We have often talked about what the church would look like if we were told we couldn’t meet together. The family has always been the core of God’s design for worship, growth, and wisdom in the ways of the Lord. The church was never ment to take the place of the instruction of the family. All through the scripture fathers and mothers are to lead and train the house.
The Lord brought to my mind what he said to the disciples that at the time they didn’t understand. He said it is better for you if I go away, for if I go I will send
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
The church as never been a building but a group of people indwelt by the Sprit of God to bring light out of darkness and order out of chaos through the message of the gospel.
If we’re not careful we get comfortable in our padded seats being a spectator the to the works of God. Sometimes God has to shake us up and shake us out of our seats to get busy building his kingdom.
This is what happed to the first disciples and Church. Jesus had commanded them to go into all the world but they weren’t leaving Jerusalem. So God allowed persecution to run them out of town and into the world that so desperately needed the gospel. Could it be that we need the same push from God.
It’s scary. We live in scary times. When the persecution of the early church happened it was scary. They were running for their lives. and in the midst of all this persecution God was at work. They needed to learn to trust him through the trial and even grow in their faith through the trial.
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to church under this persecution. It’s the book of James.
For the next few moments, I want us to look at the beginning of this letter to the hurting and persecuted church and see if we can also find some encouragement and direction from his words.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-
The world is saying, “Facts not fear.”
The Christian world is saying, “Faith not fear.”
Fear is the beginning of wisdom. Things like Covid-19 just show us how vulnerable and weak we really are. And there is hope if you will let that fear awaken you to put your faith in The Lord, Jesus, the Savior. If you have not put your faith in Jesus Christ, please do that today.
But for Christians who are walking by faith, our faith needs to turn into something else. Faith is just the beginning.
Biblical Truth: Defining the Passage.
In this passage James lays out a 3 Step process for dealing with trails and testings in life.
1. Let the Trials produce Joy.
1. Let the Trials produce Joy.
Trials are the tests of life that reveal the truth about God, yourself, others, and the rest of creation.
Trials are the tests of life that reveal the truth about God, yourself, others, and the rest of creation.
There are clinical trials being conducted right now to create a vaccine for the virus. Through each one of the trials they learn a little more. Eventually they will find the vaccine, but only through the trials.
Trials are the stress tests of life to find the weak spots of your faith.
Joy is the result of experiencing God’s presence through the Holy Spirit.
Joy comes as you experience God through the trials.
Joy comes as you experience God through the trials.
Joy is produced through your interaction with the Spirit of God in your life.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 2:2
We experience joy even in trials because God is walking with us.
Sometimes it takes a trial to wake us up to the presence of God.
2. Let your Faith produce Steadfastness
2. Let your Faith produce Steadfastness
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
For faith to be trusted it must be tested.
For faith to be trusted it must be tested.
Faith toward God is assumed in this passage.
This is written to the brethren.
Those that suffering because of their faith.
The testing of faith reveals the power of God.
Is God the almighty?
Does God hear the cries of his people?
Will He never leave us or forsake us?
Do all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose?
Will God supply all our need according to his riches in glory?
The testing reveals the growth areas of your faith. Where do I lack faith toward God?
It through the testing of my life that my faith has been strengthened.
If your faith is never tested there is no way it can be trusted.
A tested faith produces a steadfast heart.
A tested faith produces a steadfast heart.
Steadfastness = The ability to stay the course in the midst of great trials and suffering.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
The more trials you endure the stronger your faith toward God.
The steadfast heart can endure the toughest trials of life and is able to stay the course.
3. Let your Steadfastness produce maturity.
3. Let your Steadfastness produce maturity.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Let your Steadfastness make you perfect and complete.
Let your Steadfastness make you perfect and complete.
Christian perfection: the maturity to trust the Lord in every trial of life.
Christian perfection: the maturity to trust the Lord in every trial of life.
Christian completion: the wholeness of Spirit, soul, and body.
Christian completion: the wholeness of Spirit, soul, and body.
Spiritual wholeness: Living in a love relationship with God that is real and personal.
Mental wholeness: secure in yourself living in the fullness of who God created you to be.
Physical wholeness: bringing the body into subjection as an instrument of righteous to accomplish the will of God.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
1 Thess
perfect = mature
Complete = whole
Action Steps:
Action Steps:
Use the trials of life to lean into God.
Use the trials of life to lean into God.
Use the testing of your faith to reveal your growth areas.
Use the testing of your faith to reveal your growth areas.
Use your steadfast faith to become mature and whole.
Use your steadfast faith to become mature and whole.