Trials and Tempations

An Evening with James  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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In life we will face many different types and kinds of trials and tribulations. Our ultimate redemption and salvation is found in Jesus Christ and not in any of the things of this world. We should remember who we serve and who our Father truly is.

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Introduction

Good evening and welcome!
This is our first Sunday evening face to face service since the first of March and to be honest I didn’t know what to expect.
I didn’t know if we would have many come out our if I would be here preaching to Minnie Mouse in the back this evening.
But it is good to see everyone out and good to have those watching with us online as well.
This evening, we are going to be moving into a different study.
The last online Sunday Evening service, three weeks ago now, we finished up the Book of Romans after well over a year.
And now it is time to move forward.
And I have been pondering and praying over what direction the Lord wanted us to go next, and until about 4AM on Friday morning I wasn’t really that sure.
Then as I woke from my slumber the Lord told me “James.”
And I said, “Lord we have already done a Wednesday night study on James.”
And the Lord said, “so what.”
So, tonight we are going to be starting in a study of the Book of James looking at many of the different aspects and points that James makes throughout the letter.
And I have titled this study, “An Evening With James” and tonight we will be starting out with James 1:2-8 looking at the subject of “Trials and Tribulations.”
However, before we get into the study let’s spend a few minutes talking about the letter that James wrote and who he wrote it to.
James actually starts out his letter with and introduction directed toward the people he is writing to.
He says . . .
James 1:1 NIV - Anglicised
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
So, James’ letter is not written to a specific group like the Romans or the Corinthians but to all believers in all nations.
However, listen to who he says it is to…the 12 tribes scattered among the nations.
So he is specifically addressing first and foremost the Jews that had converted to Christianity.
And I guess converted is not really the right word because Christianity is in fact the natural progression of Judaism.
It is the coming of the Messiah and the completion of what has been promised to the Jews.
So, James is primarily addressing them.
And also all Christians by extension.
However, there is more to this.
The Christian Jews as we will refer to them as are facing trials and tribulations on all sides.
They are being persecuted by the Romans, their captors.
And they are also being persecuted by other Jews, the ones who wanted to maintain their power and influence—the ones who actually killed Jesus.
So they are catching it on all sides.
Which is part of the reason why James is so adimate and strong with the points he makes in this opening passage.
He wants them to take heart in who it is they serve and who their Father is.
And we can take the same comfort in the words of James as well.
So, if you have your Bibles and want to follow along, tonight we are going to be diving in and taking a look at James 1:2-8.
James has this to say . . .

Scripture Focus

James 1:2–8 NIV - Anglicised
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Joy In Tribulation

So, James starts out here with some pretty strange advice.
Again in verse 2 he tells us to . . .
James 1:2 NIV - Anglicised
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Joy? Really? Anybody feel joyous when we face trials and tribulations?
When we are having a hard time in life or even just a bad day, do we feel joy in that?
Of course not.
We don’t run around say—whohoo! I’m going to be tried and tested today.
Great! Here comes another trial!
I can’t wait!
Nope…not a single one of us.
And if we did others would probably think we were a bit nuts.
And in reality we probably would be.
However, we are like that because we are confusing joy and happiness.
And the two are completely different things.
Happiness is that feeling we get when things are going good, when we are having a “good day.”
However, joy is something that goes much deeper than happiness.
Joy is something that comes from deep within the soul.
Joy is something that comes from a place of peace and understanding of God and who God is.
Joy is what Paul talks about in Philippians . . .
Philippians 4:7 NIV - Anglicised
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is that peace of God.
It is something that we really cannot understand.
And it is something that we can only have through Jesus Christ.
The peace of God is granted to us by the Holy Spirit.
And because of that peace, we have assurance that no matter what happens or what life throws our way, God is with us.
God has got this.
God is in control.
And that is why we can . . .
James 1:2 NIV - Anglicised
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Because we know the trials will come.
We know that problems will come.
We know that there will be things that we face that only God can take care of and deal with.
That is life and we know it.
But there is something else at work here as well.
Remember what Paul says in Romans 8 . . .
Romans 8:28 NIV - Anglicised
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So, all things, good and bad, God can and will use to ultimately help us.
Ultimately for our own good.
And trials and tribulations are really no different.
And James, also knowing this tells us that . . .
James 1:3–4 NIV - Anglicised
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
So, here is the greater purpose for the trials and tribulations that we all will face.
When we face trials and tribulations—it tests our faith.
It stretches our faith.
It causes our faith to grow, sometimes in a very painful way.
However at any rate, our faith does grow and mature.
And because of that be develop endurance and perseverance.
Think about it for just a minute.
Think about when you were “young in the faith”
When you were a new Christian.
How strong was your actual faith then?
Now, think about today, is your faith stronger today than it was then?
Unless you have completely and totally neglected your relationship with God, the answer to that question would be yes.
And why is that?
What was it that made your faith in God grow?
It was when you saw God work in your life and in the lives of others was it not?
And when did you notice God working the most?
When things were tough.
When things were hard.
When things were not going so well.
God used those times to grow and mature your faith.
God used those times stretch us and help us develop our faith in Him.
And it has to be that way.
James goes on to say that perseverance must finish it’s work. It has to be allowed to develop over time.
We can’t just wake up one morning and be complete in the faith.
It is something that must grow and mature over time.
And sometimes that growing and maturing is a painful experience.
Sometimes it is not very pleasant.
But that is the nature of growth.
And the end result though is that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
And isn’t that what we are really after?
Maturity in the Lord?
Completeness in our faith?
Jesus himself tells us that . . .
Matthew 24:13 NIV - Anglicised
but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
And Paul tells us to follow his example . . .
2 Timothy 4:7–8 NIV - Anglicised
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
So, the point is, do we want to finish the race?
Do we want to make it to heaven?
And the simple fact that you are here on a Sunday night or watching online, tells me that yes, you do want to finish the race.
Well, in order to finish, we have to be willing to do the work.
And we have to be willing to let God do the work in us.

Perfection in Wisdom

But James isn’t done yet.
He tells us that the point is so we are not lacking in any area, but now he is going to point out one area in particular.
He say . . .
James 1:5 NIV - Anglicised
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
He specifically is pointing out wisdom.
Why is that?
What is so important about wisdom?
And don’t confuse wisdom with knowledge and education.
Because we have a great number of people who are very educated and very smart but have no wisdom.
Who was the wisest in the Bible?
Solomon, and God favored him because of his wisdom, but why?
Because we gain wisdom by experience and being taught by God.
Wisdom is only gained when we have experiences, when we have trials and tribulations and we allow God to teach us lessons through those experiences.
And none of us start out with a great deal of wisdom.
It comes over time and lots of learning.
However, we have to be willing to submit ourselves to God and God’s teaching in order to gain wisdom.
There are no shortcuts here.
That’s why James says if we lack wisdom we should ask God for it.
However, we need to be careful what we are asking for.
Because, God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, will give it to us, but we may not like how we get it.
Because it will involve trials and tribulations.
The key though is we have to be willing to accept it as God offering and be submissive to God in the process.
We have to be centered in His will and willing to learn from Him.
That is why James says . . .
James 1:6 NIV - Anglicised
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Do we hear that?
Do we understand what is involved?
We must believe and not doubt…in other words we must trust God in all things.
Which is sometimes very difficult when we are right in the middle of the trial and tribulation.
But we must adopt this attitude.
Otherwise we are like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
We are . . .
James 1:8 NIV - Anglicised
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
We call it wishy-washy.
We never commit to anything.
Never develop any perseverance for anything.
And if that is who we are then . . .
James 1:7 NIV - Anglicised
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
And it is not because God doesn’t want to give.
It is because we don’t really want to receive.
We are not willing to submit fully to God and receive what God is offering us.
We really have no stability in us.
And there is nothing there for God to work with.
We have to find it within ourselves to first trust God.
And when we do that, the real work of Christianity begins.

Altar/Challenge

And remember on Sunday mornings we have been talking about Being the Church.
The first part of becoming the Church begins when we give ourselves fully to God and we trust God fully.
Because the Church is only as strong as those who make up the Church.
So the challenge tonight is a simple one.
Do we trust God?
Do we allow the trials and tribulations to inform and teach us?
Do we find joy in Christ, even in the bad times?
Do we seek wisdom and maturity in Christ?
Do we want what God is offering, or do we want to skate by and hope we make it?
That is what we each have to determine in ourselves today.
So for us, what will that choice be tonight?
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