How Doers of the Word Handle Trials

I. Introduction

Good morning, I would like to say how glad I am to be preaching IN PERSON again. The last time I was able to be here before you was March 1st. 2 weeks later, non of us were able to meet COVID 19 had reached out and touched Montana. For the next 6 weeks Pastor Mike, the elders, the worship team, and others, worked to record services for us to view Sunday mornings. May 3rd we were finally able to meet again, but not like we have in the past. and of course as I stand here this morning, and you all look around the room, we can see how things have changed. Its been 12 weeks since we at Calvary have experienced this strange trial we find ourselves in. 12 weeks, but whose counting

Why is that important? because in these 12 weeks, we have seen the entire world be be taken over by a virus. The world, our country, Montana, Helena, our church, we have all felt it. Some have lost jobs, some have lost health, some have lost their lives. We look around us and see a world panicking! They are pointing fingers and blaming each other, names are being called, relationships are being broken. Is that response appropriate? Should that be how our community leaders and government should handle this trial we are facing?

How should we, as Christians, respond to this trial, or any of the trials we experience in life?

We find the answer in James Chapter 1.

In the book of James we read that Christians are called to be DOERS of the word.

What does it mean to be a Doer? It means that you aren't simply satisfied with Knowing about God but you desire to be more LIKE HIM. You don't want to simply be able to recite bible verses from your brain to impress or possibly oppress who you are communicating with, but draw up scripture from your heart in order to act in a manner representative of a man or woman full of the spirit of GOD.

So going back to our question this morning “How should we, as Christians, respond to this Viral trial, or any of the trials we experience in life?”

I.b Main Idea: Doers of the Word handle trials joyfully, knowing God uses trials to perfect His people.

Again: Doers of the Word handle trials joyfully, knowing God uses trials to perfect His people.

I.c Road Map

My plan for us this morning is walk through James chapter 1:1-4 and see how this truth, the main idea, is drawn up from the passage. James is one of the general epistles, written by James the brother of Jesus. The way James wrote the letter is uniquely Jewish and he frequently refers back to the Old Testament. This book is sometimes referred to as the “New Testament Book of Proverbs”. The theme of the book can be summarized as Christians are Doers of the Word, not JUST hearers.

so from this passage we will examine three elements that support the main idea from the text and a promise from God relating to the text:

The three elements are:

Doers of the Word are believers of the Word

Doers of the Word Know Trials have a purpose

Doers of the Word remain steadfast in trials

Then:

Promise

If you have your bibles please turn with me to James Chapter 1.

I.a The Passage

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Greeting

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

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.

Point 1: Doers of the Word are believers of the Word (V1)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

This seems like a simple enough introduction why spend time on it? Its important to spend time on this introduction because all the practical advice James is about to give is for a SPECIFIC audience. (BELIEVERS) This is for Believers! Brothers and Sisters in the faith! Who is the Dispersion (or those dispersed abroad? In context, these were the Jewish believers spread throughout the region due to persecution that we read about in Acts 11:19. However, this also includes those gentile believers who have been grafted into “Israel” (Romans 9:8) “8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”

Application:

This letter is for you and me, the truth in this letter is for you and me, and the commands given in this book are for you and me!

Doers of the Word are Believers of the Word

Now Point 2,

Point 2: Doers of the Word Know Trials have a purpose (v 2-3)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Testing of Your Faith

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

What does it mean to count trials as joy? First lets define a couple terms then we will answer the question. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, clergymen from the 19th century, define the following terms in their Commentary, Critical and Explanatory....

Terms to Define:

Trial

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

temptations—not in the limited sense of allurements to sin, but trials or distresses of any kind which test and purify the Christian character.

I love the way the author states this

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

Every possible trial to the child of God is a masterpiece of strategy of the Captain of his salvation for his good.

In other words, a trial is any distress for the purpose of testing and purifying our Christian Character.

Testing

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

the trying—the testing or proving of your faith

Testing is a very similar term to trial, in more of the evaluation sense. The Proving of your faith

Think of it like this, God uses trials for believers to Purify and/or Prove their faith.

Satan will temp you to during trials to get you to doubt Gods promises.

Endurance (NASB), Steadfastness (ESV), Patience (KJV)

Steadfastness (ESV )

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous “worketh patience” or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, “joy in bearing the cross” [MENOCHIUS], and enduring to the end (Mt 10:22) [CALVIN].

Now that we have defined the terms lets get back into the text and see how Doers of the word know trials have purpose!

Verse 2 Count it all Joy- Does this mean that the Christian should just be happy all the time and not ever feel sad during trials and hardships?

Of course not, God created you and me with emotion, we are hardwired to respond emotionally to the world around us. Last week pastor Mike commented on how during the time when we were unable to meet He would have conversations with people who longed to meet as an assembled body again. There were feelings associated with that! Those are OK!

Job is a wonderful illustration of this truth. Job experienced some of the worst possible trials a man could face.

In the book of Job we are introduced to a man of God. Job 1:1 introduces us to the man. He was faithful, wealthy, and blessed. Point Number 1, doers of the word are believers.

Then we see the dialogue between God and satan regarding Job. God asks satan if he had considered Job, satans response is a challenge, Satan Says, (Job 1:11). God approves and satan goes to work.

1) Satan destroys Jobs livelihood. (Oxen, donkeys are stolen and the servants are killed by the Sabeans 1:15/Servants and the sheep destroyed v16/ Servants destroyed and camels stolen by the Chaldeans v.17)

As one was finishing telling Job the horrific news of another loss, another trial which had befallen him, another one arrives to tell him more bad news. Then verse 18...

2) Satan destroys Jobs Children (v.18)

You get the call your job is gone, your bank account has been hacked and all your money is gone, your friends are dead.....And now your own children. The ones who you would rise up early Continually as Job did in verse 5 of chapter 1 and interceded for them. Gone.

Would that be an emotional experience for you? Absolutely! as it should be.

Ok so we know that emotions are a part of trial,

So what does James mean here in Verse 2?

The Term “Count” here means that the christian is to weigh the situation or trial to determine value. Like when you decide to go work out. Its going to be painful, your going to hurt from the word it takes to maintain or improve your health, BUT you know its going to make you healthy so you do it!

In other words, Christians need to keep in mind that trials will come, its a part of life in a fallen world. We will all face them to varying degrees at various times throughout life. But the outcome (FOR BELIEVERS) is always for our good.

Romans 5 provides a good picture of this trial and the benefits to the believer.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

Peace with God Through Faith

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us

This chain shows us how sufferings (Trials) produce endurance> Produce Charicter> Produces Hope> Produces No Shame because the outcome is GOOD! Gods love is poured into our hearts!

Therefore, we as believers, DOERS of the Word know trials have purpose

Now to point 3.

Point 3: Doers of the Word remain steadfast in trials (v.4)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

God tested Job to both purify and Prove his faith.

In Job 2:10 we read the dialogue between Job and his wife. This is where she tells his to curse God and die, in the midst of his suffering.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Here we can see proof of Jobs faith. And yet in the dialogue with his three friends, we see Jobs faith shaken.

In chapter 3:1 we read Job cursing his life and the day he was born. In chapter 4 we read the first of the responses from his friend. this dialogue continues until Chapter 38. that's 46 pages of dialogue from the Bible I was reading.

After Chapters 38-39 where God has established is authority and dominance over all the earth, Jobs only response is short (Job 40:4-5).

English Standard Version Chapter 40

4  “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

5  I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Job has faced the trial, and sees the purpose in it. God has proven his faith.

Job, a DOER OF THE WORD, Remained Steadfast in his Trial

We have covered the three Points of the message, Now to the Promise:

The Promise (V.4/12)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

Perfect and complete, Lacking nothing This is no referring to sinless perfectionism. Rather this is referring to Christian Maturity. In this life we are unable to be perfect. some hold the view that perfectionism is a mark of a true believer. However, when we read in 1 John 1:10 this perfectionism is impossible.

1 John 1:10-

English Standard Version Chapter 1

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

However, we are called to christian maturity which is demonstrated by a life that is growing in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. (Ephesians 4:15)

English Standard Version Chapter 4

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ

Now Verse James 1:12,

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him

What does God promise to those who love him? The crown of life.

What is that crown? Resurrection life, salvation.

How does one earn the crown? Staying steadfast under trial!

in summary: True Christians should view trials with Joy, knowing the trials they face have a purpose, and endure through those trials (in Christ) being perfected or having their faith proven, looking forward to salvation, the crown of life.

Application

The Benefits of the trials:

Trials reveal what we truly love.

Luke 14:26-27

English Standard Version Chapter 14

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

The words of Jesus here are not meant to be an exhortation to be hateful. Rather its a way Jesus is trying to open men’s eyes to see where the passion of their heart truly lies. Is their relationship with Christ more important than anything else in this life? Does their love for Christ outweigh their love for anything else? Or another way to say it, is there any part of your life where you say “God you can come this far, BUT NO FARTHER!”

Trials reveal what we love

2. Trials produce Endurance and Strength

James 1:2-4

This is what we have been speaking about this morning. Trials produce endurance and strengthen our faith! what a beautiful truth.

3. Trials call us to an eternal Hope

Romans 8:16-19

English Standard Version Chapter 8

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

If we are so radically heaven minded that we see this time on earth, as fleeting, but a puff of smoke or like the wind, in light of eternity, we like Paul would see the distress and trials we experience here on earth not worth comparing to the glory which we will experience together in heaven which lasts forever!

Conclusion

In closing I want us to ask ourselves these three questions,

1. Do I believe ALL my trials have a purpose?

2 Have I remained steadfast in faith during my trials?

(and If not have i brought my sin to Christ in repentance, KNOWING There is grace and forgiveness)

3. Dose knowing that God is using trials to perfect me, making me complete and lacking nothing , bring me joy?

As we have seen in the life of Job, trails are nothing new in the life of the christian. As we have experienced these last 12 weeks in our own lives, we have no idea whats coming in the future or how this present trial is going to turn out! When we look around we see the world Panicking, it seems as though leaders cant push each other down far enough to try to stay afloat in this mess and neighbors around the world bickering over talking points provided them by their favorite news outlet. Is that the proper response to this situation? Maybe for them but what about for us?! Are we going act that same way?!

Or are we going to see this as a trial, and knowing God is going to bring about Good for His people, do we stay steadfast in out faith. Being Doers of the word not hearers only! Being lights to our communities in a time of such inedible darkness.

Maybe you are here this morning, or listening from home and think “you know I may fit more into the first category of people than the second”. Maybe this is the first time you are hearing something like this and are feeling the guilt of sin, and the burden of sin right now. I would like to share hope with you in this moment.

God, who created the universe from nothing, created man (us) to have a special relationship with Him. However, we have violated that relationship through sin, in Adam and Eve, and broke the relationship between God and ourselves. God being perfect and Just cannot simply overlook sin, and therefore we experience the condemnation of our sin! Gods wrath is upon us and unless we have a savior we will die under the wrath of almighty God! But God in His abundant Mercy and Grace send His son, Jesus, to take the form of man, live a perfect and sinless life,( a life we are unable to live) and take the punishment you and I deserve, onto Himself Freeing us from the guilt of our sin! Our debt has been paid, Our sins are gone!