James 1:1-4

James 1:1-4- Rejoice

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

This verse gives us much needed context, but seems skippable at a glance

James, the half-brother of Jesus, not one of the 12 disciples, although two of them were also named James. He was an apostle and a leader in the church of Jerusalem and is writing to the believers, scattered abroad in the regions all around Jerusalem. They are scattered abroad because of persecution- How do we know this?

Acts 8:1- And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

We know these Christians are suffering, they are being forced out of their homes and rejected from the synagogues. Now being kicked out of the synagogue was no small thing to these believers. That was their center for community, where they fellowshipped and learned and probably grew up in, synagogues were places to grow and worship God and enjoy company with others, so being kicked out was major. In John 9 there is a story of the parents of a blind man that Jesus healed who avoided answering about Jesus by saying

John 9:21-22- he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he (Jesus) was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

These people feared being put out of the synagogue, it was important to them

Not only are they being ousted from the synagogue, they have fled their homes in Jerusalem to escape imprisonment, torture, and even execution.

so what does James have to say to these hurting people?

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Don’t misinterpret this as falling into sin, its encountering trials and difficulties

Fall- run up on, encounter

When you run into temptation, when you’re being tried, even during this time of persecution, consider all of that to be joy.

Examples of Diverse Temptations: Paul’s life from II Corinthians 11:24-28

II Corinthians 11:24-28- Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Surely you can’t be serious James, all this is happening, how can I rejoice?

1.Rejoice, knowing that its working patience

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Knowing this- having this mindset, understanding this

When trials and temptations come your way and seem to be all around you, rejoice, because you know that these trials are producing patience in your life

Many times, throughout the Bible we see patience tied to temptations and trials

Romans 5:3 Knowing that tribulation worketh patience

another word for patience, is longsuffering, literally meaning able to suffer for a long time, its endurance. Endurance is something built up over time, more trials means more patience

But why? Why wait, why endure, why can’t God just fix everything?

James 1:12- Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

God says that those who are patient are blessed

James 5:11- Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Pitiful- Sympathetic, compassionate

God is good through the tribulations, he is full of compassion and mercy and he is working on you through the trial

Col 1:11- Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

2. Rejoice, because you are being perfected

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Perfect- mature, complete

Job 1:1 THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

God’s intention, when he allows trials in our life, is not to harm us or destroy us, but complete us and to mature us

There is a misunderstanding among many Christians that all trials in our lives are a result of sin

Problems are not always a result of sin

Story of Job- we just read Job 1:1, that says he was a perfect and upright man and through the book of Job it says, he never sinned with his mouth, he didn’t forsake God, he was faithful

John 9:1-3- And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

God is not out to get you, in fact he loves you and is simply trying to help you and grow you

So rejoice when trials come because its working patience, rejoice because God is perfecting us, and lastly rejoice, because we are suffering with Christ

1 Peter 4:12-19

Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

This says that it is given into us to suffer with Christ in the same way, its given to us to believe on Christ, suffering is part of the Christian life, remember in verse 2, it says count it all joy when not if ye fall into divers temptations. in fact if you are living Godly, you will suffer persecution

2 Timothy 3:12- Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Sounds to me like we should consider suffering with Jesus as a privilege, the apostles did!

Acts 5:40-42- 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

These apostles (James included) couldn’t get enough of this suffering! They went back for it daily and never ceased to proclaim the name of Jesus, they rejoiced in the fact that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ

This would radically change the way we live, if instead of being scared or worried about a little shame for Jesus, if we rejoiced in it, we would never be afraid to witness.

How do we get over this fear? Humility and obedience

Philippians 2:5-11- 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus was glorified in the end, because he obeyed God and was humble, God led Jesus to suffer more than probably any other person had ever suffered, Isaiah calls Him the Man of Sorrows, and we are called to suffer with Christ

Conclusion: When you’re surrounded by trials, rejoice, count it all joy, because you know that the hard times are working patience, and that you have a God who’s full of compassion and tender mercy, who is trying to mature you, complete you, perfect you. In the trial simply endure, rejoice, and wait on the Lord to send the blessings because of your patience

God is working something out we can’t understand

Habakkuk 1:5- Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: For I will work a work in your days, Which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Trials will either make you bitter, or better

How do you build endurance? Get really tired all the time

So in the trials and embarrassment and humiliation and persecution that will come with living a Godly life, rejoice because you have been counted worthy to suffer with Jesus. And in the end we will be glorified with Him for it.