Joy in Trials
Notes
Transcript
By way of introduction to the theme for today:
Over Friday into Saturday Jonathan Brownlee competed in the mixed triathlon representing team GB. By all accounts he put in quite the performance (with his team alongside of him). The post-event analysis emphasised his powerful running. His name will be familiar to regular viewers of the Olympic Games. London = Bronze. Rio = Silver. Tokyo = Gold. He has finally won the highest honour in his sport. It has taken [likely!] disappoint and [definitely] perseverance to get to where he is now and he has received the reward for his endurance.
Who?
Who?
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
New series today… James = one of the earliest pieces of Christian writing, probably from 45-49AD. Not long after the earhtly ministry of Jesus has concluded. It is far from a conventional letter, especially once the opening verse is out of the way! We will see there is a sense of urgency about the items being covered - in 108 verses, approx. 50% of the letter is instruction on how to live as followers of Jesus! The author makes use of powerful images and metaphors throughout.
This is very much a pastoral letter! Much of the letter is concerned with the application of personal faith to the benefit of others around you (especially the poor/marginalised), but first, the section we are covering today is concerned with the individual believer. ’Get yourself sorted before you can help other people.’ This connects back to TREOH and [RE]BUILD which covered the need to be personally prepared in order to most effectively serve Jesus!
It is written by James. There were a number of different James‘s this could be, but it is most widely accepted that this is James, the brother of Jesus, the leader of the church in the Jerusalem. We find this from elsewhere in scripture (Gal 1:19; 2:9; Acts 15) because it is not something James mentions himself. Rather, he identifies himself as a slave of God & the Lord Jesus. He is clear here: He belongs to God, worshipping and serving Jesus!
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion = Jewish language being used to identify the people of God who are scattered beyond Jerusalem. We know that the persecution, recorded early in Acts, sent the people of God out into the surrounding world. Of course, there was already a dispersion (as we saw in Ezra-Nehemiah) after the exile, with only some of God’s people coming back to live in Jerusalem itself.
Mark 6:3 is helpful in identifying that Jesus did indeed have an earthly family beyond Mary and Joseph, which included James. John 7:5 is helpful in showing us just what that relationship looked like in its early days! His family weren’t sure about his claims to being the son of God. This letter tells us a few things about James. Context: people would have known who he was (‘say no more!’ James, brother of Jesus, leader of Jerusalem church), he was humble (choosing not to brag about his relationship to Jesus) and was clearly a man transformed.
Anyone with siblings, can you imagine worshipping one of them as God? Having seen all of their worst moments, what would it take for you to believe they were deity?!
The resurrection of Jesus changed something in his heart. From John 7:5 we now see a bold declaration of the Lordship of Jesus in James 1:1. Unpack transformed hearts… JUSTIFICATION (instantaneous) leads to SANCTIFICATION (progressive). We CANNOT say ‘this is just who I am’ - Yes, God knows who we are and saves us just as we are, but he loves us enough to not leave us there…
Anyone who has read ahead will know that Jesus isn’t directly mentioned much! Twice in fact… But, what James writes to ‘the twelve tribes in the Dispersion’ is steeped in the teaching of Jesus.
What? We will face trials…
What? We will face trials…
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.
We will meet trials
We will meet trials
First of all, we need to acknowledge that this is a ‘when’, not an ‘if’! We will face trials in life, even as Christians.
ποικίλος Gk. = poikilos = various. James gives us no specifics. I have no doubt that this is deliberate. Trials will come in a variety of forms. They might be physical, mental, emotional, relational or spiritual trials. I have deliberately shared this Greek word with you because it is used elsewhere.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
This verse speaks about the various (endless!) ways God’s grace proves sufficient for the numerous needs we will face. When connected with James this should encourage us. Each trial is equally matched by God’s grace!
We should consider them a joy
We should consider them a joy
So in the face of trials then, we are instructed by James to ‘Count it’ or ‘Consider it’ (other translations) a joy when we face a trial.
This seems impossible… How can we face hardships and struggles with joy? The author of the Hebrews sides with us in our thoughts about struggles, but then reveals what these struggles will ultimately achieve!
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
So this isn’t about putting on our ‘church clothes’, presenting as if everything is ok. This isn’t about smiling our way through struggle. This is about looking beyond the hardship at what God is going to do through it. You see, God is always working with us, making us more like the people he knows we can be. He is making us more like Jesus.
As hard as this might be to listen to, it is hard for me to say… God has designed the world intentionally. Be sure of this, God is not wicked, God does not bring about bad things, but we live in a broken, sinful and rebellious world where bad things happen. The people of God are not immune from this. God will not bring about the suffering, but he will use it. There is no experience we will go through that God can’t use for his glory - in sickness, in grief, in relational struggles, in financial hardship, God is writing his story, painting a bigger picture. He uses our mistakes and the sins we endure as a testimony.
James writes clearly - the people receiving this letter know the truth that suffering produces fruitfulness! Every trial is an opportunity to cling to the promises of God more tightly and a humbling reminder of our need to be matured.
Faith is a muscle which needs to be worked out!
Road bike riding. Gym training. It takes perseverance to grow.
I am not trying to invalidate the pain of suffering. Far from it. Suffering, and the pain we endure is a reminder of our humanity. And suffering isn’t good in and of itself. The only good from suffering is what God can’t does and will do through it.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
God has a plan beyond our present situation. Sometimes it is hard to see so a prayer we can pray is this: “God, what are you doing?” - or, as James instructs us. We pray for wisdom…
How? What gets us through…
How? What gets us through…
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
To get through difficult situations we need God-given wisdom! This doesn’t always come by a lightning bolt the moment we pray, but we can rest assured that when we come to God in prayer in the midst of a difficult circumstance he will answer us and, in faith, we can then take the next step forward.
How does God give wisdom?
How does God give wisdom?
Through his Word (Read it!) [Are you looking for wisdom in the world (YouTube or secular books) over the Bible? You’re making a big mistake!]
By the Power of the Holy Spirit (Ask Him!) [Acts 16 and the Man of Macedonia]
Through our experiences (Pay attention!) [Do you continually reflect on what God has been doing?]
e.g., cycling and gaining fitness - spiritual equivalent = journaling/silence & solitude
Wise counsel, found in community with others (Seek it!) [Do you have mature Christians you can turn to for advice/accountability? Clive, WhatsApp with the boys.]
If we fail to acknowledge that we do not know it all we walk in arrogance and ignorance. This is destructive. We essentially elevate ourselves above everyone else like we are better/know more (and maybe even beyond God…). Rather when we acknowledge that we do not know it all, from a place of humility we are able to find/receive the wisdom we need!
Asking God for wisdom doesn’t necessarily mean he will impart new knowledge to us, rather he might be pointing us in the direction of someone who can help us make a wise decision.
James gives us some ‘theology’ to encourage us in our asking!
James gives us some ‘theology’ to encourage us in our asking!
God gives wisdom:
‘generously’ - God is not stingy! Neither should we be. One of the value statements underpinning our vision of ‘Seeking God’s renewal for our Church, Community and City’ is ‘Generous and Thankful’. God has modelled generosity for us.
Generosity is the best translation for how God gives to us but it doesn’t quite capture it! It points to the selflessness of the giver, and how there is a single-minded concern for the other. Our generosity is limited because of our sinfulness…
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
We do not cut corners, we do not serve half-heartedly because that is not God’s way and we are his image bearers!
And Jesus shows the extent to which he himself was willing to go:
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
He was willing to endure the cross. This connects in with James’ description of steadfastness having its full effect. Jesus didn’t just stop at a beating, he went to the cross and died in our place. As human beings we can be tempted to tap out, to give out, to have reached our threshold and stop. But like Jesus, we too should endure because great fruit comes!
‘to all’ - EVERYONE! No second class citizens. No platinum membership… I love this about the family of God! In Christ Jesus, we are all called to be part of the family, with our varied successes and failures, with our various short fallings and gifts. Black/white, male/female, we are all one in Christ Jesus and are all the beneficiaries of God’s ongoing grace! There are earthly recipients of heavenly generosity!
‘without reproach’ - do you know something? Everything I’ve done wrong is known to God. The same is true for all of us. Every negative thought or feeling I might have is not a secret from God. I can try to hide my faults and failings as best as possible but they are not hidden from God. Again, the same is true for even the most perfect of you sat listening today! YET STILL God gives generously to all without limitation!
How so?
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
and
This is a prime example of James quoting Jesus without referencing him. Make no mistakes that v.5 resonates very strongly with words spoken by Jesus revealing to us the nature of our heavenly Father:
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
When we know and understand God rightly, we can confidently ask him for the wisdom we need to get through whatever we are facing.
This is all a massive reminder for us of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have all been recipients of God’s grace and we are ongoing recipients of his ongoing generosity!
Why?
Why?
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The sea is unpredictable - in just a moment, the tide/current changes…
We can ask in faith when we know the person we are asking. James has explained just what God is like! When we know the truth of who God is we have more stability/confidence. This helps us in seeing the different perspective!
We are people of faith - our faith is our absolute confidence that he will give us what we ask!
Doubting here is James talking about someone needing too make up their mind between alternatives. Negatively speaking this is someone who is in two minds; someone whose allegiance is not committed either way.
Jesus makes it very clear this doesn’t work!
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Divided loyalties cannot be sustained, but must finally settle one way or the other.
Double mindedness leads to ineffective prayer! And the broader consequences!
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Jesus tells us that prayers prayed in faith are powerful and effective!
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
We need to cultivate prayer in the secret place, from which wisdom for life emerges!
Application
Application
How have we been enduring (maybe for some time?) and feel like we just want to give up? PRAY.
Where does your perspective need to shift? Where do you need to choose to see God at work, rather than focussing solely on the trial you are facing? PRAY.