Sermon Tone Analysis

trials

James 1:2-4 (NASB) 2  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

JAMES THE HALF BROTHER OF JESUS IS WRITTING TO JEWS WHO ARE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

CONSIDER IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS.

THIS GOES AGAINST A LOT OF EASY GOSPEL TEACHING GOING ON TODAY.

THERE ARE SOME WHO TEACH THAT AS SOON AS YOU COMMIT TO CHRIST ALL OUR TROUBLES WILL GO AWAY.

SOME HAVE EVEN WRITTEN BOOKS LIKE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW.

WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE APOSTLES AS THEY BEGAN THE CHURCH   WHERE ALL BUT ONE WERE MARTYRED FOR CHRIST.

JOHN DIED AN OLD MAN AFTER BEING EXILED ON A PRISON ISLAND AND BEING BOILED IN OIL.

HE DIDN'T DIE BECAUSE GOD KEPT HIM ALIVE FOR HIS PURPOSE.

BUT I WOULDN'T CALL HIS LIFE EXPERIENCE HIS BEST LIFE NOW.

PAUL WROTE

Philippians 1:22-23 (NASB) 22  But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.

23  But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

James 1:2-4 (NASB) 2  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

THE WORD FOR TRIALS IN ORIGINAL WAS PI RIS MOS  WHICH MEANS A PUTTING TO PROOF.

SOME TRANSLATIONS USE THE WORD TEMPTATION.

WHICH TO ME IS CONFUSING BECAUSE IN VERSE 13

James 1:13-14 (KJV) 13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

THE WORD FOR TEMPTED IS THE SAME ROOT PI RA DZO.

WHICH MEANS   TO TEST OBJECTIVELY,   ENDEAVOR SCRUTINIZE OR ENTICE.

THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE TO USE TEST OR TEMPT IS THE CONTEXT.

WE KNOW GOD WILL TEST US OR ALLOW TESTING.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT GOD WILL NEVER TEMP US TO DO EVIL.

HE ALLOWS TEMPTATION BUT LIMITS THE STRENGTH AND PROVIDES AN ESCAPE ROUTE FOR US IN EVERY TEMPTATION WE FACE.

SO AS A CHILD OF GOD WHY MUST WE BE TESTED AND GO THROUGH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS?

SCRIPTURE GIVES US SEVERAL REASONS WHY WE ARE TESTED.

IN ALL OF THEM THE RESULTS ARE NOT FOR GOD BECAUSE HE KNOWS ALREADY.

THE RESULTS OF THE TESTS IS FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT AND KNOWLEDGE, OR SOMEONE ELSES.

GOD WANT US TO KNOW THE STRENGTH OF OUR OWN FAITH IN HIM.

Exodus 16:4 (NASB) 4  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.

GOD TESTS US TO ALLOW US TO SEE HOW OBEDIENT WE ARE TO HIM.

2 Chronicles 32:30-31 (NASB) 30  It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David.

And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.

31  Even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

GOD DOESN'T HAVE TO TEST US TO KNOW OUR OBEDIENCE.

THE TEST IS FOR US TO KNOW OF OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD.

GOD TEST US TO KEEP US HUMBLE AS WE GROW MORE AND MORE CHRISTLIKE.

PAUL THE WRITER OF OVER HALF THE NEW TESTAMENT SPOKE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 12:7 (NASB) 7  Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

PAUL NEEDED HIS THORN IN THE FLESH TO REMAIN HUMBLE.

GOD WANTS ALL THAT WE DO TO BE FOR HIS GLORY AND NOT OUR OWN.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO LUCIFER/ SATAN

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OUR OWN PRIDE LIKE BARNEY SAYS    NIP IT IN THE BUD.

John 6:5-7 (NASB) 5  Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?"

6  This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.

7  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little."

GOD ALLOWS US TO BE TESTED TO CAUSE US TO DEPEND UPON HIM AND NOT WORLDLY THINGS.

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.

Philippians 1:23-24 (NASB) 23  But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

24  yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

GOD WANTS OUR FOCUS TOWARD HEAVEN AND ETERNITY WHICH WILL HELP US IN OUR OBEDIENCE AND OUR ATTITUDE HERE AND NOW.

WE HAVE MUCH BETTER AHEAD OF US.

GOD ALLOWS US TO BE TESTED TO HONESTLY REVEAL OUR OWN HEARTS TO OURSELVES.

Genesis 22:1-2 (NASB) 1  Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!"

And he said, "Here I am."

2  He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HE WENT SET IT ALL UP.  BOUND ISAAC ON THE ALTAR AND WAS READY TO KILL HIM AND GOD PROVIDED A RAM CAUGHT IN THE THICKET.

GOD NEVER ENDORSED OR WANTED HUMAN SACRIFICE.

THIS WAS ONLY A TEST TO PROVE ABRAHAMS LOVE FOR GOD ABOVE HIS LOVE FOR HIS SON.

JESUS EVEN SAID IF WE LOVE FATHER MOTHER MORE THAN HIM WE AREN'T WORTHY OF HIM.

WE ARE TO LOVE THE LORD FIRST AND BEST.

GOD WANTS US TO GIVE OURSELVES AN HONEST ASSESMENT.

GOD WANT US TO KNOW FOR SURE THAT HE IS ON THE THRONE OF OUR HEART.

GOD ALLOWS OUR TESTING TO VALUE GOD'S BLESSINGS OVER THE BENEFITS, THINGS, ENTICEMENTS OF THE WORLD.

Psalm 63:3-7 (NASB) 3  Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.

4  So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5  My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

6  When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

7  For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.

HE ALSO ALLOWS OUR TESTING TO STRENGTHEN US FOR GREATER SERVICE TO HIM.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB) 10  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Hebrews 11:33-34 (NASB) 33  who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

HE WANTS US AS WE ENDURE OUR TESTING TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS IN THEIR OWN TESTING.

Luke 22:31-32 (NASB) 31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;

32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NASB) 3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4  to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5  who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

7  so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

SO GOD IS NOT BEING MEAN FOR ALLOWING US TO GO THROUGH THESE VARIOUS TRIALS

THEY ARE FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT AS A CHILD OF GOD AND THE BENEFIT OF HIS OTHER CHILDREN, AND LET IT ALL BE FOR HIS GLORY AND HONOR.

James 1:2 (NASB) 2  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,