Consider It All Joy? You Must Be Joking!
James 1:2-1:4
Introduction:
God uses many different kinds of trials in our lives in order to mold, awaken, and mature us, i.e., to make us lovely, Christ like people
Preposition:
Many times we balk at the very thought of suffering it. It’s unthinkable to us that our heavenly Father would even permit, let alone design suffering into his plan for our lives.
Transitional sentence:
Scripture clearly teaches us that God creates both light and the darkness, peace and calamity, though only for our good.
James 1:2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Why should we consider the trials in our lives with all joy?
Answer: Because we know what trials accomplish in us. We are being tested so that we might look more like Christ in terms of patience/endurance. In short, we are being tested so that we might become mature and complete, with a pure and undefiled faith. We go through testing so that we might not lack anything!
I. Trials produce Joy
1. Our Christian joy is produced by the Holy Spirit and is not dependent on circumstances.
a) There is actual joy in the heart and life of that person during the most intense and unpleasant trials because the Spirit is producing it. Joy also is a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, and if you’ve been a believer very long you’ve experienced it.
2. Christian joy is produce by our relationship with God!
Hab 3:16-19 NIV
16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
3. Joy is produce because of our confidence in God.
2 Corinthians 7:4:
"Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction."
II. Trials produce perseverance (enduring faith)
1. 2 Tim 1:12-14 KJV
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
2. This patience produces proven character - that which has been tested and found to be pure gold (1 Pet. 1:6ff)
a) 1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
3. Patience is joined with joy. "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy" (Col. 1:11).
a) You see, it is the strength that God gives us that helps us endure with joy. Jesus had to endure the suffering of the cross. Yet he did so because of the joy that was set before him (Heb. 12:1-2).
It was by looking to the ultimate position that would be his that he was able to endure the cross. Since he looked forward with joy to what was beyond the suffering, he had the patience to remain steadfast in the midst of severe suffering. So it is with us.
Only when we see beyond the sufferings of this present time will we really be able to patiently endure. Paul put it this way: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18). By our looking to the joy that is to come, we can patiently endure any present sufferings or discouragements.
III. Trials produce maturity and contentment
1. Phil 4:10-13 NIV
10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
2. According to James, this is the ultimate purpose of all trials. He declared that trials produce maturity in your life (James 1:2-4).
The disciples saw a blind man one day. He had been blind from birth, and they became very curious as to the cause of this suffering. They asked if this was caused by the sin of the man or the sin of his parents. Jesus said, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in Him" (John 9:1-3). Notice first, that Jesus answered their specific question. Sin was not the cause of this particular suffering and ailment. However, Jesus did not explain why this was allowed to occur. Jesus only gave a general purpose, "That the works of God should be revealed in him." This is God’s ultimate purpose for all difficult and trying circumstances in life. He wants to reveal Himself and work a perfect work in that person.
3. A crown of Life
"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:9-10, NKJV).
Conclusion
When you’re passing through the fire today, consider it all joy; welcome the various and diverse trials as old friends!
Know that it is Christ himself who is working out his great plan in your life and that nothing can separate you from His love (Rom 8:38-39).
He is only working spiritual fruit in you so that you might be mature and complete and that you might in turn enjoy Him more
