INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Do you ever wonder why we face so many trials in life? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to coast through life problem and trial free? I think it would.
• Have you noticed that since you gave your life to Jesus, the trials of life have not stopped? What’s with that?
• I know some of you have been through some very difficult trials by fire, it was not easy. I know at the time it was not a fun time. What was your attitude while you were going through the trial?
• SLIDE #2
• Romans 8:28(ESV) 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
• Did you doubt God’s promise in this verse? Did you feel angry, abandoned, cheated?
• How are we supposed to react towards trials by fire when they come? How is one as a Christian called to respond? Are trials just God messing with us or is there some higher purpose behind them?
• We are going to being an examination of what I believe is the most practical book in the bible, the book of James.
• James deals with things that hit us where we live I believe like no other New Testament writer does.
• James is dealing with people who are struggling with many things concerning their life and faith. As we study James together, you will get a lot of practical counsel as to how to deal with many of life’s challenges.
• Let’s begin our journey in James 1:2
• SLIDE #3
• James 1:2(ESV) 2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
• SLIDE #4
SERMON
In order to endure a trial by fire we need to understand:
I. The attitude to possess in the midst of the trial.
• Sometimes we can think we have a wall around us that makes us impervious to trials by fire so when we discover that is not the case, we can easily fall into having a bad attitude.
• WE all know folks including ourselves who have gotten mad at God, or have even left God over a trial by fire.
• So, when we are facing a trial by fire how does God want us to react?
• SLIDE #5
A. Count it all joy.
• OH WOW! I’m done, this CRAZY! REALLY?
• I believe my reaction is biblical because my first reaction is to whine and cry out at God, doesn’t the bible encourage us to cry out AT God, err to God.
• One of my reactions is to consider it some sort of punishment! Why me, it is not fair!
• Then for good measure I will add some awesome pouting before the Lord.
• Ok, maybe that is not the way to go. We are called to count it all joy when we face the trials by fire.
• The text indicates that the joy we are to have is to be sincere joy. We are not called to just put up a brave front and to just make the best of the situation.
• Remember joy is an inner peace that we experience because we have FULL FAITH in God, we KNOW He will deliver as promised, we can cling to Romans 8:28!
• But we need to understand something about this joy.
• SLIDE #6
B. Should we joyfully anticipate trials?
• The joy we have is not a joyful anticipation of upcoming trials. WE are not to get excited about them like we would the new Cowboys and Aliens movie.
• We are to simply exhibit a joyful response to the trial when it comes.
• Joy is not a leaping with shouts and laughter, but it is a quiet confidence that God is with us and in control. There will be times when we will not feel that way.
• The trials are something that happens to us through the course of life. We do not look to suffer, but rather, it seems to find us because suffering and trials are a part of life.
• Jesus gives us the example!
• SLIDE #7
• Hebrews 12:2(ESV) 2looking 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.
• Ok, but…
• SLIDE #8
C. Which types of trials are exempt?
• The EXCEPTION CLAUSE! Ok, I may be able to react to some trials with joy, but which type specifically does God want me to consider with joy?
• James tells does not give us any specific type of trials, but instead he says various, all types.
• When James speaks of trials, it can be trials the result in our giving into temptation, but in this section, it deal more with things that just happen during the course of life. Life, death and taxes.
• Now there is something else we need to understand so that we can exhibit this joy.
• SLIDE #9
• James 1:3(ESV) 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
• SLIDE #10
In order to endure a trial by fire we need to understand:
II. The purpose of the trial.
• Why doesn’t God keep bad things from happening, why doesn’t He shield us from the trials by fire?
• God allows these trials to happen so that our faith can be tested. It sounds like God is playing with us; why not just let the trials happen to people who are not in His family?
• Trials are an opportunity to put into practice what we have learned.
• Why do teachers give tests in school? I used to think it was because they were sadistic, but they do it to provide you with an opportunity to show yourself and the teacher what you have learned.
• Do you think most students would listen or study if they knew they would not be tested?
• This testing is an opportunity to shake out what is false about our faith.
• This testing is meant to be a positive opportunity to show God, others and myself that my faith is genuine.
• Trials can help us to see where we need to work on our faith. It is like in athletics, if you always play inferior competition, you get an inflated view of how good you are, and then when the tough team comes along, you get beat bad.
• You fall behind and do not know how to handle that since you have never been behind before. A test can really help us to gage where we are.
• SLIDE #11
• James 1:3-4,12(ESV) 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing… 12Blessed 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.
• Now let us look at what the testing is designed to do.
• SLIDE #12
In order to endure a trial by fire we need to understand:
III. The desired end result of the trial.
• What possible good can come out of the “testing”?
• I believe when we understand what the testing is supposed to accomplish in our lives, it will be easier to count the trials by fire as joy.
• SLIDE #13
A. The development of endurance.
• James says that trials produce endurance. The word for “produce” is an agricultural term that means, “harvest or yield”. When you farm, you only reap what you sow if you do not plant corn, you will not get corn.
• James says that endurance is what we can harvest from the seeds of trials
• Diamonds start out as coal. The pressure exerted on the coal eventually produces a beautiful diamond.
• In athletics, athletes train very hard to have the endurance to be able to compete ata high level.
• Endurance is trusting God for a long duration of time. It is not just passively allowing circumstances overtake our lives, but it is a strong active response to the difficulties of life.
• SLIDE #14
B. Help to obtain maturity.
• The passage says endurance will produce maturity. Maturity happens as we deal with life and make it though the tough times. Trials develop our character. Maturity allows us to see the big picture of life; it allows us to be able to put problems in perspective.
• The specific word that is used is perfection, it doesn’t mean we are without flaw, but rather it denotes one who is instructed to the point they can make proper decisions.
• Maturity helps us not to give up, it helps us to be able to look at the track record we have with Jesus and see how He has helped us in the past. Maturity is important, it comes from the scars of battle.
• SLIDE #15
C. Be fully trained.
• The word is complete. It denotes having all the parts, to possess all the spiritual traits needed for moral completeness.
• When we endure trials with faith in God we can develop every trait needed for spiritual victory!
• Our endurance will train us. What makes a good coach or manager? Someone who has seen a lot and is equipped to handle situations that come up during the course of a game.
• SLIDE #16
D. Become fully equipped.
• This just means that you are ready for battle. You are ready to play the game. The idea of training for an athletic event is so that the athlete will be ready for competition. A tested faith is a strong faith.
• We are locked and loaded, ready to go to battle!
• SLIDE #17
E. Help us in being able to collect the crown of life!
• This is the gold medal that we are awarded from God for a job well done. James uses the crown of life in the same sense of the Greek victory wreath that was given to the victor of the games.
CONCLUSION
• Why do we go though trials? God allows us to go through trials because we need them so that we can strengthen our faith. Trials allow us to see where we are at with Jesus.
• The next time you face a trial, lean on Jesus for strength. Know that He is with you. Do not look at the trial as a punishment for God, but instead look at it as an opportunity to grow.
1. Our character will be strengthened. Romans 5:3-5
2. Our tested faith allows us to encourage and strengthen others who are in the midst of trials. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
3. A tested faith increases dependence on God for wisdom. James 1:5, 3:17-18
4. A tested faith encourages us to lead a productive and effective life for Jesus. 2 Peter 1:5-9
5. A tested faith helps us to identify with Jesus. Hebrews 5:7-10
• A tested faith allows us to focus on our future hope in Jesus. Romans 8:18-24
