LIFE APP – The Application Tested
James 1:1-18 (p. 847) September 7, 2014
Introduction:
Max Lucado, in his book In the Eye of the Storm, tells the story of Chippie the Parakeet. He writes:
"Chippie the Parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, blown over.
The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said ‘hello’ when ‘sssopp!’ Chippie got sucked in.
The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie—still alive, but stunned.
Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.
Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. ’Well,’ she replied, ’Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore—he just sits and stares.’
It’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . that’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart."
The book of James is written by the half brother of Jesus to Jewish believers scattered around the world because of persecution. It’s one of the earliest New Testament books written and it deals with the life application of Christianity...what does it mean to live out our beliefs in the real world? It’s called, “The Little Big Book” and “The Proverbs of the New Testament.”
The protestant reformer Martin Luther didn’t like the book of James much..but we can understand Luther came from a Catholic background so wrapped up in a “works” theology that James didn’t seem to fit...His theme...”The Righteous shall live by faith.”
But James isn’t about faith verses works...James is truly a book that says there is a faith that works.
And truly isn’t that what all of us desire? A real world faith...one that genuinely applies to everyday life...not some snobbish, mystical belief system that has no real answers...We want a life changing faith that can be applied even when we’re “sucked in, washed up, and blown over.”
Each of us live in a fallen world where bad things happen...a place where even bad things happen to those who don’t necessarily deserve them. Some would reject God because of this truth...“If God were a loving God why doesn’t He stop it?”
James doesn’t try to give flippant answers to that very hard question...and neither will I...I’m not God...I believe He exists...I believe He wants to be in a relationship with me and you through His Son...Why does it rain on the evil and the good? God’s Word says, “So His people can shine like stars in the darkness!” (Phil. 2:15)
We cannot avoid real life...when the unexpected happens it happens and then, how do we respond?
1 Peter 4:12 asks this poignant question...“Dear friends, why are you surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you?”
James goes even further in his life application:
“Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trails of many kinds.”
He doesn’t say if you face...He says when you face trials... “In a broken world, filled with sin and bad stuff, with Satan at work scheming in fury because he knows his time is short, trials happen to everyone...you are not exempt.
I’d like to share with you 3 truths about trials:
I. TRIALS ARE INEVITABLE!
In the school of life...trials and difficulties are not an elective...they are part of the core curriculum!
Jesus said to his followers: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” I like the 2nd part of that promise a lot more than the first part
Christ follower...non-Christ follower. Neither change the fact that you live in this trial producing world.
But the Christ follower is promised “All things work together for the good for those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
And, that Jesus has overcome this world by preparing a way beyond it into a much better one.
Secondly:
II. TRIALS COME IN MANY KINDS
All different shapes and sizes...In every part of life. At work, at home, at church, at school, on the freeway.
Trials aren’t the same as temptations...temptations come from the evil one to lead us into sin. Trials are difficulties. Trials are tests...temptations are desires that lead us away from God...so we can please ourselves. God allows tests...all kinds.
1. Trees in the middle of gardens
2. Walking up mountains with the command to sacrifice your only son
3. Lions dens and
4. Fiery furnaces
5. Arks and
6. Crosses
What makes trials so different is
III. TRIALS ARE UNEXPECTED
The word “Face” in our text...as in whenever you face trials is (peri-pepto) in the Greek it literally means “to fall into.”
You’re walking along...minding your own business and all of a sudden...peri-pepto boom, you fall into a trial.
Illustration: [I was eating at O’Charley’s this past Wednesday with Bobby and some leaders from the Men’s Fellowship...and in the middle of it our waiter stepped on some wet tile going into the kitchen and William went flying...I ran over helped him up and told him that I sure was glad he wasn’t carrying our food...and he laughed and said, “Man I didn’t see that coming.” That’s what James is saying about trials.]
Jesus uses the same word (peri-pepto) to describe what happens to the man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho in the parable of the “Good Samaritan.” “He fell into (peripepto) the hands of robbers.” (Luke 10:30) He was “attacked by.”
Trials are events of situations we fall into unexpectedly. It seems as if they attack us...If you are a child of God “it’s an unexpected event by God to test and strengthen your faith.” It’s intended to help you learn perseverance, endurance, and even joy, not failure!
That’s what James wanted these early, scattered by persecution, Christians to understand and believe. It’s the life application of faith in the very real world. Where trials come unexpectedly and often...and Christians aren’t exempt...but are certainly protected.
There’s only one thing you can truly control when trials come your way. And that’s your response to them. What is God’s will for me in the midst of trials...all kinds of trials.
I believe God’s Word teaches us in James 3 C’s to victory when we face difficult situations.
1. CONSIDER
2. CONTINUE and
3. CONFESS
Trials present choices...and those choices might not change the circumstances, but they certainly will change you in the midst of the circumstances.
The first thing James tells us to do is
1. CONSIDER
Consider it pure joy...He’s not saying. “Alright!!! I’m so happy I got hit by this train.”
He sayings, “Believe that...joy is in the will of God...stay in the middle of God’s will, trust His plan...He’s got this! He’s got you!”
The Biblical idea for consider means, “evaluate.” It’s a thought process...even in the emotional turmoil of the pain...Stop...consider what God wants...seek His will as you respond...Pray for Wisdom...God will provide it...He gives good gifts not evil ones.
Satan desires to steal our peace and joy...God wants to give wisdom generously and peace beyond understanding.
Satan’s always screaming “Hurry up...fix it yourself.” And God says, “Consider...those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” (Is. 40)
[Have you ever been in a hurry to get somewhere and you can’t find your keys? Frustrating isn’t it? Your blood pressure rises, the stress increases...you begin to search everywhere...you freak out! Auurgh! I know car keys are minor trials but we usually do the same thing with bigger ones.]
Joy isn’t happiness...It’s an attitude. Happiness is defined by circumstances, joy is defined by constants...things that never change. Happiness can change with the weather...joy comes from within...It transcends emotions and is fruit produced from the Holy Spirit, who lives within the child of God. Satan can rob you of happiness, but God helps us not to let him quench our joy.
Sufferings and trials are not good incubators for good feelings and thoughts – that’s why joy is the result of a faith choice. We consider the situation, acknowledge our pain, our confusion, our doubt, but we also acknowledge that we believe in one greater than our emotions...and that He is the one we consider supreme not the trial.
The 2nd C is:
2. CONTINUE (TRUSTING GOD)
Perseverance in the original Greek is (Hupo-meno). Hupo=Under, Meno=Pressure.
(READ VERSES 3,4, 12)
Perseverance is the ability to hold up and hold on under pressure and stress. It’s choosing to stick with it, to not give up.
You see all that we say that we believe about God as Christians is only “theory” until it is tested...Want to hear it again...Proclaiming faith is real is different than living it as real. Perseverance is the result of tested faith.
[Karissa called me crying Wednesday morning because when she got to school they informed the class that Jill, one of their classmates, had passed away...and they didn’t have any other information.] Tell me...
WHAT PHONE CALL HAVE YOU RECEIVED THIS WEEK?
Death, stress, confusion, Pressure that squeezes us from outside circumstances...until we can barely move.
I haven’t even mentioned that these scattered Jews are under persecution for their faith.
And I have a prophetic word for you this morning who follow Christ publically. Trials come because of a sinful fallen world. But persecution comes because of our faith...2 Timothy 3:12 says, “In fact, EVERYONE who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
READ 2 TIMOTHY 3:13, 14 (p. 833)
“Continue in what you’ve learned...and what we’ve proven to believe in the way we’ve lived...(you know those from whom you’ve learned it)
Life Application is the greatest mentoring tool in existence...and if you live a godly life in Christ Jesus you will be persecuted.
When it happens continue trusting God!
That leads to the final C victory.
3. CONFESS (YOUR HOPE)
If you’ve never been persecuted or aren’t persecuted now it’s probably because you do not confess your hope.
[I’m teaching, really just leading a group on Wednesday nights that wants to develop a “sticky faith” in our students when they graduate and head for college or work. 50% of committed kids leave church through this time in their lives. Leave their faith...why? And what can we do about it?
One of the primary reasons is “loneliness.” The search for friends. One student said... “The reason I got involved in the “party scene” was because that’s where everyone was. It was really hard to meet people who didn’t drink.” (Sticky Faith p. 18)
And whether you are a “college” student or an adult in the work place it’s much harder to confess your allegiance to Jesus.
The Word confess in the original language means “I agree.”
So when you’re a college student or an adult out in the work world...and you have to make a choice...the crowd, the water cooler group...maybe even your boss...who say, “Do you agree with us...your answer is no...I agree with God...who said, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”
The easiest place you will confess that agreement is in Church...but remember “Christianity is only a theory until it’s tested.”
Let’s pray.
