Turning Our Trials Into Triumphs
Making It Real – week 2
OKAY… let’s do this.
LAST WEEK – we began a new series on the book of James – a letter written by James the ½ brother of Jesus (a guy who grew up with Jesus, who didn’t believe Jesus was God, who along with his brothers and sisters even tried to have Jesus institutionalized and who later became a key leader in the church)…
IT’S A SERIES – that we are calling, ‘Making It Real.’
Making what real? Making our faith real.
YOU SEE – to James, Real Faith is…
• not just something we talk about it, it’s something we do
• it’s not just something we discuss, it’s who we are
Real Faith is to look at ourselves (at our reflectio) - in the mirror of God’s Word… and then to align our lives to that image.
AND REMEMBER – real faith is both powerful and desirable.
IT… - moves mountains, brings about salvation, unleashes the power and promises of God, overthrows kingdoms, quenches the flames, parts seas, slays giants, brings walls tumbling down and having it, is the only way to please God.
YES JAMES – is a book about making our faith real…
“LET’S MAKE IT REAL”
AND – last week we saw right out of the gates that…
Real faith is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus
and it results in a new life, a new purpose and a new identity – as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
THIS MORNING – we will unpack James 1:2-12
AND – as we do, we will see that REAL FAITH PERSEVERES…
THAT IT – turns trials into triumphs.
IF – you have your bibles/app/screen…
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. – James 1:1-12
PRAYER
NOW – Sprite (Kevin AND Becky’s) pet ferret was having a pretty good day. He was just running around, goofing off – playing in a pile of clothes.
BUT SUDDENLY – things got bad, real bad, real fast.
AND - within a split second Sprite’s world changed in a dramatic way. I MEAN – one minute, he is jumping around in the laundry and the next he had become part of the laundry.
FOR YOU SEE – unknown to Becky when she picked up the pile of clothes off the floor, Sprite was hidden deep within (I don’t know maybe he had fallen asleep).
But whether awake or not… Sprite was tossed into the washer, the lid was shut - and then the water was turned on.
QUESTION CAN YOU IMAGINE – what must have been going through little Sprite’s mind as the water began pouring in (I am not sure whether it was hot or cold)… and then the agitation cycle began. I kind of picture the little guy trying to balance himself and hold to the top if the agitator. (and you thought you were having a bad day).
THEN SUDDENLY – the churning stopped, and the water began to drain out…. And Sprite released his death grip on the agitator and jumped down onto the damp clothes thinking it was all finally over.
BUT THEN – the rinse cycle began…
AND – just when little Sprite thought the worse was over came the spin cycle…
I can just the little guy plastered against the side of the washer as it spun at (800-1600 rpm… or 13-26 rps)
MAN – that had to be extremely rough.
WELL - 24 hours later…. Becky (true story) found the damp, shivering, still shell-shocked little critter still in the washing machine. BUT – at least he was found before he was tossed into the clothes dryer.
Becky said Sprite doesn’t play in piles of clothes anymore and that he goes into a massive panic attack whenever they turn on the washing machine…
And who could blame him, right?
Poor little guy, he never saw it coming.
QUESTION – can you relate to Spirit? Most of us can.
One minute you’re standing in familiar territory – playing in a pile of clothes. You’re happy, things are going great…
AND THEN - the next you are tossed into life’s washer, the lid is shut and the water is turned on… and you find yourself trapped in a damp place of spinning darkness.
• Your employer hands you a pink slip and tells you they have to let you go.
• Your spouse tells you they don’t love you anymore
• A police officer knocks on your door and tells you they have your son or daughter downtown.
• The phone rings and you hear the words, ‘there’s been an accident.’
• Your mother calls and tells you that you better get home as quick as you can, your dad just had a heart attack.
• The doctor looks up at you from the test results and says that it’s terminal and there is nothing they can do for you.
I MEAN – you didn’t even see it coming, but in the blink of an eye, you find yourself being sucked into the dark caverns of despair as you body is splashed with the icy waters of an unwanted reality.
The lid is shut, the churning begins, as your world starts to spin hopelessly out of control….
UNDERSTAND – the people who first held James letter in their hands, knew exactly what Sprite was feeling.
I MEAN THINGS – were going rather well for the church in Jerusalem… Tens of Thousands had come to know the Lord and more were being added daily.
They were (according to Acts 2:47) enjoying the favor of God and of most people. AND - they were experiencing a fellowship a oneness, a community that was almost beyond belief…
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. – Acts 4:32-35
R U kidding me?
A church of 18-20,000 spread throughout the city and not one needy person among them, and no one claimed that any of their possessions were there own.
YEAH – for the most part life was just a romp in a pile of clothes…
AND THEN – came the stoning of Stephen.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
AGAIN – it was to this… scattered, persecuted, dragged off, imprisoned believers… men and women who were
Weak and worn
Tired and broken
Beaten and persecuted that James
Right after telling them that REAL FAITH is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus and gives us a new identity…
REAL FAITH PERSEVERES….
A perfect place to begin don’t you think?
MGCC
In these words penned nearly 2000 years ago we find 4 keys/truths that IF we embrace them will empower us to turn our trials into triumphs and to develop a faith that perseveres…
Those 4 truths are build on 4 words
Decide, develop, ask and direct
Anybody ready to do this?
Decide
You Must Decide To Have A Joyful Attitude
(was going to word it ‘we’ and ‘need’)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds…
Okay 3 things about trials in those verses…
Trials Will Come
God tells us in verse 2 that we should expect trials. Notice that he did not say, “If you happen to face trials,” but rather whenever you face trials…
MGCC – though I, like you, would wish for it to be otherwise…
Trials, hardships & difficulties are an unfortunate part of life.
AND LISTEN - the Christian who thinks that his life is going to be NOTHING BUT CALM WATERS and SMOOTH SAILING is in for quite a shock.
Jesus warned his disciples shortly before his arrest,
“in the world you will have trouble” (Jn 16:33)
and Paul in Acts 14:22 said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
QUESTION – has anyone found that to be the case for their life?
THAT – in tis world you have had trouble and many hardships?
YES - we are God’s children, AND YES, God will take care of us, but God never promised all sunshine and rainbows or to shelter us from all the troubles and trials of this life.
MGCC
things will not always go our way, the road at times will get bumpy.
NOW - some of the trials that we face, happen simply because we are human and we live in a broken and fallen world,
full of sin, sickness, accidents and disappointments.
AND - other trials come our way (like they did for the Jerusalem church) because we are Christians: Peter emphasizes this in his first letter… (1 Pe 4:12-14).
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.
We need to realize that trials will come and we therefore should not be surprised by them, but instead expect them.
(When you know when something is coming at you, you can be ready for it, when you know that strong waves are headed your way -- you can plant your feet and stand firm).
James says that trials will come, count on it…
AND – he also says that
Trials Are Varied
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds…
James tells us that not all trials are the same, they come in many different shapes, sizes, intensities and durations.
There are small trials, big trials, minor trials and major trials.
There are these trials that almost seem to hit us daily and then there are these tragic, devastating trials that put all of these other trials into perspective.
trials of various kinds…
QUESTION
Is James talking about difficult marriages? Yes, that would fit in the category of various. (that's what I love. He just put various there.
Is James talking about
• being sick?
• Having financial problems?
• Relational conflict?
• Trouble with one of your children?
It's all there
If you're enduring a trial, there it is.
NOW FOR SOME – in the room this morning this talk of trails and hardships is not hypothetical… No you are in the thick of things right now, and it's painful.
You're tired and exhausted and weary and perhaps you came limping into this place today hoping to hear a few words that would empower you to fight another round.
FOR OTHERS - this idea of trials and hardships is kind of distant… things are going okay… BUT KNOW - that a storm is building somewhere out there and it’s waves are moving closer and closer to you.
In fact, the phone could ring this week. It could ring two weeks from now.
YES – sooner or later our day of trial will come.
GET IT?
AND – as long as I am being honest and chipper….
It's not just the day of trial. It's the days (plural).
It’s not just one and done.
It’s not - "Man! Glad I got that one behind me. Now there is just joy for the rest of my life."
That's not what happens.
It's mountain highs and valleys low, is it not?
That's what I love about the Bible. The Bible meets us in the world we are in. It's not fantasy.
NO – there will never be a perfect utopia in the here and now for us…. BUT - there is one coming. YES - the Bible is clear about that, amen? BUT – in the meantime you and I are living in the space between, the already and the not yet.
UNDERSTAND - Christ has died and ushered in the kingdom, but it is not yet fully consummated.
BUT - It will be at the return of Christ.
In the meantime, we're in this space between.
NO - our world is not sterile. It's grimy. People get sick. They die. They are betrayed. They are wrongly accused. They grow weary. They lose heart.
But not all.
Understand some by the grace of God, others endure.
Their legs are strengthened. Their heart is inflamed.
They hold fast and have a type of joy that transcends some of the most horrific circumstances imaginable.
Why? How?
BECAUSE – in the midst of their trial that made a decision.
Which brings us to our next point about trials…
Trails will come
Trails are varied
Trails demand a decision
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds
Remember James is writing to a group of people, most of who are impoverished, having been scattered and separated from their homes because of persecution…
And James is encouraging them, he is saying to them right in the middle of it - to Consider it pure joy
Now, let’s be honest. Let’s step back for a second. Am I the only one who reads that and wants scratch their head, say what?
Like really. Consider it pure joy. Like when a trial comes, put a smile on your face and say you love it. Is that what the Bible’s actually telling us to do?
UNDERSTAND - this is one of the most profound, most crucial truths necessary for mature Christian living…
AND LISTEN - this is not some emotionally flippant, fake, pseudo happiness when just paint on, whenever things are a wreck around us.
“Consider…”
It’s a command— an imperative. It’s a verb of thought.
It means to – count, deem, reckon, think, regard. It’s about a mental decision, not an emotional response.
Consider it pure joy
‘pure joy’ – indicates a sincere, genuine joy…
again not painted on, plastic and fake.
MGCC - the first thing we need to do in order to turn our trials into triumphs is to make a conscience decision to put our trust in God and in his provision and to have a joyful attitude....
Granted this is not our natural response.
Outlook often determines outcome; and for us to end with joy we must start with joy.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds
AND LISATEN - because God is God, He could have just left it there, “Rejoice During Trials” and not written verses 3-12.
But that is not how our God rolls…
SO - in verse 2, God is telling us what to do AND in the next 10 verses He is going to tell us how to do it, how to accomplish this seemingly impossible task.
Develop
(You must develop an understanding mind)
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:3,4
Because you what? KNOW
AND - the word means to know or understand through personal observation & experience and it is in the present tense.
To overcome trials/to turn them into triumphs; we must know/we must understand something. AND this knowing comes about by observation & experience.
I’d like to share 3 understandings we need to DEVELOP if we are ever going to turn our trials into triumphs....
FIRST;
We Need To Develop a mind that understands (that knows)
Faith Will Always Be Tested
The word translated testing (the testing of your faith) can also be translated “proved.” Peter uses the same word when he wrote in 1 Pe 1:7 about undergoing trials,
“These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine.”
Gold must pass through a fiery furnace in order for the metal to be separated from the dross, and thereby to be identified as genuine Gold.
MGCC
trials and hardships of are the fiery furnace that our faith must pass through in order to make our faith real.
AND – every time we go through a furnace we can leave behind some dross (impurities).
I MEAN – think about the as the people whose lives are recorded for us in the Scripture, isn’t that how it played out for them…?
Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Ruth, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, & Paul’s all went through the furnance.
SECOND;
We Need To Develop a mind that understands (that knows)
Our God Is Always Sovereign
UNDERSTAND – our God is not only maker of heaven and earth but he is ruler of heaven and earth. Scripture says that brings that rulers of this earth to nothing, he simply blows on them and they whiter away… Our trials are never outside of God’s control… that is why God can say what he said in Is 43…
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One…your Savior;
MGCC
Whatever is surrounding you, our Sovereign God is surrounding it! And not only is he surrounding it he is working in the midst of it.
“And we know that God causes ALL things to work together for good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose...” – Romans 8:28
We can know that even while we are walking through the darkest valley, even though it looks a glimmer of light will never appear, we can know that God is with us AND that He will work it out for good.
Earlier I listed Joseph as an example of one of those whose faith had been tested.
YEAH - Joseph understood the truth of Romans 8:28, nearly 2,000 years before the apostle Paul wrote those words.
Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers, left for dead, sold into slavery, he was cast in a dungeon for several years because he had refused to sin against God and have sex with Potiphar’s wife. Yet, through it all Joseph never lost faith in the God of his fathers.
When talking to his brothers after they had come to Egypt, He said to them as they wept of their sin of selling him as a slave, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done...” - Genesis 50:20
Third;
We Need To Develop a mind that understands (that knows)
Every Trial Has A Purpose
So that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
OKAY – so here’s the deal.
God’s goal for our lives, for all of our lives – is to become complete and mature in Him, to grow more and more into His likeness, and knowledge of who He is.
NOW, the problem comes, in our lives, when it comes to trials, and this is not our goal.
Because let’s be honest, let’s just put it on the table, most of the time when you and I go through trials, our goal is just to get through it as quick as possible, right? Our goal is to fix these circumstances, to get things switched around back to where they’re supposed to be, the way we had planned it, the way that fits best with our ideas.
BUT LISTEN - if that’s our goal in trials, then we are in for frequent frustration, endless anxiety, constant worry, and pure joy will always elude us.
But when our goal in our lives is to grow in the knowledge of God and to be transformed into His likeness, then no matter how deep or dark the trial is, we can know that our goal is going to be achieved.
It’s going to be accomplished.
God will reveal Himself to us.
He will make us more mature and complete in our knowledge and understanding of Him
We will grow more into His likeness.
UNDERSTAND – God is more concerned about your character THEN – your comfort…
Then getting you out of your spin cycle…
Why? BECAUSE – he wants you to be like Jesus.
Now, you think about this. Think about a trial in your life right now. It could be small, it could be major, it could be big.
Just think about it.
Kind of get it in your mind, a trial that you’re walking through right now.
QUESTION - what’s your goal in that trial?
UNDERSTAND - if your goal is simply to fix that circumstance, if your goal is to do whatever it takes to get that situation changed around to something more your liking…
The reality is, it may happen;
Most times it won’t, particularly not exactly the way you planned and hoped that it would…
And even if it does, then something else is coming around the corner that’s going to….
BUT - what would happen if you looked at that trial in your life, small, big alike, and you said,
“Lord, I know you are sovereign…
That is a radically different way to live.
This is a distinctively Christian way to live.
This is pure joy in trials.
Here’s the bottom line - trials are joy when God is our goal. Did you catch that?
Trials are joy when God is our goal.
When we believe that knowledge of God and intimacy with God is supremely satisfying, then trials, which cause us to trust, lean on, and pursue God, are a really good thing. Pure joy.
Malcolm Muggeridge said it better than anybody else I know. Contrary to what might be expected, Muggeridge said, “I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially devastating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether pursued or attained.”
Now, this does not encourage us if our goal is just to get our circumstances fixed. This is not very encouraging if that’s our goal. But if our goal is deeper knowledge of God and growth into His likeness and trials drive us toward that goal, then we can consider them pure joy.
Decide
Develop
Ask
(you must ask God for wisdom to consider trials pure joy)
In these verses James appears to be answering a question that he anticipated would be asked by his readers…
Okay James, I hear what you are saying. I mean, it even kind of makes sense. And the idea of being mature, complete and not lacking in anything is pretty appealing…
But the problem is I am not spiritually mature yet…
So what do I do in the mean time.
Can you relate?
Ask God
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Now it is significant to note what James didn't say, he didn't say if you lack wisdom to handle your trials and consider them pure joy… go study philosophy or go pick up the latest self-help book or go meditate, or go get advice from someone who you think is wise. No James didn’t say any of that because the wisdom that we need, the wisdom that we must have to turn our trials in the triumphs is available only from God.
Who are we to ask? God
(the Greek actually says to ask the giving God_
What a description of our God.
AND - the giving God will give us this wisdom without finding fault, without giving us a hard time for asking
Ask In Faith
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Ask in faith,
Believing that God is good.
Believing that He is wise.
Believing that He (the God of the Universe) has offered to give us the wisdom, the knowledge and perspective to walk through this.
Direct
(You must to direct your focus to your ultimate prize)
which is not here on this earth
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life
that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
– James 1:12
Now, when we hear this crown language, don’t picture some gem-studded headpiece that a king or queen wears.
Move that picture out of your mind because the original readers in the Book of James when they heard crown would have immediately in their minds gone to the wreath, kind of a laurel wreath that was put on the head, over the head of an athlete who had competed in a race, who had been victorious in some kind of competition. And this is the crown that would be put on them. And so that’s the picture. Not some king in a flowing robe. This is an athlete who’s just been through it. This crown has been put on his head.
And the picture is at the end of this race, through trial after trial after trial after trial, there is eternal life at the end of this goal waiting for us.
Experienced in abundance.
This is where we’re reminded in our trials, brothers and sisters, this world is not our home.
And we are living for reward to come. And this gives us great joy in the middle of trials.
This is how we
can face the worst, most devastating circumstances in this room because we know that this world is not our home, and there’s coming a day when God Himself will share the completeness. where we will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Where we will be glorified with Him.
Crown of life.
And trials remind us that we’re living for another reward. We’re not living for this world.
Now, you put those together and, brothers and sisters,
I want to encourage you.
I in no way want this to sound trite.
I know there are trials represented around this room that I cannot fathom, but I want to encourage you not to waste your trials.
I want to encourage you when you face trials to fix your eyes on the goal who is God.
To draw near to Him and ask Him, just keep asking Him over and over and over again.
Draw near to Him.
Rely on the resources that He provides,
and keep your eyes focused on your reward.
And it’s coming. It’s coming. And this is the only way that you can look at trials you’re walking through with pure joy.
