future. Even to the end.
2. Stand the test God will provide the crown of life. Freely given to those who love the Lord.
D. We face different kind of trials and testing in our lives. Unexpected troubles make an unwelcome visit. Health issues. Economic concerns. Worries. All these events all too easily distract us from our focus on the goodness of God. Consider the Apostle Paul. Had everything. Educated. Wealthy. Pharisee of Pharisees [memorized Torah (first five books of the Bible)]. Knew a lot about religion. Did not know much about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Lord changed all of that. Called Paul out of darkness into light. Paul had a “thorn in the flesh.” Pleaded with the Lord to remove this thorn. Lord said, “no”. “My grace is sufficient for you…” Paul accepted God’s plan for his life. Used this truth for joyfully serving the Lord. “That is why I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then am I strong” (2 CORINTHIANS 12:10). We all have faced our own weakness. Then we know God’s strength better!
E. Granted, trials, tests or troubles do not excite us. We would rather not have to be inconvenienced by what does not seem beneficial. We can boldly face the difficulties in our lives knowing everything is part of God’s good plan for those who love him. “No discipline seems pleasant when it is happening, but painful, yet later it yields a peaceful harvest of righteousness for those who have been trained by it” (HEBREWS 12:11). Testing can seem unpleasant. We enjoy “a peaceful harvest of righteousness”. God’s blessing. We learn to be patient. Endure. Our souls are strengthened. Our faith grows. Grows into maturity.
F. Still lingering are those words “consider it complete joy”. The Lord God of Armies wants us to remember the results of trials, tests or troubles we face. “…by growing in the knowledge of God…you are being strengthened with all power because of his glorious might working in you. Then you will have complete endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father…” (COLOSSIANS 1:11). The plans of God for our lives always…always work for our good. Always all things to bring us complete joy.
VALUE GOD’S PLANS FOR OUR LIVES. We can uncover and will discover joy in trials.
II. ASK THE LORD FOR WISDOM.
A. James knew believers may really wonder about the Lord’s words concerning “complete joy” in trials.
1. Verse 5. James encouraged believers to ask God for wisdom. This was a “new practice”.
2. The priests were the ones who prayed. Even the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.
3. Anyone could come anytime asking for wisdom from God. The Lord would listen. Answer.
B. Verse 6. The believer was to approach the Lord God confidently. Boldly. NOT doubting.
1. Earthly example: Doubters would be like the waves of the sea. Blown and tossed about.
2. Peter walked on water. Saw the wind. Doubted. Sank. Jesus immediately rescued him.
3. Temple curtain had been torn in two. Believers had complete access directly with the Lord.
C. Verse 7. The danger of doubting: Don’t expect to receive anything. Ask for wisdom not to doubt.
1. Verse 8. A doubter in prayer is double-minded and unstable. Doubt is very dangerous.
2. The devil’s workshop is doubt. Wants to distract full attention of believers away from God.
D. We do struggle with the unexpected events that disrupt. We do face trials that trouble us mightily. We may even be tempted to wonder about God’s goodness for us. For our lives. Or even ask, “Why?” Today, the Lord reminds us not to ask “why” but to ask for his wisdom. Seek God! Our perfect, loving heavenly Father invites us to pray. Promises to hear. Always answer. We have complete joy knowing the Lord God of Armies is always there for us. To help. To provide. We often, if not always, end our prayers with “Amen!” “Amen!” is our blessed assurance when speaking with God. “Therefore, I tell you, everything that you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (MARK 11:24).
E. Ask for divine wisdom to comprehend complicated lives. Divine wisdom that comes only from the Lord God, Creator of all things. Knower of all things. Provider of all things for the good of his children. Each of us have plenty of worldly wisdom. Maybe even too much. The fear of the Lord is just the beginning of wisdom. God’s wisdom. We spend a lifetime learning to know our Lord and Savior more and more. Better every day. “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is discerning? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them” (HOSEA 14:9). We walk in the ways of the Lord. We can and willingly do this only because the Holy Spirit has given us faith. Faith that knows God’s wisdom. Rejoices in God’s wisdom. Ask…
F. The devil plants doubt in our minds. Our lives reflect the thoughts that our world promotes. Worldly wisdom is not godly wisdom. Thankfully we do know that God’s thoughts, ways, and plans are far greater than our thoughts, ways, and plans. Worldly wisdom will disappoint. Discourage us. It is always changing. We look to the Lord. Discover wisdom that is more important than anything else in this world. “But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ” (PHILIPPIANS 3:8). To know the Lord is to have wisdom. Freely the Lord provides!
CONCL.: Our plans might fail. Worldly plans have that ability not to succeed. When trials come, we may wonder. Our Lord does help us to discover joy in trials. Our human weaknesses reveal the Lord’s strength. When wondering we ask the Lord for wisdom. He answers. “Be joyful in hope. Endure trials patiently. Persist in prayer” (ROMANS 12:12). VALUE GOD’S PLANS FOR OUR LIVES. Trials come and go. The wisdom of God endures forever. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENTECOST 15 rdgs: EZEK. 33:7-11; GALATIANS 2:11-16; MATT. 18:15-20; (PSALM 32)
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