Intro: James was the oldest half-brother of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 13.55). He witnessed Christ’s appearance following His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7), and was among those who assembled together following the Ascension (Acts 1:14), He awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. Later he became a leader of the believers of Jerusalem (Acts 12:17).
James kept the potentially explosive situation concerning Gentile evangelism under control. In addition, he helped draft a very tolerant letter to the Gentile Christians in Antioch regarding their status (Acts 15:13-19).
(KJV) James tells us to count it all joy in the midst of your trials. What he teaches us makes us think about how we should react to the things that take away our joy. For we have all been hurt, disappointed, challenged, and overwhelmed by the many different trails that come our way, but many of these things cause our joy to fade. But, they can become the opposite – they can become a source of even greater joy.
(NIV) James tells us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials, of various kinds. This seems like a hard thing to do when you fall, the joy that James is talking about here is pure joy – the word pure means all, every, and whole or thoroughly, not just a surface of joy, but a joy that is all encompassing. A joy that is real, a joy that is pure, a joy that can pass all understanding, only that kind of joy can come from God. We are going to look at a couple of reason why we go through trials, and sometime suffer in the trials.
Examples:
1. You weak up in the morning only to find out someone have stolen you car - Trial
2. Then you go to work only to find out that you lost your job – Trial
3. Then you get a call from your lawyer when you get home from that job you had, only to be told that you house is being put in bankruptcy - Trial
4. Then you get a call from your baby mother and she tells you, your son is selling drugs, and walked out on her and she have not seen my for 3 or 4 days – Trial
5. You get a call from your doctor about your health result, only to find out they need you to come back for another test, because they found a spot in on your lung - Trial
1. Why Suffering makes you Mature (1:5)
Mature – (To ripen or to bring to a full maturity, or completion)
The sources of suffering: James say:
a. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trails” (1:2)
b. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation” (1:12)
These verses speak of two kinds of suffering:
A. Trial Suffering - These come from God and are sent to bring out the best in us! Let’s look at Abraham
“And it came to pass after these things, that God did test Abraham…and he said take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thy into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee (Gen. 22:1,2; Heb. 11:17) “And Moses said unto the people, fear not; for God is come to test you, and that his fear my be before your faces, that ye may sin not” (Ex. 20:20)
B. Temptation Suffering – These come from the devil (using the world and the flesh), and are sent to bring out the worst in us. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted us with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (Jas. 1:13,14; Gen. 3:1-6; Matt. 4:1; 2 Cor. 11:3,4).
It may be said that both trials and temptations are often opposite sides of the same coin. This is to say that both God and Satan may be working in the life of a believer through the same event, one purify him, and the other prevents him. (Job 1,2). Let’s look at Job
2. The characteristics of suffering:
1. They are often sudden: “When ye fall…” (1:2)
2. They are certain: James say when ye fall, not, if ye fall!
3. They are sorted: “into divers [various] trails,”
These are:
a. financial – when the mortgage is due (Seek ye the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all these things shall be given on to you)
b. physical – when your sick in your body (by my strip, ye are healed)
c. spiritual - sometimes I don’t know watch way to go (God said trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path)
3. The purpose of suffering:
As we have already noted, God either causes or allows all sufferings to fall into our lives. Why does he do this?
A. Because suffering produces endurance down here.
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (1:3,4).
B. Because suffering promises rewards in Heaven.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (1:12).
4. The attitude in suffering:
How to respond to trials in your trials?
a. Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage, and He shall strength thy heart
b. Count it all joy when ye face many trials
c. To go down on your knees in prayer, and God will give you the peace that passes all understanding.
Closing: No matter what you are going through, you are to count it all JOY!
