Growing in the Midst of Trials
How to deal with Trials
James 1: 2-8
2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
7 since he is a double-minded man,unstable in all his ways.
Setting the Context
-- A letter of exhortation
-- Practical as opposed to theological
-- To dispersed, scattered people
-- Having difficulties
---- Economic, social, religious
---- Poor working class
-- Testing vs. Temptation
---- Testing to pass (from God)
---- Temptation to fail (from Satan)
1. Be joyful
-- Verse 2 (“chara”)
-- The opposite of joyful is …?
---- $10.8 Billion of antidepressant drugs
-- We cant control our situation
-- But we can control our emotions
---- It is a mindset
---- It is not denying reality
---- It is knowing our future hope
2. Be patient.
-- Verses 3-4
-- “hypomonee” from “meno”
---- To stand fast or endure
---- Courageous endurance
---- Motivated by inwardly by love of honor
---- Be patient to become mature
-- Illustration: Sequoia trees
3. Be wise.
-- Verse 5
-- Sophia
---- Applied knowledge
-- Ask wisdom.
--- Pray in the midst of testing.
----- God will give it generously
----- He will not find fault.
4. Be faithful.
-- Verses 6-7
-- A double-minded man is one whose devotion to God is less than total. His attention is divided between God and other things, and as a consequence he is unstable and therefore unable to receive from God.
-- Don’t doubt.
-- Be single-minded.
-- All in the mind/heart: joy, patience, wisdom, faith
-- Set your mind on things above (Col. 3:2)
