Intro: everyone of us will at times have our faith tested. In James 1:2-8 we are told that faith will be put on trial. The biggest question in any trial is, “ what’s the verdict.” We are given some of the litmus test of faith in these verses.
The Verdict On Faith
James 1:2-8
v.2—the first thing that we find in the trial of faith, is did we keep our joy in the midst of the trial. James gives us the admonition to keep joyful in the trials of life.
Here is the first verdict on faith
a. If a trial that we go through can steal or rob joy out of our life, then our faith has failed. The verdict is doubt, fear or unbelief. When you face a difficulty in life, the first step in faith is to not allow the storm to make you forget the sunshine.
b. If we stay joyful, if we keep a right attitude during the test, then the verdict is you have passed this test, you can now move on to another step or level.
c. Divers—various—if you can keep your joy, if your attitude stays right in these various trials, the verdict on your faith, is that you have a great faith that will not be easily moved.
v.3- trying of your faith works patience. The next verdict on faith is did we remain steady during the trial.
Here is the second verdict
a. if in the trial we demanded that it be over now, then the verdict is that we failed the test. If it kept us upset, and we became unsettled, if anxiety over anything takes control of us, then the verdict is, we will probably face this same test again, because if you don’t conquer any area in life, you are doomed to repeat that test until you pass it.
b. If in the trial, you stay firm in faith, you don’t become unsettled, you take one day at a time, you say, if I don’t gain victory today, I am sure I will gain victory tomorrow, your verdict is victory in faith.
c. If you within the test, have a peace and rest, if you notice that your attitude about this test is calmer more confident then in trials you have faced in the past, you are graduating to new steps and new levels of faith.
v.4—let patience have her perfect work—the next step in the trying of your faith, is what is becoming of you in the trials.
The next verdict of faith—
a. if you notice that you are more skeptical, more cynical, because of the trials you are going through, if you feel like giving up, if you feel like throwing the towel in because the trials are too hard or the mountain is too steep, then the verdict is faith failure.
b. If you see that you are a stronger person because of all the trials you have advanced through, and aren’t worried about the next trial, because the same way you got through this time, is the same way you will get through the next time, you are a faith graduate.
c. If people who have seen you go through many battles, begin to see a stronger spiritual life, begin to lean on you for help and support, request you to pray them through, then your faith is proven faith, and the verdict is overcomer.
v.5—if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God---how involved is God in your test, how much do you rely on Him within the trial, this is the next verdict to be rendered.
a. if you try to carry the load all by yourself, if you spend all your time and energy trying to fix things or make things go away, the verdict of faith once again is failure. If you rely on man’s wisdom and run to everyone but God to help in the time of need, the verdict is that your faith is limited, while God is unlimited.
b. If you find yourself going to the scripture to find out what God has to say about your trial, if you stay in a spirit of prayer about things you are facing, if your total reliance and dependence is God, your faith has moved to a conquering faith.
c. If you say, God is more than enough to handle my situation, if He can deliver others, He can deliver me, if you say, He took 2 million out of Egypt, surely he can get one more person through one more battle, your faith is a sure foundation.
v.6-8—nothing wavering—the last verdict on faith, did you keep your focus, were you single eyed, did you keep your eyes on the target.
The verdict on faith
a. if one day you talked victory, but the next day you talked defeat, if one moment you walked in the clouds, and the next moment you were lower than the sidewalk, if you asked for God to come through, but then told everyone how it could never happen, if you confessed to everyone defeat, and never confessed to God victory is mine, the verdict of faith is a washed up faith.
b. If you began to claim God’s promises, if you stood strong on the word of the Lord, if your prayer became more fervent, and your zeal for the things of God increased in the middle of the battle, if the waves that were beating on you began to feel like only tiny raindrops, then your faith has reached that place called stability, and you are a saint of God.
c. If everywhere you went people gave you a negative word, but the only word you could hear was a positive Word from God, when your best friend was God, and your worst enemy was this world, when you didn’t believe any report until you got the report of the Lord, if you screamed out in victory at the devil, I shall live and declare the glory of the Lord, then the verdict of your faith is, you won’t be defeated anymore.
Close: I want to encourage you, don’t stop, don’t quit, don’t give up, the next step could be your miracle, around the next bend could be your blessing, over the horizon could be your destiny, and beyond that last mountain could be a city whose builder and maker is God.
May God pronounce your verdict of faith, in the portals of glory
