Turning Trials Into Triumphs Series

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)