Whether we are dealing with trials on the outside or temptations on the inside we need the Holy Spirit to help us. Through faith in God and Jesus Christ, we CAN experience victory!
I have come to learn that God sometimes allows us to go through uncomfortable situations because He trusts us to use those experiences to help others see the hope we have in God.
I gave my heart to Christ in the last five weeks of 1972. I never went to Bible School and I did not take any Biblical Study Courses. I got filled with the Holy Spirit and I read the Bible. I carried a Bible everywhere I went. I attended church services twice on Sundays, both morning and evening. I went to Saturday night prayer meeting.
I never went to any of these services to get entertained. I don’t remember if the pews were hard or soft. I never cared if the music was fast or slow, old or new….
I SIMPLY WANTED JESUS! I went to spend time in God’s presence.
“I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion.....I want all that God has or I don't want any.”
I believe that deep in the soul of every person on earth is a longing for the presence of God. As of late that has been the cry of my prayers, that you experience the presence of God.
A.W. Tozer said, “We should come to church not anticipating entertainment but expecting the high and holy manifestation of Gods presence”.
Each week Jude and I pray to that end. When Judi leads us in song, we do not see it as old or new, fast or slow - we see it as worship. And friends, worship... true worship, is not some performance we do. It is a presence we experience.
I wasn’t just hungry for The Word, I was ravenous - I couldn’t get enough! I am still that way. I love the Word of God. It has been my lighthouse.
“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
A fire burned in me that drove me to tell people about what Jesus had done for me! I just “Had to” tell my salvation story. So it wasn’t too surprizing that within months of my conversion, I was a counsellor at Camp Ambassador. It was there I was able to share my faith with 60 young men. Each week I had six new guys to look after and I ministered there for ten weeks. What a glorious time of growth!
There was a verse that kept me on track in those early years:
I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
The KEY was keeping my hand in the unchanging hand of God. Trusting Him who saved me by His grace and mercy. Trusting that He who delivered me from the bike gang, the drug and alcohol addictions could keep me safe to the end. Over the years I have stood on that verse - reminding myself of God’s Unchanging Keeping Power!
As long as we are on this earth we will deal with trials and temptations! Today I hope to introduce you to a little book - the Book of James. I have found this little Book to be filled with very practical and relevant truths. It has been said, “The best book is not one that informs merely, but one that stirs the reader up to inform himself.”
And James does that for me. It stirs me to better myself in Christ! Let me give you a little taste…
James 1 (NIV) 1 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 many 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. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do. 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
As you can see, this first chapter is filled with wonderful points of living a Godly life, one pleasing unto the Lord. The remaining four chapters are just as powerful.
For today we will look at James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James doesn't say "if" but "when". This is because Christians must expect trials.
Some trials come simply because we are human: sickness, accidents or disappointments. Other trials come because we are Christians. Be aware that Satan fights us and the world opposes us, so we can expect trials!
James indicates that the trial the believers of his day were facing was their dispersal throughout the land - families separated and scattered. Verse 1: “To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations”, James tells them in Verse 2, to "COUNT IT ALL JOY!"
When I first read this verse years ago, I was a bit stunned… but I hadn’t read the verse in context. I stopped right there and wrote three letters beside verse 2 - “YBH”.
Truth is there are quite a few “YBH” notations in my Bible - “YEA BUT HOW”?
“Is it really possible to rejoice in the midst of trials?” Yes, if you rejoice in the trial not for the trial. I’m not thankful for the trial, but I’m thankful that God can use the trial for my good.
Suffering is never good in itself, but God is able to use it for good.
Verse 3 explains how: “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
“Perseverance” is a great word! Some synonyms of perseverance are: persistence...tenacity...determination... resolve...resolution...resoluteness...staying power… purposefulness...patience and endurance.
James tells us that trials test our faith and faith tested can bring out the best in us! Just as fire purifies silver and gold.
So James says, we can have joy in trials because we know that the testing of our faith works FOR us, not AGAINST us. They help us to mature.
This is NOT some passive acceptance of circumstances but rather an ability to exhibit steadfastness in the face of difficulty. It is the continuing on even when the way is very rough, pushing forward despite the circumstances.
Not being “under the circumstance” but rather pushing through in faith that God has a plan!
The value of developing that type of attitude really comes out into the open when we obey Verse 4: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Too often, we just want our trials or difficulties to be over with. Or we want God to prevent them from coming our way in the first place. However, we may be wishing away the very thing God has chosen to bless us with.
I’m reminded of what Joseph said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20
So if instead of grumbling and complaining, we patiently endure the trial, holding on to God’s unchanging hand, the result can be life changing: “...so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
No longer "babes" (immature) in Christ. Such maturity comes only when patience has had time to work! If we wish to run the race well, spiritually speaking, we need to develop patience. This comes only through exercising “faith”.
Trials put our faith to the test!
“Let perseverance finish its work” YBH
This certainly isn’t easy. It requires wisdom that allows us to see the value of our trials.
So now this brings us to Verse 5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God….” We need wisdom! If I was Oprah and you were my studio audience - I’d say, “You get wisdom, you get wisdom, and you get wisdom, everybody gets wisdom!”
BUT, you don’t need my wisdom, and you don’t need Oprah’s wisdom…..you need GOD’s Wisdom.
He has promised to give it “generously to all without finding fault!”
Wisdom is the ability or insight to properly use facts in the most expeditious way. Get the facts from God, (through His Word) and trust in Him to see you through.
If you ask in faith, with no doubt, God will give you insight as to why you are facing this trial, or how to best deal with the obstacles in your path. Use the wisdom God gives in answer to your prayer to help you put it all together.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I have come to learn that God sometimes allows us to go through uncomfortable situations because He trusts us to use those experiences to help others see the hope we have in God.
I gave my heart to Christ in the last five weeks of 1972. I never went to Bible School and I did not take any Biblical Study Courses. I got filled with the Holy Spirit and I read the Bible. I carried a Bible everywhere I went. I attended church services twice on Sundays, both morning and evening. I went to Saturday night prayer meeting.
I never went to any of these services to get entertained. I don’t remember if the pews were hard or soft. I never cared if the music was fast or slow, old or new….
I SIMPLY WANTED JESUS! I went to spend time in God’s presence.
“I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion.....I want all that God has or I don't want any.”
I believe that deep in the soul of every person on earth is a longing for the presence of God. As of late that has been the cry of my prayers, that you experience the presence of God.
A.W. Tozer said, “We should come to church not anticipating entertainment but expecting the high and holy manifestation of Gods presence”.
Each week Jude and I pray to that end. When Judi leads us in song, we do not see it as old or new, fast or slow - we see it as worship. And friends, worship... true worship, is not some performance we do. It is a presence we experience.
I wasn’t just hungry for The Word, I was ravenous - I couldn’t get enough! I am still that way. I love the Word of God. It has been my lighthouse.
“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
A fire burned in me that drove me to tell people about what Jesus had done for me! I just “Had to” tell my salvation story. So it wasn’t too surprizing that within months of my conversion, I was a counsellor at Camp Ambassador. It was there I was able to share my faith with 60 young men. Each week I had six new guys to look after and I ministered there for ten weeks. What a glorious time of growth!
There was a verse that kept me on track in those early years:
I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
The KEY was keeping my hand in the unchanging hand of God. Trusting Him who saved me by His grace and mercy. Trusting that He who delivered me from the bike gang, the drug and alcohol addictions could keep me safe to the end. Over the years I have stood on that verse - reminding myself of God’s Unchanging Keeping Power!
As long as we are on this earth we will deal with trials and temptations! Today I hope to introduce you to a little book - the Book of James. I have found this little Book to be filled with very practical and relevant truths. It has been said, “The best book is not one that informs merely, but one that stirs the reader up to inform himself.”
And James does that for me. It stirs me to better myself in Christ! Let me give you a little taste…
James 1 (NIV) 1 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 many 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. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do. 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
As you can see, this first chapter is filled with wonderful points of living a Godly life, one pleasing unto the Lord. The remaining four chapters are just as powerful.
For today we will look at James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James doesn't say "if" but "when". This is because Christians must expect trials.
Some trials come simply because we are human: sickness, accidents or disappointments. Other trials come because we are Christians. Be aware that Satan fights us and the world opposes us, so we can expect trials!
James indicates that the trial the believers of his day were facing was their dispersal throughout the land - families separated and scattered. Verse 1: “To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations”, James tells them in Verse 2, to "COUNT IT ALL JOY!"
When I first read this verse years ago, I was a bit stunned… but I hadn’t read the verse in context. I stopped right there and wrote three letters beside verse 2 - “YBH”.
Truth is there are quite a few “YBH” notations in my Bible - “YEA BUT HOW”?
“Is it really possible to rejoice in the midst of trials?” Yes, if you rejoice in the trial not for the trial. I’m not thankful for the trial, but I’m thankful that God can use the trial for my good.
Suffering is never good in itself, but God is able to use it for good.
Verse 3 explains how: “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
“Perseverance” is a great word! Some synonyms of perseverance are: persistence...tenacity...determination... resolve...resolution...resoluteness...staying power… purposefulness...patience and endurance.
James tells us that trials test our faith and faith tested can bring out the best in us! Just as fire purifies silver and gold.
So James says, we can have joy in trials because we know that the testing of our faith works FOR us, not AGAINST us. They help us to mature.
This is NOT some passive acceptance of circumstances but rather an ability to exhibit steadfastness in the face of difficulty. It is the continuing on even when the way is very rough, pushing forward despite the circumstances.
Not being “under the circumstance” but rather pushing through in faith that God has a plan!
The value of developing that type of attitude really comes out into the open when we obey Verse 4: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Too often, we just want our trials or difficulties to be over with. Or we want God to prevent them from coming our way in the first place. However, we may be wishing away the very thing God has chosen to bless us with.
I’m reminded of what Joseph said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20
So if instead of grumbling and complaining, we patiently endure the trial, holding on to God’s unchanging hand, the result can be life changing: “...so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
No longer "babes" (immature) in Christ. Such maturity comes only when patience has had time to work! If we wish to run the race well, spiritually speaking, we need to develop patience. This comes only through exercising “faith”.
Trials put our faith to the test!
“Let perseverance finish its work” YBH
This certainly isn’t easy. It requires wisdom that allows us to see the value of our trials.
So now this brings us to Verse 5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God….” We need wisdom! If I was Oprah and you were my studio audience - I’d say, “You get wisdom, you get wisdom, and you get wisdom, everybody gets wisdom!”
BUT, you don’t need my wisdom, and you don’t need Oprah’s wisdom…..you need GOD’s Wisdom.
He has promised to give it “generously to all without finding fault!”
Wisdom is the ability or insight to properly use facts in the most expeditious way. Get the facts from God, (through His Word) and trust in Him to see you through.
If you ask in faith, with no doubt, God will give you insight as to why you are facing this trial, or how to best deal with the obstacles in your path. Use the wisdom God gives in answer to your prayer to help you put it all together.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”