Historical Posts
James 01:02-08 Turning Trials into Triumphs – audio
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Text: James 1:2-8
Introduction
1. Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker: “When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!”
2. It is easier to smile at that statement than to practice it, but the basic philosophy is sound
a. In fact, it is Biblical
b. Throughout the Bible are people who turned defeat into victory and trials into triumph
c. Instead of being VICTIMS, they became VICTORS
3. The Epistle of James tells us that we can have this same experience today!
a. Whether we are dealing with trials on the outside
b. Or temptations on the inside
c. Through faith in God and Jesus Christ we CAN experience victory!
4. The KEY to turning trials into triumph is to obey four imperatives:
a. COUNT – James 1:2
b. KNOW – James 1:3
c. LET – James 1:4
d. ASK – James 1:5-8
Body
I. “COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS” (James 1:2)
A. NOTICE THAT JAMES ASSUMES THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE TRIALS
1. He doesn’t say “if” but “when”
2. This is because Christians must expect trials
a. So said Jesus – John 16:33
b. Paul also – Acts 14:22
3. The nature of these trials are “various”
a. Some trials come simply because we are human
1) Sickness, accidents
2) Disappointments, death
b. Other trials come because we are Christians – 1 Peter 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:12
4. But because Satan fights us, and the world opposes us, we can expect trials!
B. WHAT IS TO BE THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE? – “COUNT IT ALL JOY!”
1. This was the attitude of:
a. The apostles – Acts 5:41
b. Paul – Romans 5:3; Philippians 2:17-18
c. The Christians – 1 Peter 1:6-8; 4:12-14
2. So the first step to turning trials into triumph is to: immediately thank God and adopt a joyful attitude!
C. HOW???
II. “KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE” (James 1:3)
A. THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE VALUE OF TRIALS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A JOYFUL ATTITUDE
1. We are to understand that:
a. Trials test our faith
b. Faith tested can bring out the best in us!
1) Just as fire purifies gold – 1 Peter 1:7
2) Just as training makes the athlete stronger
2. With this understanding, we can have joy in trials because we know that:
a. Testing works FOR us, not AGAINST us – cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17
b. Trials rightly used help us to mature
B. SPECIFICALLY, FAITH TESTED PRODUCES “PATIENCE”…
1. Notice Romans 5:3-4
2. In the BIBLE…
a. “Patience” is NOT a passive acceptance of circumstances
b. The GREEK word is HUPOMONE
1) From the preposition HUPO (under), and MENO (to remain, to abide)
2) It denotes the ability to exhibit stedfastness and constancy in the face of the most formidable difficulty!
c. It is a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering!
d. It is the continuing on even when it is rough, despite the circumstances
3. Such a quality of stedfastness can come only through experiencing trials
4. The value of developing PATIENCE will be seen shortly
5. Having this understanding about what trials can accomplish enables us to have a joyful attitude
III. “LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS PERFECT WORK” (James 1:4)
A. TO TRULY TURN TRIALS INTO TRIUMPH, WE MUST LET “PATIENCE” DO IT’S WORK
1. Too often, we want to get our trials or difficulties over with quickly
2. But there are times when the best course is to bear up under the trial patiently
a. Instead of grumbling and complaining
b. …patiently endure the trial, doing good despite the trial
B. FOR WHEN PATIENCE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK, IT PRODUCES MATURITY
1. The word PERFECT does not mean sinlessness, but completeness, wholeness, maturity
2. In the New Testament, it is used of those who:
a. Have attained to spiritual manhood in Christ
b. Have reached full maturity and understanding in spiritual matters
c. Are no longer “babes” and immature persons in Christ
3. Such maturity comes only when patience has had time to work!
a. Consider, for example, an endurance runner in his training
1) To be a mature runner requires letting patience do its work
2) That is, patiently running mile after mile in training
b. If we wish to run the race well spiritually speaking, we need to develop patience
1) Which comes only through a form of spiritual “resistance training”
2) That is, trials in which our faith is put to the test!
c. Letting patience have its perfect work is not easy. It certainly requires wisdom which enables us to see the value of our trials.
IV. “LET HIM ASK OF GOD” (1:5-8)
A. IF WE LACK WISDOM, ASK FOR IT FROM GOD!
1. He has promised to give it liberally
2. And He will not reproach us for making such a request
3. Even as Solomon’s request for wisdom was well-pleasing to God – 1 Kings 3:7-12
B. WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS “WISDOM”?
1. We should be careful to distinguish “wisdom” from “knowledge”
a. Knowledge involves information, facts, etc.
b. Wisdom is the ability or insight to properly use those facts in the most expeditious way
2. Failure to understand this distinction has led many into error!
a. Many believe that this passage (Jm 1:5-8) teaches that God will give knowledge concerning His Will in answer to prayer
b. But knowledge comes only through His Word; we must carefully study it if we would know the Will of God!
c. However, the WISDOM to properly use His Word can be received through prayer
C. THE WISDOM TO PROPERLY USE TRIALS AND TURN THEM INTO TRIUMPH CAN LIKEWISE COME THROUGH “PROPER” PRAYER
1. Proper prayer is that asked in faith and with no doubt
2. Otherwise, the prayer will not be answered by God
Conclusion
1. So here is the key to turning trials into triumph:
a. Having the knowledge and perspective that adversity can accomplish much good
b. Letting the patient enduring of adversity accomplish its work
c. All the while using the wisdom God gives in answer to prayer to help put it all together
2. When this is done, even trials can be a source of joy for the Christian!
3. Have we learned to make lemonade out of our lemons in life?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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James 01:09-11 Trials of Poverty and Wealth – audio
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Text: James 1:9-11
Introduction
1. James has already discussed how we can turn trials into triumph, dealing with trials in general – James 1:2-8
2. In James 1:9-11, he discusses specifically the trials of being poor and being rich, and the attitudes we should have
3. In this lesson, we shall concentrate our attention on verses 9-11 and passages elsewhere which deal with the subject of poverty and wealth
4. Let’s begin by noticing that both wealth and poverty can be a problem
Body
I. THE TRIALS OF POVERTY AND WEALTH (Proverbs 30:8-9)
A. IN “POVERTY”, WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO CURSE GOD
1. Like Job’s wife wanted her husband to do, when they had lost everything – Job 2:9
2. And as many do today when things don’t go well
B. IN “WEALTH”, WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO FORGET GOD
1. As God warned Israel that it might happen to them – Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17
2. And as it did in fact happen to them – Hosea 13:5-6
II. THE REASONS FOR JOY IN POVERTY OR WEALTH (James 1:9-11)
A. IF WE ARE “POOR”, THEN WE CAN REJOICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN “EXALTED”!
1. God has chosen the “poor” to be rich in faith – James 2:5
a. It is the poor who first had the gospel preached to them – Luke 4:18
b. It is the poor slave who becomes Christ’s “freedman” – 1 Corinthians 7:21-22
2. So even if poor, we can still be “spiritually rich” and on equal par with all Christians – Revelation 2:8-9
B. IF WE ARE “RICH”, THEN WE CAN REJOICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN “HUMBLED”!
1. The rich are “humbled” by their:
a. Becoming Christ’s “slave” – 1 Corinthians 7:21-22
b. Being placed on an equal par with all Christians…in which riches mean nothing – Revelation 3:14-19
2. Why it is good that the rich be so “humbled”
a. Riches are temporary – James 1:10-11
b. Riches are unable to redeem our souls – Psalm 49:6-9, Psalm 49:13-20
c. The love of money is a quagmire and a source of self- inflicted injuries – 1 Timothy 6:9-10
3. In other words, it is good that in coming to Jesus Christ we find these things out
a. Or we might have made the same mistake many make today
b. Thinking that money provides true security (remember the rich fool? – Luke 12:13-21)
Conclusion
1. Even in the trials of poverty or wealth, there can be a cause for rejoicing!
2. For Jesus is “The Great Equalizer”
a. Exalting the poor who are rich in faith
b. Humbling the wealthy by basing their salvation not on wealth, but on that which cannot be bought: the blood of Jesus and the obedience of a humble and contrite spirit
3. Keeping these thoughts in mind will help us learn to be content in whatever financial conditions we may find ourselves; as Paul wrote:
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:11-13
4. The important question is not “How rich are you?” but “How rich IN FAITH are you?”
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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James 01:01 A Servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ – audio
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Text: James 1:1
Introduction
1. In our introductory study, we concluded that James, the Lord’s brother, was most likely the author
2. If this is so, then it is interesting that James does not identify himself as such, but rather as simply a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ – James 1:1
3. Perhaps it was a case of humility; yet, calling himself a servant was not peculiar to James
a. Paul described himself as such as well – Romans 1:1
b. So did Peter (2 Peter 1:1) and Jude (Jude 1)
4. Why did these men refer to themselves as servants?
a. The Greek term (DOULOS) literally means a slave
b. Why use such a term to describe themselves?
c. Maybe we should think of ourselves as servants?
Body
I. BEING A SERVANT IS WHAT A DISCIPLE OF JESUS IS CALLED TO BE
A. JESUS STRESSED THIS TRUTH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
1. While pointing out the faults of the scribes and Pharisees – Matthew 23:8-12
2. During the Last Supper, with a vivid demonstration of servitude – John 13:12-17
3. Even by His own example, as He came to serve – Matthew 20:25-28
B. SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE
1. God – Hebrews 9:14
2. Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 4:1
3. Each other – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
4. The early Christians called themselves servants, because that is what they were!
II. BEING A SERVANT IS A MARK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
A. AN IMMATURE PERSON IS USUALLY VERY SELFISH
1. For example, newborn babies are very ego-centrical
2. Normally, as people grow older, they begin to concern themselves with the needs of others
a. If they do, they are becoming mature
b. If they remain selfish, it is an indication of immaturity
B. A PERSON WHO SERVES OTHERS
1. Is certainly not selfish, but concerned with the needs of others
2. And thereby demonstrates mature behavior
C. JAMES’ DESCRIPTION OF HIMSELF FITS IN VERY WELL WITH THE THEME OF HIS EPISTLE
1. Remember, the theme is: MARKS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
2. By being a servant, James is demonstrating his own spiritual maturity
3. And we can make the point that one of the marks of spiritual maturity is truly being a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ!
4. Are we trying to be servants of God, and of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, then we are on the road to spiritual maturity!
III. BEING A SERVANT HAS SEVERAL IMPLICATIONS
A. IT IMPLIES ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE
1. In a slave-master relationship…
a. The slave knows no law but his master’s word
b. He has no rights of his own
c. He is the absolute possession of his master
d. He is bound to give his master unquestioning obedience
2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ?
a. It should, especially in light of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
b. We have to come to Jesus on HIS terms, not our own – Luke 6:46
B. IT IMPLIES ABSOLUTE HUMILITY
1. Otherwise, absolute obedience is not possible
a. When we have a humble opinion of ourselves, we are receptive to the idea of complete obedience
b. For example, consider Paul’s self-estimation – 1 Corinthians 15:9-10; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15
2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ and His Will?
a. Jesus said it should! – Luke 17:10
b. But if we murmur or complain about what Jesus tells us to do, can we really be considered servants?
C. IT IMPLIES ABSOLUTE LOYALTY
1. Since we become servants FREELY, it should be expected that we:
a. Are to be loyal to Him first – Galatians 1:10
b. Do not consider our own profit or pleasure important, but that of the One we freely serve!
2. But it is amazing how anyone can claim to be servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, while:
a. Complaining about having to do the will of God, OR
b. Being negligent or slothful in carrying out His will
3. But some act as though they are being forced against their own will!
a. They don’t have to serve the Lord Jesus
1) Of course, the alternative is not very inviting
2) If we don’t serve Jesus, by default we serve Satan, and are destined for hell!
b. But God by His grace has offered salvation, and how dare we ever grumble or complain that He calls us to life of service in grateful appreciation!
c. These are some of the implications of being called a servant. It is costly in terms of service, pride, and allegiance.
IV. BEING A SERVANT IS A GREAT HONOR
A. FAR FROM BEING A TITLE OF DISHONOR, IT WAS THE TITLE BY WHICH THE GREATEST MEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WERE KNOWN
1. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – Deuteronomy 9:27 (your servants)
2. Moses – 1Kings 8:53 (your servant)
3. Joshua – Josh 24:29 (Servant of the Lord)
4. Caleb – Numbers 14:24 (My servant)
5. Job – Job 1:8 (My servant)
6. Isaiah – Isaiah 20:3 (My servant)
7. The prophets – Jeremiah 7:25 (My servants)
B. HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE IF GOD LOOKED UPON US AS COMPANIONS OF THESE GREAT MEN
1. Who found freedom, peace, and glory!
2. Who found it in perfect submission to the Will of God!
Conclusion
1. God will, IF we are willing to accept the call to serve Him and His Son Jesus Christ with:
a. Absolute obedience
b. Absolute humility
c. Absolute loyalty
2. And when we are serving God, His Son Jesus Christ, and even each other in this manner, we are making great strides towards SPIRITUAL MATURITY!
3. A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ – can this be said of us?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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An Introduction to James – James 01:01-04
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Text: James 1:1-4
Introduction
1. Not everybody who grows old, grows up; there is a vast difference between AGE and MATURITY
2. Ideally, the older we are, the more mature we should be; but too often the IDEAL does not become the REAL!
3. The result is problems. Problems in personal lives, in homes, and in churches.
a. Problems in these areas are caused by immaturity more than by anything else
b. If Christians would just grow up, they would become VICTORS instead of VICTIMS
4. The Epistle of James was written to help us understand and attain spiritual maturity:
a. “…that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4)
b. Or as translated by J. B. Phillips: “…any you find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots.”
5. With this lesson, we shall begin a series of expository lessons based upon The Epistle of James, which I hope will help us all to reach this goal of spiritual maturity!
6. Beginning a study of a book of the Bible is something like preparing for a trip…you like to know ahead of time:
a. Where you are going
b. What you can expect to see
c. So perhaps the best way to launch a study of The Epistle of James is to answer some important questions
Body
I. WHO WAS JAMES?
A. SEVERAL MEN BORE THIS NAME IN NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY
1. James, son of Zebedee and brother of John
a. A fisherman, he was called by Christ – Matthew 4:17-22
b. Together with John, they were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” because of their impulsiveness – Mark 3:17 with Luke 9:51-56
c. Killed by Herod in 44 A.D. – Acts 12:1-2
2. James, son of Alphaeus
a. Another of the apostles – Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:12
b. Very little is known about him
c. There is no indication that this James wrote the epistle
3. James, father of Judas the apostle
a. He is even more obscure
b. One of the few references to him is found in Luke 6:16
4. James, the brother of our Lord
a. He is the most likely candidate for the author of this epistle
b. Even though he humbly identifies himself only as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” – James 1:1
c. That Jesus had a brother named James is evident – Matthew 13:55
1) Who at first did not believe in Jesus – John 7:5
2) But after the resurrection of Jesus and an appearance by Jesus to him, he became a disciple – 1 Corinthians 15:7; Acts 1:14
3) Eventually becoming a leader of the church in Jerusalem – Galatians 2:9
a) When Peter was delivered from prison, he sent a special message to James – Acts 12:17
b) He played an important role in the conference at Jerusalem – Acts 15:13-33
c) When Paul visited Jerusalem, it was to James that he brought greetings – Acts 21:18-19
B. WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS JAMES?
1. He must have been a deeply spiritual man to gain such prominence in the church at Jerusalem.
2. Tradition tells us that he was a man of prayer
a. This may explain the emphasis on prayer in his letter
b. It was said that he prayed so much, his knees were as hard as a camel’s!
3. Again, tradition tells us that James was martyred in 62 A.D.
a. That he was cast down from the temple, and then beaten to death with clubs
b. That as he died, he likewise prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
II. TO WHOM DID JAMES WRITE THIS EPISTLE?
A. “TO THE TWELVE TRIBES WHICH ARE SCATTERED ABROAD” (James 1:1)
1. James wrote to Jews living outside the land of Palestine
a. “Twelve tribes” most probably refers to people of Israel, the Jewish nation – Acts 26:6-7
b. Since the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, many of the Jews were scattered throughout different nations – Acts 2:5-11
2. James wrote his letter to Christian Jews
a. At least nineteen times he addresses them as “brethren”
b. That these were brethren “in the Lord” and not just brethren “in the flesh” is evident from James 2:1
B. IT IS LIKELY THAT MANY OF THESE CHRISTIAN JEWS WERE POOR AND OPPRESSED
1. Being Jews, they would often be rejected by Gentiles
2. Being Christian Jews, they would also be rejected by many of their own countrymen
3. The letter indicates that most of these believers were poor, and some were being oppressed by the rich – James 2:6-7
III. WHY DID JAMES WRITE THIS EPISTLE?
A. THE EPISTLE SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND IN THE CHURCH
1. They were going through difficult trials
2. They were facing temptations to sin
3. They were hearers, but not necessarily doers
4. Some were catering to the rich, others were oppressed by the rich
5. Some were competing for positions in the church
6. Improper use of the tongue was a problem, as was worldliness
7. Some were straying from the faith
B. THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OFTEN BESETTING CONGREGATIONS TODAY!
1. Are there not in churches people who are suffering for one reason or another?
2. Are there not members who talk one way, but walk another?
3. Is not worldliness a serious problem?
4. Are there not Christians who cannot control their tongues?
5. It appears that James is dealing with very “up-to-date” problems!
C. BUT JAMES WAS NOT DISCUSSING AN ARRAY OF UNRELATED PROBLEMS
1. All of these problems had a common cause: SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY
a. These Christians were in need of “growing up”
b. Look again at some the problems dealt with and you can see that each one of them is characteristic of little children:
1) Impatience in difficulties – James 1:1-4
2) Talking but not living the truth – James 2:14ff
3) Lack of control over the tongue – James 3:1ff
4) Fighting and coveting – James 4:1ff
5) Collecting material “toys” – James 5:1ff
2. This gives us a strong hint as to the basic theme of this epistle: MATURITY IN CHRISTIAN LIFE
a. In fact, James uses the word “perfect” several times, a word that means “mature, complete”
b. By the expression “a perfect man” (3:2), James did not mean a sinless man, but rather one who is mature, balanced, one who is “grown-up”
D. AND SO JAMES WRITES TO FULFILL A GREAT NEED: THAT OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
1. Spiritual maturity is one of the greatest needs in churches today
a. God is looking for mature men and women to carry on His work, and sometimes all He can find are little children who cannot even get along with each other!
b. As one person said, “Too many churches are playpens for babies instead of workshops for adults.”
2. James wrote to meet this need, so his epistle is very RELEVANT today!
IV. HOW CAN WE GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS EPISTLE?
A. FIRST, WE MUST BE “BORN AGAIN”
1. Apart from spiritual birth there can be no spiritual maturity
2. James writes with assumption his readers have been born again – James 1:18
3. This “rebirth” is brought about by obedience to the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:22-23
4. It involves being “born again of water and Spirit” (John 3:5), traditionally understood to refer to baptism – Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5
5. So to benefit the most of this study, we must have been born again through obedience to the truth – Acts 2:38-39
B. SECOND, WE MUST HONESTLY EXAMINE OURSELVES IN THE LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD
1. James compares the Word of God to a mirror – James 1:22ff
2. As we study the Word…
a. We are looking into the divine mirror
b. And seeing ourselves as we really are
3. We must be honest about what we see and not merely glance at the image and walk away
C. THIRD, WE MUST “OBEY” WHAT GOD TEACHES, NO MATTER THE COST
1. We must be “doers” of the Word, and not “hearers” only
2. The “blessing” does not come in STUDYING the Word, but in DOING the Word – James 1:25
D. FOURTH, WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR SOME EXTRA TRIALS AND TESTING
1. Whenever we are serious about spiritual growth, the ENEMY gets serious about opposing us!
2. But if you wish to develop patience, you should expect some trials – James 1:3
3. However, in the end it will be worth it! – James 1:12
E. FINALLY, WE MUST MEASURE OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH BY THE WORD OF GOD
1. We should not measure ourselves by comparing ourselves to other Christians -2Co 10:12
2. But by the WORD OF GOD, and by the SON OF GOD!
Conclusion
1. Remember, not everyone who grows old, grows up
a. There is often a vast difference between age and maturity
b. Just because a Christian has been saved 10, 20, or 60 years does not guarantee that he or she is mature in the Lord
2. Mature Christians are:
a. Happy Christians, despite the trials they face
b. Useful Christians, overcoming the temptations that cross their path
c. Christians who help encourage others and build their local churches
3. As we study James together, may we with God’s help grow and mature together
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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