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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