“ Joyful through

Tribulation”James 1:2-3

Victor or Victim?…•There are five different topics in verses 2-8; we will look at them all individually•Trials or Temptations•Perseverance or Endurance (Patience)•Wisdom, Prayer, and Faith•How we deal with circumstances of life directly reflects our individual spiritual maturity•Joy in Tribulation isn’t giggling while the house burns down…

Victor or Victim?•Lets start off with our weekly Greek lesson again– remember last week

Victor or Victim?•Peirasmos– translated ‘trial’ and ‘temptation’-- same word– defined as “a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline, or provocation); by implication adversity: temptation, X try•So– Through trials, we become one of two things•A Victim or A Victor

Victor or Victim?•We have the choice of which we become•Remember Romans 8:28

“We know that all things work together for good, for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose…”

Romans 8:28, NASB

Victor or Victim?•We have the choice of which we become•Remember Romans 8:28•Oft times when we face trials, we jump in, role up our sleeves and get to work to beat the situation•Sometimes we should do that, but mostly, God wants us to trust Him through the trouble•If we beat it ourselves, we’d be tempted to try and take the glory that belongs to Him– lets look at verses 3 and 4 now…

“…3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James 1:3-4, NASB

A. Staying Close to God•Believe this-all trials and tests are allowed by God to teach us (providential blessings) and raise us up, to be people of God•Have you ever watched someone stand tall in God’s strength while they are in tribulation?•The Apostle Paul reminded us that we can have confidence that the Lord will take care of all our troubles

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6, NASB

A. Staying Close to God•Luke wrote…

“ And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Luke 9:23, NASB

A. Staying Close to God•It’s not easy to crucify our own desires-- whether pride, sexual lust, greed, or all the other stuff•But He expects us to– as we talked about…•A “…bondservant of God and our Lord Jesus Christ”, the Master’s wishes become ours•No longer pursue our own desires– we want what the Master wants

B. Training after Training•Vs 3…

“…3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance [patience, perseverance, long suffering].”

James 1:3, NASB

B. Training after Training•Vs 3, We should realize and rejoice when our faith is challenged with trials and tests because God will pour His strength into us bringing the character of Jesus with it!•‘Perseverance or patience or long suffering’ is a virtue that God prizes highly in man and is only developed in time of trial

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance”

Romans 5:3, NASB

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance…”

Romans 5:3, NIV

B. Training after Training•Vs 3, We should realize and rejoice when our faith is challenged with trials and tests because God will pour His strength into us bringing the character of Jesus with it!•‘Perseverance or patience or long suffering’ is a virtue that God prizes highly in man and is only developed in time of trial•That’s why military war games are practiced frequently…

C. Becoming Mature Christians…•Vs 4,

“4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James 1:3-4, NASB

C. Becoming Mature Christians…•Vs 4, I don’t like having to tell you this, but there is NO SUBSTITUE for suffering•We learn His character by going through terrible things like he went through•We wear out the knees of out breeches, we get deeper into His Word, and we serve Him despite whatever circumstances come along•To be “complete and lack in nothing” is not perfection, but maturing and growing

D. Better or Bitter…•Revelation 2:8-11

“8  ‘And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:9  “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.”’

Revelation 2:8-11, NASB

D. Better or Bitter…•Revelation 2:8-11, Smyrna means bitter…•After its persecution, it became a better church, despite its bitter persecution•Polycarp was a pastor of this particular church•In the first century, this church was percesuted by Jews, Roman Emperor worshipers, and other Roman pagans•This is the only letter from Jesus that praises the church and has NO condemnation for them

E. Beauty from Chaos thru Trials…•When Adam & Eve sinned against God, suffering started• God used original sin to bring glory to Himself using suffering– when we suffer, we call out to Him•C. S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us through our pleasures, but He screams at us through our pain; Pain is God’s megaphone to the deaf world.”•“God cannot use someone greatly, until He hurts them deeply.”

Take Home!1. Why does God use suffering [trials

and tests] to bring out His characters in us?

•We are like the sculptor’s clay…

2. How can we handle all the suffering?

•In our own strength it is impossible, but nothing is impossible with God! He gives us what we need to get through it!