A DISCIPLE’S GOD-GLORIFYING RESPONSE ON

ENCOUNTERING VARIOUS TRIALS

JAMES 1:2-4

INTRODUCTION:STRUGGLES OR TRIALS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS CERTAIN AND EVEN LIFELONG.• John 16:33 • Luke 17:1 • 1 Peter 4:12-16 IF WE WERE PROMISED TRIALS IN THIS LIFETIME WHICH IS ALWAYS WITH A PURPOSE, HOW THEN SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THESE TRIALS THAT WILL COME TO US?

James pointed out the value of trials to encourage his readers to adopt a positive and godly attitude toward these experiences, to endure them, and to view them as God's tools to mold their characters.

HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO THESE TRIALS THAT COME TO US:I. THE COMMAND – BELIEVERS SHOULD

CONSIDER TRIALS AS AN OCCASION FOR JOY (v. 2)

The word “face” has the idea of falling or stumbling over a problem.

Joy means cheerfulness, a calm delight or gladness. In other translations: “Be very glad” or “Consider yourselves fortunate.”

The translation of J. B. Phillips it says: “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COUNT TRIALS AS ALL JOY?1. THIS JOY DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE

RELISH PAIN & SORROW BUT WE HAVE THIS JOY THAT LOOKS TO THE TRIALS’ END RESULT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. To “count it” is a word that literally

means to lead or look ahead. It means we are to “look forward” to what will be accomplished when we have overcomed. Hebrews 12:2

Christ did not relish the cross but He looked to its end and its accomplishment.

Christ looked ahead of the cross and saw the lives that would be changed, the implications of His finished work on the Cross, and how all this would glorify the Father.

2. TO COUNT “TRIAL AS ALL JOY” IS A “SUPERNATURAL” AND DIVINE RESPONSE “Counting it all joy” when troubles

come is not a natural response. It is not “natural” to find joy in

hardships. This is about a “supernatural” reaction

made possible only by the Holy Spirit who enables us to see and to respond from God’s point of view.

“I conclude, then, that “counting it all joy” is a conscious choice we make when hard times come. Truthfully, it’s probably a choice we’ll have to make again and again and again. And to do it we’ll have to take the long view of life, to understand that what we see is not the final chapter of the story.”

3. WE HAVE THIS JOY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL Since the word “joy” is virtually a

synonym for happiness, many of us sadly define it like the world does as the absence of all pain.

Joy is a deep satisfaction that comes from knowing that God is in control even when our circumstances seem to be out of control. Joy does not depend on circumstances, it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us as we submit to Him.

This reflects a high view of God’s sovereignty. Everything that happens to us is either caused by God or sent by God.

Seeing things God’s way doesn’t cancel our trials and it doesn’t turn them into non-trials, but it does transform our evaluation of those trials.

II. THE REASON – GOD ALLOWS TRIALS AS A TESTING OF FAITH TO PRODUCE PERSEVERANCE IN US.(v.3) The phrase “you know” refers not to

head knowledge but to heart knowledge, the kind gained by years of experience.

God wants to put our faith to the test. The word “testing” refers to the process by which gold ore was purified.

We all have to undergo some “furnace time” sooner or later. And some of us will spend an extended time in the furnace of affliction.

Job 23:10

WHAT THEN IS GOD TRYING TO DO WHEN HE ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN TO GO THROUGH HARD TRIALS AND DEEP SUFFERINGS?

1. God wants to purge us of sin and to purify us of iniquity.

2. God uses suffering to test our faith. 3. God uses times of difficulty to humble

us.4. God definitely uses hard times to

prepare us to minister to others.

5. God uses hard times to prepare us for a new or deeper understanding of His character. Until our faith is put to the test, we

remain theoretical. This testing of one’s faith is God’s

great design is to produce “perseverance.”

The word “perseverance” here was described as a certain kind of “battle-tested” faith that stands up under withering fire from the enemy and does not cut and run.

It is a calm or restful waiting for the unfolding of the Divine will and providence.

III. THE PROMISE – THE PERSEVERANCE PRODUCED IN THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH THROUGH TRIALS IS GOD’S INSTRUMENT TO MATURE US. (v. 4) Perseverance requires work, faith,

hope and a resolute determination to hold on to our faith even when the world seems to be disintegrating around us.

The reward of such determined willfulness is genuine spiritual maturity.

When trials have finished their work in us, we will not lack anything that the Lord wants us to have.

But the great danger is that usually we will try to short-circuit the process by running away from our problems.

Eugene Peterson (The Message) translates part of this verse this way: “Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely!”

God does not explain Himself to us. As we go through life, we can look back and see many blanks that we wish God would fill in for us. Most of the time we will carry those unfilled blanks with us all the way to heaven.

We can be assured that when hard times come, we know that God is at work in our trials for our benefit and for His glory.

Romans 8:28HOW CAN WE GO ON WHEN SORROW HAS PAID US A VISIT? WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES AND WE FEEL LIKE GIVING UP?

a. Remind ourselves of the promises of God.

b. Choose to give thanks.c. Refuse to give in to bitterness and

despair.d. Choose to believe in God.e. Make up our mind to go on with life.