Bible Text: James 1:1-12 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Mighty in His Power
We will get through the times of testing, trial, and turmoil BECAUSE we are Mighty in HIS Power!James 1:1-4 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Trials Can Produce Joy
(but not necessarily happiness)…count it all joy when you fall into various trials
Joy is Spiritual
Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Joy is God-oriented and centers on the promises of His Word rather than being event-oriented.
Joy is a sense of well-being and confidence in the Lord.Joy is a POWERFUL realization that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Trials Test Our Faith
KNOWING that the testing of your faith produces patience
The purpose of testing is to remove impurity.We are NOT to go it alone!
No problems, no profits.
No problems, no intimacy.
No problems, no trophies.Nothing of value has no obstacles in its path.
Three basic questions we can ask as we face trials:
Do you believe that God is in control?
Do you believe that God is good—no matter what?
Do you have faith to wait for the day following the night?
Psalm 27:13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.We cannot really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
A Prisoner of the Lord
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Magadan, Russia
Why me?
The Lord is purifying us and strengthening us!
God knows!
Trials produce life transformation. Trials produce POWER.
…let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Trials Produce Endurance
…perfect and complete, lacking nothingWe are patient as we are MIGHTY IN HIS POWER.
It is by the POWER of God whereby we OVERCOME!
Trials Lead to God’s Wisdom and Maturity
MATURITY is the ability and quality developed by how much we have learned and integrated into our responses from the trials we have experienced.
MATURITY is the ability to recognize a mistake before we make it again.Colossians 1:28-29 Him (1) we proclaim, (2) warning every man and (3) teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. For this I toil, striving with all the energy (Holy Spirit) which He mightily inspires within me. James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 
Faith is single-minded commitment, trusting fully in God.
Faith is continued confidence and reliance in God despite outward circumstances….with no doubting…
Doubt means we have “a divided mind.”
Doubt describes someone “divided” between being self-centered and being God-centered.Hebrews 12:1-2 And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.