Bible Text: James 1:1-8 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Living Godly Lives
James 1:1-8 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. 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.
Living Godly Lives requires self-control, confidence and contentment in the midst of testing and trials:
…count it all joy when you fall into various trials
How can a person live through trials with joy?
Joy is Supernatural Delight!
Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy…
Joy is God-oriented, centering on the promises of His Word
Joy is a deep sense of well-being, confidence in the Lord
Joy is a decision and discipline as well as a feeling.
Joy is a contentment that comes from realizing that nothing can “separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
KNOWING
…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience
Knowing communicates the idea of pressing your mind down upon something.
Living a Godly life means we stop medicating our pain with food, alcohol, drugs, sex, and entertainment.
Patience
The purpose of testing is to remove all impurity
Patience is the result of our faith & confidence in our relationship with Jesus & not in the outcome of the testing
Pure Olive Oil
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 the faith to wait for darkness to become light?
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.
Perseverance is the intended outcome of testing in James
Perseverance is not a passive submission to circumstances, it is a strong, active response to the difficult events of life
Perseverance Produces: commonly used in agriculture to indicate the harvest or yield
Testing of our faith produces a harvest, or perseverance
Hebrews 11:39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised.
What do we do when we face trials of many kinds and cannot explain them?
…let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Patience or perseverance is the ability to live Godly lives in the midst of testing and to turn them to greatness and glory for the Lord.
It is by the power of God whereby we OVERCOME!
Patience brings maturity (perfect): seasoned, experienced, well-developed, fit for the tasks God sends us to do.
A mature person is able to respond with POSITIVE CONSISTENCY to the testing that comes into their lives.
Maturity is the ability to recognize a mistake before we make it again.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.
Practical Faith is single-minded commitment, trusting in God
Practical Faith is continued confidence and reliance in God despite outward circumstances.
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.
With no doubting: Doubt in the Greek language means “a divided mind or soul.”
Doubt here is describing someone “divided” between being self-centered and being God-centered.
How decisive are we when it comes to depending on God?
Will you let God deal with the hurt? Will you trust Him to heal and restore your life?
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.