- Faith That Works Produces Stability During (1:2-4,11).
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
a.) Trials are . “Count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds,”
- Because of the consequence of a sinful world.
- Because of the connection to our Savior.
b.) Trials are .
- Sometimes He uses people.
- Sometimes He uses circumstances.
- Sometimes He uses things.
“God does not put heavy burdens on weak shoulders. God educates and tests our faith by trials that increase in proportion to our faith. God expects us to do adult work and to endure adult afflictions only after we have reached a mature status in Christ Jesus. Therefore, beloved, expect your trials to multiply as you proceed toward heaven.” – C.H. Spurgeon
c.) Trials are for spiritual growth.
Genuine faith does not bail out – it bears up under!
d.) Trials are to be .
“Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to ‘count it all joy!’ If we live only for the present and forget the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better.” – Warren Wiersbe
“All trials are for two purposes, that we may be better acquainted with our own wicked hearts and that we may be better acquainted with our own beloved Savior.” – George Whitfield
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
- A Submissive Will – “Let endurance have its perfect result…”
2.) Faith That Works Produces Stability For (1:5-11).
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” (James 1:5-11)
a.) I am to trust God for .
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)
b.) I am to trust God without .
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.“ (James 1:6-8)
c.) I am to trust God above my .
“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,” (James 1:9)
d.) I am to trust God instead of my .
“and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” (James 1:10-11)
“Faith in Christ lifts the lowly brother beyond his trials to the great height of a position in the Kingdom of Christ whereas God’s child he is rich and may rejoice and boast. Faith in Christ does an equally blessed thing for the rich brother. It fills him with the Spirit of Christ, the spirit of lowliness and true Christian humility. As the poor brother forgets all his earthly poverty, so the rich brother forgets all his earthly riches and the two are equals by faith in Christ,” – Lenski
- Those who are about to step into a trial.
- Those who are in the midst of a trial.
- Those who have just come out of a trial.
The answer to going through trials is to trust in the presence, power, and promises of Jesus.