James 1:2-4
James 1 Sermon #2-53012
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Praise the Lord,
Let’s begin our sermon for this morning. Once again brothers and sisters we have arrived at this point having taken up and put on our Armor of God. A quick review of the last few sermons in Ephesians to keep that study and truth fresh in our minds, would be helpful for each of us. Please do not neglect rereading our past studies posted on our website.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Count it all joy; -----add it to all the good things in Christ.
What are we adding with joy---- all the various trials and tribulations that will surely come.
Are they any different than the trials which come against the unsaved?
No—and Yes.
No because we are all human, we all live in the same world surrounded by the same things we have built and drive and do etc; so we would certainly expect to have the same problems as everyone else.
The difference comes when you are saved.
The difference is how we look at, handle and walk through each problem.
Why?
Because, for the truly saved, a problem is only a problem if we allow it to be, trouble is only an inconvenience. Pain is only temporary. Life has a greater purpose and a longer expectancy; Praise the Lord!
Being saved means you can and will lean on Jesus for your support through all trials and tribulations.
This last week I had the privilege of spending some one-on one time with Pastor Jack. We got to talk about the direction that God has laid out for us. Where we are and where we are going and he wanted to apologize for not being a better teacher as far as pastoral duties. However I cut him off by asking him “Jack, do you think I would have grown as much if I would have had you to lean on all the time, instead of the Lord?
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Count it all joy when YOU fall into various trials.
Nothing comes to you without being sifted through Gods fingers first. If there is anything that he knows you cannot stand under or are not ready for; it will not pass through his hands.
As we continue our study in James we will see this truth revisited and fortified many times.
One thing we must make clear so we may not have doubts that may hinder our growth and walk.
God does not tempt you! God does not bring problems into your life.
God is Love!
God will allow problems to rise against and around you, so you will look to Him to get through them.
Most of our troubles we allow or create by ourselves because we do not follow the Word of God. We do not obey the voice of God just like the nation of Israel in the wilderness.
And why should we look to God to get through what we have done to ourselves?
If we had followed the Word of God to start with, we wouldn’t have most of our problems. So the best way to correct them is to go back to the one we should have listened to in the first place!
The very first sermon I had the privilege to preach at Cornerstone was from Hebrews 2, and was titled, I believe, Safe Harbor; a sermon about living within Gods Word for safety.
But now let’s look at the things that just come in waves; with a purpose for harm.
Does God bring these upon us for His pleasure?------No.
Satan is the destroyer of life and joy and truth and peace.
God will allow Satan to approach us and roar and pressure and push us to the breaking point, But God; (one of my favorite phrases from Ephesians), 4 But God, who is rich in mercy,------has His hands of protection around us.
His armor is on those who are in Christ.
God allows hardship and trial to come so we will not only grow in relying on Him but the world will see us relying on Him.
He allows trials for His Glory.
If we do not grow, Gods glory through us does not grow.
If we remain just saved, how will the world see the power of the Holy Spirit in us?
If we don’t lean on Jesus, how will the lost ever see the truth in the Word?
It does not glorify God to wait for things to get better and then claim it is from Him! Make your statement of faith public! What good is it to claim that God has made everything good after the fact? The Pharisees would not believe the blind man after he was made to see.
How will the world see your faith and believe your testimony; if you don’t proclaim it before you are blessed? It’s just this simple.
Have you ever watched a pool tournament on T.V?
Do you know why the players have to call their shots before they make them? Not because they are capable of shots that the average player couldn’t make if they had to. No, it’s because if they don’t call it, then it’s real hard to believe it! But oh when it happens after they call it, the spectators all respond with ooooh’s and aaaaah’s.
Likewise the Christian needs to proclaim all is well!
God is in control.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Real faith cannot be kept to oneself. Real faith proclaims the Word of God over everything that comes, good and bad. Real faith counts it all joy to never be without God or out of God’s blessing.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17
And what does real faith in God bring about for you?
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
It produces patience.
The word patience used in so many translations can be misleading as we understand it in by our English definitions. Much less powerful then its total meaning as it translates in the original Greek.
The true definition is;
Steadfastness, constancy, endurance
In the New Testament it is the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings
A patient, steadfast waiting for or a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance
Know let’s do a quick word search through the New Testament for scriptures that support the biblical meaning by using just two words; perseverance and endurance.
In our growth in our studies, I would also like to instill a new study practice.
•Look up the true definition of our English translations as they are meant to be defined in the Greek or Hebrew.
•Then learn to do a scripture search that uses that or those words as they are translated or defined.
In this case Patience can be better defined as perseverance, endurance or even steadfastness.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Romans 5:3-4
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:25
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:12
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:18
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2 Timothy 3:10
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:11
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2 Peter 1:6
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:36
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1
Practice this study method and you will soon be growing in the resounding truths of God throughout the entire Bible.
Praise the Lord!
And what will that Growth teach us?
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
It will teach us we are not alone. Many have faced seemingly insurmountable trials and tribulations before us, many right now with us and there will be many more to come.
Faith in God’s Word, God Himself is the perfect work that God is building in each of us.
The work of God in a man is the man.
3 ---that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.---If God's teachings with patience has had a perfecting work in you, ---then you are being perfected.
God is completing His promise of bringing us back into full relationship with Him.
We are His creation, but through the entrance of sin through Adam and Eve we were eternally separated from God.
At the moment of Salvation we are Justified and sealed with His Spirit. From that moment on we are being Sanctified (set apart for His Glory). The process of sanctification is the perfect work God patiently performs in us throughout our walk with Him.
Remember Adam and Eve walked away from God, we are being taught to walk back to Him!
And that walk is to increase and accelerate and become visible for all to see, for God’s Glory.
Why were the Israelites set apart as Gods people and given Gods Promises and led by His power?
It was for the world to see. It was for His Glory.
Why are we called to persevere through every trial and tribulation? It’s for His Glory that we may walk wanting (ing) nothing.
Once again I would like to stress the importance of not only believing in but proclaiming your faith before the world.
2 Chronicles 16:9 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him
Luke 6:45
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good;----- for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Only then will the world be looking to see Gods hand upon you before He brings you blessings through faith.
Without God, they cannot believe what they cannot see!
Let’s Pray;
Our most gracious heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity once again to mine a few more nuggets of truth from your Word; The riches that you have already stored up for us, that we may claim in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you Father for this group of devoted Christians that are so hungry and eager to grow with each other as they walk in your way, and your path, with your light shining in each one. We can only stand in awe of what your Word truly means to us, the power it holds for all who believe.
Bless this congregation as we give you the honor, the glory and the praise. AMEN!
Pastor Steven Freede
Cornerstone Independent Church
Original Sermon Date 5/30/12