I'm in Sofia Babolsar turn made to the book of James.
James are gonna be raining from James Chapter, one James chapter
one. And we're starting a new series this term on the letter
of James and so once a year. I'd like to do a book of the Bible
and so last year. We did Ephesians and we did that for
about 11 weeks and we're going to be in the same. This term on
the letter of James so with that in mind going to read from James
Chapter, one verse, One and it
says this. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
to the 12 tribes scattered among
the nations greetings. Consider it pure joy my brothers and
sisters. Whenever you face trials of many kinds because you
know the testing of your faith
produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work, so
that you may be mature, incomplete, not liking anything.
If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God to give
generously to all without finding fault and it will be
given to you. Let's pray father. I thank you for word. I just ask
and pray that you would help us. This term to invite this letter
into our hearts Lord God and become even more than mature.
People of God called us to be. I thank you. and I praise you for
that. Lord in Jesus name Amen. The letter of James is quite a
polarizing letter. There are some People that actually love
it. And there are some People that don't like it at all. It
was one of the last letters that were actually entered into the
formation of the Canon of scripture in the beginning and
so there are some People that don't love it. But there's some
People that don't really like it. Classic example of that is
the famous reformer. Martin Luther Martin Luther didn't like
James. He called it a letter an epistle of straw and he didn't
like it and the reason why he didn't like it was 'cause it was
too simple and it was also.
Through practical his whole theology was based on you know
justification through faith alone. And yet James writes
faith without works is dead and so that kind of put a bit of
balance to some of the things that Luther was actually
teaching and it's a really very practical letter in the Bible
Interestingly enough. It's written by James and James is
not the brother of jaune. The Sons of Zebedee. The disciples
of Christ. This is James, who was the brother of Jesus Christ
himself. And he was the leader of the early church are in
Jerusalem and so this is not James and John Sons of Thunder.
This is James the leader of the church in Jerusalem, now
interesting enough, though, because he was leading the
church in Jerusalem. The majority of that church and the
majority of People under his influence were actually People
who were actually Jewish converts to the Christian faith,
so these are People who were raised as Jews and so this is
not like a lot of the Apostle Paul's writings, he is aiming at
at. Gentles he's aiming at at peoples and groups that did not
grow up with any kind of understanding of the Old
Testament. Most of the People that were actually under James's
leadership where People who grew up as Jews and so they memorize
large portions of the New Testament. In fact, in the early
church. There was often a lot of issues in churches that actually
had Jews and Gentiles together. 'cause the Jews had somewhat of
an arrogant attitude to the rest because they would say, Well,
you know, we were the original
people of God. You know we know much more of the Bible than what
you guys do and so that was often a lot of issues over that
and so these are the People under James's leadership. In
fact that's why he says to the 12 tribes scattered abroad that
is like phrasing aimed at Jewish converts and so he's writing to
People who were Jewish converts. People who were raised up in the
Jewish faith who memorized large portions of the Old Testament
and he writes to them. The simplest most practical letter
in the New Testament.
This is not like polls rotting where it was ha theology, he's
rotting them very practically and simply about how to live.
the Christian faith 'cause? Who knows it doesn't matter how long
you've been a Christian.
It doesn't matter how much Bible
you know. Living it out another
story. And so he is writing to these People who think they know
it all. And he's telling them about the elemental aspects of
actually living the Christian
life. And so we're starting on a series this term called life
lessons and basically about life lessons from the letter of
James. Another thing to understand as we read James is
James is actually trying to deal with the issue of selfish
ambition an envy that is actually penetrated the church
and so selfish ambition and envy and log must like a class system
has entered into the church and he is trying to deal with that,
so he is writing to People who
are mature. He's running some People have known who know much
of their Old Testament. And yet, he's addressing them on issues
of selfish ambition envy. So who knows that his Christians. These
are things that we always have to keep at Bay that these are
things that are ever present throughout the world and there
are things that God does not want amongst the body of Christ
and so we're going to start a series over the next next time I
figured about 11 weeks where we actually talk about some of the
aspects that can be found in James in the series is called?
Los lessons and today I want to talk on the first topic, which
we read in the first five verses of James Chapter. One and is
dealing with the issue of trials. The issue of trials and
it says count it all joy.
When you fall into various
trials. What kind of person?
Cats it all joy when I fall into
trials. This is really interesting I mean, first of all
he doesn't say those of you who have been disobedient and
because of your disobedience. You're in a trial, he doesn't
say that. He's writing to not just one church multiple
churches 'cause. He's writing to the 12 tribes scattered abroad
and he is saying to all of them New Testament Christians counted
all joy. I read.
What your full into various
trials? So what are you saying is that as a Christian no matter
how much you you are no matter how much you know your Bible?
There are going to be times when all of us fall into trials, but
The thing is, he says to them count it all joy.
How can you count it all joy? Are we supposed to be like
Massicus would have bad things happen then we're happy and good
things happen when a man is that it was supposed to be now
because he actually tells us in James chapter one. The reasons
why, and the purpose of trials. So when you understand the
purpose of trials. Then you can count it all joy. It's not
because we actually enjoy trials would want to go through them
again. It's actually because we realize that God is doing
something. In the midst of it and so I want to talk to you
today about the purpose of trials that if we understand
what their purposes. Then we can enjoy them more readily and we
can have a greater level of joy in the midst of it. This is not
a prophecy. This is probably just a statistical fact. There
are some People right now in this room that are in the midst
of a tribal interesting in some translations. It says counted
all joy when you fall into trials. You didn't see it
coming. You didn't know that it was on the way it wasn't
something that you could have
avoided. And you've fallen into a troll and there is some People
here, you have actually fallen into some kind of trial. I'm
here to let you know it's not because of anything that you've
done wrong. I'm here to let you know it's not because you
somehow out of the will of God. the Bible tells us that trials
at some point come to every single one of us and when we
understand what the purpose of those trials are then we can
have joy in the midst of them so I want to talk to you today.
First message out of life lessons out of James I want to
talk to you about number one
that. Purpose of trials the first purpose of trials are in
our lives can be found in verse 2, James chapter one.
It says. Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever
you face trials of many kinds.
Because you know that the testing of your faith.
Produces perseverance, the testing of your faith the
first purpose of trials is to test our faith. In fact, the
more accurate. Translation is to expose exposure of our
faith, So what that means is this you know what your faith
is really like under trial.
You did not want to talk and everything is going OK.
It's easy to be a Christian when everything's going fine and
everything is going fantastic. It's easy to be have faith in
but you know what your faith is really like and actually in the
midst of a trial and so trials come to expose our faith. When I
used to play football. The season would finish in around
September and then preseason would start generally around
about November to December and and so very often at the end of
the season. You know, I wouldn't do much fitness work or anything
like that, and neither with some of the other guys.
Become the first preseason training of the year.
And the coach would cytosis goes has your fitness. Now all of us
and say, Oh yeah, I think pretty
good. Now it's hard to know when you're sitting on the couch the
whole time. You don't feel tired or exhausted you know when
you're just watching TV and so you don't know what your faith
is sort of what your fitness is really like and so we just say I
look. I think fitness is pretty good had a big year last year.
I'm sure I've just kept my fitness. I'm sure it's OK and
the coaches and the code would often say OK we'll see.
And So what would happen very often at the at the start of
training every year first training session with your
fitness test to see where we really now. I have filled clubs.
Now they always do a 3 kilometre time trial. That's the first
thing that they would do but back then. When I was playing we
would do a thing called the beep test. Now I don't know if any of
you know the beep test basically it's a recording of beeps and
you're supposed to run. It's about 20 meters and say it set
the witches hats up and you would have to run 20 meters.
From one which is head to the other before the next beep, So
what would happen is you'd be staring at the witches hat and
the recording would say level one and then you have to run to
the next which is had.
Now the finger is level, one's pretty easy. You can't have can
just almost walk and make it to the other side and so you would
do that and you'd be with the rest of your team and then say
Hey? How is how is your break? I it was good as a family are
doing well and you get there and say, Babe and then just go back
and looking forward to the are looking forward to a great year.
Yeah, I think it's really good. In fact, sometimes it was so
slow you must be waiting there.
For the next paper, then that would happen about 10 times and
then it would say level 2.
Sleep and then the gaps we get shorter and so you have to just
talk a little bit make it to the next one. Still, not too bad
drug and you do that 10 times and then it's a Level 3 same
thing. Level 4 same thing each time the gap between the beeps
would actually get shorter roundabout level 6. You start to
feel it and I think, to get into police force. I think you gotta
hit a level 7 or something like that, or level light. So so
level 6 and you start jogging and pretty soon. You stop
talking to your teammates.
'Cause you can't talk anymore. And so you just talking to her
one and you just make it and be.
Babe.
Beep level 9.
Wait before you know it going start, dropping off.
They start in the fitness that showing and then you'll get a
score at the end of her failure that some guys there's always
some free Conson football club that they'll do like a level 13
and their sprinting side to side while everyone else is looking
at them. At the start when it was easy easy everyone
looked fit.
But when it got hara.
You can see where people's fitness really was.
Same way with trials for our
faith. Everyone's a Super Christian when they get the
check in the Mail.
Everyone's a Super Christian when they get the healing the
moment they wanted it.
Everyone's a Super Christian when everything's going falling.
But when the trolls come then we say where faith is really at.
That's why when a troll comes and you'll fall into it.
Don't look at as an attack look
at it as a test. They come to test your faith your
something about tests is that last forever.
The awesome thing about tests is that tests are also the criteria
by which you determine whether you're eligible for promotion.
So when you go through a test tell yourself. This is just a
test. I'm going to pass. This is not forever. And when I get
through this guys got a promotion for me on the other
side. That's why the bottle says who may ascend the Hill of the
Lord. He was clean hands and a pure heart. When everything is
going to take it to the next level. He often does, something
in your hands and does something in your heart to get you ready
for the next level. And so often, it comes disguised.
Some kind of trial that's why God doesn't talk to you in the
midst of it. Have you ever
notice that? You wanna troll yelling God? Where are you?
Nothing. There's other seasons of your life is talking to you
all the time. In the midst of
the trial nothing. Why doesn't he talk to you
in the middle of a test?
Well, teachers down talking to test.
I remember one time I was at running the Barber college
student put his hand up in the
middle of an exam. Possibly, I don't understand this question
is just a test.
Teachers down talking to test if unary middle of a test and God
seems far away army to let you know that there's a purpose,
behind it. There is a reason behind it. God exposing your
faith seeing where it's at in getting you ready for a
promotion. That's why we can rejoice in glory in 'em
'cause. It's an opportunity to prove where faith is really at
faith tests actually come to expose our faith, the second
thing about trials.
Says and versus 2 and 3 again.
Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face
trials of many kinds.
Because you know that the
testing of your faith. Produces
perseverance. The second purpose of trials is to produce
perseverance. So what that means
is this. When a trial comes we're not supposed to throw your
hands in the air and give up.
We're actually supposed to persevere.
It's actually what how it's supposed to be that we're
supposed to persevere under trial. A trial is not a sign
that you're out of God's will.
'S trial is not a sign that you've gone in the wrong
direction. That literally a troll comes and our natural
tendencies. While I'm in the wrong direction. I'm going to
give this up. I'm going to lay it down now, what we're supposed
to do is keep on persevere Ng.
That's actually what we're supposed to do the Bible says
in Romans. Chapter 5 verses 3:00 to 5:00. Therefore we
glory in tribulation.
What kind of fool glories and tribulation?
'Cause tribulation produces
perseverance. So perseverance is our response that was supposed
to do. And then what happens is perseverance, then produces
character. So that's how
character is formed. Character is formed by persevere ING and a
trial. Character is not a gift.
Or, which I wish it was all wish I could get prayed for and boom
carried that. That's not actually how it works. In
fact, I would highly recommend not praying for
God to give you character.
'Cause the way that character is
formed. Is perseverance and a trial and then the Bible says
character produces hope?
So that means we have control of our attitudes and emotions and
then hope does not disappoint which means we're ready for
God's divine appointment for her life. So when trials come as we
persist and then we persevere. It prepares us for the things
that God actually has for us. And so we're supposed to persist
and actually keep on going and so very often when you're going
in a difficult season or we going through an experience and
you know that God is with you and he wants you to continue on.
But you feel like you need to, you want to stop that's not a
sign just keep on persevere ING keep on persisting keep on going
and God will see you out, the other side trials come to
produce perseverance. The 3rd purpose of trials. It says, and
versus says in verse 4.
It says let perseverance finish
its work. So that you may be
mature incomplete. Not lacking
anything. So this is how we become mature as Christians.
Maturity is not a birth certificate.
Maturity comes when we persevere
under trial. And in fact, you can tell immaturity by an
unwillingness to actually do
that. It's a sign of immaturity. I remember one time, one of my
sons when he was little is about
2 years of age. We said, We said my put your socks on.
So I grab you suck.
And kind of 'cause it wasn't fitting on the way that he
wanted. Call a dangling off the end of his toes.
And it says doesn't fit.
How we said no might just put it on it won't go it doesn't fit it
and so I want to get rid of it and get another soccer site, not
just just persist. You know just keep going sign. If you keep
going. Eventually it's going to fit now that's OK, when you too.
But not when you're 30.
You know, sometimes other things, all it as a Barber
college principle was that sometimes People had to break
the habit of quitting.
Are really learned that there was some students that towards
the end of the year and they just about to finish the amount
of time that students would want to quit say 2 to 3 months out
from when they're actually going to finish and you look at their
history and the history was they
never completed anything. And when tough times come that would
naturally just want to drop the
ball. And so and what would happen is God would use that
year as a white beyond with the kind of marks that they would
get beyond the kind of occupation that they would get
later on, just to break the habit of quitting just to break
the habit of giving up so that they can mature to be all that
God is called them to be there are some of us here and you're
on the threshold of quitting something that you know that God
is in. I'm here to let you know, don't quit don't give up. It's
part of gods process for
development and strengthening. And growing in fact, you cannot
develop or grow without any kind
of resistance. You know those of you that go to the gym and you
know it's funny. You see some People go to the gym and I think
they go for exercise. I think they go for social activity. And
so you could see it 'cause I get the smallest little dumb bells
and they talk to their friends and there's just like there's
absolutely no resistance. And what they're doing, and because
there's no resistance. There's actually no change in them.
Becauses actually nothing resisting them you can only and
it says there to produce perseverance as well and you can
only persevere when you got something resisting you if
everything is comfortable if everything is luxurious. There's
nothing to resist. I love going down to North Burley and to go
to the beach and have a walk along there and have and have a
coffee at the surf club and I'm like sitting out there with a
coffee. I usually see one of Jakes boys there whenever I'm
there. And I'm sitting there and I'm looking at over the beach
that is not a hard thing to do. There is not auto need to
persevere. You know, I'm not sitting there holding this
coffee sank off just gotta finish. This just one more one
more sip and I'll be. I'll be done no easy now.
Running between N Burley in Burley that's a
different matter.
So, sometimes will run from one and run to the other and run
back half way back on the other
you want to finish. You done you through, but you think if People
see me stop. It'll be embarrassing. So just keep on
running until the very we need some resistance in order to
produce perseverance and as a result of that. We actually get
some growth in the same way when trials come. It's an
opportunity. It's like new weights on the white bar for us
to lift in order for us to develop into the People that God
has called us to be if you want to be a mature Christian. It's
interesting. He is writing to People who knew their Bible and
thought they were mature.
And he said to the Nana. That's
not what brings maturity. Maturity brings persistence
consistency undertrial persistence that amateur he
comes so that is why that's one of the reasons for why God
allows us to go through trials and the 4th reason is this.
He says in verse 5 he says if any of you lacks wisdom.
You should ask God.
He gives generously to all
without finding fault. And it will be given to you.
So he's riding to People talking to him about trials.
And he says at the end of it.
So if you lack wisdom you should ask God.
What you telling them? In the
midst of a troll. Make sure you turn to God.
So the 4th reason the 4th purpose of trials.
Is to actually turn us?
To God. When you're in the midst of a trouble, they can sometimes
be a temptation. The Blind God.
Especially if it's a trial that
you just fell into. Especially if it's a trial that you didn't
see coming. And sometimes it's like. Hey, I'm serving you God
I'm following you.
How is it that I've ended up in
this trial? And your tendency can be. You know what I'm not
going to follow you anymore. I followed you. It's got me into
this. I'm going to actually do what I want to do now.
But he actually says they in the
midst of that. Make sure that you turn to God.
And so the 4th purpose of trials is that we would actually turn
to God turned to him not away from him and sometimes if you go
through something really deep.
If you go through something really difficult. The temptation
can be. You know what I throw my hands up in the air on turning
away from God. But you gotta make that decision now? No. I'm
gonna turn to him 'cause. He's the one that can actually help
you to get out the other side.
Number of years ago, I was preaching at the church and I
just really was taken with one of the worship leaders. He was
leading worship and and and he just had this joy and his faith
when he was leading worship.
And I just really note it was
really noticeable. And so afterwards, I ended up chatting
to him, I said, my little white
worship awesome today. Not sit in the faith and the joy that
you had when you were leading worship. I thought that was
amazing. And he said to me, he goes well, he goes thanks for
telling me that he said. I just had the worst year of my life.
I said what? He said, I've just had the worst year of my life, I
say, Well, I couldn't tell.
While looking at you.
And I said, what happened and he said well being married a few
years and. Well big night to my highschool suede out earlier
this year, she turned around to me and said I love you. I've
never loved you and she left me.
She walked out on him.
And I said to him, I mean? How do you cheer someone up like in
the midst of that and I said Oh my I'm so sorry to hear that I
said, I could not tell that you were going through something
like that. By the way you were worshipping God and he said
something to me that I've never,
ever forgotten. He said he goes well when you're in a
situation like that. You've actually only got 2 options.
He goes the options are walk away from God or turn to him.
And he said, I just decided, I'm going to turn to him.
That was a decision he had to make a mental assent to say you
know what? Everything in me is pushing me away and I've seen
enough sane People. This has happened to People and I
understand some People have had a disappointment. Some People
have added discouragement and because of that that were torn
to white from God or walked away from him and and that sort of
thing, but then there's others.
And we've all experienced disappointments. We've all
experienced discouragement. We've all experienced pain.
And then there are others who in the midst of that decide you
know what I feel like I want to
walk. But you know what I'm not gonna I'm gonna hang on to him.
'Cause he's the one who can lead
me at the other side. Last year, a preacher in Psalm 23.
First, forces. Yay.
Yahoo. Yeah, I, though I walk through the Valley
of the shadow of death.
Or feel now evil.
Why for you are with me?
You're right in your staff they
comfort me. What did he say? Yeah, I'd I walk through the
Valley of the shadow of death. I've had enough you?
Let me into this. I'm going to get me on way out.
He doesn't say that.
He said, I acknowledge your
still with me. It's hard when you're going through a Trotter
to realize that God is still
with you. It might not make sense things may not at the time
be working out the way you thought they were going to
workout. But I'm here to let you know, he'll never leave you or
for sake are his one will stick closer than a brother and you
can turn to him at anytime and there are times when we need to
turn to him and that young man who did that in the time when
his wife just walked out on him.
He turned to God and he held
fast are gone. And God is a
Resurrection God. And so a couple years later, he remarried
found a beautiful wife. He's got beautiful kids of the bumped
into him. From time to time in my travels and his wound upwards
out of that difficult situation.
You might be here in the midst of a Valley that you didn't ask
for that isn't your fault.
You might have fallen into some kind of trial that you didn't
see coming. I'm here to let you know that in the midst of that
you can turn to God and ask him
for wisdom. One of the things I learned many years ago in many
of you knows that is this that. He's an ever present help in the
time of trouble. Being a Christian doesn't mean you never
have any trouble. But it means that if you do you got someone
who's with you to help you every
step of the way? And we have to learn that in those times to
turn to him and hold fast to him and he can lead us out the other
side. And so maybe you're in this place right now and you're
in a situation. When you feel like I'm in trouble or you feel
like you're in a trial that you didn't see coming that wasn't
your fault. And everything in
you is rocked. And you feel like there's a little part of you
that, saying, You know what I think following or serving God
is something that I want to just keep on doing look where it's
got me now. I'm here to let you know if we just hang onto him.
And if you just persist under trial you will become the strong
Christian person that is called you to be. You'll become mature
and it won't last forever and all position, you for the things
of God, has for your life Amen.
And so maybe you're hearing your sign I'm done on the inside and
finished on cooked well. You're in the right place in his
presents the Bible says is
fullness of joy. You know the story story that speaks to me is
about David. And David down had led his men to fight into war.
And when I came back at Ziklag.
The Bible says that an enemy had come in and taken all their
wives and children. So he just come in and won this great
battle there exhausted and now they come back and all their
wives their wives their children their property is gone.
And they were exhausted.
The bottle says that David went and his own men turned
around and they wanted to kill him and David went the
Bible says that he encouraged himself in the Lord.
What did he do, he spent time in God's presence, he worshipped
him he got his strength from
that? Then he came back and then I went back and I got their
children back in their wives back and they got their property
back. And it wasn't long after that, that he became King his
promotion was on the other side
of that. It is almost like these unexpected trials that came was
an indicator and a sign of a great promotion that was coming
on the other side.
But it came at a time when he felt he was finished at time. It
came at a time when he thought he was done. It came at a time
when he felt like he had nothing
left. And he learned a new that in that time. My men have got
nothing for me, there or finish. Their all cooked so he went any
strengthen himself in the Lord.
And he got the straight fetty needed by being the gods
presents English presence is fullness of joy and the joy of
the Lord is your strength, the strength that you need comes
from being in the presence of God that's why for some of you
that drag yourself. Here this morning to let you know you're
in the right place.
You made a quality decision to come to the House of God Cousin
God's presence is fullness of joy in life and join string and
he can give you the fuel that you need to persist and he
continued to pass this test
that's before you. You know, we're on Holidays and rapid
bamboula. Not many churches
around. So we didn't go to church on the sundial apologize
or Penton. I'm done then the next and I were in Melbourne.
And Tricia Earwood driving past the church.
And it was about to stop said Oh what's going.
So I went into the church.
And as we got in there, the prize and worship it started.
And all of a sudden the presence of God was in there.
And I just felt life.
I just felt joy.
I just felt the strength and the fuel that I needed coming to my
heart to help me to continue on.
It was found in his presents it was found in the House of God.
And maybe you're hearing you drag yourself here or someone
else dragged you here.
I'm here to let you know that you're in the right place his
presence is in this place. I'm
in. So maybe you're hearing your same bin that I'm feeling right
now. I am sure there is some
People right now. Not because of anything wrong that you've done
your in the midst of a trial.
I'm here to let you know that if
you turn to God. He will help you to come out the other side.
And so if you're hearing this, I'm in the midst of a trial.
I'm low on joy on low and strength if that is true, then
we want to pray for you and believe for God to fill you with
that, you'll often join
strength. So with every like
closing every headband. If you have that to you this morning.
You sign that's how I'm feeling under the joy of the long Navy
strength in his life.
I'm feeling like I'm emptied out or feel like this trial is
squashing me. If that is your right where you asked above your
head and say that's me Top fillingham love to get prideful
today for the strength of the life of God to give you the
strength. You need to persist to continue on to rise up on the
inside. There are times that before the outside changes. We
actually need to rise up on the inside 1st and he can fill you
with life join strength.
Father in Jesus name I pray for
everyone of these People. And I profile you'd fill him with the
life in the joy and the strength
that they need. To continue want
to persist. In Jesus name.
Tip your eyes closed for a moment church.