(002 James) Anchored in Adversity: The Power of Tested Faith
Notes
Transcript
Handout
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 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.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
1. An anchored faith has a proper reaction to adversity. (vs. 2)
1. An anchored faith has a proper reaction to adversity. (vs. 2)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1. An anchored faith has a proper reaction to adversity. (vs. 2)
1. An anchored faith has a proper reaction to adversity. (vs. 2)
James seems to be echoing the words of his Brother.
We said that James’ writing reflects the teaching of Jesus on the sermon on the mount.
(1)A. An anchored faith will meet adversity.
(1)A. An anchored faith will meet adversity.
hardships, trials, adversity are a normal and valuable part of the Christian life.
James chose his words carefully.
“will meet”
“fall into”
“encounter”
This is different from going out looking for.
Walking into by choice.
Rather, the unavoidably show up in life.
This is a promise that we will have trials.
Jesus said it.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Paul said it.
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Peter said it.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
(1)A. An anchored faith will meet adversity.
(1)A. An anchored faith will meet adversity.
Be ready.
Don’t be surprised by it.
(1)B. Adversity comes in many kinds.
(1)B. Adversity comes in many kinds.
Persecution
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
physical illness
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
financial hardship
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
(1)B. Adversity comes in many kinds.
(1)B. Adversity comes in many kinds.
Lowly = poor
We know that adversity is coming.
We know it is coming in all kinds of ways.
So here is what James says.
(1)C. An anchored faith counts it all joy when any kind of adversity is met.
(1)C. An anchored faith counts it all joy when any kind of adversity is met.
Count or consider
An accounting term mean to evaluate.
When adversity comes we need to evaluate it.
Joy might not be our first response.
Joy is not the response of the flesh.
We will most likely fall into joy.
But we must sit down and intentionally consider what is in front of us.
Cause for the highest joy.
Nothing but Joy.
James isn’t saying that trials are ENjoyable.
Trials don’t make us happy.
However we can face them with JOY.
Before you dismiss this as too difficult, remember the context.
Remember the audience.
The Jews scattered and persecuted.
Barely making end meet.
Hated by the Romans and their own people.
2. An anchored faith trusts God’s process. (vs. 3-4)
2. An anchored faith trusts God’s process. (vs. 3-4)
We can evaluate our trails as all joy because of our world view.
Our world view determines our attitude.
Our world view comes from our theology.
Lets get a biblical world view...
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Trials are God’s plan for our life.
2. An anchored faith trusts God’s process. (vs. 3-4)
2. An anchored faith trusts God’s process. (vs. 3-4)
(2)A. God’s process anchors our faith in adversity.
(2)A. God’s process anchors our faith in adversity.
“You know” = You can have joy because you already know...
You already have an assurance.
You already have no doubt.
This is a settled truth.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(2)A. God’s process anchors our faith in adversity.
(2)A. God’s process anchors our faith in adversity.
(2)B. Adversity produces endurance.
(2)B. Adversity produces endurance.
The testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Trials are test us.
They are like training challenges for an athlete.
They aren’t wasted.
They aren’t useless.
Through testing, a christian learns to stand tenaciously.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
(2)B. Adversity produces endurance.
(2)B. Adversity produces endurance.
(2)C. Endurance is needed for maturity.
(2)C. Endurance is needed for maturity.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
God doesn’t send trials to break down our faith.
God doesn’t send trials to destroy us.
He sends them for our own good.
He is ultimately working our maturity.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
(2)C. Endurance is needed for maturity.
(2)C. Endurance is needed for maturity.
Conformity is maturity.
Conformed to the image of Christ.
The value of our christian maturity is greater than the value of an easy life.
“God will take you where you wouldn’t go to produce in you what you couldn’t accomplish.” – Paul Tripp
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Watch the process in these verses.
Do you trust God’s process?
(2)C. Endurance is needed for maturity.
(2)C. Endurance is needed for maturity.
3. An anchored faith humbly asks God wisdom. (vs. 5-8)
3. An anchored faith humbly asks God wisdom. (vs. 5-8)
We could look at this as God’s provision in the midst of adversity.
God’s wisdom gives us the ability to see the world through God’s Word.
It helps us apply our theology.
Our greatest need in the middle of a trial is not to escape the trial.
The thing we need most is wisdom.
Often we don’t need knowledge.
Knowledge is raw information.
We often have a lot of that.
Wisdom tells us how to use it.
All we need to do is ask.
If God said ask and I will take the trial away, we would ask.
We are told wisdom is what we need - ask.
(3)A. Ask God because He gives generously.
(3)A. Ask God because He gives generously.
He gives according to His excellent greatness.
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
(3)A. Ask God because He gives generously.
(3)A. Ask God because He gives generously.
(3)B. Ask God because He wants to give.
(3)B. Ask God because He wants to give.
“Reproach” - to defame or revile. To rebuke.
God never despises us for asking.
He never thinks less of us for asking.
Lest we not come out of fear.
“We are all so ready to go to books, to go to men, to go to ceremonies, to anything except to God… Consequently, the text does not say, ‘Let him ask books,’ nor ‘ask priests,’ but, ‘let him ask of God.’” (Spurgeon)
(3)B. Ask God because He wants to give.
(3)B. Ask God because He wants to give.
(3)C. Ask with an anchored faith.
(3)C. Ask with an anchored faith.
The waves of the sea are a good description.
Going in and out (unsettled)
The doubter is unsettled.
Has no peace.
Waves have no rest.
Constantly going in and out.
The doubter enjoys no rest.
Waves are at the mercy of the wind.
They are driven by the wind.
Whatever the doubter feels at the time.
Whatever voice the doubter is listening to at the time.
We need to ask God to give us proper perspective.
To help us find true joy in Him.
An anchored faith will not feel sorry for itself.
An anchored faith will not wallow in it’s misery.
It will evaluate the trial and determine that the outcome is worth the trial.
This determination will cause anchored faith to have lasting joy.
The problem is NEVER the trial itself. The problems come from our response to the trial.
The problem is NEVER the trial itself. The problems come from our response to the trial.
Listen to these words of Matthew Henry...
“We must not sink into a sad and disconsolate frame of mind, which would make us faint under our trials; but must endeavor to keep our spirits dilated and enlarged… [that way we are best equipped to] make the best of it. Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful.” - Mathew Henry
Questions for the week:
What troubles are in my life now and HOW am I responding to them?
WHY am I responding the way I am?