Sermon Tone Analysis

“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.

“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.”

[1]

Duty! Courage!

In previous messages, we’ve explored a couple of qualities that should mark the child of God.

We’ve seen that these qualities should especially mark the lives of men who wish to be identified as followers of the Master.

Now, we will consider yet another quality that should characterise the people of God—steadfastness or endurance.

The word translated “steadfastness” in our text, is the Greek term hupomoné.

The word is variously translated throughout this English Standard Version of the Bible as “endurance” or “patience” or one of the cognates of “patience.”

This provides us with a somewhat fuller understanding of what the first readers would have understood James to be saying.

The word hupomoné is a favourite of the Apostle Paul; he uses the word more frequently than any other writer of Scripture.

The word spoke of the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances.

[2] In that respect, I should think that the word appealed to Paul in part because of his concept of manly service.

Paul frequently compared Christian service to the conduct of a soldier.

He would speak of his co-workers as “fellow soldiers,” as he did when speaking of Archippus [PHILEMON 2] and Epaphroditus [PHILIPPIANS 2:25].

Seeking to encourage a young pastor, Paul invited him to join in suffering—suffering that was comparable to the discomfort and danger a Legionnaire would have been called to endure in the course of completing the duties he would be assigned.

To Timothy, the Apostle has written, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” [2 TIMOTHY 2:3, 4].

No matter the manner in which the word may be translated into our English tongue, the overarching concept that is conveyed is undoubtedly the attitude of fortitude.

As an aside, we admire those brave men who endure hardship to accomplish a hard task.

We admire the man who can endure the training to be qualified for duty within the ranks of those we know as Special Forces.

We admire the constable who endures hardship to pursue a criminal to bring a breach of the peace to successful conclusion.

We admire the individual who endures opposition and hardship in order to bring a company out of financial distress and to ensure solvency.

Similarly, we should admire that conscientious follower of the Master who speaks the truth in love, refusing to be turned aside from living a righteous and godly life while eschewing every inducement to do what is wicked.

We admire the Christian who stands firm in truth.

THE CERTAINTY OF TRIALS — Let me clarify what must assuredly be a common theme from the messages I have presented: Christians can expect opposition because they are Christians.

The cautionary statements have been presented multiple times in messages I have delivered.

Nevertheless, it is to the benefit of all who listen to hear some of these statements once again.

First, think of Paul’s blunt statement to believers at the conclusion of the first missionary journey.

“When [the missionaries] had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” [ACTS 14:21, 22].

Take special note of the “encouragement” given to these new Christians—through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God!

The word translated “tribulations” is the Greek term thlĩpsis.

It conveys the idea of trouble involving direct suffering.

[3] It is affliction causing pain.

In light of this, let’s look again at the Apostle’s statement.

“We must suffer many things to enter God’s Kingdom,” is one recent translation.

[4] Another Bible that I frequently cite renders Paul’s warning, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the Kingdom of God.” [5] Thus, it would appear certain that those early Christians understood that because they were followers of the Master they would face opposition and lives marked by pain.

By no means was this the only time Paul spoke of suffering.

In what may have been the earliest letter from the Apostle to have been included in the canon of Scripture, Paul wrote the Thessalonian Christians, “We sent Timothy, our brother and God’s co-worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions.

For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know” [1 THESSALONIANS 3:2-4].

In this passage, Paul uses the identical word he used at the conclusion of his first missionary tour.

It seems reasonable to conclude that warning of afflictions was a part of the apostolic message.

Since this is true, one wonders what a similar warning is not integral to the call to follow Christ today.

Paul was not at all reticent in acknowledging the suffering experienced by believers when he corresponded with them.

He spoke of pending judgement for those who were persecuting the Thessalonians, acknowledging that these saints were even then suffering [2 THESSALONIANS 1:5].

Writing Timothy, Paul even quoted a hymn that was likely sung among the faithful.

“The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself” [2 TIMOTHY 2:11-13].

Note the second strophe: “If we endure, we will also reign with Him.”

The Apostle sought to encourage Timothy, and those over whom Timothy had received oversight, that endurance, or steadfastness, was expected of those who wish to reign with the Master!

I invite you to think of one final statement Paul wrote to Timothy.

He reflects on his own service and suffering, inviting Timothy to consider the cost of following the Master.

“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.”

Now, take special note of this final statement Paul included for Timothy’s consideration.

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” [2 TIMOTHY 3:10-13].

Nor should anyone imagine that Paul was alone in warning believers of persecution.

Peter, especially, presents the necessity of anticipating difficult times to those who would pursue the Master.

Listen to his warning to those who would serve as he draws his first letter to a close.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Be sober-minded; be watchful.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” [1 PETER 5:6-10].

This admonition to the overseers of the flock flows out of a dismaying statement earlier.

“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.

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

And

‘If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” [1 PETER 4:12-19].

As he opened the Book that would be known as The Apocalypse, the Apostle of Love spoke of his relationship to other believers.

Listen to his description of his situation in REVELATION 1:9.

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

John was banished to Patmos “on account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

Therefore, he was a “partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.”

He was sharing in the thlĩpsis that all Christians were then experiencing.

The idea that those who follow the Master would suffer on their own was not some novel invention of the Apostles—they received this teaching from Jesus Himself.

Jesus told Ananias as he was dispatched to instruct Saul of Tarsus, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My Name” [ACTS 9:16].

What a call!

“Paul, come follow Me! Oh, by the way, you are going to suffer terribly just to be my disciple!”

Who would follow such a Master today?

Preparing the Apostles for His exodus, Jesus spoke of the suffering they could anticipate, “In the world you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world” [JOHN 16:33].

This statement followed His stern warning that I have often cited; it is found in John 15:18-16:4.

On another occasion, Jesus spoke of the difficulties that arise because one is His disciple.

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.