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Text: James 1:1-12 Turning Trials into Triumphs


Intro: Snake story - "Life is a jungle. Book by Steven Farrar: "If I'm
not Tarzan & You're Not Jane, then Why are We Living in the Jungle?" We
deal with the entanglements of deadlines and demands. We do battle with
pests of irritation. We mire in the quicksand of over commitment, under
achievement and burnout. In addition to these areas, we receive surprise
attacks from criticism that lunge at us like a hungry lion and tear us
like the claw of a tiger. Those who sense danger and know the techniques
of self-defense come through in the best condition. Jay Rathman is an
example.
He was hunting in northern CA. He climbed to a ledge on the slope of a
rocky gorge to get a better look of the area. As he raised his head to
look over the ledge above, he sensed movement to the right of his face.
A coiled rattler struck with lightning speed, just missing Rathman's
right ear.

History of James - James has addressed his letter to the 12 tribes of
the dispersion. The Jewish people were without a nation. They were
scattered across the world. Some were taken into captivity, others left
Palestine to seek out commercial ventures. On the day of Pentecost,
recorded in Acts, Jews from all parts of the world returned to celebrate
at the Feast. As a result of Peter's message, the Gospel went out all
across the Roman Empire with the returning pilgrims.
Traditionally, the writer of this book has been viewed as James the
brother of the Lord. He appears as an unbeliever in John 7, a witness to
the resurrection of Christ in I Cor 15, an attendee of a prayer meeting
in Acts 1 and throughout the book of Acts where he emerges as a leader
in the Jerusalem church.
The church and the cause of Christ began to grow. First 120, 3000, and
then daily additions were added to the Christian fellowship. In fear of
extinction of their religion, the leader ran to the Sanhedrin who
brought James before them. They ruled that James must proclaim from one
of their galleries that Jesus Christ was not the Messiah. But, instead,
James cried out, "Jesus is the son of God and the judge of the world."
His enraged enemies hurled him to the ground and stoned him until a
charitable man ended his sufferings with a club. While James was on his
knees praying, "Father, forgive them for they know now not what they do.
James writes this letter to analyze the nature of genuine faith and to
urge his readers to demonstrate their trust in Christ in the midst of
their personal trials.

1. Adopt: A joyful attitude
Outlook determines outcome - Attitude determines action
Expect trials: "I have told you these things so that you might have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have
overcome the world" - Jn 16:33
"We must go through many hardships." Acts 16:33
Values determine our evaluations..
Comfort more than Character - trials upset us
Material more than spiritual - can't consider all joy.
Live for the present more than future - trials make us bitter rather
than better.
Job 23:10 - But He knows the way that I take, when He has tested me, I
will come forth as gold."
Give thanks - as hard as it may be!!!

2. Acknowledge: An understanding mind
3 things to know:
1. Faith is always tested... Abraham-The test is to bring out the best.
2. Testing works for us - testing=approval
1 Pet 1:6,7
2 Cor 4:17 "For our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
3. Trials rightly used help us to mature - God wants to produce
perseverance.
Genuine faith will produce this.
Perseverance = hypomonen = tenacity - stick to itiveness
A quality that we posses that allows one to stand on their feet facing
the storm.
It is the battle of faith & patience vs. unbelief & impatience
Heb 6:12 "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who
through faith & patience inherit what has been promised."
This is the way God develops patience and character - through trials.
Endurance is not obtained by reading, listening to a sermon, or
attending a seminar. There is no substitution for an understanding mind.
"Satan can defeat the ignorant believer, but he cannot overcome the
Christian who knows his Bible and understands God's purpose.

3. Allowance: A surrendered will
Character cannot be developed without our cooperation.
3 works completed in a Christian's life
1. The work God does for us - salvation
2. The work God does in us - sanctification
3. The work God does through us - service

God builds character before He calls.
David, Abraham, Joseph, Moses
What is a mature Christian? - Eph 6:6 "Obey them not only to win their
favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the
will of God from your heart."
No distinction... There is a leveling effect
Poor man - Gk word = insignificant - Has a high position -

Rich man - low position - it will pass away
Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.
Suffering & persecution reveal how tentative life really is.

4. Ask: A believing heart
When going through God ordained difficulties, ask for wisdom.
Double-mindedness=leaves victims paralyzed by doubts, hesitant, full of
words, lacking in action.
Read: A Psalm of Single-Mindedness"
Gk sentence structure (Conditional) assumes people in trials lack wisdom.
Biblical wisdom:
Prov 3:13,14 "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains
understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better
returns than gold."
Prov 2:6 "For the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth comes knowledge
and understanding."
Prov 4:5 "Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget my words or
swerve from them."
Wisdom - Understanding the nature and purpose of trials.
Christians live like corks - up one minute, down the next.
We have to grow into maturity - Paul's words... "Becoming mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will
no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here
and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of
men in their deceitful scheming." Eph 4:13b, 14

Conclusion: James started & ends with joy.

Those who persevere receive a crown.