Antioch Odessa
11/30
  • Go Tell It on the Mountain
  • Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria)
  • Silent Night
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    Good morning, turn with me in your Bibles to James chapter 1. The title of our message today is, “God is Sovereign Over Our Trials.” Let me say it another way. God has got you! Will you trust in Him?
    When the things of this world fall apart before our eyes, when the crisis comes what will we do? Where or what will we run too? It seems as if everyday there are things that we as Christians face, like trials, temptations and testing. You may be here today facing a difficult trial. Many marriages need serious help. Maybe you are facing temptation that has continually come your way, and you don’t know where to get help from? Christian parents can experience pain of a wayward child or a child who will not listen to instruction. Perhaps you feel lonely and wonder why God has not put someone in your life to help be a spouse or even just a friend. The question that we can often wonder is where is God when we need Him the most??? Sometimes we can doubt or even wonder where is God? Sometimes our own sin produces trials and testing. Sometimes our own sin can cause our confidence to lack in our assurance of salvation. But, sin isn’t always the direct cause of trials, temptation, and testing.
    So ultimately why do trials and testing come into our lives? Let us run to the book of James for some helpful answers.
    James was the half brother of Christ. James at first did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and rejected him, but after some time came to believe. James went on to become the leader of the church at Jerusalem. James could write with great authority because he like the other apostles had witnessed the resurrected Christ. James is writing this letter to the Jewish leaders who had been dispersed probably after the martyrdom of Stephen. One of the main thoughts throughout the book of James is trials and temptations. If we could sum up these verses today we could say that it is inevitable that we will go through testing, trials, and temptation. However, when we go through these things we know that God will strengthen our faith. So, how we understand and respond to trials, tests, and temptations is everything because it shows us where our faith is.
    James 1:2–12 ESV
    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. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
    Let me share with you today 4 lessons about trials that every believer needs to know.

    1. Trials help us to grow in Christ’s likeness.

    James 1:2–4 ESV
    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.
    James is writing his letter to a group of people who are struggling and hurting. This group of Christians are poor and yet James tells them in verse 2 to have great joy as they go through these trials. The language here in this verse shows us that this is a command or an imperative. It is a verb that describes how we are to think. This is not about our feelings even though our feelings are real we can’t always trust feelings. The bottom line church is that it can be difficult to have joy when we face trials because trials don’t bring a smile typically to our faces. This is not about pretending that everything is ok when it simply is not. I don’t think James intends for any of us to think here that when difficult days come and people experience suffering and hardships to just flippantly say hey friends and family consider it joy as you go through these things. Think back to John chapter 11 where Jesus comes to Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus has died. He doesn’t immediately tell them that God had a purpose in this although he knew that God did. No, he comes to them and comforts them and actually weeps.
    So how can we experience joy when we face trials? It is interesting here in verse 2 that James also tells us that we will experience various trials. Have you ever noticed that some trials are small trials, then there are big trials. We also know that there are minor trials and major trials. Sometimes we wonder why the little trials like missing an airplane to get to our destination come our way when this can help us when the bigger trials of life do come. Trials in and of themselves are not joyful, but when we come to see that God is sovereign or in control of them and is accomplishing His purposes through them that this can help us. As we come to verses 3 and 4 we actually see the different ways that God uses trials in our lives. God encourages us as believers to lean unto Him and trust Him as He sovereignly accomplishes much through our trials. In other words, God does help us to grow through the difficult things we face. James tells us here that the testing of our faith develops steadfastness or endurance. The trials, testing, and even temptation come so that we may be mature and complete lacking nothing. Think about it this way. One of God’s great goals in our lives is maturity or growth in His likeness. One day we will all come to stand before a Holy and Almighty God, and God’s goal from now until then is to prepare you for that day. Are you ready to stand before God right now? The reason why I ask this question is because so many people don’t think this way. Many folks go about their lives only thinking that the main goal in life is to be successful or to have a great job that allows them to have nice things. Then when the trials and testing hit us or our families or our jobs or even our plans it is so devastating. So, as believers if our goal is different and it is to know God and to be conformed into His likeness, than we can take joy in our trials because we know that no matter what we face it is helping us to move toward our goal of preparing us for our final home with the Lord Jesus Christ.
    Take a moment and think about a trial, test, or temptation you are facing or have gone through. If the goal for you has been to try and fix your circumstances then you are setting yourself up for constant frustration because often times the circumstance won’t get fixed the way you want it to or even at all. I think this is why so many people live in constant anxiety. The ultimate desire or goal should not be to try and fix our circumstances but to know that God will grow us through these things.
    Quote: A wise pastor once said, “God allows trials and suffering to come into our lives to refine us, as it were, to teach us how to be more and more dependent on Him.”
    When we set our eyes and minds above the things of this world and fix them on God and the knowledge of Him than we can grow. We can have joy because these hardships will teach us to trust God more and more.

    2. Trials help us to learn to trust God.

    James 1:5–8 ESV
    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.
    When we face trials we can either run from God or trust in God. The implication here in verse 5 is rather obvious. There are none of us who have it all together when it comes to being wise. There is only one all knowing and wise being and that is God. We are lacking something and that is being wise or having wisdom. I don’t know about you, but often times I am praying that God would give me wisdom as I go about my day. Give me wisdom God in what I say and what I do. When it comes to trials, wisdom is exactly what we need when we are having a difficult day. Verse 5 once again gives us a command. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God. This should be so helpful for every Christian because we often lack knowledge, perspective, and experience when it come to trials. When we go through trials we often realize that we don’t know everything that is going on. We also don’t see our situation from every angle or perspective. There are even many times where we lack experience in what to do or how to handle things as we go through these hardships. But God does know what He is doing because He is all knowing and wise. This is why we can run to God and ask Him for wisdom and He gives to all generously.
    As we take time to read verse 5 it helps us to see that this is one of the most helpful and encouraging verses in all of God’s word. God gives wisdom generously and without hesitation. But it is not automatic because we must ask God for wisdom.
    Most of us in this room have lost someone close to us. I remember the day my grandfather died. I was really close to him and we had so many great times that I can look back on and thank the Lord for. I would love to have one more road trip with my grandfather and have him share some more stories with me but I know today that I have something much better even though I miss my Grandfather I have to great wisdom of my heavenly father. He is the creator and the sustainer of this world. So, as we face trials in this life ask God to give you wisdom and then trust Him to give it to you. James tells us here not to doubt. The opposite of faith and trust is doubting God. I understand that it can be easy to doubt God especially when we face trials or when things don’t make sense. So call out to God for help and believe that God is wise and that He is with you.
    Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
    6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
    The more that we walk through trials with God, the more that we will learn to trust Him. Jennifer and I were waiting this week to get on a plane to head back home to Texas when she recieved a text message from Lujana Clark. She was explaining to Jennifer that she had a good thanksgiving and was thankful for her family, and she shared the words to this wonderful hymn that are a great reminder that God is with us.
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    Alfred H. Ackley, 1887-1960
    Verse 1 I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, Whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He’s always near.
    Chorus He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me, and talks with me Along life’s narrow way. He lives! He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart!
    Verse 2 In all the world around me, I see His loving care, And though my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading Through all the stormy blast, The day of His appearing Will come at last!
    Chorus He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me, and talks with me Along life’s narrow way. He lives! He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart!
    Verse 3 Rejoice, rejoice, oh Christian, Lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, The help of all who find, None other is so loving, So good and kind!
    Chorus He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me Along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart!

    3. Trials help us to rely on God’s wonderful resources.

    James 1:9–11 ESV
    9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
    Here in verses 9-11 we come to learn about the lowly and poor and also the rich. But why in the world does James include this here in our text. It seems to some that this doesn’t fit in with trials, testing, and temptations. Well many of James’s readers would have been poor, but some of them were rich and were trusting in their wealth. James reminds us here in these verses that trials and testing can have a very devastating effect in our lives. If we are poor, than we are to boast in the fact that our circumstances should lead us to trust in God and be content in Him and not the things of this world. In the absence of physical things we as believers are very rich and wealthy because we are rich in God and we have everything because we have Him. We can boast because we are children of God. On the other hand if some folks are extremely wealthy you are to be careful. I say this because as we have all seen, trials and testing remind us that there is no amount of money that can solve or fix our problems. All of the material things of this world can not help our pain. There is coming a day church where the stuff of this world will be gone. The question today is what is your life built upon? What is your foundation? If your life consumed and built upon physical resources or spiritual resources that only God can provide? Rely on God today and know that He is there for you.

    4. Trials can help us to live for an eternal reward.

    James 1:12 ESV
    12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
    James now puts the finishing touches on this section by helping us to understand that there is a blessing or reward for those who endure through the trials of this life. The word “blessed” here alludes to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5. James in leaning heavily on the Lord’s teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. James here in verse 12 refers to the crown of life that the man who endures will receive. I want you to understand here that this is not speaking about a physical and elaborate crown like a king or queen would wear. No, James has in mind here of a symbol of receiving the glorious reward of eternal life. So, we can as believers consider it a joy because our trials remind us that we are living for a wonderful reward that is still to come. Here is how the Apostle Paul explains it to us.
    2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV
    17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
    When we are wondering where God is and waiting for His help as we go through trials, testing, and temptation may we be reminded that God is with us.
    Psalm 121:1–2 ESV
    1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
    As we journey through this life it is comforting to know that our help comes from God and that He is there for us. In fact, He has given us a helper in that of the Holy Spirit. Though God does not keep us or shield us from trials and testing, He is at work and we can know for certain of where our help comes from. Call on God today for wisdom and trust that He will answer.
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    (Close in Prayer)
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      • James 1:2–12ESV

      • James 1:2–4ESV

      • James 1:5–8ESV

      • Deuteronomy 31:6ESV

      • James 1:9–11ESV

      • James 1:12ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 4:17ESV

      • Psalm 121:1–2ESV

  • Doxology (Amen)
  • How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Antioch Odessa
acc.it@antiochchristian.org
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