James 1:1-2-James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting
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Fall-Luke 10:30-Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
James uses the same word to describe how we are confronted with trials.
How many times has everything been going well for us, then suddenly we have problems. Illness, Financial difficulties, a death, relationship problems.
One thing about it, trials are predictable, we may not know when they are coming but we do know they are coming!
Christians we face two basic types of trials… Trials of Correction! Trials of Perfection!
A True test of our Faith; is how we respond to our Trials.
This word count is in the Future tense—James was not saying that the Trial was Joy. He was saying that beyond the Trial there is joy……Think ahead, and look forward.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Genesis 50:20-But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Did Joseph count it all joy to be in Prison… No!
But he knew that God was with him in his trials!
Hebrews 12:2-looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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James 1:3-knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
One purpose of trials is to lead us to purity.
Our trials have purpose and often it’s the refining purifying fire that we might be more holy.
Are you going stand your ground or are you going to buckle under the pressure?
Are stand upon what you know or are you going to sink into what your feeling at that moment?
After a heavy night of drinking at the local bar, a drunk stumbles into a Catholic church and slowly makes his way into the confessional booth. There, the priest patiently awaits the man to begin his confession.
After a few minutes of silence, the priest politely taps on the window... nothing. The priest taps again and this time clears his throat a bit... still nothing. At this point the priest begins to lose his patience and bangs on the window.
Finally the dunk yells out... "Ain't no use knocking, there ain't no paper over here either!"
“Accepting the fact that not every problem has an instant cure and not every desire has an instant gratification, one must suffer long and wait with patience for God to open a door of deliverance”
God has not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our life through; God has not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But God has promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way; Grace for the trials, help from above, Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
