Written by Pastor Law, posted by Peter Yong
4th January, 2009
James 1:1-18
Main Idea: How to face trials and temptations?
Objectives: To prepare the children of God and disciples of Jesus to face trials and temptations of all kinds.
A. Introduction.
- There is a story about how birds got their wings.
- The story goes that birds were first made without wings.
- Then God made wings, put them in front of the wingless birds, and said to them, “Come, take up these burdens and bear them.”
- The birds hesitated at first, but soon obeyed and picked up the wings in their beaks. Because the wings were heavy, the birds laid them on their shoulders.
- Then, to their amazement, the wings began to grow and soon had attached themselves to their bodies.
- The birds quickly discovered how to use these new appendages and were soon soaring through the air.
- What had once been a heavy burden now became an instrument that enabled the birds to soar and go where they could never go before.
- The story is a parable. We are wingless birds.
- The duties and tasks that seem like a burden and a trial often become the means that God uses to lift us up and build godliness in us.
- God’s plan is for our tasks to be our helpers and motivators.
- To refuse to bend our shoulders to receive a load is to decline a new opportunity for growth.
- The biblical passage today has a lot to teach us how to face trials and temptations. I shall focus on how to face trials.
- Before we go into the passage, we need to understand the context of the passage and the purposes the author writes this letter.
B. The Context and Purpose.
- The author identifies himself as James (1:1). He was probably the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem council (Act 15).
- Some believed the letter of James was written in the early 60s AD. However, there are indications to show that it was written even before AD 50.
- Its distinctively Jewish nature suggests that it was composed when the church was still predominantly Jewish. It reflects a simple church order where officers of the church are called elders (5:14) and teachers (3:1).
- The recipients of the letter are identified clearly in 1:1 “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations.”
- Some believe that the letter was address to Christians in general, but the term “12 tribes” would more naturally apply to Jewish Christians.
- Furthermore, a Jewish audience would be more in keeping with the obviously Jewish nature of the letter. Take for example the use of the Hebrew title for God, kyrios sabaoth, “Lord Almighty,” in James 5:4.
- The recipients were Christians is clear from 2:1 that says, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ…” And also 5:7,8 says, “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
- It has been suggested that these Christians were from the early Jerusalem church who, after Stephen’s death, were scattered as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Syrian Antioch (Acts 8:1; 11:19). Acts 11:19 says, “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.”
- This would explain why James’ references to trials and oppression, his close knowledge of the readers and the authoritative nature of the letter.
- As a leader of the Jerusalem church, James wrote as pastor to instruct and encouraged his dispersed people in the face of their difficulties.
- With this input, let us now see how the passage is teaching us how to face trials?
B. How to face trials?
- Do you have trials? Sooner or later you will get it. As your shepherd, I would to prepare you to face it.
- The book of James gives very good guidelines how to face it.
a. You need encouragement in facing trials.
- The trials here refer to the genuineness of faith of the Jewish Christians being tested. That means your faith in Christ as Savior and Lord is threatened to give up.
- Do you face this kind of trials? Under such circumstance, James took the trouble to write and encouraged the scattered Jewish Christians who were persecuted for their faith.
- This is how he encourages, in verse 2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,”
- For James, the trial of our faith, the testing of our faith is not something we seek but rather it is something we stumble on. (Luke 10:30, a man fell into the hands of a robber)
- For the Jewish people, they had a long tradition of trials. Reaching back to Abraham (Genesis 22), an excellent example of passing the test, the trial of faith; and also the trial of faith of the Israelites at the wilderness (Number 14:20-24), an excellent example of failure when their faith is tried.
- James must have learnt from Jesus about trial of faith. Jesus in Matthew 5:11-12 says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, …”
- See how James encouraged those who were persecuted because of their faith, he put them in the prosper perspective of joy, “Consider it pure joy”. In the midst of trial of faith, this joy is not about detachment from suffering as taught by Greek philosophy, but it is very much about eschatological joy of those expecting the intervention of God in the end of age. The belief and perspective that ultimately, in eternity, God will bless those who are persecuted because of their faith.
- This explains why James write verse 12, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
- So, brothers and sisters, if you are tried because of your faith, please be encouraged by this eternal reward.
- And James, justify the reason for the eternal joy; eschatological joy. Why eternal perspective produces joy?
- It has to do with the term, trial, it implies that there is something genuine that will survive the refining, the molding process. It is like gold from a refiner’s fire, that refined product is perseverance.
- And gold produces more gold. Perseverance, which is not giving up in faith, patient endurance, will further produce maturity and completeness, which is righteousness.
b. You need wisdom from God.
- You need wisdom from God in order to face trials.
- James said in the midst of trials, you need wisdom to deal with them, so you need to turn to God for wisdom.
- Verse 5, he says, “If anyone of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
- In fact, this is an assurance that God will give you wisdom to deal with your trials. The wisdom from God will help you to face with pure joy. This wisdom is not acquired information but practical insights with spiritual implications. Take for instance, in 3:17, James says, “… the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
- This kind of wisdom is available with God and we are told to ask for it in verse 6 and 7 to ask (pray) for it, “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
- James says that God as heavenly Father is very willing to give the gift of wisdom when you ask and believe and not doubt. The petitioner is to ask with 100% trust in God because when you doubt, you get nothing.
- James concluded that the doubter would be condemned. His double-minded mind is divided mind indicates his disloyalty toward God. Rather than being a single-minded lover of God, he is one whose character and conduct is unstable.
- No wonder he should expect nothing from God. For James, there is no middle ground between faith and no faith.
- So, in the midst of trials, you need to trust Jesus 100%, before you pray for wisdom to solve your problems.
C. You need to he humble
- My third point in facing trial is you need to be humble. Not many people nowadays can understand and grasp the value of humility. A lot of problems will automatically be solved if we humble ourselves. A lot of people think that they are humble, but they are not.
- Let us see how James teaches us to be humble in the midst of trials.
- Verses 9 and 10 basically said God would lift the poor to a high position despite their low position in the world. The rich may seem powerful now, but God will bring them low in the end unless they humble themselves now.
- Reason to be humble in the midst of trial is very simple, whether you are rich or poor, according to verse 11, our wealth will one day ‘withers like the plant under the scorching heat. So, be humble in the midst of trials.
- As you are humble in the midst of trials, no matter how rich or poor you are, you are going to deal with your problems, crisis, struggles of whatever head on. You will face it, you will not avoid. You will say I am wrong and I am sorry. I am willing to change and repent.
C. Applications
- The word of God on how to face trials is so positive and it really meant to build you up and help you to be strong in the midst of trials.
- For a lot of you, your contest may be that you suffer and face persecution because of your faith, your belief in Jesus. May be you will get some especially if you are young Christians as your family members may not understand you and so they criticize you.
- Most of us are tried because we do not put our trust 100% in Jesus; when we face problems and crisis, we tend to solve them by human wisdoms, by secular methods, ungodly methods, dirty methods, we do not turn to God and pray for a way out.
- I get permission from this couple to quote them. Recently, some of us may know Brother Jimmy and Sister Amy are tried in their faith journey, praise the Lord, the couple and their family persevere and not give up their faith and continue to trust Jesus. They resort to lots of prayers and asking God for wisdom to overcome the problem and they humble themselves to allow Tuesday night prayer warriors to pray and intercede for them. I and a few brother and sisters pray regularly for them and their son.
- You need to apply what you learn today and encourage them to fight this battle.
- You may encourage them by telling them you are praying for them. If you do not know what to pray for, you can ask them. Or, you can come for Thursday night prayer meeting and pray for them.
D. Conclusion
- As you face trials of all kinds, be encouraged to know that Jesus will not let you bear any trial that is too heavy for you that you cannot bear.
- There is this inspiring illustration I like to share with you and I pray that it will help you to be strong and persevere and endure the trials.
- A man was shopping in a grocery story. His young son followed closely behind, carrying a large basket. The father loaded the basket with one thing after another until another customer began to feel sorry for the boy. She said, “That’s a pretty heavy loaf for a young fellow like you, isn’t it?” The boy turned to the woman and said, “Oh, don’t worry. My dad knows how much I can carry.” In the same way, God knows our limitations and gives to us no burden beyond what we can carry.
- No enjoys a visit to the dentist, although all enjoy the long range benefits of the visit. In a similar way, on one enjoys the difficulties of a trial, but all who endure them enjoy the side effects of perseverance; proven character, and hope.
4th January, 2009
James 1:1-18
Main Idea: How to face trials and temptations?
Objectives: To prepare the children of God and disciples of Jesus to face trials and temptations of all kinds.
A. Introduction.
- There is a story about how birds got their wings.
- The story goes that birds were first made without wings.
- Then God made wings, put them in front of the wingless birds, and said to them, “Come, take up these burdens and bear them.”
- The birds hesitated at first, but soon obeyed and picked up the wings in their beaks. Because the wings were heavy, the birds laid them on their shoulders.
- Then, to their amazement, the wings began to grow and soon had attached themselves to their bodies.
- The birds quickly discovered how to use these new appendages and were soon soaring through the air.
- What had once been a heavy burden now became an instrument that enabled the birds to soar and go where they could never go before.
- The story is a parable. We are wingless birds.
- The duties and tasks that seem like a burden and a trial often become the means that God uses to lift us up and build godliness in us.
- God’s plan is for our tasks to be our helpers and motivators.
- To refuse to bend our shoulders to receive a load is to decline a new opportunity for growth.
- The biblical passage today has a lot to teach us how to face trials and temptations. I shall focus on how to face trials.
- Before we go into the passage, we need to understand the context of the passage and the purposes the author writes this letter.
B. The Context and Purpose.
- The author identifies himself as James (1:1). He was probably the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem council (Act 15).
- Some believed the letter of James was written in the early 60s AD. However, there are indications to show that it was written even before AD 50.
- Its distinctively Jewish nature suggests that it was composed when the church was still predominantly Jewish. It reflects a simple church order where officers of the church are called elders (5:14) and teachers (3:1).
- The recipients of the letter are identified clearly in 1:1 “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations.”
- Some believe that the letter was address to Christians in general, but the term “12 tribes” would more naturally apply to Jewish Christians.
- Furthermore, a Jewish audience would be more in keeping with the obviously Jewish nature of the letter. Take for example the use of the Hebrew title for God, kyrios sabaoth, “Lord Almighty,” in James 5:4.
- The recipients were Christians is clear from 2:1 that says, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ…” And also 5:7,8 says, “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
- It has been suggested that these Christians were from the early Jerusalem church who, after Stephen’s death, were scattered as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Syrian Antioch (Acts 8:1; 11:19). Acts 11:19 says, “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.”
- This would explain why James’ references to trials and oppression, his close knowledge of the readers and the authoritative nature of the letter.
- As a leader of the Jerusalem church, James wrote as pastor to instruct and encouraged his dispersed people in the face of their difficulties.
- With this input, let us now see how the passage is teaching us how to face trials?
B. How to face trials?
- Do you have trials? Sooner or later you will get it. As your shepherd, I would to prepare you to face it.
- The book of James gives very good guidelines how to face it.
a. You need encouragement in facing trials.
- The trials here refer to the genuineness of faith of the Jewish Christians being tested. That means your faith in Christ as Savior and Lord is threatened to give up.
- Do you face this kind of trials? Under such circumstance, James took the trouble to write and encouraged the scattered Jewish Christians who were persecuted for their faith.
- This is how he encourages, in verse 2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,”
- For James, the trial of our faith, the testing of our faith is not something we seek but rather it is something we stumble on. (Luke 10:30, a man fell into the hands of a robber)
- For the Jewish people, they had a long tradition of trials. Reaching back to Abraham (Genesis 22), an excellent example of passing the test, the trial of faith; and also the trial of faith of the Israelites at the wilderness (Number 14:20-24), an excellent example of failure when their faith is tried.
- James must have learnt from Jesus about trial of faith. Jesus in Matthew 5:11-12 says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, …”
- See how James encouraged those who were persecuted because of their faith, he put them in the prosper perspective of joy, “Consider it pure joy”. In the midst of trial of faith, this joy is not about detachment from suffering as taught by Greek philosophy, but it is very much about eschatological joy of those expecting the intervention of God in the end of age. The belief and perspective that ultimately, in eternity, God will bless those who are persecuted because of their faith.
- This explains why James write verse 12, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
- So, brothers and sisters, if you are tried because of your faith, please be encouraged by this eternal reward.
- And James, justify the reason for the eternal joy; eschatological joy. Why eternal perspective produces joy?
- It has to do with the term, trial, it implies that there is something genuine that will survive the refining, the molding process. It is like gold from a refiner’s fire, that refined product is perseverance.
- And gold produces more gold. Perseverance, which is not giving up in faith, patient endurance, will further produce maturity and completeness, which is righteousness.
b. You need wisdom from God.
- You need wisdom from God in order to face trials.
- James said in the midst of trials, you need wisdom to deal with them, so you need to turn to God for wisdom.
- Verse 5, he says, “If anyone of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
- In fact, this is an assurance that God will give you wisdom to deal with your trials. The wisdom from God will help you to face with pure joy. This wisdom is not acquired information but practical insights with spiritual implications. Take for instance, in 3:17, James says, “… the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
- This kind of wisdom is available with God and we are told to ask for it in verse 6 and 7 to ask (pray) for it, “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
- James says that God as heavenly Father is very willing to give the gift of wisdom when you ask and believe and not doubt. The petitioner is to ask with 100% trust in God because when you doubt, you get nothing.
- James concluded that the doubter would be condemned. His double-minded mind is divided mind indicates his disloyalty toward God. Rather than being a single-minded lover of God, he is one whose character and conduct is unstable.
- No wonder he should expect nothing from God. For James, there is no middle ground between faith and no faith.
- So, in the midst of trials, you need to trust Jesus 100%, before you pray for wisdom to solve your problems.
C. You need to he humble
- My third point in facing trial is you need to be humble. Not many people nowadays can understand and grasp the value of humility. A lot of problems will automatically be solved if we humble ourselves. A lot of people think that they are humble, but they are not.
- Let us see how James teaches us to be humble in the midst of trials.
- Verses 9 and 10 basically said God would lift the poor to a high position despite their low position in the world. The rich may seem powerful now, but God will bring them low in the end unless they humble themselves now.
- Reason to be humble in the midst of trial is very simple, whether you are rich or poor, according to verse 11, our wealth will one day ‘withers like the plant under the scorching heat. So, be humble in the midst of trials.
- As you are humble in the midst of trials, no matter how rich or poor you are, you are going to deal with your problems, crisis, struggles of whatever head on. You will face it, you will not avoid. You will say I am wrong and I am sorry. I am willing to change and repent.
C. Applications
- The word of God on how to face trials is so positive and it really meant to build you up and help you to be strong in the midst of trials.
- For a lot of you, your contest may be that you suffer and face persecution because of your faith, your belief in Jesus. May be you will get some especially if you are young Christians as your family members may not understand you and so they criticize you.
- Most of us are tried because we do not put our trust 100% in Jesus; when we face problems and crisis, we tend to solve them by human wisdoms, by secular methods, ungodly methods, dirty methods, we do not turn to God and pray for a way out.
- I get permission from this couple to quote them. Recently, some of us may know Brother Jimmy and Sister Amy are tried in their faith journey, praise the Lord, the couple and their family persevere and not give up their faith and continue to trust Jesus. They resort to lots of prayers and asking God for wisdom to overcome the problem and they humble themselves to allow Tuesday night prayer warriors to pray and intercede for them. I and a few brother and sisters pray regularly for them and their son.
- You need to apply what you learn today and encourage them to fight this battle.
- You may encourage them by telling them you are praying for them. If you do not know what to pray for, you can ask them. Or, you can come for Thursday night prayer meeting and pray for them.
D. Conclusion
- As you face trials of all kinds, be encouraged to know that Jesus will not let you bear any trial that is too heavy for you that you cannot bear.
- There is this inspiring illustration I like to share with you and I pray that it will help you to be strong and persevere and endure the trials.
- A man was shopping in a grocery story. His young son followed closely behind, carrying a large basket. The father loaded the basket with one thing after another until another customer began to feel sorry for the boy. She said, “That’s a pretty heavy loaf for a young fellow like you, isn’t it?” The boy turned to the woman and said, “Oh, don’t worry. My dad knows how much I can carry.” In the same way, God knows our limitations and gives to us no burden beyond what we can carry.
- No enjoys a visit to the dentist, although all enjoy the long range benefits of the visit. In a similar way, on one enjoys the difficulties of a trial, but all who endure them enjoy the side effects of perseverance; proven character, and hope.
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