Bring the Joy: Joy in Trials (James 1:1-4)

Series: Bring the Joy

Sermon: Joy in Trials

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Date: February 10, 2019

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, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  (James 1:1-4)

God can actually bring joy in the hard times of life.  We are actually commanded to see joy in the hard times of life.

I will not leave you, and I will actually make this bummer a blessing.

"Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world."  -John Piper

"Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God - that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen."  -Charles Swindoll

"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things."  -Kay Warren

Let's see three things from these verses that will help us rejoice in Jesus during hard times:

1. Decision
   • My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.  (James 1:2)
   • Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.  (James 1:2, NLT)
   • When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!  (James 1:2, Phillips Translation)
   • You might think of stopping to count up what this will mean for you.  What else will you do with the trials and where will that get you?
   • It denotes deliberate and careful judgment stemming from external proof, not subjective judgment based on feelings.
   • "Our values determine our evaluations.  If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us.  If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to 'count it all joy!'  If we live only for the present and forget about the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better."  -Warren Wiersbe
   • "We are not just to act joyful, in reluctant pretense, but to be genuinely joyful.  It is a matter of will, not of feelings, and should be the conscious, determined commitment of every faithful believer."  -John MacArthur
   • "The Joy I give you doesn't depend on what kind of day you're having.  No matter what's happening in your life - whether wonderful or terrible - it's possible to be joyful with Me."  -Jesus Calling
   • "Father, I want to choose joy in my life.  Rekindle hope in my heart.  Help me to keep seeking the joy that belongs to me in Jesus Christ.  In the name of Jesus, amen."  -Kay Warren
2. Development
   • James is not saying the trials are joyful in themselves but are a means to an end which is joyful.  They are not to impair us but to improve us.  Not to destroy us but to develop us.
   • Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  (James 1:3-4)
   • Let's see two reasons we can rejoice in trials:
     1. we rejoice because of the revealing work
        • Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.  (James 1:2-3, The Message)
        • "Trials and tribulations are very good for us in that they help us to know ourselves better than we knew ourselves before."  -D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
     2. we rejoice because of the reforming work.
        • Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  (James 1:3-4)
   • Here are a few places trials helps us to grow:
     1. Trials help us grow in patience.
        • Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered.
     2. Trials help us grow in maturity.
     3. Trials help us know what really matters and was is really important.
3. Desire
   • "I'll admit I've told God, I'm okay with staying a spiritual baby; I'll live with remaining immature and underdeveloped because growing hurts.  But in my heart of hearts, that's not what I want.  I want my faith-life to be sturdy and strong, mature and well-developed."  -Kay Warren
   • About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  (Acts 16:25, NIV)
   • The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself!  We are all here!"  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"  (Acts 16:27-30, NIV)
   • "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things."  -Kay Warren
   • The jailer wanted what they had.  Their settled assurance about God, their quiet confidence that ultimately everything would be alright, and their determined choice to praise God in all things opened the door of salvation for the jailer and his loved ones.
   • The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole household.  (Acts 16:34)
   • What do you allow to hold you back from living a life of joy?
   • "I would believe in their salvation if they looked a little more like people who have been saved."  -Friedrich Nietzsche, commenting on the Christians he knew